Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 141
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 141: Great Chaos (4)
Prevent the Cultivation World from interfering in national affairs.
This is the basic principle of the Wei Jin Kingdom.
But when you think about it, upholding this principle is impossible.
Every nation offers sacrifices to the heavens or ancestors, praying for the country’s peace and prosperity.
When building palaces or holding ceremonies, they consider fortune and misfortune while taking all kinds of measures.
They inevitably become connected to the Cultivation World.
Until now, the Dongri family had been in charge of such matters in the Wei Jin Kingdom.
But if you trace back to the past, there was a cultivation force that had been involved since the founding process.
Their name was the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace.
A legendary sect that approved the Wei Jin Kingdom’s rule over the world of Ordinary People, then left behind the Immortal Treasure Ghost Head City and ascended to the Upper Realm.
Therefore, traces of the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace remain in the imperial palace located on Nakryeong Island.
This is because the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace helped when the imperial palace was built.
And… the pact with the founding Emperor Taejo of the Wei Jin Kingdom was still in effect.
* * *
Breaking through the rough waves of the Jinhuang Sea, the crossing ship carrying Cheon Woo-jin and Song Yu-hee arrived at Nakryeong Island.
There was no place to dock the ship, but having come this close, they could land on the island with their bare bodies.
Whoosh!
They leaped up the cliff, cutting through the fierce wind.
The place where the two arrived was a secluded corner of the imperial palace’s Outer Wall.
“Young Master, why aren’t we going through the Main Gate?”
“I saw a crossing ship leaving Nakryeong Island earlier.”
Cheon Woo-jin answered while gazing in the direction of Gongryeong Island.
“It seemed to be a crossing ship from Gongryeong Island. It means the Third Prince arrived before us.”
“Ah…!”
“It would be difficult to catch up even if we followed them. So we need to take a shortcut.”
Saying this, Cheon Woo-jin quickly surveyed the towering castle walls.
“There’s a gate over there for disposing of various waste materials. We’ll infiltrate through there.”
It’s a gate used for dumping trash into the sea.
It was a secret entrance that had appeared in the game as well.
“How does So-u know about such things?”
“All castles like this originally have this kind of structure.”
“Ooh… How admirable.”
Song Yu-hee looked at Cheon Woo-jin with sparkling eyes.
However, Cheon Woo-jin showed no particular reaction.
“We shouldn’t be too relaxed, but there’s no need to be hasty either. If we infiltrate through there and move swiftly, we should be able to get ahead of the Third Prince’s faction.”
Cheon Woo-jin approached the castle wall and spoke in a cold voice.
“By now, the Third Prince should be struggling inside the imperial palace.”
* * *
The interior of the imperial palace was in chaos.
This was because the Third Prince Gong Uise had broken through the Imperial Guards and was heading toward the Emperor’s chambers.
The Imperial Guards protecting the palace were composed of martial arts masters, but they all died in bloody heaps with just a single gesture from the cultivators.
However, that didn’t mean they could proceed directly to the chambers.
“Don’t you think we’ve been going around the same place for a while now?”
“Now that you mention it…”
Before they knew it, they had become trapped in a maze.
They were endlessly wandering through red corridors where no one else passed by.
“We’ve been completely had. It seems we’ve been recognized as rebels who invaded the imperial palace.”
“Who would have thought such a formation array was installed in the imperial palace.”
Yu Mugi, the Sect Master of Gwangmyeong Sect, and Jongli Cheol, the Grand Family Head of the Jongli Family, clicked their tongues.
Though they were Nascent Soul cultivators who had been seasoned in the Cultivation World, they had failed to notice the trap hidden in the imperial palace beforehand.
“Can’t this be broken?”
“It’s not easy.”
Yu Mugi answered Gong Uise’s question in a stiff voice.
“This is a formation from the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace.”
“Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace? Isn’t that a sect that disappeared long ago?”
“Didn’t you know? The Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace was also involved when this imperial palace was constructed.”
“Uh….”
Gong Uise showed a momentarily hurt expression, his pride wounded.
But soon he raised his voice as if a good idea had occurred to him.
“Ah, what if we become Nascent Souls and escape from here? Nascent Souls can pass through walls and such at will, can’t they?”
“….”
Yu Mugi and Zhong Litie looked at Gong Uise with exasperated eyes.
Though Gong Uise was clever, he was still just a Qi Condensation Cultivator who had lived only about twenty years.
They were only tolerating him because he was the one who had to be placed on the emperor’s throne, but if an ordinary Qi Condensation Cultivator had said such nonsense, they would have ground him to powder.
“Hehehe, Your Highness the Prince has quite an ingenious idea.”
Just then, Soul-Crushing Blood Demon approached, leaning on his staff.
“Indeed, it seems like a situation where we need to squeeze out all our wisdom. The situation has become urgent.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I received a signal from my blood spirit that I left outside.”
Soul-Crushing Blood Demon bowed his head as he spoke.
“It seems the Second Prince and the Taeul Yeokri Gate have arrived at Nakryeong Island.”
“…!”
Had they already caught up?
Everyone’s expressions became serious.
“If they catch up to us, things will get complicated. They might even overtake us and have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor first.”
“Th-that can’t happen!”
If the imperial throne was stolen by Gong Uiun, everything would come to nothing.
Gong Uise would meet a miserable death.
“Isn’t there some way? We need to quickly escape from here and….”
“Hmm, there is one last resort….”
“Wh-what is it?”
Soul-Crushing Blood Demon subtly turned his gaze away.
“But for that, we would need cooperation from the Gwangmyeong Sect and the Jongli Family…”
“What?”
“What do you mean?”
Soul-Shattering Blood Demon wore an apologetic expression before Yu Mugi and Jongli Cheol.
“I would like to borrow some of your subordinates.”
“What…”
Everyone’s eyes widened.
For Soul-Shattering Blood Demon, the leader of the Blood Soul Pavilion, to say such a thing meant he was asking them to sacrifice the lower-ranking cultivators of the Gwangmyeong Sect and Jongli Family.
“Soul-Shattering Blood Demon, finally showing your true colors!”
“What other sinister scheme are you…”
“Oh my, this is not the time for us to fight among ourselves.”
At that moment, an ominous energy began rising from a corner of the maze.
That energy gradually condensed and began taking human form.
“So it was a formation that even generates soldiers to eliminate intruders.”
“…!”
“Since the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace installed this for imperial defense, it won’t be easy.”
Everyone’s expressions grew serious as they watched the exponentially increasing grayish shadows, but only Soul-Shattering Blood Demon remained relaxed.
“Still, don’t worry. After all, Soul-Shattering Blood Demon is here.”
Thud!
Soul-Shattering Blood Demon smiled as he tapped the corridor floor with his staff.
“If you entrust all your subordinates to me, I’ll use their life blood to punch a hole through this maze. It will only be a small hole for a brief moment, but about five or six people should be able to escape.”
“…!”
The faces of the lower-ranking cultivators turned pale.
That was no different from saying they should sacrifice everyone except for the minimum number of people.
“Understood. Let’s proceed that way.”
“Your Highness the Prince!”
“How could you…”
Yu Mugi and Jongli Cheol objected to Gong Uise’s statement.
However, Gong Uise already seemed to have made up his mind.
“What’s important right now is securing the Emperor! Once I ascend to the throne, I’ll be able to control all these formations, won’t I? Then we can repel both my second brother and the Taeul Yeokri Sect! We’ll be the final victors!”
For victory, one must not be picky about means and methods.
With that attitude, the Gongui Family shouted.
“What’s important right now is being the first to reach the Emperor! Let’s focus only on that!”
* * *
“Those bastards must have already gone quite deep inside…”
“There’s a high possibility they’re being held back by the defensive facilities inside. It’s too early to give up.”
“Yeah, that’s true, but…”
Song Muyeol, who had arrived at Nakryeong Island, frowned as he conversed with his younger brother Song Mujin.
The imperial guards protecting the entrance to the Imperial Palace had already been completely annihilated by the Gongui Family’s forces.
Thanks to this, the Taeul Yeokri Sect could easily enter the interior, but the situation wasn’t very optimistic.
“Tsk, I don’t know how things will unfold.”
“Is it because of the Soul-Shattering Blood Demon?”
“Yes, there’s a high possibility he’ll try to achieve his own goals by exploiting the desperate situation of the Third Prince’s faction.”
Having the imperial throne stolen by Gongui Se is a problem, but the Soul-Shattering Blood Demon awakening what slumbers in the Imperial Palace is also a problem.
“The Guangming Sect and Jongli Family probably don’t know what the Soul-Shattering Blood Demon is after.”
“That’s right. Among the Orthodox Sect, probably only we know.”
While they were having such a conversation.
Suddenly, an urgent voice was heard.
“Sect Leader!”
It was Gwak Yu, who had been surveying the area around the Imperial Palace.
“It seems the Young Sect Leader has entered the Imperial Palace from a different direction!”
“What did you say?”
“When I examined with the Divine Perception Technique, I momentarily sensed the Young Sect Leader’s aura from that direction!”
Gwak Yu raised his finger and pointed toward the sea.
“And I also saw a sailing ship heading back toward Pyeonghwang Island! I presume it’s the sailing ship the Young Sect Leader came on!”
“Then…!”
Song Mu-yeol’s face brightened with color.
“That fellow who was at Pyeonghwang Island must have rushed straight to Nakyeong Island!”
It was an unexpected stroke of good fortune.
Song Mu-yeol had been giving up on Song Yu-hee joining them.
“But what’s gotten into that fellow? She’s not the type to move like this.”
“Perhaps that person Shin Hyeok guided the young sect leader?”
“Ah, that must be it!”
It was truly fortunate that he had sent that mercenary to accompany Song Yu-hee.
Song Mu-yeol nodded with a bright expression.
“The path to victory is beginning to show itself.”
With a coordinated attack alongside Song Yu-hee, they could annihilate Gong Ui-se’s faction.
Even if by any chance the Soul-Shattering Blood Demon awakened the monster in the imperial palace, they could handle it by sacrificing Song Yu-hee.
Song Mu-yeol, who had been anxiously worried about things going wrong, now felt at ease.
“Good! We’ll all advance through the main gate together!”
“Yes, sect leader!”
After giving those instructions.
Song Mu-yeol briefly addressed the young man standing idly in the back.
“Your Highness the Prince should follow along well too.”
“….”
Second Prince Gong Ui-un merely nodded silently.
Despite being someone who should become Emperor, at this moment he was nothing more than a simple bystander.
* * *
‘Everyone must have thrown themselves into the imperial palace to achieve their goals.’
Cheon Woo-jin knew everyone’s true intentions.
Taeul Yeokri Sect, Gwangmyeong Sect, Jongli Family, Won Family Clan, Soul-Shattering Blood Demon, Gong Ui-un, Gong Ui-se and others… he could see through what they were all thinking.
‘So I must stand above them all.’
Clang.
As he tore away the iron bars, a dark passage appeared before his eyes.
Right now, Cheon Woo-jin was infiltrating through a secret passage that existed inside the imperial palace.
Originally, this passage was a place that could only be entered when joining hands with the Dongri Family in the game.
Since the Dongri Family had been destroyed, Cheon Woo-jin was the only one who could enter using this passage.
“Sect Leader, this way.”
Cheon Woo-jin spoke to Song Yu-hee who was behind him.
“There are places where we’ll need to crawl, so please bear with it even if your clothes get a bit dirty.”
“I can endure that much, so don’t worry.”
Song Yu-hee’s eyes were sparkling.
Infiltrating the imperial palace through a secret passage was a very thrilling experience for her.
“I’ll move as quietly as possible.”
Cheon Woo-jin passed through the secret passage with Song Yu-hee.
Swiftly, without being hindered by the various obstacles that existed inside the imperial palace.
“It’s down here. I’ll go down first.”
Swoosh!
Cheon Woo-jin removed the ceiling planks and came down, knocking out the warriors who were standing guard.
Song Yu-hee followed and came down as well.
“This place is…”
“In front of the Emperor’s bedchamber.”
Outside, the Taeul Yeokri Sect and Guangming Sect would be struggling to enter this place.
Probably a lot of blood was flowing as well.
But this place was as quiet as a mouse.
It was partly because Cheon Woo-jin had knocked out the guards, but there weren’t many warriors stationed here to begin with.
It was a desolate place, unworthy of being the bedchamber of the supreme ruler who governed a nation.
“Sect Leader, please guard this place. You must not let even an ant enter.”
“Mm, understood. I’ll do as you say.”
Song Yu-hee accepted Cheon Woo-jin’s instructions without any suspicion.
Cheon Woo-jin opened the door and headed inside.
He encountered eunuchs and palace maids, but he knocked them out too and went deeper inside.
And finally, he set foot in the Emperor’s bedchamber.
“Wh-who are you…!”
Yu Xian, the Emperor’s loyal retainer who had also appeared in the game, was startled in shock.
However, Cheon Woo-jin swiftly knocked Yu Xian unconscious.
Then he closed the door to the bedchamber and locked it.
A barrier was automatically generated, cutting off the outside.
Now his voice wouldn’t leak out to Song Yu-hee who was outside either.
Cheon Woo-jin spoke to the person lying on the bed.
“Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“…”
A pitifully withered old man.
He was Gong Ui-ryun, the Emperor of Wei Jin Kingdom.
He was looking at Cheon Woo-jin with hollow eyes as if he had given up on everything.
“Have you finally come to forcibly take the imperial throne from me?”
Gong Ui-ryun asked weakly.
“They say the first prince is already dead… You must be a Daoist trying to enthrone the second or third prince. So, which one are you here to threaten me to hand the imperial position over to? Tell me.”
“It’s neither.”
Cheon Woo-jin knelt down and bowed respectfully.
“I am a humble Daoist called Shin Hyeok, walking the path of cultivation.”
“Shin Hyeok…?”
“I believe Your Majesty already understands what is happening within the imperial palace right now. We cannot just leave this be.”
Gong Ui-ryun’s expression twisted.
“What do you expect me to do by telling me this? I can no longer…”
“Your Majesty, it is too early to fall into despair.”
Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a serious voice.
“There is a way to punish all those who ran in with blood on their feet and defiled the imperial palace.”
At Cheon Woo-jin’s statement, Gong Ui-ryun held his breath.
“Those who first humiliated Your Majesty have already been destroyed. Shouldn’t those who humiliated you second and third also be destroyed?”
“…!”
The first ones who insulted you.
This referred to the Dongli Family that gave birth to First Prince Gong Uihwi.
So the second and third meant the Taeul Yeokri Sect and the Gwangmyeong Sect.
At the words that he would destroy the hated Capital Sects, Gong Uiryun’s eyes widened greatly.
“H-how could you do such….”
“I will set everything right and free the Wei Jin Kingdom from being a plaything of the Cultivation World.”
Cheon Woo-jin said while clasping his hands together.
“So please entrust everything to me, Your Majesty.”
At this very moment.
Cheon Woo-jin stood above everyone else.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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