Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 144

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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 144: Victor (1)

 

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!

 

The Dragon Well collapsed.

 

The stone floor carved with dragon patterns completely crumbled down, and a hole leading to the underground of the Imperial Palace was pierced through.

 

Kwa-jik!

 

Five claws that emerged from the hole gripped a nearby pavilion.

 

What crawled up from underground while destroying the pavilion was a single dragon.

 

A Yellow Dragon with brilliantly shining golden scales.

 

From its wide-open mouth, golden breath flowed between its fangs.

 

From the deer-like horns rising from its head, yellow energy intermittently burst forth like lightning.

 

But those two eyes were empty.

 

Though it must have slept underground with the great will to protect the nation, a thousand years had weathered its soul.

 

The guardian divine dragon of the nation had forgotten even why it should do so, now only pursuing the defeat of Cultivators from the Cultivation World.

 

That being finally crawled up to the surface and exercised its authority toward the Taeul Yeokri Sect that was still remaining at the Dragon Well.

 

“Ugh, my spiritual energy…!”

 

“Hii, my strength is draining…!”

 

The disciples of Taeul Yeokri Sect who had stopped in their tracks because of Song Yu-hee’s sudden appearance.

 

They staggered and suffered in agony.

 

An effect similar to the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace’s Escape Origin Boundary Formation was occurring, suppressing the Cultivators’ power.

 

Core Formation Realm Cultivators were reduced to Foundation Establishment level, Foundation Establishment Cultivators to Qi Refining level… all lost their original power and became weakened.

 

“Wh-why are they all acting like that?”

 

“It seems only the Daoists of Taeul Yeokri Sect are being affected!”

 

Meanwhile, Gong Ui-un and the warriors of the Won Family Clan were fine.

 

Since they were ordinary people who hadn’t cultivated cultivation methods, it was natural.

 

Of course, that didn’t mean they were in a safe situation.

 

The Guardian Yellow Dragon Divine Lord, having forgotten its original will to protect the Wei Jin Kingdom, would begin indiscriminate destruction from now on.

 

Though it was solely to sweep away the Cultivators, it would be impossible for mere ordinary people to preserve their lives in that destruction.

 

“Th-this level of power…!”

 

Song Mu-yeol crouched low on the pavilion roof and groaned.

 

The oppressive force crushed his entire body. It was beyond what Song Mu-yeol had expected.

 

That Yellow Dragon is an existence based on the entire nation called the Wei Jin Kingdom.

 

A guardian deity that has absorbed the energy of a nation’s scale from the center of the Continent over a thousand years.

 

That was the Guardian Yellow Dragon Divine Lord.

 

“That Soul-Crushing Blood Demon bastard finally…!”

 

He had hoped that the Radiant Light Sect would notice and stop the Soul-Crushing Blood Demon’s scheme, but it seemed that hadn’t happened.

 

In the end, the Soul-Crushing Blood Demon had infiltrated beneath the Imperial Palace and succeeded in awakening the Guardian Yellow Dragon Divine Lord.

 

Making the Guardian Yellow Dragon Divine Lord go berserk to create a Blood World.

 

For that goal.

 

“Damn it, if it comes to this…!”

 

Song Mu-yeol turned his head.

 

On the roof of a nearby pavilion, Song Yu-hee was staring at the Yellow Dragon with an expressionless face.

 

A moment ago, Song Yu-hee had suddenly appeared and said something strange to Song Mu-yeol.

 

She had abruptly asked, ‘What are you going to do with me?’

 

Song Mu-yeol had just been thinking that if the Guardian Yellow Dragon Divine Lord appeared, he would have to sacrifice Song Yu-hee to deal with it.

 

So when Song Yu-hee asked that, his heart couldn’t help but sink.

 

‘Did this girl notice something? No, that can’t be possible.’

 

Right after that, the Guardian Yellow Dragon Divine Lord had awakened, so there was no time to ask what she meant by that question.

 

‘If she’s already noticed my intentions…’

 

Song Yu-hee’s Great Void Divine Core Technique could suppress the Guardian Yellow Dragon Divine Lord.

 

Even in a weakened state, deploying a mental image to implement a pseudo-Law Domain should be possible.

 

But if Song Yu-hee had noticed Song Mu-yeol’s such intentions…

 

“Sect Master, the Yellow Dragon is…!”

 

“Ah…!”

 

The Yellow Dragon that had crawled halfway up from underground opened its mouth and roared.

 

“Gaaaaah!”

 

Wooooong!

 

Golden light emanating from the Yellow Dragon covered the Imperial Palace.

 

He had made all of Nakyang Island his own territory under his dominion.

 

Sensing the dire situation, several cultivators frantically tried to flee by flying into the sky.

 

But the Yellow Dragon did not allow them to do so.

 

Rumble, crash!

 

Lightning that writhed like whips stretched out from the golden-tinted ground.

 

Yellow Lightning Energy of the Earth Element surged up in complex trajectories and struck down the cultivators who had leaped into the sky.

 

“Aaaahhh!”

 

“S-Sect Master…!”

 

The lightning wrapped around the cultivators like binding ropes.

 

Since they were all in a weakened state compared to usual, none could resist.

 

I will never let you escape.

 

As if saying those words, the Yellow Dragon roared.

 

“Gaaaahhh…!”

 

This time a shockwave occurred.

 

The shockwave centered on the Yellow Dragon brought about tremendous destruction, collapsing the surrounding pavilions.

 

Screams erupted from everywhere. Song Mu-yeol also had to hastily deploy Defensive Magic to endure it.

 

“I-Is everyone alright?”

 

When Song Mu-yeol looked around trying to assess the damage situation.

 

An urgent voice came from a corner.

 

“L-Left Minister Gwak!”

 

“…!”

 

Gwak Yu was groaning while severely injured.

 

With Gwak Yu’s original abilities, he could have responded to that lightning even in a weakened state.

 

Nevertheless, the reason Gwak Yu suffered such injuries was because he tried to protect Gong Ui-un.

 

Everyone was so busy protecting their own bodies that they had forgotten they needed to protect Gong Ui-un.

 

Only Gwak Yu had thrown his body to protect Gong Ui-un.

 

“Y-Your Highness the Prince, are you unharmed…?”

 

“I-I’m fine! Thank you!”

 

Gong Ui-un showed a moved expression.

 

The warriors of the Won Family Clan had all been knocked out by the shockwave, but Gong Ui-un was safe thanks to Gwak Yu.

 

‘Ah, that’s right!’

 

A good idea came to Song Mu-yeol’s mind as he watched that scene.

 

“Your Highness the Prince! Come with me!”

 

“What?”

 

“I need Your Highness the Prince!”

 

Song Mu-yeol pushed Gwak Yu aside and grabbed Gong Ui-un to drag him along.

 

Then he sent a telepathic message to Song Mu-jin, his own younger brother.

 

[There’s a way to break through this situation. I’ll leave with the prince.]

 

[Sect Master, then what about the Guardian Imperial Dragon Divine Army…?]

 

[Hold them off with your strength. We can’t let them destroy the entire Imperial Palace.]

 

Despite being swept by the powerful shockwave, the Imperial Palace was still standing.

 

The pavilions built in later generations had completely collapsed, but the structures that the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace had been involved in building a thousand years ago were still maintaining their form.

 

Still, if the Guardian Imperial Dragon Divine Army began indiscriminate destruction, the rest would all come crashing down too.

 

It was necessary to tie down the Guardian Imperial Dragon Divine Army’s feet here to prevent that from happening.

 

[It’s difficult with just our strength!]

 

[If it really seems impossible…]

 

Song Mu-yeol turned his gaze toward Song Yu-hee.

 

[Sacrifice Song Yu-hee.]

 

Even if Song Yu-hee refused and rebelled, if it was Song Mu-jin who gave that order, only Song Mu-jin would suffer the consequences.

 

Later, Song Mu-yeol could lie saying ‘everything was Song Mu-jin’s arbitrary action’ and appease Song Yu-hee.

 

It was a much safer method than Song Mu-yeol directly giving orders to Song Yu-hee himself.

 

‘This is the best way!’

 

Having made that judgment, Song Mu-yeol hurriedly headed toward the inner part of the Imperial Palace with Gong Ui-un.

 

* * *

 

‘To think Left Minister Gwak would sacrifice himself for me.’

 

Gong Ui-un felt complicated emotions.

 

He hadn’t expected that the Right Minister of the Taeul Yeokri Gate would sacrifice himself for his sake.

 

‘Of course, that’s probably because I’m that important….’

 

Recently, Gong Uiun had been feeling self-loathing.

 

Because he felt like he was nothing more than a chess piece.

 

A chess piece used in the grand gambling table unfolding in the Cultivation World, then immediately sacrificed when needed for the game.

 

Perhaps he and the other princes were nothing more than such existences.

 

After seeing Gong Uise explode at the conference hall, Gong Uiun became consumed by such thoughts.

 

‘But… without the Taeul Yeokri Gate, I would already be dead.’

 

Gong Uiun had always thought he wanted to protect his own body himself.

 

So he received help from the Won Family Clan to cultivate martial arts.

 

Having already reached the pinnacle realm, ordinary assassins couldn’t touch Gong Uiun.

 

But that only applied in the world of ordinary people.

 

In the Cultivation World, Gong Uiun’s martial arts were of no help whatsoever.

 

If the Taeul Yeokri Gate hadn’t protected him, Gong Uiun would have lost his life long ago.

 

‘Perhaps obeying the Taeul Yeokri Gate like this is the best option….’

 

Suddenly, he remembered what the mercenary named Shin Hyeok had told him under the moonlight not long ago.

 

He said he was using the Taeul Yeokri Gate for his own benefit.

 

And then asked if Gong Uiun wasn’t doing the same.

 

Those words gave Gong Uiun great enlightenment.

 

He shouldn’t just be used by the Taeul Yeokri Gate.

 

Rather, he should use the Taeul Yeokri Gate to get what he wanted.

 

He had tried to adopt such a mindset.

 

But receiving protection from the Taeul Yeokri Gate in such a terrifying battle had broken his spirit.

 

Perhaps it would be best to just quietly obey the Taeul Yeokri Gate….

 

“Your Highness the Prince.”

 

Then Song Muyeol, who was leading the way, spoke up.

 

“From now on, Your Highness will go to the Imperial Seal Office.”

 

“What? The Imperial Seal Office?”

 

“We must secure the imperial seal.”

 

The imperial seal?

 

A seal that only the Emperor can use?

 

“We’re not going after things used for practical state affairs, but the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal that proves the Emperor’s legitimacy.”

 

“But, Sect Leader, the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal can only be touched after inheriting the imperial throne…”

 

“The Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal is the most powerful ritual artifact in the nation of Wei Jin Kingdom.”

 

Song Mu-yeol ignored Gong Ui-un’s words and continued his explanation.

 

“We’ll use the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal to perform a ritual. That way, we should be able to calm that Imperial Dragon.”

 

“A, a ritual can calm the Imperial Dragon?”

 

“The true identity of that Imperial Dragon is the founding Emperor of Wei Jin Kingdom who was sleeping beneath the imperial palace. So if the Wei Jin Emperor uses the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal to perform a ritual, it should be effective.”

 

“…!”

 

That Imperial Dragon was the founding Emperor of Wei Jin Kingdom!

 

Gong Ui-un was greatly shocked by this unexpected truth.

 

“W, wait a moment. His Imperial Majesty is currently bedridden, so performing a ritual would be impossible…”

 

“Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

 

Song Mu-yeol spoke as if annoyed.

 

“His Highness the Prince must become the new Emperor, right now!”

 

“What?”

 

“This is no time to worry about procedures. We’ll handle the necessary procedures for the ritual, so take the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal and act as Emperor.”

 

“B, but His Imperial Majesty is still alive, isn’t he?”

 

No matter how much the Imperial Dragon rampaged, the Emperor’s chambers hadn’t collapsed at all.

 

It was said that since it was a place built directly by the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace in ancient times, it wouldn’t easily collapse.

 

So the Emperor would still be lying there.

 

“We just need to kill him, don’t we.”

 

“What?”

 

“Once we secure the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal, we’ll head straight to the chambers and kill the Emperor. Then His Highness the Prince will immediately become the new Emperor.”

 

“…!”

 

Gong Ui-un felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

 

What on earth was this person talking about.

 

“Here it is.”

 

Breaking down the door in front of them, Song Mu-yeol entered inside.

 

It was a space that also stored official tallies, but Song Mu-yeol didn’t even glance at those things and only searched for the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal.

 

The officials including Bu Sae-ryeong tried to stop Song Mu-yeol, but their breath was cut off with a single gesture.

 

Gong Ui-un trembled at that cold-hearted action.

 

“Here it is.”

 

“…!”

 

Finally, Song Mu-yeol found the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal.

 

He raised his hand and gave instructions to Gong Ui-un.

 

“It would be appropriate for Your Highness the Prince to carry it.”

 

“….”

 

Gong Ui-un picked up the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal with trembling hands.

 

Though it was just a seal made of jade, it felt heavier than a steel sword.

 

“Now let’s go straight to the bedchamber.”

 

“….”

 

Song Mu-yeol took the lead, and Gong Ui-un followed behind with heavy steps.

 

But while walking, a rift appeared where the ground had split.

 

Earlier when the Yellow Dragon crawled up, the floor had collapsed, and it seemed the damage had spread this far.

 

Jumping over the rift, Song Mu-yeol muttered.

 

“Tsk, if it had all collapsed at once up to the bedchamber, it would have saved us some trouble.”

 

“…!”

 

Gong Ui-un unconsciously stopped walking.

 

Seeing Gong Ui-un standing blankly in front of the rift, Song Mu-yeol frowned.

 

“What are you doing? Just jump over something like that.”

 

“….”

 

“Really, someone who has even learned Martial Arts, what’s so scary about that….”

 

Hearing the disdainful voice, Gong Ui-un thought of the Emperor who would be lying in the bedchamber.

 

The Emperor was not Gong Ui-un’s biological father.

 

So he had no affection for him. He even had contempt, thinking of him as an incompetent person.

 

But was it right to kill him and ascend to the throne himself?

 

After ascending to the imperial position in such a way, would he be able to rule the country as an upright Emperor?

 

‘And in the future… won’t my turn come?’

 

A scene from the distant future flashed through Gong Uiun’s mind.

 

Being murdered to hand over the imperial throne to a child not of his blood… the image of himself as nothing more than a puppet emperor.

 

“Your Highness the Prince?”

 

Song Muyeol frowned and said something more.

 

But Gong Uiun didn’t hear that voice.

 

Right now, the only thing Gong Uiun was listening to was his inner voice.

 

“Aaaahhh!”

 

Gong Uiun suddenly let out a shout.

 

And taking advantage of Song Muyeol’s startled moment, he threw the Heavenly Mandate Imperial Seal into the rift in the ground.

 

“Ah…!”

 

If it had fallen normally, Song Muyeol could have immediately pulled it up with his Spiritual Power.

 

But the seal that fell through the narrow gap bounced around here and there before rolling far away somewhere.

 

“Wh-what in the world is this…!”

 

Song Muyeol hurriedly bent down and peered into the gap.

 

Confirming that it couldn’t be easily retrieved, Song Muyeol looked at Gong Uiun with an expression of incomprehension.

 

Gong Uiun took a deep breath, then channeled his Internal Energy and unleashed a lion’s roar.

 

“I want to become emperor to rule the Wei Jin Kingdom righteously! Not to become a puppet of the Cultivation World…!”

 

Shouting like that, Gong Uiun recalled Shin Hyeok whom he had met before.

 

As he had said, he hadn’t been able to gain benefits by using the Taeul Yeokri Sect.

 

But at least he hadn’t become someone who was only used by the Taeul Yeokri Sect.

 

What kind of reaction would that man show if he saw him like this?

 

With such thoughts, Gong Uiun spread his arms wide and laughed.

 

“I am Gong Uiun, Second Prince of the Wei Jin Kingdom! Kill me if you dare!”

 

“Th-this…”

 

Song Muyeol’s body trembled violently.

 

“You foolish wretch who can’t tell front from back, ungrateful for kindness…!”

 

Having lost his reason, Song Muyeol stretched out his right hand to grab Gong Uiun’s throat.

 

But just then.

 

With a sound like thunder, a blade came flying from somewhere.

 

“Kraaak?!”

 

Song Mu-yeol’s wrist flew off.

 

His right hand that fell into the crack in the floor rolled away somewhere, bouncing around just like the imperial seal.

 

And…

 

“Well done, Gong Ui-un.”

 

Flutter.

 

With red robes billowing.

 

The man who had planted the spark in Gong Ui-un’s heart landed as if protecting Gong Ui-un.

 

“Indeed, among the three, you’re the only one qualified to become Emperor.”

 

“…!”

 

In that moment, Gong Ui-un felt hot tears surge from both eyes.

 

Because he felt that this recognition of his qualities was pure, without any ulterior motives.

 

“Shin Hyeok! This lowborn mercenary has finally…!”

 

Song Mu-yeol screamed as he began unleashing massive spiritual power from his entire body.

 

But the man retrieved his razor-sharp sword back into his hand and spoke coldly.

 

“Yes, I’ve finally created this moment.”

 

Boom!

 

From the man’s body erupted a force that was in no way inferior to Song Mu-yeol’s.

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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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