Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 168
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 168: Old Monster (3)
“You had the White Flower Sect Patriarch positioned in advance.”
Realizing that Cheon Woo-jin had So Hyo-bu waiting outside, Mujung Soma nodded.
“Well done. Gwak Yu escaped too quickly, so the Patriarch might miss him, but in that case, there’s nothing we can do.”
As Mujung Soma said, there was a possibility that So Hyo-bu might miss Gwak Yu.
In such a case, they would have no choice but to give up and wait for the next opportunity.
Originally, cutting off the lifeline of a Won Yeong-gyeong Cultivator wasn’t an easy task.
‘Since Won Yeong has no material substance, it moves much faster than moving with a physical body. And even if there are obstacles like walls, it can just pass through them. If it’s determined to escape, it’s difficult to catch.’
It’s not that there are no effective means of attack at all.
For example, if you freeze the Won Yeong with a technique like Cheon Woo-jin’s Baekya Neungcheon, you can block its escape.
However, that’s only possible when they’re in a weakened state like Yu Mu-gi and Jong Ri-cheol who were defeated in Hwangseong last time.
Moreover, at that time, they were trying to fight without fleeing even after losing their physical bodies.
If they’re determined to escape from the start in Won Yeong state, it’s true that it would be difficult for the current Cheon Woo-jin to eliminate them.
‘Of course, defeating the physical body and leaving only the Won Yeong is even more difficult.’
Indeed, his power was insufficient.
Although he had reached the Core Formation Great Circle and created a Nine-Pattern Golden Core, he needed to become stronger.
“Then I’ll take my leave now. It seems Seo Dou will wake up soon.”
“Understood. Thank you for your help.”
“This much between us is nothing.”
Mujung Soma waved his hand and left.
After doing that, he would remove his mask, disguise his face, and appear again.
“Cheon Daoist…?”
Shortly after, Seo Seol-ryeong opened her eyes.
“What happened here? Where did Elder Ancestor Gwak go…?”
“Gwak Yu was defeated by a Won Yeong-gyeong Cultivator who suddenly appeared.”
“What?”
While hiding Mujung Soma’s identity, Cheon Woo-jin explained.
“In the end, Gwak Yu escaped as Won Yeong… but since the White Flower Sect Patriarch is outside, he was probably captured and completely annihilated. So you don’t need to worry anymore.”
“…”
However, Seo Seol-ryeong didn’t easily accept this.
“Something seems fishy. Where did a Won Yeong-gyeong powerful enough to defeat Elder Ancestor Gwak suddenly appear from?”
“Probably came down from the upper levels of Ghost Head City. Maybe he had some grudge against Gwak Yu.”
Cheon Woo-jin deliberately sighed.
“He disappeared without even glancing at me. His attitude was as if someone like me wasn’t even worth his attention.”
“Well… from a Won Yeong-gyeong’s perspective, Core Formation is no different from an insignificant creature.”
“I need to reach Won Yeong-gyeong quickly.”
“…”
A moment of silence passed.
“Are you being serious?”
“Would I say it as a joke?”
“How long has it been since you reached Core Formation?”
Seo Seol-ryeong sighed.
“It’s a realm that takes others hundreds of years to reach. Don’t speak of it so casually.”
“But if I don’t reach Won Yeong-gyeong, it’ll be difficult to survive against the monsters in the upper levels of Ghost Head City.”
Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a cold voice.
“If we want to survive, we need to reach Won Yeong-gyeong as quickly as possible.”
“…”
Seo Seol-ryeong fell silent again.
Although her eyes were covered with an eye patch, the atmosphere suggested she was staring intently at Cheon Woo-jin.
“How curious.”
Seo Seol-ryeong, who had been silent, suddenly blurted out.
“Why do you say ‘we’ need to do that to survive?”
“Is there a need to make distinctions at this point?”
“Stop it. I don’t like you talking as if we’re a community of shared fate.”
Seo Seol-ryeong turned her head sharply.
“Just because you reach Won Yeong-gyeong doesn’t mean my life will be guaranteed.”
“It sounds like you want me to promise to protect your life.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. Don’t speak presumptuously.”
Seo Seol-ryeong’s voice was cold.
Still, it didn’t feel like she was displeased.
“Anyway… I understand your intention to challenge Won Yeong-gyeong to stand against the monsters in the upper levels of Ghost Head City. Then I’ll prepare with that in mind as well.”
“Prepare?”
“I’m in Core Formation. But I’m familiar with the methods for condensing Won Yeong.”
Seo Seol-ryeong placed her hand on her chest as she spoke.
“If you want, I can help you.”
“…”
That didn’t mean she would help secure the resources needed for advancement as before.
It literally meant she would help with condensing Won Yeong.
“Many Core Formation Cultivators dream of condensing Won Yeong to reach Won Yeong-gyeong. But even if they secure Won Yeong spirit materials, the probability of reaching Won Yeong-gyeong is less than 50%. Do you know why?”
“That would be…”
Cheon Woo-jin fell into thought for a moment.
“It must be a problem with the cultivation techniques.”
“Correct.”
Seo Seol-ryeong nodded.
“Condensing Won Yeong means transcending the limits of the material world. But the cultivation techniques used up to Core Formation are bound by the theories of the material world. That’s why it’s easy to fail in Won Yeong condensation.”
“…”
“In other words, a Core Formation Cultivator is like a fish that only knew how to breathe underwater. Even if they succeed in crawling onto land through diligent training, they’re likely to suffocate and die because they haven’t learned how to breathe outside water.”
It was a metaphor that somehow reminded him of the evolutionary process of living beings.
“To prevent such failure, it’s best to learn how to breathe outside water in advance.”
“You mean learning cultivation techniques for Won Yeong-gyeong in advance. But that wouldn’t be an easy task.”
“That’s why I’m offering to help.”
Seo Seol-ryeong spoke in a calm voice.
“If you’re interested, I can help you learn the Gwanghan Myeongjin Cultivation Technique.”
“Gwanghan Myeongjin Cultivation Technique…?”
It was an unfamiliar name.
At least it was a cultivation technique he had never seen in the game.
“It’s the first time I’m hearing that name.”
“That’s only natural.”
Seo Seol-ryeong spoke in an indifferent voice.
“It’s a cultivation technique known only to the Guye True People of Mount Miaogushe.”
The Guye True People of Mount Miaogushe.
At those words, Cheon Woo-jin paused.
Seo Seol-ryeong wasn’t human but a True Person.
Among them, she was a Guye True Person born in a place called Mount Miaogushe.
However, this was merely a setting that was only displayed in the status window.
The detailed circumstances or background had never been revealed even in the game.
“Why are you surprised? I remember you already knew this.”
“That’s true, but…”
Who would have thought Seo Seol-ryeong would offer to teach her clan’s cultivation technique?
This was something he had never expected.
The True Person race’s cultivation techniques did appear in the game.
But it was impossible for player characters to learn them.
They were exclusive techniques for True Person race NPCs.
And… all those techniques boasted top-tier performance.
‘If I could learn the True Person race’s cultivation techniques… ultra-high-speed growth that was impossible even in the game would be possible.’
It was an attractive enough proposal to discard all the plans Cheon Woo-jin had been considering.
“Is it really okay for you to pass down your clan’s techniques to me?”
“There’s no problem.”
“Won’t you be punished later for leaking the secrets of the Guye True Person…?”
“The Guye True Person are not currently remaining in the Lower Realm. I’m alone, so there’s no one to impose punishment.”
“…”
This was also new information.
Then why was Seo Seol-ryeong left alone in the Lower Realm?
He was curious about that part too, but Seo Seol-ryeong didn’t seem inclined to reveal that much.
“Cheon Daoist, during this time I have deeply felt my own powerlessness.”
Seo Seol-ryeong spoke in a serious voice.
“When Baek Gang-ryeon of the Ten Thousand Night Ice Palace appeared before, and when I faced Gwak Yu of Azure Wind Valley this time… I could only collapse without doing anything.”
“…”
“But it’s impossible for me to reach Won Yeong-gyeong now.”
That didn’t seem to mean it was impossible simply due to skill or resource problems.
It sounded like it was impossible due to some circumstances.
“I thought I could handle things by utilizing other people like the White Flower Sect Patriarch, but that was my complacent thinking. So I need you.”
To achieve certain victory against the Won Yeong-gyeong monsters of the 7th Layer.
Seo Seol-ryeong spoke to Cheon Woo-jin in a serious voice.
“Cheon Daoist, I will guide you to Won Yeong-gyeong. So please trust me and follow.”
* * *
Ghost Head City Upper Levels, 7th Layer.
Unlike the Middle Layer of the 6th floor and below, that place was simply desolate.
Endless darkness stretched across the ceiling, and the ground was a desert covered in sand.
A land of death where a proper ecosystem could not be established.
That was the 7th Layer of Ghost Head City.
“It seems Gwak Yu’s primordial spirit has been extinguished.”
“Are you certain? Who on earth defeated him?”
“Wouldn’t it be the White Flower Sect Patriarch? There’s no other Won Yeong-gyeong Daoist capable of facing Daoist Gwak.”
Aged Daoists gathered at the massive ancient relic located in the north of that 7th Layer.
They were Won Yeong-gyeong cultivators who usually scattered throughout the 7th Layer doing their own cultivation.
Most of them had disciples of Jeodan Gyeong serving as errand runners.
But when entering the relic, they made their disciples wait outside.
The relic was filled with toxic spiritual energy that even Jeodan Gyeong couldn’t endure.
“Daoist North Palace! We have come!”
“Show yourself quickly!”
When the Won Yeong-gyeong Daoists raised their voices, a grayish shadow revealed itself from inside the relic.
It was a white-haired witch with a pale appearance, emanating gloomy energy from her entire body.
“Don’t raise your voices. You’re noisy.”
She was North Palace Annihilation, the owner of this relic.
Claiming to be a descendant of the Dark Soul Ghost Bone Palace, she hosted a gathering called the Ghost Bone Alliance composed of over ten Won Yeong-gyeong Daoists from the 7th Layer.
“I heard Daoist Gwak died on the 6th Layer, is that true?”
“Tell us for certain!”
North Palace Annihilation nodded at the questions from the Daoists belonging to the Ghost Bone Alliance.
“I just confirmed through divination. Gwak Yu was completely extinguished without leaving a single fragment of his primordial spirit.”
“Oh my, then he was indeed defeated by the White Flower Sect Patriarch?”
“That’s a bit strange.”
“Strange?”
“According to the divination, it’s correct that the White Flower Sect Patriarch extinguished Gwak Yu. However… it shows that someone else was the one who defeated Gwak Yu.”
The Daoists tilted their heads at North Palace Annihilation’s answer.
“What does that mean? So there were separate people who defeated him and extinguished him?”
“Then who defeated Daoist Gwak?”
“I couldn’t determine who exactly. Anyway, it seems there’s about one more Won Yeong-gyeong cultivator helping them.”
After saying that, North Palace Annihilation narrowed her eyes.
“Gwak Yu was too hasty. He could have watched how the disciples handled things first, then moved slowly, but he couldn’t endure that and went down only to meet disaster.”
“I completely agree.”
“If you’re Won Yeong-gyeong, you should act like Won Yeong-gyeong. How undignified.”
Most of the Daoists here were Elder Ancestors of renowned sects.
They were Daoists who left sect affairs to their juniors while leisurely cultivating only on the 7th Layer.
So they thought Gwak Yu’s direct descent to the 6th Layer was pathetic.
“Still, since Daoist Gwak was defeated, we now have justification.”
“That’s right. Now there’s no problem with us going down to the 6th Layer.”
“It’s no longer the stage of juniors below Jeodan Gyeong squabbling among themselves.”
Gwak Yu was defeated by So Hyo-bu of the White Flower Sect and an unidentified Won Yeong-gyeong Daoist.
It could be said that fighting between Won Yeong-gyeong had already begun.
So there would be no problem with the Won Yeong-gyeong Daoists of the 7th Layer descending to the 6th Layer for full-scale activity.
“Everyone maintain order.”
Then the Daoist with the most unique appearance among them spoke up.
Instead of an eyeball in his left eye socket, a red flower bud was embedded, with the surrounding area frozen white.
His appearance was reminiscent of camellia flowers blooming in cold winter.
“Since Gwak Yu, who was first in the lottery, died, Cheon Woo-jin’s rights now fall to me, who was second. No one else should touch him.”
“Hmm, that is…”
“If Snow Flower True Lord says so…”
After claiming priority before the other Daoists, the Daoist called Snow Flower True Lord turned his gaze to North Palace Annihilation.
“North Palace Annihilation, let me confirm once more. Does that man called Cheon Woo-jin really have such value?”
“Yes, Snow Flower True Lord.”
North Palace Annihilation nodded.
“According to my divination, Cheon Woo-jin is a being with irreplaceable talent. If you obtain his body, you could aim for not just the Incarnation Realm but even beyond.”
Snow Flower True Person’s right eye gleamed ominously at North Palace Annihilation’s assertion.
It was tantamount to saying he had the qualifications to escape the Lower Realm and ascend to the Upper Realm.
“However, if you attempt body seizure through ordinary methods, you cannot fully inherit that talent. You must perform body seizure with my assistance.”
North Palace Annihilation mentioned the precautions.
“So secure Seo Seol-ryeong’s body along with Cheon Woo-jin. If you provide me with Seo Seol-ryeong’s body, I’ll help you perform body seizure with Cheon Woo-jin.”
“North Palace Annihilation, but what’s the reason you specifically want Seo Seol-ryeong?”
Snow Flower True Lord raised one doubt.
“I know who Seo Seol-ryeong is. But isn’t Seo Seol-ryeong an inferior being even among the True Person race?”
“Why do you think that?”
“The other Guye True Persons already ascended to the Upper Realm long ago. Only Seo Seol-ryeong remains in the Lower Realm… Wasn’t she left behind due to insufficient talent?”
Why specifically want a failure like Seo Seol-ryeong?
Before Snow Flower True Lord asking such a question, North Palace Annihilation smiled.
“Think as you wish. I simply need Seo Seol-ryeong.”
“Understood.”
Snow Flower True Lord didn’t probe further.
There seemed to be something special about Seo Seol-ryeong, but North Palace Annihilation apparently had no intention of revealing it publicly.
“If Snow Flower True Lord fails, the opportunity will pass to the next Daoists in order. So everyone endure and wait patiently.”
North Palace Annihilation glanced around and said.
“Anyway, we are Nascent Soul cultivators who live for a thousand years. I hope there won’t be any shallow Daoists who can’t endure just a few days and break their promise.”
Would everyone really keep their turn?
The various Daoists moved their eyes, trying to read the inner thoughts of others.
Among the Daoists present here, no one thought the order would be properly maintained.
And that included North Palace Annihilation herself.
“Cheon Woo-jin and Seo Seol-ryeong… I look forward to the day we bring those two here.”
North Palace Annihilation stuck out her red tongue and licked her lips.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
