Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 186

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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 186: Scales (2)

Just like Yu Gwi-gyo, who was the founder of Shadow Scale Sunken Sect, Yowon Gyeon was originally a snake demon.

Unlike ordinary snakes, he was an exceptionally powerful entity called a Snake King, who had cultivated his strength to the Core Formation Realm level by devouring other demons.

However, he was merely a Core Formation Realm-level demon, not someone who understood the principles of the world like formally trained Cultivators.

His intelligence was at the level of a common snake, and he had no linguistic abilities.

One day, while prowling the marshlands in search of prey, Yowon Gyeon felt an extremely intense energy.

Yowon Gyeon headed toward the source of that energy as if entranced.

Qi Accumulation Stage Demonic Cultivators were guarding that location, but Yowon Gyeon killed all the Cultivators with his Core Formation Realm-level demon power.

What he learned later was that the energy had emanated from a scale fragment of the Arctic True Martial Dark Heaven Supreme Emperor, which was Shadow Scale Sunken Sect’s Divine Artifact.

The energy had leaked out while they were renovating the storage location, allowing Yowon Gyeon to detect it.

Having found the Divine Artifact, Yowon Gyeon opened his mouth and tried to swallow it whole.

This wasn’t a rational decision but an act born from instinct.

However, the moment he put the Divine Artifact in his mouth, he felt pain as if his entire body was being torn apart.

Though he had instinctively put it in his mouth, consuming a fragment of a transcendent being without any preparation was an extremely dangerous act.

Yowon Gyeon collapsed, coughing up blood.

As the price for impulsively opening his mouth driven by instinct, Yowon Gyeon was destined to meet death with all his spiritual meridians twisted.

It was Yu Gwi-gyo, the founder of Shadow Scale Sunken Sect, who saved Yowon Gyeon.

Yu Gwi-gyo not only healed Yowon Gyeon’s spiritual meridians but also used the power of the Divine Artifact to grant Yowon Gyeon reason.

Thus, Yowon Gyeon, who had been a Core Formation Realm-level demon, was reborn as a proper Core Formation Realm Cultivator.

After that, Yowon Gyeon became a disciple of Shadow Scale Sunken Sect and began walking the path of cultivation in earnest.

When he formally practiced Cultivation Techniques, he realized how dangerous the methods he had used to build his power had been.

It’s possible to become a being with great power by simply devouring others indiscriminately while consumed by instinct.

However, such methods can never create a soul with high dignity.

No matter how strong one becomes, they’re no different from a rattlesnake crawling on the ground.

Yowon Gyeon strived to overcome his demonic instincts.

Seeing his respected master Yu Gwi-gyo eventually lose his reason and go mad, he vowed that he must never become like that.

Forming a dao companion relationship and even marrying a Female Cultivator from the Human Race was one of his efforts to overcome his demonic instincts.

He thought that accepting the energy of the Human Race through Dual Cultivation Technique would help him overcome his demonic instincts.

However, Yowon Gyeon didn’t achieve the results he had hoped for.

No matter how much dual cultivation he practiced, it was impossible to become free from his demonic instincts.

One day while living like this, Yowon Gyeon’s wife reached the end of her lifespan.

She had been at the Core Formation Realm since forming a dao companion relationship with Yowon Gyeon, but ultimately reached the end of her lifespan without attaining the Nascent Soul stage.

“It has been enjoyable all this time. Please reach higher places.”

Leaving these last words, she passed away, and Yowon Gyeon fell into deep sorrow before his deceased wife.

Though they were of different races, she had been a good companion, and Yowon Gyeon had loved his wife in his own way.

Yowon Gyeon decided to do one last thing he could for her.

He would take her Corpse to her hometown and bury her there.

A Mountain Village quite far from Ghost Head City was her hometown.

Thinking that since she had lived away from home for so long, he should return her to her hometown, Yowon Gyeon loaded her remains onto a flying Magical Treasure and left Ghost Head City.

Reminiscing about their memories together, Yowon Gyeon arrived at his wife’s hometown and looked for a suitable place to bury her Corpse.

After investing half a day to find the best spot, Yowon Gyeon dug the ground and lowered the coffin he had prepared in advance.

Before closing the coffin lid, Yowon Gyeon looked at his wife and wondered if he had forgotten anything.

Since this was his first time burying someone with such care, it seemed like he might have missed something.

It was right then that a strange thought arose in Yowon Gyeon’s mind.

‘Wouldn’t it be of great help to me if I took out and ate the Golden Core from her belly?’

It was a thought that would have made someone from the Human Race shudder with horror.

But this was a woman who had exchanged energy with him through dual cultivation for a long time.

Wouldn’t eating that Golden Core be helpful?

Such thoughts kept arising in Yowon Gyeon’s mind.

Of course, it wasn’t a thought derived through logical thinking.

It was merely a sudden intuition that had emerged.

But to Yowon Gyeon, it felt like a very sharp insight.

When he came to his senses, Yowon Gyeon was already tearing open his beloved wife’s belly and extracting her Golden Core.

‘What am I doing?’

His reason returned momentarily, but it was already too late.

The Golden Core covered in blood looked so appetizing.

Like a snake swallowing a bird’s egg whole, Yowon Gyeon devoured the Golden Core in one gulp.

“A snake, it’s a snake demon!”

“A snake demon is eating a Corpse!”

Then he heard a commotion from behind.

People from his wife’s hometown village were coming up with torches, surrounding Yowon Gyeon.

Originally, Yowon Gyeon had planned to visit the village after burying his wife.

He had intended to tell them that building a shrine and offering annual sacrifices would bring good fortune.

Remembering this, Yowon Gyeon suddenly regained his reason.

The moment he understood that he had been swept away by momentary impulse and desecrated his wife’s Corpse, Yowon Gyeon felt unbearable shame.

“That, that vicious creature!”

“Kill the snake demon!”

The villagers rushed toward the crouching Yowon Gyeon.

Of course, mere Ordinary People couldn’t possibly kill Yowon Gyeon, who was already at the Nascent Soul stage.

Yowon Gyeon massacred them all and set fire to the surroundings.

He erased all traces, including his wife’s corpse.

What greeted Yowon Gyeon when he returned to Ghost Head City, trying to forget everything, was his daughter Yo Won-hui.

Yo Won-hui spoke to Yowon Gyeon with a gentle smile that resembled his dead wife.

“Father, did you bury Mother properly in a sunny place?”

The moment he heard that voice.

Yowon Gyeon felt as if he might fall into heart demons.

Before long, he might attack his daughter Yo Eun-hui and devour her golden core while she was still alive.

Like a hungry snake driven by instinct to devour even its own kind.

Feeling such fear, Yowon Gyeon handed over the position of Shadow Scale Sunken Sect Master to Yo Eun-hui.

And he left the 6th Floor to head to the upper levels of Ghost Head City.

With the hope that he could find a way to overcome this fate in the upper levels of Ghost Head City.

But… even after investing many years, there was no harvest.

Such a method might be hidden somewhere in the upper levels, but there was no way for Yowon Gyeon to find it with his abilities.

Yowon Gyeon had already taken the wrong path during cultivation and his lifespan had shortened, so it seemed impossible to do it on his own.

Still, Yowon Gyeon didn’t give up.

Even if it was impossible with Yowon Gyeon’s own abilities, someone with special qualities might be able to find a way.

With that thought, he had been searching for someone he could entrust the future to.

And… finally, Cheon Woo-jin appeared before Yowon Gyeon.

* * *

Cheon Woo-jin passed through the underground maze together with Mujung Soma.

There were not only Tam Ran Gu-ma’s hounds but also various traps that seemed to have been set by North Palace Annihilation, but they weren’t particularly threatening.

No matter what obstacles blocked their way, they broke through without difficulty, advancing with unstoppable momentum.

“Cheon Daoist, about Elder Ancestor Yowon Gyeon.”

While continuing to advance, Mujung Soma brought up the topic of Yowon Gyeon.

“What condition did he propose in exchange for handing over Thunder Spirit True Person’s cultivation method?”

“….”

“He didn’t ask you to become Shadow Scale Sunken Sect’s son-in-law, did he?”

Hearing Mujung Soma’s question, Cheon Woo-jin sighed.

“I told you a few days ago that it wasn’t that.”

“You might not have been able to tell the truth in front of Seo Daoist. Now it’s just us, so I’m asking.”

“Seo Seol-ryeong has nothing to do with it…”

If it were someone else, he might not say, but he could tell Mujung Soma the truth.

Making that judgment, Cheon Woo-jin opened his mouth.

“I was asked to find a way to overcome the limitations of being born as a beast race.”

“Is that really it?”

“He seemed to think it was necessary for the future of the entire Shadow Scale Sunken Sect.”

“Ah… so that’s what it was.”

Mujung Soma nodded as if he finally understood.

“Certainly, beast races tend to rely more on instinct or intuition compared to human races like us. Originally, beast races have excellent intuition, so they can gain great power from that alone… but instead, they easily go astray during cultivation.”

To avoid going astray, one must learn solidly from the basics like they do in Orthodox Sect schools.

Only by studying everything, even speculative content that isn’t very practical, and building a foundation, can stable growth be possible in the future.

Most demonic cultivators cannot grow this way.

That’s why they face great difficulties when they reach high realms.

Many cases end up falling into irrational monsters like Yu Gwi-gyo.

“Wait, but why does he want to rely on Cheon Daoist instead of doing it himself?”

“He said he doesn’t have much lifespan left. Because he went down the wrong path in the middle.”

“….”

Mujung Soma closed his mouth for a moment.

Then he sighed.

“If that’s true, it’s a heart-wrenching story. An Elder Ancestor of demonic origin, not even human race, requested help from Cheon Daoist thinking of his juniors’ future more than his own life.”

Even if he himself cannot live much longer, he wishes for the sect’s juniors to continue prospering.

Elder Ancestors with such hearts were certainly rare.

“Usually, by the time someone reaches Won Yeong-gyeong realm, even normal people become filled with poison. Most adopt the mindset that it’s enough if they alone reach high realms, even if they have to sacrifice everything in the world.”

“We’re also at Won Yeong-gyeong realm.”

While having such conversation, the two climbed stairs and entered a spacious area.

From the atmosphere, it seemed they had successfully escaped the underground maze.

But it wasn’t a situation where they could feel relieved.

The smell of blood could be felt from somewhere.

“Cheon Daoist!”

“Let’s go.”

Cheon Woo-jin and Mujung Soma headed toward the direction where the smell of blood was coming from.

And they witnessed chunks of flesh rolling on the ground.

They were the corpses of Baihua Sect disciples torn to shreds.

“There’s no sign of the Elder or Zhu Daoist. It seems only some Baihua Sect disciples were transported here and massacred.”

Examining the corpses lying in the spacious garden-like space, Mujung Soma clicked his tongue.

“They all died from being mauled by dogs.”

“….”

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Gu Hwal’s Demonic Hounds appeared from the dark passage.

They felt much stronger than the ones he had faced underground earlier.

Especially the white-furred dog that seemed to be the leader had a body larger than a human and possessed an tremendous presence.

And… behind them, an old man with a benevolent smile revealed himself.

[Gu Hwal]

* Race: Human Race

* Age: 901 years old

* Realm: Won Yeong-gyeong Late Stage

* Constitution: Earth Element Root

* Faction: Demonic Path

* Affiliation: Blood World Demon Sect

* Destiny: Extreme Evil

Gu Hwal is Tan Lan Gu Ma’s real name.

Tan Lan Gu Ma, who had been Baekwha-pa’s target, appeared without a single wound.

“How nice to meet you like this, Cheon Woo-jin.”

Tan Lan Gu Ma spoke in a gentle voice.

“To come up here without a single wound, your skills truly seem remarkable. And… Seong Jun, was it? Your abilities also seem quite excellent.”

Despite having encountered him on the 6th Floor not long ago, Tan Lan Gu Ma was currently unaware that Mujung Soma was right before his eyes.

When Mujung Soma was determined to hide his identity, it was difficult for most people to notice.

“But now that I’ve stepped forward personally, this is the end for you all. Well, it won’t be me fighting but my beloved hounds.”

Speaking with a leisurely attitude, when Tan Lan Gu Ma gestured, the demonic hounds stepped forward one by one.

But just then.

“…!”

A familiar figure appeared from the right passage.

Yowon Gyeon, wearing his hood pulled low, was walking toward them.

Seeing this, Mujung Soma grinned.

“Elder Ancestor has joined at a very good time. Capturing Tan Lan Gu Ma shouldn’t be difficult.”

“….”

Though Mujung Soma whispered, Cheon Woo-jin watched the front with cold eyes and no change in expression.

This was because despite the number of enemies they had to face increasing, he could see Tan Lan Gu Ma secretly smirking.

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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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