Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 188

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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 188: Scales (4)

“Cheon Woo-jin, don’t change what you’ve decided in your heart.”

On the cold relic floor.

Having lost his limbs and gradually turning into a snake, Yowon Gyeon spoke to Cheon Woo-jin.

“The higher cultivators ascend to greater realms, the more of them change as people. They forget everything they once pursued, everything that was precious to them, and transform into beings who think only of climbing to higher places.”

“….”

“They break even the promises they just made, abandon even their oaths… and when they see something that might benefit them, they desperately rush to grab it.”

Yowon Gyeon’s voice carried bitter emotion.

“How are they any different from lowly animals that don’t hesitate to devour their own flesh and blood when hungry?”

“….”

Many Wonnyeonggyeong Daoists think of themselves as very superior beings.

But Yowon Gyeon evaluated them as no different from lowly animals.

Those words certainly had merit.

“I didn’t want to become such a being. Just as I didn’t want to return to being a demon governed only by animalistic instincts, I didn’t want to fall into becoming a monster that pursues only its own advancement.”

Unlike the selfish Elder Ancestors who ignored their sect’s juniors and prioritized only themselves.

Yowon Gyeon continued to cherish those with whom he had formed connections.

Despite being a being that started as a lowly demon… no, perhaps because he was such a being, Yowon Gyeon tried to maintain more human-like qualities than Daoists born from the Human Race.

“Because I tried to live that way… my heart ached whenever I couldn’t.”

“….”

“Cheon Woo-jin, I hope you won’t be like that.”

Yowon Gyeon entreated Cheon Woo-jin.

“Even if you climb to higher places in the future, don’t change your heart. Continue to live while maintaining your current self.”

“I understand.”

Cheon Woo-jin promised while meeting Yowon Gyeon’s eyes.

“Cheon Woo-jin will continue to be Cheon Woo-jin. I will continue to remain the Cheon Woo-jin that Elder Ancestor wanted to entrust future matters to.”

“Yes…”

“I will also make sure to keep our agreement.”

The promise to find a way for the Shadow Scale Sunken Sect to pioneer a new future.

When Cheon Woo-jin emphasized once more that he would keep that promise, Yowon Gyeon slowly nodded.

“Then I can be at ease. I won’t need to worry about what comes after.”

“Yes, please don’t worry.”

“Good… I don’t think I need to nag anymore.”

Yowon Gyeon weakly lowered his head.

And muttered in a fading voice.

“My wife, now I too shall go…”

Those were Yowon Gyeon’s final words.

No more voice flowed from Yowon Gyeon’s mouth.

He only flicked his tongue and surveyed his surroundings like an ordinary snake.

He briefly stared at Cheon Woo-jin, but perhaps instinctively sensing that he was too powerful a being to devour, immediately turned his gaze away.

And like an ordinary snake, he crawled along the floor and disappeared somewhere.

Watching that retreating figure, Cheon Woo-jin realized there was something inside the Daoist robe the snake had left behind on the floor.

All sorts of items were contained within the sleeves of Yowon Gyeon’s Daoist robe.

Just before losing his reason, he had taken out as many of his treasures as possible from his spatial storage.

Because he wanted to leave something for Cheon Woo-jin, who had stayed by his side until the end.

“….”

Cheon Woo-jin felt his chest grow heavy.

The fact that he couldn’t accept things coldly as they were without emotional disturbance meant that Cheon Woo-jin still retained human qualities.

Suddenly, Cheon Woo-jin recalled the story he had heard when meeting Jo Hyu on the 1st Layer.

He also remembered the conversation he had with Mujung Soma at Daeyopianbukhwam.

They had all told Cheon Woo-jin similar things.

Not to lose his humanity, not to lose his true self.

Quite some time had passed since Cheon Woo-jin came to this world.

During that time, Cheon Woo-jin had climbed the stairs of cultivation and reached high realms in a short period.

Compared to when he first came to this world, there was truly a great difference.

But that was only a difference in ability; there wasn’t much difference in terms of character.

Cheon Woo-jin considered this fortunate and hoped it would continue to be so.

‘Don’t worry, Yowon Gyeon.’

While gathering the relics, Cheon Woo-jin spoke to Yowon Gyeon in his heart.

With clear will, engraving firm resolve.

‘No matter what fate awaits me in the future, I will stay true to myself.’

* * *

[Damn it!]

Tan Lan Gu Ma cursed inwardly as he passed through maze-like passages.

Currently, Tan Lan Gu Ma was a Nascent Soul without physical substance, but escaping by passing through walls was impossible.

Since this ruin was created by the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace, even Nascent Souls could not pass through walls or ceilings.

So Tan Lan Gu Ma couldn’t move directly to his desired location and had to wander through the maze.

[Yowon Gyeon… if only that damn bastard hadn’t betrayed us!]

Unlike his usual gentle appearance of stroking dogs with a kind smile, Tan Lan Gu Ma was now revealing his true nature.

In fact, Tan Lan Gu Ma had planned from the beginning to use Yowon Gyeon to the fullest before betraying him.

Therefore, cursing Yowon Gyeon for betraying him was unconscionable, but Tan Lan Gu Ma was inherently lacking in conscience to begin with.

[Besides, why is that bastard Mujung Soma here!]

The mercenary named Seong Jun who had been beside Cheon Woo-jin was none other than Mujung Soma.

He never could have imagined that Mujung Soma would be acting together with Cheon Woo-jin.

How on earth did he become Cheon Woo-jin’s companion?

[Damn it, I should have swept them all away back there!]

If he had coordinated an attack with Yowon Gyeon leading the charge, he would have had sufficient chances of victory even against both Cheon Woo-jin and Mujung Soma.

But because Yowon Gyeon betrayed him, only Tan Lan Gu Ma lost his physical body and was forced to flee in defeat.

The fortunate thing was that Yowon Gyeon also seemed to have reached his limit.

He couldn’t know exactly what state he was in, but probably wouldn’t be at full strength.

[It’s become difficult to subdue those guys leisurely, but… there’s still a chance of victory!]

Currently, Tan Lan Gu Ma had lost his physical body, but if he asked North Palace Annihilation, she would provide him with a temporary body to use.

After securing a new body like that, he could cooperate with North Palace Annihilation to counterattack again.

[Mujung Soma is troublesome, but if I prepare a trap that’s perfect for him… Hmm? What’s that?]

Then he saw something strange ahead.

A small butterfly was flying toward him.

[Tan Lan Gu Ma, this is North Palace Annihilation. I’ve finally made contact.]

[Oh, Daoist North Palace!]

Sensing North Palace Annihilation’s thoughts, Tan Lan Gu Ma was overjoyed.

[Things have gotten quite tangled up, unlike our plan!]

[It seems so. Did you lose your physical body?]

[Yes! Provide me with a body I can temporarily inhabit! Right now!]

[It seems to be an urgent situation. Follow me.]

The butterfly led the way, flying through the passage, and Tan Lan Gu Ma followed behind.

While doing so, he explained the current situation to North Palace Annihilation.

[The Blood World Demon Sect’s Baek Myeon Gak leader Mujung Soma… I didn’t know that bastard was Cheon Woo-jin’s companion.]

[He’s more threatening than Yowon Gyeon or So Hyo-bu. I know his weaknesses, so I can deal with him.]

[That’s reassuring. Anyway, enter the room on the right.]

In the room the butterfly guided him to, a humanoid puppet was stored.

It didn’t seem to be a legacy of the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace, but it looked quite high-performance.

[It’s a puppet I secured before. It should be sufficient for temporary use.]

[Thank you!]

Tan Lan Gu Ma immediately entered that puppet.

Once he settled into the control core corresponding to the golden core, he became able to handle the puppet like his own body.

[It’s quite stiff, but this should be fine!]

The puppet even had a large quantity of spirit stones installed inside.

It was set up so he could draw out spiritual energy to use magic arts.

Of course, compared to the physical body Tan Lan Gu Ma had been using, it was lacking in many areas.

But it was much more stable than being in Nascent Soul state, and he could exert greater power.

For now, he would use this puppet temporarily and later transfer to a proper body.

Using Cheon Woo-jin’s or Mujung Soma’s physical body wouldn’t be bad either.

[Daoist North Palace, where are you now? I’d like to rendezvous first and discuss strategy.]

[We should do that. I’ll guide you again.]

The butterfly began flying again.

Tan Lan Gu Ma moved the creaking puppet body and chased after it.

[Is this direction correct?]

[This is right if we want to go safely. You wouldn’t want to encounter enemies while unprepared, would you?]

[That’s true. But…]

While following the butterfly, Tan Lan Gu Ma asked a question.

[What’s So Hyo-bu and Seo Seol-ryeong’s current state? I dealt with the low-ranking disciples of Bai Hua Sect, but I couldn’t see those two.]

[Don’t worry, I’m guiding them well into my trap.]

[Is that so?]

[I’ve prepared a special trap. You’ll be amazed when you know its full scope.]

What exactly had she prepared?

Tan Lan Gu Ma became curious.

[This way.]

The place the butterfly guided him to was a spacious area.

Whether it was a room that had Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace facilities, there were traces of devices that had been installed being torn out.

Passages leading to other places opened in multiple directions.

[We’ll arrive soon.]

[Is she coming here?]

Then he sensed a presence from the right passage.

He thought North Palace Annihilation was walking over, but the person who revealed themselves was someone completely unexpected.

“Hmm? What’s that puppet?”

It was a woman dressed in white robes.

She held a beautiful precious sword in her hand.

Seeing this sight, Tan Lan Gu Ma felt bewildered.

[Why is So Hyo-bu here?]

It was So Hyo-bu, the Elder of Bai Hua Sect.

Not only So Hyo-bu, but even her top disciple Ju Yang was walking over from the right corridor.

“Wait, don’t tell me that bastard…”

At that moment, So Hyo-bu took out a mirror.

It wasn’t an ordinary mirror but a magical treasure, and when she pointed it toward Tan Lan Gu Ma, a dark red light burst forth.

“This wavelength… it’s Tan Lan Gu Ma!”

“…!”

Tan Lan Gu Ma cursed inwardly.

Even when he had been hiding on Hwang Ryeol Bi Yeol Island before, he had been pursued by Bai Hua Sect because of that magical treasure.

“Tan Lan Gu Ma! I’ll make you pay for your crimes here!”

“I’ll avenge our fallen sect members!”

So Hyo-bu and Ju Yang raised their swords, revealing extreme hostility.

From Tan Lan Gu Ma’s perspective, this was an extremely dangerous situation.

Under normal circumstances it might be different, but facing them with this puppet body was impossible.

[North Palace Daoist, help me!]

Tan Lan Gu Ma requested help from North Palace Annihilation.

But before North Palace Annihilation could answer, he sensed a presence from the left corridor.

“Tan Lan Gu Ma, so you were here.”

Damn it!

Tan Lan Gu Ma cursed once again.

What emerged from the left corridor was none other than Cheon Woo-jin.

He had desperately fled to avoid being caught, but in the end, he was cornered here.

[North Palace Daoist! Isn’t there some way?!]

[There is a way.]

North Palace Annihilation’s cold mental transmission came through.

[Use the puppet’s power.]

[What?]

[I prepared that puppet in advance for situations like this.]

What was she talking about?

Aside from the puppet being loaded with spirit stones inside, there didn’t seem to be anything special about it…

[There should be a large quantity of spirit stones inside the puppet.]

[That’s true, but…]

[Those are for self-destruction.]

Tan Lan Gu Ma felt momentarily confused.

He couldn’t understand what North Palace Annihilation was saying.

[What did you just say?]

[I said they’re for self-destruction, Tan Lan Gu Ma.]

North Palace Annihilation’s cold mental transmission was conveyed.

[If I detonate the spirit stones altered by my spell formation along with a late-stage Won Shadow Sect Nascent Soul, it can create an overwhelming explosion. It’s possible to inflict fatal damage on both Cheon Woo-jin and So Hyo-bu.]

[What are you saying, North Palace Daoist!]

Now he understood.

Just as Tan Lan Gu Ma had planned to use Yowon Gyeon and then betray him.

North Palace Annihilation had also planned to use Tan Lan Gu Ma and then betray him.

[I’ve already lured Seo Seol-ryeong to another location. After making you self-destruct to strike at Cheon Woo-jin and So Hyo-bu, I’ll leisurely escape with Seo Seol-ryeong.]

What mattered to North Palace Annihilation was Seo Seol-ryeong.

Seo Seol-ryeong had to be secured without a single injury, but the same wasn’t true for Cheon Woo-jin and the others.

That’s why she planned to make Tan Lan Gu Ma self-destruct and sweep them all away at once.

[Farewell, Tan Lan Gu Ma. Your pet dogs will be waiting for you in the afterlife.]

[North Palace Daoist…!]

Tan Lan Gu Ma tried to extend the puppet’s arm toward North Palace Annihilation’s butterfly.

But the puppet wouldn’t budge. North Palace Annihilation seemed to have forcibly stopped it.

Moreover, it was impossible to escape with his Nascent Soul outside the puppet.

[This damn…]

Feeling enormous heat generating inside the puppet, Tan Lan Gu Ma screamed inwardly.

But then Tan Lan Gu Ma witnessed a strange sight.

Cheon Woo-jin was holding something he had never seen before in his life.

It was a scale fragment that emanated heavy dark energy not of this world.

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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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