Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 23

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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 23: Talisman Treasure (1)

 

 

“To reach the Foundation Building stage, simply securing Foundation Spirit Beasts isn’t enough.”

 

Seo Seol-ryeong, who had barely regained her composure, spoke in a stiff voice.

 

“You must possess Spiritual Power that matches the Foundation Building level.”

“I already have it.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin had already absorbed Spiritual Energy from Guyang Gyeol’s Golden Core, who was a Core Formation cultivator.

Currently, Cheon Woo-jin’s Spiritual Power had reached the limit of a Great Perfection Qi Refining cultivator.

 

“You also need Spirit Stones to perform the ritual.”

“I already have those too.”

 

Guyang Gyeol’s Storage Bag contained a large quantity of Spirit Stones as well.

Adding the Spirit Stones he received from Seo Seol-ryeong today would be sufficient for attempting Foundation Building.

 

“I just need to gather Foundation Spirit Beasts and create Foundation Building Pills.”

“….”

“Let me add one more thing.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a cold voice.

 

“I’ve already secured a Metal-attribute Foundation Spirit Beast, so I only need to gather the remaining five.”

“…!”

 

Seo Seol-ryeong’s eyes widened at the news that he already possessed one Foundation Spirit Beast.

 

“How on earth did you….”

“I can’t tell you that much.”

 

There was no need to tell Seo Seol-ryeong that he had completely cleaned out a small Secret Realm that the Poison Sword Sect had secured.

 

“I was able to secure the Metal-attribute Foundation Spirit Beast because I was lucky. For the rest, I have no choice but to obtain them with someone’s help.”

“….”

“That’s why I want your help, Seo Seol-ryeong.”

 

Seo Seol-ryeong remained silent with her mouth closed.

Cheon Woo-jin decided to wait until she organized her thoughts.

 

“Come to think of it.”

 

After a long silence, Seo Seol-ryeong suddenly spoke up.

 

“How did you know my name?”

“My name?”

“I never told you my name.”

“….”

 

Now that he thought about it, that seemed to be the case.

He had carelessly called her by name.

 

“Did you investigate my background?”

“Well, I think I heard it somewhere.”

“You’re keeping even this a secret, you bad person.”

 

Seo Seol-ryeong let out a sigh.

 

“Can I say one more thing?”

“What is it?”

“I didn’t know your name until now, but I learned it for the first time today.”

“….”

 

Earlier, Won Pil-so had asked for his name, so he had told him.

But he had never revealed his name to Seo Seol-ryeong until now.

 

“That’s because you never asked for my name.”

“Ah, I see.”

 

Seo Seol-ryeong crossed her arms and replied in a cold voice.

 

“I didn’t ask because I thought you’d say it was a secret anyway.”

“I could tell you my name at least.”

“It’s probably not your real name anyway, right?”

“It is my real name.”

“Who would believe that.”

“….”

 

It really is my real name.

He felt a bit wronged.

 

“Another customer will be coming soon. Don’t keep loitering around and please leave now.”

“If that’s the case, then I have no choice.”

 

He had no intention of interfering with her business.

Cheon Woo-jin obediently stood up from his seat.

 

“I’ll see you again next time.”

“Yes.”

 

From behind Cheon Woo-jin as he was about to leave the Tent, Seo Seol-ryeong’s cold voice could be heard.

 

“I’ll see you in a week, Cheon Daoist.”

 

* * *

 

Cheon Woo-jin returned to his Cave Dwelling on the 1st Layer.

As soon as he lay down in his Single Room, fatigue quickly washed over him.

It was more fatigue of the soul than physical or mental exhaustion.

 

‘I dealt with too many things in one night.’

 

Dan Mok-ryeong, Guyang Gyeol, White Spirit Great Snake… there were three boss-level enemies I defeated today alone.

I obtained the offensive Dharma Artifact Five Thunder Heaven Piercing Sword, the defensive Dharma Artifact Silver Spirit Steel Defense, and the Foundation Spirit Beast White Leaf Autumn Spirit Grass as spoils of war, and my abilities as a cultivator also grew by one level.

 

It was a night of many achievements, but the fatigue was equally severe.

Physical fatigue or mental fatigue can be resolved by circulating Spiritual Energy or taking elixirs, but… there’s nothing to be done about soul fatigue.

As a human being, I need to take rest.

 

‘Besides, Seo Seol-ryeong also said to meet in a week.’

 

Saying to meet in a week means she’ll prepare during that week.

If I visit after a week, she’ll formally tell me the information.

 

‘I should rest as much as possible until then.’

 

Cheon Woo-jin closed both eyes and fell into sleep.

He planned to sleep soundly all day long.

 

However, Cheon Woo-jin opened his eyes before even half a day had passed.

This was because a voice suddenly echoed inside the previously quiet Cave Dwelling.

There was still only Cheon Woo-jin inside the Cave Dwelling, but a voice came from the entrance.

 

“Are you in?”

“…”

 

The Cave Dwelling is a space isolated from the outside by a semi-permanent Formation Array.

Excluding Cheon Woo-jin the tenant, there was only one person who could approach this place.

 

“Come out for a moment. I have something to discuss.”

“Understood.”

 

When Cheon Woo-jin came outside the Cave Dwelling, he saw a fat man standing with his hands behind his back.

The landlord who rented him this Cave Dwelling… Jo Hyu, a Qi Condensation stage cultivator.

 

‘Don’t tell me he wants to raise the rent?’

 

When he was in the real world, Cheon Woo-jin had always lived in monthly rental houses.

That’s why he automatically became nervous when the landlord acted like this.

 

Of course, even if the rent doubled now, it wouldn’t be much of a burden.

The Third Grade Cave Dwelling that Cheon Woo-jin was renting only cost 30 Spirit Stones per month in rent.

 

“What’s the matter?”

“Hmm…”

 

Jo Hyu scratched the back of his head and opened his mouth.

 

“Sorry, but you’ll need to vacate the Cave Dwelling.”

“…”

 

It wasn’t about raising the rent, it seemed.

But it was even worse news than that.

 

“May I hear the reason?”

 

Cheon Woo-jin was quite fond of his current Cave Dwelling.

Though it was a considerably cramped room, that cramped feeling was actually comfortable for the current Cheon Woo-jin.

 

They say cats keep getting into boxes because they feel secure in cramped spaces.

Cheon Woo-jin, who had fallen into the terrifying world of martial arts, was also feeling secure in the narrow single room with walls on all sides.

 

“If it’s because the rent is insufficient…”

“It’s not that.”

 

Jo Hyu made a bitter expression.

 

“Have you heard of the Dong Ryu Trading Company?”

“I’ve heard the name.”

 

Dong Ryu Trading Company is a group of merchants that appears in the Spirit Path Cultivation game.

It’s a trading company under the influence of the Taeul Yeokri Sect, so you often trade with them when playing Orthodox Sect.

Conversely, when playing Dark Gate or Demonic Path, there were often occasions to raid and plunder the Dong Ryu Trading Company.

 

“The Dong Ryu Trading Company says they’re going to completely demolish this entire area and renovate it.”

“Renovate?”

“They’re going to lay new roads, build new buildings… make it like a commercial district of an ordinary city.”

“…”

 

Cheon Woo-jin was at a loss for words.

 

He never imagined he’d be kicked out of his home due to redevelopment in the martial arts world.

 

“Honestly, I feel bad about it too. I invested a lot to start the Cave Dwelling business in this neighborhood.”

“…”

“Even if I die when my lifespan runs out, if I could leave several Cave Dwellings to my granddaughter, I wouldn’t have to worry about what happens after… that’s what I was thinking.”

 

Was the girl who was with him on the day we first met indeed his granddaughter?

 

Jo Hyu’s current age was 89. Since he seemed to have given up on further advancement in cultivation, he didn’t have much lifespan left.

He couldn’t help but worry about his young granddaughter’s future.

 

“Then what are you planning to do from now on, landlord?”

“I’ll have to take the compensation money the trading company gives and look for another business. But I wonder if there are any suitable places left on Ghost Head City 1st Floor…”

 

Ghost Head City 2nd Floor is a place where ordinary people cannot go up because the Miasma Energy is toxic.

To live with a young girl, he would have to find a new place on Ghost Head City 1st Floor.

 

“Now I can’t even leave Ghost Head City.”

“Is there some special reason?”

“Hehe.”

 

At Cheon Woo-jin’s question, Jo Hyu made an awkward expression.

 

“Actually, I’m from the Blood World Demon Sect, so if I go outside Ghost Head City, I’ll be caught immediately and torn limb from limb.”

“….”

 

Who would have thought he was someone who had fled from the Demonic Path.

I just thought of him as a pot-bellied landlord, but he was someone who had lived a more dramatic life than expected.

 

“Anyway… since things turned out this way, I’d appreciate it if you could find another place.”

 

Jo Hyu looked at Cheon Woo-jin’s face and spoke in a gentle voice.

 

“From now on, rent a better Cave Dwelling. You seem to be quite active here and there lately, so how can someone like that live in a cramped Cave Dwelling worth 30 Spirit Stones.”

“….”

 

Jo Hyu’s words made sense too.

But Cheon Woo-jin was fond of that cramped Cave Dwelling worth 30 Spirit Stones.

 

At least for now.

 

* * *

 

Cheon Woo-jin spent his days doing various things.

 

He sold the Spirit Herbs he had gathered from the Secret Realm.

He found deserted places to practice using the Five Thunder Heaven Piercing Sword and Silver Spirit Steel Defense.

He re-read the Taeul Mysterious Sword Art Secret Manual from beginning to end.

He sat cross-legged in his Cave Dwelling and meditated all day long.

He wandered around the Market listening to stories about Dong Ryu Trading Company.

 

Before he knew it, a week had passed.

 

“You’ve come.”

“You told me to come today.”

 

When he entered the Tent, Seo Seol-ryeong greeted him with her usual cold attitude.

 

“So, how did it go?”

“There is one way to secure a Foundation Spirit Beast right now.”

 

Hearing Seo Seol-ryeong’s answer, Cheon Woo-jin felt satisfied.

 

Actually, if it didn’t work out, Cheon Woo-jin could just go look for a Foundation Spirit Beast by himself.

He could leave Ghost Head City and search all over the Continent.

But even using his game knowledge, that would take years.

 

He had brought it up to Seo Seol-ryeong because he wanted to shorten that time… and Seo Seol-ryeong had lived up to his expectations.

 

“I did well to ask you.”

“Stop saying things you don’t mean.”

 

He was being sincere, but Seo Seol-ryeong snorted.

 

“There’s a client who can provide a Wood Attribute Foundation Spirit Beast.”

“Good.”

 

Wood Attribute Foundation Spirit Beasts were difficult to obtain.

If he could acquire one here, it would make things easier going forward.

 

“What kind of request is it?”

“Do you know about Dong Ryu Trading Company?”

“….”

 

Dong Ryu Trading Company.

Hearing that name, Cheon Woo-jin frowned.

 

“It’s a trading company affiliated with the Orthodox Sect, and they’re trying to make a full-scale entry into Ghost Head City recently. Probably with the Taeul Yeokri Gate backing them.”

“….”

“It seems they’re trying to create a Commercial District under their control on Ghost Head City’s 1st Floor… but there are people who don’t like that.”

 

Of course there would be.

Various factions within Ghost Head City were already fighting over interests.

 

“Dong Ryu Trading Company brought a certain Talisman Treasure to trade with the internal factions of Ghost Head City.”

“A Talisman Treasure… you mean a talisman that stores the power of a Magical Treasure?”

“That’s right.”

 

Magical Treasures were one level higher than Dharma Artifacts.

They were so powerful that those in the Foundation or Qi Gathering stages couldn’t even handle them properly.

 

Talisman Treasures were made to allow anyone to use the power of such Magical Treasures.

They could be created by cultivators of the Core Formation stage or higher extracting part of a Magical Treasure’s power and sealing it in a talisman.

 

They had the disadvantage of becoming useless scraps of paper once all the stored power was used up, but they wielded much more powerful force than Dharma Artifacts.

 

“What kind of Magical Treasure’s power is stored in it?”

“It’s said to be a Magical Treasure related to Flame Arts. The details are unknown.”

 

Flame Arts.

Cheon Woo-jin recalled his memories.

Since Dong Ryu Trading Company was related to the Taeul Yeokri Gate, it would be one of the Fire Attribute Magical Treasures possessed by the Taeul Yeokri Gate.

 

In that case… it was likely the Red Child True Fire Spear.

 

‘That would have terrifying power. Using it just once could turn a street into a sea of flames.’

 

He recalled the power of the Red Child True Fire Spear that could only be used by those at the Foundation Establishment stage or higher.

While a Talisman Treasure had significantly less power than the original Magical Treasure, it would still exceed the maximum firepower Cheon Woo-jin could currently unleash.

 

“So this request is to eliminate that Talisman Treasure?”

“That’s right. If the Talisman Treasure disappears, the deal will fall through.”

“Since it’s an important item, the trading company’s guards will be protecting it strictly.”

“There will be several Qi Condensation stage guards. It’s a more difficult situation than the last Poison Sword Sect assault.”

 

Excluding Guyang Gyeol who had suddenly appeared, this job certainly seemed more difficult.

 

“However, there’s no need to kill the opposing guards. You just need to sneak in and eliminate the Talisman Treasure.”

“When you say ‘eliminate’… you mean I can take it with me, right?”

“That’s correct.”

 

Seo Seol-ryeong spoke in a cold voice.

 

“However, even when placed in a Storage Bag, the Talisman Treasure’s energy will leak out, so there’s a high risk of being pursued. Therefore, it would be better not to get greedy.”

 

A Talisman Treasure was a treasure of much higher grade than ordinary Storage Bags.

An ordinary Storage Bag couldn’t conceal a Talisman Treasure.

 

“I’ll handle that part myself.”

“…”

 

A moment of silence passed.

 

“Saying that means… you’re thinking of accepting the request.”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

 

Seo Seol-ryeong confirmed once more.

 

“I did say I would introduce jobs suited to your abilities from now on… but this job is truly dangerous.”

“It’s also a job that offers correspondingly greater rewards.”

 

Not only was a Wood Attribute Qi Condensation Spirit Beast offered as compensation.

If things went well, he could even obtain the Red Child True Fire Spear Talisman Treasure.

This was definitely worth the challenge.

 

“And… there’s also a very personal reason.”

“What?”

 

Thinking of the Single Room where he could lie down comfortably, Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a cold voice.

 

“I’ll take that request.”

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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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