Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 36
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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 36: Dharma Artifact (2)
‘This is exactly the situation I was hoping for.’
Sacred Horn Unity Gate and Mad World Yin Spirit Sect.
Two contrasting sects both want Cheon Woo-jin at the same time.
In fact, Cheon Woo-jin had already anticipated this would happen.
‘From the moment I entered the Dark Soul Secret Realm, there was a high possibility things would proceed this way.’
Among the subordinates Mad World Yin Spirit Sect sent into the Dark Soul Secret Realm was Yu Gi-ryeong, who was at Foundation Establishment.
If they found out that Yu Gi-ryeong had been defeated, it would be natural for Mad World Yin Spirit Sect to feel suspicious and try to investigate the truth.
Then they would naturally learn of Cheon Woo-jin’s existence, and considering Jeok Ya-wol’s personality as depicted in the game, there was a high possibility he would try to make him his subordinate.
‘And if Mad World Yin Spirit Sect tries to advance into Ghost Head City in earnest, Sacred Horn Unity Gate would have no choice but to react.’
Sacred Horn Unity Gate wants the lower levels of Ghost Head City to continue maintaining their current state.
They believe this is what maintains the order and balance of all of Ghost Head City.
If Mad World Yin Spirit Sect showed signs of trying to take control of Ghost Head City’s lower levels as the vanguard of the Demonic Path faction, Sacred Horn Unity Gate would have no choice but to respond directly.
But considering Sacred Horn Unity Gate’s usual behavior, there was a high possibility they would dump everything on one True Transmission Disciple and tell them to handle it all.
In such a situation, if rumors about Cheon Woo-jin were spreading due to Mad World Yin Spirit Sect’s background investigation… it would be a natural progression for them to request cooperation from Cheon Woo-jin.
‘In the end, a situation would be created where both Sacred Horn Unity Gate and Mad World Yin Spirit Sect want me.’
Of course, Seo Seol-ryeong would have intervened in the middle as well.
Seo Seol-ryeong had always been working to raise Cheon Woo-jin’s value.
With trust in her… Cheon Woo-jin slowly opened his mouth.
“Either side is fine.”
After saying it didn’t matter whether it was Sacred Horn Unity Gate or Mad World Yin Spirit Sect, he added one thing.
“However, this time I’d like to receive an advance payment.”
“An advance payment…”
Seo Seol-ryeong fell into thought for a moment.
“I understand what you mean. Then I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Please do.”
If he said this much, Seo Seol-ryeong would handle the negotiations herself.
He just needed to trust in Seo Seol-ryeong’s capabilities and wait.
“May I come back in five days?”
“Yes, I’ll have the discussion wrapped up by then.”
Cheon Woo-jin stood up from his seat.
But before going outside the tent, Seo Seol-ryeong called out to Cheon Woo-jin again.
“Cheon Daoist.”
“What is it?”
“Do you have anything in mind regarding the Foundation Spirit Material?”
The Foundation Spirit Material is one of the six spirit materials needed to make a Foundation Building Pill.
Since Cheon Woo-jin had already obtained five Five Elements Spirit Creatures, he only needed to secure one Foundation Spirit Material.
But this Foundation Spirit Material couldn’t be just anything.
While any Five Elements Spirit Creatures could be used as long as they met the conditions, the performance of the Foundation Building Pill would vary depending on which Foundation Spirit Material was used.
Using a good Foundation Spirit Material would make it easier to reach Foundation Establishment, and grant greater power when reaching Foundation Establishment.
Also, special Foundation Spirit Materials could grant new powers when reaching Foundation Establishment.
While ordinary cultivators didn’t have the freedom to choose what to use as their Foundation Spirit Material… Cheon Woo-jin needed to consider this aspect as well.
“I’m still thinking about it.”
“I see.”
Seo Seol-ryeong slowly nodded her head.
“If there’s anything I can help you with, please let me know anytime.”
“I’ll do that.”
If Cheon Woo-jin reached Foundation Establishment, Seo Seol-ryeong would also be able to introduce higher-level jobs.
If that happened, the benefits Seo Seol-ryeong gained as an intermediary would also increase.
The person who most wanted Cheon Woo-jin’s growth in Ghost Head City was probably Seo Seol-ryeong.
* * *
After cultivating in his cave dwelling for 5 days, Cheon Woo-jin headed to the 2nd Layer again.
But this time he could feel the atmosphere had changed in a different sense from last time.
There were more people whose faction section in their status window showed ‘Demonic Path’ than before.
‘I remember that person was an ordinary mercenary… but they’ve already converted to the Demonic Path.’
Seeing ‘Affiliation: Mad World Yin Spirit Sect’ displayed in the status window of a shop owner he occasionally visited, Cheon Woo-jin felt bitter.
Currently, Mad World Yin Spirit Sect was enticing mercenaries living at the bottom in Ghost Head City’s lower levels to convert to the Demonic Path.
‘As time passes, there will be more sects that get absorbed entirely by Mad World Yin Spirit Sect like Demon Slaying Gate.’
Feeling the change in the political situation, he headed to Seo Seol-ryeong’s shop.
When he entered the tent, Seo Seol-ryeong immediately informed him of the negotiation results.
“First, Sacred Horn Unity Gate’s position is that they can provide this amount of spirit stones as an advance payment.”
Seo Seol-ryeong showed him a note.
After confirming the numbers written there, Cheon Woo-jin nodded.
“What about the Mad World Yin Spirit Sect?”
“The Mad World Yin Spirit Sect said they wanted to pay with something other than Spirit Stones.”
Saying this, Seo Seol-ryeong showed him a new note.
“They said they would provide the secret manuals written here.”
“….”
Cheon Woo-jin checked the text written on the note.
Starting with the Blood Soul Great Method, various Demonic Cultivation Methods were listed in succession.
These were rare cultivation methods that were difficult to obtain even in the game.
In simple comparison, it could be said to be more valuable compensation than the Spirit Stones offered by the Sacred Horn Unity Gate.
However, Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a cold voice.
“The Mad World Yin Spirit Sect is trying to save resources.”
“It seems so.”
Even if they handed over these cultivation manuals, the Mad World Yin Spirit Sect would suffer no loss.
Books could simply be reprinted.
But if they paid compensation in Spirit Stones, that would create expenses.
To expand their influence in Ghost Head City, they needed to invest massive resources, and the amount given to Cheon Woo-jin would reduce those resources accordingly.
“And offering these Demonic Cultivation Methods… it’s probably an intention to draw me into the Demonic Path faction in the future.”
“That would be the case.”
“In the end, they’re thinking of not taking any losses at all.”
Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a cold voice.
“Working with such people wouldn’t benefit me at all.”
“Then you’re saying you’ll work with the Sacred Horn Unity Gate this time.”
Seo Seol-ryeong had probably expected this outcome from the beginning.
Initially, Cheon Woo-jin had set the condition of paying Spirit Stones as an advance.
But only the Sacred Horn Unity Gate could generously meet that condition.
The Mad World Yin Spirit Sect, which found even one Spirit Stone precious, would obviously try to pay compensation through other means.
That said, negotiating only with the Sacred Horn Unity Gate would have been foolish.
It was wise to pretend to be torn between the Sacred Horn Unity Gate and the Mad World Yin Spirit Sect while driving up his price as much as possible.
As a result, he was able to extract a satisfactory amount from the Sacred Horn Unity Gate.
“Actually, the Sacred Horn Unity Gate already entrusted the Spirit Stones to me.”
“Did they?”
“I’ll give them to you now.”
Seo Seol-ryeong placed her hand on the table as usual.
But unlike before, Spirit Stones didn’t come pouring out.
Instead, a single stone the size of a fist dropped down.
“This is….”
“Because the amount is too large, regular Spirit Stones would take up too much space.”
It was a Cloud Spirit Stone that contained far more Spiritual Energy than ordinary Spirit Stones.
As the name suggested, it had cloud-like patterns, which were formed during the process of condensing massive amounts of Spiritual Energy.
Since one Cloud Spirit Stone held the value of over one hundred thousand regular Spirit Stones, large transactions were conducted with these Cloud Spirit Stones.
“Additionally, five thousand regular Spirit Stones.”
Clatter!
The usual Spirit Stones poured onto the table.
One Cloud Spirit Stone and five thousand regular Spirit Stones.
This was the advance payment from the Sacred Horn Unity Gate.
“I’ll receive them.”
Cheon Woo-jin put the Spirit Stones into his Storage Bag.
Watching this, Seo Seol-ryeong spoke again.
“Will you go pay the remaining balance for the Dharma Artifact now?”
“You noticed?”
“Of course.”
Two weeks ago, Cheon Woo-jin had asked Seo Seol-ryeong to introduce him to someone skilled at making Dharma Artifacts.
After that, he said he wanted to receive Spirit Stones as an advance, so it would have been easy to deduce that he needed funds for Dharma Artifact production.
She must have considered such circumstances when helping with negotiations with the Sacred Horn Unity Gate.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Seo Seol-ryeong responded in a calm voice to Cheon Woo-jin’s thanks.
“After you receive the Dharma Artifact, please visit the Sacred Horn Unity Gate Branch Hall in the 2nd Layer Western District around the Hour of the Rooster today. I’ll contact them, so you can hear the specific details there.”
“Understood.”
“Then I’ll see you again after this business is concluded.”
Seo Seol-ryeong’s role was finished.
The rest would have to be handled by Cheon Woo-jin together with the Sacred Horn Unity Gate.
Cheon Woo-jin bid farewell to Seo Seol-ryeong and went outside.
Then he went up to the 3rd Layer and headed toward the Hwangju Refinery Pavilion.
“I came to collect the item I requested from the pavilion master.”
“Ah, please come this way!”
Following the shop clerk’s guidance inside, Song Pyo immediately poked his head out.
“You came early.”
“Is it not finished yet?”
“It’s finished.”
Song Pyo said while rubbing his shoulders.
“But the packaging isn’t done yet.”
“I don’t need packaging, just hand over the item.”
“Hmm… Then come this way.”
Cheon Woo-jin followed Song Pyo’s guidance into the inner room.
In the center of the room was a large workshop table, on which six palm-sized objects were placed.
“As you requested, I made supreme-grade Flying Spirits.”
Combat auxiliary Dharma Artifacts that fly through the air and move autonomously.
Supreme-grade Dharma Artifacts completed using the Dark Dew Great King Centipede’s jaw and carapace as core materials, reinforced with the Dim Curse Plague Great Ape’s bone marrow, and utilizing even the White Flower Mantis’s forelegs and Peaceful Face Flower.
That was what lay before Cheon Woo-jin’s eyes.
“The name?”
“Heavenly Armor Flying Spirit.”
“A bit grandiose.”
But it was a Dharma Artifact that suited that grandiose name.
Perhaps because Foundation Establishment demons were used as materials, it looked like the highest quality Dharma Artifact Cheon Woo-jin had ever seen.
“Using both jaws and four carapaces, I made two attack Flying Spirits and four defense Flying Spirits. Check them out.”
“…”
Cheon Woo-jin personally examined each Heavenly Armor Flying Spirit one by one.
Just by touching them, he could instantly understand what principles were imbued in the Flying Spirits.
“Should I explain how to use them?”
“No, that’s not necessary.”
He already understood how to use them.
Feeling satisfied, Cheon Woo-jin spoke up.
“I’ll pay the remaining balance.”
“Ah…!”
When he took out Cloud Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and handed them over, Song Pyo’s eyes widened.
“You’re paying the balance with Cloud Spirit Stones?”
“Is there a problem?”
“It’s not that…”
Cloud Spirit Stones have such great individual value that they’re rarely used in transactions between Qi Refining or Qi Condensation cultivators.
Even Foundation Establishment cultivators usually preferred to use regular Spirit Stones.
But Cheon Woo-jin suddenly took out Cloud Spirit Stones to pay the balance.
Song Pyo was already suspicious that there might be a greater existence behind Cheon Woo-jin, so he couldn’t help but be shaken.
“Pavilion Master Song.”
To such Song Pyo, Cheon Woo-jin extended his palm.
Not understanding what it meant, Song Pyo blinked his eyes.
“What is it?”
To Song Pyo’s question, Cheon Woo-jin answered in a cold voice.
“Change.”
“…”
Song Pyo scratched his head and paid the change with regular Spirit Stones.
* * *
‘How reassuring.’
Having left Hwangju Refinery Pavilion, Cheon Woo-jin walked slowly down the road.
The Heavenly Spirit Flying Shells were currently stored inside his Daoist Robe sleeves.
Originally, the Dark Dew Great King Centipede’s jaw and carapace weren’t small enough to hide inside human clothing, but they had shrunk considerably during the process of being made into Dharma Artifacts, so they could all be stored in his sleeves.
Now, just by fluttering his sleeves, they would automatically deploy and assist Cheon Woo-jin.
‘Ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators could be dealt with using just these fellows.’
Supreme-grade Dharma Artifacts that fly through the air and autonomously attack and defend.
Ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators could never cope with them.
And…
‘It’ll be easier to respond to surprise attacks too.’
Swoosh!
A Spirit Power Arrow flew from behind Cheon Woo-jin.
But Cheon Woo-jin didn’t even look back. He just lightly fluttered his sleeve.
Then one of the Heavenly Spirit Flying Shells that popped out from his sleeve automatically moved to precisely block the arrow.
Right now, Cheon Woo-jin was walking down a deserted path to reach the Branch Hall of Sacred Horn Unity Gate.
But suddenly he was ambushed from behind.
“Who are you.”
“…!”
When Cheon Woo-jin turned around, the Black Robed Assassins who had been hiding revealed themselves.
Though they had covered their faces to hide their identities, it was meaningless to Cheon Woo-jin who could see their Status Windows.
“It seems word has already reached the Mad World Yin Spirit Sect.”
“Attack!”
Pa-pa-pat!
The Demonic Path Assassins kicked off the ground as if crushing it and leaped into the air.
Murderous blades poured down like a chilling shower.
However, Cheon Woo-jin maintained a calm expression as he fluttered his sleeves.
Six Supreme-Grade Magical Artifacts crafted from the corpse of the Foundation Establishment demon.
They all deployed simultaneously.
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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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