Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 38

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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 38: Subjugation War (1)

 

 

Cheon Woo-jin decided to stay at the Sacred Horn Unity Gate Branch Hall until the day of the operation.

There was a possibility that the Mad World Yin Spirit Sect would target Cheon Woo-jin again.

 

Staying holed up in his Cave Dwelling would be one method, but he could be attacked while going back and forth.

Since he needed to coordinate detailed plans with the Sacred Horn Unity Gate before the operation anyway, he decided to just stay at the Branch Hall.

 

‘They even provided a Cultivation Room.’

 

The Sacred Horn Unity Gate had given Cheon Woo-jin a room.

While the security wasn’t as certain as his Cave Dwelling, being in the middle of the Sacred Horn Unity Gate’s Branch Hall meant he didn’t need to worry about anyone’s attacks.

 

However, there was one unsettling aspect.

 

‘I feel like I’m being constantly watched.’

 

It wasn’t that there was someone peering into the Cultivation Room.

But it seemed like someone was always monitoring the internal situation through some method.

 

‘Is Taesa Ryang observing me?’

 

The True Transmission Disciple of the Sacred Horn Unity Gate, Tae Sa-ryeong.

That Man who was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment would be able to observe Cheon Woo-jin’s condition even from outside the Cultivation Room.

 

‘It doesn’t seem like his intention is simply to check my condition.’

 

Tae Sa-ryeong would often call Cheon Woo-jin out for conversations.

While it was to discuss the operation, Cheon Woo-jin felt that Tae Sa-ryeong was trying to examine and analyze him.

 

Each time this happened, Cheon Woo-jin would check Tae Sa-ryeong’s Status Window once.

 

Taotie Path.

Greed like that of Taotie.

A Man with an extremely greedy destiny.

 

The longer he spent time with Tae Sa-ryeong, the stronger his conviction became that this cooperative relationship wouldn’t last long.

 

* * *

 

The day of the operation.

Cheon Woo-jin headed to Black Secluded Valley together with the Inner Sect Disciples of the Sacred Horn Unity Gate.

 

Since Black Secluded Valley was on the 3rd Layer, only those at Qi Condensation Great Circle or above could enter.

Ninety percent of the Inner Sect Disciples mobilized this time were at Qi Condensation Great Circle, and the remaining ten percent were Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

 

“Hey, Mercenary.”

 

One Foundation Establishment Cultivator called out to Cheon Woo-jin.

It was a Man named Jin Su-hak, who was considered the most promising among the Inner Sect Disciples mobilized this time.

 

[Jin Su-hak]

* Race: Human Race

* Age: 172 years

* Realm: Foundation Establishment (late stage)

* Constitution: Wood Water Spirit Root

* Faction: Orthodox Sect

* Affiliation: Sacred Horn Unity Gate

* Destiny: Self-Cultivation

 

While they had encountered each other several times before, this was the first time they had a direct conversation.

But from the very first conversation, his manner of speaking was not good at all.

 

“Don’t act on your own. Move according to our instructions.”

“….”

 

It was clearly an attitude of treating Cheon Woo-jin as a subordinate.

 

In fact, Cheon Woo-jin was still only at Qi Condensation Great Circle, while Jin Su-hak was at late Foundation Establishment.

Jin Su-hak being higher in rank was correct.

 

However, Cheon Woo-jin had no intention of bowing his head to Jin Su-hak.

 

“There’s no reason for me to move according to your instructions.”

“You bastard…!”

 

Jin Su-hak’s eyes flared up.

Spiritual Power surged from his body as if he would kill Cheon Woo-jin right then and there.

 

“Jin Do-woo, stop it.”

“Didn’t Senior Brother Taesa say that this Mercenary’s role is important in this operation?”

 

It was only because other people nearby stopped him; if they had been alone, he would have attacked Cheon Woo-jin.

 

“A mere Qi Condensation Mercenary has no fear. If not for Senior Brother Taesa, you would have died here on the spot.”

“….”

 

Cheon Woo-jin didn’t even bother to respond and turned his head away.

 

Suddenly, he felt fortunate that he wasn’t joining a Sect and was living as a Mercenary instead.

If he had joined a Sect through the standard route, he would have had to feel frustrated every single day under such authoritarian senior brothers.

 

‘It was because it was a game that I could experience Sect life by climbing up step by step from the bottom… Actually experiencing it would have been hellish.’

 

His military service days suddenly came to mind.

What’s worse, since this was a martial arts fantasy world, he would have to stay involved for at least hundreds of years.

Thinking about living military life for hundreds of years sent chills down his spine.

 

“Actually, I don’t like that guy either. So let’s all work together to swiftly subjugate those Demonic Path bastards so that guy has no chance to interfere.”

“Hehe, Fellow Daoist’s words seem reasonable.”

 

The reason Cheon Woo-jin had been lost in idle thoughts was because he kept hearing grumbling sounds from around him.

The constant chatter about things divorced from reality was nothing short of noise pollution.

 

Seeing how out of touch with reality these Inner Sect Disciples were, he could understand why Taesa Ryang had brought Cheon Woo-jin in.

Most of them had little experience fighting for their lives against Demonic Path cultivators, or even other Cultivators for that matter.

 

In fact, this was something easily seen in large sects belonging to the Orthodox Sect.

Unlike the Dark Gate or Demonic Path factions, they didn’t have many opportunities to experience real combat.

And being caught up in the pride of belonging to a prestigious Orthodox Sect… they inevitably became ignorant of reality and arrogant.

 

‘Though Taesa Ryang’s attitude is just as arrogant.’

 

Still, Taesa Ryang wasn’t someone ignorant of reality.

Having cultivated for nearly 300 years and reached the Core Formation stage, he would have had various experiences unlike his juniors who knew nothing of the world.

 

Sometimes, a coldness born from that experience could be felt from him.

Taesa Ryang probably wouldn’t bat an eye even if his juniors were slaughtered en masse in this operation.

 

“Black Secluded Valley is in sight!”

 

Someone raised their voice.

Rugged terrain could be seen in the distance.

 

Ghost Head City was a massive city as its name suggested, but it rarely had walls around its edges.

In places like the Northern 3rd Layer, the edge areas were formed like treacherous mountain ranges.

Of course, one couldn’t cross over the mountains as everything was blocked off.

 

Black Secluded Valley was a black valley located in such mountainous terrain.

It was known as a place where the Yin Soul Ghost Bone Palace, which created this Ghost Head City, had conducted evil Great Techniques using human corpses.

Perhaps because of this, the miasma energy here was more toxic than in other areas of the 3rd Layer.

The closer they got, the harder it became to breathe.

 

“Everyone perform Qi Circulation Cultivation! If you’re not careful, you’ll collapse from miasma poisoning!”

 

The Inner Sect Disciples hastily circulated their spiritual energy to neutralize the toxicity of the miasma energy.

Cheon Woo-jin was already performing Qi Circulation Cultivation with the Taeul Mysterious Sword Art.

 

“To think they’re trying to gain power from such toxic energy… truly Demonic Path bastards.”

“Indeed. This is clearly different from the poison energy felt elsewhere.”

“This is truly the energy of death. There must be thousands of human corpses buried underground.”

 

In the ominous atmosphere, the subjugation force approached Black Secluded Valley.

However, they couldn’t enter Black Secluded Valley and had to stop.

 

This was because Cheon Woo-jin, who had stepped forward, restrained the Inner Sect Disciples of Sacred Horn Unity Gate.

 

“We can’t advance any further.”

“What?”

“It’s a powerful formation array.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin extended his spiritual power like threads to examine the front as he spoke.

 

“It seems the Guangshi Sound Spirit Sect set up a barrier in advance so their ritual wouldn’t be disturbed.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t sense anything…”

 

Jin Su-hak frowned and tried to push past Cheon Woo-jin.

But then a voice came from behind.

 

“He’s right.”

“…!”

 

It was True Transmission Disciple Taesa Ryang.

He came forward with his hands clasped behind his back and frowned.

 

“It’s a Golden Lock Formation. If you enter carelessly, you won’t be able to approach Black Secluded Valley, let alone escape, and will wander forever.”

“Ah…”

 

As expected of someone at the Core Formation stage.

Unlike Jin Su-hak who couldn’t sense anything, he immediately detected the presence of the formation array.

Moreover, he even saw through the type of formation that Cheon Woo-jin couldn’t identify.

 

Here, the one with the highest level as a Cultivator was indeed Taesa Ryang.

 

“B-but Senior Brother Taesa, couldn’t you easily break through a formation array of mere Demonic Path bastards?”

 

Jin Su-hak said while gauging Taesa Ryang’s mood.

 

“With Senior Brother Taesa’s power having reached the Core Formation stage, surely…”

“Foolish bastard.”

 

Taesa Ryang frowned at the flattering Jin Su-hak.

 

“Are you planning to already inform the Demonic Path bastards that a Core Formation Cultivator has arrived?”

“Ah…!”

“Handle this much with your Inner Sect Disciples’ power.”

 

Taesa Ryang wasn’t being particularly difficult.

In the Cultivation World, it was common sense that ‘matters that subordinates can handle should be left to subordinates.’

 

Eventually, Taesa Ryang stepped back, and Jin Su-hak and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators put their heads together to find a way to break through the formation array.

However, even after waiting for a while, they couldn’t find any viable method.

 

“Wait.”

“Don’t interfere, Mercenary.”

 

When Cheon Woo-jin, unable to watch any longer, opened his mouth, Jin Su-hak snapped back with a curt tone.

 

“Don’t try to participate in discussions when you’re just a Mercenary who hasn’t even received proper training.”

“….”

 

Cheon Woo-jin let out a small sigh.

And leaving Jin Su-hak behind, he moved forward.

 

Certainly, Cheon Woo-jin was not someone who had received systematic teachings from the Orthodox Sect.

He couldn’t participate in discussions about analyzing the Golden Lock Formation and constructing dispelling techniques.

 

But when you want to open a lock, you don’t necessarily have to understand the internal structure of the lock.

 

After all, doors can be opened by smashing the lock as well.

 

“Hey! What are you trying to do!”

 

Flutter.

Cheon Woo-jin fluttered his sleeve.

Then six Flying Daggers deployed and soared into the air.

 

But they didn’t move autonomously.

Spiritual power drawn out thin like thread was connected to each Flying Dagger, conveying Cheon Woo-jin’s will.

 

Cheon Woo-jin pushed the six Flying Daggers into the ‘gaps’ of the spiritual structure composing the Eight Lock Formation.

He had already deployed his spiritual power like a spider web toward the front, identifying where to penetrate.

 

Immediately, sparks flew.

This was because he forced the Flying Daggers into crevices where there was no space for objects to penetrate.

 

Still, these were Supreme-Grade Magical Artifacts made from the exoskeleton of a Soul Severing stage monster.

Unless directly attacked by power above the Soul Severing stage, they would never be destroyed.

 

By forcibly pushing the Flying Daggers in strongly, he found where the spiritual power establishing the formation was most concentrated.

Cheon Woo-jin boldly charged his Flying Daggers toward that spot.

 

“This ignorant Mixed Cultivator! What the hell are you doing…!”

 

Seeing sparks flying from the front, Jin Su-hak tried to push Cheon Woo-jin away.

But at the same time, a thunderous roar came from ahead.

 

“Urgh…!”

“Ugh…!”

 

Rumble!

It was a spiritual roar that shook even the souls of Cultivators.

The Qi Refining Cultivators couldn’t maintain their balance and even collapsed.

 

“You, you bastard, what the hell did you….”

“It’s done.”

“What?”

 

Leaving Jin Su-hak clutching his head, Cheon Woo-jin moved forward.

He stepped into the area where the Golden Lock Formation had been deployed just moments before, but felt no reaction whatsoever.

 

“No way….”

“The Golden Lock Formation has been dispelled?”

“This simply?”

 

The Inner Disciples who had been trying to understand the formation itself spoke in dazed voices.

Even Jin Su-hak couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

 

“Clever.”

 

The only one who spoke in a satisfied voice was Taesa Ryang, who had been watching from behind.

 

“If you stick a sharp awl into the joints of a lock and dismantle it, you don’t need to prepare a key. Well done.”

“…!”

 

At Taesa Ryang’s explanation, the Inner Disciples held their breath.

They had been trying to understand the lock’s internal structure and craft a key themselves all this time.

 

“Of course, the simplest method would be to swing a heavy hammer and smash it in one blow.”

“….”

 

With my abilities, such a method would also be possible.

It was an arrogant statement with that meaning.

 

“We advance into Black Secluded Valley like this. Everyone, move forward.”

“Y-Yes, understood…!”

 

The hundred Inner Disciples rushed forward competitively.

Among them, Jin Su-hak briefly glared at Cheon Woo-jin. His eyes seemed to say not to show off.

 

Of course, Cheon Woo-jin didn’t care in the slightest.

 

* * *

 

The deepest part of Black Secluded Valley.

On the valley floor where a ritual was in full progress, a man with an eerie appearance raised his head.

 

“Sect Master, is there some problem….”

“The Golden Lock Formation has been breached.”

“What?”

 

Beside his subordinate who widened his eyes, the man stroked his chin.

 

“Something solid was wedged into the gaps of the formation. A small Dharma Artifact… it seems Flying Daggers were used.”

“Flying Daggers…!”

“Gwak Bo and his subordinates were also defeated by Flying Daggers.”

 

Not long ago, the man had given Gwak Bo an order to bring a certain mercenary into the Mad World Yin Spirit Sect.

He had also instructed that if that proved difficult, to kill that mercenary.

 

But Gwak Bo had disappeared somewhere, and his subordinates were found dead.

Given the circumstances, they could only think it was that mercenary’s doing.

 

“The bastard who trampled our plans in the Dark Soul Secret Realm has appeared.”

 

Jeok Ya-wol, the leader of the Mad World Yin Spirit Sect.

The late-stage Resolution Realm demon cultivator sensed Cheon Woo-jin’s approach and smiled sinisterly.

—————
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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