Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 52

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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 52: Provocation (1)

 

 

Is this guy insane?

 

Lee Geuk-gyeol, a Foundation Establishment member, glared at the man before him.

This bastard still had remnants of miasma energy from Ghost Head City’s lower levels lingering on his body.

This meant he was someone who had been living mainly in the lower levels until recently.

 

There was a clear difference between Ghost Head City’s middle layer and lower levels.

The lower levels had many Qi Refining Cultivators, and even ordinary people lived on the 1st Layer.

In contrast, the middle layer starting from the 4th Layer could only be accessed by Foundation Establishment cultivators and above.

 

Therefore, the middle layer was much more fierce and ruthless.

You could gain many more opportunities, but it was also easy to lose everything and fall into ruin.

That’s why many cultivators chose to remain in the lower levels even after reaching Foundation Establishment.

This guy also seemed to be one of those who feared the middle layer and stayed in the lower levels.

 

What kind of confidence did such a guy have to act so arrogant?

 

“Why should I do such a thing? The reward that a small fry like you would take is hardly worth…”

“Are you afraid of falling behind such a small fry?”

 

Grind.

Lee Geuk-gyeol gritted his teeth.

If it weren’t for the important operation ahead, he might have attacked with magic arts.

 

They were already short on manpower as it was.

There was no need to waste energy fighting with this guy here.

 

“Fine. If that’s what you want, I’ll grant it. If you’re willing to play the bait role yourself, I have no reason to refuse.”

 

In the end, Lee Geuk-gyeol decided to think of it that way.

 

Taking the reward from such a newcomer wouldn’t be much profit anyway.

He probably wouldn’t follow orders well either, and dragging such a guy around would only hold them back.

It would be better to use him as bait for a diversionary operation.

If this guy acted alone and drew the attention of the Ten Thousand Poison Six Death Gate, it would make it easier for the others to move.

 

“Then let’s each move on our own.”

“Tsk…”

 

Why was he so calm even when being used as bait?

Perhaps he was someone who had just recently reached Foundation Establishment.

 

When you break through the wall and reach Foundation Establishment, everyone gains great confidence.

Because you can wield incomparable power compared to your Qi Refining days.

 

But that’s a big misconception.

In Ghost Head City’s middle layer, early Foundation Establishment was nothing more than a weakling whose head could fly off in an instant.

 

Hoping he would realize this fact today, Lee Geuk-gyeol gathered the other cultivators.

 

* * *

 

‘It’s like hiking an autumn mountain.’

 

After deciding to act separately from Lee Geuk-gyeol’s group, Cheon Woo-jin began climbing the mountain alone from the southwest.

Walking among the vividly colored maple trees reminded him of climbing mountains famous for autumn foliage in the past.

 

‘The atmosphere is quite nice.’

 

But the nice atmosphere was only on the surface.

 

When he touched the maple leaves, they were as hard as plastic artificial objects.

This was because they were spirit trees adapted to the extremely dry 4th Layer.

 

The spirit fields established on this mountain were also places for growing poisonous herbs that only grew in such climates.

As he approached the spirit field at the very bottom, he could see a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Ten Thousand Poison Six Death Gate guarding the spirit field.

 

Cheon Woo-jin hid behind a maple tree and drew his Black Strange Sword.

He coated the blade with the Dark Dew Great King Centipede’s poison liquid and infused it with spiritual power.

Then tiny black fragments deployed and flew through the air.

 

These fragments were so small they were barely visible to the eye.

He would just think it was flying insects buzzing around.

 

“Ouch!”

 

The Foundation Establishment cultivator slapped his own arm.

He must have thought he was bitten by a mosquito-like insect.

But… he immediately coughed up blood and collapsed.

 

Cheon Woo-jin leisurely emerged and approached the spirit field.

Then he threw a Flame Talisman he had prepared in advance.

As if he had thrown a Molotov cocktail, the entire spirit field was engulfed in flames.

 

‘I’ve dealt with one spirit field for now.’

 

Just then, noisy sounds came from the south.

It seemed the mercenary group led by Lee Geuk-gyeol was clashing with the guard unit from the south.

 

With such large numbers, it would be difficult to infiltrate stealthily like Cheon Woo-jin.

Lee Geuk-gyeol seemed to intend to use Cheon Woo-jin as bait for a diversionary operation, but rather Lee Geuk-gyeol’s side would become the bait.

 

‘I should find the next spirit field.’

 

Cheon Woo-jin climbed the mountain path alone, destroying the Ten Thousand Poison Six Death Gate’s spirit fields one by one.

Since only one or two management personnel were stationed at each spirit field, he could easily deal with them by ambushing with his Black Strange Sword.

 

‘It feels like strolling through autumn mountains and picking fruits.’

 

When he spotted decent-looking poisonous herbs, he would gather a few stalks before burning them.

Though he wasn’t particularly well-versed in Poison Arts, he still had to think of ways to utilize them somehow.

He also had to consider that the Dark Dew Great King Centipede’s poison liquid might eventually run out.

 

“Was this place hit too?”

“Damn it! Just what bastard…!”

 

Just then, voices could be heard from below.

It seemed the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Gate had finally started searching for Cheon Woo-jin.

 

Until now, the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Gate’s guards had been focused on blocking attackers coming up from the north and south.

That’s why Cheon Woo-jin had been able to move stealthily by himself, but it seemed his limits were approaching.

 

‘Can’t be helped.’

 

Sensing the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Gate moving busily, Cheon Woo-jin tucked the Black Lightning Energy Sword into his robes.

Instead, he drew the Five Thunder Heaven Piercing Sword and soared into the sky.

 

“There, over there!”

“That’s definitely him!”

 

The cultivators of the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Gate reacted to Cheon Woo-jin’s figure shooting up into the sky.

Cheon Woo-jin maintained a cold expression while identifying their positions.

 

Then he caused the Heart Fire and Kidney Water that had been prepared within his body to intersect, recreating the collision of heaven and earth’s yin and yang.

Using the phenomenon this generated as a catalyst, he drew in even the yang and yin energies of nature. This was the principle of Heaven-Human Correspondence.

 

[Black Lightning Descent Strike]

 

Kwa-kwa-kwang!

Lightning incomparably more intense than what he had used during his Qi Refinement days struck down.

 

Lightning generated not only from Cheon Woo-jin’s spiritual power but also by drawing in external energies.

The cultivators of the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Gate who had been blankly looking up were annihilated without even being able to scream.

Several Spirit Fields were also reduced to scorched earth in the aftermath.

 

However, from now on, stealthy actions would be difficult.

Both allies and enemies had identified Cheon Woo-jin’s location.

He had to move before they could move.

 

Cheon Woo-jin headed for higher ground.

Having dealt with the minor Spirit Fields adequately, he now had to handle the most important Spirit Field on this Spirit Mountain.

 

‘Here it is.’

 

The place where Cheon Woo-jin landed was the summit of Spirit Mountain.

Spirit Fields were spread out there as well, with poisonous herbs growing so potent that even Cheon Woo-jin, who wasn’t deeply versed in Poison Arts, could sense their power.

 

But what guarded that place wasn’t an ordinary cultivator.

 

“Rootless mercenary bastards…”

 

A man wearing an ominous green-gray robe was glaring at Cheon Woo-jin with frightening eyes.

From him emanated a sinister aura different from the other cultivators of the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Gate.

 

[Dan Mok-gil]

* Race: Human

* Age: 207 years

* Realm: Core Formation Early Stage

* Constitution: Metal Spirit Root, Yang Brightness Divine Meridian

* Faction: Black Gate

* Affiliation: Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Gate

* Heavenly Mandate: Self-Interest

 

Dan Mok-gil. A Core Formation cultivator responsible for this Spirit Mountain.

Though he hadn’t reached Core Formation long ago, he was reportedly a True Transmission Disciple that the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Gate had high expectations for.

 

Originally, the forces that had climbed up from the north and south were supposed to converge at the summit and attack Dan Mok-gil together.

But Cheon Woo-jin had climbed to the summit alone and ended up facing Dan Mok-gil directly.

 

“The stench of miasma energy reaches all the way here. You seem like someone who was crawling around in the Lower Levels.”

 

Dan Mok-gil looked at Cheon Woo-jin with contemptuous eyes.

 

“Did you luckily awaken to new abilities upon reaching Foundation Establishment? Or did you acquire some good Dharma Artifact somewhere? Either way, I’ll praise you for making it this far.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin didn’t respond and drew up his lightning energy.

He launched Black Lightning at Dan Mok-gil, but it was blocked by a white defensive barrier.

 

Checking the ground, he saw complex patterns drawn with Dan Mok-gil at the center.

It seemed he had prepared a Defensive Formation in advance against attacks.

 

Right now, Dan Mok-gil was essentially inside a fortress with solid defensive power.

 

“Ignorant fool, I’ll show you the difference in our levels.”

 

From within the defensive barrier, Dan Mok-gil formed hand seals.

Suddenly, wind began to blow.

 

[Yang Brightness Dry Poison Corpse Mountain Technique]

 

Whiiiiing!

An unstoppable, unavoidable gale swept across the entire Spirit Mountain.

The disciples of the Golden Hour Bell and mercenaries like Lee Geuk-gyeol who had been climbing the mountain from both directions would also be caught in this wind.

 

In that gale, Cheon Woo-jin suddenly felt his eyes becoming dry and gritty.

It wasn’t just his eyes. Even though he was protecting his body with spiritual power, his entire body was rapidly drying out.

 

It wasn’t simply that his body was drying up due to the dry wind.

The vital fluids were being lost spontaneously from within his flesh.

 

Dan Mok-gil hadn’t only prepared a defensive formation.

He had also prepared large-scale poison arts to annihilate the attackers.

 

“My dry poison will shrivel you all to death.”

 

Dan Mok-gil’s triumphant voice came from beyond the wind.

 

“It’s useless even if you take antidotes or such. This isn’t poison made by combining poisonous substances, but poison created with my spiritual power.”

“Is it the Six Evil Poisons of the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Sect?”

“Hmm? You know more than I expected.”

 

Six Evil Poisons.

It was poison arts that utilized the Six Evils as toxic energy.

Right now, Dan Mok-gil was likely using the power of Dry Evil among the Six Evils.

 

‘Six Evils… six evil energies that harm the human body.’

 

Originally, Dryness corresponds to Metal among the Five Elements, but it’s also one of the six evil energies that constitute the Six Evils.

 

Originally in Eastern philosophy, all things are classified into five categories according to the Five Elements.

But sometimes they’re classified into six instead of five.

The human body also has the Six Bowels along with the Five Organs, and the twelve meridians are composed of six hand meridians and six foot meridians.

 

When classifying into six like this, it’s based on the Three Yin Three Yang theory that divides yin and yang into three.

Greater Yang, Yang Brightness, Lesser Yang, Greater Yin, Lesser Yin, and Reverting Yin express the waxing, waning, and changes of yin and yang.

 

The energy corresponding to Yang Brightness here is ‘Dryness.’

If it’s normal energy, it’s called Dry Energy, one of the Six Energies, but bad energy that harms the human body is called Dry Evil, one of the Six Evils.

 

The waxing, waning, and changes of yin and yang manifested as Greater Yang, Yang Brightness, Lesser Yang, Greater Yin, Lesser Yin, and Reverting Yin.

By intervening in those laws and maximizing the ‘Dry Evil’ of Yang Brightness, he generates poison that kills by desiccation.

 

Dan Mok-gil’s Yang Brightness Dry Poison Corpse Mountain Technique was advanced poison arts created based on such principles.

 

‘However…’

 

His body was gradually drying up.

Like the Qi Condensation Cultivator who had climbed to the 4th Layer, his vital fluids were draining away and his life force was being lost.

In that state, Cheon Woo-jin withdrew into his inner self.

 

‘If I can understand those principles, it should be possible to create principles to break through them.’

 

The spiritual domain of his Manifest True Life Body.

Within the endlessly extending Black Space, Cheon Woo-jin contemplated Dan Mok-gil’s Yang Brightness Dry Poison Corpse Mountain Technique.

Originally, this place was a space that reflected Cheon Woo-jin’s inner self.

At first, he used it as a space to create Heart Swords for deploying Sword Qi.

After that, it became a space for devising new techniques based on his knowledge and contemplation.

It could be called a workshop, research lab, and laboratory that existed within Cheon Woo-jin’s inner self.

 

But upon reaching Foundation Establishment, the meaning of the space expanded.

He became able to observe and contemplate external concepts from within this space as well.

 

This was a phenomenon that could be called the expansion of Divine Consciousness.

By becoming able to look into events happening outside his body as if looking into himself, his understanding of others’ spell formations improved dramatically.

 

Based on that understanding, he could find solutions in the internal space and implement them in the external space.

 

‘In Three Yin Three Yang, what’s opposite to Yang Brightness is Greater Yin. Greater Yin is Dampness among the Six Energies, so I should be able to offset Yang Brightness’s Dryness by colliding it with Greater Yin’s Dampness.’

 

Cheon Woo-jin drew up the Water Spirit Energy he possessed.

It was an attempt to manifest Greater Yin’s Dampness with Water.

Of course, simply creating moisture would just dry up in the whirlwind.

 

The important thing isn’t the phenomenon.

He had to break through the spell formation that creates that phenomenon, the principles that create that spell formation.

 

What’s creating this dry toxic energy is the principle of Yang Brightness existing within the spell formation of the Yang Brightness Dry Poison Corpse Mountain Technique.

So he had to shove the principle of Greater Yin into the spell formation to nullify the spell formation itself.

 

Cheon Woo-jin already possessed the means to do so.

 

“…”

 

Cheon Woo-jin raised the Black Strange Sword again.

The blade shattered and a black net spread out.

But this time he didn’t imbue the blade with poison. Instead, what he imbued was spiritual power.

Spiritual power imbued with the principle of Greater Yin’s Dampness spread through the whirlwind riding the black metal fragments.

 

“What are you doing…”

 

Dan Mok-gil reacted, but it was already too late.

 

With his gradually drying body, Cheon Woo-jin released Lightning Energy.

It wasn’t Lightning Energy to attack Dan Mok-gil.

It was merely serving as a detonator to trigger an explosive reaction.

So that the Greater Yin energy shoved into the whirlwind could react with the Yang Brightness energy and completely offset it all.

 

“…!”

 

Crash crash boom!

Lightning raged within the whirlwind.

As Greater Yin energy and Yang Brightness energy reacted, Lightning Energy was generated from the yin-yang collision, and that Lightning Energy promoted the reaction to create even greater Lightning Energy.

 

The whirlwind of dry toxic energy that Dan Mok-gil had created… had somehow transformed into a Thunder Wind dancing wildly on its own.

 

“You, you collided opposing energy principles to offset them? How could you do such a thing…!”

 

Dan Mok-gil was horrified.

What Cheon Woo-jin had demonstrated was a divine technique that was only theoretically possible, but nearly impossible to actually implement.

 

“You, what is your true identity? It’s impossible for some brat who was groveling in the Lower Levels to successfully interfere with such advanced spell formations!”

 

Dan Mok-gil shouted with his face contorted in rage.

 

The Magic Arts that he, the most promising True Transmission Disciple of the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Sect, had painstakingly prepared had been neutralized.

Unable to accept this reality, he had lost his reason.

 

Staring at such Dan Mok-gil, Cheon Woo-jin formed a Spell Formation with his withered body.

 

With Cheon Woo-jin’s Spiritual Power, still only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, he couldn’t break through the Defensive Formation that Dan Mok-gil had prepared over time.

But it didn’t matter. If his internal Spiritual Power was insufficient, he could draw it from external sources.

 

“Gasp…?!”

 

Dan Mok-gil belatedly noticed and looked up at the sky, but it was already too late.

The Lightning Energy generated during the process of neutralizing the Yang Brightness Dry Poison Corpse Mountain Technique was already gathering in one place.

 

[Black Lightning Descent Strike]

 

A massive lightning bolt that seemed capable of piercing through Spirit Mountain fell down, shaking the heavens.

—————
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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