Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 67

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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 67: Dense Forest (2)

 

 

Thud, thud, thud.

The Bone-Eating Evil Insects fell one after another.

These were creatures that would continue charging even with their heads blown off, but once electrocuted by lightning energy and their nerve clusters throughout their bodies destroyed, they could no longer move.

 

After confirming the insects were completely annihilated, Cheon Woo-jin once again formed a defensive barrier with the Water Heaven Circle Formation Technique.

Since he only needed to draw back the moisture he had spread around, the spiritual power consumption wasn’t significant.

 

‘If I were to use this technique in an arid region, I’d have to consume a lot of my Water Spirit Energy, but in a place with this much moisture, I can use it without burden.’

 

As he absorbed the surrounding moisture with the Water Heaven Circle Formation Technique, it became comfortable again.

Cheon Woo-jin began walking again while checking for other monsters.

 

‘This dense forest area has not only these monsters but also many poisonous insects and venomous snakes. I must always stay alert to my surroundings.’

 

At least Cheon Woo-jin was in relatively good condition since he was protecting his entire body with the Water Heaven Circle Formation Technique.

For cultivators exploring with bare bodies, it was common to get bitten by poisonous insects or venomous snakes that approached unnoticed and become poisoned.

 

‘Is it this way?’

 

While walking through the dense forest, Cheon Woo-jin crouched down and placed his hand on the ground.

He could feel the flow of heavy spiritual energy beneath the damp earth.

 

The reason Cheon Woo-jin was deliberately exploring the dense forest was to find this spiritual vein.

By following the flow of the spiritual vein, it would be possible to find the tower entrance.

 

‘That’s why I need to explore the dense forest while directly examining the ground.’

 

Having discovered the spiritual vein, Cheon Woo-jin headed toward its source like going upstream along a river.

If he continued advancing like this, he would be able to discover the underground cave connected to the tower’s entrance.

 

However, this was quite an arduous journey.

Even though he was using the Water Heaven Circle Formation Technique, walking through the sweltering dense forest all day inevitably made him tired.

So Cheon Woo-jin would intermittently enter the Eastern Section of Taixu Cave Heaven to eat elixirs and rest.

During those times, he would also meticulously inspect the crops he was growing in the Spirit Fields.

 

‘The Purple Artemisia has already sprouted and is growing vigorously. I should be able to pick young leaves soon.’

 

While walking and repelling the occasional monsters that appeared, he reached a river with clear flowing water.

But there were other people there.

 

“Oh my, greetings.”

 

Cultivators dressed in various outfits were sitting on mats spread on the ground, having a meal.

They had lit incense to keep insects away, and with so much food laid out, it looked like a picnic.

 

“Fellow Daoist! You look very tired, come here and have something to eat!”

 

A man with a gentle appearance called out to Cheon Woo-jin.

A woman beside him also gestured for Cheon Woo-jin to come over.

 

“It seems you’re heading up to the 6th Floor, but from here the path becomes even more treacherous, so it would be good to rest sufficiently before going!”

“Come here and eat with us!”

 

The other cultivators also offered food to Cheon Woo-jin.

It was a welcome proposal, but Cheon Woo-jin first examined their status windows.

The two men and women who had spoken first were in the late Foundation Establishment stage, while the rest were in the early or middle Foundation Establishment stage.

 

[So Jun-bang]

* Race: Human

* Age: 182 years

* Realm: Foundation Establishment (Late Stage)

* Constitution: Wood-Water Spirit Root

* Faction: Black Gate

* Affiliation: Jangrim Stronghold

* Destiny: Cruelty

 

[Yu Jin-seon]

* Race: Human

* Age: 152 years

* Realm: Foundation Establishment (Late Stage)

* Constitution: Wood-Earth Spirit Root

* Faction: Black Gate

* Affiliation: Jangrim Stronghold

* Destiny: Extortion

 

Jangrim Stronghold.

This was a force that operated with this dense forest as their base.

They had a similar nature to the forest bandits that appear in martial arts stories, and were villains who attacked cultivators passing through this area.

 

It might seem strange for cultivators walking the path of immortality to imitate bandits, but this was actually quite an effective strategy.

They could obtain quite a lot just by attacking passing cultivators and robbing their storage pouches.

 

“Hmm? Why are you just standing there?”

 

So Jun-bang, who had spoken first, held up a chicken leg and thrust it toward Cheon Woo-jin.

 

“Try eating this! It’s a wild chicken that grew in this dense forest, so it’s very rich in spiritual energy!”

“….”

“Oh my, is this person very shy?”

 

Cheon Woo-jin still didn’t give any response.

Seeing this, So Jun-bang let out a sigh.

 

“Ah, we’re screwed.”

 

Right after he spat out profanity and frowned.

Yu Jin-seon, who had been smiling beside him, suddenly leaped up.

 

As he swiftly swung his arms in the air, blue blades came flying.

Sharp wind swords aiming for Cheon Woo-jin’s neck.

However, blocked by Cheon Woo-jin’s Water Heaven Circle Formation Technique, the wind blades scattered into the air without cutting anything.

 

“You bastard!”

 

Watching the woman spit out a short curse, Cheon Woo-jin circulated his spiritual power.

Waves began to surge from the spherical defensive barrier protecting Cheon Woo-jin’s body.

 

[Water Blade]

 

In place of wind blades, water blades danced.

 

The cultivators sitting on the mats hurriedly dodged.

The well-prepared food was overturned and everything became chaotic.

Then, a faint energy that couldn’t be detected when everything was neatly arranged became noticeable.

It was the poison energy hidden in the food.

 

‘If I had taken a bite thinking it looked delicious, I would have suffered quite a bit.’

 

At that moment, Yu Jin-seon came charging from the side.

Wind blades sharper than before came rushing in.

Cheon Woo-jin blocked them and launched water blades again.

However, Yu Jin-seon dodged by lowering her body almost rolling on the ground.

Then, after spinning once to regain balance, she placed her palm against a tree beside her and let out a short battle cry.

 

“Drift!”

 

Immediately after, countless leaves fell from the tree and flew toward Cheon Woo-jin.

This time it was leaf blades. A magic art that covers the surroundings with leaves sharpened like razor blades to tear apart the opponent.

 

“Drift!”

“Drift!”

“Drift!”

 

The other bastards used the same magic art too.

Massive amounts of leaves swirled chaotically and flew in from all directions.

 

In an instant, he was surrounded by a storm of leaves.

However, Cheon Woo-jin was already preparing a magic art to counter it.

 

[Thunder Spoke Wheel]

 

Kwa-kwa-kwang!

Lightning energy spreading out like wheel spokes from Cheon Woo-jin as the center devastated the leaf storm.

The leaf blades that had been trying to overwhelm Cheon Woo-jin from all sides eventually fluttered helplessly and fell to the ground.

 

As their coordinated attack was futilely scattered, the cultivators of Jangrim Stronghold widened their eyes.

 

“This guy, how on earth does he have such lightning energy…”

“Isn’t he just an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator?”

 

Most of the cultivators who advance little by little while feeling for spiritual veins in this area are Foundation Establishment stage.

So they thought they could handle him with their own power, but they were shocked to see him display magic arts beyond the level of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

 

“W-wait.”

 

Right at that moment.

Someone pointed at Cheon Woo-jin and raised their voice.

 

“This bastard is Cheon Woo-jin!”

“Wh-what did you say?”

 

The other people’s faces turned pale.

 

“B-but I heard that bastard was captured and killed by Elder Ancestor Won Yeong-gyeong…”

“No, it seems to be Cheon Woo-jin for sure. These days in the middle layer, the only Foundation Establishment cultivator who uses lightning energy this well is Cheon Woo-jin…”

“Isn’t his outfit different from the wanted poster we received last time? It wasn’t black clothes like that…”

“He must have changed clothes! His facial features are similar!”

 

It seemed Cheon Woo-jin’s appearance and clothing were known.

However, Cheon Woo-jin had currently discarded the Daoist robe he had been wearing and changed into new clothes.

It seemed they couldn’t recognize Cheon Woo-jin because he was wearing the red demon robe obtained from Sama Moon’s cave dwelling.

 

“Even so, he’s still just Foundation Establishment stage!”

 

At that moment, So Jun-bang, who had been quietly watching, raised his voice.

 

“This place is advantageous ground for us! We can finish him off with a joint attack!”

“Y-yes, Senior Brother!”

 

At So Jun-bang’s shout, the rest of the bastards hurriedly deployed their magic arts.

Once again, leaf blades came rushing. Meanwhile, tree roots burst out from the ground and attacked Cheon Woo-jin.

Besides that, all kinds of wood attribute magic arts poured out continuously.

 

Seeing Cheon Woo-jin defending with a water protective barrier, they intensified their offensive even more.

They probably thought they could bring him down if they continued concentrated attacks from all directions like this.

 

However, Cheon Woo-jin had already completed his magic art.

 

[Black Shadow Thorn Spike]

 

Puuk!

A black blade extending from the shadows pierced Yu Jin-seon.

 

“Aaah!”

 

Yu Jin-seon screamed.

Still, it wasn’t a fatal wound. She twisted her body trying to escape from the black blade. But at that moment.

 

Crack! Black thorns sprouted from the black blade.

It was as if a thorn bush had grown from within the body.

In this state, it was impossible to even pull the body free.

Yu Jin-seon’s eyes widened as she died, pierced by thorns that had extended through her vital organs.

 

“Kraaagh!”

 

It wasn’t just Yu Jin-seon.

The other cultivators who had been focused solely on unleashing magic arts at Cheon Woo-jin were also pierced by black blades that erupted from beneath their feet.

And likewise, they met their death fixed in place by thorns generated within their bodies.

 

“….”

 

Cheon Woo-jin felt satisfaction seeing his newly created magic arts working properly.

 

This Black Shadow Thorn Spike was an improved version of the Black Shadow Technique he had used before.

He had gotten the idea while reading a manual he found in the Eastern Section of Sima Gate.

Originally, it was a magic art for spreading poisonous substances within an opponent’s body, but he borrowed part of that theory to improve his Black Shadow Technique.

As a result, a surprise attack magic art with lethal power was completed.

 

Though Cheon Woo-jin walked the path of cultivation alone without anyone’s teachings, he continued to absorb the techniques of masters and grow his own power.

 

“Ah….”

 

Among the Zhang Forest Stronghold gang, only one person survived.

Only So Jun-bang, who was like their leader.

 

So Jun-bang was looking at Cheon Woo-jin with an expression of incomprehension.

All the other guys had been killed instantly, yet he alone hadn’t become a target of attack.

 

“There’s something I want to ask.”

“…!”

 

Hearing Cheon Woo-jin’s words, So Jun-bang hastily fell to his knees.

 

“Please, ask me anything, my lord.”

 

He clasped his hands together, smiling with a servile expression.

It was a completely different appearance from just moments before.

 

“Have you seen a woman around this area recently?”

“A woman?”

“She was probably traveling alone.”

 

He needed to confirm whether Seo Seol-ryeong had indeed ascended to the 6th Floor.

 

“She had long black hair hanging down and wore pure white clothes, with a cold impression that made her look like a ghost at first glance. And her most distinctive feature is….”

“Ah, that woman beautiful like a Heavenly Maiden? The one wearing an eye covering, right?”

 

Before Cheon Woo-jin could finish his explanation, So Jun-bang raised his voice.

 

“I saw her! I definitely saw her!”

“Did you try to attack her like you did me?”

“Oh no, not at all! I only saw her from a distance!”

 

So Jun-bang shook his head vigorously.

 

“Insect Demons were swarming from all directions, but she just stood there calmly, so I thought she was a crazy woman! But then she swept her hand once…!”

 

So Jun-bang explained while waving his hand as if imitating that motion.

 

“All the demons froze solid in an instant! It was like Frozen Ice Hell! I’d never seen such a master before!”

 

Ice Manipulation Power.

Just like Wind Attribute derived from Wood Attribute, it was clearly Ice Attribute derived from Water Attribute.

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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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