Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 69

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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 69: Dense Forest (4)

 

 

Thud!

 

Jang Po collapsed backward.

The man who had been like a great tree was now a large lump of charcoal.

Though Jang Po had mastered the Spring Spirit Divine Tree Method and possessed a body as solid as wood, he had been struck directly by Crimson Thunder at too close a range.

 

His bark-like skin had all burned away, and his major organs including his heart had stopped functioning due to electrocution.

Since serious damage had been inflicted on the meridians throughout his body, the regenerative power of the Spring Spirit Divine Tree Method could no longer function.

 

Moreover, even the subordinates who had been hiding behind Jang Po and watching with bated breath were caught up in the Crimson Thunder and lost their lives.

If Jang Po had died first, they would have all fled in terror, but they were annihilated before they could even think of escaping.

 

‘There might be some subordinates out elsewhere… but for now, I can consider Jangrim Stronghold completely destroyed.’

 

The leader Jang Po was dead, and the subordinates had been massacred in large numbers.

Jangrim Stronghold would never rise again.

 

Then… shall I collect some spoils of war?

 

Cheon Woo-jin entered the main base.

Items plundered from passing cultivators were piled up, but honestly, there wasn’t much worth using.

 

This was because they had focused on attacking only Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

The equipment of ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators was quite poor compared to Cheon Woo-jin’s.

Most only carried around one or two low-grade magical instruments, and if they possessed a mid-grade magical instrument, they could boast about it in front of others.

Elixirs and such were of a similar level, so there were hardly any items worth taking for Cheon Woo-jin.

 

So Cheon Woo-jin decided to mainly take spirit stones.

They must have been steadily collecting them, as quite a lot of spirit stones were piled up.

 

‘This much should mean I won’t have to worry about spirit stones for a while.’

 

After taking what was worth taking, Cheon Woo-jin came outside.

Then he took out a talisman from his storage pouch.

It was a talisman of the Red Sea True Fire Spear.

 

‘I’ll burn this entire area with Samadhi True Fire.’

 

Whoosh!

A wave of True Fire burst forth and engulfed Jangrim Stronghold.

Not only that, it burned down all the trees that had been densely packed around the area at once.

 

Originally, the trees in this area were spirit trees that couldn’t be burned by ordinary Fire Magic.

But even such trees couldn’t withstand Samadhi True Fire.

 

The reason he had disguised himself before attacking Jangrim Stronghold was because he had to use Samadhi True Fire like this.

The fact that Cheon Woo-jin could create Samadhi True Fire was a secret that must not be revealed to anyone, so he had disguised himself in advance.

 

‘There doesn’t seem to be anyone else around, but just in case…’

 

From now on, this area would remain an empty space for a while.

Then, whenever he passed through the dense forest area in the future, he could soar into the air and find this place.

Coming and going to the 6th Floor would become much easier.

 

‘Well then, shall I get going?’

 

Cheon Woo-jin left without waiting for the flames to die down.

 

Rumors that an unidentified person using Samadhi True Fire had destroyed Jangrim Stronghold would soon spread through the Ghost Beast City Middle Section, but no one would realize that the protagonist was Cheon Woo-jin.

 

* * *

 

To go up to the 6th Floor, one had to climb the tower built in the middle of the dense forest area.

However, to enter the tower, one first had to find the underground entrances hidden throughout the dense forest.

 

Normally, one would have to carefully explore while tracking spiritual veins one by one, but the setting was that one of the entrances was hidden near Jangrim Stronghold.

So if one could properly confirm the location of Jangrim Stronghold, one could easily enter and exit the 6th Floor.

 

‘It’s here.’

 

Cheon Woo-jin discovered an underground cave hidden among the giant trees.

After properly memorizing how far it was from where Jangrim Stronghold had been, he entered the cave.

 

Flutter.

Since bats that seemed to carry all kinds of germs came flying at him, he thoroughly protected his body with the Thousand Illusion Formation.

 

‘Right, this section was quite tiresome when playing the game too.’

 

Following the bats, various types of monsters appeared to torment Cheon Woo-jin.

As he defeated them and advanced through the cave with its maze-like complex structure… he was finally able to enter an artificial stone space.

 

He had finally entered the interior of the tower.

 

‘Now it should get a bit easier.’

 

From here on, there were no particularly blocking sections.

He just had to go straight up to the 6th Floor.

 

‘Even though it’s called a tower, it’s essentially like an elevator.’

 

This tower had a hollow cylindrical structure.

Since it was completely open, if one flew to the top of the tower, one could directly enter the 6th Floor.

 

However, one couldn’t fly directly using Flight Magic or similar methods.

It was designed so that one had to ride the Flying Circular Platform, a disc that flies through the sky.

Inside the tower existed Flying Circular Platforms that could accommodate several people simultaneously, and if one climbed aboard and activated it, it would automatically take them to the 6th Floor.

 

As a side note, among game users, there was once an opinion that this structure was designed with the ‘orbital elevator’ commonly seen in sci-fi works in mind.

After all, there would later be an event where this tower was attacked and the connection between the 5th and 6th layers was severed.

 

‘Anyway, from here I can ride the flying carriage and go up comfortably.’

 

Around him were other cultivators who had entered through different entrances.

Still, the numbers weren’t many. It didn’t seem like he’d have to wait long.

 

But when Cheon Woo-jin was about to get in line, someone approached him.

 

“Are you perhaps Cultivator Cheon Woo-jin?”

 

One of the key figures in Ghost Head City’s middle layer.

It was Ho Yeon-rin, the action captain of Heavenly Dragon Tower, the largest entertainment facility on the 4th layer.

They had only met once when using the auction house, yet he remembered Cheon Woo-jin’s face.

 

“You’re alive! I heard rumors that you were captured by Elder Ancestor Won Yeong-gyeong and thought I’d never see you again!”

 

That rumor seemed to have spread everywhere.

 

“How on earth did you return alive?”

“It was just Elder Ancestor Won Yeong-gyeong’s whim. I was lucky.”

“Is that so? Anyway, I’m glad you returned alive like this.”

 

Ho Yeon-rin seemed genuinely happy about Cheon Woo-jin’s return.

 

“To think you’d try to go up to the 6th layer right after experiencing such a major incident, Cultivator Cheon is truly remarkable.”

“What about you, Cultivator Ho Yeon? What business do you have on the 6th layer?”

 

Usually Ho Yeon-rin stayed on the 1st floor of Heavenly Dragon Tower.

Then when something happened, he would go outside and work for Heavenly Dragon Tower.

 

“Did some incident occur by any chance?”

“Ah… I’m accompanying our Tower Master this time.”

 

Tower Master.

Almost simultaneously with Ho Yeon-rin mentioning that name, footsteps were heard from another passage.

 

“Ho Yeon-rin, let’s go up now.”

 

It was a mysteriously impressive handsome man with hair that shone in five colors.

Between his hair, deer-like horns protruded.

 

[Oh Hwi-seong]

* Race: Dragon Clan

* Age: 1014 years

* Realm: Core Formation Realm Great Perfection

* Constitution: Five Elements Spiritual Root

* Alignment: Middle Path

* Affiliation: Heavenly Dragon Tower

* Heavenly Mandate: Self-Cultivation

 

Heavenly Dragon Tower Master Oh Hwi-seong.

He wasn’t human but a member of the Dragon Clan.

Moreover, he was from the Oh family, which could be called the highest nobility of the Dragon Clan.

 

The Heavenly Dragon Tower that Oh Hwi-seong operated was ostensibly an entertainment facility in the commercial district, but in reality, it could be called the Ghost Head City branch of the Dragon Clan forces.

All the information he usually gathered through Heavenly Dragon Tower was being transmitted to the Dragon Clan forces.

 

‘I never thought I’d meet Oh Hwi-seong here.’

 

Oh Hwi-seong was a character you would inevitably encounter when conquering Ghost Head City in Spirit Path Cultivation Chronicle.

There was even a route where you could go under Oh Hwi-seong and fight alongside him.

Depending on how you progressed through the game, he was an important character you’d keep seeing until the final stages.

 

“Tower Master, there’s someone I’d like to introduce.”

 

Ho Yeon-rin introduced Cheon Woo-jin to Oh Hwi-seong, his master.

 

“This is Cheon Woo-jin, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. He’s the one who recently defeated Gi Sin-ryeo, the sect master of the Ten Thousand Poison Six Harmony Gate.”

“Oh ho.”

 

Oh Hwi-seong’s gaze turned toward Cheon Woo-jin.

 

“I believe I heard he was captured by Elder Ancestor Sima.”

“He says he luckily returned alive.”

“If that’s true, then the light of an auspicious star must be shining over his head.”

 

Speaking in an elegant voice, Oh Hwi-seong smiled.

 

“I am someone called Oh Hwi-seong. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s my first time meeting you, Tower Master Oh.”

 

What stood before him was a Core Formation Great Perfection cultivator on the same level as Gi Sin-ryeo or Lee Seon-gyeong.

But Oh Hwi-seong, being a pure-blood dragon and born of the Oh family, was an existence that transcended the limits of Core Formation Great Perfection.

 

“Oh my…”

 

Whooom.

Oh Hwi-seong’s eyes glowed mysteriously.

 

“You’re really at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. You’re not disguising your realm or anything.”

 

Oh Hwi-seong saw through Cheon Woo-jin’s realm precisely.

 

“With a Foundation Establishment body, you defeated several Core Formation cultivators of the Ten Thousand Poison Six Harmony Gate, and finally even killed Gi Sin-ryeo, who was at Core Formation Great Perfection…”

“…”

“You must possess a powerful Dharma Artifact. But no matter how powerful a Dharma Artifact you have, such a feat would be impossible without the skill of the person using it.”

 

Talking to himself, Oh Hwi-seong smiled.

 

“You’re truly a cultivator with outstanding talent. It seems the rumors weren’t unfounded.”

“Thank you for the evaluation.”

 

When Cheon Woo-jin answered with a calm voice, Oh Hwi-seong suddenly shrugged his shoulders and laughed.

 

“Ho Yeon cultivator, look at this. I think this is the first person to maintain such a composed attitude when meeting me for the first time.”

“Ah, yes…”

“Ordinary people get scared just by seeing the horns on my head, even if they don’t know who I am. That’s no ordinary courage.”

 

Ho Yeon-rin made a troubled expression while watching Oh Hwi-seong, who seemed genuinely delighted.

 

“Actually, I was thinking of suggesting you join the Heavenly Dragon Tower, but I’m glad I didn’t. I almost did something foolish.”

“…”

“Cultivator Cheon isn’t someone who would work under others. You’re someone who will carve your own path and find a way to overcome destiny.”

 

Oh Hwi-seong said while looking into Cheon Woo-jin’s eyes.

 

“I guarantee it. Cultivator Cheon will become a big shot before long.”

 

He would become a big shot.

That wasn’t just about gaining fame, but a prediction that he would grow into someone with great presence in the Cultivation World.

 

“That’s an overestimation.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m only interested in my own cultivation, nothing more.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin answered with a cold attitude.

 

“I’m different from those like you who try to manipulate the world itself.”

“…”

 

Oh Hwi-seong’s eyes widened.

Meanwhile, Ho Yeon-rin stared at Cheon Woo-jin with his mouth agape.

 

“Cu-Cultivator Cheon! You’re speaking too carelessly…”

 

Ho Yeon-rin tried to say something to Cheon Woo-jin, but Oh Hwi-seong raised his hand to stop him.

Then he looked straight at Cheon Woo-jin and spoke.

 

“The various forces of the Cultivation World don’t try to manipulate this world as they please for no other reason. It’s because there are things that cannot be overcome through individual effort alone, so they have no choice but to move the world.”

“…”

“But seeing your attitude… you seem to have the belief that everything can be achieved through individual effort alone.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin didn’t bother to respond to that observation.

Oh Hwi-seong was probably just voicing his personal impression.

 

“I don’t know what you’re aiming for, but to reach that place, you’ll inevitably have to get involved with people like us. Do you know that?”

“Of course.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin answered calmly.

 

“Because that’s how I make a living.”

“Hehe…”

 

Oh Hwi-seong narrowed his eyes and smiled at Cheon Woo-jin’s joke.

 

“So you don’t plan to live as a complete loner. That’s fortunate then.”

 

If necessary, I will join hands with people like you too.

Understanding that Cheon Woo-jin had said that, Oh Hwi-seong smiled.

 

“Cultivator Cheon.”

 

Maintaining his smile, Oh Hwi-seong spoke to Cheon Woo-jin.

 

“I understand you’ve been consistently receiving requests from Seo Seol-ryeong of the True Human Race,”

 

Ho Yeon-rin was startled when Seo Seol-ryeong’s name suddenly came up.

 

“Do you always receive requests only through Seo Seol-ryeong?”

“That’s how it usually was.”

“But not now, it seems.”

 

After nodding briefly.

Oh Hwi-seong opened his mouth again.

 

“Then I’d like to personally assign you a job, Cultivator Cheon.”

 

Ho Yeon-rin showed a surprised expression at Oh Hwi-seong’s statement.

Normally, he would assign such tasks to his subordinates including Ho Yeon-rin, not to someone outside the Heavenly Dragon Tower.

Therefore, this was a very exceptional occurrence.

 

“Of course, I’ll provide satisfactory compensation. I heard Cultivator Cheon practices Thunder Method…”

 

Oh Hwi-seong spread both arms.

As if showing off himself as the owner of the Heavenly Dragon Tower.

 

“Among the items that recently came into the Heavenly Dragon Tower, there’s the Thunder Spirit True Person’s Legacy. It was scheduled to be put up for auction gathering only special-grade customers, but if you successfully carry out the request, I’ll give it to you.”

 

Ho Yeon-rin made an expression as if he might faint at the shocking statement.

 

Putting something up for auction gathering only the Heavenly Dragon Tower’s special-grade customers meant it was a treasure that only sect masters or elder-level figures could dare to covet.

Moreover, if it was the Thunder Spirit True Person’s Legacy, it had truly tremendous value.

To say he would hand that over to Cheon Woo-jin, a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was sufficiently shocking.

 

However.

Cheon Woo-jin showed no change in expression.

 

Those who get blinded by such compensation and nod thoughtlessly are destined to be used by others and die.

Knowing this, Cheon Woo-jin asked coldly.

 

“I think it would be better to discuss the details of the request first.”

“Ha…!”

 

As expected, this guy is something else.

Oh Hwi-seong smiled with gleaming eyes.

—————
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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