Instant-Death Cultivation: Surviving in an Immortal World with Instant Kill - Chapter 72

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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 72: Search (3)

 

 

‘Is Seo Seol-ryeong connected to the magical treasure robbery incident?’

 

Cheon Woo-jin, who was made to wait outside the Sect Master’s Hall, mulled over the words he had heard from Wi Ju-seon earlier.

 

‘The possibility that Seo Seol-ryeong was involved in the magical treasure robbery is slim. She’s not the type to get involved in such matters.’

 

Moreover, the Heavenly Dragon Tower that had its magical treasure stolen was a place guarded by Ho Yeon-rin, who was Seo Seol-ryeong’s acquaintance.

If she were the type to stab an acquaintance in the back and participate in criminal acts, Cheon Woo-jin wouldn’t have joined hands with Seo Seol-ryeong.

 

‘Then… could it be the opposite?’

 

Rather than participating in the magical treasure robbery incident.

Perhaps she was on the side trying to resolve the magical treasure robbery incident.

 

‘But if they had also requested help from Seo Seol-ryeong, Oh Hwi-seong or Ho Yeon-jin would have mentioned it.’

 

And it didn’t seem like Seo Seol-ryeong would have closed her shop on the 2nd Layer because of such a request.

 

In Cheon Woo-jin’s memory, Seo Seol-ryeong had closed her shop on the 2nd Layer only once.

In the Spirit Path Cultivation Chronicle game, when the player character reached the Core Formation Realm and came up to the 6th Floor, she closed her shop.

 

‘No, let’s not think about the game content for now.’

 

In the game, the developers would have moved Seo Seol-ryeong to the 6th Floor for the player’s convenience.

There might be specific background settings, but anyway, the situation is different from now.

 

Let’s think only about the current situation.

 

‘If Wi Ju-seon’s speculation is correct, Seo Seol-ryeong came up to the 6th Floor because of this magical treasure robbery incident. But this would be impossible for the usual Seo Seol-ryeong.’

 

What was different from usual?

There was only one thing.

 

The fact that Cheon Woo-jin had been kidnapped by Evil Horse Gate and his life or death was unknown.

 

‘My kidnapping with unknown life or death, and the robbery of a powerful magical treasure called the Ghost Spirit Radiance Domain Banner… perhaps these two factors worked together to influence Seo Seol-ryeong.’

 

If we assume this, it could explain why Seo Seol-ryeong acted differently from usual only this time.

 

‘Then…’

 

While waiting for Wi Ju-seon to return, Cheon Woo-jin organized his thoughts alone.

As he was doing so, Lee Jin-gang, whom he had met earlier, approached.

 

“Sorry, but please wait a little longer. It seems the conversation with the Elder Ancestor is taking long.”

“Elder Ancestor?”

“The Former Sect Master.”

 

Lee Jin-gang slowly explained.

 

“Even though he’s called the Former Sect Master, he’s not someone who reached the Nascent Soul realm. He realized that with his own talent, it would be difficult to break through the Core Formation Realm, so he simply passed the sect master position to a talented successor early.”

 

Unlike the Ten Thousand Poison Six Evil Sect or Golden Wing Sect, it didn’t seem like a case where he dumped the responsibilities on a successor saying he would focus only on his own cultivation from now on.

It seemed he had stepped back from the front lines so that cultivation resources could be concentrated on the talented Wi Ju-seon.

 

“I heard the current sect master is running Corpse Ghost Hell Gate very well.”

“That’s true.”

 

At Cheon Woo-jin’s words, Lee Jin-gang puffed out his chest.

 

“Actually, not long ago, the Demonic Path contacted us.”

“By any chance, do you mean Mad World Yin Spirit Sect?”

“That’s right. They tried to entice us saying that if Mad World Yin Spirit Sect and Corpse Ghost Hell Gate joined forces, we could dominate all of Ghost Head City.”

 

Who would have thought Mad World Yin Spirit Sect had also contacted Corpse Ghost Hell Gate.

He hadn’t noticed at all when he was in the Ghost Beast Fortress Lower Levels.

 

Certainly, if Mad World Yin Spirit Sect and Corpse Ghost Hell Gate joined forces, the synergy effect would have been decent.

If Mad World Yin Spirit Sect created lots of corpses, Corpse Ghost Hell Gate could take those corpses and use them.

 

“But the sect master firmly refused.”

“Didn’t she want to join hands with the Demonic Path?”

“That was part of it, but it was because she predicted that even if they advanced into Ghost Head City, they wouldn’t achieve very good results.”

“That was… certainly an excellent judgment.”

 

In the end, Mad World Yin Spirit Sect collapsed when Jeok Ya-wol fell to Cheon Woo-jin.

Those who had sided with Mad World Yin Spirit Sect were thoroughly oppressed afterward, so Wi Ju-seon’s judgment to reject Mad World Yin Spirit Sect could be said to be very excellent.

 

“Besides that… Oh, Sect Master!”

 

Wi Ju-seon approached from afar.

It seemed she had finished her meeting with the Former Sect Master.

 

“Follow me, Cheon Woo-jin.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’ll explain the details later. Just follow me for now.”

 

After saying that, Wi Ju-seon turned her gaze to Lee Jin-gang.

 

“I will be away for a while.”

“What?”

“While I’m gone, the Former Sect Master has agreed to handle the sect’s major and minor affairs in my place.”

“…!”

 

At the unexpected words, Lee Jin-gang’s eyes widened.

 

“Sect Master, I don’t know what this is about, but then I should also come with you…”

“I’ll take the jiangshi with me. Don’t worry about it.”

 

Thud, thud.

Two jiangshi that had been guarding the front of the Sect Master’s Hall approached.

Wi Ju-seon, leading the jiangshi, turned her gaze back to Cheon Woo-jin.

 

“We’re going to the underground waterway. Follow me.”

“Understood.”

 

In the end, Cheon Woo-jin headed to the underground waterway together with Wi Ju-seon.

 

“About this Jongli Un fellow who supposedly stole the magical treasure.”

 

While continuing to walk through the deserted underground waterway, Wi Ju-seon suddenly spoke up.

 

“I have a lead.”

“Really?”

“Recently there have been reports of strange spiritual energy flows being felt in corners of the underground waterway. He’s probably set up a hideout somewhere around there.”

 

He thought it was good that he had come to find Wi Ju-seon.

He had considered the possibility that the man might be hiding in the underground waterway, but to find a clue this quickly.

 

“But…”

 

Wi Ju-seon lowered her voice slightly.

 

“Cheon Woo-jin, why do you think Seo Seol-ryeong came up to the 6th Floor?”

“…”

 

Wi Ju-seon’s eyes looking at Cheon Woo-jin were quite serious.

It was almost as if she was trying to test Cheon Woo-jin.

 

“Let me share my speculation.”

“Speculation?”

 

Cheon Woo-jin began to speak about what he had been thinking while waiting for Wi Ju-seon earlier.

 

“Seo Seol-ryeong seems to have had high expectations for the newcomer investigator named Cheon Woo-jin.”

 

As if talking about someone else’s affairs, in a cold voice.

 

“That wasn’t simply for business purposes, but was also related to Seo Seol-ryeong’s true objective. However… when Cheon Woo-jin was kidnapped by the Won Shadow Sect’s Elder Ancestor and his life or death became unknown, Seo Seol-ryeong seems to have given up on those expectations.”

“…”

“Meanwhile, an incident occurred at the Heavenly Dragon Tower where a very powerful magical treasure was stolen. The culprit, Jongli Un, fled to the 6th Floor with that magical treasure…”

 

At the point when she thought Cheon Woo-jin was dead, such news reached Seo Seol-ryeong.

But if that magical treasure was something very useful to Seo Seol-ryeong…

 

“Seo Seol-ryeong intends to find Jongli Un on the 6th Floor and steal that magical treasure. Not borrowing Cheon Woo-jin’s help, but to achieve her objective directly with her own hands.”

“…!”

 

After finishing his story like that, Cheon Woo-jin looked at Wi Ju-seon again.

 

“This is my speculation, Sect Master Wi.”

“Ha…”

 

Wi Ju-seon shook her head back and forth.

 

“You’re not making fun of me, are you? You didn’t hear everything from Seo Seol-ryeong from the beginning?”

“I thought about it while waiting earlier.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin had never originally thought to connect Seo Seol-ryeong with the magical treasure theft incident.

He had only thought that finding Seo Seol-ryeong and getting her help would make solving the magical treasure theft incident easier.

But after hearing Wi Ju-seon’s words that Seo Seol-ryeong coming to the 6th Floor might be related to the magical treasure theft incident, his thinking changed.

As a result of connecting the two things, he was able to reach this conclusion.

 

“If you really just thought of this now, that’s impressive. You seem to be someone whose mind works very well.”

“Then…”

“Your speculation is correct, Cheon Woo-jin.”

 

Wi Ju-seon spoke in a serious voice.

 

“Originally, Seo Seol-ryeong coming to Ghost Head City itself was to find someone like you.”

“Someone like me?”

“She was looking for an investigator with exceptional talent. One who could make the impossible possible… an investigator capable of changing destiny.”

 

An investigator capable of changing destiny.

The moment he heard those words, Cheon Woo-jin felt his heart somehow racing.

He felt as if he had heard similar words somewhere before.

 

“What exactly does she want…”

“Sorry, but I can’t speak of that with my own mouth. In any case, I’ll just say that it’s something close to impossible with Seo Seol-ryeong’s individual power alone.”

 

Hearing those words, Cheon Woo-jin raised a question.

 

“Sect Master Wi, then a magical treasure that displays Avatar Mirror level power would seem somewhat insufficient.”

“That’s an accurate observation. You’re right.”

 

Wi Ju-seon nodded with an impressed expression.

 

“That magical treasure called the Ghost Spirit Radiance Domain Banner… is not a magical treasure that displays such trivial power as Avatar Mirror level.”

 

And she began to tell him the truth.

 

“Originally, the Ghost Spirit Radiance Domain Banner was discovered in the cave dwelling of an Old Monster who recently lost his life to Heavenly Tribulation. The Heavenly Dragon Tower was going to put it up for auction without grasping the magical treasure’s true value.”

“You mean even the Heavenly Dragon Tower Master didn’t know the Ghost Spirit Radiance Domain Banner’s true identity?”

“The Heavenly Dragon Tower Master is a wise dragon. But she’s only been stationed in Ghost Head City for 50 years. There’s still much she doesn’t know about Ghost Head City.”

 

As Wi Ju-seon said, Heavenly Dragon Tower Master Oh Hwi-seong is not a Ghost Head City native.

She had been active outside all along and entered Ghost Head City 50 years ago under orders from the Dragon Clan forces.

 

Oh Hwi-seong’s mission was to operate the Heavenly Dragon Tower while gathering information about Ghost Head City to relay to the Dragon Clan forces.

From another perspective, the Dragon Clan forces had dispatched Oh Hwi-seong because they lacked sufficient information about Ghost Head City.

 

It wouldn’t have been strange if Oh Hwi-seong didn’t know the true power of that magical treasure.

 

“What exactly is the identity of the Ghost Spirit Reverse Plaque?”

“It’s a magical treasure that can connect to the Upper Realm.”

 

The Upper Realm.

Not the Lower Realm where people currently lived, but the place above it.

The world of transcendent beings who had succeeded in ascension.

 

“Using the Ghost Spirit Reverse Plaque, you can invoke the power of the Upper Realm.”

“Then…”

“Avatar Mirror level power? That’s only when drawing out the minimum level of power. In reality, it could draw out incomparably greater power than that.”

 

Cheon Woo-jin clicked his tongue.

He had wondered why he’d never seen it in the game, but if it had appeared in the game, it would have been a magical treasure with enough power to break the balance.

 

“Sect Master Wi certainly knew the identity of that magical treasure.”

“All the leaders of the major sects on the 6th Floor know about it. Long ago, there was a secret struggle over the Ghost Spirit Reverse Plaque that appeared on the 6th Floor.”

 

Hearing those words.

Cheon Woo-jin looked at Wi Ju-seon.

 

“Then it’s not just Seo Seol-ryeong targeting the magical treasure this time.”

“You catch on quickly.”

 

The major sects of the 6th Floor knew the true value of the Ghost Spirit Reverse Plaque.

They wouldn’t just sit still.

 

This incident wasn’t simply a case of some madman stealing a magical treasure.

It would become a massacre where countless cultivators would kill and be killed to claim a treasure of the ages.

 

“Azure Wind Valley in the Mountain Region, Ten Thousand Night Ice Palace in the Snow Mountain Region, Shadow Scale Sunken Sect in the Wetland Region… All three major forces will try to get their hands on the Ghost Spirit Reverse Plaque by any means necessary once they learn it has appeared.”

“…”

 

Cheon Woo-jin bit his lip.

 

Because he remembered that Oh Hwi-seong had gone to request cooperation from the three major forces.

 

“Damn it.”

 

Then Wi Ju-seon looked ahead and clicked her tongue.

 

“We’re one step too late.”

 

Crash!

With a thunderous roar, the underground waterway collapsed.

Blue winds that suddenly swept in were causing the ceiling to crumble.

 

“It’s Azure Wind Valley…!”

 

Cultivators wearing blue daoist robes appeared one after another in the underground waterway.

As soon as they saw Cheon Woo-jin and Wi Ju-seon, they immediately raised their swords.

They seemed to have received orders to kill anyone who got in their way.

 

Whoosh!

Blue sword winds swept forth.

Wi Ju-seon’s jiangshi immediately moved to defend, but their bodies were torn to pieces in the storm of sword qi pouring down all at once.

 

However, immediately after.

 

[Black Lightning Annihilation]

 

As Cheon Woo-jin’s spell formation was completed, a storm of black lightning swords swept forth.

 

On one side were the formidable Sword Cultivators of Azure Wind Valley, a force representing the 6th Floor.

On the other side was a single Foundation Establishment mercenary who had just ascended to the 6th Floor.

 

The difference in power was clear.

But the parties involved couldn’t know which side fate would favor.

 

Still, it didn’t matter. Cheon Woo-jin drew spiritual power from all his spiritual meridians and unleashed the bone-chilling sword wind of death.

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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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