The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 21
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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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21. There Are Those Who Pursue From Behind
“Not only does the formation enhance the effects of this poison called Blood Rain Crystal, but the formation itself has other effects. Soul suppression?”
“Hmm? Huh, you were able to discern that, senior? How impressive. But what solution is there even if you figure it out? Kekeke.”
Kang Hyeon remained motionless, still sitting in the chair.
Because of this, No Cheong Woo misunderstood that Kang Hyeon had already been subdued by the Blood Rain Crystal and the hidden Blood Rain Soul-Binding Formation.
But the reality was completely different from No Cheong Woo’s thoughts.
The moment the Blood Rain Crystal seeped into Kang Hyeon’s body through his mouth, Trent from his Spiritual Root burst into his Mental Space and immediately absorbed the Blood Rain Crystal.
Therefore, unlike In Deok, Kang Hyeon suffered no damage from the Blood Rain Crystal at all.
However, he was slightly affected by the formation that No Cheong Woo had hidden in the Eastern Hall.
Since the Blood Rain Crystal had disappeared from Kang Hyeon’s body, the Blood Rain Soul-Binding Formation couldn’t produce its original effect, but the soul-suppressing effect remained.
Feeling this, he was probing No Cheong Woo, worried that there might be more hidden powers in the formation.
“You’ve hidden such a formation well. Impressive. But are there no other effects besides this? With just this much, it seems like I could somehow break through?”
“Kahahaha. Young senior, your boasting is remarkable. Are you saying you can do something while simultaneously facing the Blood Rain Crystal and Blood Rain Soul-Binding Formation? Kaha, that would be impossible even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Hahaha.”
“Do you really think so? That a Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn’t handle just this much?”
“Puhahaha. Do you see that hanging scroll on the wall over there? That is proof of exactly that.”
“Hmm? Don’t tell me you’ve trapped and killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator before?”
“I had a friend who helped with that. But the main roles were played by the Blood Rain Crystal and Blood Rain Soul-Binding Formation. That hanging scroll is what I obtained from that Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
“Huh, quite bold. A mere Mid Qi Refinement Stage cultivator dared to target a Foundation Establishment elder?”
This time even Kang Hyeon couldn’t help but be surprised.
And at Kang Hyeon’s reaction, No Cheong Woo shrugged his shoulders with an even more triumphant expression.
“So now give up everything and quietly enter reincarnation. Hahaha. Don’t pathetically drag out the conversation looking for an opening.”
After saying this, No Cheong Woo finally seemed to have made up his mind and pulled out a black nail from his sleeve.
“What is that?”
Kang Hyeon frowned, sensing that the feeling emanating from that black nail was very sinister and dangerous.
“It’s called a Soul-Killing Nail. If pierced by this, the soul immediately leaves the body and the corporeal soul is annihilated.”
“Annihilation of the corporeal soul?”
“The ethereal soul can just enter reincarnation, but the corporeal soul remaining in reality could be problematic. Sometimes people summon dead spirits to investigate past events, don’t they?”
“You’re saying that becomes impossible if the corporeal soul is annihilated?”
“Didn’t you know? They say the ability to glimpse the memories of the dead is precisely because the corporeal soul remains in reality. So if the corporeal soul is annihilated, even if someone performs Soul Summoning, they won’t be able to inquire about your death, senior.”
“You’ve prepared quite thoroughly.”
“Of course. This is a matter of targeting you, senior. How could it be otherwise? Now, let’s end this. It’s time to go.”
No Cheong Woo felt uneasy about the continuing conversation with Kang Hyeon.
No matter how young, wasn’t he a cultivator of higher realm than himself?
He began to fear that if time dragged on, some clever scheme might emerge.
So he immediately shot the Soul-Killing Nail toward Kang Hyeon’s forehead.
Thwack!
“What?!”
But the moment the Soul-Killing Nail was about to pierce Kang Hyeon’s forehead, old tree bark appeared between his forehead and the Soul-Killing Nail, blocking it.
The Soul-Killing Nail embedded in that tree bark, and even when No Cheong Woo turned his hand to retrieve it, it wouldn’t move.
“This thing is full of sinister energy, but the level of the magical instrument itself is quite high. A supreme-grade magical instrument.”
Kang Hyeon raised his arm and grasped the Soul-Killing Nail that had stopped in front of his forehead.
Whiiiiiiing!
The Soul-Killing Nail struggled and resisted at the touch of someone who wasn’t its master, but the Mental Intent that No Cheong Woo, a mere Mid Qi Refinement Stage cultivator, had planted in the Soul-Killing Nail couldn’t overcome Kang Hyeon’s Mental Intent.
Ziiiiiiing!
“Give, give it back!”
When Kang Hyeon finally subdued and pulled out the Soul-Killing Nail, No Cheong Woo cried out in shock.
But the moment No Cheong Woo rushed toward Kang Hyeon, a bright yellow lightning strike burst from the side and struck No Cheong Woo’s chest.
Crack! Thwack!
“Kraaaagh!”
“Ugh. This isn’t simple.”
The owner of the lightning strike was In Deok.
Though he had been in a state where he couldn’t move a single finger, the Diamond Body Protection Technique that In Deok had learned succeeded in subduing the Blood Rain Crystal.
The Blood Rain Crystal, an impurity that had entered his body, was chased around by the energy of the Diamond Body Protection Technique until it reached between the muscles of In Deok’s forearm, where it became trapped and unable to move.
Naturally, having driven the Blood Rain Crystal to one place and subdued it, the lightning energy of the Lightning Glory Technique could also be used freely, and just as No Cheong Woo rushed toward Kang Hyeon, In Deok fired a lightning strike at No Cheong Woo without regard for consequences.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course, I’m not someone who would fall to just this much.”
“It would have been dangerous if that guy hadn’t acted leisurely and moved quickly instead.”
“Then you would have saved me, Kang Hyeon.”
“You didn’t worry about me at all, it seems?”
“Me worry about you? Such pointless waste of mental energy? You need to say something that makes sense.”
In Deok made an exaggeratedly incredulous expression.
“The poison called Blood Rain Crystal is no simple matter. I could have been affected too.”
Kang Hyeon tried to exaggerate slightly, but In Deok responded as if it was out of the question.
“But you weren’t affected. My prediction was exactly right.”
“Sigh. Fine. Well, since that’s how it turned out, I have nothing else to say. But as for that guy.”
Kang Hyeon gritted his teeth and approached No Cheong Woo.
And before reaching him, Trent’s branches extended from the air and pierced both of No Cheong Woo’s shoulders and lower abdomen.
Stab stab stab!
“Kraaaagh!”
No Cheong Woo screamed in tremendous pain as Trent’s branches that pierced his shoulders and lower abdomen spread root threads throughout his entire body.
However, No Cheong Woo was inwardly despairing not simply because of the pain, but because those root threads had become a restriction technique more powerful than his Blood Rain Poison.
“Your crimes have already been confessed by your own mouth, so even if I pierce you with this Soul-Killing Nail now, you would have nothing to say, would you?”
“S-Senior, that is…”
“But do you know? That this Soul-Killing Nail has another power?”
“S-surely not?”
“Ho, it seems you knew about it too?”
Kang Hyeon saw No Cheong Woo’s startled expression and was certain that he knew about the Soul-Killing Nail’s other function.
“Senior, p-please…”
“Hahaha. You’re going to die anyway, so what does it matter how you die? This was originally your magical instrument, so I’ll be generous and kill you with it.”
“P-please forgive me. Please, anything but the Soul-Killing Nail…”
“Just as the Soul-Killing Nail can annihilate the soul, you also know that it can destroy the spirit too?”
“But if that happens, the Soul-Killing Nail’s evil energy will be almost completely consumed, and it won’t be usable properly until the evil energy is replenished again. So please, just stop at annihilating the soul.”
“You have no intention of living?”
“How could I dare hope for that? I only hope that Senior will show mercy and spare me from the destruction of my spirit. Please…”
“Hmm, if you wish for that, shouldn’t you give us something as a gift? Originally, if you want something, you should offer hospitality to obtain it, isn’t that the way?”
“Among my possessions, I have several books that contain not only maps of the surrounding area but also detailed records of the entire situation of Nokju Continent. Inside the door I entered, there are three more doors, and those are in the leftmost one.”
“Tsk, how foolish. After you die anyway, everything in this cave dwelling will belong to me and my friend, so aren’t you trying to take credit for what will be ours?”
“I-I apologize. Then…”
“Ah, let’s talk about your friends. About that matter where you harmed the Foundation Establishment elder together.”
“Th-that is…”
No Cheong Woo showed signs of hesitation, then as if he had made up his mind, began to explain the events of that time in detail.
And that story included detailed information about the other four cultivators who had trapped the mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator together with No Cheong Woo.
“And now that I have told Senior such a story, the Golden Word Oath that the five of us made together at that time has been broken. So those four would have known about this fact.”
“Hmm? So you’re saying the other cultivators found out that you told me about that incident?”
“I don’t know if they know I told Senior specifically, but they would have found out that I confessed that matter to someone.”
“So you’re calling your friends to trouble us?”
“They’re merely at the mid to late Qi Refinement stage. They should be ones that the two Seniors who have reached Great Perfection can handle sufficiently. Calling them isn’t a trap but a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Though their cultivation doesn’t match up to the Seniors’, they’ve lived long lives, so they must have accumulated much wealth accordingly. Now the Seniors can take that. So how is it not a gift? And if the gift doesn’t please you, you can just quickly loot my belongings and leave far away.”
“You’re an interesting fellow. Are you that afraid of spiritual destruction?”
“My age is now approaching two hundred. Having lived this long, I’ve developed a very strong desire for a new life in the next existence. So how could I lose that? Please, Senior, show mercy to this old junior.”
“Well now.”
Kang Hyeon clicked his tongue at No Cheong Woo’s plea and looked at In Deok.
“What? Originally, these kinds of decisions are made by you, Kang Hyeon. I don’t have any thoughts about it?”
“Sigh, yes, I was wrong. You just do what you were doing.”
Since In Deok was already examining and appraising No Cheong Woo’s belongings one by one, Kang Hyeon said that and looked down at the fallen No Cheong Woo for a moment, then sighed briefly and spoke.
“You want to live the next life? Then do so.”
“Thank… Kkeuk!”
No Cheong Woo understood Kang Hyeon’s words and tried to bow in gratitude, but before he could finish speaking, the root threads spread throughout his body exploded, ending No Cheong Woo’s life.
The root threads didn’t explode greatly, but even with just a brief vibrating explosion, they turned No Cheong Woo’s body into mush.
“Is it over?”
Perhaps sensing that No Cheong Woo’s life force had disappeared, In Deok briefly looked back at Kang Hyeon and asked, but soon turned his gaze away and began concentrating on appraising the items again.
This was because he was being cautious after seeing Kang Hyeon’s hardened expression.
“Mmm.”
But when Kang Hyeon made a low groaning sound, In Deok had no choice but to look back at Kang Hyeon with a helpless expression.
Since his friend was uncomfortable, he couldn’t ignore it.
“It’s not your first time killing, so why are you so serious?”
In Deok deliberately created a light atmosphere as he spoke.
Then Kang Hyeon looked at In Deok with a puzzled expression and said.
“What are you talking about? He was trying to kill us, so what murder? It’s not about that.”
“No? Then why?”
“Because of this guy’s friends.”
“You said they’d come running if we wait?”
“Right. He said they would. That’s why it’s a problem. Should we wait for them and have a big fight, or should we hurry and flee this place?”
“Of course we should run.”
“Huh? That decision came from your mouth?”
“What? I’m someone who thinks too. This is Nokju Continent, which is unfamiliar to us. We don’t know anything about this place yet, so where do we have the leisure to fight with other cultivators? We should quickly gather everything and run, then read the books that guy mentioned to build up some basics before worrying about other things. And we have to go to Blue Wood Mountain.”
“Right. You’re correct.”
Kang Hyeon nodded at In Deok’s unexpectedly logical judgment, then began thoroughly looting No Cheong Woo’s cave dwelling together with In Deok.
***
On the back of a spirit beast with a tiger’s body and eagle’s head, with a tail that looked like it had a meteor attached to it—a Flowing Flame Flying Beast—Dam Yeol stands tall.
Behind him, four disciples of the Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect stand in formation, and Dam Yeol looks very displeased for some reason.
“Eung Ryeong, that bastard definitely played tricks. Looking back at his actions, I get the feeling that he intentionally lured and led me around. What do you all think?”
“We also think the Sect Leader’s words are correct.”
The leftmost of the four bowed and answered.
“Right. It’s definitely so. Then what could be the reason? That Eung Ryeong bastard, he wouldn’t have been unaware that doing such things would put his own life on a precipice?”
“If he brought crisis upon himself, it means he had an ulterior motive, and if he was prepared to risk even his life, it would mean that something that should be with him is now absent.”
“Right. That would be it, wouldn’t it? Then where did he put it?”
“There was a brief moment when we lost sight of Eung Ryeong. If there was any trickery, it would have been then.”
“When he briefly hid among the trees? So did he hide it there?”
“How could it be so careless? He was prepared to be caught and killed. Then what would have happened if we killed him but couldn’t find the item? We would have definitely torn that place apart completely to find it.”
“Correct. That Eung Ryeong bastard would have anticipated that much too. Then it means he created a variable, and that variable would ultimately be…”
“Having an errand boy who moved the item would be most reasonable.”
“Though Eung Ryeong handles spirit beasts well, he wouldn’t have entrusted such a task to a spirit beast. The matter wouldn’t be simple.”
“This disciple also thinks so. Then ultimately…”
“It means he entrusted it to someone else. Though it’s hard to be certain.”
“We also think so.”
The disciple at the far left was still taking the lead in speaking, but the story that came from his mouth was content that had been agreed upon by all four disciples.
Dam Yeol always liked to ask for his disciples’ judgment this way, comparing it with his own thoughts.
And occasionally, if there were flawed aspects in his own thinking, he did not hesitate to correct them.
Even if it was a disciple’s words or thoughts, if they were right, why would he hesitate to adopt them?
They were all fellow disciples working hard for The Sect.
“Even if it’s a small possibility, we cannot overlook it. You two go there and search thoroughly.”
Dam Yeol designated two disciples and sent them to the Forest where Eung Ryeong had been hiding before being discovered.
Thus, crisis was approaching Kang Hyeon and In Deok.
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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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