The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 168

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Youngest Son of the Jin Family of Luoyang – Chapter 229

I hurled my body toward the gaping aperture and plunged inside just as sand cascaded down to bury the space we had occupied moments before.
Watching the sand pour relentlessly into the opening itself, I could not help but acknowledge the perilous nature of our predicament—even I had to catch my breath at how narrowly we had escaped.
I turned my gaze to survey the chamber around us.
“Ah, I cannot see anything at all.”
Completely entombed within the sand, the interior admitted not a single ray of light.
Yet the space proved remarkably vast—my words echoed loudly through the darkness.
“This way.”
“Can you see, Young Master?”
“My eyes are hardly the same as yours, are they?”
“That is essentially saying I am not human, is it not?”
I dismissed Chaeseoha’s sharp retort lightly and pressed forward, searching for a passage that might lead us out.
The interior proved far more expansive than I had anticipated.
Moreover, the passages twisted and turned like an elaborate labyrinth.
I glimpsed enormous chambers scattered throughout—some submerged in sand, others miraculously preserved—and the sight suggested that a grand structure had been swallowed entirely by the desert.
Within the sand-filled chambers lay scattered furnishings and artifacts, and from their arrangement, I surmised this place had once belonged to either the Daoist or Buddhist traditions.
Yet this remained mere conjecture.
The age of these ruins rendered certainty impossible.
“This is enormous. Do you think we can escape?”
“We entered unexpectedly, but an exit appears to exist. Finding it, however, will prove considerably difficult.”
“Ugh…”
Chaeseoha shuddered, clearly discomfited, and pressed herself against me once more.
Though her eyes were gradually adapting to the darkness, unlike myself who could perceive the surroundings as clearly as daylight, she remained enveloped in suffocating blackness.
I guided her cautiously deeper into the structure.
The identity and purpose of this place mattered little at present. Our immediate priority was locating an exit.
Everything else could be contemplated afterward.
As I advanced with this resolve, I realized the passage ahead had become completely blocked by sand—we could proceed no further.
I furrowed my brow and surveyed the surrounding area.
During our passage here, no alternative routes had presented themselves.
Retreating would prove futile if we could not advance, so discovering a path from this very spot represented our wisest course of action.
I began methodically examining the walls.
I searched for hollow spaces within, but the task proved arduous. Each wall seemed sealed by sand, and I detected no breeze indicating an opening.
As I stood with furrowed brow, surveying the surroundings once more—
Kreeeeee—
An eerie sound emanated from somewhere within the darkness.
A noise utterly inhuman reached my ears.
And then—
Boom!
Without warning, one wall suddenly crumbled, sand pouring forth in a torrent.
Simultaneously, a figure in human form burst through and revealed itself, then lunged toward Chaeseoha and me with savage intent.
Like a beast driven by instinct alone.
Kaaaaang—!
I swung my sword to cleave its chest, but the blade bounced away harmlessly.
Its body was impossibly hard, reminiscent of diamond-like indestructibility, which only deepened my frown. As it dove toward me like a predator seeking prey, I unleashed a torrent of sword energy and slashed through it.
Screech—!
The creature fell, its body split cleanly in half.
Yet strangely, no blood spilled forth.
As though it were not a living being at all.
“…A Gangsi?”
“A Huncheon Gangsi.”
“What… is that?”
At the question that reached my ears, I let out a hollow laugh.

A Huncheon Gangsi—a creature of steel that could only be severed by sword energy.

A being with a body of steel that could not be cut without sword energy.
This was undoubtedly the handiwork of Zijiao.
Which meant this place held some connection to the Divine, and I suspected it might be an abandoned site.
No such place remained in my memory.
“Stay close to me. No matter what happens, you must not stray.”
“Surely… these creatures won’t keep appearing? How do you intend to fight in your condition?”
“I had hoped to avoid them, but it seems impossible.”
Whoooosh—!
Another wall crumbled, and three or four Huncheon Gangsi emerged from the breach.
Faces drained of color and eyes devoid of emotion.
Though they gazed upon their opponents, only emptiness emanated from them.
No killing intent, no malice—not even the faintest aura. If one did not face them directly, their very existence would be imperceptible.
Judging by their appearance, they had not been sent here recently.
They had been guarding this place for a very long time.
Ten years? Twenty years?
No—considering how this place had been buried in sand and lost its very form, it was far more likely to have been far longer.
Certainly far longer than the Huncheon Gangsi I had faced before.
“Their level is low.”
Screeeech—!
There was no need to unleash sword energy.
With merely a sharper edge to my blade, I could cleave through them. From that alone, I could deduce they were incomplete creations, merely thrown here to guard this place.
The scattered human bones strewn about only confirmed my suspicion.
I then stepped into the space from which these creatures had emerged.
In that instant, my eyes caught sight of a narrow passage that resembled a labyrinth.
And there, visible within it, were the Huncheon Gangsi.
From the way they moved about in patrol, there was no doubt.
They were guarding this place.
To prevent uninvited intruders from entering.
Could I hear the beating of a living heart?
The gaze of the Huncheon Gangsi, which had been moving in patrol, suddenly converged upon me.
“Gasp?!”
Whether frightened by the sudden convergence of all their gazes, a cry of alarm burst from Chaeseoha’s lips.
“Step back.”
I grasped my sword as I observed them.
It seemed I would have no choice but to cut through them to proceed.

* * *

Chaeseoha, who remained safely behind, watched the Gangsi collapse as the battle intensified.
Though the sight of their severed heads and bodies scattered about was utterly repulsive, she steadied her breathing slowly and cautiously approached to examine the corpses.
First, their clothing.
It was so worn from prolonged wear that it was unfit even for rags.
However, the form and material of the garments differed greatly from those of the present day.
As she confirmed this, she slowly extended her hand to touch their skin.
It was so hard that she wondered whether a blade could even cut through it, even if she wielded a sword.
But soon, she discovered strange scars and deformities upon the skin.
It was not just one or two—all of them bore such marks.
Spread like a plague, it was evident that these creatures had died while suffering from disease in life.
As she furrowed her brow with such thoughts.
Crash—!
Jin Cheon-u severed the chest of the last remaining creature and hurled it against the wall. With an enormous sound, the ground trembled with vibrations, and simultaneously, sand began to fall slowly from the ceiling.
Rumble—
Then came the sound of something cracking.
“This way. Hurry.”
“Yes, understood!”
At Jin Cheon-u’s words, Chaeseoha snapped to attention and rushed forward.

Crash—!
With a deafening roar, the passage collapsed entirely.
The way back was completely sealed off, leaving only forward as our remaining option.
“Things rarely go according to plan.”
I scratched my head and glanced behind us.
It was Chaeseoha’s fault for keeping her mouth shut since earlier.
When I expressed my confusion at her contemplative expression, she furrowed her brow while dragging her finger across her lower lip.
“Young Master, about that Huncheon Gangsi from before.”
“Did you figure something out?”
“They’re infected with Soul Plague.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a disease where the soul becomes twisted and life withers away. It’s a condition rarely seen, and it’s also a disease so obscure that even you wouldn’t know of it.”
I nodded at Chaeseoha’s explanation.
Though I knew the names of countless illnesses, Soul Plague was entirely unfamiliar to me. I had no doubt that any physician I consulted would say the same.
“Normally it’s a fatal disease where the Gate of Life collapses, and it’s particularly vulnerable to those who’ve trained in martial arts, with strong contagion.”
“And?”
“According to my knowledge, the last time this disease appeared was… eight hundred years ago.”
“Eight hundred years? Are you certain?”
“If those infected back then became Huncheon Gangsi, it’s undeniable. Of course, it’s possible the disease broke out in a period after my knowledge ends, but considering the form and material of the clothing, which differs greatly from now… perhaps…?”
Watching Chaeseoha speak with such caution, I too furrowed my brow. If everything she suspected was true, this place had been used at least eight hundred years ago.
By the Divine Sect.
Considering the scale was larger than expected, I wondered if this might be their headquarters or an undisclosed branch.
Or perhaps this was where their ancient branch once stood.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
We moved swiftly.
Continuing to cut down the Huncheon Gangsi blocking our path and searching for the way forward, we finally reached a space distinctly different from what we’d seen before.
A vast chamber revealed itself.
Countless enormous pillars supported the ceiling and floor, and the expansive space stretching straight ahead was spacious enough to accommodate thousands of people with room to spare.
And at the far end.
There were stairs.
The staircase rose so high that I had to tilt my head back to barely see its form, resembling a space erected to honor someone, and at its apex stood an enormous throne.
As if symbolizing an emperor’s seat of power.
I found myself holding my breath.
“This is…”
The moment I took it in, I understood.
My heart raced unnaturally, and my body trembled.
The empty throne, though worn and weathered by time, emanated such an intense oppressive force that it felt as though the presence of whoever once sat there remained wholly intact.
The Divine Seat speaks.
Dare not raise your head without permission.
I clenched my teeth hard, feeling the overwhelming pressure bear down upon me.
After a moment, I took a step forward and ascended the stairs.
A sensation washed over me as if the stairs themselves rejected anyone who was not their rightful master, pushing me back with tremendous force.
“Young Master?!”
“Do not come up.”
I ignored Chaeseoha’s cry and continued climbing higher. With each step upward, the force pushing against me grew more intense.
Even as I felt as though I might tumble down the stairs in an unseemly manner at any moment, I did not stop and continued ascending.
If my suspicions were correct, there could be no doubt.
This was the Divine Sect, and this seat was the throne of the one revered as ‘The Divine.’
Though the one currently occupying it must be distinctly different, I thought perhaps I could gain some understanding of the meaning behind the throne that venerates ‘The Divine.’
Therefore, I could not give up.
“Ugh….”
With each step higher, my body swayed unsteadily.
Blood flowed from my mouth and nose under a pressure incomparable to when I had been struck by Jin Cheon-rae’s technique.
Merely the remnants of that consciousness alone caused such devastation.
Yet I did not stop.
I pressed forward with each step, climbing ever higher.
At last, the moment I reached the summit.
The Divine’s throne lay bare before my eyes, and behind it, countless images adorned the strange circular bricks arranged in a perfect ring.
“Haa, haa….”
Trembling—
My entire body shook, and I could not even maintain my balance.
As I collapsed and gazed at the throne while gasping for breath, I felt a dizzying sensation coupled with the sensation of my very soul being consumed.
It felt as though the one called ‘The Divine’ stood directly before me.

Kneel and bow.

As if hearing such words, I forced my collapsed body upright, managing a strained laugh as I moved.
Time was running out.
Before my spiritual energy was completely exhausted, I had to imprint every sight in this place into my mind.
Just as I passed the Divine’s seat and tried to take in the mural hanging on the wall behind it, an even more crushing pressure descended upon me, draining my strength.
My legs gave way all at once, and my body staggered.
Reaching out to steady myself, I grasped the Divine’s seat and stood firm.
That was when it happened.
A flash—
“…!?”
I felt a gaze upon me.
A chilling sensation.
The blood burning hot within me turned cold in an instant.
Even the sweat flowing down my body seemed to freeze.
My heart began to pound as if it would burst, and a dizzying vertigo crashed over me, engulfing my mind in a single breath.
I felt it.
This was unmistakably the gaze of the Divine.
I realized that creature was watching me, and simultaneously, a strange energy surging from within my body extended outward as if to block that gaze.
Was that the reason?
The Divine’s gaze swept across me with even greater interest.
As if possessed by the will to see through everything from beginning to end, I clenched my teeth and roared harshly toward that creature.
“I will kill you without fail!”
A single phrase I had kept buried within.
Words I had meant to spit out when I finally stood before that creature.
I unleashed them with the ferocity of a volcano erupting, sending forth both words and momentum.
In that instant, all strength drained from my body, and I was hurled backward.
As if someone had commanded me to “descend.”
My consciousness shattered as I felt myself suspended in empty space.
“Young Master?!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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