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Chapter: 21
There Are Those Chasing From Behind
“Not only does the formation strengthen the poison called Blood Rain Crystal, it also has another effect… suppression of the soul?”
“Hm? Heh… Senior, you recognized that? Impressive. But even if you know, what solution do you have? Heh heh heh.”
Kanghyun was still sitting in his chair without moving.
Because of that, No Cheong‑u believed Kanghyun had already been completely subdued by the Blood Rain Crystal and the hidden Blood Rain Soul‑Locking Formation.
But the truth was completely different.
The moment the Blood Rain Crystal entered Kanghyun’s body through his mouth, Trant, who was inside his spirit root, jumped into the mind‑space and instantly absorbed the poison.
So unlike Indeok, Kanghyun suffered no damage from the Blood Rain Crystal.
However, he was still slightly affected by the hidden formation inside the eastern chamber.
Since the poison had disappeared from his body, the formation could not show its full power, but the soul‑suppressing effect still remained.
Kanghyun sensed this and began probing No Cheong‑u, worried there might be more hidden power in the formation.
“You hid such a formation well. Impressive. But is that all? If it’s only this much, I might be able to break through it.”
“Hahaha! Young Senior, your bluff is amazing. You are hit by both the Blood Rain Crystal and the Blood Rain Soul‑Locking Formation, and you still think you can do something? Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator could not do that. Hahaha!”
“Do you really think so? That even a Foundation Establishment cultivator could not handle something like this?”
“Hahaha. Do you see that scroll on the wall? That is proof.”
“…Don’t tell me you trapped and killed even a Foundation Establishment cultivator?”
“I had a friend who helped me. But the main role was played by the Blood Rain Crystal and this formation. That scroll was taken from that cultivator.”
Kanghyun was truly surprised this time.
Seeing his reaction, No Cheong‑u became even more proud.
“Now give up everything and quietly enter reincarnation. Do not drag time hoping to find an opening.”
No Cheong‑u finally made up his mind and took out a black nail from his sleeve.
“What is that?”
Kanghyun frowned. The nail felt extremely evil and dangerous.
“This is called the Soul‑Killing Nail. Once stabbed by it, the soul leaves the body instantly, and the Po (corporeal soul) is destroyed.”
“The Po is destroyed?”
“The soul can enter reincarnation, but the Po remains in the mortal world and can cause trouble. Sometimes people summon the dead to learn the truth, don’t they?”
“And if the Po is destroyed?”
“Then even if they summon your spirit, they cannot learn how you died.”
“You prepared thoroughly.”
“Of course. I am targeting you, after all. Now, it is time.”
No Cheong‑u grew uneasy as the conversation continued. Kanghyun was still stronger than him. If time dragged on, something unexpected might happen.
So he immediately shot the Soul‑Killing Nail toward Kanghyun’s forehead.
Thud!
“W‑What!?”
At that instant, bark from an ancient tree formed between Kanghyun’s forehead and the nail, blocking it.
The nail stuck into the bark, and no matter how No Cheong‑u tried to retrieve it, it would not move.
“This nail… filled with evil energy, yet its quality is extremely high. A top‑grade artifact.”
Kanghyun raised his hand and grabbed the nail.
The nail struggled violently, but No Cheong‑u’s will was too weak to resist Kanghyun’s.
“G‑Give it back!”
No Cheong‑u shouted in shock.
But the moment he rushed forward, yellow lightning exploded from the side and struck his chest.
Crack—Boom!
“AAAAH!”
“Tch… this isn’t simple.”
The lightning came from Indeok.
Even though he could barely move, his Diamond Body Technique had suppressed the poison. The Blood Rain Crystal was forced into one place inside his arm muscles and trapped there.
Because of that, he could still use lightning energy and fired it at No Cheong‑u when he rushed toward Kanghyun.
“Are you alright?” Kanghyun asked.
“Of course. Something like this can’t defeat me.”
“If he had acted faster, it might have been dangerous.”
“Then you would’ve saved me.”
“You don’t worry about me at all?”
“You? Worry about you? What a waste of effort.”
Indeok exaggerated his expression.
“The Blood Rain Crystal is not simple. I could have been hit.”
“You weren’t. My guess was right.”
Kanghyun sighed.
Then he walked toward No Cheong‑u.
Before reaching him, Trant’s branches shot out from the air and pierced No Cheong‑u’s shoulders and lower abdomen.
Puchi!
“AAAAAH!”
Roots spread inside No Cheong‑u’s body, causing unbearable pain.
But worse than pain, he felt despair—the roots became a stronger restriction technique than his own poison.
“You confessed your crimes yourself. Even if I kill you with this Soul‑Killing Nail, you have nothing to say, right?”
“S‑Senior… please…”
“Do you know? This nail has another power.”
“…Y‑You don’t mean—”
“Oh? So you knew.”
Kanghyun confirmed No Cheong‑u understood the nail’s hidden function.
“It can destroy not only the Po… but also the soul itself.”
“B‑But if you do that, the nail’s evil energy will be exhausted and unusable for a long time. Please… at least spare my soul…”
“You don’t want to live?”
“I do not dare hope for life. I only beg not to have my soul destroyed…”
Kanghyun paused.
“If you want something, you must offer something in return.”
No Cheong‑u quickly spoke.
“I have books… maps of this region and detailed records of the entire Nokju Continent. Inside the inner room, the leftmost door.”
Kanghyun clicked his tongue.
“After you die, everything here becomes ours anyway.”
“Then… let me tell you about my companions—the ones who helped me kill that Foundation Establishment cultivator…”
No Cheong‑u explained everything, including details of the four cultivators who worked with him.
“And now that I told you… the oath we five made is broken. They will know.”
“They will come?”
“Yes… but not a trap. A gift.”
“A gift?”
“They are weaker than you, but they have lived long and accumulated wealth. You can take everything.”
“You fear soul destruction that much?”
“I am nearly two hundred years old. After living this long, my desire for another life is strong. Please show mercy…”
Kanghyun looked at Indeok.
“Well? You always decide,” Indeok said casually.
Kanghyun sighed.
“You want another life? Then have it.”
“Thank—… Ugh!”
Before he could finish speaking, the roots inside No Cheong‑u exploded, ending his life instantly.
His body was crushed into ruin.
“Is it over?” Indeok asked briefly, then returned to examining treasures.
Kanghyun groaned softly.
“This isn’t your first kill. Why so serious?” Indeok asked lightly.
“He tried to kill us. That’s not it.”
“Then what?”
“His companions.”
“They’re coming, right?”
“Yes. That’s the problem. Do we wait and fight… or leave?”
“We run, obviously.”
Kanghyun blinked in surprise.
“You said that?”
“I can think too. This is an unfamiliar continent. We know nothing yet. We shouldn’t fight unknown cultivators. Let’s take everything, study the books, then decide. And we must go to Cheongmok Mountain.”
Kanghyun nodded.
Together, they thoroughly looted No Cheong‑u’s dwelling.
Elsewhere
Standing atop the Flowing Flame Flying Beast, Damyeol looked displeased. Four disciples stood behind him.
“Eungnyeong tricked me. He deliberately led me away. What do you think?”
“We agree, Master.”
“If he risked his life, then something important must be missing. Where did he hide it?”
“There was a brief moment when we lost him in the forest. Something must have happened then.”
“He wouldn’t hide it carelessly. If we killed him and found nothing, we would search everything. So…”
“There must be a courier who moved the item.”
Damyeol nodded.
“Even if the chance is small, we cannot ignore it. You two—go search that forest thoroughly.”
And so, danger began to approach Kanghyun and Indeok from behind.
