Chapter 68 : Chapter 68
Chapter 068. Soul Consuming
RUMBLEEEE—!
One figure sprinted madly against the desert sandstorm.
The spirit emitted by that figure was extremely ferocious and sharp, despite being precarious as if it would extinguish at any moment. Like a single wounded beast. Or like a sword broken with a rough cross-section.
“Sword Ghost……?”
The face of Wi Cheon-rak, the Yin God Cult Cardinal who was sitting on the altar and conducting the ritual, crumpled coldly.
The one approaching here against the sandstorm was definitely the Sword Ghost, a fellow Cardinal.
Because there are few existences under heaven capable of emitting such ferocious sharpness while in a state halfway close to a corpse.
The Sword Ghost's figure reached Wi Cheon-rak's vicinity in literally the blink of an eye.
“Your appearance is a spectacle.”
Seeing such a Sword Ghost, Wi Cheon-rak wore a cold ridicule.
One arm was completely cut off, and his entire body was full of deep and shallow sword wounds. Furthermore, his eyes, which always emitted bright madness, were also dim and cloudy.
Especially spectacular was the Sword Ghost's spirit.
Although he still showed a spirit violent enough to make one or two ordinary people faint in an instant, to Wi Cheon-rak, a master of the same rank, it seemed no more than a cat raising its fur stiffly.
If he decided to kill the guy right now, he would be able to cut his neck within five exchanges.
‘Did he lose?’
Although he thought it might happen, the Sword Ghost's condition was much more miserable than expected.
……If there was an overwhelming gap, so if he failed to inflict a fatal injury on the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable, the plan might go awry.
Wi Cheon-rak clicked his tongue inwardly and took a step forward.
BOOM!
When he lightly stomped his foot and stepped on the pavilion, a powerful wave of energy soared up, splitting the sandstorm and spreading winding traces like scars on the desert ground.
Where those traces stopped was,
“……!”
Right at the Sword Ghost's feet.
THUD!!
With his one remaining arm, he thrust his miserably broken sword deep into the desert sand.
The moment the Sword Ghost's sword dug into the sand, the fissure that was stretching out with irresistible force stopped abruptly with a snap.
“Kuhuhuhuhu, you underestimate me too much.”
The Sword Ghost said while tearing the corners of his mouth up grotesquely. While emanating killing intent as if he would tear Wi Cheon-rak to death right away.
“You are the one bluffing.”
Wi Cheon-rak shrugged his shoulders as if dumbfounded and retorted. At the same time, when he flicked his finger lightly, a formless force struck the Sword Ghost's chest.
A Super-ascending level sorcery that transmits shockwaves across space. The Sword Ghost, who had almost no means to protect his body, had no choice but to be hit by that blow without time to defend.
COUGH COUGH—
Dark red fresh blood spurred out like a fountain from the Sword Ghost's mouth. The aftereffects of the internal injury he was barely suppressing burst out like a dam collapsing at Wi Cheon-rak's attack.
Seeing that appearance, Wi Cheon-rak approached the Sword Ghost with a gait like a ghost. A divinely elusive Body movement art that would be hard to catch up with even if the Sword Ghost was in perfect condition.
It was the Ghost Step, a technique created by the harmony of sorcery and martial arts that reached the Super-ascending realm.
“Worthless, the name of Cardinal is wasted on you.”
Wi Cheon-rak continued speaking as he grabbed the Sword Ghost's neck with his skinny grasp using his slender fingers befitting a sorcerer.
“……Ku, kuhuhuhuhuhuhu!! You babble carelessly just because you have a mouth. But if you act so arrogantly, your petty Grand Plan will also fail.”
The Sword Ghost sneered fiercely while feeling the sensation of his neck being choked.
Even knowing that his neck bone would break and he would die if the opponent applied even a little force, he smirked. However, the Sword Ghost wasn't acting out simply because of pride.
He knew that Wi Cheon-rak couldn't kill him anyway.
Isn't this a situation where the biggest variable, the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable, might still be in good health? Wi Cheon-rak would want to borrow even the hand of the Sword Ghost who became a mess.
“You have a big mouth for someone who returned with a broken sword.”
Wi Cheon-rak muttered as if disgusted but threw the Sword Ghost away without tightening his grip on the neck further.
Even while rolling on the ground unable to overcome that force, the Sword Ghost constantly let out giggling laughter.
He survived once again. This time, he survived despite being closer to death than when he was chased by the Sword Emperor.
That was enough. Be it Un Wol-hyang or Wi Cheon-rak. Or even that crazy brat who reached the Ultra-Peak realm by gaining understanding while fighting him. If he survives, he can kill them someday.
The Sword Ghost felt no shame in this way of thinking. Because he was a swordsman who became strong by surviving and surviving in this manner from the bottom.
A sword that never crumbles even if it rolls in the mud, cracks, shatters, or breaks. That was the Sword Ghost's sword.
“……He hasn't gone completely yet.”
Wi Cheon-rak muttered while looking at the sharpness flickering in the Sword Ghost's eyes for an instant.
“Good, I will wield you one more time.”
“Kukuk, should I say thank you for this?”
SNAP!
Wi Cheon-rak flicked his finger lightly without listening to the end of the Sword Ghost's words. Then, a black radiance swirled and settled on the Sword Ghost's entire body.
The life force Wi Cheon-rak extorted from humans dwelt in the Sword Ghost's entire body, recovering his vitality and vigor slightly. Although famous for being very difficult even among forbidden sorcery, it wasn't that difficult a task for Wi Cheon-rak.
Any clumsy tracking sorcery would have already disappeared when passing through the barrier far away, and even if a high-ranking sorcerer was involved, it would have been washed away by this forbidden art.
‘Because I poured in demonic energy of very high purity.’
Unless they track by divination like the Great Luo Immortals in legends, the Martial Sovereign Castle bastards won't be able to find the Sword Ghost.
Well, it is a more realistic story that the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle manifests and turns the entire desert into ruins rather than that. There is no reason to worry about the sky falling.
“This should serve as a minimum safety measure.”
Wi Cheon-rak approached the Sword Ghost abruptly with a gloomy smile.
“Listen carefully to my story.”
He said while flashing his dark red eye gleam.
“……Yes.”
Reason disappeared instantly from the Sword Ghost's eyes, which had been flashing ferociously until just before.
It is a fact secretly passed down within the Yin God Cult, but Wi Cheon-rak's true specialty is not combat but the sorcery of Soul Consuming.
A Grandmaster who succeeded in capturing even the Murong Family Head, who reached the Entering Transformation Realm, with the Soul Consuming Art.
From his perspective, capturing the Sword Ghost who became completely tattered wasn't that difficult a task.
‘Of course, it won't be perfect Soul Consuming but…….’
It doesn't matter. Since he is a sword to be used just one more time and thrown away anyway. Furthermore, even if he resists the Soul Consuming briefly, there would be no other option for the guy.
For him, whose weakness had to be close combat due to the nature of a sorcerer, obtaining an Entering Transformation Realm swordsman whom he could use literally like his own limbs was a very great fortune.
If he keeps the Sword Ghost close to his side, he will be able to sufficiently suppress even the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable if she appears.
* * *
“……The smell has changed.”
Dam Jeok-san, who had been tracking the Sword Ghost for several double hours since he disappeared, opened his mouth.
“The smell changed?”
Un Wol-hyang, who was chasing closely behind him, tilted her head as if she couldn't understand.
Although he said he chases by ‘feeling’, there is no way he really uses his sense of smell. So it was inevitable to be puzzled when he said the smell changed.
“I cannot explain it any other way but…….”
Dam Jeok-san began to answer with a somewhat complex expression.
“Should I say it's as if the Sword Ghost's essence was invaded by something else? Since this Martial Nephew's experience is shallow, it is difficult to describe.”
“You say interesting things. Even though there are people here with decades more experience than you, Martial Nephew, not a single one can even imitate you. Including me.”
Un Wol-hyang said while pulling up the corners of her mouth crookedly as if telling him to try once more.
“Anyway, so, is there perhaps a problem with tracking?”
“That is not it.”
Dam Jeok-san spoke in a decisive tone.
“Should I say the smell became thicker? Rather, the presence became more vivid.”
To be more precise, it feels like the density of demonic energy became thicker.
He vaguely guessed that perhaps he dabbled in forbidden arts, but there is nothing he can be certain of.
“Then there is nothing to worry about.”
Un Wol-hyang spoke in a voice settled bleakly. Coldly controlled killing intent flowed out from her entire body like frost. Terrible killing intent focused on the Sword Ghost without an inch of waste.
Dam Jeok-san felt goosebumps rising all over his body even though it wasn't directed at him.
‘Now that I have risen to the Ultra-Peak realm, I can definitely see better.’
How supreme a stage she has reached. How deep and wide the martial arts she embodied are, how strong she is, and thus, how much of a monster she is.
However, Un Wol-hyang was still a pitch-black fluctuating abyss. One whose bottom can absolutely not be grasped. It must be because Dam Jeok-san himself is not yet strong enough to gauge her.
A slight glint stood in Un Wol-hyang's eyes seeing such a Dam Jeok-san.
To try to read me already. When she had just risen to the Ultra-Peak, she was busy just managing her own stage, but Dam Jeok-san had a surprisingly wide field of view.
‘Perhaps, really perhaps, he might rise to a stage I cannot look down upon before long.’
Imagining that time, a strange thrill and anxiety ran down her spine together.
The regret that she can no longer give him benevolent help, and the thrill that she can stand in an equal position with him and look at the future.
Whatever it becomes, it is not an emotion that needs to be dwelt on right now.
At least for today, she must protect not only Dam Jeok-san but also the Monster Repelling Squad and this North. Everything.
“I hope you do not feel too burdened.”
Dam Jeok-san said while looking at such an Un Wol-hyang.
“Because there is no need for Martial Aunt to bear everything.”
Dam Jeok-san said while pointing at himself with his finger. Saying, am I not here too?
“Thank you.”
Un Wol-hyang smiled faintly looking at such a Dam Jeok-san.
Martial Nephew's words are right. If one is an Ultra-Peak master, they can sufficiently do their part wherever they go under heaven. There is no need for her to only try to protect.
While the Monster Repelling Squad party was advancing like that.
“Wait…… Wait a moment!”
Namgung Yeon shouted while suddenly raising her hand high.
“It seems the Family Head is nearby.”
“Family Head? Do you mean the Sword King of Namgung has come?”
At those words, Dam Jeok-san asked while slightly raising his eyebrows.
“Yes, that is right. I cannot explain clearly what it is, but the internal energy I learned is resonating with the Family Head's.”
Since it is the divine art of the Five Great Families improved over hundreds of years, it is sufficiently possible.
“Can you perhaps find the direction? There is no problem in chasing the Sword Ghost even if we divert our course for a moment.”
“I will try.”
Namgung Yeon began to focus her mind while closing her eyes slightly.
“Look, Martial Aunt. There is no need to bear it alone. Did you not prepare thoroughly?”
Dam Jeok-san said while turning his head toward Un Wol-hyang, and she nodded her head as if she couldn't help it.
Sword King Namgung Gwan. If they can join that Entering Transformation Realm swordsman, the work ahead will become much easier.