Chapter 62: Spear Spirit Suppression (2)

Chwaaaaak!

A grim shadow of death loomed over the secluded mountain village.

The Bloodscent Fiend rolled the Blood Orbs at the village entrance and let out a sinister grin. Behind him, dozens of Living Spirits floated ominously in the air, exuding a foreboding aura.

“Enter the sanctuary!”

As the Bloodscent Fiend shouted, the Living Spirits surged into the village.

A wolf-shaped Living Spirit sank its teeth into a farmer’s throat. The farmer screamed and collapsed. His soul escaped his body, becoming another Living Spirit.

A bird-shaped Living Spirit shrieked sharply atop a roof before diving down, tearing into a woman’s back with its talons as she drew water from a well.

Hrrrk!

Blood dyed the well water red.

“Aaagh!”

Screams echoed throughout the village.

In the span of a single sijin, all one hundred villagers had turned into Living Spirits.

“I don’t need them all… Thirty will do.”

When he shook the Blood Orbs, the thirty strongest Living Spirits were sucked in. The rest scattered in every direction. Eventually, they would be pulled into the Realm of the Threshold or become Earthbound Spirits.

Satisfied, the Bloodscent Fiend raised the Blood Orbs.

The Bloodscent Fiend carefully resumed his pursuit, holding the Blood Orbs.

He intended to restart the chase from the very spot where his Living Spirits had been annihilated by Gugwi. However—

The Bloodscent Fiend carefully resumed his pursuit, holding the Blood Orbs.

“Screeeeech!”

With a strange shriek, the Living Spirits suddenly went wild.

The wolf-shaped spirit tucked its tail between its legs, whining as it crouched on the ground. The bird-shaped one trembled violently before falling from a tree and rolling on the ground.

Worm-shaped Living Spirits tried to burrow into the soil, but only writhed as if paralyzed.

Like small animals frozen in terror before a massive predator.

“Screeeeech!”

“Kraaagh!”

The Living Spirits all screamed in unison and tried to scatter, but their bodies didn’t obey. They tumbled on the ground or crashed into trees and fell.

The Bloodscent Fiend’s eyes gleamed.

“This… This is the same phenomenon I’ve seen before.”

It was exactly how the spirits reacted when they were annihilated—consumed by uncontrollable fear, as if facing a natural enemy.

The Bloodscent Fiend’s eyes gleamed again.

“Gugwi is nearby!”

As expected, he had prepared Living Spirits drawn from beasts in addition to those from humans. Human-derived spirits tended to be less sensitive to fear.

“Heh heh heh! What a fearless bastard. Still hanging around after wiping out so many of my spirits? Are you inviting me over? Keke! Thanks to you, my blunder is now hidden… Much appreciated, Gugwi. Kekeke!”

He immediately sent out a carrier pigeon—an urgent message to Ma Ungyeol, revealing Gugwi’s location.

Paaang!

His heart thudded violently.

Gugwi snapped his head up. The Spirit Flow Core throbbed within his heart, sounding an alarm.

“Something’s coming.”

Before he could finish his words, the cave entrance exploded.

Kwagang!

Rocks flew in all directions, stirring up a cloud of dust. Through it, a black shadow slipped in.

“That woman is… Sasaha!”

Indeed. The woman who entered by blowing up the cave entrance was Sasaha, Tenth True Army of the Heavenly Sound Cult.

Yeon Sohye made contact with So Ryeonghwa, blocking her path. Silver mist wrapped around her, and her dagger gleamed.

“How did she find this place?”

Jang Unhyeok drew his twin swords, blocking the other end of the cave entrance.

From the Flame Sword and the Wave Sword, red and blue energies rose simultaneously.

Sasaha smirked, curling her lips.

“It was easy. The traces of the Spirit Flow Core were way too strong. Leaving trails like that is practically asking people like me to follow. I got the signal—of course I came.”

Her voice echoed inside the cave. Wrapped in black armor, a sinister energy radiated from her body.

“Especially the wave created when you annihilated the Living Spirits—very unique, wasn’t it?”

Sasaha pressed both hands against the cave walls.

Chhhssss…

At that moment, four dark forms slipped from her body. Heuk Hyeokgang, Kang Sojin, Wi Unseo, Jin Mukgyeol—her Spirit Union martial artists.

They turned into black energy and clung to the cave walls. Then, sliiide… the four spirits seeped into the walls, disappearing as if absorbed like water into a sponge. From various points in the walls, pulses of black energy spread.

“Dark Blood Formation! It’s the Dark Blood Formation!”

Yeon Sohye shouted as she recognized the formation.

It was a special formation usable only in enclosed spaces like caves. A sorcery that hid Spirit Union martial artists within walls, making it impossible to predict where attacks would come from. An ambush formation that allowed them to strike from walls, ceilings, or floors.

“Now it begins.”

Sasaha’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

Shoosh!

From the wall, Heuk Hyeokgang leapt out.

He appeared as a martial artist wielding a massive sword, black energy surging from the blade.

The sword shot toward Gugwi’s neck faster than moonlight.

Shwick!

The sound of the air being sliced echoed through the cave.

Gugwi barely twisted his body to dodge. The sword brushed his cheek, drawing a stream of hot blood. The sword flux cleaved through the rock behind him, scattering dust and debris.

But before Gugwi could regain his stance, Kang Sojin appeared from the cave ceiling.

Fwoosh!

In the form of a female swordsman spirit, she spewed violet smoke from her mouth.

The toxic gas filled the cave like fog, seeping into Gugwi’s nostrils.

“Khuk!”

Gugwi coughed violently, clutching his throat as he inhaled the poison.

In an instant, his throat felt as though it were burning. The poison spread deep into his lungs, making it hard to breathe. His vision blurred, and dizziness overwhelmed him.

The attack—no, the coordinated assault—was not over.

Shiiiiik!

From the wall’s side, Wi Unseo waved his hand, releasing a silver mist.

The silver mist blanketed the cave, completely obscuring Gugwi’s vision. He couldn’t even see his own fingers, let alone where the next strike would come from.

‘Ceiling, cave wall… twice… the floor!’

Sasaha’s Spirit Union martial artists numbered four. Three had emerged from different spots. Only one direction remained.

Paaang!

The Spirit Flow Core activated instantly. Blue light spread out.

Gugwi placed both hands on the ground and searched for Jin Mukgyeol, who was chanting a spell.

But he had found him too late.

From Jin Mukgyeol’s palm, black blood burst out, soaking the floor and slithering toward Gugwi’s ankles. The sticky blood twisted like a serpent, coiling around his leg.

“Urgh!”

When Gugwi’s ankle was bound by the black blood, his bones creaked.

Perhaps it was laced with poison—the sharp pain pierced through his skin, leaving his leg numb.

“Extract the Spirit Flow Core!”

Sasaha shouted.

Her Spirit Union martial artists simultaneously unleashed lethal techniques. Just then—

“Not so fast!”

Yeon Sohye, in Spirit Contact with So Ryeonghwa, launched a swift counterattack. Her dagger flashed silver as it flew toward Heuk Hyeokgang.

Chaaang!

Sparks burst in all directions as blade met blade.

Yeon Sohye twisted her weapon, deflecting Heuk Hyeokgang’s sword, then spun to stab him in the side.

“Kegh!”

Heuk Hyeokgang screamed and staggered back.

Spirits could bleed when cut. A Soul-Summoner could materialize their opponent’s soul. When a spiritual blade struck a spirit, blood gushed out as if from flesh.

Shiiing!

Yeon Sohye spun mid-attack using the Gale Spirit Guest’s elusive movement.

Kang Sojin’s Poison Cloud narrowly grazed her.

Yeon Sohye moved like the wind, slipping through the toxic mist. Before anyone noticed, she had launched herself toward the ceiling, her dagger aimed at Kang Sojin’s head.

“So Ryeonghwa! Union!”

As Yeon Sohye swung her hand, a silver mist burst forth.

Jang Unhyeok, in Spirit Contact with the Blazing Fire Warrior, joined the fray. From the sword in his right hand burst crimson flames, and from his left, a blue wind surged, sweeping through the cave.

Fwoooosh!

The wind and fire merged into a flaming vortex.

Jin Mukgyeol’s black blood burned. The sticky blood hissed as it caught fire. The blood that bound Gugwi’s ankle evaporated, freeing him.

Jang Unhyeok used Wind Sword Wolf’s sword technique to disperse the poison.

When he swung his sword broadly, a vortex of blue wind blasted Kang Sojin’s Poison Cloud outward.

Difference in combat experience!

Right now, Gugwi was stronger than both Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok. If he fully utilized the Spirit Flow Core, even Sasaha would be no match. But he had not yet drawn out his martial power.

It was a matter of combat speed and experience. He failed to grasp when the battle had truly begun.

Had the two not intervened in time, he would’ve suffered greatly.

Gugwi summoned Un Serim and General Madal at once.

“Un Serim!”

When Un Serim’s form appeared, the energy of the Cloud Flow Spear filled the cave.

His spear struck the ground, purifying the black blood. The blue energy from the spear’s tip neutralized Jin Mukgyeol’s Dark Blood Point Technique.

“General Madal!”

General Madal appeared out of nowhere.

He unleashed the Flying Swallow Slash, facing Heuk Hyeokgang head-on. His heavy sword slashed through the air.

Kwaaang!

When the two swords clashed, the cave trembled.

Un Serim took the lead attack; General Madal followed. Once Un Serim locked down the enemy’s weapon, General Madal would strike instantly.

Gugwi added one more element.

He infused the Spirit Flow Core into both Spirit Union martial artists. The situation reversed in an instant.

Paaang! Bang bang bang!

Blue light engulfed Un Serim and General Madal, massively amplifying their martial arts.

Un Serim’s spear accelerated like lightning, piercing through Wi Unseo’s Silver Spirit Mist. The tip punctured Wi Unseo’s chest, scattering the spirit with a scream.

General Madal’s blade arced like a rainbow, slicing Kang Sojin. When the blade brushed her neck, the Poison Cloud Technique dispersed, and the cave air cleared once more.

“That’s cheating, too, isn’t it?”

Sasaha clicked her tongue.

“All of these Spirit Flow Cores are cheats. How do you expect me to win like this?”

Suddenly, she removed her hands from the wall and made a seal. Her four Spirit Union martial artists detached from her body and began moving independently—completely fused with the Dark Blood Formation.

At the same time, Sasaha herself crouched and charged at Gugwi directly.

Black snakes poured from her body.

Poison-laced snakes slithered from her wrists, ankles, and waist, writhing through the air toward Gugwi. In midair, they bared their fangs.

“Huuk!”

One snake coiled around Gugwi’s wrist. In that instant, its fangs pierced his skin. The hot venom spread through his veins, paralyzing his entire arm.

Sasaha gripped a black whip in her right hand and lashed it at Gugwi’s back.

The thorned whip cut through the air and struck his lower back.

Chwaaaaak!

With a ripping sound, a deep wound opened across Gugwi’s back. Flesh tore away, and blood gushed out, soaking the ground. A gruesome injury.

Gugwi, unable to endure the shock, staggered forward.

Sasaha gave him no time to breathe—she thrust her left fist into his abdomen.

Puhk!

The fist aimed squarely at Gugwi’s Dantian.

A single blow aimed to destroy the Dantian!

Gugwi twisted his body, but not completely in time. Her punch slammed into his side.

“Urgh!”

The venom-laced blow forced Gugwi to vomit blood. Her fist pierced his insides, unleashing searing pain. His body flew back and slammed into the cave wall.

Kwaaajik!

His spine collided with the stone with a sickening crack.

Gugwi’s body slid down the wall to the floor. Blood continued to stream from his mouth.

Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok knew Gugwi was in danger but couldn’t retreat. At that moment, the Spirit Union martial artists who had separated from Sasaha blocked their path.

“Namgung Hoyoung!”

Gugwi instantly summoned the Physician of Clarity spirit.

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