Soul Summoning Sword

Chapter 67: Slow Breath, Careful Steps (2)

Gugwi crossed the valley.

The moment he stepped into the territory of the Heavenly Sound Cult, the air changed. The humidity thickened, and the scent riding the wind grew sweeter.

Yeon Sohye’s face hardened.

“From here on, we really need to be careful. They’ve probably already caught wind of our route, but once you’re caught in their snare, it never ends. They’ll track you until you die. They’re like relentless evil spirits.”

Jang Unhyeok instinctively reached for his sword.

“You know the way, right?”

Gugwi turned to look at Jang Unhyeok.

“I do. Why ask something so obvious?”

“I mean, can you find the way without help from the Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit… or the Spirit Union martial artists?”

Jang Unhyeok nodded.

“I can.”

He spoke with confidence.

“Hah! Don’t underestimate the Intelligence Division. These people snatch up every piece of information happening under the heavens. They handle matters like our Yeongbi Pavilion as well. They probably know this region like the back of their hand.”

“You flatter me. It’s true I’ve traveled through this area multiple times.”

He answered with confidence.

Gugwi nodded with satisfaction and spoke.

“Then from now on, don’t use the Spirit Union martial artists.”

“What are you saying not to do?”

Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok looked at Gugwi at the same time.

“Spirit Union… If you don’t want to torment them, then don’t use Spirit Contact. Is that so hard to understand?”

“Why all of a sudden?”

Yeon Sohye asked.

Instead of answering, Gugwi brought both hands to his chest.

Paaat!

A blue light burst forth from his dantian.

A cold energy erupted from Gugwi’s heart and spread in all directions. Transparent waves radiated outward in concentric circles. Trees trembled slightly. Blades of grass fell.

“Wha—! This is!”

Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok stepped back in surprise.

The current situation posed no harm to them. But to a Soul-Summoner, the Spiritless Zone was akin to a trap.

That’s right. Gugwi had created a Spiritless Zone.

Every spirit within a hundred jang radius was repelled. Earthbound spirits that had been wandering the mortal world screamed and retreated. Original spirits that slumbered underground withdrew even deeper. The air became empty.

All the spirits loitering nearby vanished.

Yeon Sohye’s eyes widened. She could no longer sense the energies of So Ryeonghwa and the Gale Spirit Guest. It was the same for Jang Unhyeok—both the Fire Spirit Warrior and the Wind Sword Wolf had been completely cut off.

“From now on, we’ll walk in a world without spirits. If you need the Spirit Union martial artists to guide the way, just say so.”

Gugwi’s voice was calm.

“We don’t exactly need guidance… but if there’s an ambush ahead, it’ll be harder to detect. The Heavenly Sound Cult’s ambushes are extremely covert. Most of them dig into the ground and hide.”

“I can find the ambushes.”

Gugwi thumped his own chest.

“Ah!”

Jang Unhyeok made a face that said, ‘I see.’

Within the Spiritless Zone, only Gugwi could still command the Spirit Union martial artists. His spirits were protected by the Spirit Flow Core, so they weren’t bound by the Spiritless Zone. Just as Sasaha had said—he was cheating.

“Then we no longer have to worry about being tracked by the Living Spirits?”

“Not just that. We can mostly avoid the Heavenly Sound Cult’s surveillance as well. The Soul-Summoners here use Spirit Union martial artists to keep watch. It’s separate from the ambushes. We can avoid all of them.”

Jang Unhyeok nodded.

“So now we’re just ordinary martial artists? My martial arts… aren’t exactly weak.”

Yeon Sohye said confidently.

Gugwi’s party delved deeper into the territory of the Heavenly Sound Cult.

A rugged mountain path stretched before their feet. The three of them stepped carefully onto the narrow trail, where jagged rocks jutted out unpredictably.

Jang Unhyeok took the lead, clearing the path ahead.

His sharp gaze remained forward, but he occasionally looked back to check on Gugwi and Yeon Sohye.

The twin swords crossed on his back swayed.

Gugwi walked in the middle. An invisible energy lingered around him.

As the Spiritless Zone spread outward with him at the center, the surrounding spirits were pushed away.

Yeon Sohye guarded the rear.

The hem of her black robe fluttered in the breeze. One hand rested on the hilt of her sword, while the other was tucked into her garments, ready to draw a dagger at any time.

The three looked no different from ordinary travelers.

But the path they tread was the heart of the Heavenly Sound Cult. Every step they took led deeper into danger.

Fweeeing!

The wind blew.

The mountain’s chill brushed across their faces.

Gugwi lifted his head to the sky. The clouds hung low, and the sun was hidden behind them.

There was no sensation. No trace of Living Spirits, no resonance from anyone.

Only silence.

Meanwhile, in the forest, the Soul-Summoners of the Heavenly Sound Cult were floundering over the unforeseen failure to establish Spirit Contact.

“Bloodwind Sorcerer, come forth!”

A man dressed in black martial robes shouted.

His voice was tinged with desperation. He stretched his hand forward, calling toward the Realm of the Threshold.

But nothing happened.

The Realm of the Threshold had been thoroughly blocked. No matter how much he pleaded, there was no sign of spiritual energy.

Normally, a chilling cold would have pierced his bones. It always felt eerie when the spirits responded. But now—not even a breeze stirred.

“Why isn’t it working?”

Another Soul-Summoner panicked.

He tried again. This time he shouted even louder.

“Dark Obscurity Spirit General!”

His voice grew increasingly desperate. Yet still, nothing happened.

The Spirit Union martial artist did not appear.

The connection with the Realm of the Threshold had been completely severed.

“This doesn’t make sense. Spirit Contact should be working…”

The Soul-Summoners looked at one another. Their eyes brimmed with confusion and fear. In a world without spirits, they were powerless. The force they had relied on all their lives was gone.

The wind rustled the leaves. Birds chirped. But the whispers of spirits were nowhere to be heard. The iron wall of the Realm of the Threshold was also invisible. The gray barrier of deathly fear that used to stretch before their eyes—was gone.

Without the aid of spirits, they were nothing more than ordinary martial artists. The power they had leaned on for decades had vanished in an instant.

“What is this…?”

Someone muttered.

Despair was etched in his voice.

They didn’t even know the name.

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord staggered.

“Something… something is wrong.”

His hand groped through the air.

Normally, the Spirit Union martial artists would have responded with a chill, but now, they were gripped by fear.

The Bloodflame Swordsman kept shrinking inward. It was as if he were trying to hide deep within the Realm of the Threshold to escape from a massive predator. The Blackbone Spearman was the same. The spirits trembled in terror and tried to flee.

“Come out!”

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord shouted again.

His voice now carried a powerful resonance. He strengthened the command. Yet the spirits only retreated deeper, as though a monstrous predator was circling the area.

The other Soul-Summoners were the same. Their faces had turned pale.

“This is strange. The spirits are afraid.”

“What are they afraid of?”

“Could it be… the Manifest Demon Emperor...?”

At that word, all the Soul-Summoners’ faces turned ghostly white.

To Soul-Summoners, the Manifest Demon Emperor was an overwhelming, absolute terror. The one who ruled over all spirits. Just hearing the name made their bodies tremble.

“At this rate, we can’t even track them.”

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord ground his teeth.

His hand clenched and unclenched. The power he had relied on for over a decade had vanished in an instant.

“You’re sure they went into the Heavenly Sound Cult’s territory?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then open the way!”

The order was given.

The Soul-Summoners who had followed the Yeongbi Pavilion Lord moved at once.

They were elite operatives, originally tasked with assassinations and intelligence theft within the Heavenly Sound Cult. They were capable of operating without spirits. Entering the territory of the Heavenly Sound Cult didn’t faze them.

“We move in.”

The lead Soul-Summoner stepped forward.

A cold determination was etched on his face. He pulled up his black mask and lowered his posture.

“We act without Spirit Union martial artists. Maintain full alert! If discovered—kill immediately. Do not let them escape.”

Sshhh! Ssseuk!

Their movements changed.

These were the pure maneuvers of martial artists, devoid of spirit aid. Their footsteps quieted. Their breaths shallowed.

“Examine the ground closely. Footprints, broken branches, threads caught on cloth.”

“Don’t miss a single drop of blood or strand of hair.”

“Check the wind’s direction and any scents.”

They moved with extreme stealth. Like assassins infiltrating deep into enemy lines. They now relied on techniques that allowed them to track without the help of spirits.

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord followed behind. A cold glint sparkled in his eyes.

“Gugwi…”

He murmured the name as he stepped into the Heavenly Sound Cult’s territory.

Crossing beyond the Cold Wolf Sect’s land into the Heavenly Sound Cult’s domain—it was something very familiar to the Yeongbi Pavilion’s Soul-Summoners.

In the distance, the Blue Blood Unit stood watch at the border, gazing at the deep valley.

A flag fluttered up ahead. It was the black banner of the Heavenly Sound Cult. Swaying in the wind, it exuded an ominous aura.

“Once we cross this point, it’s the Heavenly Sound Cult’s land…”

One of the Blue Blood Unit members murmured.

Tension tinged his voice. His hand gripped his sword hilt. His knuckles turned white.

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit only furrowed his brow slightly.

His gaze was cold.

He saw the figures of the Yeongbi Pavilion martial artists diving into the Heavenly Sound Cult’s land in pursuit of Gugwi.

“We go in.”

His decision was firm. Without hesitation.

“Are you really going in, sir?”

A member of the Blue Blood Unit stepped forward. He seemed intent on dissuading him. His face was filled with worry.

“Sir, entering the Heavenly Sound Cult’s territory requires permission from the Alliance. Acting on our own…”

The unit member recited the regulations.

“No. We can’t afford to lose Gugwi here.”

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit cut him off. His voice dropped further.

“Go in!”

The command came again. There was no room for argument.

The members of the Blue Blood Unit moved in unison. But in truth, only four remained. Many—including the Vice Captain—had been killed by Gugwi.

The remaining members stepped into the territory of the Heavenly Sound Cult. Their steps glided over the earth like oil.

Shhhh! Sssht!

Their steps were light and rhythmic.

Something was off.

The Heavenly Sound Cult’s usual eerie aura was completely absent.

Normally, the moment they crossed the border, a cold chill would pierce their bones.

The territory of the Heavenly Sound Cult was filled with wandering original spirits. The Soul-Summoners brought many spirits with them—at least one each. Their whispers should have echoed in their ears.

But now, there was nothing. Only the mountain wind blew.

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit narrowed his eyes and scanned the surroundings.

His gaze shifted left and right, searching for something.

“What’s going on?”

A faint murmur slipped from his lips. His voice carried a tone of confusion.

“Could it be…”

He started to speak, then shook his head. Something had come to mind, but he couldn’t be sure.

The moment he spoke, suspicion crossed the faces of the Blue Blood Unit members.

They were not Soul-Summoners, but they were sensitive to the energy of spirits. They instantly sensed that this was no ordinary situation.

“Sir, this…”

One of them opened his mouth. But he trailed off, unsure how to put it into words.

“Advance. Faster! We must catch them before they disappear!”

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit issued another order, more resolute than before.

The wind blew. Leaves rustled. But the whispers of spirits remained unheard.

A complicated glint passed through the Captain’s eyes.

‘This isn’t natural.’

It was a voice echoing only within his throat.

‘Someone is blocking the spirits. Spirit Flow Core. The chance that this is Gugwi’s doing… is very high. It’s getting more dangerous!’