Soul Summoning Sword

Chapter 72: Heavenly Slaughter Soul Strike (2)

Chuk!

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit raised his hand high.

A faint blue hue flickered at the corner of his eyes. The muscles of his face stiffened as well. It was a symptom of excessive condensation of spiritual energy.

“Haaaah!”

The shout he exhaled split the air as it echoed out.

From his palm burst an invisible wave. The sound wave spread like a tide, shaking the very air itself.

The stray spirits inside the Valley of Heavenly Slaughter screamed as they shattered into pieces.

“Aaaargh!”

The wails of the spirits rode the wind before suddenly being cut off. Hundreds of stray spirits vanished in an instant. A chill drained from the air, and an eerie silence blanketed the open field.

The Nameless Sound Disruption used by the Blue Blood soldiers and the Nameless Sound Disruption used by their Captain differed as much as heaven and earth.

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord knelt to the ground, examining the traces left behind.

His fingers brushed over dried blades of grass. His eyes sharpened like those of an eagle.

“This way.”

Even a strand of fur blown by the wind, even faint scratch marks atop a rock where no footprints could be found—everything was a clue. His tracking skill precisely located Gugwi’s group.

“Encircle them.”

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord gave his cold command.

The nine martial artists of the Cold Wolf Sect, who had been following behind him, moved as one. Black shadows converged from all directions toward the center of the Valley of Heavenly Slaughter. Their footsteps were quiet, but the killing intent in the air made the atmosphere heavy.

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit’s face hardened.

His gaze locked onto Gugwi, who stood alone in the center of the field. The blue light flowing from Gugwi’s body shone clearly, even within the darkness.

“The incarnation of the Manifest Demon Emperor…”

He muttered under his breath.

His voice carried a thick layer of disgust.

“Eradicate him! Forget about capture. Kill on sight, without exception.”

His shout reverberated through the valley. The cliffs sent his roar echoing back.

Gugwi’s eyes flashed open.

The Spirit Flow Core inside his heart raged wildly. It felt as if his chest had frozen solid.

“Danger! Even after all this training, the Blue Blood Unit is still a threat? In that case… Spiritless Zone!”

Gugwi spread his arms wide.

The blue light bursting from his heart enveloped his body, then exploded outward in all directions. The azure waves spread like rippling water, covering a massive radius of one hundred paces.

The Spirit Summoners of Yeongbi Pavilion attempted to contact their Spirit Union martial artists. But nothing happened.

The Spiritless Zone had cut off every connection to the spirits.

“Heh!”

The Cold Wolf Sect’s Spirit Summoners did not panic. They had faced this phenomenon before. Though they still did not understand how it worked, they knew that once they were separated from Gugwi, they would be able to reunite with their Spirit Union spirits again.

“Fweeeet!”

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord pressed his fingers to his lips and whistled.

It was a signal to the Captain of the Blue Blood Unit, informing him that Spirit Union contact was impossible. The feared circumstance had come to pass.

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit raised his hand once more.

This time, higher and clenched tighter.

“Gaaaaah!”

Black Flame Shatter! An even stronger sound wave surged forth.

It was an attack aimed squarely at Gugwi. The air itself pounded down like a hammer. The wind cut his flesh like blades.

Thud!

Gugwi’s chest tightened.

The Spirit Flow Core took a direct hit from the sound wave, letting out the noise of cracks forming. Crack! Crack! Something inside his heart was breaking.

“Ghhk!”

Hot blood spilled from his lips, running down his jaw and dripping to the ground.

His knees wavered, but he did not fall. Planting his spear into the earth, he steadied himself.

Gugwi quickly turned toward Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok.

Thankfully, it seemed the Black Flame Shatter had not reached them. They were still moving actively. It appeared the Captain of the Blue Blood Unit had concentrated all his force on Gugwi alone.

‘What a relief!’

Paang! Pang!

The Spirit Flow Core surged with an even brighter blue light, like a wounded beast squeezing out its last strength.

The wave reached Yeon Sohye and Jang Unhyeok as well.

In that instant, both their eyes gleamed sharply.

A warm energy welled up inside their bodies. Even within the Spiritless Zone, they alone were able to summon their spirits.

“Come forth!”

Yeon Sohye cried out. Her voice cut through the wind as it rang across the valley.

So Ryeonghwa and Gale Spirit Guest answered her call. Silver mist and blue wind rose simultaneously. The mist wrapped around her body before merging with the wind, forming a swirling vortex. Like Gugwi, she fused the Silver Spirit Sword Technique with the Flowing Willow Storm. The combined assault of the two spirits created movements that seemed almost illusory.

Swaeeek!

She charged toward the Yeongbi Pavilion Lord.

Her feet kicked off the ground, raising clouds of dust. Her dagger shot out like lightning, striking at his torso. The blade reflected the moonlight, leaving behind a streak of silver.

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord hastily drew his sword to block.

Clang!

The sharp clash of metal rang out, sparks scattering.

Then Yeon Sohye’s body scattered like mist, reappearing on his opposite side. A momentary movement like an illusion! Her dagger aimed at his flank.

“Heh! I should join in too. Hyaaah!”

Jang Unhyeok’s shout thundered through the valley.

From his twin swords burst crimson flames and blue wind at once. The Fire Spirit Warrior and the Wind Sword Wolf unleashed the Harmony of Flame and Wind. A massive whirlwind roared toward the Blue Blood soldiers.

Krrrrr!

Fire and wind entangled, forming a violent vortex.

Three Blue Blood soldiers were swept into the storm.

“Arghhh!”

Their screams tore out as their bodies were hurled backward.

Gugwi smirked faintly. The corner of his lips curled upward in a satisfied grin.

The training had indeed borne fruit. Though it had been meant for himself, he had hardly improved—but the other two had grown immensely stronger.

Just look at Yeon Sohye’s movements. The fusion of the Silver Spirit Sword Technique and Flowing Willow Storm unfolded into a breathtaking dance.

That was at least the Fifth Level of Spiritual Sensitivity.

Jang Unhyeok was the same. The Harmony of Flame and Wind now carried power on an entirely different scale. The way fire and wind merged into a massive vortex was artistry in itself.

Gugwi stroked his chin.

In the world of Soul-Summoning, the Fifth Level of Spiritual Sensitivity did not even exist. From the Fourth Level, it went straight to Resonance. Yet these two were still at the initial stage of the Spirit Command Arts, so it was not true Resonance. However, with dual spirit unification achieved, they could be called the strongest within the realm of Spiritual Sensitivity.

If Gugwi had taken one step forward during this training, then those two had taken ten.

Was it not said, “One who has eaten meat knows best how to eat it”? Training, too, came more naturally to those with prior experience. Moreover, Yeon Sohye had the practical experience she accumulated as Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit, while Jang Unhyeok had the foundation of inner strength from his time as Head of the Intelligence Division of the Heavenly Sound Cult.

This had nothing to do with the effect of the Spirit Flow Core. It was entirely their own capability.

Gugwi nodded.

The energy of the Spirit Flow Core did not simply amplify strength; it acted as a catalyst that awakened dormant abilities. Like a spark thrown onto dry firewood.

Swaeeek!

Yeon Sohye’s dagger glimmered as it pushed aside the Yeongbi Pavilion Lord’s sword. Her body scattered like mist, only to reappear elsewhere. The sight was nearly divine. The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord faltered and stepped back in alarm.

The flames and wind bursting from Jang Unhyeok’s twin swords were the same. The Blue Blood soldiers were helplessly pushed back under his assault.

‘Who’s worrying about whom? I’d better worry about myself.’

A sense of reassurance passed through Gugwi’s heart.

He clenched his teeth. His chest wound ached, but he endured it. He wiped the blood from the corner of his lips with his hand.

“Namgung Hoyoung!”

His shout rang toward the Realm of the Threshold.

A pale shadow… the moment he revealed his presence, countless silver needles flashed in his hand.

The myriad needles reflected the moonlight, glittering like stars.

Puk! Puk puk puk! Puuuk!

The needles pierced Gugwi’s acupoints with perfect precision.

They lodged in the Zusamni, Gokji, and Hapgok Acupoints one after another. A sharp sting flashed through him, but soon a warm energy spread throughout his entire body. It flowed along his veins, soothing his injuries.

His internal wounds rapidly healed.

He too was benefitting from the Spirit Flow Core. It amplified Namgung Hoyoung’s acupuncture techniques.

“Un Serim! General Madal!”

Gugwi lifted his spear. The spearhead pointed toward the sky. Two spirits descended and possessed him from both sides. A cold energy and a fiery killing aura enveloped his body simultaneously. The Twin Spirit Convergence was complete.

Cloudfire Spear Slash!

From the spear’s tip erupted a blue whirlwind. The flexibility of Un Serim and the ferocity of General Madal merged into one. The spear surged forward, ripping the air apart like a writhing dragon.

When Gugwi charged, two Blue Blood soldiers awaited and rushed him head-on.

Sword and saber slashed toward his neck and chest with a sharp whistle of wind.

Gugwi’s spear spun forward, its tip spiraling.

Puk!

The spear pierced straight through the first soldier’s chest. It punctured his martial robe and skewered his heart precisely. Blood spurted like a fountain. His eyes went wide before dimming.

The spear twisted back and sliced across the second soldier’s neck.

Cheok!

His head separated cleanly from his body and rolled across the ground. Blood sprayed like a pillar before collapsing limply.

Both men died instantly. Their corpses dropped heavily to the earth.

The Spirit Flow Core’s blue light flared brighter. The glow wrapped around the traces of the stray spirits nearby. The annihilated spirits were purified and drawn into the Realm of the Threshold. The air grew lighter.

Gugwi had seized a temporary advantage. Yet his face still carried tension.

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord gnashed his teeth.

He was struggling against Yeon Sohye’s illusory movements. Gugwi’s dagger was dangerously sharp, yet his own sword struck only empty air. The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord, the Abbess of the Dark Blood Unit… had they not once been considered equals? Why such disparity now?

No. He was fighting with his true martial arts, while Yeon Sohye fought with the strength of her Spirit Union martial artist.

“In that case…”

He pulled something from his robes.

A crossbow. A small but powerful repeating crossbow. A bolt of black steel was already notched on the string.

Paeng!

With a twang, the steel bolt shot forth like lightning.

“Ugh!”

Yeon Sohye twisted her body desperately at the sudden, unexpected attack.

But the bolt from the repeating crossbow pierced through her Silver Spirit Technique and flew toward Gugwi instead. From the beginning, the true target had been Gugwi. The bolt split the air with a sharp whistle.

“Danger!”

Yeon Sohye cried out in alarm.

Gugwi tried to raise his spear to block, but it was too late. The bolt’s speed was faster than he expected.

Shweeeek!

The bolt grazed Gugwi’s left shoulder.

His clothes tore, and his flesh split. Hot blood spilled out. The wound was not deep, but it stung. His shoulder throbbed numbly.

“Tch! I should have pierced his heart!”

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord shouted as he loaded a second bolt. His hands moved quickly. The bowstring drew taut again.

Gugwi’s eyes turned cold.

From his spearhead surged an even stronger blue radiance. The Spirit Flow Core responded to his anger.

“How dare you…!”

His voice rumbled low.

Yeon Sohye darted toward the Yeongbi Pavilion Lord, unwilling to give him another chance.

This time her movements were even swifter. Her dagger flashed three times in succession—neck, chest, flank—flowing downward like water.

The Yeongbi Pavilion Lord could not fire his crossbow and was forced to retreat.

Meanwhile, Jang Unhyeok continued pressing other Spirit Summoners of Yeongbi Pavilion. Gugwi spared them no concern. He trusted that they would fight well on their own.

Flames and wind continued to collide, exploding in bursts.