Chapter 177: The Melee

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read more at Nineheavens.org
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At the point when Jin So-myeong was approaching the oasis while erasing his presence, even consuming his Supreme Great Ability,

one of the people confronting each other while surrounding the lotus,

Nam So-yeong narrowed her eyes.

‘It is troublesome.’

She, who had reached the late Nascent Soul stage as a rogue cultivator, was expressionless on the outside but extremely frustrated on the inside.

Currently, the closest to the lotus was a beast presumed to be an Ancient Ominous Beast, and next was Mok Sa-heon, the former patriarch of the Mok Clan.

There were also a few cultivators who had not reached the late Nascent Soul stage, but they did not have much meaning.

Their skills were insufficient to become a variable.

Ultimately, the leopard-like Ancient Ominous Beast, Mok Sa-heon, and herself.

It could be called a three-way battle, but she was in the most disadvantageous position.

First of all, the distance to the lotus was far, and when judged coolly, her skill was also inferior.

‘When on earth did that old monster reach the Great Circle of the Nascent Soul stage?’

According to what was known, Mok Sa-heon’s age was over one thousand eight hundred years old.

It was normal for him to have died over two hundred years ago, yet he was still alive.

Did he perhaps use some heaven-defying secret art to extend lifespan?

It was a truly bizarre thing.

The lotus enveloped in red dust.

Staring at the Red Dust Heart Lotus , she forced her gaze away.

Assuming calmness as much as possible, she spoke.

“Fellow Daoist Mok. How about we deal with that Ancient Ominous Beast together first?”

“Since it is a beast that cannot even be communicated with, we will ultimately have to kill it to take the Red Dust Heart Lotus.”

“Very well. I will cover you, so attack without worrying about your rear.”

At the words telling her to shamelessly undertake the risk, Nam So-yeong also smiled brightly.

“Wouldn’t the puppet possessed by Fellow Daoist Mok be more suitable as the vanguard than me?”

“Haha. Not at all. My puppet is frail and lacks the capability to face that vicious beast.”

“I pray that you, Fairy, will step forward gallantly.”

“You are speaking strange words. Everyone praises the Mok Clan’s puppets as the best under heaven, yet you call it frail.”

“The best under heaven? It is nothing but groundless nonsense. No matter how strong a puppet is, it is just a puppet. Just how great could it be?”

Mok Sa-heon’s expression was calm from beginning to end.

It seemed he had absolutely no intention of moving first.

Clicking her tongue inwardly, her gaze directed toward Mok Sa-heon’s shadow.

It was highly suspicious as it wriggled as if alive from earlier.

By all accounts, it seemed he was pulling some trick through the shadow, but it was stealthy and hard to recognize.

‘As time flows, it will grow disadvantageous.’

Must she ultimately cast a gamble?

At that moment when she, who clenched her teeth, was about to pull out her Natal Spirit Treasure,

Bam!

The sound of air exploding rang out on the quiet lakeside.

‘Who?’

Her gaze was drawn sharply.

Toward a middle-aged man rushing in while kicking the void like crazy.

As if mocking the situation where everyone was just checking reactions, he dashed toward the lotus at a tremendous speed while running in the void as if on flat ground.

It was a spectacle that looked headlong enough to seem foolish at first glance, and thus more gallant, but that was all.

It was no different from a foolish act inviting death.

If there was only one thing everyone in this place had tacitly agreed upon, it was that they would launch a joint attack if anyone approached the lotus.

“Kyahaaaaak!”

First of all, the pupils of the leopard next to the lotus turned red.

An intense heat arose to the point that the atmosphere distorted, and a colossal pillar of fire soared.

The surging flames turned like fangs and rushed toward the middle-aged man.

Simultaneously,

Nam So-yeong and Mok Sa-heon also formed hand signs.

A tidal wave surged on the quiet lakeside, and skewers protruded from the earth.

Though they poured them out lightly as if keeping him in check, each spell was fatal.

However…

“Hm?”

The middle-aged man who was dashing toward the lotus was instantly covered in blood, but he did not stop nonetheless.

Did he truly lose his mind?

He attempted to break through while disregarding even his life.

At that brief moment when those who frowned were about to launch a second strike to dispose of the middle-aged man,

Pat—!

A streak of hazy wind approached the lotus.

‘To think there was one more person?’

By the moment she perceived the situation, someone of unidentified identity had already approached within a distance of ten zhang from the lotus.

‘Fast…!’

It was an astonishing speed.

To a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, ten zhang was a distance within reach just by stretching out a hand.

At that time.

The leopard-like Ancient Ominous Beast roared and moved at a speed like a ray of light, blocking the man.

A red light that was chilling just to look at settled on its claws.

Possessing fearsome power, it flew in tearing the void, and the man also clashed with his fist.

The result of the collision was a tie.

Nam So-yeong’s complexion instantly turned pale.

Just by enduring the shockwaves raging in all directions, the interior of her, who was at the late Nascent Soul stage, became uncomfortable.

Just how much massive force was contained in that strike was felt tangibly.

‘Is that an Ancient Ominous Beast…?’

It was an astonishingly powerful physical body.

It was far more great than what she had heard.

It seemed that if a demonic beast born with an innately strong physical body even cultivated a body tempering method, it would turn out like that.

Yet, what was more surprising here was the fact that the man was not pushed back even after colliding with the Ancient Ominous Beast.

‘To confront such a monster from the front.’

Marvelous power.

It was to the point that she could not believe he was a fellow human, but she could not just keep being surprised.

A short time less than a single breath.

Nam So-yeong, who hardened her eyes, infused spiritual power into her Natal Spirit Treasure, the Shadow-Locking Stele , and a stone pillar appearing from the void began to emit a strange fluctuation.

She had sealed the entire area so that he could not take advantage of the chaos to escape with a spatial movement divine ability.

Under such circumstances,

the man who was blocked by the Ancient Ominous Beast and could no longer proceed frowned.

Was he in difficulty because things did not go as planned?

“…”

The man, who was silent for an instant as if lost in contemplation, let out a short breath and took on a relieved expression.

The moment he smirked and gripped the void,

A sword appearing like an illusion emitted sharp sharpness.

‘Ah.’

At that brief moment when she, whose spine felt chilled instantly, took a step back,

Pajijik…!

A thread-thin streak of lightning brushed past the Ancient Ominous Beast, and the front leg of the wild beast swung in counterattack fell off with a thud, and a fountain of blood splurted.

Kyahaaaaak!

The Ancient Ominous Beast, which lost its leg in the blink of an eye, roared.

Pain and anger raged, but the man did not look back.

From beginning to end, he advanced at high speed as if the lotus were his only target.

‘Lightning magic?’

Her eyes widened greatly.

A Nascent Soul stage sword cultivator who handled lightning.

It was an uncommon existence.

Could it be Jin So-myeong, who had recently begun to make a name for himself in secret?

At any rate, it was said that the Lightning Escape Art is one of the fastest escape arts under heaven, and indeed it lived up to its reputation.

It was so fast that it was hard to follow with the eyes.

Boom!

The fingertips of the man, who became a streak of lightning and broke through all obstructions, touched the lotus, and the Red Dust Heart Lotus that boasted a noble posture disappeared like a lie.

‘Spatial divine ability? How?’

It was because she could not understand.

Even though her Natal Spirit Treasure, the Shadow-Locking Stele, was sealing the area, by what means on earth did he use a spatial divine ability?

At that moment when she bit her lips in frustration at having missed the lotus in front of her eyes,

Chwaaaaak!

A colossal pillar of water soared.

Something lurking beneath the water surface raised its body.

An anglerfish with a tremendous, colossal frame that made typical islands pale in comparison opened its mouth wide and tried to swallow the man in a single bite.

It was an unbelievably stealthy and rapid surprise attack.

Hwiiiiing!

Was it an innate divine ability?

A strange suction force was generated from the anglerfish’s throat, and the moment it touched him, his spiritual power hardened rigidly, making it impossible to support his body.

Since even Nam So-yeong, who was reasonably far away, could not maintain flight and fell…

what kind of situation the already half-swallowed man was in currently was as clear as looking at a fire.

‘To think such a monster was hidden beneath the lotus.’

It was hair-raising that such a colossal body had lurked beneath the water surface without anyone noticing.

That anglerfish also seemed to be an Ancient Ominous Beast, and it was truly a tremendous stealth ability.

Thud!

Ultimately, the anglerfish’s mouth closed, and the man who coveted the lotus was swallowed without even being able to resist.

What would happen to the lotus in this case?

At that moment when she, who barely managed to control her spiritual power to avoid falling to the ground, frowned,

Kugugugung!

Rough waves arose in the lake, and the stones rolling on the ground defied gravity and floated into the void.

Simultaneously with a massive aura that far exceeded the late Nascent Soul stage level encroaching all directions,

Boom!

The back of the neck of the anglerfish that was trying to dive beneath the water surface exploded, and a fountain of blood sprayed.

Geuwooooouk!

From within the anglerfish struggling as if in pain, a red figure popped out.

Wings that seemed to be made of blood.

The moment she saw them, her breath was choked.

A single drop of cold sweat flowing down the back of her neck drenched her spine.

‘Ah…’

Nam So-yeong realized that she had been in a very huge misunderstanding.

She had thought that although the man presumed to be Jin So-myeong possessed a reasonably fast and sharp sword, he was still manageable to face.

However, he was not.

The aura the man was emitting currently… had already far transcended her level.

He looked like a human-shaped monster that absolutely could not be resisted.

As proof, even the Ancient Ominous Beast that had its leg severed and was burning with desire for revenge did not dare to attack and fled while letting out a whimpering sound.

The moment the man, who overwhelmed the entire battlefield solely by his presence, glanced over,

the former patriarch of the Mok Clan, who had been quietly seeking an opportunity until now,

Mok Sa-heon finally stepped forward.

Kwakwakhang!

Dust clouds soared consecutively on the outskirts of the lake, and a puppet army of thousands popped out and surrounded the vicinity.

‘A formation!’

The puppet army that established an elaborate dragnet in a single instant launched spells all at once, and thousands of spells raged toward a single target.

It was a sight that was even solemn at first glance, but the man who spread wings made of blood,

no, Jin So-myeong’s response was extremely simple.

Tuk.

Through a lightly extended fist, he poured out the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration he had been circulating inside his body.

And, that was enough.

Mok Sa-heon’s skill in manipulating thousands of puppets single-handedly was also outstanding enough, but it fell short of the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration unleashed by Jin So-myeong who spread the Blood Wings.

The moment the dazzling flash pierced the sky,

everything that blocked was erased.

As if painting over a part of the landscape with pure white paint, one side of the sky was hollowed out.

“What on earth is that?”

At that moment when everyone could not close their mouths in stupefaction,

Jin So-myeong, who escaped from the backlash of unfolding the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration with a single short breath, reached out his hand.

Chwaaaaak!

Drawing in the still-spurting blood of the anglerfish with his spiritual power, he condensed it into a bead shape, and took the severed leg of the Ancient Ominous Beast to put in his sub-space.

The blood and flesh of an Ancient Ominous Beast are treasures no different from body tempering elixirs.

He had to take them when the opportunity arose.

After finishing all his business in the blink of an eye,

Boom!

Gathering his remaining strength, he executed the Lightning Escape Art.

While soothing his meridians that were on the verge of tearing with the Myriad Flows Restoration divine ability, he left the battlefield through the wide-open sky.

“Ah.”

Nam So-yeong, who exhaled her held breath only after Jin So-myeong disappeared, sighed.

Although losing the Soul Formation spiritual object, the Red Dust Heart Lotus, was painful, she did not dare to pursue him.

Pursuing such a powerhouse would only put her life in danger.

Her reason judged so, but her stomach was bitter.

To have missed a Soul Formation spiritual object in front of her eyes.

It was so regretful that it was hard to calm her mind.

At that moment when she was letting out deep sighs,

Mok Sa-heon, who stared in the direction Jin So-myeong had departed while narrowing his eyes, spoke.

“There is no need to be frightened. He seems to have used a secret art that amplifies the realm for an instant, so he is probably not in a normal state by now. Let’s pursue together.”

She was tempted for a moment, but soon coolly realized the reality.

Even if she pursued now, the possibility of obtaining the Red Dust Heart Lotus was scarce.

It was clear she would be used by Mok Sa-heon and die.

“No, thanks. Since this desert is quite wide, it seems better to target other fortuitous opportunities instead.”

“There should be at least one more treasure like the Red Dust Heart Lotus.”

“Well. No matter how much of a secret realm it is, treasures of the Soul Formation spiritual object level won’t be common.”

“…”

Mok Sa-heon, who whispered as if tempting her until the end, flew off pursuing Jin So-myeong along with his puppet army.

***

Meanwhile.

Jin So-myeong, who widened the distance as much as possible using the Lightning Escape Art, boarded the mobile spirit treasure, the Black Night Flying Carriage.

He increased his speed as much as possible while burning extreme-grade spirit stones lavishly as fuel.

Thanks to overexerting himself, he had obtained the lotus presumed to be a Soul Formation spiritual object, but the danger was not yet over.

He needed to restore his physical state to normal as soon as possible.

As he chewed and swallowed recovery pills as they came to hand, a bitter smile naturally emerged.

‘My identity has been exposed.’

In fact, originally he had intended to obtain the lotus using only general spells, but because the resistance was far stronger than he thought, he had no choice but to use not only the Lightning Escape Art but also the Blood Wings.

Of course, he had no regrets.

Because he had acted having judged that it was worth risking the danger.

Weeeeeeeng!

By the way, as soon as he grew distant from the oasis, the tedious insects came seeking him again.

‘Gwang-il. Come out for a bit and pilot…’

At that moment when he was trying to entrust the piloting to his clone to rest even for a moment while burning the insects by spreading lightning Qi thinly,

Swish—!

By the moment he perceived it, it was already right in front of his nose.

Something sharp that flew in from among the swarm of insects was on the verge of piercing between his brows.

An instant.

Something accumulated through battles traversing life and death and hard cultivation moved on its own.

While tilting his head back to buy time,

he pushed the side of the object trying to pierce between his brows with the back of the hand he reflexively extended, altering its trajectory.

Before he even realized that what brushed past his earlobe was someone’s fingernail,

Chwak!

he struck the attacker’s neck with the sword drawn like lightning.

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