Chapter 96 – Before Overwhelming Power

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Walking toward the swarm of strange insects called Black Cloud Insects.

Jin So-myeong fell into contemplation.

‘How far should I reveal my strength?’

This was a worry he had had since facing the mysterious organization that came looking for Yeo Dong-bin.

A sword cultivator who had begun to learn thunder arts.

If the organization had investigated Yeo Dong-bin properly, they would have found out exactly up to this point.

If he used the sword and thunder arts simultaneously, there was a possibility that Yeo Dong-bin and Jin So-myeong would be identified as the same person.

‘Sigh.’

A sigh escaped him naturally.

Hiding his strength out of worry that he might receive attention.

It was a worry he had had on Sky Island in the past, but the situation was different this time.

Unlike at the time of the Ascending Immortal Tournament, now there was a high probability that it would be actually dangerous if he revealed his identity.

‘How annoying.’

If it were up to his heart, he wanted to travel comfortably without any worries.

Wouldn’t it be enough to just slice apart whoever came? He even had such a crazy thought.

‘Wait… but do I really have to hide it? A sword cultivator who learned thunder arts would not be just me alone.’

The world was wide. To say it was rare meant, conversely, that it did exist.

Could the mysterious organization antagonize all thunder-sword cultivators in the world?

That was impossible.

Sword cultivators who learned thunder arts were all powerful. They were existences that brought no good to be made into enemies.

‘If by any chance it is possible… such a worry is meaningless in the first place.’

If an organization that powerful sincerely wanted to search for him, hiding his strength was of no use.

He had already rampaged excitedly on Sky Island. As time flowed, what happened there would also eventually spread.

Therefore…

Boom!

While walking amidst his worries, the black cloud that approached right in front of his nose at some point collided with the formation.

As the distance decreased, the shape of the cloud became distinct.

What looked like black fog was a swarm of locusts with sharp thorns on their heads.

Woo-woong!

The restriction guarding the empty lot shook violently.

This was because the swarm of Black Cloud Insects carried out an attack close to self-destruction using their bodies as bullets.

Crash!

The Black Cloud Insects that rushed like arrows popped as they collided with the formation.

At first glance, it seemed like a foolish charge, but those fellows did not die gracefully.

They left green bodily fluids as they died, and gray smoke rose from the formation touched by the fluids, making it hazy as if it would collapse right away.

“Fellow Daoist Jin, be careful! The Black Cloud Insects are existences with deadly poison! If you are pricked by a thorn even once, it will become difficult to operate spiritual power!”

Meeting eyes with Madame Ryeo who shouted quickly, he turned his gaze forward again.

Clack.

Aiming forward with the Five Elements Sword, which had accompanied him through numerous battles since Sky Island, he continued the worry he had earlier.

Is it truly right to cower out of fear of an uncertain future?

Would countless opportunities not pass by while he was holding his breath?

“…”

He alternately looked at the buzzing Black Cloud Insects and the Five Elements Sword.

Holding the sword flashing a sharp light, his mind became at ease.

Suddenly, he realized that he had almost repeated the same mistake.

Why did he worry again over the conclusion he had already made in the past? That the situation had changed from the time of Sky Island? Was it truly so?

‘No.’

It was the same back then. He took risks. Only, the threat had become more distinct now. The fundamental situation was identical.

And.

No one knew what the outcome of their actions would be anyway.

Just as a wise choice did not guarantee the best outcome, the opposite was also the same.

The important thing was the direction his heart pointed.

‘I have decided.’

Let us not reduce my room for maneuver by obsessing over hiding my strength.

Although there was no need to reveal his strength needlessly, if necessary, he had to exert his full strength without hesitation.

The result of painstakingly cultivating being a life of living in hiding, how could he live in such frustration?

The life Jin So-myeong wanted was to live freely as his heart pleased.

Rather.

I will grow at a speed no one can expect.

Was it said that it would be enough to just slice apart whoever came?

He made up his mind to truly realize that thought, which was close to a delusion.

“Limitless.”

The sword born from the condensation of tens of millions of Sword Qi.

Limitless, who was asleep in the Secret Realm of the Mind, awakened. The moment that haze-like energy dwelled in the Five Elements Sword.

A sharp aura became a storm, slicing and cleaving the front.

A giant slash.

The sky that had been dyed pitch black split open. As the bright moonlight poured down, it felt refreshing all the way to his chest.

“A sword cultivator!”

“Is that sword… a Natal Magic Treasure?”

Although gazes filled with surprise poured in, he did not care.

He flicked the sword blade with his finger. Loading Sword Qi onto the humming vibration sound, he spread it.

Crack!

Thousands of Black Cloud Insects exploded at once. Failing to approach beyond a certain distance, they were all split and poured down like rain.

With a single strike, a giant empty space was created centering around Jin So-myeong.

“Heh. It is my first time seeing such a powerful Sword Qi…”

As he swept away all the Black Cloud Insects rushing from all sides, the party who was staring blankly began to respond a beat late.

Madame Ryeo did her best to maintain the formation, and the man called Un-bi spread his palm and unleashed a flame barrier.

Hye-gong brought out a giant tiger puppet reaching five meters in height, and seeing his confident expression, he seemed to trust the power possessed by the puppet.

“Go!”

“Wait a moment! If you send the puppet outside the formation now, it will be surrounded by the Black Cloud Insects!”

When Madame Ryeo hurriedly stopped him, Hye-gong faltered.

Actually, the Black Cloud Insects were also called calamity.

They were an existence dangerous enough to be counted on fingers in the Dead Soul Wilderness. Even a Golden Core Sage had to flee without looking back if they encountered a swarm of Black Cloud Insects.

However…

Every time Jin So-myeong swung his sword, hundreds of Black Cloud Insects were split. Not a single one could approach.

Seeing the Black Cloud Insects being slaughtered so easily, a sense of reality was not felt.

Could the rumors have been exaggerated by any chance?

If so, there was no need to be preemptively frightened. After contemplating for a moment, Hye-gong spoke resolutely.

“It is fine. My puppet is extremely sturdy, so it will not be pierced by the Black Cloud Insects.”

Roar!

When Hye-gong gestured, the tiger puppet, which roared as if alive, kicked off the ground.

The formation did not block going from the inside to the outside. The puppet, which came outside easily, dug in between the Black Cloud Insects.

Flame emitted from its mouth burned and killed dozens of Black Cloud Insects, and every time its claws swung, blade winds scattered.

Indeed.

The tiger was a Rank 3 puppet, and it properly showed the power of an emotionless slaughter machine.

Ankles, flanks, abdomen, face, and so forth.

Even though disgusting Black Cloud Insects clung onto all sorts of areas, it only repeated calmly swinging its claws.

Thud!

Just as Hye-gong, who saw the countless dying Black Cloud Insects, let out a sigh of relief.

Sizzle…!

The puppet touched by the Black Cloud Insects’ bodily fluids began to stagger.

“Hmm?”

How many breaths had passed?

The movements of the tiger that rampaged without restraint slowed down rapidly. An ominous creaking sound echoed from all joints.

“No!”

At the same time as Hye-gong, whose eyes stared wide, coughed up blood.

The tiger puppet collapsed with a thud. The legs supporting the body had long since corroded and fallen off.

It was truly an instant. There was no time for anyone to save it.

In the blink of an eye, the tiger puppet completely covered in Black Cloud Insects became a lump of scrap metal…

“Kuh.”

Hye-gong, who spilled blood at the corner of his mouth due to the blow of losing his puppet, only then realized.

That these Black Cloud Insects were by no means existences to be taken lightly.

Suddenly, a sense of grievance surged, and he looked at Jin So-myeong. He was still easily slaughtering the Black Cloud Insects.

Among the Black Cloud Insects rushing toward the formation, seventy percent died by his sword.

They were both Golden Core 1st layer, so why on earth was the difference so severe?

“Damn it. These fellows have severe spiritual power consumption.”

Hye-gong, who was lamenting, brought out another puppet.

This time it was three monkeys, and carrying bows like archers, they appeared to be existences focused on ranged attacks.

When the monkeys drew empty bows, powerful spiritual power gathered and became arrows.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

When arrows containing Golden Core-grade power were shot, the number of Black Cloud Insects colliding with the formation decreased.

It was only disposing of some that survived by avoiding Jin So-myeong’s sword, but it was helpful anyway.

“Madame Ryeo. Do we truly have to endure until the sun rises?”

“Yes. Only after tonight passes will it completely transform into the Golden Moonbright Grass, and the fragrance will also stop.”

“Phew. I understand.”

Just as the party was focusing on ranged attacks within the formation.

Jin So-myeong, who was scattering slashes with a calm expression, shifted his gaze.

Staring at the distant sky with narrowed eyes, he spoke to Madame Ryeo who was controlling the formation.

“I will be back in a moment.”

“Yes?”

“Did I not say earlier that guests arrived? Since they are trying to leave, I will go see them off.”

“…Guests? Did you not mean the Black Cloud Insects?”

As he nodded his head briefly, the faces of everyone, including Madame Ryeo, were dyed with bewilderment.

“Someone else was there?”

“Oh dear. Somehow, something was strange.”

The fact that the Black Cloud Insects ambushed as soon as the Golden Moonbright Grass fragrance emitted was not normal in the first place. Apparently, someone had played a trick.

It was not good.

For the Golden Moonbright Grass to completely transform, they had to endure until the sun rose.

If that fellow called the guest brought along allies, the situation would become even harder.

“…Be careful.”

She, who was contemplating something with a serious expression, eventually nodded her head, and Jin So-myeong kicked off the ground.

He flew without hesitation toward the sky covered in Black Cloud Insects beyond the formation, and a completely different scene from the time of the tiger puppet unfolded.

Whoosh!

When Jin So-myeong gestured, a gale rose.

Wind wrapped around his whole body like a dragon robe ground up everything that approached.

Since Sword Qi dwelled in the originally sharp wind, the power soared exponentially.

Hundreds of Black Cloud Insects exploded and died without even being able to smear their bodily fluids.

The moment he came out of the formation like that.

Boom!

Someone who was hiding in a rock crevice and watching this place soared into the sky. Realizing they were already discovered, they fled focusing on speed rather than concealment.

He was a man with a gloomy impression wrapped in a cloak-like cape, but mysteriously, the Black Cloud Insects did not attack him.

‘Indeed.’

Before the openly suspicious appearance, he pursued immediately.

Judging by the flowing spiritual power, that fellow was Golden Core 3rd layer, so there was no hesitation.

Flash!

Casting the Wind Transformation Body Force, he traversed the empty air becoming a beam of light.

Although as many Black Cloud Insects as looked like a cloud blocked him, he broke through in a single breath, putting the wind mixed with Sword Qi forward.

Had he pursued for about twenty minutes?

Moving away from the empty lot where the formation was installed, around the time the Black Cloud Insects were no longer visible before he knew it.

The opponent who fled persistently shouted in an urgent voice.

“Fellow Daoist! Calm down! I was just passing nearby and watched, wondering what the commotion was!”

“Sure. You accidentally passed nearby, and coincidentally a swarm of Black Cloud Insects swarmed, and you also happened to know the method to avoid Black Cloud Insects.”

“…Tsk.”

Whether he knew saying anything was meaningless, the man who turned around completely distorted his face.

“You should have just gone back when I was decently saving your face! No matter how much of a sword cultivator you are, aren’t you barely Golden Core 1st layer?!”

When that fellow tapped his waist, countless spiritual insects popped out from his beast-taming pouch.

Centipedes, mantises, spiders with a hundred eyes, and so on.

Hundreds of bizarrely shaped spiritual insects poured out and glared at him.

Tapping and throbbing between his eyebrows, it seemed some among the spiritual insects were existences that attacked the divine soul.

As if the surrounding gazes were not goosebump-inducing, Jin So-myeong spoke calmly.

“You must have lured the abnormally numerous swarm of Black Cloud Insects.”

“Hmph. If so, what of it?”

“If you tell me how you knew there was a spiritual herb there, I will kill you painlessly.”

There was only one reason Jin So-myeong asked this question.

This was because he suspected whether someone among the party guarding the Golden Moonbright Grass had leaked information.

If he did not want to leave behind an uncomfortable feeling, he had to address it.

In a short moment, the fellow whose expression changed several times let out a hollow laugh as if it was absurd.

“Kill you painlessly? Kuhuhu. You are an arrogant fellow, to the extent that I wonder if you are truly out of your mind. Fine! Consider this a gift to a fellow who will die soon, and I shall tell you.”

“…”

“That wench Ryeo Jeong thought she was careful herself, but she did too many suspicious actions over several years. Following secretly just in case, indeed!”

The man, who opened both arms in an exaggerated manner, pointed at the canyon.

Rolling up the corners of his mouth, he spoke very slowly.

“She had installed a formation in such a desolate place. Thus, utilizing the gap where the formation opened and closed…”

Just as the unusually kind explanation continued.

A sudden killing intent flashed in the man’s pupils, and a subtle noise was heard.

Shhh!

Three centipedes that crawled on the ground and approached from behind spat out dark red liquid.

Whether they were spiritual insects specialized in concealment, they were stealthy enough to not be detected even with Divine Sense.

If one had been paying attention to the conversation, they had no choice but to be hit—it was truly an exquisite ambush.

Of course.

It was meaningless.

The situation ended just by Jin So-myeong, who was wrapped in lightning, disappearing and reappearing for a brief moment.

Clack!

Simultaneously with the sheathing sound that echoed in the canyon that had become quiet before they knew it.

“What on earth, such absurd speed…”

A red line formed on the neck of the man who stared wide-eyed.

Even though he was not careless, his neck was cut in a moment he did not even perceive.