Chapter 88: Chapter 88
Chapter 88: Whisper of the Evil Altar (3)
When the Soul Stone Array was destroyed, the cave was enveloped in a deep silence.
The pitch-black altar seemed to lose its voice. Even after centuries, it still gleamed faintly.
“Creepy. Just looking at this altar gives me chills. Don’t you feel it too? Or is it just me?”
Jang Unhyeok spoke while shrinking his shoulders.
Gugwi took a few steps toward the altar to examine it. At that moment, a new presence was detected from deep within it.
Regular footsteps echoed through the cave.
This time, it wasn’t the heavy rumble of a statue moving. It was unmistakably the sound of human footsteps.
“Who dares to defile the altar!”
A commanding voice boomed from the darkness.
Shiit! Sseut! Sasasasat!
Dozens of figures in black robes appeared from all directions, surrounding the altar.
The group assumed they were martial artists of the Heavenly Sound Cult.
“Annoying bastards. Heavenly Sound Cult again! Which ones are they this time? The Black Blood Unit, or the Ma Ungyeol faction?”
Yeon Sohye drew her dagger and muttered.
However, Jin Geonmu adjusted his spear and said,
“No. These aren’t from the Heavenly Sound Cult. The scent is different, the attire is different, and more than anything… they don’t even seem to be from the same race.”
The group focused their attention on the newcomers.
As Jin Geonmu had said, their attire differed greatly from that of the Heavenly Sound Cult. While the cult wore black armor or crimson robes, these strangers donned antique black robes embroidered with strange symbols.
The moment Gugwi saw the face of one of the horsemen, he understood.
He realized what Jin Geonmu meant by “a different race.” Broad cheekbones, deeply sunken eyes, a sturdy physique — their appearance and build were completely unlike those of the Central Plains.
Even stranger was the energy they exuded.
It was not the killing intent of the Heavenly Sound Cult. Rather, it felt ancient — as though it had been buried and fermented for centuries. There was a chilling, rigid aura about them — an aura of those who knew no compromise.
Yeon Sohye murmured as she looked at their robes.
“That’s the emblem of the Dark Spirit Sect. I can’t remember exactly where I saw it… maybe in an old book.”
Intricate symbols were engraved on their robes, seemingly depicting the Manifest Demon Emperor.
It was an entirely different style from the Heavenly Sound Cult.
“Are they intruders?”
The man who appeared to be their leader shouted. Yet his speech sounded oddly unfamiliar — archaic, as if it belonged to a person from centuries past.
“Don’t their words sound strange? Like people from long ago.”
Yeon Sohye whispered.
Jang Unhyeok recalled something he had read in the Intelligence Division archives.
“Could they be… descendants of the Dark Spirit Sect?”
“Descendants of the Dark Spirit Sect… still alive?”
“There were rumors they survived.”
Jang Unhyeok’s voice trailed off, uncertain.
“What do you mean?” Yeon Sohye asked.
“There’s an old report from the Intelligence Division. After the Dark Spirit Sect was destroyed, some survivors supposedly fled into the mountains. Looks like Sa Hyeollin might have found them. And now, by sheer misfortune, we’ve stumbled into them.”
Jang Unhyeok spoke tensely, his eyes fixed on the strangers.
“If they truly are the descendants of the Dark Spirit Sect, they’ve probably guarded this altar for centuries — preparing for the resurrection of the Manifest Demon Emperor.”
The Red Spearman nodded.
“I’ve heard something similar. They’re called the ‘Guardians in Black Robes.’”
At that moment, the leader emitted a feral gleam from his eyes and barked out,
“All who defile the altar are to be slain without mercy!”
“That is the will of the Manifest Demon Emperor!”
The others shouted in unison.
With that cry, all doubts were erased — these were indeed the surviving descendants of the Dark Spirit Sect.
“They’re real… the Guardians of the Dark Spirit Sect!”
Gugwi exclaimed in shock.
“They… they’ve survived all this time!”
Yeon Sohye’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Though forgotten by most, to Soul-Summoners, the Dark Spirit Sect was a mythical, vanished cult — a gathering of zealots who had fanatically devoted themselves to the Manifest Demon Emperor.
The difference between them and the Heavenly Sound Cult was clear.
The Heavenly Sound Cult coveted the Spirit Flow Core, but these men considered it “the property of their master.” To the cult, the Manifest Demon Emperor was merely a symbolic god; to the sect, he was the true lord they served.
“These people are far more dangerous than the Heavenly Sound Cult,” Yeon Sohye warned.
“They’re true believers — fanatics.”
The guardians raised their swords. From their blades spread a dark mist-like sword qi.
“Dark Spirit Sword Technique!”
Jang Unhyeok gasped in shock.
The Dark Spirit Sword Technique was a fading legend — a half-human, half-spirit martial art where the sword qi diffused like a black fog. Half of its power came from spirits, the other half from flesh.
Gugwi quietly deployed the Spiritless Zone, but the Dark Spirit Sword Technique tore through it.
Gugwi flinched in surprise.
Until now, only Ma Ungyeol had ever pierced through the Spiritless Zone. Sa Hyeollin had breached it through a different method altogether.
Yet these guardians shattered it head-on.
“For the Guardian of the Altar! For the will of the Manifest Demon Emperor!”
The guardians roared as souls transformed into vengeful spirits began appearing around them.
Tens of thousands had perished here. The guardians had gathered those spirits, turning them into their own army. The reason there had been so few Stray Spirits when Gugwi first entered the cave — despite it being a site of countless killings — was that the spirits had long been collected.
The vengeful spirits amplified the altar’s power and infused it into the guardians.
Yeon Sohye swiftly unleashed the Silver Spirit Illusion. Silver mist spread through the cave like a dream, obscuring everything. It was impossible to tell wall from altar.
Yet… the guardians advanced unerringly through the mist.
Yeon Sohye deflected a guardian’s sword qi with her dagger but was forced backward by the impact.
“They’re… too strong!” she gritted her teeth.
“They’re absorbing the altar’s power! This isn’t Spirit Union energy — it’s Charic Power. And not just any Charic Power… it’s Soul Power!”
Jang Unhyeok unfolded the Harmony of Flame and Wind.
Red flames and blue winds swirled together, pressing down on the Guardians. His intent was clear — to end the fight in one decisive strike.
Two Guardians were blasted backward under the shockwave of flame and wind. But soon, a dark energy surged from their bodies, restoring their strength. They were clearly drawing power from the altar.
“Damn it! Even I struggle against the Dark Spirit Sword Technique.”
The Red Spearman unleashed the Blood Spear Killing Art. His spear flashed like lightning, thrusting straight for the enemy’s chest.
Blood Point Breakthrough!
The spear tip pierced the Guardian’s chest — but the Guardian’s sword qi simultaneously slashed across the Red Spearman’s shoulder.
The Red Spearman dropped his spear and staggered backward.
For a warrior like Jin Geonmu, even losing grip of his spear meant the blow had been tremendous. His arm hung limp, the shock so severe that it seemed his shoulder bone had been crushed.
The leader of the Guardians turned his gaze toward Gugwi.
A bluish light flickered in his eyes, blazing like a flame from the depths of the abyss. The chilling air around him froze even the atmosphere itself.
His low voice vibrated through the entire altar.
The moment he sensed the blue light leaking from Gugwi’s chest, his expression changed completely — from vigilance to madness, from suspicion to conviction.
His insane laughter shook the cavern.
His voice grew louder, like the wailing of a demon crawling up from hell.
“The heart of our master! The master’s heart has returned!”
The leader raised both arms high toward the ceiling.
Dark energy erupted from his body, and the surrounding Guardians simultaneously dropped to their knees.
“The resurrection of our master! Kill that one!”
The moment his finger pointed at Gugwi, a storm of killing intent exploded outward.
“The Spirit Flow Core belongs to our master!”
The altar’s symbols began to glow once again — this time, more violently and malevolently. Crimson light spread across the rock walls, pulsing like veins filled with blood.
The terrifying image of the Manifest Demon Emperor rose above the altar. From within the crimson smoke, the massive figure appeared — its sinister eyes gleaming as they locked onto Gugwi.
Dark energy enveloped the Guardians’ bodies.
Their muscles swelled grotesquely, and their eyes burned with a crimson glow. A moment ago, they had been barely manageable opponents — but now, they had transformed into something entirely different.
Yeon Sohye muttered as she stepped back.
The hand gripping her dagger trembled faintly.
Flame and storm erupted from Jang Unhyeok’s twin blades, but they no longer carried the same confidence as before.
“Why are they suddenly this strong?”
Jin Geonmu ground his teeth and tightened his grip on his spear.
One Guardian charged straight at Gugwi — faster than any before. The sound of air splitting screamed sharply.
Gugwi barely managed to block the strike with his spear, but the impact drove his feet deep into the ground.
His forearms tingled, pain flaring as though his wrists were being torn apart.
Another Guardian swung a sickle from the side.
Gugwi twisted his body, narrowly dodging it, but the blade grazed his shoulder and tore his robe open.
Jang Unhyeok quickly unleashed another Harmony of Flame and Wind.
The red fire and blue wind surged toward two Guardians, but instead of avoiding them, the Guardians charged straight through the flames and lunged at him.
Jang Unhyeok crossed his twin swords to block, but the Guardian’s axe struck with overwhelming force, hurling him against the wall.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
Yeon Sohye invoked Silver Spirit Triple Illusion, creating three phantoms to attack. But the Guardian seemed to see through every deception, targeting only her true body. His fist slammed into her side, drawing a sharp cry of pain.
Jin Geonmu was in no better state. He unleashed the Blood Spear Killing Art to its utmost limit, but three Guardians surrounded him at once. The crimson energy bursting from his spear scattered uselessly against their weapons.
“What’s going on? How did they get this strong all of a sudden…?”
Gugwi quickly performed the Cloud Flow Spear technique as the Guardians’ blades came crashing toward his head.
A blue vortex formed at his spear tip — but the Guardian strode straight through it, unfazed, as if walking calmly through a storm.
A punch slammed into Gugwi’s chest.
The sound of breaking ribs echoed as his body flew backward, crashing into the wall. Blood splattered from his mouth.
A groan escaped him uncontrollably.
The four of them were forced back into a corner of the altar chamber. The confidence they had shown earlier had completely vanished.
The Guardians advanced slowly, their eyes glowing blood-red in the darkness — a terrifying, otherworldly sight.
Gugwi summoned the Physician Spirit. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn ɴovelfire.net
The Medical Arts of Clarity began healing his companions’ wounds.
Yeon Sohye’s breathing steadied, and the injuries of Jang Unhyeok and the Red Spearman closed rapidly.
During that moment, Gugwi analyzed their movements and found their weakness.
“We have to cut their connection to the altar! That’s the only way!”
“The Spiritless Zone doesn’t work, right?”
“No. The Spirit Flow Core itself has become useless. They’re drawing power from spirits too… but how is this even possible?”
“It’s because they’re not merely borrowing spiritual power. They’re receiving power from the spirits themselves. That’s what Charic Power is — power bestowed by spirits. In other words, Soul Power. Soul-Summoning Arts won’t work on them.”
Jang Unhyeok murmured gravely.