Chapter 92: Chapter 92
Chapter 92: Intensified Advancement (2)
An explosive force surged from his chest.
As the Spirit Flow Core absorbed the power of the altar, a tremendous change occurred.
It felt as if his heart had disappeared. In its place, a pulsating blue light, an intense core, throbbed. Spiritual energy coursed through the veins of his entire body. A new power overflowed like molten lava.
The true energy of the Nameless Martial Artist that once dwelled in his Dantian suddenly felt insignificant. Like a candle before the sun, like a stream before the sea—it seemed utterly feeble.
Blue currents crackled at his fingertips, scorching the air.
An arrogant thought brushed through his mind.
This new power… stirred an omnipotent sensation, as if he could dominate everything in existence. It felt like he could topple mountains with just a flick of his finger.
Gugwi recoiled in shock.
What an outrageous thought. How could such a notion arise?
He was startled by the foreign idea that had seeped into his mind. A delusion of dominating the world… That thought was definitely not his own.
It wasn’t his—it was a colossal and malevolent consciousness that flowed in through the Spirit Flow Core. The sensation was as chilling as a venomous snake slithering into his ear.
‘The Manifest Demon Emperor… So this is what he thought.’
Even while barely opening his eyes, he had this much influence. If the Manifest Demon Emperor were to fully awaken… Gugwi was a Minor Mastery Body. A vessel for the Manifest Demon Emperor. He would be forced to surrender his flesh to this alien entity. Whether he wanted to or not.
‘Hmph! Father! You really… gave me a pain that's nearly impossible to resolve.’
Despair swept over him.
Was he to die, holding the awakened Spirit Flow Core in his heart, just as his father had wished?
Gugwi drew forth the intensified power of the Spirit Flow Core.
The Spiritless Zone expanded explosively, engulfing the entire stone chamber. Waves of blue light spread out in concentric circles.
It was on a completely different level than before.
It didn’t just annihilate souls—it now absorbed the true energy of the Nameless Martial Artist to form a tangible barrier of enhanced qi. The air itself solidified, like invisible bricks being stacked together.
A blue shield unfolded in the form of a massive dome. Every falling rock was deflected.
From fist-sized stones to boulders as tall as a man… all shattered into pieces upon impact with the blue light. Stone dust scattered like rain, dancing midair.
But the cost was brutal.
Gugwi coughed blood and fell to his knees.
From the extreme exertion of the Spirit Flow Core, his meridians twisted and reversed. Blood streamed from his nose, mouth, and ears. Even under his fingernails, blood pooled and turned black.
His consciousness wavered on the edge. The world seemed to tilt.
Yeon Sohye’s voice rang out.
The pile of rubble that had blocked them due to the cave collapse broke apart, opening a path.
Yeon Sohye rushed in through the cloud of dust.
Her black hair fluttered wildly, her face filled with worry. Jang Unhyeok and Jin Geonmu were with her. Their faces mixed concern and relief.
Yeon Sohye asked as she supported Gugwi.
Her hand trembled slightly. She could feel how scorching his body had become.
“I’m fine… The altar… is completely destroyed.”
Gugwi smiled with effort.
Though red blood trickled from his lips, his eyes shone with a sense of accomplishment.
But the joy was short-lived.
A threatening sound echoed from afar. Heavy footsteps shook the ground—dozens rushing at once. A dull resonance like pounding against stone.
“Kill those bastards! How dare they touch the altar!”
Having witnessed the massive explosion, the Guardians of the Dark Spirit Sect came charging with furious cries.
Through the collapsing cave, black silhouettes emerged.
Empowered by the altar, the Guardians had all become first-rate experts. Their movements were swifter than wind, quieter than leopards. The weapons in their hands gleamed with chilling sharpness.
One leapt off the wall and soared into the air.
His body spun three times midair before slashing down with a longsword. The blade tore the air with a sharp screech. Sword qi extended toward Gugwi like a white streak.
Another approached by rolling along the ground. The daggers in both hands danced like serpents. His movements were a blend of a viper’s suppleness and a leopard’s sharpness.
The third Guardian charged head-on, wielding a massive iron mace. With each step, the stone floor cracked like a spiderweb, and rock dust burst like fireworks.
Heaven-Earth-Man Threefold Assault Technique!
Though three attacked, it felt like one—it was perfectly synchronized.
Jang Unhyeok murmured, drawing his twin swords.
A cold light reflected off his blades.
“Can’t just sit and let those who want us dead have their way, right? And it’s not like we can run.”
Jin Geonmu raised his spear.
Gugwi stepped back, gripping his faltering consciousness.
Fighting directly was out of the question due to the Spirit Flow Core’s overload. But he could still support them.
“The altar’s destroyed… but the Manifest Demon Emperor has opened his eyes.”
Gugwi’s voice trembled.
“He’s not fully awakened yet, but there’s not much time left. The Four Holy Sites… places cave where altars have been built… there are four of them. His awakening depends on their power converging. We’re lucky. We have to find and destroy all four.”
Yeon Sohye gripped his hand tightly. Warmth spread from her palm.
“Let’s get out of here first. You can still , right?”
Gugwi unfolded the Spiritless Zone once again. This time, not for attack—but to support.
Blue light enveloped Yeon Sohye, Jang Unhyeok, and Jin Geonmu.
The power of the Spirit Flow Core strengthened their Spirit Union souls. A silver energy deepened in Yeon Sohye’s Dantian, while flames flared hotter from Jang Unhyeok’s twin swords.
Even Jin Geonmu was affected this time.
The true energy of the Nameless Martial Artist absorbed into the Spirit Flow Core now flowed into him, amplifying his inner strength. The energy gathered at his spear tip burned a deep crimson.
At the same time, it exerted the opposite effect on the Guardians.
They wielded half-human, half-spirit martial arts—half human technique, half spiritual technique… The Spiritless Zone gnawed at the latter. If possible, it extracted it entirely.
The movements of the Guardians noticeably dulled.
She summoned So Ryeonghwa, unleashing a silver mist. But this mist was entirely different. Gugwi’s Spirit Flow Core had strengthened So Ryeonghwa. The mist became thick and powerful, almost tangible.
It looked as if silver butterflies fluttered within the mist.
The Guardian’s longsword, descending from the air, was blocked by the silver mist. The mist had hardened like an iron plate, repelling the blade. The clash rang with a metallic clang, sparks scattering.
While the Guardian was momentarily startled, Yeon Sohye’s dagger pierced his side like lightning.
The tip of the blade slipped between his ribs, aiming for his heart. Warm blood trickled down her wrist.
The Guardian screamed and staggered backward.
His collar was stained red.
Meanwhile, Jang Unhyeok clashed with the Guardian rolling along the ground. He summoned both the Blazing Fire Warrior and Wind Sword Wolf, unleashing Harmony of Flame and Wind. Crimson flames and blue winds swirled together, forming a massive vortex.
With Gugwi’s Spirit Flow Core support, the vortex doubled in size and tripled in heat. The air scorched as heat spread in every direction.
The Guardian, wielding twin daggers, was swept into the flames.
His black clothes burned, and his skin began to sizzle. The stench of burning flesh pricked the nose.
The Guardian screamed, retreating. His hair had singed, sending up smoke.
Jin Geonmu engaged in the fiercest battle.
He faced head-on the Guardian wielding a massive iron mace. The true energy from the Nameless Martial Artist, drawn from Gugwi’s Spirit Flow Core, wrapped around his Blood Spear. Crimson energy swirled at the spear tip, its power now incomparable to before.
The mace and spear collided.
An explosive shockwave echoed.
The force burst outward, flinging stone fragments around. A massive crack formed on the floor.
The Guardian with the mace was pushed back.
His arm trembled from paralysis, and blood trickled from his wrist.
The mace, known as one of the heaviest weapons, had been overpowered by a spear.
But the Guardians were not easily defeated. Empowered by the altar, they quickly regrouped. Wounded Guardians withdrew while fresh ones stepped forward.
The second wave began.
Once again, the Guardians launched a coordinated assault. Three formed a triangular formation, surrounding Yeon Sohye.
A sword, spear, and axe simultaneously flew toward her.
The trajectories of the three weapons wove together like a complex web.
Yeon Sohye deployed the footwork of the Gale Spirit Guest. As Gugwi’s Spirit Flow Core reinforced the muscles in her legs, she had already left behind three afterimages, dodging the attack.
Her body flowed like the wind. It was as if three shadows moved at once.
But then, a fourth Guardian, silent in his approach, ambushed her from the flank.
A chain with an iron ball spun toward her head. The chain whistled as it sliced the air.
Gugwi concentrated the Spiritless Zone.
Blue light engulfed the Guardian, forcibly ripping out his soul. His pupils clouded.
The Guardian’s movements abruptly slowed.
The chain dropped powerlessly to the ground with a clatter.
Yeon Sohye seized the opportunity. She unleashed Silver Spirit Triple Illusion, with three clones simultaneously attacking the Guardian. Her dagger struck the neck, chest, and side in succession.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Blood erupted like a fountain.
The Guardian collapsed with a cough of blood, his body crashing to the ground.
Jang Unhyeok fought fiercely as well.
Against five Guardians, he swung his twin swords in a relentless, bloody battle.
With Gugwi’s support, the power of Harmony of Flame and Wind reached its peak, and the vortex of fire consumed the enemies one by one.
Each time his blades clashed with the enemy’s weapons, sparks flew.
The sound of blade slicing air echoed like the wind. The enemies’ garments burned, sending up smoke.
Jin Geonmu still hadn’t secured victory.
Each clash between mace and spear sent sparks flying. Their collisions carved deep footprints into the floor. The stone ground cracked and broke, raising dust.
Parrrrng! Blood Spear Triple Strike!
Jin Geonmu unleashed his ultimate technique.
The true energy from Gugwi’s Spirit Flow Core merged with his spear art. Three crimson spear tips simultaneously shot toward the enemy. In the air, they drew red trails. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novel{f}ire.net
The Guardian tried to block with his mace, but the spear's power was overwhelming.
The mace split in half mid-swing, and the spear tip pierced through his chest. The snap of metal and the sound of flesh being pierced rang together.
The Guardian coughed blood and fell to his knees. Bloody foam gushed from his mouth.
But the battle was just beginning.
More Guardians poured in from the depths of the cave.
Their footsteps thundered like storms. Their fury had reached its peak, and their desire for vengeance over the altar’s destruction made them even stronger.
“Don’t let a single one escape!”
Their clenched-jawed shouts echoed through the cave.
Gugwi grit his teeth. The Spirit Flow Core was nearing its limit, but he couldn’t abandon his companions. The blue light in his chest flickered erratically, flashing warning signals.
But in his eyes, the resolve to protect his comrades burned fiercely.
Deep within the Realm of the Threshold, he felt the Manifest Demon Emperor watching with half-open eyes. As if ready to intervene at any moment. With that presence looming… he couldn’t recklessly use the Spirit Flow Core.