Chapter 49: Everlasting Flame of Calamity (4)

Tarak!

The shattered stone gate quivered faintly.

From the moss-covered patterns, Soul-Summoning energy seeped out and tickled Gugwi’s skin.

He knelt down and began to trace the engravings with his hand. This was the place that contained everything of his Spirit Union soul, Un Serim.

“Here… I came. The place steeped in resentment.”

Gugwi spoke to the Spirit Union soul, Un Serim.

Yeon Sohye drew her sword halfway while keeping alert of her surroundings. Her steps rustled as they pressed against fallen leaves.

“Be careful. The energy doesn’t feel normal.”

Gugwi sat cross-legged and calmed his Dantian.

The energy wasn’t ordinary. Something was awakening… Gugwi was the first to sense it.

“Hooook!”

After repeating deep breaths three times, he slowly activated the Spirit Flow Core.

Blue light began from his Dantian and flowed to his fingertips. As the light shone upon the stone gate, the engravings glimmered.

Gururung!

The ground trembled faintly. And then… deep within the ruins, an altar slowly revealed itself. As the dirt collapsed, the ancient stone structure received the light of the world.

It was the mechanism activated through the union of the stone gate’s engravings and the Spirit Flow Core.

Yeon Sohye lowered her body and fully drew her sword. The blade caught the moonlight and gleamed silver.

“This energy… it’s not ordinary.”

Yeon Sohye spoke with a trembling voice.

The altar that emerged into the world carried a ghastly aura. As if countless spirits clung to it. But no souls were attached. Which meant… the altar itself was the place where resentment had accumulated.

Gugwi slowly rose to his feet and walked toward the altar.

Parung! Paang!

With each step, the waves of Soul-Summoning energy grew clearer.

“If the answer lies here, then I must find it. Even if it’s something small, finding it would be good.”

Gugwi stood before the altar.

Paaaaat!

Blue light burst out from the Spirit Flow Core and illuminated the altar’s engravings, revealing completely unfamiliar characters one by one.

“What is this?”

He knelt down and moved closer to the engravings. With his fingertips, he traced the outlines of the characters. They were entirely different from the Soul Echo Manual or the Cold Wolf Sect’s Soul-Summoning symbols.

Yeon Sohye asked from behind.

“Can you decipher it?”

“Wait.”

Gugwi pulled out the Soul Echo Manual from his robe.

He opened it and began comparing the symbols with the altar’s engravings. But the altar’s characters were completely different from those in the manual. These were letters he had never seen before.

“This is strange. I don’t understand at all.”

He muttered in confusion.

The Soul Echo Manual could not decode it.

At that moment, the Spirit Flow Core in his Dantian quivered faintly. Blue light rose slowly and streamed to his fingertips. The moment that light touched the altar’s engravings, something astonishing occurred.

Hwarararak!

The symbols began to shine one by one.

The letters writhed as if alive. Then, their meanings were conveyed directly into Gugwi’s mind. Clear, as though someone whispered them to him.

“This is…”

Gugwi’s eyes widened. The Spirit Flow Core resonated with the engravings and interpreted their contents.

「Cloud Flow Sect’s Soul-Summoning Arts, Volume 7: Spirit Flow Core Sealing Method.」

「The Spirit Flow Core, the heart of the Manifest Demon Emperor, is too powerful and unstable, and thus requires a complete seal.」

「It must be preserved and its seal maintained by the Cloud Flow Sect through the generations.」

“It’s the Soul-Summoning Arts of the Cloud Flow Sect!”

His voice carried certainty.

Yeon Sohye approached in surprise.

“How can you tell? The letters look completely different.”

“The Spirit Flow Core is interpreting them. These engravings are unique Soul-Summoning records of the Cloud Flow Sect.”

As Gugwi slowly moved his hand over the engravings, more content flowed into his mind.

「The Cloud Flow Sect is a coalition of Soul-Summoners. It exists to protect the Spirit Flow Core.」

“The Cloud Flow Sect wasn’t a martial sect.”

Gugwi’s voice trembled.

“It was a special coalition solely of Soul-Summoners. They existed only to protect the Spirit Flow Core.”

The blue light of the Spirit Flow Core grew stronger, enveloping the entire altar. New engravings continued to glow, delivering more messages.

「Invasion of the Dark Spirit Sect. Attempt to seize the Spirit Flow Core.」

「Resist until the end to prevent the resurrection of the Manifest Demon Emperor.」

Gugwi circled around the altar, examining more of the engravings. At the bottom of the altar, he found a particularly important-looking stone plate.

“There’s more here!”

He knelt and brushed off the dust with his hands. Faint, but legible inscriptions were revealed.

「The Dark Spirit Sect has attacked. They seek to take the Spirit Flow Core and use it for the resurrection of the Manifest Demon Emperor.」

「We will resist until the end.」

「The Dark Spirit Sect cannot use the Spirit Flow Core. A thorough seal… The Spirit Flow Core is a cursed demonic beast that humans cannot withstand. If in the future, someone bearing the Spirit Flow Core appears and reaches this place, we ask them to end themselves. Only death is the greatest peace from the evil spirits.」

Gugwi’s hands trembled.

“What kind of nonsense is this? Ignore it.”

Yeon Sohye spoke quietly from behind.

“Now I understand why Father placed the Spirit Flow Core inside my body. Huhu! He wanted me to come here and die.”

“No! How could a parent push their child into death?”

Gugwi let her words pass by one ear, and clasped the stone plate with both hands. From the cold stone, he felt faint Soul-Summoning energy.

“I think I understand. The path Father left behind… the one I must follow. To stop the resurrection of the Manifest Demon Emperor.”

“Let’s keep searching. There must be more.”

Yeon Sohye climbed onto the altar and examined the stone plates. Her expression hardened with tension.

Then, the Spirit Flow Core began resonating with the engravings. Blue light intensified, enveloping the ruins entirely. Broken pillars and collapsed walls glowed under the light, revealing traces of their ancient glory.

Gugwi clenched his fist, strengthening his resolve.

“If death is the greatest peace, then I will die. I already know the Spirit Flow Core is a demonic beast. But why…? Why did Father give me this cursed monster of death?”

Shiiiik!

Yeon Sohye leaped down from the altar.

“Keep searching. Seems like we’ve got company.”

Paaang!

The tremors of Soul-Summoning energy grew stronger, shaking the branches around them.

The Bloodscent Fiend concealed himself on a tree branch.

He slowly rolled a Blood Orb on his palm while sensing the Spirit Flow Core’s energy. As the Blood Orb touched the energy of Soul-Summoning and glowed red, a cold sneer spread across his lips.

“At last, I’ve found it.”

He descended silently from the tree branch and pulled out a signal firework.

The Eleventh True Army was nearby. If he fired the firework, the Blue Blood Unit would also rush over, but the Eleventh True Army would arrive first. It was enough time to snatch Gugwi and escape.

“Huhu! It’s over now.”

The Bloodscent Fiend raised the firework toward the sky. At that moment—

Shuuuut!

He felt a sensation like tree leaves being thinly sliced. As if his own flesh was being neatly cut apart.

‘Danger!’

The Bloodscent Fiend immediately retreated and invoked Soul-Summoning Arts.

Paaang!

Black energy burst from his hands as three Living Spirits were summoned. Souls that had died unjustly, wrathful spirits bared their red eyes and snarled.

Papapat!

Claws slashed, aiming to tear Yeon Sohye apart.

Yeon Sohye leaned back and summoned So Ryeonghwa. Silver mist rose around her, blocking the sight of the Living Spirits. At the same time, she unfolded Flowing Willow Storm.

Paat!

The Living Spirits charged violently through the mist, but they could not even graze her robes. At that moment, she gathered Soul-Summoning energy at her toes, kicked off the ground, and leaped three zhang high.

Saaat!

Her sword was raised vertically. From So Ryeonghwa’s entire body, a burst of white light exploded. Soul Annihilation Technique! In an instant, the dazzling white radiance covered the world and engulfed the Living Spirits.

“Kyaaaak!”

The Living Spirits screamed as they slowly began to ascend. Their red eyes dimmed, dispersing into mist.

“Damn!”

The Bloodscent Fiend gritted his teeth and retreated. Cold sweat formed on his forehead.

“To think it’s the Soul Annihilation Technique….”

Any Soul-Summoner could use Soul Annihilation Technique, but the degree varied. To unleash it mid-combat like she did, one needed to have surpassed at least the fourth stage of Spiritual Sensitivity.

She was a figure comparable to the Captain of the Black Blood Unit, Heuk Yeomjo.

‘Yeon Sohye!’

He immediately recognized his opponent. Not only was he no match, but Yeon Sohye, as Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit, had unparalleled experience in annihilating souls. At this rate, all the Living Spirits would be destroyed.

‘Tchit!’

The Bloodscent Fiend detonated a smoke bomb and vanished into the darkness. Smoke billowed, hiding his form. Along with the fading sound of footsteps came his warning voice.

“You’ll regret this.”

Yeon Sohye rolled her shoulders, catching her breath.

The Blue Blood Unit went around the village near Sambong Valley, knocking on doors one by one.

“Those who contacted a Soul-Summoner, do not hide.”

Villagers locked themselves inside, bolting their doors. The streets were gripped by fear and silence.

The members of the Blue Blood Unit dragged along the Two-Sword Swordsman bound in ropes. His wrists tied behind his back, he stumbled on his knees, but desperately shook his head in resistance.

“I’m innocent. I don’t know anything!”

The Captain of the Blue Blood Unit looked down coldly at him, hands folded behind his back as he slowly approached.

“I know Yeon Sohye came. I know she stayed at the inn. I’ll ask one question. Where did Yeon Sohye go?”

Fear filled the Two-Sword Swordsman’s eyes. His lips trembled.

“I… I truly don’t know.”

The Captain rolled up his sleeves. In that instant—

Paaaang!

Black energy gathered in his palm, radiating a grim aura.

“M-Mysterious Sound Disruption! No!”

The Captain slowly placed his hand above the head of the struggling Two-Sword Swordsman. His eyes brimmed with false pity.

“I-I’ll speak. I’ll speak! The Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit went to Sambong Valley… to find the Cloud Flow Sect….”

At that moment, his hand touched the Baihui Acupoint. The Two-Sword Swordsman’s body stiffened as if struck by lightning.

“Kyaaaak!”

His soul screamed, writhing in agony. Foam spilled from his lips.

“P-Please! I told the truth….”

The Two-Sword Swordsman begged hoarsely, but the Captain poured more energy into his fingers.

“Kyaaaak!”

He twisted the soul mercilessly and annihilated it.

The Two-Sword Swordsman slumped sideways, drooling. His eyes lost focus, turning hollow. Now with the powerless gaze of a madman, he muttered nonsense continuously.

As the man collapsed, the Captain of the Blue Blood Unit calmly looked over his subordinates and gave the order.

“To the valley. At once!”

The Blue Blood Unit members turned in unison and ran toward the mountains.

Gugwi knelt before the stone plate, lost in deep thought. He slowly traced the inscriptions with his hand, mulling over the Cloud Flow Sect’s final message.

“The Cloud Flow Sect perished protecting the Spirit Flow Core.”

He closed his eyes, recalling his father’s words and Un Serim’s resentment.

All the pieces were beginning to fall into place.

The Cloud Flow Sect’s will was clear. It was a plea for the bearer of the Spirit Flow Core to take their own life. His father must have agreed with that will. That was why, even after death, he did not ascend immediately but remained in the Realm of the Threshold to nurture the sprouting of the Spirit Flow Core.

‘Yes. Father stayed in the Realm of the Threshold to awaken the Spirit Flow Core.’

His father sending him to the Cold Wolf Sect to learn Soul-Summoning Arts was also for that purpose. The training in Soul-Summoning was the key to awakening the Spirit Flow Core.

But then a question arose. Wouldn’t it have been easier if his father had killed him before passing away?

‘No. There must have been restrictions.’

If the host died before it sprouted, the Spirit Flow Core might pass to another. The sprouting of the Spirit Flow Core meant it had become one with Gugwi.

Only now, if Gugwi died, the Spirit Flow Core would perish with him.

Gugwi clenched his fist tightly. Though his mind understood, his heart would not follow.

‘I know the Spirit Flow Core is a demonic beast. But… you were all too selfish.’

He stood, staring down at the stone plate.

‘You never once asked for my opinion. I understand I must die… but I cannot grant that.’

A cold glint flashed in Gugwi’s eyes.

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