Soul Summoning Sword

Chapter 20: Abyssal Resonance (5)

The dawn mist veiled the Spirit Refining Mine.

The scout who discovered the first corpse turned pale. The martial artist’s neck was nearly half severed, his eyes wide open. It was a face twisted in a mix of terror and rage.

"Over here too!"

The second and third corpses were soon found. All were ordinary martial artists under Muk Sogwang. Twelve in total. Scattered weapons and rocks stained with vivid bloodstains testified to the brutality of the battle.

The Black Assassination Unit captain examined the bodies closely.

"Only the first line was touched. Damn it!"

His voice trembled.

Muk Sogwang’s defense lines were structured in three layers. The first line was manned by general martial artists at the outposts. The second line was the core defense held by the Black Assassination Unit. The third was the entrance to the Spirit Refining Mine itself.

"With martial arts at this level, it wouldn’t have been strange for them to break into the second line… but they stopped at the first. Hmph!"

The vice-captain muttered.

He unfolded a map and marked the spots where the bodies had been found. All were concentrated along the first-line outposts. There wasn’t a single footprint near the second line.

"It was deliberate avoidance."

The vice-captain spoke.

"Then…"

The Black Assassination Unit captain’s face hardened.

"It means they know about the Black Assassination Unit’s existence."

A chilling silence followed.

The Heavenly Sound Cult’s reconnaissance team had perfectly grasped Muk Sogwang’s defensive system. They boldly eliminated the general martial artists while avoiding direct conflict with the true threat—the Black Assassination Unit.

"Cold-blooded and calculated."

The scout captain clenched his teeth.

"They only scouted exactly what was needed. Is this all preparation for a full-scale assault?"

The condition of the bodies supported that. All had been killed with a single blow. It wasn’t a torturous death—each was eliminated quickly and efficiently, minimizing sound.

"There are traces of a unique sonic attack. All their eardrums were ruptured. It’s Soul-Summoning Arts."

The Heavenly Sound Cult’s Soul-Summoning Arts were fundamentally different from those of the Cold Wolf Sect.

They held no interest in spirit purification, resurrection, or eternal rest. There was only one goal:

To kill humans using spirits.

All the power of the spirits was focused solely on this assassination technique. Transforming soul energy into sound waves to instantly incapacitate the target, then stabbing their vital points in the opening that followed—perfect assassination.

The enemy was never given a chance to resist.

The scout captain inspected the bodies again. All had died in the same way. Burst eardrums, a single precise stab to the heart. Instant death.

"With skill at this level…"

His voice quivered.

"A fourth-level in Spiritual Sensitivity… at least one level above us. It’ll be a tough fight."

"The fact that they know exactly where we are is also a problem."

The vice-captain clenched his fist.

"They know the Black Assassination Unit’s deployment, firepower, even the individual skill levels."

The scout captain nodded.

"Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to bypass the second line so cleanly."

It was a clear demonstration of how precise the Heavenly Sound Cult’s intelligence was. Without touching the Black Assassination Unit, Muk Sogwang’s core force, they had eliminated more than a dozen general martial artists.

"At this point, we should assume they know everything about this place."

Fear began to seep in.

If the Heavenly Sound Cult had prepared this meticulously, the actual attack would be beyond imagination.

The attack on the first-line outpost became known to all martial artists in less than half a quarter of an hour.

Silence fell. Tension was evident on everyone’s faces.

"They’ve finally come."

Someone murmured.

"If one of the Twelve True Armies is here personally, shouldn’t we prepare for complete annihilation?"

Fear spread like a wave. The terrifying skill of the Heavenly Sound Cult, once only a rumor, now loomed as reality.

The martial artists guarding the mine became restless.

Some checked their weapons, others asked how to fight a Soul-Summoner.

Everyone except the Black Assassination Unit was shaken.

"Twelve-hour alert! Activate permanent Realm of the Threshold!"

Muk Sogwang’s command was issued.

Now, it wouldn’t be surprising if a battle broke out at any moment.

Clatter! Clatter!

The thunderous sound of hooves echoed as a sweat-soaked courier leapt off his horse.

He was immediately escorted to Muk Sogwang.

"An urgent message from the Sect Leader!"

He hastily pulled out a letter and handed it to Muk Sogwang.

Muk Sogwang read it calmly, then spoke with unsettling composure, as if it didn’t concern him.

"The one coming here… is Sasa Hye, of the Tenth True Army. The Black Lion Regiment."

"The Black Lion Regiment!"

"The Black Gauntlets!"

Murmurs rose among the Soul-Summoners.

The Seven Cold Wolves were ranked by age, but the Twelve True Armies were ranked by martial prowess. The martial arts of the Tenth Army were the eleventh strongest in the entire Heavenly Sound Cult, including the Cult Leader.

Sasa Hye’s black steel gauntlets were known as the hands of death.

"I heard Sasa Hye has four Spirit Unions. Is that true…?"

A member of the Black Assassination Unit asked Muk Sogwang.

Someone swallowed hard. It was difficult enough to make Spirit Union with one spirit—four was unimaginable.

"It’s true. Four. Among the Twelve True Armies, not one has fewer than four Spirit Unions. As far as I know, the First Army has seven. Definitely… they’re a level above us."

"What do you plan to do?"

"That’s why the youngest is on the way. He’ll arrive in one or two hours. Two of the Seven Cold Wolves can give Sasa Hye a hard time. Hahaha!"

Muk Sogwang laughed.

Yeon Sohye called out to Gugwi.

"This is your final training."

Gugwi nodded. Her expression was different from usual. More serious, sharper.

"This time, it’s in live-combat format. Do your best."

Yeon Sohye’s gaze began to change. A chillingly cold killing intent began to spread slowly.

‘This time it’s different!’

Gugwi saw a side of Yeon Sohye he had never seen before—the real her.

Thump! Thump!

Gugwi’s heartbeat quickened.

Yeon Sohye spread her arms and murmured something under her breath.

In an instant, a frigid aura erupted from her body. Silver mist surged, enveloping the surroundings. It felt like the air itself was freezing.

It was the same mist she had shown when they were pursued by the Heavenly Sound Cult’s assassins.

The Yeon Sohye from before had completely vanished.

Her Spirit Union martial artist, So Ryeonghwa, had descended.

A female swordsman who once painted the Central Plains in terror 150 years ago. A master of stealth and swordsmanship who sent countless foes to their graves. She had sacrificed her life to protect her comrades, but...

Yeon Sohye’s body looked a handspan larger. Her muscles tightened, and silver light radiated from her eyes. Though there was no wind, her hair whipped about like a storm.

Ssshhk!

The Silver Spirit Dagger appeared in her hand.

The silver dagger floated in the air, exuding a chilling killing intent. Ancient characters etched onto the blade flashed with a bluish light.

Gugwi felt a chill run down his spine.

This was the true form of a Soul-Summoner. This was the real Yeon Sohye.

"Un Serim!"

Gugwi summoned his spirit as well.

The energy of Cloud Flow Starburst surrounded his body. At the tip of the spear, energy like starlight surged.

Un Serim’s soul fused with Gugwi.

His muscles expanded, and his veins bulged. His irises turned golden.

So Ryeonghwa moved.

She vanished into the shadows. The beginning of the Silver Spirit Sword Technique.

The silver mist coiled around Gugwi. His vision was blocked, and a deadly aura pressed in from all directions. It felt as if he could be sliced to pieces at any moment… An ordinary martial artist would have already lost their mind.

Slaaash!

Gugwi spun his wooden spear like lightning.

Cloud Star Slash!

The spear pierced the sky. Starlike energy exploded from the tip and spread in all directions. The silver mist briefly dispersed.

So Ryeonghwa leapt out through the opening.

The Silver Spirit Dagger aimed for Gugwi’s neck.

The sword qi was as fine and sharp as thread. The concentrated killing aura split the air with a distinct hiss.

Gugwi swung his spear horizontally.

Radiant Comet Sweep!

The spear drew a brilliant arc as it moved swiftly. One spear split into dozens of spear shadows. Spear tips glittering like starlight poured toward So Ryeonghwa simultaneously.

So Ryeonghwa melted into the silver mist. Her body became faint, then completely transparent. The spear shadows only cut through empty air.

The next moment, sword qi rained down from all directions.

Ten, twenty, thirty. The Silver Spirit Daggers emerged from everywhere, swarming Gugwi.

‘Ah! This is—!’

They weren’t illusions. All of them were real sword qi.

Splat! Splurt!

Blood spurted from Gugwi’s body.

Wounds appeared on his shoulders, arms, and legs. But none were fatal. The wooden spear blocked most of the sword qi.

Cloud Flow Starburst!

Gugwi rapidly spun his spear. Like a spinning top, it exploded with the energy of clouds and stars.

A massive whirlwind surged and swept the surroundings.

The Silver Spirit Daggers were flung away. And So Ryeonghwa, caught in the fierce storm, revealed her form. But in that very instant—

‘Urgh!’

Gugwi’s face turned pale.

From the wound left by So Ryeonghwa’s blade, a chilling energy seeped in. The yin energy emitted by the spirit. Such yin energy acted like poison, draining the yang energy from the living.

‘I’ve studied this in theory… I made a mistake.’

Gugwi’s movements slowed. His fingertips began to tremble.

"You’re holding out for a while. I’ll finish you off soon. It won’t take long. It won’t hurt too much either."

So Ryeonghwa sneered. It wasn’t Yeon Sohye’s voice. It was the voice of the female swordsman from 150 years ago.

"You think you can?"

Gugwi said.

This simple phrase… Though it sounded trivial, it was in fact a unique ability of those with the Gatekeeper’s bloodline.

Ordinary Soul-Summoners, the moment they make Spirit Contact, switch places with the spirit and give over their body. Once they retreat to the back, they can only observe; they cannot speak with their own will or thoughts from behind the active spirit.

Yeon Sohye was in that state now. She could no longer speak of her own volition, unlike Gugwi.

"The living cannot defeat the dead!"

So Ryeonghwa vanished back into the shadows.

"Mm!"

Gugwi clenched his teeth and groaned.

As the yin energy penetrated deeper into his body, his strength waned. His vision blurred, and nausea rose from his gut.

But he couldn’t give up.

‘If it’s come to this… I’ll just have to end it quickly.’

Heavenly Cloud Serpent Chase! The ultimate technique of Cloud Flow Starburst!

"Taaah!"

Gugwi drew upon the last of his strength.

His spiritual energy condensed into the spear.

The energy drawn from his qi center surged through the shaft of the spear.

As it gathered at the tip, the condensed energy unraveled like a thread. That thread-like energy pierced the air and clung to So Ryeonghwa’s body.

Then the spear tip shot forward along the thread.

Like a needle chasing thread, the spear stabbed precisely at So Ryeonghwa’s body.

This was the essence of Cloud Flow Tracking—a technique that pursued even enemies hidden in shadow to the end.

From the outside… golden energy burst from the spear’s tip. The light pierced the silver mist, found So Ryeonghwa, and the spear blade flashed and struck.

So Ryeonghwa showed a startled expression.

"This technique—!"

The spear pierced through her shoulder.

"Aaagh!"

So Ryeonghwa screamed. Even a spirit could be wounded if struck by powerful yang energy.

But Gugwi’s condition was even worse.

His strength drained from his entire body. His knees buckled, and he collapsed. The spirit’s yin energy was gnawing at his vitality.

So Ryeonghwa raised her Silver Spirit Dagger. She was about to deliver the final blow.

Then it happened.

"Get hit quickly!"

Sensing someone approaching, Yeon Sohye’s urgent voice rang out.

Position switch—So Ryeonghwa vanished, and Yeon Sohye returned. She had shouted in haste.

Gugwi was startled. But he acted quickly. He immediately withdrew Un Serim. With that, the shield of Cloud Flow Starburst vanished.

Thud!

So Ryeonghwa’s blade struck Gugwi’s chest.

"Ugh!"

Gugwi cried out as he was hurled backward and slammed into a boulder. Blood streamed from his mouth.

"Huuh…"

"Tsk, tsk…"

"Live combat really is different."

Sighs and mocking laughter rang out from all sides. At some point… Muk Sogwang’s Soul-Summoners and the Black Assassination Unit had gathered to watch.

"You’ve still got a long way to go."

"You can’t even handle a proper Spirit Contact."

Voices laced with jealousy mixed in.

Yeon Sohye withdrew So Ryeonghwa and approached Gugwi. Concern was evident on her face.

"Are you okay?"

Gugwi nodded. The spirit’s yin energy was slowly dissipating.

Yeon Sohye placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Fighting spirits is different from fighting regular martial artists. If you’re struck by yin energy, you’ll die. But your Cloud Flow Starburst… it’s really good. That’s the first time I’ve ever been hit by an attack while in Spirit Sensitivity. You’ve really gotten stronger. I can trust you now."

She looked at Gugwi and smiled brightly.