Soul Summoning Sword

Chapter 22: Radiant Fusion and Shatter (2)

Darkness devoured the Spirit Essence Mine. It was a night so deep that even the moonlight couldn’t seep through.

Jin Mukran slipped through the side passage like a shadow.

She was a direct subordinate of Sasa Hye, a Soul-Summoner at the fourth level of Spiritual Sensitivity, a sword faster than lightning, a hand that brought peace… Within the Heavenly Sound Cult, she had over ten aliases.

Yet Jin Mukran favored the forgotten title of “Silent Blade Swordsman” the most. Because the Spirit Union soul she summoned—Silent Blade Swordsman—was a swordsman more skilled than any other.

The Silent Blade Swordsman had once been a master of the murim in life. His sword blazed like the sun, and his sword qi split the air, scattering sparks. Among the souls one could summon, she proudly claimed him to be the strongest.

“Mok Sogang’s defenses are breached… Now I just need to target the Spirit Essence crystal?”

Jin Mukran’s whisper melted into the darkness.

Spirit Essence. A mysterious mineral that Soul-Summoners coveted even at the cost of their lives. A demonic material that empowered the spirits of the dead. It was the key to the Heavenly Sound Cult’s ambition to conquer the murim.

This mine contained pure Spirit Essence that had accumulated over centuries.

Sssssk!

Her footsteps were as silent as death.

She continued to slip between the crevices of the side tunnel. Her goal was singular. The Spirit Essence crystal deep within the cave. If she could lay hands on that transparent, crystal-like substance… the Cult Leader’s Soul-Summoning Arts would ascend from Resonance to Dark Control. Not even the Murim Alliance would be able to stop them.

“Ah!”

Yun Seoha was met with a horrific scene the moment she entered the mountain valley.

All across the valley, martial artists lay scattered, their necks snapped, their eardrums burst. The blood they had spilled soaked into the rocks. There was no doubt they had been the guards of the Spirit Essence Mine.

“Heavenly Sound Cult is already here!”

Yun Seoha didn’t hesitate to open her mouth.

“Ahhhhh! Aaaaaaaah!”

The thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth filled the valley. It was a signal announcing her arrival. At the same time, it indicated when she’d reach the battlefield. Judging by the echo, about half a keun remained.

‘I have to hurry!’

Yun Seoha summoned the Spirit Union soul Baek Soryeong. Using his Silver Wind Fan Technique, she stirred the wind.

Fwoooosh!

The fan sliced through the air, forming a whirlwind.

The wind gently lifted her body, and she flew across the cliff. All she could do was hope that Mok Sogang could endure.

Clang! Clack! Clang!

The black spear relentlessly struck trees and rocks. It stabbed into the ground. The Silver Moon Spear Technique of the Spirit Union soul Yeon Socheong aimed at Sasa Hye. The Black Moon Spear blurred like moonlight, tracing a mesmerizing trajectory.

It was the ultimate technique of Yeon Socheong, who once served as the leader of the Murim Alliance.

“Just hold them off!”

Mok Sogang’s shout echoed through the mountains.

He had heard Yun Seoha’s voice in the distance. Roughly half a keun left… If she arrived, then with two of the Seven Cold Wolves joining forces, even Sasa Hye would have to withdraw.

Her thunderous cry had been a scream of hope for the embattled Black Kill Squad.

But at that moment, Sasa Hye’s Black Wind Technique overwhelmed the spear technique. The black wind spiraled, entangling the Silver Moon Spear. Kang Sojin’s Poison Cloud Technique spewed a green mist.

‘Ugh!’

Mok Sogang felt the poison invade and quickly stopped his breath.

Ordinary martial artists wouldn’t even think of approaching. The Spirit Union souls summoned by Soul-Summoners were all legendary swordsmen, assassins, and demonic practitioners of the previous era.

Their martial arts were fully revealed.

It was an awe-inspiring sight of ultimate martial arts that wouldn’t be forgotten even in death.

Boom!

Sasa Hye’s fingertip touched a Black Kill Squad member’s chest. A vital point!

The Dark Blood Point Technique of Jin Mukgyeol struck a fatal point—a move from a demonic assassin who once led a group in life.

Blood sprayed like a fountain.

The Black Kill Squad member collapsed without a scream.

“Your opponent is me! Try to kill me!”

Mok Sogang shouted like thunder, thrusting his spear.

Deep within the cave, Jin Mukran finally reached the Spirit Essence crystal.

The transparent spiritual energy born from centuries of resentment glowed blue.

Her eyes glinted with greed.

This was the treasure the Heavenly Sound Cult had been searching for.

Fwaaaa!

She resonated the Spirit Essence crystal with Soul-Summoning Arts.

The sword qi of the Spirit Union soul Silent Blade Swordsman burst out, enveloping the crystal. The heat of the sun began melting the cold spiritual energy. The sight of Spirit Essence transitioning from solid to liquid was mystifying.

Who knew how much time had passed? At last, the liquefaction began. The blue liquid dripped like water droplets into a black pouch.

The entire cave was bathed in blue light. The energy of the Spirit Essence spread outward, making the very air tremble. At this level, even Dark Control—the dream of every Soul-Summoner—seemed within reach.

“With this power, the Cult Leader will become the overlord of murim.”

Jin Mukran murmured.

A victorious smile spread across her face.

Who was blocking the cave entrance?

Sasa Hye remained utterly composed. She didn’t need to enter the cave herself. She could sense Jin Mukran was nearly finished with the Spirit Essence heist. All she had to do was keep anyone from entering.

She leisurely pressed Mok Sogang back.

The Black Wind Defense of the Spirit Union soul Baek Hyeokgang stirred black winds. Poisonous miasma cornered Mok Sogang from all directions.

“Trying to buy time? That’s my line.”

Sasa Hye sneered.

Meanwhile, her relaxed demeanor only deepened Mok Sogang’s anxiety.

He instinctively felt something had gone wrong inside the Spirit Essence Mine.

No one had entered… the entrance had been completely sealed… how did someone get in?

But someone had entered. No doubt it was Sasa Hye’s confidante, the absent woman—Jin Mukran.

‘Yun Seoha! Hurry up!’

If the Spirit Essence was stolen, the entire murim would be at risk. That was certain.

Just then, Mok Sogang saw Gugwi and Yeon Sohye slipping into the side of the mine.

“Yaaaah! Die!”

Mok Sogang unleashed Yeon Socheong’s Silver Moon Spear Technique with fury, pushing Sasa Hye back. He couldn’t let her spot Gugwi and Yeon Sohye. They might be able to stop Jin Mukran… In any case, they had to get inside now.

Ssssh! Sshaaaak! Sshak!

The Black Moon Spear exploded violently.

Sshhh! Sshhhh!

Gugwi and Yeon Sohye slipped through the mine’s side tunnel.

Gugwi glided like a shadow using Cloud Flow Step. His footsteps were as light as clouds. Yeon Sohye’s So Ryeonghwa emitted a silver mist, completely masking their presence.

While running, Gugwi calmed his mind using Cloud Flow Sect’s internal technique—Cloud Flow Spirit Heart.

A warm energy radiated from his Dantian and spread throughout his body.

He had sensed Jin Mukran’s Silent Blade Sword Technique. The blazing sword qi, fierce as the sun, radiated from deep within the cave.

‘Inside!’

‘Too late. It looks like the Spirit Essence has already been secured.’

Gugwi and Yeon Sohye exchanged glances.

Their urgency only grew. They ran along the wall using Cloud Flow Spirit Heart.

“We must protect the Spirit Essence. No matter what.”

Yeon Sohye gritted her teeth.

Gugwi didn’t fully understand the importance of the Spirit Essence. But he knew one thing—if it fell into the hands of the Heavenly Sound Cult, the murim would turn into hell. Spirit Essence… was a forbidden inferno that must not be touched.

“To the left. I’ll keep chasing from this path.”

Yeon Sohye pushed Gugwi down the left path.

In that moment, a strange force suddenly began to pulse from his Dantian.

‘Ah! This feeling…?’

Something inside his body was resonating with the Spirit Essence energy of the mine. Spirit Essence scattered throughout the cave began to react. Blue flames burst out in every direction, scorching the walls. It was an unexpected phenomenon.

“This is…”

Gugwi wasn’t shaken.

In the past, he might have panicked. But now, he understood the nature of the blue light. He had an idea of what was squirming inside his body.

It wasn’t spiritual energy.

The energy passed down from the Nameless Martial Artist had harmonized with his spiritual energy. It had left behind the fruit of decades of training. But this blue light did not mix with spiritual energy. It operated as a completely separate force.

‘The Spirit Essence is over there!’

Gugwi moved quickly.

Meanwhile, the liquefaction of the Spirit Essence was reaching its final stage.

‘Almost done.’

The Silent Blade Swordsman’s sword qi was melting the last fragments of the crystal. Like the tears of spirits, the blue liquid dripped and filled the black pouch.

The mysterious glow unique to Spirit Essence pulsed within the pouch.

A satisfied smile slowly spread across Jin Mukran’s face.

It was the moment the long-cherished wish of the Heavenly Sound Cult was finally coming true. She carefully tightened the pouch’s opening.

Then, with heavy footsteps, Gugwi burst in.

“Who are you?!”

Jin Mukran narrowed her eyes and shouted.

A young man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She was slightly surprised by the unexpected intruder, but the shock quickly faded. Instead, an annoyed expression appeared on her face.

“You can’t take that.”

Gugwi said, staring at the pouch in Jin Mukran’s hand.

The Spirit Flow Core fiercely resonated with the Spirit Essence inside the pouch. It felt as if countless spirits within the mine were going berserk. The wails of spirits struck his ears. For some reason, resentment and rage swirled violently.

He didn’t know what was causing it. But one thing was certain. A strong intuition told him the Spirit Essence must not be moved from this place. The rage felt like it would lead to destruction.

“You… feel strange. Awkward, yet there’s something about you. If you back off now, I might let you live.”

Jin Mukran looked at Gugwi with curious eyes.

“Put it down and walk away.”

“You’re not listening, huh? Then… I’ll have to kill you.”

Srrk!

She drew her sword.

Sshing!

Jin Mukran unleashed the Silent Blade Sword Technique.

It was as if the moment had been sliced into heat. The instant the sword cleaved the air, time seemed to freeze. The sword qi of the Silent Blade Swordsman exploded, radiating the heat of the sun. A sword light faster than lightning flew toward Gugwi.

Gugwi swiftly dodged using Cloud Fortune Displacement.

His body blurred like a cloud, narrowly evading the sword qi. The ultimate technique of the Cloud Flow Sect had saved him.

In truth, Gugwi hadn’t executed Cloud Fortune Displacement himself. Un Serim had pulled him with a powerful force. Like a puppet on a string, he was yanked by Un Serim’s pull.

His body moved on its own.

“He dodged that? I knew it—there’s something about him!”

Jin Mukran grinned. Her eyes grew sharper.

At that moment, Yeon Sohye arrived.

She had intentionally pushed Gugwi into the left path.

Yeon Sohye had a good idea who the Soul-Summoner in the Spirit Essence Mine was. If Sasa Hye was involved, then her confidante Jin Mukran would have taken on the most critical mission. Yes—it had to be Jin Mukran.

Jin Mukran had finished the Spiritual Sensitivity stage and was just about to enter Resonance. Every Soul-Summoner from the Cold Wolf Sect knew that—except Gugwi.

Gugwi still wasn’t a match for her. So Yeon Sohye had resolved to engage first.

But somehow, Gugwi had jumped in first and was already fighting. Fortunately, he hadn’t been struck down yet.

Yeon Sohye couldn’t hesitate for even a second.

Without delay, she entered Spirit Contact with So Ryeonghwa and intervened in the battle.

Sshing!

The Silver Spirit Sword Technique poured out. Silver mist fell like a waterfall, completely obscuring Jin Mukran’s vision.

“Gugwi, go for the pouch!”

Her telepathic voice rang out sharply.

Yeon Sohye’s Silver Spirit Sword moved like lightning within the mist.

Just as Jin Mukran was about to strike at Gugwi with the Silent Blade Sword Technique, the Silver Spirit Sword intercepted the Silent Blade Swordsman’s sword path from the side.

Clang! A metallic sound rang out.

Jin Mukran’s sword was deflected in a different direction. The perfect trajectory of the Silent Blade Sword Technique had been disrupted.

“Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit?”

Jin Mukran immediately recognized Yeon Sohye.

Yeon Sohye didn’t slow her sword. Even if just for a breath, she had seized the initiative. She had no intention of wasting this chance. She continued attacking… the Silver Spirit Sword flew toward Jin Mukran’s wrist.

Jin Mukran hurriedly turned her sword to block. But in that moment, Yeon Sohye’s other sword strike targeted her side. Jin Mukran had no choice but to retreat.

“Hohoho! Captain of the Shadow Moon Unit… I’ve heard the rumors. You’re strong.”

Jin Mukran stepped back with a casual air.