Soul Summoning Sword

Chapter 42: Hidden Resonance (2)

Swsssh!

A black shadow seeped out from the crevice of a rock at the edge of Silver Moon Valley.

Moonlight shone upon him, but it was hard to discern his figure as it blended with the damp mist of the valley.

He glanced around and swiftly darted toward the cave entrance.

His movements were as agile as a cat, and the sound of his steps vanished into the mist the moment they touched the stone floor.

“The scent of the Lord of the Seven Armies’ blood insects… It’s so overpowering, anyone could tell right away. What a world… To think a being like Sa Hyeollin would meet a pitiful end in a place like this. Truly, no one knows what fate has in store.”

He muttered as he crawled into the cave.

His voice was low and hoarse, like an old blade scraping against stone.

A member of the Black Blood Unit under the Heavenly Sound Cult—Bloodscent Fiend. As a master of tracking, his nose could pick up the scent of blood and death from dozens of ri away.

Uuugh... uuh...!

From the blood orb in his hand came the faint moans of Living Spirits.

That sound, entangled with the cave’s humid air and thick stench of blood, created a foreboding atmosphere.

“Living Spirits… It’s time to serve your master.”

Bloodscent Fiend murmured as he set the blood orb on the ground. A scream echoed from within the crimson orb.

Fwash!

The orb burst, releasing a crimson mist.

From within it, seven translucent figures emerged—Living Spirits. They were the souls of the living, forcefully imprisoned in the moment of their final agony.

The Captain of the Black Blood Unit, Heuk Yeomjo, could imprison over a hundred Living Spirits into a blood orb, but Bloodscent Fiend could barely manage seven.

“Uwaaah... the pain… it hurts...”

The Living Spirits wailed as they hovered in the air. Their eyes were filled with madness and resentment.

Bloodscent Fiend’s black robe fluttered as he cast Soul Transformation.

“Find the Soul-Summoning Tool. If you detect the energy of the Sacred Relic, follow it immediately.”

The Living Spirits scattered and began searching the cave. Wherever they passed, grass withered and stones cracked. But then, their movements suddenly changed.

“Screeeeech! Screeeeech!”

All seven Living Spirits charged in one direction.

Their screams transformed into cries of joy, as if they had encountered a savior.

“What... what the hell?”

Bloodscent Fiend was flustered.

He had never seen the Living Spirits react so intensely before.

They rushed deeper into the cave.

Trees splintered, and the earth cracked beneath their path. It was as if a storm had swept through.

“A Sacred Relic… So there really is one here!”

Bloodscent Fiend’s eyes gleamed.

Such a reaction from the Living Spirits only occurred when they encountered a Sacred Relic of the Heavenly Sound Cult—namely, the Spirit Flow Core.

Between the burial mounds of Silver Moon Valley, two shadows slipped in—Am Ilho, Vice Captain of the Blue Blood Unit, and Iron Fist Monk.

Iron Fist Monk was a man with a rugged appearance and a solid build. His fists were fitted with steel knuckle dusters, and with each step, the ground faintly trembled.

“There was a fight here.”

Am Ilho examined the deep spear mark gouged into a rock. It was clearly the trace of the Celestial Cloud Spear.

“This depth… Not something a practitioner at the Spiritual Sensitivity level could produce. That spear… Definitely not ordinary.”

Iron Fist Monk struck the rock with his fist.

Thud!

A dull sound rang out, but not a scratch appeared. Yet Gugwi had embedded his spear into that same rock—one Iron Fist Monk couldn’t even dent.

“But this mark...”

He furrowed his brow.

Am Ilho followed the traces of battle.

Broken trees, cracked ground, scattered stones—all pointed in one direction.

“They lead to the cave.”

“Which means someone went in there.”

Am Ilho looked toward the cave entrance. His eyes narrowed.

“There’s an unusual energy here. This isn’t ordinary Soul-Summoning Arts.”

“That bastard Gugwi is definitely hiding something.”

Am Ilho drew his sword and approached the cave. Iron Fist Monk followed, fiddling with his knuckle dusters.

‘The Spirit Flow Core is definitely here. The remnants of the Spirit Flow Core! That’s what defeated the Lord of the Seven Armies!’

Bloodscent Fiend guided the Living Spirits deeper into the cave. He intended to find the place where the Spirit Flow Core had gathered most. Then, the Living Spirits’ behavior changed again.

“Creeeak... creeeak...”

All seven Living Spirits began to tremble. They cowered like animals before a predator.

“What is this? What’s wrong?”

Bloodscent Fiend was caught off guard.

Just moments ago, they were full of joy—now, they shivered in terror.

Then, carried by the wind, came a foreign presence. Cold and sharp—laden with killing intent.

“Blue Blood Unit!”

Bloodscent Fiend’s face went pale. That meant the execution unit of Soul-Summoners was here. He already knew they were in the Cold Wolf Sect.

“I have to escape!”

He kicked up a gust and dashed deeper into the cave. The Living Spirits screamed and followed him.

“Clear the path! There must be a way inside!”

At his command, the Living Spirits sprinted into the depths of the cave. Indeed, there was a path. Even if Yun Seoha’s group had only entered without exiting, it meant they had gone further inside.

“Aaargh!”

The screams of the Living Spirits echoed through the cave.

Swsssh!

Another shadow appeared at the entrance to Silver Moon Valley.

It was Samma, the third of the Seven Cold Wolves.

She crossed the ravine with light steps, surveying her surroundings. Cheongheodo emitted a soft glow at her waist.

“Just as Yun Seoha reported.”

Samma smiled as she looked around.

She knew the terrain of Silver Moon Valley well. It used to be a training ground of the Cold Wolf Sect. From the rock crevices, tree placements, to the cave’s location—everything was as she remembered.

“Let’s see what’s really being hidden here.”

She headed straight for the cave.

There was no need to check elsewhere. Yun Seoha’s report clearly stated that they had been aided by a Soul-Summoning Tool within the cave. And there was only one cave in Silver Moon Valley.

Rustle, rustle!

She walked gracefully against the wind.

From the cave entrance, a powerful Soul-Summoning energy emanated.

“This definitely isn’t… the soul energy of the Seventh Sister. This scent… Blood Insects from Sa Hyeollin, Blood Poison… A fierce battle took place.”

Then, Samma’s eyes sharpened.

Her hand instinctively reached for the hilt of Cheongheodo.

At the cave entrance, Samma and Am Ilho came face to face. Both of them halted momentarily.

Am Ilho spoke in a firm voice.

“What is the Cold Wolf Sect doing here?”

“That’s what I should be asking you. This land belongs to the Cold Wolf Sect. That makes me the host here. What is the Blue Blood Unit doing in this place?”

“We came to uncover the truth behind the battle. You haven’t answered my question yet. Why is the Cold Wolf Sect here?”

“Same reason, isn’t it? The Lord of the Seven Armies died—you think we wouldn’t come? I’m almost envious that the Seventh Sister’s Soul-Summoning Arts have reached such a level.”

Samma answered politely with a smile. But her eyes saw straight through his intentions.

Iron Fist Monk exuded a heavy pressure toward Samma.

“So we just happened to come to the same place.”

“Apparently so.”

“We’re looking for Gugwi.”

Am Ilho spoke with a sneer.

“If you try to cover for him, you’ll be the Murim Alliance’s enemy. You’ve been warned, so act accordingly.”

Samma shrugged.

“Let each of us look for what we came for. I’m here to trace the remnants of battle, so I’ll do that… and you’re looking for Gugwi? Go ahead. I have no attachment to Gugwi.”

“The cave’s big enough—we won’t bump into each other.”

Am Ilho entered the cave first.

But the moment they stepped inside, all three of their expressions changed.

“Wh… What is this?”

Am Ilho was horrified.

Powerful soul energy pervaded the cave.

It was absolutely not ordinary Soul-Summoning Arts—an overwhelming pressure, as if an ancient force had awakened.

Samma placed her hand on Cheongheodo.

The sword trembled faintly. Her Spirit Union spirits shivered within the Realm of the Threshold—such was the strength of this soul energy.

‘The Spirit Flow Core… it really was the Spirit Flow Core.’

She murmured inwardly.

In her time as one of the Seven Cold Wolves, she had encountered countless forms of soul energy—but never one like this.

Iron Fist Monk clenched his fist.

His knuckle dusters responded to the energy, emitting a chill. The weapons of the Blue Blood Unit were attuned to Soul-Summoning, making its presence even more certain.

“To endure such an energy…”

Am Ilho’s face paled.

The energy of the Spirit Flow Core was diluted by the poison aura from the Bloodfang Whip, but even so, it radiated terrifying pressure.

“That bastard Gugwi… really possesses such power? Then it must be said. Gugwi belongs to the Blue Blood Unit. Anyone who lays hands on him is an enemy of the Blue Blood Unit.”

Am Ilho spoke coldly.

He was speaking to Samma, who had followed behind him. No, he was delivering a warning to the entire Cold Wolf Sect. He didn’t know the source of Gugwi’s power, but it had become their primary threat.

Samma let his words wash past her ears as she examined the cave wall.

The markings of Soul-Summoning Arts faintly glowed, and over them flowed the blue energy of the Spirit Flow Core.

‘Now I see why the Lord of the Seven Armies was defeated.’

She smirked bitterly.

Their objective was now clear. The person who must either be captured or avoided above all else was… Gugwi.

Unaware that danger was approaching, Gugwi diligently trained with the Celestial Cloud Spear. In a damp crevice in one corner of the Blood Spirit Cave, he silently swung his spear.

Whiiish!

The spear tip sliced through the air.

A blue light glided smoothly along the blade.

He carefully regulated the flow, attempting to stabilize the Spirit Flow Core. Sweat trickled from his forehead, down his chin. His breathing echoed softly in the stillness of the cave.

The Soul-Summoning markings carved into the cave wall flickered faintly in response to the blue light.

‘I swore not to use the Spirit Flow Core… but I have no choice.’

Gugwi grit his teeth and swung the spear again.

With the initial move of the Celestial Cloud Spear—Cloud Star Slash—the spear tore through the darkness of the cave. Blue soul energy flowed along the shaft, pulsing warmly in his palm.

Even as he tried to suppress it, the energy of the Spirit Flow Core writhed deep within him.

There was a problem.

Whenever he summoned Spirit Union, the spirits instinctively sought the Spirit Flow Core.

Both Un Serim and General Madal reacted the same way.

Each time he initiated Spirit Contact, their awareness immediately turned to the spot near his heart—where the Spirit Flow Core resided.

So did the spirits of So Ryeonghwa and Yun Seoha.

Their spirits reacted to the energy of the core as if drawn to it—clinging to it like the starving craving life.

‘The Spirit Flow Core gives life-like power to the spirits. Every time I summon them, I have no choice but to let that energy flow.’

Gugwi stopped swinging and caught his breath.

He felt a faint pulsing in his chest. The Spirit Flow Core quietly, yet persistently, asserted its presence. Pressing his chest with his hand, he murmured softly.

“I can’t shut this down completely. If I want to summon Un Serim… I’ll have to open the core.”

He lifted his spear once more.

This time, he executed Fiery Radiance Burst.

The spear cut through the air in succession, leaving blue trails behind. The damp air of the cave rippled with his movement, and the water pooling on the floor quivered gently.

“Un Serim!”

As the spirit of Un Serim was summoned, Gugwi’s eyes briefly gleamed blue.

‘Un Serim, help me. But… please don’t go near my heart.’

Un Serim’s spirit seemed to faintly smile within his consciousness. Of course, it didn’t listen.

Though he tried to suppress the Spirit Flow Core’s energy, Spirit Contact inevitably drew it out. The stronger Un Serim’s presence became, the fiercer the core’s pulsing grew.

The markings on the cave wall glowed ever brighter, resonating with his spear tip.

‘Can I really keep using it like this? The whispers of the Manifest Demon Emperor are becoming clearer…’

Unease flickered in Gugwi’s eyes.

He stopped the spear and crouched down, resting his forehead on his hand as he caught his breath. Then, from deep within the cave, faint footsteps echoed in his ears. His gaze sharpened.

‘…Someone’s coming.’

In the darkness of the Blood Spirit Cave, Gugwi rose with his spear. The pulsing of the Spirit Flow Core pounded against his heart.