I went deeper into the cave.
Naturally, the cave was filled with nothing but darkness. There were no secret tos of enlightennt, no white-bearded sages, no legendary swords engraved with the wisdom of the blade.
Could it be… I’m the only one who can’t see them?
Suddenly, I threw myself into a deep bow and shouted toward the darkness.
“Please, grant your teachings!!!”
Of course, there was no response.
Reality hit like a truck.
Feeling embarrassed, I kept walking forward and started thinking about the levels of spiritual power users. My current level was Righteous.
You know, Solitude – Swallow – Righteous. That Righteous.
Truthfully, you’re only really considered a proper psychic once you’ve hit Righteous. People who’ve only reached Solitude or Swallow are still treated like half-normal folks.
“Why do they even call normal people ‘criminal’? Can’t they just say ‘ordinary person’ instead?”
It’s not like normal folks are really criminals or sothing.
Sure, the Chinese characters are different, but the terminology used by psychics was starting to seriously piss off.
Anyway, I could focus blood into my eyes and use a power called Negative Sight. Based on what I experienced at Big Hand Casino and with the Heavenly Ordeal Sect, when hit with Negative Sight, your Spiritual Sight shuts down and your abilities get sealed.
The downside? Your eyes feel like they’re about to pop out, and they get bloodshot for days. Minor drawback, really.
And then there was Heavenly Demon Reigning Steps—no, wait—maybe I could use sothing called Negative Stomp. The previous Heavenly Demon had once used it through my body back at Mount Jeonryu.
She’d explained that it was a technique that, by stepping on the ground, temporarily declared the area as Mara’s domain, nullifying all spiritual powers in that region for a brief mont.
Honestly? It was a badass move, so I tried practicing it on the rooftop once.
Didn’t work. I couldn’t feel any activation, like I could when using Negative Sight.
While I was stomping around shouting all alone, Nayu next to yelled “Nayu-Beautiful leg line!” and started showing off her legs.
Well… to be precise, she was copying .
But hey, she did have so nice legs.
It was just hard to tell because she always wore those big, puffy hanboks. Actually, if you looked closely…
Anyway. That’s enough nonsense.
Looks like the cave’s almost at its end.
But if there’s a technique like Negative Stomp that uses your feet, shouldn’t there also be sothing like a Negative Hand? That thought suddenly popped into my mind.
“Shouldn’t even be thinking about that when I can’t even use Negative Stomp properly.”
And so, I arrived at the end of the cave said to grant immortality and raise one to the level of a sage—Seon Ascension Cave. And at the very end stood a giant jar.
That jar was inscribed with the sa ancient script I’d seen along the way here.
I quickly pulled out my phone.
“What the hell is that supposed to an?”
The phone kept translating.
The ancient script continued.
Shi. Thanks to all those years of obsessively reading Magic Chinese Character Textbooks in elentary school, I knew that one well. It’s the character for “Corpse” used in shamanic or spiritual contexts.
The more familiar “corpse” just adds the character for death to it.
Anyway, close enough.
“Cast away the shi given by others… Are they saying I’m supposed to throw my own body into this jar?”
I instinctively backed away from the jar.
What the hell is even inside that thing?
But the next lines completely blew away any guesses I had.
“…What the f—”
“What the f—”
Yes, I said the sa thing twice.
Because this was crazy.
Of course, I’m not the type to go insane just because I read so deranged ssage.
But the content was so shocking I couldn’t help but zone out for a second.
“This is supposed to be enlightennt?”
Right. I could only reach enlightennt by killing another psychic.
Kill all the Awakened.
Kill those who shake the world.
But that’s not how I wanted to level up.
“If this is the only way to level up, then screw it.”
Just then, a notification popped up on my phone:
“Alarm? Oh, right.”
Before diving deep into Seon Ascension Cave, I had set up motion detectors and caras near the entrance. You never know who might co in. I even placed a few in other rooms just to be safe.
And that wasn’t the only precaution I’d taken. The hereditary shamans had warned plenty about the brutal competition inside this place.
“They weren’t exaggerating after all.”
The cara feed was now showing a group of people—clearly skilled psychics, judging by the spirit tools they were holding.
“Check for surveillance spells. If soone got here before us, there’s a good chance they set up detection techniques in this room.”
“I’ll check imdiately.”
Wait… are they about to discover my cara?
One of the male psychics perford a flashy ritual, then shook his head.
“No spells detected.”
“Good. Brothers and sisters, let’s go.”
That group entered. Not long after, another group in blue hanboks rushed in.
“Those damn Ilwol-Oakmoon bastards must be insane. They’re charging in even though Ido River hasn’t even dried up yet? Shaless trash. Let’s go!”
“Yes, elder brother!”
More people ca pouring in.
And among them… was soone I knew.
“Chick…”
Chick was surrounded by protectors. She wasn’t chirping like usual. Her expression was grim and quiet.
She ca here, too?
What are these psychics after? Obviously, they’ll enter, slaughter everyone they ca with, and reach so kind of new state called Immortals, right?
I don’t want to witness such a twisted farce.
“Shut up. I’m not getting stronger in a place like this.”
Those were Chick’s words in front of Cheonsu.
Not all psychics are cruel.
So don’t want to harm others.
But even soone like that could be seduced by the inscription here—and might end up killing a close friend.
Let’s be honest.
I don’t want to see Chick caught in that kind of tragedy.
I hesitated briefly… then grabbed Black Sheath from my belt.
Without a second thought, I swung it down hard.
CRASH—!
The centuries-old jar shattered instantly.
And… nothing happened.
“…So, uh, how do I get out of here?”
I needed to get the hell out of this damn cave.
But how do I sneak out now?
If they catch for breaking the jar—and maybe pocketing a few treasures along the way—I doubt they’ll just let it slide.
That’s when it happened.
A voice ca through the phone, still connected to the caras.
It was one of the psychics who had just entered the cave.
“Sothing’s coming. Everyone, raise your spiritual power!”
…Sothing’s coming?
Of course, I couldn’t see anything.
But the psychics were talking amongst themselves.
“It’s a wraith. A massive number of wraiths. Damn… they’re blocking the entire view. Visibility’s terrible.”
“What’s going on? Did soone break the Jar of Vengeful Spirits or the Solitary Vessel? Why is the cave suddenly filled with ghosts?”
Wraiths, huh.
So that’s what was sealed in that cursed jar—poor trapped souls.
Anyway… visibility is shot, huh?
“They’re low-grade wraiths. They can’t harm us. Move out!”
“Br-Brother, could you repeat that? The shrieking from the spirits makes it hard to hear…”
“Pathetic. What, you can’t hear even this?”
What does a spirit’s shriek even sound like?
I kind of want to hear it for myself.
But more importantly…
“Visual and auditory senses are paralyzed?”
I smiled.
I didn’t even realize it until I felt my lips curl up.
Ufufufufu…
Spirit tools and talismans cost a fortune. Even the cheap ones start in the triple digits.
If you’re trying to level up by killing people—then you should at least suffer a bit for it.
“Henceforth, this Heavenly Demon shall initiate a petty prank.”
With all the dramatic flair of the Tenpai Heavenly Demon, Yoo Hajin descends.
Sure, I ca up empty-handed in Seon Ascension Cave.
But since I’m already on my way out, I might as well collect so compensation from these fools.
****
Despite the tidal wave of vengeful spirits crashing toward them, Wolhyang didn’t flinch.
Even as she watched their cracked skulls, severed arms, and dangling intestines, she didn’t waver.
The wraiths scread in betrayal and hurled ghastly curses at her. But Wolhyang of Ilwol-Oakmoon didn’t take a single step back.
To a traveler of the spirit realm, being scared by lower-class souls was the height of disgrace.
“Huff…”
So when the disciple beside her gasped, she couldn’t help but snap.
“Don’t make pathetic sounds. Are you seriously frightened by such low-grade souls? Can you even call yourself a disciple of Ilwol-Oakmoon?”
“I—I’m sorry, Sister. But…”
“No excuses. Just focus on soul detection. Ignore all ordinary-level spirits—focus only on those that pose a threat. Simple, isn’t it?”
Idiot.
Wolhyang shook her head.
Whether it’s a demon or a murderer—flinching like a commoner was just shaful.
Any being with a soul can’t hide it. So if you just concentrate on spirit detection, there’s no reason to be startled or scared. How could soone not know such a basic principle?
So Wolhyang sharpened her focus.
Good—only minor souls nearby. Just so small fry and our own disciples. Nothing else…
…Then what the hell is this hand touching my hairpin?
“…HIIEEK!”
A squeal burst out of Wolhyang.
– – The End of The Chapter – –
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