The Allure of the Ghost Region
And so, a feverish rush to explore the Ghost Region swept through the land. Yet, even without the Ghost Fog, the Ghost Region remained the Ghost Region. The Ghost Qi drifting through the area was lethal to cultivators with low cultivation or unstable mind states. Quite a few who had failed to prepare beforehand were corroded by the Ghost Qi, reduced to a state that was neither alive nor dead. The only reason they could carry Heart-Purifying Lanterns now was thanks to the sacrifices of those "predecessors." They had demonstrated the terror of the Ghost Qi and revealed the utility of spiritual tools like the Heart-Purifying Lantern, allowing mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivators like them to muster the courage to venture into the Ghost Region.
"Huh?"
Over the past few days, they had navigated the fog and reaped several harvests. Though they hadn't stumbled upon the ruins of a sect or a market town, merely looting a few decently sized piles of corpses had lined their pockets handsomely. One might think this was enough, but not a single one of them suggested heading back. They had all become addicted to the sweet taste of easy wealth.
Now, they hoped this single haul would not only fund their cultivation to the late stage of Qi Condensation but also secure the resources needed to cross the threshold of Foundation Establishment. While a Foundation Establishment Pill was realistically out of reach, the thought of somehow obtaining at least a Meridian-Protecting Pill filled their minds.
The young leader saw right through his companions' desires. This was exactly the situation he had hoped for.
"Come on, let's go. We haven't even caught a glimpse of the real prize yet."
He confidently led his friends deeper into the thick fog. And then—
"Damn it! Use the talismans! Use them! We brought them for this exact reason! Are you going to hoard them until you die?!"
They had run into a horde of Living Corpses—monsters that were neither dead nor alive.
Boom! A massive fireball slammed into a lunging Living Corpse. As the creature shrieked in the engulfing flames, its eerie scream shook their minds rather than their ears.
"Ugh!"
A youth who had just pulled out a talisman staggered, his eyes rolling back. In that split second, a Living Corpse pounced like a beast and slashed him with a blade. The strike was as swift and seamless as that of a swordsman who had trained for decades.
"Aaargh!"
Slashed diagonally across his torso, the youth let out a single, agonizing shriek and collapsed.
"Aaaah!"
That was the trigger. Unable to bear the terror any longer, they turned tail and fled. The young leader screamed at them to come back, but his companions, their spirits completely broken, did not look back.
"Damn it! Idiots!"
His prediction wasn't wrong. Those fools would surely reach the docks before him.
The youth used two talismans at once. The ground sank, trapping the feet of the pursuing Living Corpses, and a chilly wind froze the monsters just as they were about to leap. It wouldn't last long, but it would buy him enough time to escape. The moment he confirmed his pursuers were frozen, he spun around. Clutching his Heart-Purifying Lantern like a sacred relic, he sprinted with all his might.
Damn it! Damn it! Those absolute morons! He had known they were incompetent. It was precisely because they were so dense that he had painstakingly persuaded them one by one to join him. He had been confident that even if something went wrong, he could easily keep them under control. But now he realized it was a grave mistake. He had underestimated their sheer stupidity. Despite all his warnings, they had completely lost their minds after a single sword slash...
But Living Corpses? Does that mean there were others who arrived before us? Even as his mind raced, his legs never slowed for a second. He didn't think those idiots could have made it out alive, but just in case, he had to reach the boat as quickly as possible. If they had somehow made it back first and sailed away without him...
"Damn it!"
He grit his teeth, forcing his rapidly weakening legs to keep moving.
"Oh?"
However, they hadn't escaped by boat. Kneeling on the ground looking half-dead, they were surrounded by a disorganized crowd of cultivators who looked anything but ordinary. One man leaned against a wooden post with one foot propped up, while another wore a grotesque grin in front of the kneeling fools.
Pirates...
The youth guessed their identity the moment he saw them. His suspicion hardened into certainty when he spotted a large vessel anchored at the dock—one that hadn't been there a few days ago—and the flag flying from its mast.
"Looks like we have one more."
A man with a prominent scar running across his cheek gestured with a flick of his finger.
"You. Get over here."
Catching his breath, the youth cautiously approached him. The option to refuse or run away didn't exist in the first place. His body was already at its limit, and even if he were in perfect condition, escape was impossible. After all, the very boat he needed to escape on was right there.
"Four? Is this all of them?"
"There were originally six of us. But one..."
"I know. You ran into Living Corpses, right? One died, and since the other hasn't shown up yet, he's probably dead too."
Stroking his scruffy beard, the man scanned the four haggard youths.
"Chief. What should we do with them?"
At the word "Chief," the youth, who had just awkwardly knelt down, cautiously shifted his gaze. Unlike the others who looked like typical pirates, the man they addressed wore a clean, elegant robe. He lightly tapped his foot against their small rowboat. Instantly, the wooden craft shattered into dozens of pieces and sank. The man rose gracefully amidst the splashing water, landing effortlessly on the dock.
"Take them. Since they've been wandering around for a few days, they should at least be able to act as guides."
"I can do it!" the youth blurted out before he could stop himself. He didn't even know why he had answered so eagerly.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator. He's a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
More than afraid, he was utterly thrilled. A Foundation Establishment cultivator. He had only ever seen them from afar; this was his first time facing one so close.
"Very well. Lead the way, then."
The man addressed as "Chief" let out a small, amused chuckle. Yet even that mocking laugh and his casual command to lead the way felt like a ray of hope to the youth.
Boom!
A giant rock golem slammed its fist down, instantly crushing the fiercely lunging Living Corpses. All that remained in the cratered earth were small bits of flesh floating in pools of blood.
*Gulp.*
Having retreated early on, the youth swallowed hard and looked up at the "Chief" perched on the shoulder of the rock golem. In his trembling eyes, a clear sense of envy shone alongside his fear.
"The Chief's Earth Puppet Technique seems to have grown even stronger than before."
"Of course. Our Chief is a true cultivator. Even though he has already reached the Foundation Establishment realm, he never skips a single day of training. Naturally, he improves day by day."
The youth hung on every word the gang members said.
Hyeondobang.
Over the past few days, he hadn't missed a single casual remark. Thanks to that, he had learned that they belonged to an organization called Hyeondobang. Though the name sounded grand, they were essentially a band of pirates. Normally, people would fear or shun a pirate gang, but the youth was different. To him, whether they were pirates or a prestigious sect, they were ultimately just a group of cultivators. Weren't they all struggling to take even a single step forward in this harsh world of cultivation? If the essence was the same, what did it matter what shell they wore?
Watching Hyeondobang fearlessly cut through the fog under the Chief's command, he felt a desire to join their ranks. However, whether Hyeondobang would accept him just because he wanted to join was another matter entirely. Thus, over the past few days, he had done everything he could to prove his worth. His efforts seemed to pay off; the gang members, who had initially treated him like a dead man walking, were now slightly friendlier. The sharp edge in their voices had softened, and they occasionally cracked jokes with him. Yet, these were merely minor shifts in attitude. His fundamental status remained unchanged. He was still a captive, nothing more than a disposable guide.
"The presence of Living Corpses means there were others who came before us. If we're unlucky, we might end up empty-handed."
"Doesn't turning into a Living Corpse mean they were just amateurs? Could people like that have made it out alive?"
"That makes sense. Regardless... we'll have to see."
Becoming a Living Corpse meant being corroded by Ghost Qi. To be corroded by this level of Ghost Qi meant the cultivation of those who came before was negligible. At first glance, it seemed unlikely that such weaklings could have escaped safely, but one could never be too sure.
"Let's move. We're almost there."
Standing on the shoulder of the earth golem, Ju-hyeong led his subordinates relentlessly toward their destination.
Half a month later, he had finished exploring the two target sects and three market towns. The overall harvest met his expectations, but in the process of gathering it, they had to deal with quite a few Lost-Soul Puppets. In particular, they had once run into a horde of nearly a hundred Lost-Soul Puppets, resulting in a fierce battle.
"Tsk. He's gone."
One of the gang members inspecting a companion's injuries clicked his tongue and stood up. Even though the man who had just drawn his last breath was someone they had shared jokes with just days ago, there was no trace of sorrow on his face. The others were no different. The only one present who felt any regret over their deaths was Ju-hyeong. While the others viewed each other as competitors vying for a share of the spoils, Ju-hyeong viewed them all as his subordinates.
Four of them.
Three already dead, and one on the verge of death. It could be considered a small number, or a large one. Though their skills were mediocre, they were men he had kept by his side for years and polished into useful tools. Losing four of them left a bitter taste in Ju-hyeong's mouth.
At least I salvaged one.
Ju-hyeong's quiet gaze drifted toward the guide youth, who was currently helping dispose of the corpses. The boy was quick-witted, and above all, possessed a strong desire to climb higher. From the moment Ju-hyeong had taken him as a guide, his clear attitude had naturally caught his eye. Unlike the others who merely followed to survive, this youth's proactive actions carried a blatant, driving ambition.
"You. What is your name?"
The youth, who had been pushing aside a charred Living Corpse, hurriedly stood straight.
"It is Sang-pyeong."
"Do you wish to join Hyeondobang?"
"I... I do!"
"Good."
Ju-hyeong smiled and waved his hand. Instantly, the residual fire energy lingering on the charred Living Corpse was sucked into his palm. Watching this display, Sang-pyeong's eyes burned with a passionate heat.
"Interesting."