Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Intruder
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-Tatat, tat!!
Baek Hyun sliced through the dense forests of Starpoint Mountain at a speed incomparable to just a few days ago.
The know-how in martial arts that had naturally increased upon reaching the Peak realm, and the explosive surge in internal energy from acquiring the Cintamani.
And the dramatically enhanced hardware synergized to produce tremendous results.
'The Azure Hawk Seven Forms is close to Great Completion too. Well, I've been using it to death for the past few months, so it's only natural.'
In terms of actual usage time, the Azure Hawk Seven Forms far outstripped any other technique he had trained, so it was only natural that its proficiency rose quickly.
On the other hand, techniques specialized for human combat like the One Yang Finger had relatively lower proficiency due to time spent gathering spirit herbs and fighting spiritual beasts.
Originally, he planned to focus solely on training for a while to bolster those deficient proficiencies and digest the insights gained from reaching the Peak.
'But now that another possessor's existence is confirmed, I need to act more boldly.'
Baek Hyun thought as he nimbly passed through the branches with light movements.
With no information on the story, his only option had been to passively build strength.
But now that another 'possessor' was confirmed, there was no need to cower in fear.
Even if it was just one party member, the difference between being the sole player and having multiples was enormous.
He now had an ally he could call on in a pinch.
If the previous situation was like navigating a dark forest full of unknowns alone,
Now it was like two explorers tackling the forest together.
The mere fact that he wasn't alone gave him the power to shift from passive to active.
Of course, direct cooperation with the other possessor wasn't possible right now.
There was no way for him to approach the 'black-clad figure' first and reveal he was a possessor.
But the fact that they sent him that letter meant they already suspected him as a potential possessor.
He had also asked So-ya to pass a 'reply' if the black-clad figure returned, so they would soon realize he was one too.
A loose but reliable party play.
In this situation, the best was for each to grow and gather info in their domains, then meet later to exchange and collaborate.
Piecing together info unique to their areas like a puzzle to speculate on this veiled world's dark secrets and main story.
Starting in the secluded Starpoint Sect, he couldn't gather as much info as another possessor actively building a faction,
'But that doesn't mean I can freeload completely on the info front.'
Thanks to the other possessor, he could act more aggressively, so he decided to track the 'Starpoint Mountain intruder' he had nearly abandoned exploring.
The imoogi that trained for a millennium failing ascension might be mere accident, but it could tie to this world's dark secrets.
With zero info on them, he couldn't ignore even slim possibilities.
'If intruders really exist, their likely spot is obvious.'
Starpoint Sect elites had already scoured nearly everywhere on the mountain.
The only place left for intruders to flee or have business was one: Starpoint Mountain's deepest core.
Teeming with countless monstrous beings and high-grade spirit herbs.
Unintentionally, his words had herded the intruders there.
-Shuuu...
As Starpoint Sect's core region neared, Baek Hyun fully suppressed his presence and expanded his senses widely.
He needed to find even faint human traces in the dense mountain heart.
Unlike serendipitous traces left to be found, these were deliberate hides by intruders.
Even with senses sharpened by the Peak realm, finding long-erased traces amid the ever-shifting life-filled forest was near impossible.
No matter how broadly or keenly he spread his senses, only natural, unaltered scenery registered.
'As expected, normal senses can't find traces.'
If a mere Peak warrior's senses could catch them, the senior brothers searching would have long ago.
But what about the power of the 'Upper Dantian' incomparable to a Peak warrior's senses?
-Wung, wung, wung, wung
As practiced before, he unleashed the Upper Dantian at minimal output, pulsing periodically.
His five senses instantly surged wildly, devouring all surrounding info.
Visually, olfactorily, tactilely, auditorily, gustatorily.
Even severely restricted, the unleashed Upper Dantian turned the surroundings into a mystical paradise like a legendary immortal realm.
Baek Hyun carefully explored the depths, guarding against the intoxicating sensations in hyper-focus.
Soon, he spotted an 'artificial' trace clashing with the natural scenery.
A handful of soil subtly altered in color and smell from normal dirt.
A trace so faint even peak tracking hounds wouldn't notice.
-Swish, thud
Baek Hyun scooped the soil and put it in his mouth.
The tongue is one of the body's most sensitive organs.
Like children instinctively tasting to learn.
He sought precise info on the odd soil most primordially and reliably.
Touching his tongue, first came intense earthiness and sticky displeasure.
Then, as chewed, faint iron tang of blood, and a slight saltiness.
Definite.
This soil was mixed with human blood, albeit scant.
"Ptooey. Didn't think they'd really be here."
They passed here just now.
The intruders.
Baek Hyun's eyes chilled coldly.
Blood during movement, but not much.
Probably quickly treated with prepared hemostatics or bandages.
Reason for wounds was obvious.
The core teemed with massive dangers.
Monstrous beings.
They were likely hunting spiritual beasts for centuries-old beast cores and byproducts.
Those from core-nesting beasts held unimaginable value.
The imoogi he faced probably failed ascension after their assault, becoming a malevolent spirit.
'Killing and butchering pets in someone else's yard... such shameless trash.'
Baek Hyun chewed the lingering blood scent and delved deeper, tracing intruder marks.
The superhuman senses from Upper Dantian revealed paths, states, numbers despite time passed.
How long had he moved with fully hidden presence?
-Kieeeek!!!
A ferocious, inhuman shriek savagely scraped his hypersensitive eardrums.
Unmistakably a spiritual beast's cry.
Baek Hyun instantly raced toward it, soon spotting unfamiliar men battling a massive face-shaped entity.
'Starpoint Mountain's master, the Human-Faced Tree.'
Starpoint Mountain's strongest spiritual beast, mightier than the maddened imoogi he fought.
That Human-Faced Tree was being hunted.
About a dozen in number.
From footprints, internal energy, movements: all first-rate experts or better.
Four leader-types: Peak realm.
Among them, the one silently observing: at least Transcendent.
But not at full strength.
Heavy internal energy drain, body under black hood scarred variously.
Probably injured from hunting beasts faster due to Starpoint Sect pursuit.
'This is enough info.'
Having grasped that, Baek Hyun resealed his Upper Dantian and calculated based on it.
Ten first-rate warriors, four Peak, one Transcendent.
Versus one freshly Peak warrior.
Considering all factors...
'Manageable, but I'd stake my life as collateral.'
Decided, Baek Hyun drew his waist sword, entering full combat readiness.
Sorry to the suddenly hunted Human-Faced Tree, but saving it now was tough.
Frontal assault had no win chance.
The Transcendent leader was beyond him, if nothing else.
Target optimal timing.
"Enough. If we drag this, the heretics holding this place will swarm. I'll handle it; you lot fall back."
"Understood!!"
How long had he waited?
The leader, watching due to injury, sent minions back and soloed the Human-Faced Tree.
As expected of Starpoint Mountain's apex beast.
Despite overwhelming odds, it slew three or four first-rate grunts and left one Peak near death.
Survivors poisoned by its potent venom.
Might not have lost otherwise, but...
-Thudkwang!!
With leader soloing, balance tipped instantly.
Ignoring poison, the intruder leader surged with fierce fist aura at the Human-Faced Tree.
-Kiaaaak-!!!!
Shoot the Sun Sword Art, First Form
Sun Emerges Initially
-Puhook!!!
A thrust too fast even for Peak warriors pierced the relatively weak protective aura at the back.
Starpoint Sect's strongest sword art, unusable in real combat at his level.
The one-sided ambush and ample cast time enabled the Shoot the Sun Sword Art card.
"Kuhk!? Y-You...!!"
But the foe was a Transcendent warrior at supreme heights.
Even skewered in an instant, he calmly assessed and swung fist at rear Baek Hyun.
-Kii... Kiaaaak!!!!
Even a Transcendent couldn't predict the furious monstrous being's tenacity.
The enraged, mortally wounded Human-Faced Tree struck.
-Puhpuphuk!!!
Its sharp claws pierced the Transcendent's protective aura, digging into flesh.
"Now, finally even conditions..."
Let's have a fair fight.
Baek Hyun was a gamer who valued fair play.