Chapter 326: Spirit Training (1)

Chapter 326: Spirit Training (1)

“Can you share the detailed schedule?”

“It’s in final coordination. The departure is confirmed—we’re just waiting on the exact date.”

“Oh-ho.”

Kang-hoo’s eyes sparkled.

Fumiya, pleased by Kang-hoo’s interest, eagerly opened a map and began explaining.

In truth, he had brought it up hoping Kang-hoo would join them.

The Western Australia expedition was a mission that even the Rikou Guild had high hopes for.

The lack of prior information made it risky, but having a skilled assassin like Kang-hoo on the team could reduce risk and increase the success rate of the strategy. Kang-hoo was worth that level of expectation.

‘Golden Route, huh.’

The path they’d chosen was the same one Jang Si-hwan had profited from in the original story.

It was the route where rare materials and hidden skills could be acquired. That’s why it had earned the name “Golden Route.”

“Would you like to come with us?” Fumiya asked.

Of course, there were a few things that still needed to be adjusted—things like getting permission for solo action at certain points or priority rights over loot.

Kang-hoo needed to ensure some aspects allowed him to take advantage. Negotiation was required.

“Yes. While further discussion is necessary, I remain committed to participating in the Western Australia expedition.”

“As expected… Thank you.”

“I do have one question, though.”

“Please go ahead.”

“May I ask why you’re making such an active offer to me? It doesn’t seem like it’s just because of our relationship.”

“This area requires a hunter who can both handle and detect Dark Qi. You’re perfect for the job, Mr. Shin Kang-hoo.”

“Dark Qi.”

“Yes. I heard there are many variables caused by Dark Qi. In other words, lots of tricky sections.”

“I see. Got it.”

In the original, the route Jang Si-hwan took had nothing to do with Dark Qi.

But the way Fumiya specifically mentioned it now suggested that the internal ecosystem had changed a bit.

It even made Kang-hoo think there might be more gains than what he remembered from the original story.

“You can finalize the details with Yeong-ho. Then I’ll see you again when we depart for Western Australia.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Fumiya stood up first.

From the conversation, it seemed there was a dungeon that required a major guild-level expedition.

Despite still being in an all-out conflict with the Touishi Guild, Rikou Guild was vacating its base—this showed their confidence.

In fact, Touishi Guild was continuing to weaken, with more internal defectors emerging.

Meanwhile, Rikou Guild’s reputation was steadily rising, attracting more and more outside applicants.

If someone as cautious as Fumiya was launching a dungeon assault so boldly, then the power balance had definitely shifted.

Of course, given Japan’s vast territory compared to Korea, Rikou Guild still had a long way to go.

At most, they were dominant in the Kanto region. Other regions still had their own representative guilds.

There was a reason Japan was being referred to as being in its own Warring States Period—there were just too many guilds.

Afterward, Kang-hoo sat down for a detailed coordination session with An Yeong-ho.

They held lengthy discussions covering rather intricate matters, with a lot of give-and-take.

Kang-hoo, who had thought An Yeong-ho was pure and naïve, was surprised by his cold, calculated demeanor.

He never let go of the strategic cards he didn’t want to reveal.

Even when Kang-hoo tried to persuade him with kind words and reasonable proposals, he never wavered.

In that respect, he was highly professional, and Kang-hoo found that admirable.

If the negotiation had been one where he just gave everything away without securing his own interests, it would’ve left a bad taste.

Once the discussion was almost complete, Kang-hoo smiled and said to An Yeong-ho,

“You’ve improved a lot.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I didn’t expect you to handle strategic negotiation this well. You even convinced me a few times.”

“I learned a lot from my uncle. I’ve been learning under some pretty harsh conditions.”

“You’re looking good now. If you’re going to manage guild operations, you’ll need to become even colder.”

“I feel like I might’ve caused too much trouble for you, though.”

“If you hadn’t said that last part, I might’ve thought you were finally getting sharper. There’s no such thing as ‘trouble’ in a negotiation. There’s only agreement or breakdown.”

“Ah…”

“When it comes to business, it’s best to be clear and decisive. Even if it’s with someone closest to you.”

He patted An Yeong-ho on the shoulder.

Kang-hoo felt proud, watching him grow a step further as a negotiator.

And this negotiation gave Kang-hoo everything he wanted. The Rikou Guild got what it needed too.

“Let’s confirm again. The ownership of magic stones from the assault will all go to Rikou Guild. But for any loot in item form—if it’s from a monster you hunted alone, you get full rights.”

“Yep, that’s right.”

“And you’ll accompany us up to this route, but go solo afterward. Correct?”

“Exactly.”

“Then I think everything’s settled.”

“Good work.”

It was a negotiation where Kang-hoo walked away with all the real gains.

The spots with hidden skills, rare materials, or valuable prey among hybrid monsters would be explored solo.

So there would be no need to compromise on loot, and no interference from others.

At the same time, in the other parts of the route, he’d be attacking alongside the Rikou Guild, making his presence worthwhile.

‘As for magic stones, I can just make money from them in other dungeons. Giving them to Rikou Guild in exchange isn’t a bad deal.’

Even though the expected income from magic stones was pretty high, Kang-hoo didn’t get greedy for that too.

He was already receiving plenty of consideration from the Rikou Guild.

It’s fine to extract all you can when you’re offered a chance—but if you try to exploit goodwill just for your own gain, you could sever the relationship itself.

Kang-hoo didn’t want to be short-sighted. He looked at the big picture and thought long-term.

Kang-hoo had a tea break with An Yeong-ho and exchanged recent updates.

Throughout the conversation, An Yeong-ho appeared deeply concerned for Kang-hoo’s safety.

It was only natural, given how well he understood the situation involving Ishihara Yuji—combat was imminent.

Kang-hoo reassured him there was nothing to worry about, as he had already prepared for it.

Then, reversing roles, Kang-hoo asked about An Yeong-ho’s own progress—and learned a few interesting things.

First, the efficiency of An Yeong-ho’s healing skills had improved by several levels.

He claimed to have leveled up over 50 times, and it wasn’t just talk.

Thanks to the full support of the Rikou Guild, he had steadily grown stronger.

Although Yeong-ho still felt he lacked much, Kang-hoo could tell that his progress was anything but ordinary.

An Yeong-ho, who had nearly lost his life to the Jeonghwa Guild, bore a deep grudge.

Kang-hoo now believed An Yeong-ho had become an ally worth managing within the broader picture.

It was better to raise as many anti-Jeonghwa figures as possible—they could trip up Jang Si-hwan later.

For now, Jang Si-hwan remained too absorbed in the Dongducheon battle to pay attention to the outside world.

Kang-hoo felt grateful—once again—for the presence of The Abyss, which was currently occupying the Jeonghwa Guild’s full attention.

Of course, that outcome was also the result of his own strategic choices, so it was, in the end, “thanks to me.”

He was playing the board well.

With that self-praise, Kang-hoo welcomed An Yeong-ho’s exponential growth.

Kang-hoo decided his next course of action: spirit training.

It had been on his mind for some time, but the right timing had never come—until now.

At this point, spirit training had become absolutely necessary.

There was no other method at this stage that could raise his Dark Qi stat as effectively.

Running wild through Ground Zero, which was full of Dark Qi monsters, was an alternative, but far less efficient.

The monsters there were sparsely distributed across a vast area.

In contrast, the “Tower” in the Dark Sanctuary, where the training would take place, was filled with all kinds of Dark Qi monsters.

“…No answer.”

Kang-hoo tried calling Ayane just in case, but her phone was completely turned off.

Thinking back to that night they spent together, full of passion, and how she vanished afterward…

She probably wouldn’t answer until she reached whatever conclusion she had in mind.

Kang-hoo just hoped that conclusion didn’t involve her death. But life rarely goes the way one hopes.

“Is this setup good enough?”

Kang-hoo looked around the hotel room he had checked into early and murmured.

The curtains were all drawn, and the indoor temperature and humidity were kept at optimal levels.

Just in case, he had unplugged all unnecessary outlets and slightly cracked the window for ventilation.

There was one reason for all this preparation.

When spirit training begins, Kang-hoo’s soul will be transported to a tower in the Dark Sanctuary.

But in that moment, neither his body nor time in the real world would stop—it would continue flowing as normal.

Thus, Kang-hoo’s physical body would be left defenseless, lying alone in the hotel room.

That’s why spirit training was never done in unsafe locations.

The only reason he could proceed now was because the hotel was operated directly by the Rikou Guild. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have even started.

– “It’s 9 o’clock. Here’s the brief news. The Touishi Guild has declared a tactical retreat for a strategic advance…”

Kang-hoo turned the TV volume up much louder. From the outside, it would seem like someone was still active inside.

“Finally…”

Once preparations were complete, Kang-hoo lay comfortably on the bed.

Instead of a thick comforter, he draped a moderately weighted blanket over his stomach, relaxed his entire body, and closed his eyes.

【Fourth benefit: Among the 13 towers in the Dark Sanctuary, 6 can be selected to undergo spirit training.

Enhancing the spirit leads directly to the growth of Dark Qi, but once you enter a tower, you can no longer form contracts with constellations related to Holy Power.】

He activated the fourth benefit he had obtained from the Seeker of Pure Darkness.

Even with eyes closed, it could be activated easily, and soon, a voice spoke to him.

【Once you begin spirit training, you can no longer form contracts with constellations from the Hall of Radiance.】

“It doesn’t matter.”

He replied without hesitation.

Now that he had the Angel of the Battlefield, he didn’t need any other constellations.

Even if he did, he could always kill a hunter contracted with a Holy Power constellation and obtain it from them.

Of course, he didn’t mean to kill innocent hunters—but rather hypocrites with just cause, like Elizabeth.

【There is no right or wrong in strength. I truly hope you grow stronger, Guardian of Balance.】

The voice of the Angel of the Battlefield echoed in his chest. She really… sounded like a pure white angel.

【Then I shall relocate your soul.】

“Yes.”

Huuuuuuh…!

The moment he answered, he felt as though something was sucking him in—his body began to float.

It was the kind of sensation one might feel during astral projection, as if only his soul had slipped out of his body.

What appeared before Kang-hoo’s eyes was no longer the cozy hotel ceiling.

Instead, it was a dark and ominous landscape, as if the end of the world had come.

Then—

【From the following towers, choose six to be considered as candidates for entry.

The other seven towers will be permanently excluded from future selections. Now displaying the full list.】

【Pride. Greed. Envy. Wrath. Lust. Avarice. Sloth. Despair. Chaos. Blazing Fire. Extremes. Nightmare. Disorder.】

The list of the 13 towers in the Dark Sanctuary, built for spirit training, appeared before him.

Each name etched itself into his mind with weighty meaning. None of them seemed ordinary.