Vilkan's team and the mercenary team were both unaware of another presence: it was none other than Sogen, who was following them.
Meanwhile, Vilkan and the others continued to damage the Ember Serpent.
Suddenly, Vilkan leaped into the air and struck the beast on the head, channeling all his energy into the attack. The ferocious creature fell with a loud thud and let out a cry of pain, but soon afterward, it took its last breath and died.
"Yay! We defeated the Ember Serpent!" a man from the mercenary team shouted with joy.
"Huh!..."
Suddenly, a dagger pierced his heart, and blood spilled from his mouth. It was a member of Vilkan's team who had stabbed him.
"Vilkan, what are your team members doing? Stop them!" the mercenary leader shouted, looking toward Vilkan. He felt a chilling sensation course through him as he saw Vilkan's grim smile.
Realizing the situation, the mercenary leader shouted for his team to gather around him.
"Everyone, be careful!" he warned.
"Vilkan, why?"
"Lasaar, you said why. It's because of our deal, you wanted the skin and other materials of this beast. At that time we had no choice but to agree because we needed some cannon fodders. You also know how precious these materials are. So you have to die."
"Vilkan, we don't want these materials. Please let us go."
"You should have thought about this before our deal. Now go to hell and reflect on why you were so greedy," Vilkan said, laughing. His laughter echoed throughout the forest.
"Attack them and don't leave a single one of them alive."
But before they could even attack, suddenly one of Vilkan's team members' neck was sliced and he died on the spot. All the people present were terrified after seeing it. The person died in an instant, he could not even react, and they were unable to see how he died.
Suddenly every person in Vilkan's team started to die, one by one. Some tried to run towards Vilkan and some bent on their knees and started to beg for their lives but all were killed mercilessly.
"What was the name of this weapon? Dark Shadow Blade! It is really upto its name. In places with shadows and in dark places, people are not able to see it clearly", Sogen thinks.
Sogen killed every team member of Vilkan's team
Vilkan was terrified and shouted, "Who are you? If you want to fight, then come out and face me like a brave person rather than hiding in the shadows like a coward!"
Suddenly, a shadow emerged from behind the trees and stood before Vilkan. It was none other than Sogen.
Vilkan was shocked; even though Sogen was so close, he had been unable to sense his presence. He was further surprised to realize that the figure before him was not a powerful adult but a boy around 15 or 16 years old, and his cultivation was on par with Vilkan's. Nevertheless, he composed himself.
Suddenly, Sogen exclaimed, "Using other people as meat shields? Are you even capable of calling someone a coward?"
"Boy, you are too naive. If you had stayed hidden in the shadows, you might have survived. But now, you have to die."
Before he could say anything further, Sogen threw his Dark Shadow Blade towards him, which was barely dodged by Vilkan.
Fuming with anger, Vilkan declared, "Boy, don't blame me for being harsh on you—a small child. It's all your own fault. D Grade Innate Talent, Body Strengthening Activate! My innate talent makes my defense so strong that even those one level higher than me can't break through. Now, get ready to die."
Vilkan moved towards Sogen to attack him. Sogen countered with his Dark Shadow Blade, but to his shock, the attack only left a small wound on Vilkan's body.
Vilkan retaliated with a strong punch, but Sogen easily dodged it.
"I don't want to drag this fight out any longer; I need to finish him," Sogen thought. He drew a sword from the system's inventory and prepared to use his Solar Sword Technique.
"Solar Sword, 4th Form: Sun Blasting Slash," he thought as he launched his attack on Vilkan.
Vilkan was terrified by the immense power behind the single slash. He tried to move, but it was all in vain. Sogen's sword cleaved through Vilkan's body, leaving burning marks between the two parts, as if his blood had evaporated from where Sogen's strike landed.
Sogen was shocked by the power of this technique.
"Ding! Host has killed an Earth Realm 5th Bottom Stage Cultivator. Rewards: 30,000 system coins, Basic Healing Pill ×3."
"So I can also get rewards by defeating other cultivators." He started to move toward Vilkan's body to check for any precious materials. As soon as he touched the body, he heard a voice.
"SSS Grade Innate Talent, Everything is Mine Activated. Absorbing D Grade Innate Talent: Body Strengthening."
Suddenly, a glowing ball emerged from Vilkan's body and entered Sogen's. His body began to undergo changes—golden veins appeared throughout him. After some time, the process was completed.
Sogen was amazed; he could feel his body becoming stronger.
"System, open my status."
Host Status:
Name: Sogen Vesga
Age:15 years, 7 months, 12 days
Powers: Cultivation Power, Spiritual Power
Innate Body Talent: SSS Grade Everything is Mine
Acquired Body Talent:D Grade Body Strengthening
Passive Effect: Makes the body strong like rock.
Active Effect: Doubles body strength and defense for 30 minutes.
Type:Growing; Grows with host's cultivation
Cultivation Stage: Earth Realm 4th Peak Stage
Spiritual Stage:Cultivation Not Started
Learned Techniques:Solar Sword Technique, Heavenly Mirage Footwork
"So that's my talent. There are some talents that have specific requirements, but my talent can absorb others' innate talents. In my clan, I never touched a dead animal, so touching a corpse was completely off-limits. If I touch a dead body, I can acquire their talent. Amazing!"
Everyone who was still alive from the mercenary team stood there in shock. Sogen walked towards the Ember Serpent with his sword in hand, then suddenly attacked the beast.
"Solar Sword, 3rd Form: Whirling Sunlight!" he thought, and he cut off the serpent's head. He extracted the Ember Serpent Core, but this time his innate talent didn't activate.
"So it only works on humans. This snake was clever; it fooled everyone by acting dead, waiting for us to come close before exploding. If it weren't for my Spiritual Energy, I wouldn't have sensed it," Sogen mused.
"Ding! Host has killed the Ember Serpent. Quest Completed. Rewards: 10,000 system coins."
Sogen looked back at the mercenary team. Everyone was terrified, thinking it was now their turn to die. "I only want this core; the remaining materials are yours. Sell these materials, and please give some money to the families of those who died from your team. Leave this town as soon as possible, as those backing Vilkan may come for you."
After saying this, Sogen ran into the forest and disappeared into the shadows.