Chapter 103: Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda (3)
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Examining the inside of the restriction, Jin So-myeong nodded his head.
‘There are many useful spiritual herbs.’
Walking a few steps, he saw an orchid habitat shrouded in pure white clouds, which was a Rank 3 mid-grade spiritual object called Cloud River Clear Fragrance Herb.
It was a spiritual herb that helped promote spiritual power even if eaten raw, and it was a primary ingredient for Rank 3 cultivation medicinal pills.
Tootook.
He pulled out all twenty-one Cloud River Clear Fragrance Herbs in total and placed them in his sub-space, intending to consume them along with medicinal pills when cultivating.
While searching the surroundings thoroughly to see if there was anything he had missed, he discovered a worn-out piece of cloth buried in a pile of dirt.
‘Hmm?’
Although he examined it here and there, it was not a particularly precious item.
It was just an ordinary fabric, a material used when making everyday clothes for Golden Core Sages.
If there was just one peculiar point.
‘It is just on the verge of crumbling because it is too old.’
A distant passage of time was felt. The spiritual Qi contained in the material was just on the verge of dispersing due to the flow of time.
Lightly dusting off the dirt on the piece of cloth, he examined it closely, seeing traces that appeared to have been forcibly torn by a strong force.
It seemed that a battle had taken place here in the past.
‘…So this was why treasures were piled up inside the restrictions.’
He had one doubt while investigating the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda outside.
The pagoda opens in a 300-year cycle.
Although it had not been long since it appeared in the Dead Soul Wilderness, the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda itself was incredibly ancient, to the point that no one knew since when it had existed in the cultivation world.
Even so, the reason why treasures remained?
Naturally, it was because treasures were constantly generated, and he could understand up to this point.
Spiritual herbs grow and breed on their own as long as an appropriate environment is established, which was not a highly strange thing.
But why is a restriction unfolded wherever there are spiritual herbs?
Did they design a formation to detect spiritual herbs in the vast secret realm and install restrictions at those positions?
He was inwardly curious, but looking now, the order was the opposite.
The restriction came before the treasure.
As the formation traps spiritual Qi, once the spiritual Qi becomes thick enough to make one mistake it for a Rank 4 spiritual vein, spiritual herbs naturally grow.
Afterward, when the secret realm opens every 300 years, various cultivators flock in and break the restrictions.
In that process, as they kill and die among themselves, treasures are bound to accumulate near the restrictions.
‘Why did they make such a secret realm?’
Jin So-myeong, who was lost in thought, tossed the old piece of cloth.
Since it was not a particularly valuable item to a Golden Core cultivator, there was no need to take it.
He conceded it to a lucky low-stage cultivator who would visit this place.
Jeobeok, jeobeok.
At that moment when he was about to leave just like that.
“…”
He spun around at an unknown feeling of discomfort, staring at the piece of cloth fallen on the dirt floor before picking it up again.
He was bewildered enough to furrow his brow.
‘What is this that it feels like a waste?’
Did he miss something? He raised his senses even while consuming the Supreme Great Ability.
Mobilizing all senses to examine the piece of cloth, there was really nothing much to it.
It was a fabric with the name Clear Flow Silk, which was a common material to the extent that one could have a suit of clothes tailored with just a single high-grade spirit stone.
After examining it for a long while, he let out a sigh.
‘Let’s take it for now.’
Once he put the piece of cloth into his sub-space, he felt comfortable, as if a hunger somewhere in his heart was satisfied.
Simultaneously, a subtle sense of incongruity brushed past.
He could not understand himself being pleased with a single useless piece of cloth.
“…Ah, there is no time for this.”
Jin So-myeong, who was scratching his brow, shook his head.
As time passed, the restrictions inside the secret realm would decrease rapidly. To obtain a Nascent Soul-grade spiritual object, he had to hurry.
‘Let’s cross over to the next layer quickly.’
The deeper one goes into the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda, the higher the quality of treasures becomes.
If this place he first entered was called the 1st floor, he had to reach at least the 3rd floor to obtain Rank 4 spiritual herbs.
Hwik!
He flew in a straight line toward the stone pagoda standing like a lighthouse far away.
Although the stone pagoda disappeared at all times and appeared from unexpected directions, he silently turned his direction each time.
At any rate, he had to reach that stone pagoda to cross over to the next floor.
How long did he fly? A restriction was felt at the edge of his Divine Sense.
‘Oh?’
For a very brief moment, Jin So-myeong, who was pondering whether to ignore it and pass by, shook his head.
Setting aside other things, the spiritual Qi inside the restriction alone was of great help to his cultivation.
‘Cultivating here is no different from saving time.’
No matter how much he thought about it, it was a waste to leave it behind.
Kwang!
Jin So-myeong, who summoned a clone to attack the restriction, paused.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to just arrive at the 3rd floor of the secret realm as quickly as possible?’
Since the spiritual Qi inside the restriction would also become thicker the deeper he went into the secret realm.
Around the time such thoughts flashed.
Jjeojeojeok!
The restriction, which was bursting with loud explosive sounds, cracked in the shape of a turtle shell, thanks to the clone that poured a fierce onslaught without fearing counterattacks.
Seeing that sight, the hesitation in his heart vanished.
‘Let’s only break the restrictions that are on the way.’
It does not take long anyway. Taking the restrictions he encounters on the way is fine. It is not a waste of time.
Thinking that way.
He poured all concentration into operating the blood spirit clone.
Kwa-aaaaang!
The moment the sword swung by the clone split the restriction as if parting it in one blow, an ecstatically thick spiritual Qi raged.
The scenery inside the shattered restriction was similar to earlier.
The concentration of spiritual Qi was high enough to mistake it for a Rank 4 spiritual vein, and spiritual herbs with medicinal efficacy strong enough to be eaten raw were scattered.
Holding back the impulse to enter immediately.
He sent the clone in first to verify if there was anything dangerous.
‘It is safe.’
Swapping the positions of the main body and the clone, he entered inside the restriction. After habitually guarding the surroundings.
Teolseok.
He immediately sat cross-legged and operated the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, not forgetting to ask Mugeok to keep guard.
He cultivated while focusing his entire mind until the spiritual Qi inside the restriction was depleted.
Cultivation medicinal pills, the Cloud River Clear Fragrance Herb dug up earlier, and even the Supreme Great Ability. If it was something helpful in accumulating spiritual power, he used it lavishly.
Pajijik…!
The lightning in his mind that grew minutely larger with every breath was gratifying.
‘With this rapid speed, the 3rd floor of Golden Core will be reached in no time.’
Two days later.
Jin So-myeong, who was filled to the brim with the emotion of satisfaction, swept up all the surrounding spiritual herbs.
Next, he advanced toward the 2nd floor of the secret realm, and a similar situation repeated every time he met a restriction.
Summoning a clone to break the restrictions, he cultivated within the thick spiritual Qi.
‘Huu… everything is good, but there are many annoying bastards.’
Perhaps due to the loud noise made when attacking the restrictions, there were quite a few uninvited guests who visited.
Whether fortunately or unfortunately, it never led to an actual ambush.
The behavior of the uninvited guests was identical as if prearranged; they alternately looked at Jin So-myeong and the clone from afar and quietly backed away.
Although there were occasionally those who smacked their lips as if envious, no one actually rushed in. Everyone was prudent like Golden Core cultivators.
‘…It is a pity.’
The impulse to chase and snatch their storage pouches occasionally crossed his mind, but he endured it.
That was an act of crossing the line.
The line Jin So-myeong set to protect his own humanity in this harsh world was just one.
Kindness with kindness, malice with malice.
He had made his own efforts to keep that until now.
If there was at least an exception, it was only when dealing with the demonic beasts that were at war with humans on Sky Island.
Jin So-myeong, who thought up to this point, paused. Pressing his brow firmly, he tilted his head.
‘Something is strange.’
Most of the cultivators who visited when he broke the restrictions until now were at the 1st layer of Golden Core. The wealth they possessed was obvious.
At most, a thousand high-grade spirit stones?
It was nothing to him since spirit stones flowed endlessly, so why was he coveting it like this…
For some reason, he felt like he was becoming dazed.
At that moment when he stood blankly for quite a long time and pondered. Such a thought rose from deep within his heart.
‘Is it strange for a person to have a bit of greed?’
No. It is a normal thing with nothing peculiar about it.
Moreover, the intentions of the bastards who visited after hearing the noise were obvious. If Jin So-myeong had appeared weak, they would have ambushed and even taken his life.
The moment a convincing reason came to mind. All doubts and worries disappeared cleanly.
Jin So-myeong, who felt lighthearted, kicked off the ground. He soared high into the sky and flew toward the stone pagoda.
This is a secret realm. Time was too precious to ponder useless things.
***
Before he knew it, a month had passed since the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda opened.
During that time, the restrictions Jin So-myeong discovered totaled 9. Thanks to that, the realm of the 3rd layer of Golden Core was right before his eyes.
There was another good thing.
Was it because he moved diligently without being lazy? He reached the stone pagoda, which was the entrance to the next layer.
The method to cross over to the 2nd floor of the secret realm was simple. One just had to walk toward the stone pagoda.
A distance that would be reached in one minute even if walking leisurely. Watching the stone pagoda that could be described as right in front of his nose, he nodded.
‘Let’s go.’
Since there was no reason to hesitate, he moved immediately.
‘Rank 4 spiritual object. Something helpful when challenging the Nascent Soul stage.’
Although Hye-gong said one only needs to desire it when first entering the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda, did one ever know?
Going to the 2nd floor of the secret realm, he muttered what he wished for with all his effort.
Rank 4 spiritual object, enhancement of realm, a treasure that raises the realm overnight.
Having to think of what he wanted, he felt slightly regretful.
If he had known the information about the Nascent Soul stage properly, he would have targeted a specific spiritual object precisely…
‘Ah.’
He bit his tongue slightly at the distracting thoughts that suddenly arose. Within the sharp pain, he gathered his concentration.
At that moment when he walked with strides, setting the Nascent Soul stage as his target.
The pagoda enlarged continuously.
He became hazy just like when he first entered the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda.
At that moment when he continued to walk toward a place that could not be reached like a mirage.
Pat!
A flash of light covered his vision. Simultaneously with the disappearance of the stone pagoda, a wasteland without a single blade of grass appeared.
Jin So-myeong, who stood blankly, was startled.
He reflexively lowered his posture and gripped the sword hilt. Releasing his Divine Sense, he guarded the surroundings.
‘…There is no one.’
The 2nd floor of the secret realm was similar to the 1st floor.
There was not even a handful of spiritual Qi in the atmosphere, and a stone pagoda was visible near the horizon. Perhaps reaching that place would allow crossing over to the 3rd floor.
Jin So-myeong, who was examining all directions with narrowed eyes, moved his steps.
Hwik!
Just like when he was on the 1st floor, he went straight toward the stone pagoda, intending to cross over to the 3rd floor immediately.
At that moment when he diligently chased the stone pagoda that was running here and there.
Jin So-myeong’s gaze snapped away. It was because of the restriction he discovered for the first time after coming up to the 2nd floor.
‘It is much larger and thicker than the 1st floor.’
Circling the restriction, which was vast enough for a large training hall, he examined it closely, and its durability also appeared high.
He summoned and operated a blood spirit clone infused with 30% of his power.
The moment the clone, which turned into a rogue cultivator in his fifties, tapped the restriction as if knocking.
Daeng… daeng…!
A sound like striking a giant bell occurred. Although he only struck it lightly with a finger, it erupted a loud warning sound.
‘It has become noisier.’
The moment Jin So-myeong backed away a few steps. The clone, which stood with an expressionless face, drew its sword.
Chaeng!
The moment a sharp friction sound echoed.
The reflected Sword Qi brushed past the nape of his neck.
‘Oh.’
Indeed, the 2nd floor. The restriction’s counterattack was quite fierce. He almost had his neck severed, but since it was a clone, it did not matter at all.
He was rather looking forward to it. Since the restriction became harder to break, the spiritual Qi inside would also be thicker.
Avoiding the continuous counterattacks by a hair’s breadth, he attacked the restriction.
Jjeojeok!
At that moment when the restriction fluctuated as if it would collapse right now.
Jin So-myeong, who was watching the clone’s performance, frowned.
It was due to a cultivator flying leisurely while clasping his hands behind his back, a man who was dressed neatly like a scholar.
‘Golden Core 5th layer.’
It was the mid Golden Core stage cultivator he met for the first time after entering the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda.
Whether he was confident in his strength, he approached without hesitation despite being together with the clone.
It was not a strange thing.
Perhaps to the opponent, Jin So-myeong and the clone would appear as Golden Core 2nd and 1st layer, respectively. Should he say they looked like flimsy guys lacking spiritual power?
At any rate, the distance with the scholar narrowed more and more.
300 meters. It became a distance close enough to attack each other just by stretching their hands.
The scholar, standing in the sky in that exact posture with his hands clasped behind his back, smiled and asked.
“Are the two of you companions?”
Although it was a polite tone, perhaps because he spoke while looking down from a high place, it was oddly grating.
“If so?”
“Hoh… by the way, fellow Daoist, why are you staying still? Watching from afar, only that sword cultivator is suffering.”
“Whether I stay still or not. Do not care about others’ business and leave while I am speaking nicely.”
As Jin So-myeong waved his hand as if shooing a fly, the scholar curled up the corners of his mouth as if looking at an interesting object.
“Just leave? Uh-huh! That cannot be. In my eyes, this is a highly unfair matter. I cannot possibly sit by and watch.”
The scholar, who shook his head very slowly and exaggeratedly, spoke while looking at the clone.
“Hey there. You seem to be suffering after being caught by a wicked person. I will help you. How about holding hands with me and dealing with that person?”
Sowing discord to a clone?
Because it was so absurd that he stayed still, perhaps thinking it worked, the scholar’s smile grew even deeper.
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