Chapter 106: Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda (6)

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Meanwhile.

Most of those who entered the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda had not yet managed to escape the 1st floor.

The reasons were various.

First, there was almost no one who could use spiritual power comfortably like Jin So-myeong.

Consequently, their flying speed slowed down, and if they happened to engage in a battle even once, they had to suffer for days on end to recover their spiritual power.

Now that a month had passed since the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda opened.

The cultivators who entered the 2nd floor of the secret realm were extremely few.

Either they were highly outstanding in strength, were lucky, or knew about the pagoda in detail and had prepared solidly.

If it was none of these…

Conversely, it was a case of extremely bad luck. Since entering the 2nd floor of the secret realm was not necessarily a good thing.

Within this situation.

There was a woman who entered the 2nd floor of the secret realm through a series of coincidences, and she was Ryeo Jeong, called Madame Ryeo by others.

Flying through the sky with a tired face, she furrowed her brow.

Pasak!

This was because the high-grade spirit stones gripped in both of her hands turned into powder.

‘Already?’

Letting out a sigh, she pulled out new spirit stones to recover her spiritual power.

Since entering the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda, let alone sleeping, she had not even been able to rest properly. Although she was tired from having to absorb spirit stones while flying, she could not help it.

If she did not recover spiritual power in her spare moments, she would be defenselessly attacked when encountering enemies.

Having flown for a long while, she discovered a restriction.

What could she obtain if she broke that… An instinctive craving surged, but she soon shook her head.

‘No. The fruit of the Myriad Souls Wood is first.’

What she wished to obtain in the secret realm was not the rising of her realm. It was a therapeutic medicine capable of recovering a collapsed mind.

Only with the fruit of the Myriad Souls Wood could she save her lord…no, that child whom she raised like a daughter.

Although Ryeo Jeong herself did not know it, if it were not for this purpose, she would not have reached the 2nd floor already. Because she would have been seized by greed every time she met a restriction…

At that moment when she forced herself to ignore the restriction and advanced straight toward the 3rd floor.

“Fairy. Where are you going in such a hurry? Let us have a talk.”

Kwang!

Simultaneously with a booming voice, a massive steel staff plunged down vertically right in front of her.

Just how heavy was it that a shockwave raged merely by colliding with the ground, and her stomach churned at the vibration sound made as the staff quivered.

‘Ugh…’

Forcing back the sensation of wanting to vomit, she hurriedly retreated.

A chilly shiver ran down her spine.

This was because no spiritual power was felt from the steel staff blocking her way.

Looking at the devastated ground, her eyes fluctuated.

‘This is not a spell?’

Could he have shown such destructive power simply by throwing a heavy object?

At that moment when a drop of cold sweat ran down the nape of her neck.

Kung!

Atop the steel staff massive enough to be felt as a fortress wall, a man descended.

He was a giant of a man with a height of nine chuk, and his clothes seemed about to burst due to rugged muscles.

She was suffocated by the blood energy and spiritual power emitting from his entire body.

Whether he had no intention to hide it, he flaunted a domineering momentum, which meant he cultivated both body and energy simultaneously.

‘A Spell and Body Dual Cultivator at the late Golden Core stage.’

To her, he was an overwhelmingly strong expert whom she could not rival. She barely swallowed the sigh about to escape.

The man who threw the steel staff to block her way said with a smile on his face.

“I am Wi Mun-seok, the Great Elder of the Dragon Elephant Demonic Palace.”

“…I am called Madame Ryeo.”

Wi Mun-seok’s tone was polite and kind, but the more he spoke, the more she felt she had run into the wrong person.

Madame Ryeo, who answered as politely as possible, scanned the surroundings with her Divine Sense.

‘Ah.’

Although she had the intention to somehow find a way to leave this place, only despair welled up.

This was because two people who appeared before she knew it were blocking the rear.

Surrounding her while maintaining an appropriate distance from each other was highly skillful. It was not a skill practiced once or twice.

Wi Mun-seok, who was observing Ryeo Jeong’s reaction with narrowed eyes, said.

“Madame. It seems you do not know the Dragon Elephant Demonic Palace, is that correct?”

“I apologize. My knowledge is lacking, so I have not heard of it.”

“There is nothing to apologize for. If the continents are different, you might not know.”

It was an incredibly arrogant remark. Since it was a comment filled with the conviction that if the active region were the same, there was no way she would not know the Dragon Elephant Demonic Palace.

“By the way, seeing that you are brimming with life force, you seem still young, but have you already sought a Dao companion?”

The gaze that stared as if licking her was hair-raising.

In truth, she introduced herself to others as Madame Ryeo because she hated experiencing such things.

Unless they were reasonably vicious, they would not target a woman who was already married.

“There was a karmic connection.”

Unable to even display her displeasure and trying to gloss over it, Wi Mun-seok was persistent.

“A karmic connection is good. By the way, where is your husband? If he happened to get separated by accident, I shall find him for you.”

“Well…”

“Please introduce him. Meeting like this is also a connection, and I wish to share an acquaintance with your husband as well.”

How could she present a husband who did not even exist?

When Madame Ryeo, run out of things to say, shut her mouth, Wi Mun-seok’s gaze gradually grew colder.

Seeing her not get angry even when he deliberately acted rudely, changing even his tone, he judged her as an insignificant existence.

“Before I act rudely, let me ask. Do you happen to possess a talent worth boasting of? If it is something useful in the secret realm, I shall accord you favorable treatment.”

As Wi Mun-seok, who spoke in a threatening manner, reached out his hand, the size of the steel staff that was as large as a fortress wall shrank rapidly.

It compressed to about the size of a building pillar, but grabbed in the hand of a nine-chuk tall giant, it appeared like an ordinary long staff.

Hoo-oong! Hoo-oong!

A heavy wave of energy raged from the staff swung like a wooden stick.

Madame Ryeo, who was breaking out in a cold sweat at the blatant threat, barely answered.

“…I have mastered formations.”

“Hoh, if so, you must break restrictions well. Good. I shall take you in as a subordinate, so follow me.”

He did not seem to even think of a refusal. She had no choice but to follow Wi Mun-seok, who flew ahead.

This was because the two Golden Core cultivators surrounding the rear glared at her.

They were also Spell and Body Dual Cultivators like Wi Mun-seok.

Although their realms were the 3rd layer of Golden Core just like hers, cultivators who mastered body tempering had mighty combat power. She could not rival even one of them.

At any rate, the Dragon Elephant Demonic Palace appeared to be a sect that cultivated the Spell and Body Dual Cultivation method.

‘Haa.’

Sighing inwardly at the increasingly worsening situation, she chased after Wi Mun-seok, and before long, a restriction appeared.

The two people who were sitting with listless expressions in front of the restriction stood up abruptly and greeted.

“Have you arrived?”

Those who were Golden Core cultivators in name all had expressions as if they had chewed on dung, appearing by all means like people captured by force.

***

【Jin So-myeong】

【Lifespan】 : 50 / 702

【Realm】 : Golden Core 3rd layer

【Supreme Great Ability】 : 110,000 / 200,000

【Divine Ability】 : <Secret Realm of the Mind>

【Cultivation Method】 : Omitted

【Spell】 : Omitted

【Art】 : Omitted

Jin So-myeong, who broke through the restriction and dedicated himself to cultivation to achieve the 3rd layer of Golden Core, clenched his fist tightly.

Even though only a month had passed since entering the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda, his realm had already risen.

Looking at the Supreme Great Ability that had increased to 200,000 uses, he felt full even without eating.

‘As expected, although it is dangerous, a secret realm is indeed a secret realm. The speed at which the realm rises is incredibly fast.’

If one year passed like this? Achieving the mid Golden Core stage was natural, and if lucky, he could even aim for the late stage.

It was a cultivation speed incomparable to the outside. There was a reason why people came visiting even while risking their lives.

Enjoying the feeling of becoming stronger, Jin So-myeong closed his eyes.

Pajijik…!

After completely settling the lightning Qi that became unstable while breaking through the realm.

He thoroughly examined the inside of the restriction he had benefited from until just now.

The spiritual Qi encountered after breaking the restriction on the 2nd floor of the secret realm was beyond imagination. Compared to the 1st floor, it was nearly twice as thick.

Since the concentration of spiritual Qi would become even higher if he crossed over to the next layer, he looked forward to it.

‘By the way, what was the name of this spiritual herb… White Jade Immortal Heart Herb?’

Inside the restriction, precious spiritual herbs were scattered about casually, which was a Rank 3 high-grade spiritual herb particularly effective against heart demons.

What was a heart demon?

Simply put, it was a problem arising in one’s mind.

Therefore…

It meant that eating the White Jade Immortal Heart Herb he had just discovered might recover a twisted mind.

‘It feels like giving a disease and then offering medicine.’

If such a spiritual herb existed inside the secret realm, there was a possibility that other cultivators could also escape from the influence of the mental restriction.

To fan desires with the mental restriction while simultaneously providing therapeutic spiritual herbs…

The Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda appeared as if it hoped people would die in moderation. Should he say it felt like it cared about adjusting the difficulty?

‘For fear that no one will visit if too many people die?’

Tuktuk.

Instead of the sword he habitually tapped, he checked the Heart-Clearing Heat-Warning Beads.

Fidgeting with the reddish-brown rosary beads, his mind grew calm.

‘It is cold.’

After confirming his mind was normal. He swept up all the spiritual herbs scattered in the surroundings.

Next, he soared straight up into the sky.

It was to cross over to the 3rd floor of the secret realm, and he went straight toward the stone pagoda visible far away.

Although he encountered restrictions several times along the way, he ignored them all.

‘It is bearable.’

It was different from when he was defenselessly exposed to the mental restriction for a month without knowing anything.

Every time the rosary emitted heat, he pulled his vigilance tight. He set his will straight with a feeling of cutting off the desires blooming in his heart.

It was not easy. At first, there were times he approached the restrictions without even realizing it.

However, as time flowed, such cases decreased.

Should he say his will had grown firm? It felt as if resistance grew every time he succeeded in resisting the restriction.

At that moment when he was advancing toward the stone pagoda as if cultivating, trying to maintain a calm state of mind.

Kwa-aaaaang!

A loud explosion struck his eardrums. Someone was breaking a restriction ahead.

‘There were indeed cultivators who went ahead of me.’

Thinking about it for a moment, there was nothing strange.

Jin So-myeong had broken 10 restrictions and even cultivated until now. If there was someone who ignored the restrictions and went straight, it was natural they would be faster.

‘What should I do…’

Jin So-myeong, who was speculating with the rosary that was now emitting a slight heat, struck down the desire welling up in his heart.

Although it would be best to conceal himself and launch a surprise attack around the time the restriction broke, he had no intention of doing so.

Putting aside gains and losses, it was a matter of pride. He had absolutely no intention of being swayed by the mental restriction and moving like a puppet.

‘I will just take a wide detour.’

Although he did not know who was breaking the restriction, he had no intention of deliberately interfering.

While detouring around by gauging the direction of the stone pagoda, he took a look at the restriction out of simple curiosity and was startled.

‘Madame Ryeo?’

To think she had already reached the 2nd floor with her strength…that alone was strange enough, but there were as many as 6 companions in her group.

The more closely he examined, the more full of bizarre points it was.

The 3 bulky ones were merely watching with their arms crossed from behind, and the other 3, including Madame Ryeo, were breaking the restriction with dark expressions.

That sight was… similar to Jin So-myeong employing his clone.

‘What kind of situation is that again?’

At that moment when he was flying slowly while maintaining his concealment technique.

One of the three with arms crossed in the back. His gaze met with the muscular giant who looked the strongest at a glance.

‘…What a quite sensitive fellow.’

The current distance between Jin So-myeong and the giant was roughly 2 km.

It was a considerably long distance to notice concealment. Especially in a secret realm where Divine Sense was restricted, it was even more so.

“Everyone, stop. A distinguished guest has visited.”

The moment the giant spoke in a voice carrying spiritual power. The three who were breaking the restriction came to an abrupt halt.

The gazes of the six swarmed over.

Observing them one by one, his eyes naturally met with Madame Ryeo’s as well, and her expressionless pupils moved minutely from side to side.

That movement, which felt like shaking her head, was like a warning.

‘Hmm…’

At that moment when Jin So-myeong, who was stroking his chin, was thinking of something.

The giant with a height of three meters smiled broadly and gestured.

“Fellow Daoist. How about coming over here and having a talk? It is not as if we must fight just because it is a secret realm, is it?”

It was a kind tone contrary to his rugged appearance.

If there were no familiar faces, he would have just ignored it and left, but curiosity caught his footsteps.

After contemplating for a moment, he made a decision.

“A talk… very well.”

“Oh, what a bold person. I am Wi Mun-seok, the Great Elder of the Dragon Elephant Demonic Palace.”

The moment the distance narrowed and their respective Divine Senses touched.

Madame Ryeo’s voice transmission flew over as if shot.

– Flee immediately! That Wi Mun-seok is a Spell and Body Dual Cultivator who is in the late Golden Core stage and has even mastered body tempering!

Jin So-myeong, who paused, examined the giant with his Divine Sense.

At the words “Spell and Body Dual Cultivator,” competitiveness along with interest welled up.

This was because a late Golden Core cultivator who trained both body and energy simultaneously would be the strongest among the cultivators he had encountered, excluding those of the Nascent Soul stage.

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