Chapter 134: To the Southern Province, Returning to His Hometown

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes! It is all a misunderstanding!”

Jin So-myeong burst into a hollow laugh. While casting the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, he swept his eyes across the surroundings and spoke.

“What a joke. Although I don’t know formations well, my eyes are quite good. The formation you installed doesn’t seem to be for those fools who learned demonic techniques, but to suppress me and Fellow Daoist Wu instead?”

“That is,”

“Besides, after trying to ambush me, what misunderstanding are you talking about. Don’t make an unsightly scene and wait quietly. I will kill you when the time comes.”

Just as Im So-un became as mute as if he had eaten honey.

“Cheong-hwi!”

Wu Yeong-jin, who had rescued the woman held as a hostage before anyone knew it, opened his eyes wide. Although he hurriedly treated her wounds, his face contorted violently, making it clearly felt how enraged he was.

“Pa… Patriarch. Over there, over there…”

Mumbling weakly, she pointed to the corpse of the man in blue. The beast-taming pouch was where her trembling fingertips were pointing.

“Ah!”

Blood vessels stood out in Wu Yeong-jin’s eyes as he checked the beast-taming pouch.

Revealing the anger that soared to the top of his head entirely, he glared at Im So-un as if he would kill him.

“You…! How dare this bastard who deserves to die!”

At the incredibly clear killing intent, the complexion of Im So-un, who had been muttering only the word “misunderstanding” like a broken doll, turned pale.

Stepping back as if terrified, he shouted with difficulty as if trying to clear his clogged throat.

“If you kill me! My master, who is in the Nascent Soul stage, will be angry! Regain your composure as a patriarch!”

“Ha.”

Seeing this cheekiness carried to the extreme, he could only admire it. Was blackmail next after the nonsense about a misunderstanding?

Of course, not a single bit of the fellow’s nonsense worked.

The killing intent Wu Yeong-jin emitted remained the same, and Jin So-myeong merely shook his head as if looking at a pathetic fellow.

At that cold reaction, as if intuiting the future that would soon unfold, Im So-un bellowed frantically.

“What are you all doing! If you want to live, flee immediately!”

Simultaneously with shouting at the demonic cultivators who were standing stupidly and only watching the mood,

He stirred his spiritual power to generate a Qi barrier and hurriedly fumbled in his bosom to pull out a pill, trying to swallow it.

However…

It was a meaningless struggle.

The moment Jin So-myeong swung his sword,

*Crunch!*

The Qi barrier shattered without buying even a fraction of a second, and the Sword Qi, which flew at a speed that could not even be seen, stopped right in front of his forehead.

“…!”

The eyes of Im So-un, who was completely suppressed in a single move, were dyed with despair. That was even while he was in a state where he had not been able to swallow the pill he desperately pulled out.

“No, you don’t!”

Jin So-myeong stirred his spiritual power and snatched away the pill the fellow was holding preciously.

‘What kind of pill is this to make him act like this?’

It was a pill engraved with four dragons wrapped in flames, and when touched, it was as hot as a pebble heated by fire.

‘It’s a Rank 4 pill.’

Jin So-myeong, who was estimating the level of spiritual Qi condensed in the pill, turned his gaze.

Looking at Wu Yeong-jin, who had dealt with all the demonic cultivators trying to flee using the opportunity, he asked.

“Would you happen to recognize what kind of pill this is?”

“…It is the Extreme Fire Spirit-Ascending Pill. That was a close call.”

“A close call?”

“It is a pill that, when consumed by a late Golden Core cultivator, allows them to exhibit Nascent Soul-grade power for a very brief moment.”

“Nascent Soul-grade…? What about the side effects?”

“Naturally, they are at a terrible level. I heard that one must do nothing but concentrate on recovery for at least twenty years.”

Oh, Jin So-myeong let out a small exclamation and turned his gaze.

Looking at Im So-un, who was clenching his teeth as if something was so unfair, he thought.

‘He did say he is the chief disciple of a Rank 4 elixir refiner, so he is quite something. To think he would even possess such a pill.’

How strong would he have become if he had consumed the Extreme Fire Spirit-Ascending Pill?

He wanted to have a clash, but he had no intention of giving him a chance.

After putting away the Extreme Fire Spirit-Ascending Pill for now, he spoke to Wu Yeong-jin, who was treating the people he pulled out from the beast-taming pouch.

“Do you happen to need pills for recovery?”

“Ah… I will not decline.”

When he brought out some of the healing elixirs piled like a mountain in his sub-space, Wu Yeong-jin’s expression brightened slightly.

“Every single one is of the highest grade. Thank you very much.”

Bowing his head to express his gratitude, he hurriedly treated the exhausted people.

‘Are they the family members of the Wu Family?’

Although they were covered in wounds all over their bodies as if they had undergone harsh torture, fortunately, there were no people critically ill enough to die.

Watching the people groaning as if in pain and falling asleep as soon as first aid was completed, he clicked his tongue.

Looking at Im So-un, who was unable to budge with his forehead suppressed by the Sword Qi, he spoke.

“Try making an excuse. Why did you do it?”

“I said it is all a misunderstanding… Argh!”

Sword Qi that flew without a sound severed a chunk of the fellow’s left fingers.

“Why did you do it?”

When he asked again in the same tone, Im So-un, whose fingers from the middle to the ring finger were completely blown away, hurriedly shouted.

“The Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb! I did it to snatch the Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb!”

As expected, it was an utterly pathetic reason.

“Unseemly fellow. To think you kidnapped people just to commit mere robbery. The time you spent cultivating to the Golden Core stage is a waste. Tsk tsk.”

Was the blatant criticism unpleasant to hear? A faint killing intent flashed in the corner of Im So-un’s eyes and then disappeared.

‘What a funny fellow.’

He was unnecessarily good at acting. Despite harboring killing intent, he was outwardly very polite. Looking at the fellow trembling with downcast eyes, Jin So-myeong spoke.

“Give me even a single reason why I shouldn’t kill you.”

“…Yes? If you kill me, my master, who is in the Nascent Soul stage, will be enraged.”

“I don’t know whether you are stupid or shameless. In this kind of situation, whether your master is in the Nascent Soul stage or not, do you think I would care about such a thing?”

Im So-un, whose mouth fell wide open, shouted urgently.

“Elixir refining! My elixir refining is quite usable! If you only spare my life, I will serve the Wu Family and Senior for twenty years!”

“How could I trust and consume a pill made by a mere kidnapper. Naturally, I won’t eat it.”

“Th-then, thirty years of service…”

“It is useless to increase the period. I said I don’t trust the pills you make in the first place, didn’t I?”

The hesitating fellow made increasingly unconventional offers.

“I will steal the secret manuals of the Heavenly Elixir Sect.”

“No need.”

He was in a state where he would offer himself as a slave entirely, but without even a second thought, Jin So-myeong rejected them all.

How many times had he rejected? The clenched fist trembled violently.

Im So-un glared as if asking if he was teasing him, and in fact, it was true. He was just teasing him.

Wu Yeong-jin, who had treated all the family members before anyone knew it, approached and spoke.

“Fellow Daoist Jin. Please leave him to me. With the Soul-Tracing Art I have learned, I should be able to find out everything about what thoughts brought him here.”

“W-what! Fellow Daoist Wu! Get a grip! As the family head, you shouldn’t do that! Are you not even afraid of my master’s wrath!”

Im So-un, shocked out of wits, screamed back, but they ignored him.

“Please do so. In the first place, I kept this fellow alive for Fellow Daoist Wu to vent his anger.”

“…Thank you.”

Some time later.

Im So-un, who was tormented by the Soul-Tracing Art until he became an idiot, drew his last breath, and Wu Yeong-jin spoke with a relieved expression.

“Fortunately, Perfected Red Heaven is said to be unrelated to this matter. It was something Im So-un committed alone.”

It was also said that the command to harvest spiritual herbs from the Valley of Lost Souls and Dead Spirits was entirely a lie.

“Does Perfected Red Heaven know nothing at all?”

“Yes. He doesn’t even know we visited the Heavenly Elixir Sect. However, since his chief disciple has died, an investigation will begin soon. Then it will be known that we met Im So-un several times…”

“It might be fine for a short while, but it will be revealed someday. How do you think Perfected Red Heaven will react?”

“Sigh, whatever is said, his disciple has died, so he will likely try to take revenge.”

Wu Yeong-jin let out deep sighs. As Jin So-myeong was alone, he could just leave, but for someone with a family like him, it would be troublesome.

After contemplating for a moment, he spoke.

“Since things have turned out this way, how about crossing over to the Southern Province?”

“The Southern Province?”

“Yes. I heard there is the Medicine King Sect, an elixir refining sect comparable to the Heavenly Elixir Sect, over there.”

“The Medicine King Sect…”

To Wu Yeong-jin, who was contemplating with a serious expression, he spoke in an intentionally light tone.

“Contemplate slowly, and let us first split the harvest we obtained today.”

“Yes? Splitting the harvest? No. Please just take it all, Fellow Daoist Jin. If not for you, my family and I wouldn’t have been safe today.”

***

A flying vessel larger than most cities, a super-large transport ship with over twenty thousand cabins, departed from Vast Wilderness Immortal City.

Operated by the Myriad Treasures Tower, a Nascent Soul-grade merchant guild, its destination was the Southern Province beyond the Dead Soul Wilderness.

Since there were over twenty thousand guest rooms, there were numerous passengers, and a portion of them included the Wu Family and Jin So-myeong.

“My name is Yeon Cho-ah, and I will be serving Senior on this flight. If you have any discomforts, please tell me. I will handle them immediately.”

At the stout words of the Qi Condensation girl who had a round face shape, Jin So-myeong smiled slightly.

“Did you say it takes ten years to arrive in the Southern Province?”

“Yes. However, if a problem occurs while crossing the Dead Soul Wilderness, it may take three to five years more.”

“I understand. I will call you if needed, so go and rest.”

“Please call me at any time.”

The girl, who bowed her waist deeply to the point of her hair swaying, left, and Jin So-myeong fell into thought.

‘She clearly doesn’t even look twenty, yet she boarded this flying vessel as a crew member.’

The time it took to reach the Southern Province was at least ten years. It meant that girl would spend more than half of the life she had lived on the flying vessel.

‘Well… since she belongs to the Myriad Treasures Tower, a Nascent Soul-grade merchant guild, she must have received appropriate compensation.’

Although he felt a bit sorry for her, he thought it must be her own choice.

Then, touring the cabin, Jin So-myeong nodded his head in satisfaction.

‘Even though it is a room inside a flying vessel, the density of spiritual Qi is incredibly thick.’

In terms of spiritual veins, it was at Rank 3 mid-grade. Since it was at the same level as the cave dwelling he had rented in Vast Wilderness Immortal City, though it was not abundant, it did not hinder his cultivation.

Of course, there was no actual spiritual vein on the flying vessel. A special spiritual object that produced spiritual Qi was probably installed.

‘Fortunately. I was worried because the time to go to the Southern Province took too long.’

Thanks to renting the most expensive and best cabin, which was rich in spiritual Qi, he could cultivate without wasting his travel time.

‘By the way, how long has it been since I returned to my hometown?’

Groping through his memories, it had been roughly close to forty years since he left his hometown, the Southern Province.

‘I wonder what happened to Red Yang Market…’

Back in the days of the 1st layer of Foundation Establishment, he had ended up going to Sky Island as if chased, but before he knew it, he had reached the late Golden Core stage.

Deeply moved anew, he tried to recall his connections from the Qi Condensation days, but ridiculously, most of them were enemies.

‘There was also that deacon who used to rip away pieces of spirit stones I had gathered with difficulty under the pretext of rent.’

What would happen if they met now?

Wouldn’t he shed tears of regret? Although he was curious about what expression he would make… as he wasn’t an enemy to the extent of going out of his way to find and punish him, it was also bothersome.

It was not that there were only ill fates. There were also decent connections.

The elixir refiner he had met in the Red Cloud Secret Realm. She, who had the name Cheong Hwa-ran, had made a Rank 1 Longevity-Extending Pill for him.

‘Although it was merely a simple transaction.’

Smirking, Jin So-myeong recalled the events he had experienced in his hometown one by one.

‘Enough. Let’s make a cultivation plan.’

It would take at least ten years until arriving in the Southern Province. He needed to organize his thoughts on how to cultivate.

【Jin So-myeong】

【Lifespan】: 57 / 702

【Realm】: Golden Core 7th layer

【Supreme Great Ability】: 1.32 million / 1.6 million

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

【Cultivation Methods】

Five Elements Qi Condensation Art (Mastery 10,000 / 1 million)

Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art (Minor Success 10,000 / 4 billion)

Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art (Minor Success 10,000 / 20 billion)

【Spells】

Wind Control Art (Minor Success 10,000 / 300 million)

River and Cloud Sword Art (Mastery 2.76 million / 3 million)

Immortal-Severing Earth Art (Minor Success 10,000 / 500 million)

Thousand Transformations Art (Mastery 10,000 / 10 million)

Lightning Escape Art (Minor Success 10,000 / 10 billion)

Wind Transformation Body Force (Expert 10,000 / 2 million)

Yin-Yang Great Hand Seal (Expert 10,000 / 3 million)

Hundred Battles Mind-Splitting Art (Initiate 10,000 / 10 million)

【Arts】

Rank 3 Spiritual Crop Art (Expert 150,000 / 1 million)

Rank 3 Elixir Refining Art (Initiate 200,000 / 2 million)

After the Lightning Escape Art reached Minor Success.

There was almost no change in proficiency over the past year. This was because there was a place where he had spent his Supreme Great Ability separately.

‘I’ll think about that matter later…’

Glimpsing slowly at the status window, he got a feeling of what he should do.

‘I should raise the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art to Minor Success first.’

The moment he made up his mind. The proficiency, which was as much as one million, was filled at once.

Five Elements Qi Condensation Art (Minor Success 1 / 1 billion)

The change that occurred as the cultivation method reached Minor Success was simple yet powerful.

His talent for feeling and handling the five elements improved.

The power of all related spells increased, and as he became able to harmonize with the surrounding energy, his concealment ability improved.

Although it was not a cultivation method he had trained properly, he was satisfied because the effect was good.

‘Come to think of it, the one who distributed the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art was the Star-Shattering True Monarch.’

The first immortal who had descended two hundred thousand years ago. He had introduced himself as the Star-Shattering True Monarch.

Yet, the Soul Formation stage sword cultivator who had cut and killed the imugi in the desert last time was also called the Star-Shattering True Monarch.

‘Could it be the same person?’

If so, had the sword mark in the Dead Soul Wilderness remained for a period of as much as two hundred thousand years?

Or was it simply a person with the same title?

Jin So-myeong, who was lost in thought, shook his head.

Although he was curious, since there was nothing he could know right now, he decided to concentrate on cultivation.

The highest priority goal was naturally the 9th layer of the Golden Core stage, and then the Nascent Soul stage.

However, since it was not something that could be done in a day or two, he needed a target to aim for in the middle.

‘Should I focus on the sword for this cultivation?’

River and Cloud Sword Art (Mastery 2.76 million / 3 million)

‘I wonder if ten years will be enough?’

Although only 240,000 remained until Minor Success, training it directly was extremely difficult. This was because as the proficiency approached the maximum value, raising even a single point of proficiency became harder.

‘For swordsmanship, I will do as much as I can for now, and during the remaining time, I must learn elixir refining.’

Although there would be a talented Rank 4 elixir refiner if he went to the Medicine King Sect in the Southern Province, he could not just rely on that.

To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, he decided to acquire the skill to directly make the Nascent Condensation Pill.

‘I will be busy for a while.’

Recalling the things to do during the ten years he would be on the flying vessel, Jin So-myeong wore a smile.

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