Chapter 140: The Best Day of My Life

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Today was the best day of his life.

The Young Master of the Thousand Corpses Sect thought so.

Should he say he felt like his life was heading toward its peak? In any case, there was no hope for a Nascent Soul. Having achieved the Golden Core stage was enough.

During the three hundred years of remaining lifespan, only reigning as a ruler and enjoying life remained. If there was a remaining task, was it selecting a woman of good aptitude to bear children and raising a successor?

The Young Master, who was imagining a sweet future, cleared his throat.

In any case, since it was currently in the midst of the Golden Core Grand Assembly, there was a task to do. Namely, it was to pressure the elder of the Medicine King Sect.

“Fellow Daoist Seomun. Thank you for visiting my Golden Core Grand Assembly, but why did you come alone? At the very least, you should have brought Cheong Hwa-ran. Call her even now.”

The corner of the Medicine King Sect elder Seomun Jin’s eye twitched.

“…Why on earth would Hwa-ran come here?”

“Haha, even so, since I who have reached the Golden Core stage even proposed, if she intends to reject, isn’t it at least polite to speak directly while facing each other?”

“Hwa-ran is in seclusion, so it is difficult.”

Seeing the Medicine King Sect elder, whom he normally would have had to serve with respect, in a fluster, a thrilling joy surged up his spine.

‘Khehehe. This is fun.’

Was he angry because a newly minted Golden Core cultivator called him Fellow Daoist without warning? Perhaps it was because he dragged Cheong Hwa-ran into it.

In any case, the Medicine King Sect elder, despite being so angry that even his earlobes turned red, could not say a word.

Those sent by the Golden Core righteous sects ruling the Damun Kingdom were the same. Every single one of them merely wore uncomfortable expressions and could not even open their mouths.

It was because of the Black Night Palace’s Great Elder who sat on a luxurious chair in the back and watched.

‘Honestly, although I worry about the aftermath…’

It could not be helped. Pressuring and squeezing the Medicine King Sect now was an order handed down by the Black Night Palace.

“Fellow Daoist Seomun. You committed a discourtesy to Senior Eumwol, did you not? In exchange for forgiving that, we asked a small favor…is this difficult? It is a matter that ends just by calling Cheong Hwa-ran to this place and exchanging a few words of blessing.”

“Did I not say she is in seclusion? Our Medicine King Sect does not disturb a disciple in seclusion.”

The Young Master narrowed his eyes. Honestly, dragging Cheong Hwa-ran in tenaciously now was to sound out her value as estimated by the Medicine King Sect.

This was because only by knowing just how much talent she, who was called the future of the Medicine King Sect, possessed could they decide whether to assassinate her even by forcing it, or to get close.

‘I heard Cheong Hwa-ran is still at the Foundation Establishment stage… it is certainly suspicious. For a Golden Core elder to shelter her to this extent.’

He glanced and turned his gaze. It was to receive instructions from the Black Night Palace Great Elder, and a wink telling him to keep pressuring returned.

Just as the Young Master, who nodded slightly, was about to say something.

Rumble…!

The formation protecting the Thousand Corpses Sect broke.

“P-Patriarch! We have a big problem!”

A disciple who ran in a hurry sent a Voice Transmission to the Thousand Corpses Sect Patriarch, and upon hearing the report, the Patriarch’s face darkened noticeably.

“The main gate is shattered…?”

At that moment, the Yin Moon Old Devil let out a sneer.

“An ill fate has come looking? Has some fool come to take revenge?”

It seemed that, as expected of a Nascent Soul stage expert, he had overheard all the Voice Transmissions shared by the low-level cultivators. The extremely tense Thousand Corpses Sect Patriarch immediately bowed his waist.

“I am sorry for causing you concern. I will handle it immediately.”

“Enough. I want to see just what kind of thing it is. I shall see if he can act arrogantly even in front of this seat. Tell him to come!”

The Yin Moon Old Devil, who shouted heartily, winced and stood up abruptly.

A certain direction.

To be precise, he began to glare toward the entrance of the Thousand Corpses Sect, as if he had detected something with his vast Nascent Soul-grade Divine Sense…

*

Meanwhile.

Jin So-myeong was crossing the Thousand Corpses Sect openly.

“S-Senior! Since we’ve contacted the inside, someone will come out to greet you soon. Please wait just a moment!”

Hundreds of Thousand Corpses Sect disciples swarmed over and gabbled something, but he ignored them all.

Enveloped in the wind raised by the Wind Transformation Body Force, he merely walked forward.

While killing everyone who stood in his way.

Today was not for having conversations. By the time he had cut down late Foundation Establishment stage experts called elders about twice, there was no longer anyone blocking his path.

Walking along a path shown by a kind disciple, he fell into thought.

‘The River and Cloud Sword Art is still at the Mastery stage…’

To put it in concrete values, his proficiency was 2.97 million. Roughly 30,000 remained until Minor Success, but no matter how much he cultivated, the final 30,000 was not filled.

It was as if he had hit a wall.

The sense of perceiving space also had no results. The bowl was filled long ago, but it did not overflow.

However, it was fine.

After splitting the main gate of the Thousand Corpses Sect, he somehow felt relieved. A feeling of having cast away a heavy burden that pressed down on his shoulders. He got a vague feeling that everything would go well.

In fact, the current situation was not solely good.

‘If I kill the Young Master, it will be known that I am Yeo Dong-bin.’

It would draw the attention of the mysterious organization that treated Hong Seol…whom he inwardly regarded as his master…as a rebel, the powerful faction that employed Golden Core cultivators like foot soldiers.

That hidden dangers existed, he was fully aware of all of it. Nevertheless, he came to this place.

‘It’s about time I find out who is trying to kill me.’

The Thousand Corpses Sect’s Young Master was a bait.

In the first place, killing the fellow was not difficult at all. If he wished, he could have assassinated him without leaving a single trace.

It was because he was not afraid of coming openly.

‘Hmm?’

Suddenly, a musty smell grazed the tip of his nose, and he turned his gaze to the surrounding scenery.

Gorgeous blossoms filled all directions, and bees that had been sitting on colorful flower buds flew around diligently.

At a glance, it was like a well-managed, bright garden, but viewed with Nascent Soul-grade Divine Sense, it was different.

‘They are all corpses.’

Beneath the petals where transparent dew formed, if one went down along the stem to the root, a corpse was buried. Even the bees flying busily here and there on the hill were corpses.

How long did he walk through the rotten odor emitted by embalmed flesh?

He was able to arrive at a palace as gorgeous and grand as if built of gold.

*Boom!*

As he blew away the main gate with the Yin-Yang Great Hand Seal and entered the palace, numerous gazes focused on him. One of them was particularly stinging.

‘As expected, it was the Nascent Soul stage.’

Although he did not know why, a Nascent Soul stage expert was positioned in the Thousand Corpses Sect. He had already detected it through his Divine Sense, but seeing it with his eyes made it even surer.

Because he had researched things related to the Damun Kingdom in advance, he could recognize who he was.

Looking at his skin covered with age spots, his mouse-like appearance, and his displeased glare with his wrinkled mouth tightly shut, he seemed to be the Great Elder of the Black Night Palace, the Yin Moon Old Devil.

The old man, who scowled and looked in this direction, clicked his tongue.

“I got tense for nothing. Although you are merely a Golden Core cultivator, your Divine Sense is quite something. I thought a Nascent Soul stage Fellow Daoist had visited.”

The Yin Moon Old Devil burst into a hearty laugh. Burying his body deeply into a luxurious chair decorated with dragons, he waved his hand as if chasing flies.

“You came to take revenge? Do as you please.”

Had he felt relieved after confirming he was a Golden Core cultivator?

As he met the eyes of the old man leaning back on the chair almost lying down, it was obvious what thoughts he had.

Would a fellow like you dare even draw a sword in front of me? Let us see, do it if you can.

It was roughly this kind of feeling, but…

He merely smiled.

Nascent Soul stage or whatever, what did it matter to him. If the Yin Moon Old Devil blocked him, it was rather welcome.

‘He is the perfect opponent.’

While having thoughts that others would treat him like a madman if they heard,

He drew his sword.

“Uh…?”

The Young Master, who grasped the situation too late, stepped back in hesitation and shouted.

“W-wait! Fellow Daoist, calm down! Just who are you to claim to be my enemy?”

“Yeo Dong-bin. Do you remember?”

“…What! You are Yeo Dong-bin? How could a fellow whose realm was lower than mine have already reached the late Golden Core stage!”

The Young Master, who screamed back, winced. He was terrified, as if he had finally grasped the situation.

The sword cultivator he had once persecuted had returned as a late Golden Core expert. It was a major event where it wouldn’t be strange even if he died right now.

The Young Master, who was backing away awkwardly, snapped his gaze around.

“S-Senior! Please help me! That impudent thing drew his sword in front of Senior!”

He stared at the Yin Moon Old Devil earnestly, his face full of signs of asking for help. But the Yin Moon Old Devil merely sat on the dragon throne as if enjoying a young child’s tricks.

Soon, everyone’s gaze concentrated on Jin So-myeong.

Will he truly swing his sword? In front of a Nascent Soul stage expert?

No way, surely not.

Doubt, ridicule arising from seeing someone in trouble, absurdity felt from watching a foolish person, and even a faint anticipation.

Numerous emotions poured down in a blend.

However, Jin So-myeong did not care. Since what he intended to do was identical from beginning to end.

“I told you clearly back then: I will definitely be the one to kill you.”

“Yeo Dong-bin. No, Fellow Daoist. Let us calm down and resolve it through conversation. I was definitely in the wrong back then. Since you must have much resentment, I will compensate you. So we…”

He merely swung his sword toward the enemy,

And a crescent-moon-like slash sliced through the Young Master who was gibbering useless words.

“I am telling you only now: my name is not Yeo Dong-bin, but Jin So-myeong.”

The Young Master, who wore a dumbfounded expression as if looking at an incomprehensible lunatic, bobbed his mouth, but no voice came out.

The red thin line descending along his forehead connected all the way to his newly formed Golden Core.

*Thud.*

The small noise generated as the vertically split corpse collapsed, and the fishy smell of blood. That was all the Young Master left behind in the world.

“…”

The gathering fell into silence.

“Ugh, my son!”

Except, that is, for the Thousand Corpses Sect Patriarch who, having doubted it would happen, truly lost his child absurdly and was screaming at the top of his lungs.

Just then.

Jin So-myeong was in the midst of enjoying a sense of liberation stemming from sheer gratification.

Both the Nascent Soul stage expert glaring right in front of him, and the mysterious organization that would be targeting him from somewhere.

He forgot all of it.

What was important to him now was only the new realm he had reached by taking a step forward.

As the wall blocking his front crumbled without a trace, the River and Cloud Sword Art reached Minor Success. The roughly 30,000 remaining proficiency lost meaning at this moment.

Something accumulated through decades of hard cultivation, how to possess even sharper Sword Qi, what to fill to ascend to the next stage.

The numerous questions piled up step by step became seeds and bloomed flowers.

*Whoosh!*

The Sword Qi entered a new domain. A cluster of light resembling starlight dwelled in the translucent sharp energy that enveloped the sword in a glass-film form.

“Sword Qi Forming Gang!”

Someone shouted in shock.

The proof of a sword cultivator who reached the realm, that which people commonly called Sword Gang. The peak of sharpness that sliced even Sword Qi like a sheet of paper was manifested in this place.

“You bastard!”

The Thousand Corpses Sect Patriarch, whose reason flew away upon losing his child before his eyes, raised his spiritual power.

Rumble!

The earth shook as if an earthquake had occurred, and the marble floor of the palace shattered, scattering dust.

Hundreds and thousands of Jiangshi buried in the ground popped out and rushed toward Jin So-myeong.

Although it was a rage that was even pitiful at a glance, it had no meaning.

The ten sword cultivators appearing in the empty air…Jin So-myeong’s clones…swept away the Jiangshi while enveloped in lightning.

Subsequently, they rushed toward the Thousand Corpses Sect Patriarch who tried to scream something.

“…!”

Startled by the sight of them swinging swords first without a single word, the Patriarch rolled his body on the ground. He narrowly avoided the first sword strike, but his left arm was severed by the second sword, and his neck was flown off by the subsequent third sword.

Until the Thousand Corpses Sect Patriarch who raised Jiangshi and launched a surprise attack died.

Jin So-myeong did not even spare a glance. All his nerves were focused solely on the Yin Moon Old Devil.

And the same went for the Yin Moon Old Devil.

“You…”

Giving not even a shred of attention to the Thousand Corpses Sect father and son who had become corpses, he only stared at Jin So-myeong.

“You are indeed a talent who will reach the heavens. It is a waste to kill you. If you say you will become this seat’s disciple, I will spare your life.”

“You are telling me to become your disciple?”

Jin So-myeong, who burst into laughter, shook his head.

The Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye. With eyes harboring brilliant lightning, he looked directly at the Yin Moon Old Devil.

“Old man. Stop gibbering words you don’t mean in your heart. You’re desperate to kill me, so what disciple are you talking about.”

The moment the word “old man” came out, sounds of sharp gasps were heard here and there. Several cautious individuals even slunk away to widen their distance, fearing they might suffer anger for no reason.

The Yin Moon Old Devil did not get angry. Rather, he curled up the corners of his mouth and made a bright smile wide enough to reveal his yellow teeth.

“Euhehehe! I do not know since when the name value of this seat fell so much. In the past, I would have given you a proper discipline… Sigh, perhaps because I’ve aged, it is bothersome. Just die.”

A light hand gesture followed in a tone that seemed to declare truth, naturally believing it would be so.

*Crack!*

Moisture condensed in the empty air froze and grew in size in an instant. Becoming a ten-meter-long sharp spear, it aimed toward between his eyebrows…

*Shik…* Along with a short sound of piercing the air, it appeared right before his forehead.

There was no intermediate process. The ice spear that flew across the empty air was right before piercing through his forehead.

While a typical Golden Core cultivator would have died without even being able to react, Jin So-myeong was different.

He stepped back while enveloped in dazzling lightning and simultaneously swung his sword.

The moment the spear that flew twisting space and the sword enveloped in lightning collided.

—!

A roar transcending the limit a human could hear slammed over as a shockwave.

The gorgeous palace, the home the Thousand Corpses Sect Patriarch had raised with all his heart, could not withstand the aftermath of the collision of Nascent Soul-grade blows and turned to powder.

The mountain peak where the palace had been built collapsed entirely and became a large crater.

“What…!”

“He blocked it?”

The numerous Golden Core merchants who were swept away and flown by the shockwave were astounded.

Evenly matched.

It was the result of the collision between Jin So-myeong and the Yin Moon Old Devil.

Although it was merely a single spear thrown as if probing, it was nevertheless a Nascent Soul-grade blow. Yet he blocked it head-on.

“Ha.”

Just once. With merely exchanging the first blow, the Yin Moon Old Devil’s attitude changed abruptly.

The smirk as if looking at a greenhorn was completely erased. As if resolved to exert full strength from the beginning, he immediately pulled out a Rank 4 Spiritual Treasure…a mirror enveloped in gray mist.

And,

Jin So-myeong utilized that gap to consume a pill.

He consumed the Rank 4 pill, the Extreme Fire Spirit-Ascending Pill, which was said to allow one to momentarily exhibit Nascent Soul-grade combat power.

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