Chapter 144: Treasures Obtained from the Nascent Soul-Grade Storage Pouch
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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The Yin Moon Old Devil was a Nascent Soul stage expert who practiced demonic cultivation methods. As such, not all items were useful.
At the pile of insect corpses piled almost like a mountain, he clicked his tongue naturally.
‘It seems the Yin Moon Old Devil was also raising spiritual insects.’
Apparently, as the owner died, the restrictions backlashed, causing the raised spiritual insects to all die out.
However, according to what Jin So-myeong investigated, there was no information that the Yin Moon Old Devil commanded spiritual insects.
‘Was it perhaps a trump card?’
Perhaps these spiritual insects were the final resort possessed by the Yin Moon Old Devil. However, because he died too abruptly, he could not even pull out the spiritual insects… so he must have been full of resentment even while going to the afterlife.
‘Let us pack them for now.’
In any case, they were the corpses of Rank 4 spiritual insects. Although they were garbage to Jin So-myeong, they would be treasures to someone, so they might be used usefully someday.
So that the energy contained in the spiritual insect corpses would not escape, he carefully sealed them in a jade box and continued organizing his sub-space.
‘There are quite a few Rank 3 magic treasures too.’
Although there were too many to count even combining all his fingers, most were items related to demonic cultivation methods, so nothing caught his fancy.
Just as he smacked his lips in regret.
He discovered a flat dish the size of a washbasin. It contained a light green flame, emitting heat that somehow gave off a chilly feeling.
‘…A Rank 4 flame?’
Hurriedly casting the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye divine ability, he confirmed that it was indeed a Rank 4 flame.
However, if one stared at it quietly, wails of ghosts resounded in one’s ears, and the thing emitting a sinister aura was a demonic flame, a fire of the demonic path.
Although it was a pity, such a fire was unsuitable to use when refining the Nascent Condensation Pill.
Just in case, he searched through a jade slip to find its identity. Unfortunately, it was indeed a Rank 4 demonic flame called the Black Net Demonic Flame.
Torturing souls to make them submit, or softening them to be suitable as ingredients, and so forth. It was a flame mainly used for evil purposes.
‘Tsk.’
Clicking his tongue as he tried to put it away, he paused.
As he observed the Black Net Demonic Flame with the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, a new use suddenly came to mind.
He immediately wrapped a portion of the flame in spiritual power and separated it.
Afterwards, he consumed the Supreme Great Abilities that were recovering little by little to purify the demonic flame, but…
‘It works?’
The light green demonic flame gradually became clear and transparent.
However, now it was more accurate to say that it had become a crystal of pure energy rather than a flame. If he did not wrap it with spiritual power, it would disperse into the atmosphere right away.
Because it was an energy with high volatility, it was difficult to use for pill refining, but the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye suggested a different use.
The moment he guided the perfectly purified energy into the flame residing around his dantian, the Rank 4 flame derived from the Extreme Fire Spirit-Ascending Pill.
*Whoosh!*
Although it was very little, the flame that was so weak that it was right on the verge of vanishing definitely grew larger. Thanks to the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, he discovered a way to revive the dying flame.
‘Oh.’
The Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye was useful in battle, but it also had many uses in ordinary times. Befitting a divine ability manifested from the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art that reached Minor Success by filling 20 million proficiency, it was extremely powerful.
‘Does this mean I have obtained all the preparations necessary for refining the Nascent Condensation Pill?’
His fists clenched naturally. Now, what remained was merely to practice pill refining and build up his skills.
He was so satisfied that he felt full, yet many treasures still remained.
‘A painting?’
A landscape painting capturing a mountain range composed of sharp cliffs.
The mountain range where fierce winds blew gave off a magnificent feeling, and the dark sky was filled with dark clouds, making it seem as if heavy rain would pour down at any moment.
Seeing the condensed energy, it was a Rank 4 Spiritual Treasure, but inspecting it closely revealed it was an unfinished product.
The Myriad Thunder Sky-Blending Painting.
Thanks to discovering the blueprint, he could know what function the Spiritual Treasure possessed.
‘It is a lightning-attribute Rank 4 mid-grade Spiritual Treasure.’
Once completed, it was a powerful Spiritual Treasure capable of dyeing the entire sky with a storm of lightning strikes. Moreover, it was said that one who practiced a lightning-attribute cultivation method could even enter the painting to cultivate.
‘…Not bad?’
Why did he leave such a good Spiritual Treasure unfinished? Examining the blueprint revealed the reason.
The Yin Moon Old Devil’s main cultivation method was dealing with ghosts, which was incompatible with lightning.
Although he coveted the unique, powerful strength of lightning strikes, because it was an attribute unsuitable for himself, he had tried to modify the Myriad Thunder Sky-Blending Painting to his own taste.
However, to do so, he needed a lightning spiritual object derived from Yin energy.
‘Yin-attribute lightning? Such materials are difficult to obtain.’
For example, just how much lightning beneficial to ghosts existed in the world? Naturally, it was an extremely rare material.
Ultimately, the Yin Moon Old Devil failed to obtain Yin-attribute lightning and had no choice but to leave the Myriad Thunder Sky-Blending Painting in an unfinished state.
‘It is a good thing for me.’
Jin So-myeong, who practiced the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, did not care what lightning it was. Merely making it according to the original blueprint was enough for him to use it fully.
‘Shall I try making it?’
Completing the Myriad Thunder Sky-Blending Painting, a Rank 4 mid-grade Spiritual Treasure, would be of great assistance when fighting against a Nascent Soul.
As he examined the blueprint and counted the necessary materials, he paused.
‘…No. What is the point of making it now? Anyway, because my spiritual power is insufficient, I won’t even be able to use it properly.’
How much care and effort would it take to create a Rank 4 Spiritual Treasure? At least ten years would be consumed.
If he concentrated on cultivation during that time, he could become a Golden Core 9th layer.
Ugly tools aside, cultivating to raise his realm would naturally make him stronger anyway. He could not neglect cultivation by obsessing over the outcome of becoming stronger for no reason.
For a moment, he almost fell into the temptation offered by a powerful tool, but he shook his head to regain his composure.
He put aside his interest in the Myriad Thunder Sky-Blending Painting. He decided to look into it again after achieving the Nascent Soul stage.
‘I should soak it in the Jade Light Spring. Since it is of the same lightning attribute, it will be helpful.’
Just as he put the Myriad Thunder Sky-Blending Painting in the lightning-attribute spiritual spring inside the Secret Realm of the Mind and tried to leave, he paused.
It was due to the blue egg he had placed near the Jade Light Spring.
‘Mmh… it also feels like it grew somewhat larger?’
Perhaps thanks to absorbing the lightning Qi flowing out from the Jade Light Spring, the blue spots on the egg’s surface felt darker.
Observing the egg with the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, he felt like he knew what and how he should do for it.
He moved the egg, which had been placed at a distance of 320 meters from the Jade Light Spring, to a closer place, around 130 meters.
‘What kind of spiritual beast will be born?’
Stroking the egg where faint lightning flickered, he stepped out of the Secret Realm of the Mind.
He continued organizing his sub-space, and felt that he had verified all the large things.
‘It is roughly finished.’
Just as he categorized the minor harvests like various talismans, cultivation resources, nameless pills, Rank 4 spiritual herbs, and so forth according to their uses.
Joyous news that made his eyes widen arrived.
‘Supreme-grade spirit stones?!’
In other words, supreme-grade spirit stones. He discovered the treasure absolutely necessary to grow the Secret Realm of the Mind to Rank 4.
Befitting a Nascent Soul stage expert, the Yin Moon Old Devil possessed great wealth; high-grade spirit stones numbered as many as one million, and there were fifty-three supreme-grade spirit stones.
Fifty-three supreme-grade spirit stones.
He did not know how valuable fifty-odd supreme-grade spirit stones were, or whether they were many or few, but it did not matter anyway.
‘I only need twenty.’
In that case, he could upgrade the Secret Realm of the Mind to Rank 4 to produce one supreme-grade spirit stone every day.
An urge to upgrade it immediately arose, but he suppressed it firmly.
Because if he upgraded the Secret Realm of the Mind to Rank 4 in his current ruined state, his meridians would burst and he would die.
‘Phew, let us recover first.’
*
One day, while Jin So-myeong focused on recovery and revived the nameless Rank 4 flame little by little.
A group of people visited.
“Greetings, Senior. We are the deacons who managed Natian City.”
“Deacons?”
The Foundation Establishment cultivators whom he saw for the first time greeted with highly tense expressions, then spoke in a polite manner to the point of servility.
“We came to receive instructions, in case Senior might have tasks for us to do.”
“If you are deacons managing Natian City, are you disciples of the Thousand Corpses Sect?”
“Absolutely not! We are merely rogue cultivators who were hired to do chores. The Thousand Corpses Sect disciples all fled in all directions on the very day Senior arrived.”
Looking at the Foundation Establishment deacons who explained in a hurry as if terrified of being branded as Thousand Corpses Sect disciples, he fell into thought.
He felt as if he had unexpectedly become a castellan after smashing the Thousand Corpses Sect, but it was questionable whether there was a need to perform castellan tasks. In any case, resources of Rank 3 and below were plentiful enough to overflow.
“I have no interest in Natian City, so do as you please.”
“Yes?”
“Maintain public order as you usually did, and divide the income obtained from renting out spiritual veins among yourselves as deacons. If you dislike it, you may leave at any time.”
The deacons’ eyes widened completely, and without anyone going first, they shouted.
“No! We shall handle it ourselves.”
Just as Jin So-myeong, who lost interest, tried to dismiss them, he paused.
“Is there by chance anyone who wishes to run an errand for me?”
“I will do it!”
“I, I wish to do it too!”
He evenly distributed some of the resources obtained from raiding the Thousand Corpses Sect storehouses to the deacons who stepped forward as if competing.
“With that, procure spiritual objects related to the lightning attribute, body tempering, and Divine Sense. Anything is fine.”
“Yes! Please leave it to us!”
The eyes of the Foundation Establishment deacons grew hazy at the immense resources contained in the storage pouch. Although it was nothing special to Jin So-myeong, to the Foundation Establishment cultivators, every single one was a treasure.
To the deacons who could not keep the corners of their mouths still in excitement, he said quietly.
“Taking profit in the middle is fine, but do it in moderation.”
“Of, of course. We are also fellows who know the value of our lives.”
Watching the figures of the deacons leaving quietly upon being dismissed, he thought.
‘If the city is managed in such a slipshod manner, it might be fine for a moment, but a problem will arise someday.’
However, the time for cultivation was too precious to spend on managing it properly with care.
‘Should I just hold an auction and sell off the city?’
Or he could entrust the management to the Wu Family patriarch, Wu Yeong-jin, who had not yet arrived in the Damun Kingdom because he was taking care of his household members.
How many days had passed since Jin So-myeong, who was pondering over Natian City, focused on recovery again?
The Black Night Palace, which had been silent, finally sent a person.
He was a man in his mid-thirties wearing a black long robe decorated with gold thread on the sleeves, and by his features, he was a Nascent Soul stage expert belonging to the Black Night Palace called Mister Demonic Jade.
For reference, the Black Night Palace, created by the merger of dozens of demonic sects, possessed as many as three Nascent Soul stage experts. Ah, since Jin So-myeong had killed one of them, it could be said that only two remained now.
“A guest has visited, yet no tea is offered? The hospitality is a mess.”
“Are you a guest?”
“Do you hope not?”
At Mister Demonic Jade’s figure replying while crossing his arms outside the formation, Jin So-myeong let out a soft chuckle and threw a teacup.
Mister Demonic Jade, who caught the roughly flying teacup using spiritual power, clicked his tongue.
“I have probably lived at least ten times longer than you, so I wish you would show a minimum of courtesy.”
“What courtesy is there between parties who would kill each other.”
“Heh. Since you are openly rude, I cannot even get angry.”
Shaking his head as if dumbfounded, Mister Demonic Jade continued speaking.
“Rather than that, you seem to be misunderstanding something, but I have no intention of fighting you.”
Just as he was about to draw his sword, Jin So-myeong paused.
“I killed the Black Night Palace’s Nascent Soul Great Elder, yet you say you have no intention to take revenge?”
“Revenge? A romantic word I haven’t heard in a while. The Yin Moon Old Devil died simply because he was weak. The dead guy is at fault, so is there a need to even take revenge for him?”
“…”
“The Black Night Palace’s honor? I have no interest in such things. Ultimately, it means there is no relationship of grudge between you and me. We can fully become friends.”
Jin So-myeong narrowed his eyes.
He observed Mister Demonic Jade, who spoke with a gentle trace of laughter, intently, but could not distinguish whether he spoke sincerely or laid out nonsense.
After pondering what his intention was, he simply threw it aside.
There was no need to care what the guy said. If things went wrong, he would simply cleave him.
“So, why did you seek me out?”
“I have both a question to ask and a warning to give.”
As he made a chin gesture as if telling him to speak, Mister Demonic Jade clicked his tongue. It seemed the young Golden Core’s impudent chin gesture got on his nerves.
“Phew, I shall ask the question first. Do you have any intention of entering the Black Night Palace as a disciple?”
“Not at all.”
“Mmh. As expected, a refusal. However, refusal is only possible for those who possess the qualifications…”
The moment Mister Demonic Jade, who trailed off his words, curled up the corners of his mouth.
*Ting…*
A needle harboring sharp energy appeared an inch before his glabella, and Jin So-myeong, who detected the distortion of space, wielded his sword like lightning and struck it away.
The sharp energy that bloomed like a haze transformed into Sword Astral in an instant, and lightning dwelled in his pupils.
The moment he raised his fighting spirit.
“Calm down. I merely verified if you possess the qualification to refuse.”
Mister Demonic Jade had already retreated beyond the horizon.
“Before long, the Black Night Palace’s Supreme Elder will emerge from closed-door cultivation. Unlike me, that old man is someone who values the Black Night Palace’s honor extremely highly, so he will try to tear you to pieces and kill you. Please be careful.”
“…”
“I recommend not thinking about fleeing. The tracking means possessed by our demonic cultivators transcend your imagination. And… do not bluff too much.”
“Bluffing?”
“Because the fact that you consumed the Extreme Fire Spirit-Ascending Pill and became a crippled person for twenty years has already been leaked. Hehe.”
Mister Demonic Jade, who warned while smirking, vanished in an instant.
Jin So-myeong narrowed his eyes. The reaction of the Black Night Palace was different from what he had vaguely thought.
‘…Are they trying to strike the Supreme Elder using me?’
It seemed the internal affairs of the Black Night Palace were also quite a mess. Indulging in deep thought in spite of himself, he shook his head.
It did not matter what intentions they possessed.
Anyway, as time flowed, the one who gained the advantage was this side. Because his internal injuries would heal and his realm would rise…
Furthermore, Mister Demonic Jade possessed one piece of incorrect information.
‘That I will be in a crippled state for twenty years?’
Not at all!
Possessing the Minor Success stage Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art, he could escape the aftereffects of the Extreme Fire Spirit-Ascending Pill in just a few months.
Staring briefly in the direction Mister Demonic Jade had departed, Jin So-myeong headed back to the cultivation room.
Because the harvests obtained recently were too numerous, he had to move diligently to digest them.
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