Chapter 150: Challenging the Nascent Soul Stage

===================
Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
===================

The Myriad Cultivators Alliance.

It was said to be a force in the form of a point-contact organization created by the gathering of rogue cultivators under heaven, an alliance linked through the bond of missions and rewards.

“Can an organization be maintained solely by missions and rewards?”

“More or less? Frankly, the Myriad Cultivators Alliance is not an organization with great cohesion. It is safe to view it simply as a gathering of rogue cultivators in similar plights who meet, initiate missions whenever they need something, and divide rewards.”

“Mmh.”

“There is no useless hierarchy in the Myriad Cultivators Alliance. In the first place, are rogue cultivators not a race of people who love freedom and hate control?”

Ju Gwang, who was gulping down alcohol, let out a resounding burp and presented concrete conditions.

“They said that if you agree to enter the Myriad Cultivators Alliance, they will provide a Rank 4 spiritual vein, and even dispatch a Nascent Soul stage expert to escort you when breaking through the realm. …Damn it! Speaking of it gets me mad. They threw a few pills at me and finished! Is this discrimination or what?”

Letting the grumbling words pass roughly by, he asked only the important thing.

“In the event that I enter the Myriad Cultivators Alliance, what must I do for them?”

“They said to perform three missions once you become a Nascent Soul. Ah, there is no need to worry too much. Of course, rewards will also come out for each mission, and if you judge it as an impossible mission, you may reject it.”

“You can reject missions?”

“Yes. In the first place, we are rogue cultivators. Even if they force missions on us, no one will follow, will they?”

The Myriad Cultivators Alliance…

Jin So-myeong, who contemplated deeply, shook his head.

“I am sorry, but I shall decline.”

“Yes. A good dec…no, wait. You decline? Why? There is not a single bad condition for you. If there is something you want, simply speak. I shall request the higher-ups to grant it.”

“Well…”

The reason for declining was nothing special. It was simply because the conditions were too good. Since there is no free lunch in the world, was it not suspicious?

Furthermore, as he continued to converse with Ju Gwang, a somewhat subtle discomfort was felt.

‘Unfitting for a Golden Core.’

Should he say he seemed to lack fear and respect for the Nascent Soul stage? It was not a particularly major problem, but it became one of the reasons he could not trust him.

Also, it was also somewhat strange to say that he could reject missions while having to perform them in exchange for lending the Rank 4 spiritual vein.

“W-Wait a moment.”

The flustered Ju Gwang clung tenaciously telling him to think again, but he simply refused.

Ju Gwang, who grunted like a dog that needed to defecate and went back, visited several more times, but Jin So-myeong did not meet him on the grounds that it interfered with his cultivation.

***

Three years later.

Jin So-myeong, who was concentrating on cultivation, shone his eyes.

[Jin So-myeong]

[Lifespan]: 79 / 653

[Realm]: Golden Core 9th layer Great Perfection

[Supreme Great Ability]: 2.19 million / 2.5 million

[Divine Abilities]: <Secret Realm of the Mind>, <Myriad Flows Restoration>

“Done.”

The Golden Core 9th layer Great Perfection, and on top of that, up to the high-grade Rank 3 body tempering.

He filled all the conditions to challenge the Nascent Soul stage.

‘My Divine Sense also grew stronger.’

Because he already possessed a Nascent Soul-grade Divine Sense, he thought it would not grow, but simultaneously with achieving the Golden Core Great Perfection, his Divine Sense grew stronger by about fifty percent.

From the existing 10km to 15km, the detection range widened significantly.

He was satisfied. The Divine Sense range of an average early Nascent Soul stage cultivator was 10km. Yet even though he was still a Golden Core, he achieved 15km.

He looked forward to how strong his Divine Sense would become once he truly became a Nascent Soul.

‘Good.’

Preparation was finished. Now what remained was merely to take a single step forward and become a Nascent Soul.

It was time to challenge.

Just as he was settling his mind to break through the great realm.

His vast Divine Sense detected a colossal flying object flying toward his cave dwelling.

A gorgeous tail feather possessing five colors, blue flames swirled every time massive wings reaching thirty meters fluttered.

‘A Five-Colored Peacock?’

Atop the high-grade Rank 3 demonic beast he had seen in a book someday, a man and a woman were riding, and the man standing in the lead spoke quietly.

“I am Hong Geon-hwi, from the Middle Province’s Hong Family.”

Perhaps thanks to his thick eyebrows and neat posture, he was a youth who looked highly confident and dignified.

Not only Hong Geon-hwi but the woman’s side was also filled from head to toe with high-grade magic treasures, making it obvious at a glance that she was of precious status.

Judging by the vitality felt in a glance, both were young. The man was at the late Golden Core stage, and the woman was at the mid Golden Core stage.

‘Hong Family…?’

In truth, whether their status was precious or not, that did not matter even a shred to Jin So-myeong.

Since he was right on the verge of challenging the Nascent Soul stage, he did not intend to meet regardless of who came, but of all things, the surname was identical to Hong Seol, whom he regarded as his master.

Could it be that they were in a family relationship with Hong Seol?

Curiosity arose. Pondering briefly, he decided to meet them to see why they visited.

The moment he opened the formation.

The woman, who was glancing around with knitted brows, muttered without hiding her contempt.

“Ha, is this also a formation he installed? As expected of a countryside rogue cultivator. How shabby.”

Currently, over a hundred Rank 3 formations were installed around the cave dwelling where Jin So-myeong was settled, but because it possessed an appearance like junk piled up at random, frankly speaking, it did not look very good.

At her rude complaint, the man merely gave a subtle glance and did not say anything in particular. He too inwardly seemed to deem the formations Jin So-myeong had diligently installed as unsightly.

Before long, the man and woman guided to the reception room scanned the room, then wore dumbfounded expressions.

They seemed shocked by the monotonous reception room where a spacious table and chairs were all that was placed, without even a single decoration.

“I am Jin So-myeong.”

“…I am Hong Geon-hwi. This is my sister, Hong Yu-ha.”

The moment they finished exchanging names. The woman called Hong Yu-ha butted in as if she simply could not endure it.

“Do you normally live in a place like this?”

“Is there some problem?”

“Ugh, I truly cannot watch. Pack your bags right now. Because our family will accept you as a retainer.”

“…Hmh.”

As Jin So-myeong narrowed his eyes at the speech style that seemed to have eaten courtesy with rice, Hong Geon-hwi spoke while sighing.

“I am sorry for Yu-ha acting rudely. Please understand as she did so because there was something to make her feel bad.”

A hollow laugh came out naturally.

Act rudely themselves and ask for understanding? Looking at it now, the things called the Hong Family were highly arrogant and tactless.

Jin So-myeong, who had tried to show some courtesy, leaned his back on the chair as if lying down.

He had thought to converse since they might be related to Hong Seol, but he simply threw it aside.

What was the point of submissively bowing when the opponent behaved with such contempt?

He also put aside the thought of asking about Hong Seol.

He reached a judgment that there was nothing good in asking such people about Hong Seol. He decided to simply investigate directly himself later after becoming a Nascent Soul.

“Retainer? How can I trust you whom I see for the first time and follow you to the Middle Province?”

As he asked in a casual attitude, Hong Geon-hwi knitted his brow as if displeased.

“Could you by chance not know about the Hong Family?”

“Yes. How would a country bumpkin like me know a family in the Middle Province? I hear of it for the first time in my life.”

As he openly sarcastically mocked, the man burst into a dumbfounded hollow laugh, and Hong Yu-ha, who stood behind with wide eyes merely opening and closing her mouth, shrieked.

“Forget it! Brother, let us just go. What a sight, truly. I would rather be scolded by Father, how could I with such a country bumpkin… Hmph!”

She, who glared as if Jin So-myeong had committed an extremely major wrong, walked out of the reception room.

‘Is she a crazy bitch?’

Because he did not understand the contextless annoyance and anger, he did not even get mad.

“Phew, we shall return for today. Do investigate our family. Because it will be easy to find out.”

“We shall see. I do not know if I will have time for that since I am busy cultivating.”

“…”

Hong Geon-hwi, who stared intently at Jin So-myeong, clicked his tongue softly.

“It seems we are not prepared to converse with each other today. I shall return next time.”

Jin So-myeong, who stared at the siblings departing atop the Five-Colored Peacock, stroked his chin.

Could it be that such fellows were family with Hong Seol?

It was not that there were absolutely no resemblances between Hong Seol and their appearances. Roughly just that they were all handsome and beautiful?

‘Ah, the pupils are different.’

Theirs were black, and Hong Seol’s were red.

Jin So-myeong, who thought up to that point, decided to simply ignore it.

He had merely met them once out of curiosity. Right now, challenging the Nascent Soul stage was far more important.

He headed to the cultivation room.

In that place silent enough that the sound of a thread falling could be heard, he sat cross-legged and sank into meditation.

A day, two days…

Desolate time flowed. Endless thoughts tangled his mind, but he let them be.

He did not do anything and merely concentrated on breathing. Until his mind grew calm like a lakeside at dawn.

Jin So-myeong, who opened both eyes, waved his hand.

He scattered hundreds of thousands of high-grade spirit stones and as many as ten thousand supreme-grade spirit stones piled in his sub-space in all directions.

He nodded his head as he watched the surrounding spiritual Qi concentration soar rapidly.

Preparation was finished.

Although the probability of various problems occurring in the process of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage was high, he too had prepared in his own way.

What remained was merely to smash the wall blocking his front.

***

A certain inn in Natian City became empty.

Because the siblings who came from the Middle Province’s Hong Family rented the entirety of the inn.

Hong Yu-ha, who scowled her extremely fair face, complained.

“Ugh… I truly cannot endure it. Just how long do we have to stay in such a shabby place? Even the spiritual beasts raised in our household stay in better places than this.”

“What can be done? This inn is at least the best place in Natian City.”

“Let us just return home.”

“We cannot. Father told us to bring Jin So-myeong, we cannot give up already.”

“How annoying. I really came for nothing.”

As she pouted her lips, Hong Geon-hwi spoke as if dumbfounded.

“Did we not come because you threw a tantrum insisting you were curious who the person who might become your husband was? Originally, the family would have sent retainers to bring Jin So-myeong.”

“Hmph. Who knew Jin So-myeong would be such a rude person? It is not my fault.”

Hong Yu-ha, who was recalling Jin So-myeong, gnashed her teeth.

She absolutely had no intention of marrying a rude country bumpkin like Jin So-myeong. She intended to strongly refuse even if she had to act cute to her father, weep, and throw a tantrum.

‘Although his face is at least passable… everything else is the worst.’

Not to mention his simple attire to the point of being plain, wearing a sword on his waist was also rustic. Who directly wielded a sword in this day and age? When using Sword Control Art or flying sword magic treasures was enough.

Just as she firmly pledged never to marry.

Hong Geon-hwi, who pressed his glabella as if having a headache, spoke.

“We shall visit again a week later, so bear it. If you are going to get angry like a few days ago, simply do not follow.”

“Hing. Do we really have to? Since I will be the one scolded by Father, let us just go back. In any case, people of Jin So-myeong’s level are scattered all over the Middle Province.”

“Mmh? What is that supposed to mean? That people possessing Jin So-myeong’s level of talent are scattered all over?”

At the reaction that seemed hard to understand, Hong Yu-ha raised her chin.

“It is true. Even Cheon Yu-heon, the eldest son of the Nine Heavens Tower Lord, is at the late Golden Core stage at a similar age to Jin So-myeong.”

“Haah, so that was what you meant… the two are completely different.”

“Yes?”

“Cheon Yu-heon, from the moment he was born, made his mind and body suitable for cultivation by unsparingly using precious, highest-grade spiritual objects for eating, sleeping, wearing, and to say nothing of the water he washed his face with.”

“So what of that? It is a matter of course.”

At his younger sister’s childish appearance of taking the family’s support, which someone could not obtain even by risking their life, so completely for granted, Hong Geon-hwi harbored a bitter smile.

“On the other hand, Jin So-myeong is an orphan who does not even know who his parents are, and a rogue cultivator. He has received not a single help from a family. I heard it took him three years to obtain a single low-grade spirit stone.”

“…”

“One who stood up on his own while facing wind and rain, and one raised beneath a sturdy roof. Who would possess more outstanding talent? The two are simply impossible to compare in the first place. That a mere Golden Core rogue cultivator shook his name all the way to the Middle Province is not an ordinary matter.”

“Even so…”

Just as Hong Yu-ha, who was muttering her lips, tried to refute something.

Centered on Natian City, wind…to describe more accurately, heaven and earth spiritual Qi…began to gather.

“Huh?”

Hong Yu-ha’s complexion turned pale. Not to mention her fingertips, her entire body began to tremble.

The moment the dark clouds that gathered in a spiral covered the sky above Natian City, goosebumps rose at the indescribable pressure. The air was so heavy that even breathing was difficult.

This weather anomaly meant only one thing.

“N-Nascent Soul stage…!”

The terrified siblings rose abruptly without anyone going first and stared at one place. It was the direction where Jin So-myeong’s cave dwelling was located.

While his sister Hong Yu-ha opened her mouth wide in excessive shock, Hong Geon-hwi, plunged into shock, opened his eyes wide and shouted.

“How? Jin So-myeong was clearly at the Golden Core 8th layer?”

He directly inspected Jin So-myeong with both eyes and judged him to be at the Golden Core 8th layer.

Yet he was not?

Did it mean Jin So-myeong’s ability to control his energy was superior to the observation power Hong Geon-hwi possessed?

“This is nonsense…”

The cultivation method he practiced was a divine art outstanding enough to be counted even in the Middle Province. Yet he failed to notice that Jin So-myeong hid his realm.

Just as he muttered blankly at the feeling of common sense twisting. Hong Yu-ha beside him spoke in a flustered voice.

“Brother. What do we do?”

“…How foolish. The most outstanding spiritual vein in Natian City is merely a high-grade Rank 3. To attempt a breakthrough in a place like this, a hundred out of a hundred will fail.”

“Ah!”

Glancing at his sister who somehow seemed sorry, Hong Geon-hwi spoke.

“It is rather a good thing. If we treat Jin So-myeong who becomes a crippled person after failing the breakthrough and bring him to the family, it will amount to fulfilling Father’s command. Let’s go!”

Enjoyed the chapter?

If you like our work, consider supporting us on Ko-fi. This site solely runs on donations. Every donation helps us keep translating!

Support on Ko-fi