Chapter 154: It is About Time to Leave
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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***
Looking at the Root-Cleansing Spirit-Replenishing Pill that Hong Yu-ha held out as an apology gift, Jin So-myeong spoke.
“…Well, since you are offering it, I will accept it with thanks.”
“Actually, I want to give you something better, but among the things I have right now, there is not much that would be of help to you. In any case, you are accepting my apology, right?”
The rudeness committed by the Hong siblings was not really a big deal anyway. As he gave a casual nod, Hong Yu-ha’s expression brightened up instantly.
“Great! Then I will make the proposal again. Come with me to our home in the Middle Province!”
He examined Hong Yu-ha, who shouted in a cheeky voice, a little more closely.
Having reached the Nascent Soul stage and his Divine Sense becoming stronger, things that were invisible before became visible.
‘Her necklace and earrings were Rank 4 spirit treasures.’
They were probably for self-defense. Guessing from the energy contained within them, it seemed that average Nascent Soul stage cultivators would find it difficult to pursue her if she fled.
“The Hong Clan… But I am a bit curious. Why on earth did you come all the way here to take me with you?”
“Because you caught my fancy!”
“…”
Just as he was lost for words at the absurd reply, Hong Geon-hwi, who had been standing quietly beside her, hurriedly intervened.
“Senior. There are many retainers in our clan. We often propose to someone of outstanding skill like you to join as a retainer. It is not particularly unusual.”
“Brother, wait a second. I am not done speaking yet…”
“Uh-huh, do not be rude. *Cough*! Senior. Our clan has many treasures like the Root-Cleansing Spirit-Replenishing Pill, so please consider it seriously. There is no need to decide right now. Whenever you become interested, please come to our clan.”
“…I understand.”
“Since you have just ascended to the Nascent Soul stage, you must regulate your energy. We shall take our leave now. Let us go, Yu-ha.”
Hong Yu-ha, who was trying to say something while flailing her arms, was dragged away while half-subdued.
Watching that scene, Jin So-myeong narrowed his eyes.
Was it truly a coincidence that among the numerous forces in the Middle Province, the Hong Clan was the first to find him? Such a thought occurred to him.
*
After collecting the storage pouch left behind by the Supreme Elder of the Black Night Palace, Jin So-myeong looked around and let out a hollow laugh.
‘It is a mess.’
The original cave dwelling was literally shattered due to the purple Lightning Tribulation.
Although quite some time had passed, the blazing heat and a pungent burnt smell vibrated from the ground. It was by no means a place where one could comfortably rest.
Fortunately, since there was a decent mountain peak about four kilometers away, he made it his temporary cave dwelling.
‘Are there any formation dharma treasures left?’
Since he had cleaved the Supreme Elder of the Black Night Palace in a single slash, other interlopers would not come to find him for the time being, but just in case, he had to set up at least a minimal defense.
He searched through the junk piled up in the corner of his subspace, and fortunately, about a dozen formation dharma treasures remained.
These were ones he had not installed because they did not match his existing formations or had various flaws, but they were perfect for temporary use in a situation like this.
‘Done.’
Over the course of half a day, he installed the formations, then found a place dense with spiritual Qi and sat cross-legged.
Since he had just ascended to the Nascent Soul stage, he had to regulate his unstable dharma power first. In times like this, if one suffered internal injuries or mental shock, the realm raised with so much effort could drop, so he had to be careful.
‘The Root-Cleansing Spirit-Replenishing Pill.’
He examined the Rank 4 pill given by the Hong siblings from various angles.
‘They say one’s aptitude improves if they eat this?’
It was a pill with a very useful effect for him, who possessed a high-grade spiritual root.
In fact, Jin So-myeong had also intended to prepare a Root-Cleansing Spirit-Replenishing Pill before attempting the Nascent Soul stage. Since it was said to improve spiritual root quality, wouldn’t it be natural?
However, it was also a pill he had given up on because it was harder to obtain than expected.
Since most people at the Nascent Soul stage possessed good aptitude, this kind of pill was subtly unpopular. Of course, if it raised one’s aptitude to the Heaven-grade spiritual root level, it would be a different story, but the effect of the Root-Cleansing Spirit-Replenishing Pill was not to that extent.
Should he call it a pill with a manufacturing difficulty as tricky as the Nascent Condensation Pill but with an ambiguous effect?
‘Still, for me, it is a sufficiently good pill. Because I am still at the high-grade spiritual root stage.’
As Jin So-myeong stared at the round, greenish-blue pill, lightning gathered in his eyes.
He checked meticulously, even using his Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye. Only after ensuring there were no issues with the pill did he consume it.
‘I want to amplify the effect with the Supreme Great Ability, but…’
He just ate it.
The Root-Cleansing Spirit-Replenishing Pill had a good effect only when consumed immediately after breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage. And right now, he had no Supreme Great Ability left because of enduring the Lightning Tribulation.
The moment the medicine, which melted as soon as it was placed in his mouth, seeped into his spiritual root.
He felt the capabilities called spiritual root aptitude…such as sensitivity to spiritual Qi, absorption efficiency, and the sensation of manipulating dharma power…improving in real time.
‘Right before the Earth-grade spiritual root!’
His spiritual root quality had reached the very edge of the high-grade level. It seemed that if he invested just a little more Supreme Great Ability, his aptitude would improve to the Earth-grade spiritual root.
Jin So-myeong, who was smiling, closed his eyes.
He circulated the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art to regulate his unstable dharma power.
One day, two days, a hundred days.
Within the time that flew like an arrow, the subtle pain felt in his meridians vanished. The roughly flowing dharma power gradually regained tranquility.
‘Fihew. This is enough.’
Normally, one had to regulate their mind and body for at least a year after ascending to the Nascent Soul stage, but thanks to the Root-Cleansing Spirit-Repl-enishing Pill and the Supreme Great Ability, he was able to save time.
In any case, since he had stabilized his realm, it was now time to check what had changed upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage.
【Jin So-myeong】
【Lifespan】 : 79 / 1653
【Realm】 : Nascent Soul Stage 1st Layer
【Supreme Great Ability】 : 7.29 million / 10 million
【Divine Ability】 : <Secret Realm of the Mind>, <Myriad Flows Restoration>
Looking at the status window in a translucent hologram form, he could not help but laugh.
No matter how many times he checked, he admired it every time he saw it.
Reaching the Nascent Soul stage at seventy-nine years old! It was an achievement that no one in the world would easily believe even if told.
Since the Supreme Great Ability and his life-risking challenge were combined, he could break through the realm at a miraculous speed.
‘My lifespan has increased by a thousand years.’
Was that all?
The maximum limit of the Supreme Great Ability had reached a whopping ten million. It meant that a massive amount of over three hundred thousand Supreme Great Ability was recovered every single day.
‘Awesome. Ten million every month… I could aim for the stage after Minor Success.’
The proficiency that had broken past the hundred-million unit, which he could not even dream of during his days in the Golden Core stage, now felt worth challenging.
‘Or should I focus on cultivation and raise my realm first?’
Increasing the maximum limit of the Supreme Great Ability first was also good.
He savored a thrilling sense of achievement amidst pleasant worries, then closed his eyes. He measured the range detected by his Divine Sense, and it reached a whopping thirty kilometers!
Normally, the Divine Sense of a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator was twenty kilometers. Yet he had already come to possess a Divine Sense of thirty kilometers!
He was so satisfied that it was difficult to even maintain his composure.
And also.
A faint purple glow had settled in the lightning within his mind, which was nurtured by the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art.
It was a change that occurred after taking the purple Lightning Tribulation, and the effect was simple and clear.
‘The power of the Five Elements Divine Thunder has grown stronger!’
Its power had surged to the point where he could face average Nascent Soul stage cultivators using only the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art.
He had felt wronged when hit by the purple lightning, but confirming that the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art had grown stronger made him simply happy.
Indeed, it seemed correct that the Lightning Tribulation was more beneficial the more one was struck by it, provided they could endure it.
‘But why did so many Lightning Tribulations pour down only on me?’
Pondering over it, a plausible reason came to mind.
He had heard that the intensity of the Lightning Tribulation grew stronger the more powerful divine abilities one possessed. Could it be that because he had obtained several divine abilities through the Supreme Great Ability, even the purple lightning had struck down?
If so, should he think carefully about acquiring new divine abilities in the future? Perhaps the very existence of the Supreme Great Ability had increased the power of the Heavenly Tribulation.
‘Well.’
Although he had to be cautious, he did not want to shrink back in fear beforehand.
If he was going to stop moving forward out of fear of the Heavenly Tribulation, he might as well just stop cultivating. Shunning a useful ability like the Supreme Great Ability because of the Lightning Tribulation was like avoiding making soy sauce for fear of maggots.
In any case, had he not endured it well?
Besides, there would be no reason to face a Lightning Tribulation for the time being. Putting worries aside, he focused on what he had gained.
The biggest change that occurred upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage was that his Golden Core had transformed into the Nascent Soul, a soul body resembling a young child.
‘It is a mysterious feeling.’
The feeling of having another self inside the dantian? Naturally, the Nascent Soul could also move independently.
Jin So-myeong, who stepped out of his body in the Nascent Soul state, admired.
‘It feels like I have had an out-of-body experience.’
Perhaps because he had cast off his physical body, he could move twice as fast as usual. It felt like being released from shackles.
However…
‘I should not wander around in the Nascent Soul state for long.’
It was similar to walking around with one’s vital points exposed. The Nascent Soul was so pure and fragile that it was easily stained by turbid Qi. If things went wrong, his mind could be polluted, turning him into a lunatic.
Unless his life was in danger and he had to escape by abandoning his body, it seemed he should refrain from wandering outside in the Nascent Soul state.
Jin So-myeong, who was wandering here and there in the cave dwelling, returned to his main body.
There was still a lot to check.
‘I can finally distort space.’
Simultaneously with raising the dharma power accumulated in his dantian and compressing it to a single point, space was distorted by the massive energy that had reached the Rank 4 level.
Observing the twisted space intently, the moment he took a step.
Pat!
Along with a slight dizziness, the surrounding scenery changed drastically. Just by taking a light step, he had moved a distance of ten kilometers!
Retreating back and returning to his cultivation room, Jin So-myeong stroked his chin.
‘Hmm… I will need to practice a bit to teleport as I wish.’
It was trickier than he thought.
The energy that had reached the Rank 4 level was ridiculously powerful, and merely condensing it to a single point influenced the surrounding space.
If flatly spread cloth was compared to normal space,
wouldn’t wrinkles form if you shook that cloth here and there? Jumping between those folds was the core of teleportation.
‘To teleport safely, I should only move within the range of my Divine Sense.’
Suddenly, a question occurred to him.
Then what kind of method did Hong Seol use to transfer him from the Damun Kingdom to the sea where Sky Island was located?
‘Did she use a special secret art?’
Perhaps she had used an innate divine ability.
Putting aside the question which was useless to ponder, he first practiced teleporting to where he wanted.
A week later.
Having become able to move freely as long as it was within the range of his Divine Sense, Jin So-myeong made round trips to the Secret Realm of the Mind this time.
Since he had reached the Nascent Soul stage and could teleport, he tried to see if he could cross over to the Secret Realm of the Mind with his physical body, but to state the conclusion first, it did not work.
Guessing the reason…
‘Is it because it’s too far?’
Actually, looking at it in a way, it was a relief. Since it meant that even at the Nascent Soul level, one could not intrude into the Secret Realm of the Mind, it was safe to consider it that secure of a place.
Dropping his interest in the Secret Realm of the Mind, Jin So-myeong drew his sword.
It was to practice swinging his sword while simultaneously distorting space… but the Thousand-Heavy Ink-Dark Sword he had usefully wielded during his Golden Core days was half-melted due to the Lightning Tribulation and looked unsightly.
In any case, it seemed he would have to obtain a new sword to wear at his waist before long.
“Limitless.”
Radiance poured out from the gold-and-silver sphere that suddenly popped out from the void.
Wing-wing!
Having reached the Rank 4 level before he knew it, Limitless had become an agglomeration of sword Gang rather than sword Qi, emitting a sharp aura so intense that merely getting close made one’s skin prickle.
…Well.
Even so, looking at it from the outside, it was just glowing cotton candy.
Wiiiiing!
Still, Limitless seemed to like its own change. Extremely happy to have become a Rank 4 spirit treasure, it flew around here and there like an excited puppy.
Watching the scene which naturally brought a smile to his face, he held out the Thousand-Heavy Ink-Dark Sword.
“Dwell in here for the time being.”
Wing!
As Limitless settled into the half-melted Thousand-Heavy Ink-Dark Sword, it instantly took on a complete shape, becoming a famous sword possessing a Rank 4 level sharpness.
Gripping the sword in which Limitless dwelt, he concentrated his mind. To use teleportation in actual combat, practice was the answer.
*
Before long, a month passed.
Having become proficient enough to distort space for actual combat, Jin So-myeong ended his seclusion.
While strolling through the cave dwelling as if taking a walk to get some fresh air, he reviewed the things he had to do in the future.
‘First, I must obtain a spiritual object capable of raising my body tempering to the Rank 4 level.’
Currently, his body tempering realm was at the Rank 3 highest-grade. Feeling like he was just a half-step short of reaching Rank 4?
It seemed he had to obtain related spiritual objects to train his physical body to the Rank 4 level.
In fact, he had thought his body tempering realm would also rise as he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, but it was not so. Although slightly regrettable, he thought positively.
‘Because it means that if my body tempering realm rises, I will become stronger than now.’
Besides, since he had already reached the Nascent Soul stage, obtaining body tempering spiritual objects did not seem particularly difficult either.
‘I also need Rank 4 cultivation pills, and I should obtain a few useful spirit treasures.’
Reflecting on the tasks ahead, Jin So-myeong nodded.
Since he had finished adapting to the changes that occurred upon ascending to the Nascent Soul stage, it was about time to leave.
Of course, before that, he had to check the storage pouch left by the Supreme Elder of the Black Night Palace.
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