Chapter 156: Arrived in the Middle Province
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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***
Silence descended upon the pleasure house where laughter had not ceased.
“The First Sword of the Golden Core has reached the Nascent Soul stage…?”
This was because the information that entered their heads was so bizarre that it took time to interpret.
“Wait a minute. Not that he attempted the Nascent Soul stage, but that he succeeded in ascending?”
“What! Didn’t you clearly say just now that he wasn’t even a hundred years old!”
The ridicule vanished as if washed away. At the single statement that he had become a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, the atmosphere completely overturned.
“Tell me in detail!”
“Haha. Make sure you don’t get shocked upon hearing it.”
Everyone concentrated. It was to the point where even the courtesans, who poured wine while suppressing their presence as much as possible, pricked up their ears.
“Earlier, you asked why he is called the First Sword of the Golden Core, right? In fact, during his Golden Core days, he had a record of fighting and defeating a Nascent Soul stage demonic expert.”
“A Golden Core cultivator defeated a Nascent Soul stage?”
“Yes. I do not know if it is true, but from what I heard…”
In the Middle Province, which everyone praised in unison as the center of the world, the three characters of the name Jin So-myeong began to spread.
Of course, rumors were merely rumors.
With stories mixed with truth and falsehood pouring out by the hundreds and thousands every day, how many would believe them in their entirety?
Quite naturally, the rumors about Jin So-myeong were also regarded as mere entertainment. There were even those who treated them as a ridiculous joke…
Not many believed them seriously.
***
Meanwhile, Jin So-myeong, who had left the Medicine King Sect with Cheong Hwa-ran, began preparing to depart for the Middle Province.
First, he sold Natian City, which he had stayed in for a while, to the Wu Family. Since he was leaving anyway, he passed it over at a reasonable price, and in the process, good news reached him.
“Fellow Daoist Wu has reached the Nascent Soul stage?”
“Yes. However, it is said that it will be difficult for him to return for the time being because he has to keep the promise he made when renting the Rank 4 spiritual vein.”
He had inwardly worried, so it was a relief that things turned out well.
When he asked where Wu Yeong-jin had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, an unfamiliar place name was heard. It was an unfamiliar continent located somewhere in the Southern Province.
“In any case, it is happy news. Convey my congratulations. Ah, also let him know that I will be heading to the Middle Province before long.”
“Yes, Senior.”
After parting with the family head who had temporarily taken charge of the Wu Family.
He prepared for the long journey.
He bought jade slips related to the One Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation to read as a pastime. In particular, he paid special attention to acquiring manuals on formations, which he had recently begun to learn.
Sword chapters, body tempering methods, thunder arts, and spiritual herbs that only grew in the Southern Province, and so forth.
He traveled around the surrounding areas and purchased everything he felt was necessary.
And…
“Let’s depart if you are ready.”
“Yes, Senior.”
Together with Cheong Hwa-ran, he departed for the Middle Province riding the Rank 4 flying carriage he had recently obtained.
*
To go to the Middle Province, he had to head to Namhwa Capital City, the largest city in the Southern Province.
He flew along the route discovered through investigation, and there were no particular issues.
The flying carriage Jin So-myeong rode emitted a Nascent Soul-grade aura for all to see, and no one wished to pick a fight with a Nascent Soul stage expert.
Even several Demon Kings famous for their ferocious temperaments were busy tucking their tails upon seeing the Rank 4 flying carriage…
Jin So-myeong was able to cultivate comfortably by leaving the control of the flying carriage to his clones.
One day as the smooth journey continued.
Cheong Hwa-ran came to find him and spoke in a cautious tone.
“Senior Jin. By any chance, do you possess a Sourceless Flame?”
A Sourceless Flame referred to a flame that burned on its own even without fuel, and the Fire-Polar Divine Light Jin So-myeong used when refining the Nascent Condensation Pill was a Sourceless Flame.
“I do have one.”
Since it was not something to hide, he nodded, and Cheong Hwa-ran’s complexion brightened.
“As I mentioned before, I also possess a spirit body like you do, Senior.”
“Mmh.”
In truth, he did not possess any spirit body, so he felt slightly embarrassed, but he did not correct her. Considering his crazy growth rate, it could not be helped.
It was better to be misunderstood as having a spirit body than to have the Supreme Great Ability revealed.
In any case, as he substituted an answer with silence, Cheong Hwa-ran spoke in a calm voice.
“It is difficult to explain in detail, but utilizing my spirit body can make your Sourceless Flame stronger. Are you perhaps interested?”
“You can make the Sourceless Flame stronger?”
“Yes. If you permit, I will show you.”
“Very well. However, it is a flame of ferocious temperament, so be careful.”
After setting aside part of the Fire-Polar Divine Light sleeping in his mind, he placed it in a suitable brazier and handed it over.
“Is this… by any chance, the Fire-Polar Divine Light? I heard it is a flame that the Heavenly Elixir Sect treasures like a treasure.”
“Indeed. I obtained it by chance.”
Cheong Hwa-ran, who closely examined the crimson flame that was the size of a candle flame, extended both hands.
She enveloped the Fire-Polar Divine Light in the center with both her palms, and a marvelous thing occurred.
The Fire-Polar Divine Light, which had been emitting heat threateningly, gradually grew quiet, was absorbed into her left palm, and then emerged again through her right palm.
How much time had passed?
Drops of sweat formed on Cheong Hwa-ran’s forehead, and the color of the Fire-Polar Divine Light grew deep enough to be recognized at a glance.
Admiration naturally escaped him.
It was a scene as if she had used herself as a filter to purify the flame.
“Indeed. The heat of the Fire-Polar Divine Light has grown stronger by at least ten percent.”
In the Nascent Soul level, becoming ten percent stronger was a considerably large advancement.
“It is one of the abilities possessed by my spirit body. It will be easiest to think of it as burning away impurities in the flame to raise its spiritual nature.”
It seemed to mean she had eliminated the inefficient parts of the Fire-Polar Divine Light to improve it into a superior flame… but he could not know the specific method.
‘She looks tired.’
Indeed, since a Golden Core cultivator had influenced a Nascent Soul-grade flame, there was no way it would be easy.
Because of that, a question naturally arose.
What was the reason she went out of her way to show such a talent, even revealing the effect of her spirit body which must be a secret?
“Do you perhaps desire something?”
“Since Senior likes being straightforward, I will not hide it. I hope you can teach me a secret technique suitable for self-defense.”
“Mmh.”
“If you do only that, I will do my absolute best in my own way to refine the Fire-Polar Divine Light for you.”
For Jin So-myeong, whose wealth overflowed, it was not particularly a difficult request. Conveniently, he possessed a perfectly suitable cultivation method among his things.
“This is a cultivation method called the Red Sun True Flame Art that I obtained in the past, and it includes the Fire Escape Art. If practiced properly, it will be useful when fleeing from enemies.”
“Ah!”
If one only thought of self-defense, fleeing was the best.
The Fire Escape Art, one of the Five Elements Escape Arts, was a secret technique famous for its speed, even if not as much as the Lightning Escape Art. If mastered properly, at least she would not easily be defeated by those of the same realm.
“Since there are many useful things besides the Red Sun True Flame Art, choose whatever you like.”
As he scanned through the cultivation methods and dharma treasures piled up like junk in his subspace, he lined up several things he thought would be useful to her.
These were harvests obtained during his Golden Core days, and to him who had already ascended to the Nascent Soul stage, they were not precious.
“Thank you!”
Her eyes sparkling like a person before a treasure, she pondered for a long time before choosing a few dharma treasures and cultivation methods.
After a mutually satisfactory transaction concluded,
Cheong Hwa-ran refined the Fire-Polar Divine Light to increase its firepower as promised, and Jin So-myeong, satisfied with the Fire-Polar Divine Light that had grown about thirty percent stronger, gave her additional secret techniques and dharma treasures.
***
Five years later.
As a result of flying diligently riding the Rank 4 Mysterious Night Flying Carriage.
He was able to arrive at Namhwa Capital City, one of the largest cities in the Southern Province.
If he had actively used teleportation arrays, he would have arrived much faster, but using teleportation arrays as a rogue cultivator was complicated in many ways, so he simply flew directly.
In any case, in Namhwa Capital City where they arrived like that.
Cheong Hwa-ran, who kept glancing at Jin So-myeong like someone who had something to say for some reason, let out a deep sigh.
“Senior. As I mentioned before, I intend to settle down around here as an elixir refiner.”
“Without going all the way to the Middle Province?”
She bid farewell with an expression of firm determination.
“Yes. If I go to the Middle Province with my skill, I feel there will be more misfortune than blessings. Namhwa Capital City is also a sufficiently large city, so I intend to seek my own fortuitous encounters.”
“Hmm… I understand. I pray your cultivation goes smoothly. Let us meet again if fate allows.”
“Thank you. I also hope Senior will definitely achieve the Great Dao of Longevity.”
Parting with Cheong Hwa-ran, who left to find her own path, Jin So-myeong, alone after a long time, looked around Namhwa Capital City.
Certainly, fitting for a place called the capital of the Southern Province, its scale was incomparable even to Natian City.
‘Two Rank 4 mid-grade spiritual veins and two low-grade?’
It was a city easily five times larger than Vast Wilderness Immortal City where he had stayed in the Eastern Province in the past.
Having familiarized himself with the atmosphere of the city by wandering around diligently, Jin So-myeong went to the Deacon’s Office. Since the reason he came all the way here was to cross over to the Middle Province, he did not hesitate.
“You wish to use the teleportation array bound for the Middle Province?”
“Yes.”
When he approached the Head Deacon of Namhwa Capital City and brought up the business, a troubled response returned.
“Senior. The teleportation array connected to the Middle Province is strictly managed. To use the teleportation array as a rogue cultivator, someone who has proven their credibility must guarantee you.”
“For example?”
“Receiving permission from the Castellan of our Namhwa Capital City, or someone holding a status of Grand Elder or higher in the Cheonghyeon Sect, or…”
A list of Nascent Soul stage experts who dominated the neighboring regions was lined up, but it seemed that going to find anyone would cause troublesome matters.
Jin So-myeong, who had been listening quietly, waved his hand.
“Too bothersome. I will pay five hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones.”
“…Pardon?”
The fee for using the teleportation array to cross to the Middle Province was usually about 150,000 to 200,000 high-grade spirit stones.
When he proposed out of nowhere to pay more than double the price, the Head Deacon’s eyes widened sharply. His throat seemed parched as he kept swallowing dry saliva.
“D-did you say just now five hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones?”
“Do you dislike it?”
“…No. It is not that there are no problems, but I will handle everything on my own. Do you have a specific date you wish to use the teleportation array?”
“The sooner, the better.”
“I understand. Then please wait for a moment.”
Had he waited for about two hours?
The Head Deacon, who looked tired from having moved so diligently, returned and whispered quietly.
“We are ready.”
“Mmh.”
Truly, the power of spirit stones was potent enough to be called a divine ability.
Strangely, while heading toward the teleportation array, he did not encounter a single soul. He did not know what method the Head Deacon had used, but he had cleared out the entire building.
It was the same upon arrival.
There were a few deacons managing the teleportation array, but they all bowed politely to Jin So-myeong and did not even try to lock eyes. They pretended to be blind, ignoring the scenery visible before their eyes.
“I have also taken care of the deacons on the Middle Province side. There will be no troublesome matters.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
He handed over five hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones. He did not worry about being scammed. If one had confidence in their strength, they did not need to care about trivial matters.
The Head Deacon, smiling broadly, bowed his waist as if serving an ancestor, and…
Pat!
As the teleportation array activated, an intense flash of light blocked his vision. Once a slight dizziness passed, he could perceive that he had arrived at an unfamiliar place.
“I offer greetings to Senior. Welcome to the Middle Province.”
The nameless deacon, who greeted him in a quiet, whispering voice, did not ask any questions. He guided him straight to the exit.
‘Indeed, human society is all the same.’
No matter how strict the system was, it was humans who managed it. With a bit of oiling, any matter proceeded smoothly.
The moment he emerged from the building where the teleportation array was installed.
“…Indeed.”
Admiration naturally escaped him.
There were truly many people. Wherever he turned his gaze, it was filled with crowds.
‘Is this the Middle Province, called the holy land of cultivation?’
A wide avenue where twenty carriages could run simultaneously extended beyond the horizon, and that street was packed with people.
Perhaps because the city was too large, there were even transport vessels flying here and there across the city.
Was that all?
The high-rise buildings densely packed between the roads that spread out like spiderwebs were also too numerous to count.
The number of living beings existing within the thirty kilometers of his Divine Sense was so great that trying to examine them with concentration would cause a headache.
‘The spiritual Qi concentration is also high.’
The entire city was at the level of a Rank 2 spiritual vein. They said the Middle Province was strangely rich in spiritual Qi, and it was indeed true.
How easy would cultivation be if one started in a place like this?
The attire worn by the cultivators was also somehow different. Should he call it sophisticated? Or should he describe it as open?
It was fascinating to see cultivators wearing clothes with sleeves so short that their forearms were exposed. The Damun Kingdom was extremely reluctant to show bare skin regardless of age or gender, but here was different.
Just that their attire had changed made the fact that he had come to a new place tangibly felt.
Should he say it felt like the sense of adventure sleeping in his heart was squirming?
And also.
The greatest difference between the Middle Province and other regions caught his eye.
‘The Divine Tree.’
In an immensely far distance, an ultra-large tree grown with the momentum to pierce the sky was visible.
It was a giant tree rumored to be at Rank 5, and it was truly mind-bogglingly massive. Not only was it huge, but because it was located too far away, its roots and branches were not even visible.
Since the only thing practically observable was its towering trunk, that was indeed the symbol of the Middle Province.
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