Chapter 158: Rank 4 Body Tempering Spiritual Object, Gold-Shackling Bone-Crushing Grass
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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The Rank 4 artifact refiner Seo Hyeon-geuk was a woman with prominent firm muscle lines, somehow giving off the feeling that she really liked exercising.
When she, looking at Jin So-myeong, greeted him with a slight smile, the young man beside her frowned.
He glared as if asking who he was, but Jin So-myeong naturally ignored him. Jin So-myeong possessed a personality where if the opponent did not show courtesy, he would return the treatment in kind, even to a thousand-year-old elder.
Just as the young man, who somehow brought the word ‘noble son’ to mind, twitched his eyebrows.
Seo Hyeon-geuk stepped forward.
“Young Master Mok. I am sorry, but since a guest has arrived, I request that you vacate the premises.”
“Guest? Are you by any chance still doing artifact refiner work?”
“Pardon? You state the obvious. The skill I have mastered is artifact refining, so how could I abandon?”
“Sigh. Making spirit treasures is fine, but why suffer by even accepting guests? If you need cultivation resources, you can just join our clan as a retainer.”
“I am sorry, but I have no intention of joining the Mok Clan as a retainer…”
While Seo Hyeon-geuk was trying to reject him firmly despite feeling troubled, the young man called Young Master Mok cut off her words.
“How frustrating. I am saying there is no need for Fairy Seo to do such menial work with your skill, you know? If you absolutely need work, speak to me. I will request the clan and arrange for you to make puppet parts.”
As Young Master Mok’s words continued, Seo Hyeon-geuk’s expression stiffened subtly, and her displeasure was clearly visible. Indeed, it was a natural reaction since he looked down on her work as insignificant and dismissed it.
“If you receive work from our clan, at least you won’t have to worry about lacking cultivation resources.”
However, whether Young Master Mok was completely oblivious or simply thick-skinned enough not to care about taking hints in the first place, he just kept talking.
Jin So-myeong, who watched all of this, felt equally displeased. Thus, he simply spoke directly.
“How much longer do I have to wait? You seem busy, so shall I return next time?”
“I apologize. Young Master Mok? As I mentioned earlier, since my guest has arrived, please leave now.”
“…Ha.”
Since even Young Master Mok, who received the eviction order twice, felt displeased, a fantastic spectacle where all three people present were displeased was completed.
After a strange silence flowed for a short while,
the young man, who clicked his tongue openly, looked at Jin So-myeong and spoke.
“It seems to be my first time meeting you, so let us introduce ourselves. I am Mok Ryu-jin. What is your esteemed name?”
“Jin So-myeong.”
“There shouldn’t be any famous clans among the Jin… By any chance, may I ask which sect you are from?”
“There is no such thing. I am a rogue cultivator.”
“Hmm.”
Narrowing his eyes, he seemed to have heard of Jin So-myeong, but did not remember it clearly.
‘If his realm is early Nascent Soul and his name is Mok Ryu-jin, he must be one of the direct descendants of the Mok Clan.’
Tracing the information obtained through the Myriad Treasures Tower not long ago, he could grasp the opponent’s background.
The Mok Clan was a prominent clan that shook the world with puppets, and they were also a powerful force that possessed Dao Soldiers composed of puppets.
‘Did he ascend to the Nascent Soul stage at 250 years old?’
Born with outstanding aptitude, he was said to have received the clan’s expectations all to himself since childhood.
Just as Mok Ryu-jin, narrowing his eyes as if testing him, scanned Jin So-myeong from head to toe.
“Young Master Mok. Are you going to continue putting me in a spot like that?”
“…I cannot put Fairy Seo in a spot. I shall return for today.”
Mok Ryu-jin, waving his sleeves widely as if brushing off dust, transformed into a beam of escape light and vanished.
Once only the two of them remained, Seo Hyeon-geuk spoke with an awkward smile.
“I am sorry. It seems you fell out of favor with Young Master Mok because of me in vain.”
Jin So-myeong clicked his tongue inwardly.
In truth, he did not care about falling out of favor with Mok Ryu-jin.
This was because clashing was inevitable in the end if he interacted with the Nascent Soul stage cultivators in the Middle Province.
In any group, if an outsider entered, they would hold an initiation ceremony even to grasp their strength, but given his personality of returning whatever treatment he received, he would not act submissively, so it could not be helped.
Of course, that did not mean he was pleased with Seo Hyeon-geuk’s trickery.
Since her trick of using Jin So-myeong to divert Mok Ryu-jin’s attention was blatantly obvious, how could he like it?
“I haven’t been in the Middle Province for long, so there are many things I do not know. That is why I ask: in the Middle Province, do you usually apologize only with words?”
“Hmm…?”
Her expression, which had been at a loss for what to do in embarrassment like an innocent girl, completely changed. Letting out a nasal cackle as if looking at an interesting object, she spoke with a smile.
“Of course not. What meaning is there in an apology made only with words? Very well. If you wish, I will compensate you. What do you desire?”
To her, who was smiling, he offered the ore mixed with pale yellow stripes on deep indigo-blue.
“Starlight Afterimage Stone? Since it is a rare mineral, it must have been difficult to obtain this size…”
A look of surprise settled in her eyes.
In fact, if she had failed to recognize it, it would mean she lacked skill, so he was going to leave immediately, but she seemed to be an outstanding artisan as rumored.
“If you forge a sword out of this, what would its grade be?”
“Hmm… a few auxiliary materials are additionally required, but with my skill, up to Rank 4 mid-to-high grade will be possible. Although luck must be on our side.”
Not bad.
Mid-to-high grade meant a mid-grade close to high-grade, which also meant that if the spirit treasure’s power was unleashed to its maximum, it could deliver a late Nascent Soul-grade blow.
Jin So-myeong nodded.
“Very well. If you forge a Rank 4 mid-to-high grade sword with this Starlight Afterimage Stone, I will accept your apology.”
“…What about the auxiliary materials?”
“If there is anything absolutely necessary but difficult to obtain, let me know. Or, I can pay you in spirit stones so that Fellow Daoist can obtain it.”
“What if I make a mistake and a lower grade sword is produced?”
“Well. Wouldn’t one of us end up disappointed?”
She, who stared intently at him, wore a faint smile.
“Very well. I will do my best, so do not frighten me too much. As I said earlier, luck must be on our side to produce a mid-to-high grade spirit treasure.”
As he nodded as if he understood, Seo Hyeon-geuk, whose expression grew serious like an artisan, spoke.
“Any particular preferences? Something like wanting the flying sword’s speed to be as fast as possible?”
“I do not need the flying sword function; just make it as sharp and sturdy as possible.”
“Pardon? No matter how outstanding Cultivator Jin’s sword control is, having a flying sword function would be convenient, you know.”
“I will grip and swing it with my hand, so it is unnecessary.”
“…Are you saying you will grip and swing the sword like mortals do? I do not understand. Is there a need to go out of your way to do that?”
“Due to the characteristics of my cultivation method, swinging it directly is stronger.”
Although he could have glossed over it roughly, he told her honestly. To make the artisan forge a proper item, he had to make her understand.
Most sword cultivators focused on sword control or throwing sword slashes, because that was far safer and faster.
However, Jin So-myeong was different. Swinging the sword directly was several times more powerful, and even the speed was faster.
The Lightning Escape Art, which amplified reflexes and body movement speed to the limit, and his robust body tempered by body tempering made that possible.
“Mmm… I understand. I will exclude minor convenience functions and forge it into an extremely sturdy and sharp sword for you.”
“How long will it take for the spirit treasure to be completed?”
“Ten years at the longest? As a gesture of apology, I won’t charge a labor fee.”
“…”
To think it took ten years to forge a single sword. He could roughly guess just how precious a Rank 4 spirit treasure was.
When Jin So-myeong fell silent, Seo Hyeon-geuk spoke as if troubled.
“If we hurry, it will take about seven years, but then the probability of the grade dropping grows higher.”
“I understand. I will wait, so please forge it into the best possible sword.”
*
Returning to his cave dwelling in Cloud Dragon Immortal City, Jin So-myeong first released his clones.
Among the five mountains in total, he handed over the rest to his clones, except for the central peak where the spiritual Qi was densest.
“Go raise spiritual crops or cultivate, do as you wish.”
The clones, disguised in various appearances by casting the Thousand Transformations Art, nodded simultaneously and scattered in all directions.
Subsequently,
Jin So-myeong, who scanned the cave dwelling he would be staying in for a while, nodded in satisfaction.
‘Not bad.’
To describe how wide the cave dwelling was, even the central peak Jin So-myeong occupied alone had space to spare even if an entire Golden Core-grade sect moved in.
‘Everything is good, except for it being so excessively wide that it is slightly burdensome.’
Blue leaves laden with dew drops, valley water trickling through crevices in the rocks, the cool wind blowing along with the sound of chirping birds, and so forth.
Everything from the peaceful and quiet scenery to the dense spiritual Qi concentration pleased him.
Jin So-myeong, who admired the picturesque mountain scenery, headed to his cultivation room. Having reached the Nascent Soul stage not long ago, he had many things to do.
Half a day later.
He, who was accumulating dharma power by circulating the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art with all his might, stroked his chin.
He measured the cultivation speed at the Rank 4 mid-grade spiritual vein, and the result was not very good.
‘It takes fifty years to reach the second layer of the Nascent Soul stage?’
Cultivating for half a century just to rise a single layer? It was mind-boggling.
What kind of time was fifty years?
It was a duration similar to all the time combined that Jin So-myeong had cultivated from entering the Qi Condensation stage until now.
To think he had to spend such massive years just to cross from the 1st layer to the 2nd layer of the Nascent Soul stage?
Considering that cultivation grew harder the higher the realm, even if he cultivated diligently for an entire thousand years, he might not be able to reach the ninth layer of the Nascent Soul stage.
‘My word.’
Along with a hollow laugh that escaped naturally, he realized deep in his heart why the Soul Formation stage was treated as a legend.
Honestly, Jin So-myeong’s cultivation speed was by no means on the slow side.
Yet it was fifty years.
The majority of Nascent Soul stage cultivators would be in far more wretched environments, and cultivating normally would leave them with no prospect of ever reaching the Soul Formation stage.
‘Those who seriously challenge the Soul Formation stage must all be wandering in search of fortuitous encounters.’
It was certainly not easy. Without a considerable fortuitous encounter, becoming a Soul Formation stage cultivator was in the domain of miracles.
Still, if there was a saving grace, it was that he had many methods left to accelerate his cultivation speed.
‘First, let us raise the spiritual root to the Earth-grade.’
During the five years of traveling from the Damun Kingdom to the Middle Province, he had poured in his Supreme Great Ability to improve his spiritual root quality.
Thanks to this, he was right before becoming an Earth-grade spiritual root. According to calculations, he would be able to reach the Earth-grade spiritual root within a few days.
A week later.
‘Done!’
The speed of accumulating dharma power, the sensation of perceiving spiritual Qi, and all other qualities related to the spiritual root advanced by a dimension.
Expressing it in terms of the most crucial cultivation speed…
‘Thirty-five years to the second layer of the Nascent Soul stage?’
It was sharply shortened, but it was still far from enough to be satisfied with.
‘I should also buy cultivation pills.’
Since cultivation pills accelerated cultivation speed as much as spiritual root quality did, they were not to be missed.
However, Rank 4 cultivation pills were not sold in street shops. To obtain them, one had to directly sign a contract with a Nascent Soul-grade merchant guild.
Pondering which merchant guild to go to, he headed to the familiar Myriad Treasures Tower.
“You mean Rank 4 cultivation pills?”
“Yes. I heard the Unifying Harmony Pill is good, do you have it?”
“Of course. How much do you need?”
Although it occurred that Du Geum-bo was shocked because the quantity of pills Jin So-myeong requested was too massive, there was no particularly big issue.
After concluding a contract to regularly supply the pills, he went to a merchant guild other than the Myriad Treasures Tower and signed a similar additional contract.
Relying blindly only on the Myriad Treasures Tower was foolish, and since he had to consume eight times more pills than others, he was reluctant to buy them from a single place.
Half a year later.
Once the pill supply began in earnest, his cultivation speed accelerated once again.
‘Twenty-five years!’
The time required to reach the second layer of the Nascent Soul stage was shortened from the existing thirty-five years to twenty-five years.
What should he do to make the cultivation speed even faster?
Around the time he fell into thought,
welcome news came from the Myriad Treasures Tower. It was said they had found a person willing to sell a spiritual herb capable of raising his body tempering realm to Rank 4.
Since they said they would connect him with the seller if he only paid the brokerage fee, he naturally agreed.
“Nice to meet you. I am of the Heo surname, so call me whatever is convenient.”
“I am of the Jin surname.”
A man whose face was hidden by a large bamboo hat where darkness rippled held out a jade box. Although the opponent hid his identity, it was a common occurrence, so he did not particularly care and focused on the item.
‘Gold-Shackling Bone-Crushing Grass.’
It was a Rank 4 body tempering spiritual object that crushed the bones of the entire body to reconstruct them, raising the body tempering realm by one level.
He examined it meticulously, even casting his Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye divine ability, and it was indeed the correct spiritual herb without any issues.
“Not bad. How many spirit stones should I give you?”
“Forget spirit stones. Rather, I wish to exchange it for an item of similar value to the Gold-Shackling Bone-Crushing Grass.”
Seeing his firm refusal, he seemed to understand how transactions between Nascent Soul stage cultivators were conducted.
‘Truly precious things can only be obtained through barter.’
If it could be bought with spirit stones, things would have been convenient, but without showing his disappointment, he asked in a calm tone.
“Do you perhaps have a specific item you desire?”
“Of course. Here, I have listed the spiritual objects I need.”
As he scanned the jade slip offered by the opponent with his Divine Sense, numerous spiritual objects were listed.
[Blood-Vine Soul-Leaf Lotus, Sweet-Wood Deep-Dew Grass, Soul-Shattering Nameless Gold, Ghost Jade, inner core of the Thunder-Soul Clear-Spirit Beast…]
Jin So-myeong, who scanned the list, paused.
‘Is he a demonic cultivator?’
Most of the spiritual objects requested by the opponent were related to demonic cultivation methods or spirit insects.
After hesitating for a moment, Jin So-myeong took out one of the jade boxes that had only been gathering dust in his subspace. It was a spirit insect corpse obtained by killing the Grand Elder of the Black Night Palace in the past.
“Soul-Yin Ghost-Winged Insect? It would have been great if it were alive. Regrettable.”
“Is it insufficient to exchange for the Gold-Shackling Bone-Crushing Grass?”
“…I apologize, but I would be at a loss.”
Seeing his hesitation, he took out one more jade box. Since the spirit insect corpses were piled up like a mountain at the time, there were five jade boxes containing spirit insect corpses in total.
As he offered two of them, only then did the opponent nod.
“Very well. Let’s trade.”
Selling a useless spirit insect corpse, he obtained a Rank 4 body tempering spiritual object! He forcibly controlled the corners of his mouth which were trying to rise on their own.
‘Things are proceeding smoothly.’
Once he consumed the Gold-Shackling Bone-Crushing Grass and achieved Rank 4 body tempering, he would be able to strengthen the Secret Realm of the Mind. Then his cultivation speed would accelerate once again.
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