Chapter 203: Breakthrough
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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【Jin So-myeong】
【Lifespan】 : 111 / 1963
【Realm】 : 7th layer of the Nascent Soul stage
【Supreme Great Abilities】 : 32.2 million / 160 million
【Divine Abilities】 : <Secret Realm of the Mind>, <Myriad Flows Restoration>
As he reached the late Nascent Soul stage, his spiritual power, Supreme Great Abilities, and Divine Sense all became twice as strong.
Looking at his Divine Sense first, the detection range increased from a radius of 80 km to 160 km.
It was an absurd level of sensing ability, hard to believe for a single human to possess.
‘To think it is 480 km if stretched to the maximum in one direction…’
In other words, 400 km was a thousand li.
A thousand li. Even a blade of grass swaying in the wind beyond that remote distance was clearly felt.
He was now able to grasp an entire small country from where he sat.
Undeniably, a Divine Sense of this level was at the Soul Formation stage.
What about his Supreme Great Abilities?
They broke through the hundred million mark. The maximum limit shot up from the previous 80 million to 160 million.
‘Heh…’
A laugh escaped naturally.
There was truly a lot he could do with a hundred million Supreme Great Abilities.
He could raise the proficiency of most spells to the Proficiency or Minor Success stage in an instant, and it was also possible to duplicate Soul Formation-grade spiritual herbs.
It meant he could obtain one Soul Formation-grade spiritual herb every month, which, if thought about carefully, made no sense at all.
What did a normal Nascent Soul stage cultivator have to do to obtain a Soul Formation-grade spiritual object?
They had to hone their skills for a lifetime and wait for an opportunity that might come once in a thousand years.
Then, when the time came, they had to risk their lives and push aside numerous competitors just to barely obtain a Soul Formation-grade spiritual object.
To think he could obtain such a treasure once every month…
If this fact were to be known, all cultivators existing under heaven would rush in like madmen.
Anyway,
The important thing was that a hundred million Supreme Great Abilities meant such a vast amount of power, so where should he use it?
Things he wanted to achieve. He pondered among the numerous choices that came to mind and chose the most appealing one.
‘Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art.’
If his life-bound cultivation method, the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, grew, his cultivation speed would become faster, and efficiency would rise in all areas related to spiritual Qi.
‘It was said that if I achieve Great Success in the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, a Spirit Body will be formed.’
Spirit Body.
To think he would obtain that, which was called a constitution engraved in the soul and a special talent possessed only by geniuses among geniuses.
The Heavenly Thunder Dao Body was a Spirit Body that increased affinity for lightning and allowed one to absorb lightning strikes to convert them into spiritual Qi.
To put it simply, it meant he would gain advantages in all actions related to lightning Qi.
‘It will be helpful when using the Lightning Escape Art as well.’
Would it not reduce the consumption of spiritual power, which was so vast that it was hard to bear? He might become able to maintain the Lightning Escape Art for a long period of time.
Thinking of this and that, the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art was indeed the most appealing.
However, the problem was that he had to fill 20 billion proficiency for the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art to reach Great Success.
Since 160 million Supreme Great Abilities recovered every month…
‘At most, it will take eleven years.’
Although it was not a short time, if he had tried to fill 20 billion when he was at the 1st layer of the Nascent Soul stage, it would have taken over 160 years.
Compared to that time when there was no answer, it was much easier now.
‘For the time being, I will invest my Supreme Great Abilities in the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art.’
Pondering what was left that was absolutely necessary to reach the Soul Formation stage, it was like this.
Time to cultivate until the Nascent Soul stage Great Circle.
A Rank 5 spiritual vein, or 20 Immortal Stones.
‘…Not easy.’
He could somehow arrange the time to cultivate, but the Rank 5 spiritual vein was the problem.
In the first place, there were only a few Rank 5 spiritual veins in the world. They were so few that they could be counted on one hand.
Fortunately, it was not that they did not exist at all, but those whose locations were known were all managed by the Sacred City without a single exception.
In fact, it meant that the Lord of the Divine Tree, a Soul Formation stage expert, was guarding them, so he could not approach carelessly.
Hong Seol had not risked danger for nothing to come all the way to the True Realm of Illusory Dreams to challenge the Soul Formation stage.
‘What should I do when I challenge the Soul Formation stage? Will there be Immortal Stones if I go to the Sacred City?’
It was not like he needed a lot of Immortal Stones.
He just had to obtain exactly twenty by any means. Then, he could upgrade the Secret Realm of the Mind to Rank 5.
He thought about whether he could infiltrate the Sacred City if he actively utilized the Blood Spirit Clone and the Thousand Transformations Art.
‘The key factor will be just how high the realm of the Lord of the Divine Tree is.’
Could he win if they fought?
Had he not become stronger after reaching the late Nascent Soul stage? Based on his experience fighting the Soul Formation-grade Insect-Armor Race, he calculated the chances of winning…
‘I don’t know.’
In terms of instantaneous speed or destructive power, it did not seem like he would fall far behind even compared to a Soul Formation stage cultivator, but endurance was the problem.
If comparing only the amount of spiritual power, the difference was as vast as a candle and a bonfire. No, a forest fire.
The scale of power handled by the Soul Formation stage was that overwhelming.
Still, if there was a fortunate point.
If the opponent was at the early Soul Formation stage, it seemed possible to at least escape even if they met face-to-face.
‘Wait. Come to think of it, this place is also the Sacred City.’
If he searched thoroughly, would not at least one Immortal Stone turn up? If he duplicated it after that…
‘Ah, since it is not a living creature, duplicating it with the Myriad Flows Restoration divine ability would be impossible.’
In any case, the fact that there was a possibility of obtaining Immortal Stones was important.
Just as he was pondering whether to wander around the dream world once the guard duty was over.
‘Hmm?’
Along with a sensation that made his hair stand on end, the air changed.
The sky gradually darkened.
It was covered with dark clouds in an instant, and the wind became harsh as if a typhoon had arrived.
*Whoosh…!*
A giant vortex formed around the cultivation room that Hong Seol had entered.
Due to the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi gathering from all directions, the surrounding spiritual Qi concentration rose endlessly.
He instinctively knew from the sudden abnormal weather.
It seemed that Hong Seol, who had finished her preparations, was finally challenging the Soul Formation stage.
‘What a tremendous energy.’
Honestly, he felt greedy looking at the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi that continued to gather, but he did not absorb it. Since it could cause interference, he stopped his cultivation and focused only on standing guard.
One day, two days, a week, a fortnight…
Although a considerable amount of time passed, the flow of the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi did not stop. It surged in constantly without resting for a single moment.
‘Heh… Just how much energy has gathered.’
Looking at the swirling Heaven and Earth Origin Qi with the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye unfolded, he shook his head.
Since such a vast scale of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi condensed in a single space, it was difficult to even approach closely.
‘One would not even be able to interfere with ordinary abilities.’
If someone without the ability to ascend to the Soul Formation stage entered that space, their mind and body would collapse, swept away by the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi.
Just as he was watching from a distance along with his clones.
Abruptly, all the commotion stopped.
Was it finally about to begin? As the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi that surged like a tsunami stopped, the surroundings regained silence.
A month passed in the silence before he knew it.
Observing the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi boiling like a furnace, he seemed to understand something.
‘Could the Soul Formation stage perhaps…’
He felt it vaguely. What one had to achieve to ascend to the Soul Formation stage.
In that split second.
*Boom!*
Hong Seol’s cultivation room exploded, and an extremely sharp energy emitted, hacking the surroundings.
At the same time, lightning flickered in the dark clouds that covered the sky.
‘Lightning Tribulation!’
He focused all his nerves in an instant.
According to his instinct, he amplified his senses by consuming even all the Supreme Great Abilities that he should have poured into the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art.
…………!
The dark world was filled with light in an instant.
The blue flash coloring the sky. He stared as if possessed at the lightning that struck down vertically to illuminate the world.
*Kaboom!*
A stinging shockwave grazed his cheek. He had no time to pay attention to the intense heat that made his skin burn.
Beginning with the blue lightning that struck for the second time, dozens of lightning bolts followed.
Facing the Lightning Tribulation with only a single sword, Hong Seol looked precarious, but she did not collapse easily.
*Rumble…*
In the moment the blue lightning flickering in the dark clouds dyed purple.
The purple Lightning Tribulation struck down.
*Cough.*
Blood surged up. Without him even realizing it, the aftermath of the Lightning Tribulation, an intangible shockwave, lashed his entire body.
Throwing the fainted clones into his subspace, he scanned his surroundings and was startled.
Every place visible in his sight was reduced to ruins.
Indeed, the Soul Formation Lightning Tribulation was of a different class.
It was incomparable to the Lightning Tribulation he experienced when breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage in the past. Even though it was the same purple Lightning Tribulation, it was far more powerful.
‘What about Hong Seol?’
Her complexion was pale. A faint hairline crack was visible on the trembling blade.
He worried if she was alright, but he could not help. The Heavenly Tribulation had to be overcome on one’s own.
Before long, the second purple Lightning Tribulation followed.
This time, he saw.
The scene of a single line of light cutting through the darkness.
As if punishing a cultivator who went against the natural order to proceed toward eternal life, he gathered the vertically striking lightning into his eyes.
In that split second, the Five Elements Divine Thunder in his mind resonated.
Even before he realized that a clear purple light had settled in part of the Five Elements Divine Thunder.
Hong Seol’s sword split the lightning.
The purple lightning losing its power and scattering in all directions was like brilliant fireworks.
‘Ah…’
To think the purple Lightning Tribulation that looked so strong was split by a single sword.
Did it mean there was nothing absolute in the world?
He had no time to feel wonder. As he observed the Lightning Tribulation that followed again, the trial was over at some point.
‘Did she succeed?’
His question was only brief.
The vast Heaven and Earth Origin Qi that filled the surroundings swirled.
It was sucked into Hong Seol, who was standing quietly with both eyes closed, and soon a remote energy surged.
He knew as soon as he saw it.
That energy violently fluctuating because it was not properly gathered was indeed the proof of the Soul Formation stage.
“Whew…”
The overflowing energy rapidly regained composure, and Hong Seol, who had been staring blankly at the empty air, closed her eyes again.
The dream of all Nascent Soul stage cultivators. What was her feeling right now, having reached the Soul Formation stage?
Truly numerous emotions flashed across her trembling eyelids.
“…I am in your debt.”
Meeting her straight gaze, a smile came naturally.
“Congratulations on becoming a Soul Formation stage cultivator.”
“Thank you very much. If not for you, I would still be wandering inside the dream. I will surely repay this favor.”
“I have also received a lot of help from you. Standing guard is nothing much.”
Honestly, it was not difficult either. It felt like it was over while he was cultivating comfortably.
That was why he was humble, but Hong Seol laughed as if it were absurd and shook her head.
“Who could lightly pass over the assaults of the Sacred City cultivators? It was only possible because your skill is outstanding.”
Thinking about it, it was so.
If he did not have the ability to easily suppress the Sacred City cultivators, this place would not have been a blessed cultivation ground overflowing with opportunities, but a hell where even enduring was impossible.
“Ah! Then may I ask just one question?”
“A question? Just ask comfortably.”
“Master. Do you happen to know about Immortal Stones?”
Whether it was because it was an unexpected question or because it was the first time she heard the word ‘Master’ in her right mind, Hong Seol hesitated for a moment and then spoke.
“Hmm… Do you know that Immortal Stones are items originating from the Upper Realm?”
“Honestly, I don’t know well.”
“An Immortal Stone is not ordinary spiritual Qi, but a mineral created by the condensation of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi. You can think of it as something similar to a Spirit Stone…”
Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, which was an extremely pure energy, was a precious energy that a cultivator could taste only for a very brief moment when breaking through a major cultivation realm.
For Heaven and Earth Origin Qi to condense and turn like a Spirit Stone. Just by imagining it, he seemed to know how precious of an item it was.
“Since Heaven and Earth Origin Qi is sparse in the Human Realm, Immortal Stones are not produced even in a Rank 5 spiritual vein. Most of the Immortal Stones existing in the Human Realm are items that flowed in from the Upper Realm.”
“At any rate, they do exist, right?”
When he asked back with a pleased heart, Hong Seol wore a bitter smile.
“There way the Sacred City would leave such objects alone. They destroy them as soon as they are discovered.”
“No, why on earth?”
“Because the Sacred City believes that if items of the Upper Realm increase, disaster will fall upon the Human Realm. It is said that things originating from the Upper Realm try to become one with the Upper Realm again.”
“…”
“Of course, since the Sacred City is also a place where people live, there might be someone who possesses Immortal Stones, but it will probably be difficult to find them easily.”
Just as Jin So-myeong fell into thought silently.
“Let us go out soon. Let’s do the remaining talk outside.”
“Ah…”
At the words to go out, regret surged. Because having lived here, this place was a very good area to cultivate.
Whether she noticed that, Hong Seol, who looked troubled, spoke.
“Do you want to stay here longer?”
“No. Didn’t you say you have already been in the True Realm of Illusory Dreams for over twenty years, Master? It will be dangerous if we stay longer, so let us go out quickly.”
Pondering for a moment, Hong Seol took out a round jade token from her storage pouch and offered it.
“What is this?”
“It has no other function, and is the spiritual treasure Dream Journeying Path, specially manufactured to maintain dreams in the True Realm of Illusory Dreams. Since I have breathed a portion of my consciousness into it, you will be able to maintain this dream.”
As he accepted the palm-sized jade token, her voice followed.
“Although I must go out as quickly as possible, since you, So-myeong, must not have entered the True Realm of Illusory Dreams long ago, you may stay longer.”
“…Thank you.”
“However, be careful. Because the longer the period you stay in the True Realm of Illusory Dreams, the probability of losing your self increases rapidly.”
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