Chapter 204: Sacred City Search

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Accepting the jade token, the Dream Journeying Path, given by Hong Seol, Jin So-myeong bowed his head.

“Thank you. I will use it well.”

“Do not be too greedy for the Rank 5 spiritual vein. At the very latest, you must come out of the True Realm of Illusory Dreams before twenty years pass.”

“Yes. But is it really alright to cultivate inside a dream? I am worried that my cultivation realm might become low again once I go outside.”

“You do not need to worry about that. What is important in the True Realm of Illusory Dreams is the foundation of existence; where the root originated from.”

“The root?”

“It means that because we are entities who came from outside the True Realm of Illusory Dreams, it is fine even if we leave the dream.”

Seeing that his Supreme Great Abilities had increased, there was a high possibility it was fine, but he had asked just in case, and a very reassuring answer returned.

Just as he was nodding his head.

Hong Seol took out an empty jade slip and began to record something quickly.

“You call me Master, but honestly, I have taught you almost nothing, to the point of embarrassment.”

“Hmm…”

“What you need most right now must be information about the Soul Formation stage. I will compile the things I know.”

“Ah, thank you very much.”

Insights on Soul Formation. At the harvest he had not even expected, the corners of his mouth naturally rose.

“However, do not trust it too blindly.”

“Pardon?”

“I am not a pure human, but a mixed-blood of the Artifact Spirit Race. Although these are pieces of information I found out by experiencing them myself, there is no guarantee they will be beneficial to you too.”

“I understand what you mean.”

Even food beneficial to humans is harmful if consumed by other species, for example, dogs or cats.

It was natural for cultivation methods to differ depending on the race.

As he gratefully accepted the jade slip containing the insights on Soul Formation, Hong Seol spoke with a serious expression.

“Be careful of the Sacred City. Setting aside your relationship with me, since your skills are extraordinary, the Sacred City must surely be paying attention to you.”

“The Sacred City? In fact, one came looking for me recently. Was it the Flame-Extinguishing Division Leader? He tried to take me to the Sacred City.”

Hong Seol’s eyebrows furrowed.

“To think a Division Leader-class moved… It is a bad sign. Do you know the reason?”

“I have a guess, but I don’t know for sure. That being said, do you happen to know what the realm of the Lord of the Divine Tree is?”

Honestly, Nascent Soul stage cultivators were no longer a threat. What he had to be careful of was how strong the Lord of the Divine Tree was.

“The Lord of the Divine Tree…? No one knows his exact realm. However, thinking about it now that I have reached the Soul Formation stage, I suspect he might be at the late Soul Formation stage.”

A low groan escaped naturally.

Even if he was at the early stage, it was hard to guarantee victory or defeat, but to think he was at the late stage…

‘If we clash, even escaping won’t be easy.’

Just as he was pondering how to respond to the pursuit of the Sacred City.

“However, I do not know how he cultivated to the late stage in a place where Heaven and Earth Origin Qi is sparse like the Human Realm. Now that I have ascended to the Soul Formation stage, I feel as if even breathing has become stuffy.”

“To the extent that breathing is stuffy?”

“In this kind of environment, even if one cultivates for a thousand years, it seems the realm would remain the same.”

Hong Seol, who murmured as if it were strange, pressed her forehead. Frowning as if her head ached, she spoke.

“I must go now. Since I have stayed in the True Realm of Illusory Dreams for too long, it is hard to endure.”

“Understood. Ah, right! The Myriad Cultivators Alliance sent people to help you, Master. They are probably still looking for you even now.”

He listed the names of the four Nascent Soul stage cultivators, including Ju Gwang, who had entered the True Realm of Illusory Dreams together, and handed over the communication jade token.

If she utilized this, she would be able to take out those who were currently exploring the starlight.

Hong Seol, who looked down silently at the jade token, nodded her head.

“…Yes. The True Realm of Illusory Dreams is dangerous, so do not push yourself too hard, and see you next time.”

“Yes.”

Just in time, cultivators of the Sacred City appeared and assaulted, and Hong Seol, who cut them down with a single slash, vanished like smoke.

She had woken up from the dream and gone outside the starlight.

Standing alone in the ruins turned into a mess by the Lightning Tribulation, Jin So-myeong let out a sigh.

Although he could not adapt to it suddenly becoming quiet, it was a familiar thing. After all, cultivation was ultimately something done alone, was it not?

After reading the insights on Soul Formation given by Hong Seol once, he carefully stored the jade slip away.

He would look through this again later, and decided to search the Sacred City first for now.

‘Let’s look for Immortal Stones first.’

He moved his steps toward the Divine Tree visible near the horizon.

Hoping he would obtain Immortal Stones if he was lucky.

***

Meanwhile.

Coming out into the fog filled with starlight, Hong Seol took out the jade token and injected spiritual power.

She had sent a signal to the Myriad Cultivators Alliance cultivators.

She waited for a long time, managing her energy which had become unstable as she just broke through her realm.

One by one, the Myriad Cultivators Alliance cultivators who were exploring the starlight returned, and everyone’s reaction was the same.

They expressed welcome to Hong Seol, whom they saw after a long time, and then hurriedly bowed their waists as they realized the shocking fact.

“Congratulations on ascending to the Soul Formation stage!”

“Thank you all. I will not forget that you came all the way here to help me.”

To be promised a reward by a Soul Formation stage cultivator who was no different from a legendary existence. How many things could be more joyful than this for a Nascent Soul stage cultivator?

The smiles on the lips of the Myriad Cultivators Alliance cultivators deepened.

“But has Cultivator Jin not come out yet?”

“My disciple has separate business remaining, so you do not have to wait for him. More than that, tell me what happened outside while I was inside the True Realm of Illusory Dreams.”

“Yes! This is a jade slip compiling the incidents that occurred over the past twenty years.”

Ju Gwang, who usually showed only a heavily drunk appearance like a drunkard, offered the jade slip in a polite posture as if extremely tensed.

Hong Seol, who scanned the jade slip quickly, paused and then furrowed her brow.

“Has the Sacred City come right in front of the True Realm of Illusory Dreams?”

“Yes. The Flame-Extinguishing Division Leader came in person, and Cultivator Jin cut him down in a single slash.”

“He cut down the Flame-Extinguishing Division Leader, a Nascent Soul stage Great Circle cultivator, in a single slash?”

“Uh… To be precise, he swung his sword twice, but in my view, the opponent was already finished at the first sword.”

Hong Seol, who was at a loss for words and only moved her lips, wore a bitter smile.

“My disciple was much stronger than I thought. If so, the outside must be in a state of chaos right now. Perhaps…”

Hong Seol, who let her words trail off, let out a heavy sigh and continued.

“The Heavenly Venerable. No, the Lord of the Divine Tree might have come all the way here in person.”

“…Pardon?”

The complexions of the group, including Ju Gwang, turned as white as a sheet of paper.

“Are you saying that the Lord of the Divine Tree would move just because one Division Leader died?”

“More than that, the fact that almost all Division Leaders were mobilized to find my disciple is important. This is clearly an abnormal thing. It would have been impossible if the Lord of the Divine Tree had not given the order.”

“Ah…”

Pondering for a moment, Hong Seol spoke as if she had solidified her resolve.

“I will go out first to draw their attention, so you all depart in one two-hour period.”

The hesitating group nodded their heads.

They stepped back because insisting on going out together with Hong Seol, a Soul Formation stage cultivator, would only cause interference.

At that time.

Mu Hwi-rang, who had been silent since earlier, grit his teeth and offered an entire storage pouch from his waist.

“Senior. This is a collection of talismans I have gathered since long ago to kill the Lord of the Divine Tree.”

“Talismans?”

Wonder settled in Hong Seol’s eyes as she inspected the storage pouch with her Divine Sense.

Inside, it was filled with Rank 4 talismans, because at a glance, there were over a thousand.

Even more, all the talismans were elaborately linked, so it seemed that if they could be activated simultaneously, it would be threatening even to a Soul Formation stage cultivator.

To think he gathered this many Rank 4 talismans.

It could be said to be a storage pouch containing the lifetime efforts of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

“With my skills, I would die even before taking out these talismans, but I believe it will be helpful to you, Senior, who has ascended to the Soul Formation stage.”

“…Yes. I will use them well.”

Parting with the group,

Hong Seol, who came outside the True Realm of Illusory Dreams, wore a bitter smile.

She expected a thick encirclement to be deployed at the entrance of the secret realm, but there was nothing.

The only one waiting for her was a single youth wearing simple white robes.

“Heavenly Venerable. How did you come all the way here?”

At Hong Seol’s question,

The youth, who was meditating while sitting on a rock, opened his eyes. Glancing over, he sighed.

“To ascend to the Soul Formation stage in an unstable place like the True Realm of Illusory Dreams… It is surprising that you succeeded. It is indeed an admirable talent. If only you were of the human race.”

Hong Seol, who remained silent for a long time, brought out the question she had kept in her mind since long ago.

“…Is race that important?”

“At least to me, it is important.”

With that single, extremely calm word as the end.

*Screeech.*

The drawn sword, making a metallic sound, cut through the empty air, and the two Soul Formation stage cultivators clashed.

***

At the same time,

Jin So-myeong, who remained in the dream to search the Sacred City thoroughly, realized what had changed.

‘The assaults have stopped.’

The Nascent Soul stage cultivators, who had been constantly assaulting since the moment Hong Seol, the owner of the dream, left, completely cut off.

Although he felt slightly regretful, he decided to think positively.

‘The Rank 5 spiritual vein is still here, after all.’

Although his cultivation speed would slow down since he had to ration the remaining pills, it was still much faster compared to the outside.

And thanks to the absence of troublemakers, searching the Sacred City also became easier.

‘Oh, is this the spiritual herb field? Dan-il, you take the kids and pack everything up.’

For nearly half a year.

Just as he was rummaging through the empty Sacred City without a single person in between his cultivations and packing this and that.

‘Formation Pavilion?’

A grand building of seven stories caught his eye, and at a glance, it was a place that managed the formations of the Sacred City.

‘···If it is here, there might be Immortal Stones.’

Formations usually use spiritual Qi flowing from spiritual veins as a power source, but they also consume spirit stones when raising output in emergencies.

Since the formation protecting the Sacred City was Rank 5, it meant they might have prepared Immortal Stones for emergency use.

As he entered the Formation Pavilion, whose entrance was wide open, he saw papers and jade slips piled up like a mountain.

Reading them roughly, budgets for managing the formations in the Sacred City, lists of materials to repair broken formations, and so on were written.

‘They are all useless things.’

He searched the inside thoroughly while going up floor by floor, but most were similar contents.

His disappointment was only brief.

The moment he searched meticulously to the last floor without giving up, his eyes widened.

‘This is…’

The content of the jade slip he read without much thought was extraordinary. It was quite long and complex, but if he summarized only the essence, it was like this.

‘To think it is a method to artificially create Immortal Stones using supreme-grade spirit stones!’

One of the pieces to become a Soul Formation stage cultivator.

As the possibility of obtaining the Immortal Stones he had searched for so much appeared, his mouth went dry.

He hurriedly read the jade slip carefully from beginning to end again.

‘Wait a minute. To obtain one Immortal Stone, 200,000 supreme-grade spirit stones are needed…?’

The efficiency was shattered to the point where he wondered if they had lost their minds. Perhaps because of that, a phrase like this was written at the end of the jade slip.

[It is acceptable in the aspect that it is an Immortal Stone not associated with the Upper Realm, but the efficiency is too poor, so the research is discontinued.]

Putting down the jade slip, Jin So-myeong let out a sigh.

In a way, it was understandable.

If comparing spirit stones to humans, a supreme-grade spirit stone turning into an Immortal Stone was exactly the same as a Nascent Soul stage cultivator becoming a Soul Formation stage cultivator. It would be stranger if it happened easily.

‘How many supreme-grade spirit stones do I have…’

Searching his subspace, he saw 100,000 supreme-grade spirit stones.

Because he had spent all his spirit stones buying cultivation resources before entering the True Realm of Illusory Dreams, not much was left.

‘To upgrade the Secret Realm of the Mind to Rank 5, twenty Immortal Stones are needed.’

To make twenty Immortal Stones?

A total of four million supreme-grade spirit stones were needed.

“Haha.”

Although he had not checked the spirit stones obtained in the dream yet, even a rough count showed it was insufficient. It was not just slightly lacking but severely lacking, so only a dry laugh came out.

‘Still, it is fortunate.’

Has not a way to obtain Immortal Stones appeared, after all.

Stopping his dry laugh, he racked his brain on what to do next.

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