Chapter 225: Challenge
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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When he opened the jade box presented by Myo Seol with both hands, a blackly burnt piece of charcoal was inside.
A block of wood looking like a half-burnt piece of firewood. This was indeed the Heavenly Thunder Wood Core.
It was a precious ingredient that could only be obtained when a tree that survived being struck by the Lightning Tribulation…which occurred when a high-level cultivator above the Nascent Soul stage broke through a Great Realm…mutated with an extremely slim probability.
Examining the forearm-sized Heavenly Thunder Wood Core with the Lightning-Awakened Clear-Discerning Dharma-Breaking Eye, a faint vitality was glimpsed.
The vitality condensed inside the block of wood was hazy as if it would easily crumble at first glance, but it remained intact even when nudged with magic power.
‘Indeed…’
How powerful was the Lightning Tribulation?
Worthy of a tree that survived being struck by lightning strong enough to completely devastate a vast area, a persistent life force was felt.
“Good. As promised, grant the authority to use a Rank 5 spiritual vein to the one who brought the Heavenly Thunder Wood Core.”
Myo Seol, who had been obediently following whatever instructions he gave without a word of complaint, hesitated for a moment and finally spoke.
“Will it truly be alright? Once Soul Formation stage cultivators begin to increase, controlling them will become impossible.”
“Hm.”
Looking at Myo Seol asking in a serious tone, he pondered how to reply.
Honestly, even if several Soul Formation stage cultivators were to emerge, it did not seem like it would pose much of a threat.
Had he not even defeated the Star-Shattering True Monarch, who had fought countless battles over two hundred thousand years?
The strength he could display when exerting his full power far exceeded the typical early Soul Formation stage. That he was constantly growing stronger every day was a bonus.
If someone caused trouble and he wished to deal with them, it was not that difficult.
Thus, the important thing was how the remaining people would live after he ascended.
“As I said before, I shall ascend to the Upper Realm soon. Then the Upper Realm and the Human Realm will connect, and the Origin Qi of Heaven and Earth will grow increasingly dense. Rank 5 spiritual veins will appear all over the world.”
“Do you mean that the increase in Soul Formation stage cultivators is unavoidable?”
“Yes. It can be said to be a matter with no choice. Rather than collapsing while trying to suppress it by force, is it not better to let go of one’s own accord? Before becoming enemies with the entire world, the Sacred City should also produce Soul Formation stage cultivators to compete formally.”
“…”
“In fact, from my point of view, it feels late even now. The Sacred City has accumulated too much karma. Since enemies are scattered all over the world, you will suffer quite a bit in the future.”
Lost in silent thought, Myo Seol bowed her head.
“Understood. I shall follow as the Lord of the Divine Wood said. I will also tell the Altar Masters to cultivate actively.”
“Good. But is there still no news regarding master Hong Seol?”
“Yes. Senior Hong possesses an innate spatial divine ability and is a hybrid of the Artifact Spirit Race, so if she resolves to hide, finding her is close to impossible.”
Frowning at his eyes, Jin So-myeong retrieved the Dream-Leaving Plaque from his sub-space.
It was a jade plaque received to maintain Hong Seol’s dream in the Illusory Dream Secret Realm, and since a portion of her consciousness was contained inside it, her survival could be known.
‘It seems she is alive, but are her injuries so severe that she cannot hear news from the surroundings?’
In fact, it was not that strange a matter.
For Jin So-myeong, who possessed the Undying Body, most injuries were recovered within a day or two and even fatal wounds were fully healed in a few years, but it was not so for others.
If one suffered damage to their meridians or dantian, it took a truly long time to recover. Decades were basic until one regained their original strength.
Moreover,
Recalling the strength shown by the Star-Shattering True Monarch, surviving was a miracle in itself.
Even if countless Soul Formation stage cultivators emerged in the future, the strongest entity in the Human Realm, excluding Jin So-myeong, would be Hong Seol.
“Still, just in case, search more actively.”
“Understood. Senior Hong is highly likely to be asleep inside a low-grade dharma treasure, so we shall focus on that area.”
“Hm… by any chance, is there a way to track the opponent using a portion of her consciousness?”
Utilizing Hong Seol’s consciousness contained in the Dream-Leaving Plaque might be of help in finding her.
“There is a Spiritual Treasure that can track the main body using a piece of consciousness, but I do not know if it will work on a Soul Formation stage cultivator. If you need it, I will instruct the Altar Master to improve its performance.”
“I leave it to you.”
Finishing various additional requests, Jin So-myeong dismissed Myo Seol, then headed to the cultivation room.
Although there were a few acquaintances he wished to meet remaining…
Ryeo-jeong, whom he had accompanied in the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda, had no fixed residence so her location could not be known, and as for Sky Island, he planned to examine it once the Divine Wood vanished and the spiritual vein stabilized.
‘Alright.’
The production of the Rank 5 Heavenly Spiritual Treasure, gathering ingredients for the Mysterious Heaven Brilliance Pill, and so on.
Since the seeds had been sown, now he had to wait until the results came out.
Pondering what to do during his spare time, he headed to the Secret Realm of the Mind.
He had instructed his clones to organize the treasures and jade slips piled up in the warehouse and select useful ones, and he was curious about the results.
However…
“You found a Rank 6 Boundary-Breaking Talisman?”
To find yet another talisman needed when ascending to the Upper Realm. The result was far more excellent than expected.
Leaving behind the clones nodding with expressionless faces, he opened the gold-foiled wooden box, and three talismans were inside.
He closely examined the talismans densely written with unrecognizable characters.
Although no aura was felt, as if someone had merely doodled on ordinary paper at first glance, focusing all his senses to examine them somehow made his mouth run dry.
Just looking at the talismans made a chill run down his spine as if he were facing a predator.
Is it because he became a Soul Formation stage cultivator?
The aura of the 6th Realm, which he could not even detect in the past, was felt very slightly, faintly.
That he felt an aura he had not even perceived meant he had grown, but for that reason, it became more certain.
‘It is unfathomable.’
If he encountered a 6th Realm entity in his current state, there would be no chance of winning even if he burned all of his lifespan.
The gap was despairingly large, but it made him smile instead.
He felt as if his mind, which had unknowingly grown dull as there were no opponents in the entire Human Realm, was sharpened keenly once again.
‘What kind of realm is the 6th Realm?’
He wondered how strong the monsters who reached the unknown territory beyond the Soul Formation stage would be.
He wished to quickly ascend to the Upper Realm and confirm it personally, but…
He controlled his mind that wanted to grow impatient.
He should not be too relaxed, but he should not be in a hurry either. The important thing was always the proper balance.
“Hm?”
Just as he engraved the goal deep in his heart.
A worn piece of paper that had been laid beneath the three Rank 6 Boundary-Breaking Talismans. He discovered a note left by someone.
[Does a person who can kill me even exist in the first place?]
[The higher the cultivator, the more absolute the gap according to the cultivation realm. It is close to impossible for an early Soul Formation stage to defeat a late stage. Furthermore, do I not possess tens of thousands of battle experiences? This is far too unreasonable.]
Just by reading the opening part, he could easily tell who had left the record.
‘It is a diary left by the Star-Shattering True Monarch.’
Words written on ordinary paper, not even a jade slip. He slowly read down the characters written in a somewhat rough handwriting.
[Even though those who ascended to the Soul Formation stage in the resource-scarce Human Realm are the pillars of the human race possessing brilliant talent. To think I am killing them with my own hands… It is truly a terrible thing.]
[I do not know exactly when it started, but a question that suddenly popped up does not leave my mind.]
[Could I by any chance be the inheritor?]
[Rather than clinging to a hopeless wait, would it not be better to personally cross over to the Upper Realm?]
…
…
A blank space where nothing was written continued for a long time, then a single sentence popped out at the very end of the record.
[But am I still human?]
[In the Upper Realm, there are also races that maintain their existence based on memory.]
[It would not be an exaggeration to say that my memories accumulated over a period exceeding a hundred thousand years have become a living organism themselves.]
[Am I truly still human? Recalling that question, I absolutely cannot go to the Upper Realm…]
The writing written on the worn paper was the end of it.
“Hah, my word.”
He felt he knew the reason why this worn paper had been placed under the Rank 6 Boundary-Breaking Talisman.
This diary was a question handed to someone who would become the Star-Shattering True Monarch generation after generation.
It was the final line blocking oneself who, one day as time passed, would want to give up everything and cross over to the Upper Realm due to weakened will.
“…”
Jin So-myeong, who was silent for quite a long time, let out a shallow sigh and shook his head.
Honestly, it was difficult to understand the Star-Shattering True Monarch.
‘If it were me, I would have gone directly to the Upper Realm.’
However things worked out, he would have faced the results personally.
In fact, to speak more bluntly, he did not even believe in the very existence of the Sword of Humanity.
Because he believed that the future could change at any time.
An entity that would lead the troubled human race to resurgence. If the Sword of Humanity existed, it meant destiny was set, but was that truly so?
Although he could not know what the truth might be, at least he hoped it was not.
With a brief sigh, he laid down the diary and packed the Rank 6 Boundary-Breaking Talisman well on one side of his sub-space.
Later, he picked up a jade slip among the treasures that the clones had selected as useful.
‘Chaos Sky Shattering Annihilation Palm . Its name is grand from the start.’
It was written to be a spell that collapsed even the order of the sky and led everything to annihilation.
Just hearing the words made it seem like an incredibly powerful divine art, but introduction phrases for spells were originally bound to contain exaggeration and bluff.
Thus, he read it without much expectation at first, but an exclamation soon emerged of its own accord.
‘It is a spell combining the Yin-Yang Great Hand Seal and the Five Elements Shattering Annihilation Wheel into one.’
Should he call it a superior version of the two spells he had used as his mainstays?
Destructive power, magic power efficiency, casting speed, potential possessed by the spell. It was superior in every aspect.
He felt he knew the reason why the clones had selected this jade slip out of countless treasures.
***
Meanwhile.
The place that changed the most as Jin So-myeong reigned as the Lord of the Divine Wood was the Sacred City.
Should it be said that the atmosphere itself had changed?
Originally, it was safe to say that the Sacred City’s purpose of existence was to monitor and suppress the entire Human Realm so that Soul Formation stage cultivators could not be born.
Yet as Jin So-myeong became the leader, the path heading toward the Soul Formation stage opened openly.
Since the purpose aimed at by the organization was completely overturned, confusion was bound to arise.
“I do not know if this is alright.”
Naturally, there were also those who harbored dissatisfaction at such a radical change.
The Emotion-Extinguishing Altar Master, the Snow Shadow Altar Master, the Formation-Breaking Altar Master, the Soul-Refining Altar Master…
The Nascent Soul Great Circle cultivators who could be called the core of the Sacred City gathered in one place to discuss this situation, but opinions were divided.
“I truly do not know if we should let Soul Formation stage cultivators be born. Our control over the Human Realm will completely vanish.”
“Rather than that, I am worried that the Lord of the Divine Wood seems to be trying to ascend too hastily.”
“Hm.”
“Would it not be safer to take five hundred… no, a thousand years to increase the number of Soul Formation stage cultivators as much as possible before connecting with the Upper Realm?”
No one knew what the situation in the Upper Realm was like currently.
According to what they knew, if connected to the Upper Realm, high-level alien races could descend and cause disaster.
Thus, they had to raise the strength of the entire Human Realm as much as possible.
“My opinion is slightly different. The Human Realm lacks resources too much. If that many Soul Formation stage cultivators are born, they will eventually have no choice but to fight one another.”
“Do you mean a war will break out?”
“Yes. The vital energy of the human race will be greatly diminished. Perhaps we will be pushed back by the demonic beasts that grew their power by seizing the opportunity.”
“The demon race… indeed, the potential possessed by demonic beasts is not to be underestimated either.”
“Therefore, it is more important to maintain control over the Human Realm. All Soul Formation stage cultivators must belong to the Sacred City. However, to do so, the Lord of the Divine Wood would have to personally step forward…”
Just as they were in the middle of talking.
A young man with a sharp impression who was only listening silently clicked his tongue quietly.
“What meaning is there in us chattering among ourselves? Since the Lord of the Divine Wood gave instructions, it is already all decided. We have no choice but to do as he wishes.”
“…That is true.”
“There is no need to be so disheartened. Is it not actually fortunate? The method to resolve both what he wishes and our dissatisfaction is the same.”
“The method?”
“Did the Lord of the Divine Wood not say so personally? That anyone may challenge the Soul Formation stage.”
“Are you by any chance…”
In the silence created as everyone shut their mouths, the words of the Soul-Refining Altar Master continued.
“What meaning is there in the words of the weak? If you have dissatisfaction, ascend to the Soul Formation stage and challenge him formally. For the Sacred City was originally such a place.”
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