Chapter 238: Cultivation in the Heart of Enemy Territory

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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[The Innate Primal Qi is the end that every energy in the world can reach, and it is the first.]

The Innate Primal Qi, which could be called an extremely pure energy.

Contradictorily, the Innate Primal Qi Scroll pursuing it began with creating the most turbid energy.

Integrating and refining every single one of the hundreds of millions of energies existing in the world, and ultimately recreating the energy of the beginning.

That was exactly the essence of the Innate Primal Qi Scroll.

However, since it was inherently the instinct of the world to pursue endless expansion, the process of obtaining the Innate Primal Qi was no different from going against heaven, defying the natural order.

‘It will not be easy… To think I must gather hundreds of millions of energies to reach grand success.’

If so, what could he obtain if he reached grand success in this cultivation method?

There was an extremely powerful advantage in the Innate Primal Qi Scroll that could not be found in other cultivation methods.

Only once in a lifetime.

If he offered the refined Innate Primal Qi as a price he had cultivated, he could dramatically pull up the success probability when breaking through a major realm.

For example, when reaching the Great Circle of the Soul Formation stage and challenging the Unity stage. It meant that even if he failed to obtain a Unity stage-grade spiritual object, a possibility of success would arise.

Of course, it was a waste to spend the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on the Unity stage.

‘I must use it when challenging the Integration stage… or the Grand Integration stage.’

It would also be good to use it when challenging the True Immortal stage, but the 9th Tier was a realm that no one in history had ever ascended to. It did not seem like the Innate Primal Qi Scroll would work.

While having various thoughts, at that moment.

He suddenly felt like he knew what the motivation was for creating the Innate Primal Qi Scroll.

Due to the innate limitation of the human race, when it became impossible to obtain the resources needed when challenging the Grand Integration stage no matter what one did, did they not prepare such a breakthrough…?

Jin So-myeong, who was pondering the Innate Primal Qi Scroll in succession of thoughts, frowned.

Anyway, because it was clear that it was an extremely outstanding cultivation method, he naturally intended to adopt it as his Natal Cultivation Method, but when he actually tried to operate it as a cultivation method, spiritual power did not accumulate.

It meant he failed to enter the gateway properly, but actually, it was not a particularly strange situation.

Originally, it was normal for top-grade cultivation methods above the Soul Formation stage to take dozens of years to learn.

People did not avoid cultivation methods that consumed a lot of time and resources, like lightning arts or dual cultivation of body and spell, for no reason.

To properly learn a cultivation method that took dozens of years just to enter the gateway, how much devotion would be required? Even based on the standards of outstanding geniuses, they had to devote their entire lives.

Of course, in the case of Jin So-myeong, there was another good method.

‘I must register it in the proficiency system.’

To learn directly from beginning to end, a single sword art was sufficient.

However…

‘To think registering it alone consumes five billion Supreme Great Abilities?’

There were various reasons why the registration cost of the proficiency system became expensive.

If a cultivation method was incomplete, it became expensive to improve the flaws, and if one tried to forcibly learn a cultivation method like those learned by foreign races whose physical conditions did not match, the consumption of Supreme Great Abilities became large.

Or else, it was also so when the cultivation method was purely too outstanding, and the Innate Primal Qi Scroll was exactly such a case.

‘I must try my best to learn it first, and if it really does not work, I will have to try again after becoming a mid Soul Formation stage cultivator.’

To reach five billion Supreme Great Abilities, he had to at least become a mid Soul Formation stage cultivator.

Anyway, since things turned out like this, it was clear where he had to spend his Supreme Great Abilities for this month.

Adding the one billion Supreme Great Abilities kept by Mugeuk, who had gained the ability to contain vitality upon becoming a Heavenly Spiritual Treasure, he poured in a total of 2.5 billion Supreme Great Abilities.

[Cultivation Method]
Nine-Fold Golden Body Scroll (Entry 1 / 100 billion)

He entered the gateway of the top-grade body tempering cultivation method, which allowed one to obtain a True Spirit-grade physical body upon grand success, so easily.

‘Truly awesome.’

To speak explicitly, it was thrilling to the point of giving him shivers.

He had instantly learned a top-grade cultivation method that originally required studying and researching diligently for dozens of years just to enter the gateway.

He felt a sense of ecstasy at the overwhelming outcome achieved through the Supreme Great Abilities.

‘The Supreme Great Abilities are becoming stronger day by day.’

He had only consumed the Supreme Great Abilities charged every month, but he saved dozens of years.

Just imagining how strong he would become when this ability reached its end made him feel good.

Jin So-myeong, who was enjoying the pleasure, closed his eyes and concentrated.

‘My five senses have become sharper.’

From the moment he entered the gateway of the Nine-Fold Golden Body Scroll, he focused on the changes occurring in his body and pondered the newly obtained body tempering cultivation method.

To reach grand success in the Nine-Fold Golden Body Scroll, one had to train the nine elements…muscle, bone, blood, vessel, skin, flesh, heart, qi, and soul…to the limit and reach completion.

However, bringing all elements to completion was too arduous a path. Honestly, it was not an exaggeration to say it was impossible.

So there was one special function in the Nine-Fold Golden Body Scroll; based on the most outstanding element among the nine elements, the rest would also grow naturally.

For example, it meant that if he could somehow train a single bone to the True Spirit-grade, the other eight elements would fill up on their own.

‘Although it will take time, eventually I will achieve the Nine-Fold Golden Body and possess an Integration stage-grade physical body.’

This characteristic was perfectly suited for him by chance.

Thanks to the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art reaching Grand Success, only his five organs, including his heart, were in an extremely strong state, but thanks to the Nine-Fold Golden Body Scroll, the balance would be naturally aligned.

‘If my entire body changes like my five organs… my whole body might end up playing the role of a dantian.’

If other organs, bones, marrow, and so on changed into spiritual particle organs rather than just the five organs, he would undergo a dramatic leap.

‘Ah, by the way, shall I try to make the blood armor again?’

The Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art’s blood armor condensation chapter, which had been his armor for a long time, is divided into three stages in total.

Red Armor, Black Armor, Purple Eye Armor.

Currently, his blood armor was in a completely black-dyed state; he completed the Black Armor but was in a state of failing to enter the gateway of the Purple Eye Armor.

Although he had tried over hundreds of times while in the lower realm, he could not reach the Purple Eye Armor, but since he had learned the Nine-Fold Golden Body Scroll, he decided to try once more.

Reciting the formula of the blood armor condensation chapter, he gathered his physical essence and concentrated it at a single point, and…

A faint purple light dwelled on the blood armor, which was completely black like ink.

He had taken his first step into the Purple Eye Armor realm, which he had failed at despite trying countlessly.

‘It is done!’

The feeling of stepping forward step by step was extremely pleasant.

Savoring the sense of achievement, he turned his gaze back to his sub-space.

Among the harvests obtained this time, he focused on the cultivation resources, and his satisfaction grew even larger.

‘Black Vein Herb? It is a spiritual herb hard to find even one of in the lower realm, yet there are hundreds of stalks.’

Upon swallowing the 5th-rank spiritual herb good for replenishing blood qi, his physical body, which was exhausted from reconstructing the blood armor, recovered rapidly.

Should he indeed call it the upper realm?

There was not a single thing to discard among the treasures contained in the storage pouches.

‘If I just digest the spiritual herbs and pills obtained this time well, my body tempering realm will reach the 5th-rank medium-to-high grade.’

Jin So-myeong, who nodded his head, spoke to his clones who were diligently rummaging through the mountain of treasures.

“Organize them well according to their uses. Especially gather the ones helpful for cultivation in one corner.”

“Understood.”

Leaving behind Baek Gwang-il, who answered as the representative, he stepped out of the temporarily rented lodging.

‘…Now I must gradually go to a city larger than Jade Water City.’

Since his urgent business was finished and he had also grasped information about the Asura Race, it was time to head to a larger city.

Actually, the storage pouches obtained this time were all good, but compared to the body tempering resources piled up like mountains, general cultivation pills were almost non-existent.

‘Well… since not all Asuras are body temperers, if I go to a large city, they will also sell general pills.’

[Resource Production]: 80 Immortal Stones / 1 day
[To grow the mine to the 5th-rank supreme grade, medium-grade Immortal Stones are required.]

The Immortal Stones he gathered while staying as the Lord of the Divine Wood in the lower realm alone exceeded one million.

If he added the recent harvest to this, at least there would be no case of being unable to purchase pills due to lacking Immortal Stones.

***

A city built on top of a super-large 5th-rank spiritual vein.

Taiyin City.

Among the countless cities in the Red Lotus Realm, a strange guest visited that place, which was a city large enough for its name to be widely known.

“Did you say the Sacred War is only five years away?”

When the old man whose thickly grown beard was roughly shaved and cleared frowned, Nok-myeong, who operated the largest merchant guild in Taiyin City, smiled.

“Yes. Soon, a grand auction preparing for the Sacred War will be held in the Flame Capital Heavenly City, which is one of the five largest celestial cities in the Red Lotus Realm. It seems you have not heard of it.”

“…I see.”

“Haha. For you to not even know the passage of time, it seems you have been in closed-door cultivation for a considerably long time. I have also had such experiences a few times.”

Just as humans’ characters were diverse, so was the Asura Race. Not all of them were combative.

Nok-myeong, who took merchant as his occupation, acted friendly throughout, but the old man was blunt.

“I understand, so stop talking useless things and give me the Great Clarity Plain Cloud Pill.”

“Please wait a moment. Our merchant guild elder will bring the pills soon. Contact has already been made, and because he will use a teleportation array, it will not take that long.”

“…”

“It is because the pills you requested are too many, so we ask for your understanding.”

The old man, who was silent, roughly nodded his head and closed his eyes.

At the blatant attitude as if he did not want to converse, Nok-myeong paused, but did not go out of his way to strike up a conversation forcibly.

A long silence flowed in the luxurious reception room.

“It is Elder Seo. May I enter?”

The Asura Soul Formation stage cultivator who asked for understanding entered the reception room and handed a storage pouch to the old man.

“How is it? It is the Great Clarity Plain Cloud Pill, which is the secret recipe of our Muk-gak Merchant Union. It is one of the best pills for a Soul Formation stage cultivator to consume.”

The old man, who was closely examining the pills piled up inside the storage pouch, nodded his head.

“The quality is not bad. I will buy it.”

“Since it is 200 years’ worth in total, it is 200,000 Immortal Stones.”

When the old man tilted his head and paid the Immortal Stones cleanly, a strange light flickered in Nok-myeong’s eyes.

“You are truly a generous person. Is there anything else you need?”

“…I need a few lumps of Mysterious Jade Crystal. Do you have any?”

“Mysterious Jade Crystal? Hmm, I will try to obtain some.”

“If you find it, contact me through this Voice Transmission Talisman.”

The old man, who left behind a few talismans, strode out of the reception room and disappeared after becoming a streak of light.

“…”

At the moment when Nok-myeong, who was closely observing the old man’s departing figure, narrowed his eyes.

Elder Seo, who had transported the Great Clarity Plain Cloud Pill all the way here, muttered as if puzzled.

“He is someone I have not seen. Is he someone who became a Soul Formation stage cultivator recently? It has been a long time since I saw someone buy so many cultivation resources at once.”

“Probably he obtained some fortuitous opportunity.”

“Fortuitous opportunity?”

“From the way he spoke, it briefly felt like he had escaped after being locked up somewhere for a long time.”

“Hmm. Did he raid a cave dwelling of some ancient cultivator? He has good luck.”

Nok-myeong, who was playing with the Immortal Stones, fell silent for a moment and then spoke.

“And this is my feeling, but probably he intends to participate in the Sacred War.”

“Sacred War? Hovering around the Sacred War with a mere early Soul Formation stage level? He must be crazy to die.”

“He probably does not intend to obtain the holy object. That would be too presumptuous a thought.”

“…True. Since they say that even just facing the holy object and surviving gives a possibility of reaching the Unity stage, it is fully worth risking the danger.”

While they were stretching out speculations about the old man, they stopped.

Elder Seo, who received contact through a Voice Transmission Talisman, wore a bitter smile.

“I must go now. They are asking me to come to the Flame Capital Heavenly City immediately.”

“Has some precious guest visited? You will have to go through some hardships for a while. We cannot entrust 5th-rank spiritual beasts to underlings, right?”

“Phew, since the Sacred War is opening soon, it cannot be helped.”

A moment after Elder Seo departed to deliver the 5th-rank spiritual beasts.

Nok-myeong also met other guests without having a proper moment to rest.

Should he call it a booming business?

For Nok-myeong, who personally dealt only with Soul Formation stage-grade guests, it was the busiest day in recent dozens of years.

Because Soul Formation stage cultivators were flocking from all directions to participate in the festival held every ten thousand years, the Sacred War, it could not be helped.

***

From the old man walking in an unpopulated alleyway, a creaking bone sound echoed, and in an instant, he turned into a lively young man.

The young man who changed his appearance in just a single step, Jin So-myeong, fell into thought as he tapped his waist where a scabbard should originally be.

As he wandered the market, he came to know that the surrounding one million li was thoroughly sealed.

To leave the area sealed by the 6th-rank array called the Heavenly Severance Wilderness Sealing Array, one had to go through a truly strict inspection.

Although it was considerably gloomy news, he did not particularly care. Was it not exactly as expected anyway?

He only needed to focus on rapidly growing his strength as planned.

‘Anyway, to think the Sacred War is only five years away.’

To think the Sacred War held every ten thousand years was soon.

Although it was hard to distinguish whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, he decided to think positively about this as well.

It was better than having thousands of years remaining until the Sacred War, leaving him with no opportunity to participate at all.

‘Good. But I do not know if I can become a mid Soul Formation stage cultivator within five years.’

Since the Sacred War was a ritual and a war to birth a Unity stage Celestial Lord, naturally, there was a high probability that Unity stage cultivators would also come to watch.

Because he did not know what problem would arise, he had to grow his strength as much as possible.

To break through the minor realm and reach the 4th layer of the Soul Formation stage. It meant he needed to shorten the cultivation period, which he previously expected to take fifty years, to five years…

Although he did not know if it would be possible, he decided to do his best for now.

First, he swallowed a single pill of the Great Clarity Plain Cloud Pill he had just purchased.

Operating the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art that had reached Grand Success to gauge the medicinal effect, indeed.

True to a pill created by the Asura Race, who possessed a cultivation history of over a million years, the effect was extremely outstanding.

Whether because it was made with advanced techniques and ingredients harboring abundant heaven and earth origin energy, the gap was so large that it was embarrassing to compare it with the lower realm.

‘It is merely a pill sold in the market, but the effect is overwhelming. With this pill, thirty years will be enough to reach the mid Soul Formation stage.’

The required time was cut down to almost half.

If he rented a proper 5th-rank spiritual vein here, and obtained Mysterious Jade Crystal to make and consume the Mysterious Heaven Brilliance Pill to become a Heavenly Spiritual Root, it would become even faster.

However, even if he added all of these together, he was not certain whether he could break through the minor realm within five years.

How could he cultivate even faster?

Jin So-myeong, who was contemplating, moved his steps.

If one got impatient, even what would work would not work. One by one, step by step. He intended to rent a 5th-rank spiritual vein first and then think again.

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