Chapter 240: Sacred War
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Perhaps it could be called “finally.”
The spiritual root that had started from a Mixed Spiritual Root extremely long ago took step after step, and eventually reached the Heavenly Spiritual Root.
Upon obtaining the Heavenly Spiritual Root, which was called the best aptitude recognized by himself and others, really many things changed.
‘It is amazing.’
Closing his eyes and enjoying the spiritual Qi flowing in the surroundings, it was to the point of being deeply moving.
Should it be said that the pathway connecting the world and himself felt clean.
He felt as if his vision had widened brightly as the hazy fog cleared away.
He had not known when he was not a Heavenly Spiritual Root, but once his aptitude improved, the difference was vividly realized. Now, if he were to return to the past, it seemed like even breathing would feel stuffy.
In any case, what did he obtain then.
It was exactly correct to say that all abilities related to spiritual Qi had leaped by one level.
The unique authority of the Soul Formation stage to dominate the surrounding spiritual Qi and handle it like magic power had also grown stronger. It was a phenomenon that occurred as the difficulty of handling spiritual Qi was reduced.
The moment he flicked his finger while gauging his sharpened senses.
Crackle!
The spiritual Qi floating in the air turned into a bright yellow lightning bolt and converged into a single point.
The lightning Qi compressed to the size of a grain of rice was dyed pure white, and then spread thinly like a flower petal.
Ssshh…
At that moment when the petal, harboring a cold chill enough to freeze the atmosphere, fluttered in the wind.
Hundreds of continuously created points all turned into petals, and then gathered like a whirlwind to become a single flower.
If someone had seen this scene, they would have been astonished.
This was because, not only did he make the extremely rough lightning Qi harbor coldness, but he also shaped a flower with it, which was so exquisite that it was difficult to distinguish from the real thing.
‘As expected… perhaps because the sense itself has changed, the control over spiritual Qi has become incredibly good.’
Any minute irritation or resistance completely vanished.
Now, even without concentrating with all his might, he could use the spiritual Qi in its natural state like magic power.
The moment Jin So-myeong, who was playing with the spiritual Qi, aimed his finger at the empty clearing.
Rumble!
The pure white flower flew with a whoosh and poured out a dazzling bundle of lightning. The compressed lightning Qi exploded, turning everything within range into powder.
Looking at the ground that was dented as if a meteorite had fallen, he sat cross-legged.
It was naturally pleasing that the sense of handling spiritual Qi had evolved by a level. Still, what interested him now was something else.
Just how fast had the cultivation speed become.
With a fluttering heart, he circulated the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art to accumulate magic power, and his eyes flew open.
‘Ten years!’
The cultivation period, which had twenty-one years remaining until the mid Soul Formation stage, had dramatically shrunk to ten years.
Thanks to his aptitude improving to the Heavenly Spiritual Root, the speed of accumulating magic power had become more than twice as fast.
Although it was good news enough to bring a smile, it was really slightly, just a tiny bit short.
‘How do I reduce five more years from here.’
He had come considerably close to the goal, but from here on, it was truly not easy.
Shortening ten years to five years was several times harder than shortening fifty years to twenty-five years.
This was because he had to make the cultivation speed, which had already reached its limit, twice as fast again.
Furthermore, absolute time was too scarce.
Even if he rented a 5th-rank peak-grade spiritual vein right now, about eight or nine years would be the best.
‘If only there were five more years of time, things would have become easier.’
He wondered if he should have ascended sooner, but it was already water under the bridge.
Rather than that, he focused on how he could shorten the cultivation period.
‘Hmm. Wouldn’t there be something like a secret realm in the Red Lotus Realm as well.’
Thinking about it carefully, there was a high probability that secret realms existed.
Was the Red Lotus Realm not dozens of times wider than the entire human realm combined? It would be stranger if there were no secret realms.
‘A secret realm that a Soul Formation cultivator can go to would normally open in cycles of hundreds or thousands of years. I hope the timing aligns.’
Since the thought occurred to him, he immediately released his clones to investigate.
Since if he dropped by a secret realm before participating in the Sacred War, he would be able to rapidly elevate his realm.
However,
The result was not good. It was not that there were no secret realms nearby, but the timing did not align. Even the fastest secret realm would open only after at least several hundred years.
‘What a pity.’
In that case, how about obtaining medium-grade Immortal Stones to strengthen the Secret Realm of the Mind, which was blocked at the 5th-rank high-grade?
Was there any reason to hesitate? He attempted this method at the same time he thought of it as well.
He visited and sounded out various Asuras, including famous merchant unions, but…
“Medium-grade Immortal Stones? We are sorry, but it is beyond our merchant union’s ability.”
“Is there no way? It is not that a large quantity is needed. About several tens of them will do.”
“It is not a matter of it not working out, but it is impossible. Are medium-grade Immortal Stones not an essential item when amplifying the power of a 6th-rank formation? In the first place, we do not even have them, and even if we did, we cannot sell them.”
“…”
“If you absolutely need them, try going to the branch of the Wuryang Merchant Union in Yeomdo Heaven City. Since that is a large-scale merchant union that handles divine objects of the 6th-rank and above.”
He went around to various places, but the result was the same.
“It is absolutely impossible.”
Resources of the 6th-rank and above were treated as strategic resources because they were important enough to affect the rise and fall of a race.
If one’s identity was not clear, obtaining them was not easy.
It was not that there were no cases of transactions happening secretly, but at those times, they were exchanged between 6th-rank resources.
He tried various methods after that as well, but lowering it from ten years to nine years was the best.
Further increasing the cultivation speed, which had already accelerated to its limit, was truly not easy.
While pondering a solution, he investigated in detail how the Sacred War progressed and was startled.
‘Heh. It was a ceremony of a far larger scale than I thought.’
It was said that the number of Asuras participating in the Sacred War alone easily exceeded the thousand mark.
To think that more than a thousand Soul Formation stage cultivators gathered in a dangerous place where nine out of ten would die. It was something that could not even be imagined in the human realm.
It was a grand festival to the point where it would not be an exaggeration to say that all those among the Soul Formation stage cultivators across the entire Red Lotus Realm who seriously aimed for the Unity stage gathered.
The Sacred War was held for a month in a region called Horyong Province, which was originally a land with a super-large 5th-rank peak-grade spiritual vein and had been the home of some weak race.
Of course, that was in the distant past, and now there were no intelligent beings in Horyong Province at all. They had long since been driven to extinction by high-tier Asuras.
In any case, the Asuras who completely swept Horyong Province clean unfolded a formation.
They sealed Horyong Province so that not a single drop of spiritual Qi could leak out, and opening it for a month every ten thousand years was precisely the Sacred War.
‘To think they wiped out a whole race just to periodically birth a Unity stage cultivator…’
If the human race had lost the war, a second Horyong Province would have been created.
Should he frown at the cruelty of the Asuras? Or should he harbor alertness toward the fact that the survival competition of the upper realm was that fierce?
Jin So-myeong, who was keeping silent, returned to the main point.
So, what exactly could he obtain if he participated in the Sacred War?
Spiritual Qi accumulated over a distant period of time, spiritual herbs that grew for ten thousand years and harbored immense medicinal potency, sacred objects that could lead to the Unity stage if only one could digest them…
Precious treasures abundant enough to make it not a waste to risk his life overflowed.
Even this was only counting what Jin So-myeong, a human, could obtain. In the case of the Asuras, a far larger reward followed.
It was said that just by participating and surviving in the Sacred War where nine out of ten died, they would be evaluated as having the potential to reach the Unity stage and receive massive support at the racial level.
‘A land sealed for ten thousand years… the concentration of spiritual Qi must be immense.’
Probably, upon entering Horyong Province, magic power would accumulate just by breathing.
He would cultivate with all his might until the Sacred War opened, but if anything was lacking, it seemed he could fill it during the Sacred War.
Nodding his head, Jin So-myeong headed to the cultivation room.
While releasing his clones to find a way to increase the cultivation speed, the main body concentrated on cultivation.
*
Three years later.
The super-large city built on top of a 6th-rank spiritual vein. Jin So-myeong, who arrived at Yeomdo Heaven City, narrowed his eyes.
‘I do not know if it will be fine.’
Since Yeomdo Heaven City was a 6th-rank immortal city, a Unity stage cultivator naturally resided there.
Furthermore, the ruler of Yeomdo Heaven City was the father of the Soul Formation stage Asura whom Jin So-myeong had clashed with in the past, a relation that formed a never-to-be-washed grudge.
It meant that if his identity was discovered even by a one-in-a-million chance after entering this city, trouble would brew, and heavily so.
The reasons he came to such a dangerous place of his own accord were various.
That a grand auction to prepare for the Sacred War would open before long in Yeomdo Heaven City was the first reason,
and the more important reason was that he needed to test the effect of his concealment technique before participating in the Sacred War.
‘The scale of the Sacred War is far larger than I thought. Probably a Unity stage cultivator will come to watch in person.’
If he were caught at that time, it would be far more troublesome. He needed to verify in advance just how good the performance of the Great Emptiness Formless Robe was.
Going to the territory ruled by a Unity stage cultivator of his own free will left him with no choice but to feel reluctant, but he did not hesitate.
Revealing his Soul Formation stage realm, he passed through the gates of Yeomdo Heaven City, and confidently secured a lodging.
‘…It is quiet.’
Was it thanks to the Soul Formation stage cultivators flocking because of the Sacred War, making it easier to hide his identity? Or was it thanks to the powerful performance of the Great Emptiness Formless Robe?
Without any problem, the grand auction began.
“Do not worry even if you lack spirit stones or Immortal Stones. Our Wuryang Merchant Union also accepts spiritual objects. However, please note that we will only value them at seventy percent of the generally accepted market price.”
Along with the calm explanation, all kinds of treasures poured out at the grand auction that began.
“Dragon Blood Vein Seed. It is a treasure that can raise the grade by one level when used on a 5th-rank spiritual vein. However, it is applicable only to the 5th-rank high-grade or below, and the effect lasts only for ten years.”
A seed that strengthens spiritual veins; upon coming to the upper realm, truly marvelous treasures overflowed.
The moment the determination to buy it arose, he opened his mouth.
“Two hundred thousand Immortal Stones.”
“Two hundred fifty thousand.”
A woman with an ice-cold voice cut in, but he paid no attention and continued to raise the price.
“Three hundred thousand.”
“…Three hundred twenty thousand.”
“Three hundred fifty thousand.”
“Three hundred sixty thousand. I do not know who you are, but do it in moderation. Over three hundred thousand Immortal Stones for a Dragon Blood Vein Seed that only lasts for ten years is excessive.”
“That is none of your business. Four hundred thousand.”
“You…!”
Anger dwelled in the woman’s voice, but he cleanly ignored it.
She was whatever identity she possessed, it did not matter.
Since he was already enemies with a Unity stage expert, a trivial dispute was merely laughable.
“Is it already over? If you do not call a bid, I will knock it down at four hundred thousand Immortal Stones.”
Normally, if a dispute broke out between customers, the auction host’s side would stop it, but the Asuras did not even have that.
Rather, they were anxious because they could not make them fight more.
“Sigh. To think you already gave up. Regrettably, it has been knocked down at four hundred thousand Immortal Stones.”
In any case, the Dragon Blood Vein Seed became Jin So-myeong’s possession, and the auction continued.
“They are human Nascent Soul stage cultivators! They are detestable guys who do nothing but smuggling. You may do as you please, whether you use them as slaves or grind them up to eat as elixirs.”
Startled at the words human cultivators, he scanned the stage, and three men with gaunt appearances were seen.
Stopping, somehow they felt familiar, so he examined them closely, and they were indeed people he knew.
‘The three Lee brothers?’
The bastards who, after he saved their lives, instead betrayed him and sold him to the Asuras.
He had thought of teaching them a lesson if they ever met by chance, but to think he saw them here.
‘Tsk tsk.’
Although their state was a mess as if they had been tortured, he did not particularly feel sympathy.
He had no intention of helping either.
Why would he show goodwill to people who had already betrayed him once?
As he coldly ignored them, the three Lee brothers were sold to an unnamed Asura.
“Next is the Fire Cleaving Great Saber. It is a 5th-rank high-grade Magic Treasure used by humans, and is quite heavy. One must be at least at the 5th-rank mid-grade of body tempering to handle it.”
A red horse-slaying saber that absorbed the surrounding heaven and earth origin energy to spew sharp flames came up to the stage, but it was not particularly popular.
This was because the Asuras considered their own bodies as the most excellent armaments.
“Two hundred thousand Immortal Stones.”
Thanks to that, he obtained a usable Magic Treasure at a price that was no different from a steal.
‘I could not use a sword due to disguising my identity, so I can just use the Fire Cleaving Great Saber for the time being.’
As he subsequently bought various treasures helpful for cultivation, the grand auction ended in no time.
And…
While he was engrossed in cultivation, two more years passed in an instant, and the day the Sacred War would open drew right before his nose.
‘What a pity.’
Even after participating in the grand auction at the risk of danger, he did his best, but in the end, he did not become a mid Soul Formation stage cultivator.
The wall of the minor realm was far higher than he thought.
Although he mobilized all kinds of means, such as pouring the Supreme Great Ability into cultivation, it was really narrowly insufficient.
‘Still, it is fortunate that the body tempering realm rose to the 5th-rank mid-grade.’
Although the result was not satisfying, what could he do.
Since he could not turn back the time that had already passed, he concentrated on the Sacred War that would soon begin.
With the mindset that he could fill what was lacking while fighting the Sacred War. He mobilized all means he had accumulated until now to prepare for battle.
***
One day as time flowed.
Starting with the skies above Yeomdo Heaven City, super-large mirrors appeared in various places of the Red Lotus Realm.
“Finally!”
“The Sacred War has begun!”
The Asuras, who tightly packed the streets as well as the rooftops of buildings, let out cheers while looking up at the mirrors that appeared in the sky.
The moment light emitted from the mirrors large enough to cover the sky and still have room left.
The smooth mirror surfaces wavered, and then illuminated a certain plaza.
“Waaaaah!”
Sitting cross-legged on the bare ground, or standing silently with arms crossed.
The Asuras went wild upon seeing the thousand-odd Soul Formation stage cultivators waiting for the Sacred War to begin in various postures.
Rumble…!
The mirrors that illuminated the plaza vibrated, and then split into over a thousand screens.
The mirrors specially crafted to broadcast the Sacred War showed all participants simultaneously. It was a perspective looking down at each person from the high sky.
“To think those who rose to the Soul Formation stage risk their lives like that.”
“I must also someday, without fail…!”
The low-tier Asuras sent envy toward the Soul Formation stage cultivators who challenged the Sacred War despite the danger,
while those who rose to the Soul Formation stage but did not participate in the Sacred War showed cold eyes.
“From Baek Cha-un to Heuk Yo-shim and Ta Mu-reuk? Are they not all Soul Formation stage Great Circle old monsters who shook their reputations since hundreds of years ago?”
“Most of them will die… who on earth will occupy the sacred object?”
“Well. Because there are exceptionally many strong individuals in this Sacred War, it is difficult to predict.”
He had no choice but to admire as the strong who could challenge the Unity stage today at any moment if they only had an opportunity, the geniuses renowned even in the entire Asura Race, participated in the Sacred War where it would not be strange for anyone to die.
“Hmm?”
An Asura who was scanning the participants reflected in the mirrors one by one paused.
“Look over there. There is also one who participated in the Sacred War with an early Soul Formation stage realm.”
“Heh, it is not just one or two. They all look young, yet to choose a path where death is obvious.”
Those at the early Soul Formation stage amidst the countless strong numbered about twenty, and because their realm was too low, they stood out instead.
They had to be at least at the mid Soul Formation stage to have a sliver of possibility to survive in the Sacred War, yet they participated with the early realm.
“Still, their courage is admirable.”
“They probably risk their lives because if they survive by a one-in-a-million chance, they will be considered as materials to rise to the Unity stage… well, though there is no way they will succeed.”
“Hmm.”
The interest focused on Jin So-myeong, the young man who was maintaining an exceptionally calm composure among the early Soul Formation stage cultivators, was merely that.
In fact, looking at it in some way, it was a natural thing.
Who among those participating in the Sacred War right now was not called a genius?
All of them were heroes and legends in their own hometowns.
There were also many outstanding figures enough to make their names known throughout the wide Red Lotus Realm.
In this situation, who would pay attention to some early Soul Formation stage cultivator who did not even have proper fame?
Among the countless spectators watching from across the entire Red Lotus Realm, there was not a single one who seriously scrutinized Jin So-myeong.
…
At least, that was certainly the case for now.
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