Chapter 253: Severed Realm Mountain Range

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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An Asura old man possessing the Void Refinement stage realm shook his head as if it was absurd.

“Even though we pushed him without letting him rest for over a year, to think he does not tire… I do not know what kind of cultivation art he mastered.”

Jin So-myeong possessed a recovery ability strong enough to make his holed belly fine within a few breaths.

Because his survivability was so tenacious, even when they pushed him right before death, in the end, he escaped while preserving his life, and after a few hours, appeared fine as if he had never been injured.

Was that all?

Because of his bizarre spatial divine ability that leaped over ten thousand li, besieging him was also not easy.

If they swarmed in numbers, he did not face them but fled immediately, and did not hesitate to draw in Ancient Ominous Beasts to engage in a chaotic battle.

Since his senses were sharp, even when they dug traps, he did not fall into them…

He was troublesome to deal with to the point where it was hard to believe he was in the Soul Formation stage.

Furthermore, recently, perhaps because he newly obtained an invisibility Dharma Treasure, tracking him was also not easy.

Normally it was fine, but there were times when his traces were completely cut off. Although they succeeded in pursuing his traces again somehow, it was not a good omen.

However…

The troublesome point that was more than all of these factors combined was separate.

It was indeed talent.

That was the greatest problem.

Did it make sense that he grew stronger every time he fought?

Every time they failed to kill him, he grew endlessly stronger, so it was nothing but a nightmare.

Since meddling with him clumsily merely resulted in raising his strength, now they were reluctant to even lay a hand on him rashly.

Although they said killing him in one go would be enough, that was also not easy. As said earlier, Jin So-myeong was strong to the point of being hard to believe he was in the Soul Formation stage.

Because of that, they had no choice but to admit it.

“We lost. If it goes on like this, we will lose him.”

As the inner thoughts that they could not bring themselves to mention popped out, several people narrowed their eyes, but did not refute.

Because they also admitted it in their hearts.

“Then what should we do now?”

To that question.

As if he truly did not want to speak it, the old man, who hesitated for a long time, let out a sigh.

“Since things have become like this, it cannot be helped. Let us ask the Dao Lord for help.”

“…Could it be you mean to tell the Castellan of Crimson Lotus City about this matter?”

“That is correct.”

Crimson Lotus City was a city established on top of a 7th-rank spiritual vein, and was the largest immortal city in the Red Lotus Realm.

What kind of realm would the owner of a 7th-rank immortal city possess?

Naturally, it was the Unity stage, one step higher than the Void Refinement stage, which could be called the pillar supporting the Asura race.

“That is…”

The complexions of the Asuras, who fought without even fearing death, turned distinctly dark.

Ultimately, looking at it, was it not equivalent to asking their superior for help because they could not handle a single Soul Formation stage cultivator?

Since it was a disgrace where they would have nothing to say even if they died, they could not help but hesitate.

“I am against it. To think we bother him with just this degree of matter.”

“Can you say such words even after seeing his talent?”

“Although Jin So-myeong’s talent is certainly great, in the end, he is in the Soul Formation stage. Even if we fail to capture him and he crosses to the human territory, it cannot affect the grand trend.”

“…”

“Furthermore, would narrow-minded ones like the human race even tolerate that absurd talent?”

“Tolerate?”

A doubt dwelled in the old man’s face.

If Jin So-myeong was raised well, he would become a giant tree supporting the entire race.

Where on earth was there tolerating or not in raising such a person? They had to unconditionally raise him with all their strength.

“They will try to kill him, fearing that he might threaten their positions.”

“What, surely they would go that far.”

“Did you forget that I operate a merchant union? I know the human disposition best here. They are no longer that ruthless breed from fifty thousand years ago.”

At the resolute words, the old man, who was silent, shook his head.

“Although your words also have point… still, I believe we must tell the Dao Venerable. If we report just as it is, the judgment will be made by him.”

“He will regard us as incompetent ones…”

“We must bear it. Is it not better than something going wrong because we tried to hide it? Since the war is not far away, the fewer variables there are, the better.”

“Sigh. It cannot be helped.”

Although everyone possessed an uncomfortable look, there was no opposition.

They had decided to admit failure and ask the Unity stage Dao Venerable for help.

“Then, five of us will remain to continue pursuing him, and the rest will concentrate on deploying formations at the border line.”

“As for reporting to the Dao Lord, I will do it.”

“Hmm. How much time will it take from here to Crimson Lotus City?”

“No matter how fast, it will take half a year.”

They were currently in the middle of the Bright Blood Great Valley due to pursuing Jin So-myeong. Just going to the nearest teleportation formation took several months.

“Understood. Then I will…”

The meeting continued.

The goal was only one. To hold Jin So-myeong in the Bright Blood Great Valley until the Unity stage Dao Lord gave an answer.

If he were to come directly, whatever divine ability Jin So-myeong possessed would be meaningless.

Because he would die after not being able to endure a single light gesture.

***

At the same time, Jin So-myeong, who was crossing the Bright Blood Great Valley while riding the phoenix, made a decision after contemplating.

‘Although becoming a late-stage Soul Formation stage cultivator in the Bright Blood Great Valley is also not bad… let us just cross to the human territory.’

He decided to break through the border line as quickly as possible without dragging time.

Although the Bright Blood Great Valley was not a bad place to cultivate since wild spiritual herbs were scattered everywhere, yet, it was also not a good place.

Compared to cities built by cultivators, there were many inconvenient points in many ways.

Other than anything else, he did not like the slow cultivation speed. Because he had to go directly to find them every time he needed spiritual herbs, the waste of time was too severe.

Furthermore, the point that the Infinite Void Formless Robe could not guarantee perfect safety also weighed on his mind.

Was it not parsed by a mysterious light in the Sacred War? There was no law saying it would not do so again next time.

‘Although the Supreme Great Ability that went into the Infinite Void Formless Robe currently exceeds a hundred billion points… let us not be careless.’

The murderous intent the Asuras held was clear from beginning to end.

It did not seem they would nicely give up just because he completely hid his presence with the Infinite Void Formless Robe.

Since he did not know what kind of trick the Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lords would play if he gave them time, he judged it was better to just leave.

‘Good. Let us go right away.’

Jin So-myeong, who completely hid his presence by wrapping the surroundings with the Infinite Void Formless Robe, headed north.

*

Half a year later.

Right before crossing to the human territory, arriving at the barrier that could be called the border line, Jin So-myeong narrowed his eyes.

‘They said that if I cross here, it is the Stone Heart Realm .’

The dividing line separating the humans and the Asuras. He meticulously examined the mountains called the Severed Realm Mountain Range .

‘It is truly tall…’

Suitable for the mountain range whose reputation was famous, its scale was immense. It was to the point where he could not readily grasp how to cross.

Although one might say that since it was merely a mountain no matter how tall, he only had to fly in the sky to cross, that did not work.

The height of the Severed Realm Mountain Range was at least 1,200 kilometers. As it reached three thousand li, if he went near the summit, the Nine Heavens Wild Wind raged.

The Nine Heavens Wild Wind was a bizarre wind he was swept by when he first ascended to the Upper Realm, a wind in which the moment it touched, spiritual power ran wild like crazy to the point of being unable to be controlled.

‘Crossing above is impossible. If I ignore the mountain range and bypass sideways… it will probably take several decades.’

The Bright Blood Great Valley was a terrain like a long strip. Crossing horizontally was several times more difficult compared to penetrating vertically.

If so, how about simply penetrating through the mountain range? Just like a formless ghost.

One might wonder what kind of absurd thing that was all of a sudden, but if he had the Infinite Void Formless Robe, it was possible.

Infinite Void meant pure emptiness with neither form nor substance.

The blank space existing between spaces.

To walk within emptiness by infinitely expanding that which was originally smaller than a speck of dust was indeed the essence of the Infinite Void Formless Robe.

Since the mountain range tightly packed with earth and stone was also merely a loose wall with holed pores if expanded infinitely, he could sufficiently pass.

That should be normal, but…

‘Heh.’

Even though the substance composing the Severed Realm Mountain Range was clearly ordinary earth, he could not pierce it even with the Infinite Void Formless Robe deployed with all his might.

It was absurd and at the same time admirable.

‘Is this the power of a Unity stage Dao Lord?’

The Severed Realm Mountain Range was a barrier directly built by a Unity stage Dao Lord when the humans and the Asuras had a truce fifty thousand years ago.

They said he raised the earth of this place, which was originally flat land, to draw a border line, and despite being a mountain range crafted with ordinary earth rather than a special material, it was extremely hard.

Because it was compressed by the immense spiritual power of the Unity stage Dao Lord.

‘To think it is this solid even though fifty thousand years have passed.’

Because it was compressed with such a strong power, there was not even a speck-like gap.

To pass this place, the realm of the Infinite Void Formless Robe seemed like it had to rise at least one step higher.

‘Shall I try to pierce it with physical force.’

Gauging the durability of the mountain range with the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, to pierce a hole in the mountain range, it seemed it would take at least two or three days.

If Jin So-myeong exerted his full strength, he could yield a Void Refinement stage-level power. A Void Refinement stage-level power could split a continent and evaporate a sea. Yet, it took half a month.

Just what kind of divine ability did he have to possess to compress ordinary earth to this degree of hardness, he could not even grasp.

‘It is truly distant.’

He contemplated how he could survive if he encountered a hostile Unity stage Dao Lord, but no answer came out.

‘…Enough. First, let us concentrate on breaking through the border line.’

Jin So-myeong, who was meticulously examining the Severed Realm Mountain Range, paused.

In the places where the thickness was relatively thin among the long-stretching mountain range so that it was worth trying to pierce, formations were deployed without exception.

Although the formations were considerably hidden secretly, they could not escape the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye.

‘Piercing the mountain range will be difficult.’

If he touched a formation, a clamor would arise. Then, the Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lords would swarm.

In the midst of their disruption, piercing through a thick mountain range was an impossible thing.

‘Refusing that, it is better to pierce the fortress they are guarding.’

Just because it was the Severed Realm Mountain Range did not mean it was entirely blocked. There was also a formal passage where one could go back and forth between the human and Asura territories.

Although a fortress was deployed so that not just anyone could go back and forth, it seemed easier to pierce compared to the mountain range directly built by the Unity stage Dao Lord.

‘Good.’

After thinking deeply, he decided on a method to pass the border line, and took out one of the 5th-rank puppets he had obtained in the past.

Giving it a handful of 5th-rank talismans, and covering it with a half-complete Infinite Void Formless Robe crafted by investing 1 billion points of the Supreme Great Ability to hide its presence.

“Attack the mountain range visible over there exactly half a month later.”

Hiding the puppet in a suitable location, he followed along the Severed Realm Mountain Range.

Every time he encountered a location suitable to pierce a hole while flying for a long time, in other words, a location where the Asuras had deployed a formation, he hid a puppet or True Blood.

***

Severed Realm Pass .

A fortress installed in the Severed Realm Mountain Range that bisected the Bright Blood Great Valley, a place that could be called the formal passage where one went back and forth between the humans and the Asuras.

A clamor arose in that place where only those engaged in smuggling had been passing secretly for nearly several thousand years.

Because eight Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lords swarmed in, then evacuated the low-stage cultivators residing in the fortress. To be precise, they cleared them away, saying they would be in the way.

“Since Jin So-myeong possesses a troublesome divine ability that seizes control of spells and returns them, you must refrain from delivering attacks that even you cannot handle.”

“Yes.”

“And do not forget that the fellow possesses a spatial divine ability that can leap over ten thousand li. An ordinary trap cannot hold him.”

“Do not worry. Because we deployed the formations with the intention of wiping out twenty thousand li in its entirety.”

“Twenty thousand li… That much should be enough.”

“However, I am worried because the quantity of the Myriad-Slaying Ice Pearls consumed this time is not small.”

The Myriad-Slaying Ice Pearls could be considered bombs in which cold Qi was condensed, and were consumable 6th-rank Dharma Treasures that, if triggered, froze the entire radius of thousands of li.

“As long as we can kill the fellow, even if the fortress’s supplies are drained, it is not a waste.”

“Indeed.”

Although the expressions of the eight Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lords sharing opinions were serious, another person who was watching them was not.

“Damn it! To think you used seventy Myriad-Slaying Ice Pearls and say it is not a waste? Curse it! Truly too much. Do you know how much my subordinates have to suffer to replenish those!”

As Wi Cheon, the Void Refinement stage cultivator who normally resided in the Severed Realm Pass and guarded the border line, gritted his teeth, those sharing opinions paused.

“Wi Cheon. What on earth are you so displeased about? Did we not explain everything about what was going on?”

“Do you ask because you truly do not know? I am going crazy.”

As the Asura possessing a rough impression reminiscent of a bandit glared with his eyes wide, a youth possessing an appearance of early twenties let out a sigh.

“In order to prevent Jin So-myeong from crossing the Severed Realm Mountain Range…”

“Ha! Ra-heuk was killed by a human Soul Formation stage cultivator? It is dumbfounding.”

“…”

Wi Cheon did not see the Sacred War because he was guarding the fortress.

He could not bring himself to believe the statement that a mere Soul Formation stage cultivator killed Ra-heuk, a powerhouse he also admitted.

On top of that, to think he endured the pursuit of nine Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lords for over a year?

It was a truly laughable story.

“Rather, the statement that you guys played some cheap trick would be more plausible.”

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