Chapter 273: Soul Formation Stage 9th Layer and
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Simply by piling up soil to create a mountain, digging a cave, and pouring in the fire-attribute spiritual objects he had gathered until now, a plausible fire vein was created.
‘The fire vein is done with this. Shall I try making a cold cave this time?’
What kind of terrain would be good to store spiritual objects related to cold Qi…?
He walked around the Secret Realm of the Mind as his feet led him, deeply lost in thought.
Since the Secret Realm of the Mind had become wider than a typical country, he could discover various terrains just by walking around a little.
‘This is the perfect spot.’
After looking around a flat land where nothing existed within a thousand li, he drew his sword.
From top to bottom. The moment he scattered the sharply forged keen Qi in the form of a slash.
Slash!
Simultaneously with a cutting sound as if slicing paper, a deep and long canyon was created.
Following that, he completely poured out the spiritual objects related to cold Qi into the canyon, which was dug so deeply that the bottom could not be seen.
How many seconds had passed?
He nodded at the cold Qi leaking from deep underground.
‘I should test it.’
Gathering the fire Qi floating in the air, he kindled a flame. The moment he shaped it into a firebird and shot it toward the canyon.
Crackle.
The firebird that left his fingertips could not even fly far before turning into a lump of ice and falling.
‘It is not bad.’
Although it was a roughly made cold cave, perhaps because the amount of spiritual objects poured in was large, its power was quite impressive.
Although it was a bit empty since only the canyon was left, it was fine.
How could it be perfect from the beginning?
Since he could develop it step-by-step, he did not particularly mind the slightly clumsy parts.
At any rate, what was important right now was his cultivation speed, and in that aspect, there was definitely an effect.
‘Thirty-three years until the Great Circle of the Soul Formation stage. I just need to reduce it a little more.’
Just as he was pondering what attribute-related terrain to create next.
“Beep! Just what on earth have you been doing since earlier?”
Geum-cheong pecked his shoulder with her beak, as if expressing dissatisfaction.
“Why? These are a cold cave and a fire vein I made to use when cultivating.”
“It is terrible! Our nest is much cooler.”
“Hmm.”
Was she displeased about creating an environment other than the Jade Light Spring, which was a lightning-attribute spiritual spring? Since she was a demonic beast born with lightning Qi, she could be like that.
However, it could not be helped.
Since he had chosen the Primordial One Qi Art as his Natal Cultivation Art, it was advantageous to absorb as many diverse energies as possible.
To her, who kept pecking with her beak as if protesting, he handed over a 5th-rank Jade Water Coral.
“I should have given it to you sooner, but I forgot. Use this to decorate your nest.”
“Beep?”
Geum-cheong, who closely examined the coral with eyes resembling black beans, nodded her head.
“It is not bad.”
Actually, because the Secret Realm of the Mind was already a 6th-rank mid-grade spiritual vein, a single Jade Water Coral would not cause a big change, but she still seemed to like it.
Together with the quieted Geum-cheong, he walked around various places in the Secret Realm of the Mind, pouring out the treasures piled up in the sub-space.
As he created diverse environments representing several attributes and replicated the Jade Water Coral whenever his Supreme Great Ability recovered, time flew by quickly.
The moment he felt that the wind brushing against his skin had become significantly dry.
He realized that he had arrived at the Plateau Desert, where his safe shelter was located.
***
One day.
An unexpected guest came to find the Violet Light Heavenly Lord, who was cultivating in a city near the Plateau Desert.
“You say you came from the Ghost Smoke Grand Palace?”
“Yes. The one we are pursuing has sneaked into the Plateau Desert. Since the Violet Light Heavenly Lord knows this vicinity well, we would like to request guidance.”
At the words spoken by a woman with outstanding appearance and a young man with a cold impression, the Violet Light Heavenly Lord pondered for a moment before nodding his head.
Half a day later.
Two men and one woman departed toward the Plateau Desert, which was known as the territory of the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard.
While crossing the desert riding a flying vessel in the sky.
The Violet Light Heavenly Lord spoke in a cautious tone, as if something was not quite right.
“Jin So-myeong? Is it true that that Soul Formation stage sword cultivator has settled in the Plateau Desert?”
“Yes. He dared to harm an Elder of our Ghost Smoke Grand Palace and hid in the desert.”
The Violet Light Heavenly Lord, who had lived near the Plateau Desert for a very long time, frowned.
“Guiding the way is not difficult, so I will help, but honestly, it is hard to believe. Settling in the Plateau Desert means he dealt with the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard. Just how is that possible?”
The Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard was a troublesome entity that the Violet Light Heavenly Lord had tried to hunt for a long time but failed.
To think that a Soul Formation stage sword cultivator dealt with it?
He could not believe it, and he also did not want to believe it. It felt like his pride was hurt.
“Since we do not know whether it is true or not, we came to verify it ourselves.”
“…”
“Furthermore, if it is true that he killed Elder Je Hyeon-muk, what would a mere Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard matter? He would have dealt with it easily.”
At the young man’s sneer, the corners of the Violet Light Heavenly Lord’s mouth twitched slightly.
This was because his thoughts were completely opposite.
Although Je Hyeon-muk was a Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord, in the end, he was human. If he fell into a trap while letting his guard down, he could sufficiently be in danger.
For example, simply bringing a Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord who was hostile to Je Hyeon-muk and surprise-attacking him would be enough to kill him.
Although many difficulties would follow to actually execute it, at any rate, it meant he could be killed if one squeezed out a plan.
What about the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard?
It was much harder. Having faced it directly, he knew it best.
The vigilance possessed by the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard was dreadfully strong, so if the opponent was even slightly strong, it fled immediately, and typical traps were of no use.
To think that a Soul Formation stage sword cultivator hunted such a Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard…
It was a piece of nonsense that could only be spoken because they knew nothing.
Although it was so absurd that he wanted to openly click his tongue, he did not particularly argue.
Since there was nothing good about bickering with a Void Refinement stage cultivator who had lost an Elder and was only looking for a target to vent anger on.
He just sighed inwardly.
Around the time the silence continued.
The woman who was concentrating with her eyes closed spoke.
“Anyway. According to my secret technique, Jin So-myeong is in this desert.”
“Hmm.”
“He isn’t moving at a place twenty thousand li away to the northwest. I know that place as the cave of the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard, is that correct?”
“Yes. Twenty thousand li northwest from here is indeed the cave of the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard.”
“Good. Let us go right away.”
Around the time the gazes of the Ghost Smoke Grand Palace Elders became cold.
The party, who stopped at a place exactly ten thousand li away from the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard’s cave, took out a mirror-like Dharma Treasure.
Wuuung…!
The moment the silver mirror that flew up on its own wavered like the surface of water.
A giant crystal cave ten thousand li away was projected.
“It is certain. Jin So-myeong is inside there.”
“Is that true?”
As he asked back without realizing it due to the tone full of certainty, the woman narrowed her brow as if displeased.
“Are you saying you cannot believe my words right now?”
“No. I was merely curious about how a man named Jin So-myeong entered the cave.”
Right at that moment.
“Hmph. What is so difficult about that? Spells to dig into ore or soil are common, are they not? Enough. I should test how sturdy it is.”
The young man who stepped forward while cutting off the conversation formed a hand seal, and
A house-sized spider that abruptly popped out of the shadow began to charge toward the cave.
“A Steel-Corroding Spider ? You command a quite rare spiritual beast.”
“That is correct. It is a fellow possessing a natural talent for corroding minerals.”
The moment the body of the Steel-Corroding Spider that arrived in an instant swelled up like a balloon.
A pale-yellow spiderweb spewed from its rear clung to the cave.
Ssshh…!
Was it effective?
At the moment the spiderweb, which melted typical minerals into water in an instant, spewed heat.
Rumble!
A bolt of lightning that erupted along with thunder penetrated the spider, and the spider, which was at the Great Circle of the Soul Formation stage in its own right, became black ash without even being able to react.
“…To think not even a scratch is made?”
Looking at that scene through the mirror, the complexions of the Ghost Smoke Grand Palace Elders darkened.
Actually, they also expected that the Steel-Corroding Spider would not be able to pierce the cave.
However, the problem was the lightning Qi that poured from the cave.
“The counterattack of the lightning Qi is rougher than expected.”
Looking at the young man biting his lips and the woman narrowing her eyes, the Violet Light Heavenly Lord nodded his head secretly.
He was displeased that they had been subtly looking down on the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard since earlier, so he was honestly glad to see them suffer such a setback.
Furthermore, he did not mind even if the cave was not broken.
Since he had never met Jin So-myeong in the first place, he had no particular grudge.
He had merely accompanied them because the Ghost Smoke Grand Palace Elders requested guidance, and his true purpose was to verify whether the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard was alive or dead.
“Did I not tell you beforehand? Breaking that cave at the Void Refinement stage level is impossible.”
“…”
At the moment the young man who pulled down his lips in displeasure fell silent with an uncomfortable expression.
The woman who was looking around the surroundings let out a sigh.
“The terrain is too disadvantageous.”
If it was true that Jin So-myeong killed Elder Je Hyeon-muk, they had to fight while essentially treating him as an entity possessing Void Refinement stage-level combat power, but the battlefield was too bad.
Fundamentally, was it not an environment where the opponent was safe and this side was exposed?
If they clumsily touched an enemy positioned in a fortress, they might be the ones to suffer instead.
Even if they inflicted a fatal wound using a hidden trump card, it was difficult to finish him off if he fled inside the cave.
It meant that if they could not kill him in one blow, they would only lose information about their secret technique.
“It would be better to withdraw for now.”
“We came all this way, and you are saying we should just go back?”
“As long as Jin So-myeong is human, he cannot stay inside there forever. We can call our disciples to monitor the cave, and deal with him later when an opportunity arises.”
“If that fellow reaches the Void Refinement stage, he will become much harder to deal with than now.”
“Jin So-myeong is still at the 8th layer of the Soul Formation stage. Since it will take at least several hundred years to reach the Void Refinement stage, there is plenty of time.”
They could withdraw for now and devise a countermeasure before Jin So-myeong reached the Void Refinement stage. There was no need to force it.
“…Understood.”
The party, who discussed concrete monitoring plans, soon left the desert.
***
At the same time, Jin So-myeong was focusing only on cultivation, ignoring the fact that demonic cultivators had come.
He had turned his attention away from trivial matters to become a Void Refinement stage cultivator before the secret realm opened.
One day, while replicating the Jade Water Coral whenever his Supreme Great Ability gathered to pull up his cultivation speed.
When the Jade Water Corals exceeded one hundred individuals, a peculiar phenomenon occurred.
The corals gathered in the corner of the cultivation room tangled with one another and merged into one, and their Qi rapidly strengthened.
‘What is this?’
Reflexively, he unfolded the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye.
Just as he was closely observing the changes occurring in the corals.
The Jade Water Coral that was merging into one lump suddenly dried up and burst with a crack! sound.
His fluster was brief. Soon, he realized what had happened.
The Jade Water Coral, which was at the 5th rank, had failed while trying to evolve into a 6th-rank spiritual object.
‘Do they merge into one when a certain scale is gathered? The Jade Water Coral possessed this kind of characteristic.’
Was it an ability unique to colonial organisms?
Although it was regrettable that they all died because of the failure, it was fascinating.
“…Hmm? No, wait a moment.”
He had forgotten for a moment due to the unexpected sight, but because of that phenomenon just now, one hundred 5th-rank Jade Water Corals had died.
It meant one hundred billion points of Supreme Great Ability had flown away.
To think such a thing occurred exactly when he had to increase his cultivation speed.
“Sigh.”
Feeling a tingling sensation at the back of his head, he massaged his neck and let out a sigh.
What was the use of obsessing over something that could not be undone?
He focused on what he gained rather than what he lost.
‘The Jade Water Corals merge into one when about one hundred individuals are gathered.’
Then, why did it fail?
Chewing on the scene seen through the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, he realized.
‘Because the scale was insufficient.’
It had to be much more than one hundred individuals.
At least two hundred.
Presumably, only when that many gathered was there a possibility of success.
He pondered for a moment.
Hundreds of 5th-rank Jade Water Corals or a single 6th-rank Jade Water Coral. Which of the two would be more helpful to cultivation?
‘Of course it is the 6th rank.’
There was no need to even think about it. The difference between the 5th rank and 6th rank was that severe.
Once the Jade Water Coral reached the 6th rank, the spiritual Qi of the cave currently used as his dwelling would become as dense as a 6th-rank mid-grade spiritual vein.
One might think that the concentration of spiritual Qi would become too high, but it was fine.
Although the spiritual Qi of the Secret Realm of the Mind directly affected the soul and was hard to bear if it was too excessive, the spiritual Qi absorbed through breathing was better the denser it was.
Of course, it was not that there were no worries at all.
If he merged hundreds of Jade Water Corals and they all died, it would be a painful loss, but…
He decided to try it for now.
*
Two years later.
The scale of the Jade Water Corals, replicated one every two days, had already exceeded three hundred individuals before he knew it.
Except for the fact that a whopping three hundred billion points of Supreme Great Ability were consumed, there was nothing particularly difficult.
Since the Jade Water Corals merged into one once they exceeded one hundred individuals, he just had to store them separately in different spaces.
‘Good. Let us start right away.’
The moment he gathered the Jade Water Corals replicated over two years in one place.
The Qi of the merged Jade Water Coral began to strengthen exponentially.
How much time had passed?
The corals went limp and lost their vitality moment by moment, drying up.
‘Oh no.’
Was it insufficient even though he gathered three hundred individuals?
Since it was obvious that it would fail at this rate, he consumed his Supreme Great Ability to unfold the Myriad Flows Restoration divine ability.
He forcibly connected the life breath of the Jade Water Coral, which was on the verge of dying.
【Supreme Great Ability】: 18.7 billion / 19.0 billion
【Supreme Great Ability】: 12.5 billion / 19.0 billion
…
【Supreme Great Ability】: 3.2 billion / 19.0 billion
【Supreme Great Ability】: 1.3 billion / 19.0 billion
Simultaneously with the rapidly consumed Supreme Great Ability revealing its bottom.
The dying Jade Water Coral regained its vitality and began to spew 6th-rank spiritual Qi.
“Phew… What a relief.”
He succeeded by a truly hair’s breadth.
As he let out a sigh of relief, a weary smile came out belatedly.
‘If not for the Supreme Great Ability, I would have failed.’
It seemed that to make the Jade Water Coral reach the 6th rank, another condition had to be met besides increasing the number of individuals.
At any rate, it was fine since he succeeded.
Looking at the spiritual Qi that became dense after the Jade Water Coral reached the 6th rank, he immediately sat cross-legged.
Operating the Primordial One Qi Art, he gauged the speed of law power accumulation, and
‘It is done!’
He was certain. That he could reach the Great Circle of the Soul Formation stage within twenty-five years.
***
Exactly fifteen years later, based on the day the succession ceremony was held.
He reached the 9th layer of the Soul Formation stage.
Although it was extremely joyful news, he did not stop cultivating.
As he cultivated diligently day after day without being intoxicated by joy, ten more years passed in an instant, and…
He reached the Great Circle of the Soul Formation stage.
It meant that finally, the time had come to challenge the Void Refinement stage.
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