Chapter 276: Reaching the Void Refinement Stage
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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At the same time that the Ghost Smoke Grand Palace Elders who increased their speed with all their might arrived at the Plateau Desert.
Far beyond the horizon.
Rumble…!
Discovering the dark clouds where lightning wavered, their expressions were dyed with fluster.
“No, he already overcame the Heart Demon Tribulation? It must have been only half a year?”
“It makes no sense!”
The trials one must pay to reach the Void Refinement stage.
The time consumed to break through the great realm was usually at least two years, no matter how fast.
Actually, two years was also an extremely fast case. There were plenty of cases where it took over ten years.
Yet, a Lightning Tribulation in half a year. Did it not mean that the trial was almost at its end?
It was too fast.
Of course, although the heavenly tribulation was originally so diverse that finding commonalities was difficult, even so, there was a limit.
“Hah.”
The face of the Ghost Smoke Grand Palace Elder who possessed a young man’s appearance stiffened hard.
Usually, it was evaluated that the faster the speed of breaking through the heavenly tribulation, the more outstanding the aptitude possessed.
Thinking in that aspect, Jin So-myeong was truly an absurd monster.
“…We touched the wrong person.”
Since the situation reached this point, he could not help but hesitate.
Should they withdraw even now and reconcile with Jin So-myeong?
Actually, looking at what had happened until now, the Ghost Smoke Grand Palace had only suffered unilaterally.
So, if only they endured, things could work out well.
Although he was slightly concerned about having tried to capture the spiritual beast raised by Jin So-myeong…
Did that degree not matter? Since they failed anyway.
Just as he was momentarily conflicted.
The woman next to him frowned.
“What are you hesitating for? The Lightning Tribulation will start soon.”
Speaking in a cold tone, she flew without hesitation to a place ten thousand li away from the cave where Jin So-myeong was located, and took out the Soul-Shattering Bell to float it in the air.
Seeing her even install a formation to amplify law power, the young man also erased his hesitation.
They were already riding the tiger.
Since they had come this far, it would only end when one of the two died. Even if they stopped here, there was no guarantee that they could reconcile with Jin So-myeong, was there?
The moment he made a decision.
Rumble…!
Right above the cave. A bolt of red lightning like blood struck from the sky.
At the sight of the entire sky being dyed red in an instant.
Not to mention the young man, even the woman who had not hesitated at all was startled.
“Red Lightning from the start?”
The most common heavenly tribulation that occurred when a human high-realm cultivator broke through a realm was precisely the Lightning Tribulation.
The Lightning Tribulation became stronger in the order of White Lightning, Blue Lightning, Purple Lightning, and Red Lightning, and Red Lightning was a bolt of lightning so powerful that it was burdensome even to a Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord.
Even grazing it was a severe injury, and if hit properly, one could die.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The Red Lightning, which usually struck exactly once around the time the Void Refinement stage Lightning Tribulation ended, poured down dozens of times in succession from the start.
“He is a monster-like fellow…”
The Lightning Tribulation had a tendency to become stronger the more powerful the divine abilities possessed.
Just looking at that nonsensical sight, they could know what an absurd existence Jin So-myeong was.
Losing their spirit and their expressions stiffening hard, the Elders gnashed their teeth.
“Let us start right away.”
“Yes.”
The two Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lords who stood at an appropriate distance pulled up their law power.
The moment they infused law power into the 6th-rank mid-high grade divine treasure, the Soul-Shattering Bell.
Wuuuung…!
From the Soul-Shattering Bell that vibrated violently, a bizarre screeching sound came out.
At that moment.
The demon carved on the surface of the bell began to move as if alive.
The moment the demon resembling a malevolent deity ripped the corners of its mouth and wore a bizarre smile.
Boom!
It threw the lightning streaks it was grasping with its six hands into the sky.
The moment the lightning that flew like a spear seeped into the dark clouds that poured out the Lightning Tribulation.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The number of Red Lightnings that poured down like rain doubled.
“As expected…!”
Currently, even though they were ten thousand li away from the cave where the Lightning Tribulation fell, their ears were on the verge of hurting.
To think they amplified the power of the already strong Lightning Tribulation.
Admiration automatically flowed out at the function worthy of a 6th-rank mid-high grade divine treasure borrowed from the Dark Soul Demonic Sect.
“Let us do it once more.”
“Good.”
Once again pulling up law power to inject it into the Soul-Shattering Bell, the thickness of the lightning pouring from the sky became as thick as a giant tree.
Exhausted after consuming too much law power in a short time, the Elders examined the cave closely.
Rumble! Boom! Clang!
Just how strong the incessantly striking Lightning Tribulation was, to the extent that the burning heat was felt even at this place ten thousand li away.
“It is tremendous…”
As the Lightning Tribulation reached the level of Red Lightning, even the cave of the Thunder-Pattern Hermit Lizard could not block it.
Worthy of a heavenly punishment delivered by the sky, the Red Lightning passed through the cave as if it was an illusion and went straight to Jin So-myeong inside.
Although they did not know what was happening inside the cave, at the very least, it did not seem like Jin So-myeong would be fine.
The young man who was observing the cave with a secret technique curled up the corners of his mouth and asked the woman next to him.
“How is Jin So-myeong?”
Since she had mastered tracking techniques, she would be able to gauge Jin So-myeong’s state.
However.
“…He is still alive.”
“What?”
To think he was alive even though dozens of Red Lightnings poured in succession?
Wordlessly looking at each other, the two Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lords gnashed their teeth.
They poured medium-grade immortal stones into the formation they had installed in the surroundings. Replenishing their lacking Qi and squeezing out their remaining law power, they injected it into the Soul-Shattering Bell.
Kwahahaha!
The demon that let out a wild laugh gathered its six hands in one place to forge a giant lightning spear, and
Shot it into the sky as if throwing a spear.
The moment the lightning spear that flew drawing a straight line seeped into the dark clouds.
The incessantly continuing Lightning Tribulation snapped shut.
And,
A black light was harbored in a part of the red lightning wavering in the dark clouds.
Before even perceiving what had happened.
The light vanished.
From the clouds that gathered swirling to the sand fluttering in the wind, all of it.
The entire world was dyed in pitch black, and
When they regained consciousness, they were already kneeling.
Ah…?
They tried to stand up, but no strength was entered at all.
Let alone speaking, they could not even wiggle a finger.
Their Divine Sense did not budge as if melted, and their vision was blurry.
Trembling, they squeezed out all their strength.
Barely, barely rolling his eyes to scan the side, absurdly, the companion who was fine until just now was collapsed on the ground.
He could not even know whether she was dead or alive.
Just what on earth…
Painfully rolling his eyes to scan the surroundings, he stiffened.
Focus was caught in his blurry vision, and a shocking scene was stabbed in like a needle.
The place that was clearly a desert until just a moment ago.
It had turned into an incredibly giant crater.
Just how deep it was, it was simply black. A deep, deep hole whose bottom could not even be gauged spread endlessly.
While kneeling blankly, suddenly.
He realized that the center of this giant crater was precisely the cave where Jin So-myeong had been.
And simultaneously.
He realized a beliefs-defying fact.
That the reason he, a Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord, became crippled in an instant was because he was swept away by the aftermath of the Lightning Tribulation, of all things.
He could understand it with his head, but he could by no means accept it.
Because the cave and this place were ten thousand li apart.
Just how strong must the power of the Lightning Tribulation be for a Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord ten thousand li away to become crippled without even being able to react?
Come to think of it…
He vaguely remembered that a black light was harbored in the lightning wavering in the dark clouds.
‘Was that Black Lightning …?’
The black Lightning Tribulation he had only heard of through rumors.
If it was Black Lightning, which was known to be seen only when a Unity stage Dao Sovereign underwent a Lightning Tribulation, it was natural to produce such power.
Of course, what fell just now was not true Black Lightning.
In terms of proportion, it was one-hundredth.
Merely a tiny part of the Lightning Tribulation was dyed black. Yet, it was this strong.
He could not help but painfully feel just how distant a Unity stage Dao Sovereign, who could be called a mythical domain, was.
“…”
Losing his soul, he paused.
But how. How could Black Lightning appear in a mere Void Refinement stage Lightning Tribulation?
The more he imagined, the more he got goosebumps.
‘Surely… he is not alive, is he?’
There was no way.
Had not he, who was ten thousand li away, become like this just from the aftermath? It was natural that he was dead.
Nevertheless, he could by no means stay still.
He felt like he would only be at ease if he verified whether Jin So-myeong was alive or dead.
With a body that did not move well, he forcibly raised his head to scan the cave where Jin So-myeong had been.
‘…Where did it go?’
The cave that was standing fine until just now had vanished without a trace. Presumably, it was shattered and scattered to pieces under the aftermath of the Black Lightning.
It was beyond absurd to the point of being desolate, but still, one thing was a relief.
Certainly at that level, Jin So-myeong also must have died…
The moment he was relieved.
Rumble!
Along with a streak of lightning that plunged from the sky, a shadow was cast.
‘Ah.’
Looking up blankly while kneeling, Jin So-myeong wrapped in dark-red lightning is visible.
This, this is…
No matter how one looked, he was not human.
To think he was in the center where the Black Lightning struck, yet not only was he alive with all his limbs intact, but he even flew all the way here?
Just what kind of life did he tread to establish such a realm? He could not even imagine what kind of divine abilities he possessed.
Although he realized that they had touched the wrong person by far, it was useless to regret now.
“Who are you?”
“…You ask who I am?”
At the calm voice that echoed in his ears, a chuckle came out.
Does he not even know who we are?
Just as he was about to answer by moving his lips, suddenly the thought that all of this was futile arose.
“I came to take revenge for Elder Je Hyeon-muk.”
“I see.”
Looking up at Jin So-myeong who looked down quietly as if asking if he had a last will, he gave up everything.
“…What is there to say for a loser.”
Jin So-myeong, who silently nodded his head, drew his sword, and
That was his last memory.
***
After dealing with the Ghost Smoke Grand Palace Elders and collecting their storage pouches, Jin So-myeong examined the changes that occurred in his mind and body.
【Jin So-myeong】
【Lifespan】: 238 / 9,101
【Realm】: Void Refinement Stage 1st Layer
【Supreme Great Ability】: 25.0 billion / 100.0 billion
【Spiritual Power Amplification】: +102%
【Divine Abilities】: <Secret Realm of the Mind>, <Myriad Flows Restoration>
What entered his eyes first was precisely lifespan.
A whopping nine thousand and one hundred years.
His lifespan, which was merely at the level of two thousand years during the Soul Formation stage, had become close to ten thousand before he knew it.
‘Did it increase by about seven thousand years? It increased a lot.’
Usually, when a human Soul Formation stage cultivator reached the Void Refinement stage, their lifespan only increased by about six thousand years, but it increased by one thousand years more than that.
‘Is it thanks to the cultivation art improved by the Supreme Great Ability?’
Or it could be that as impurities accumulated in his mind and body were removed under the absurdly powerful black Lightning Tribulation, his lifespan increased.
Because there were too many plausible reasons, it was hard to choose just one, but at any rate, it was a good thing.
Here, once his body tempering realm reached the 6th rank, his lifespan would increase greatly once more.
It meant that before long, his lifespan would exceed ten thousand years.
Ten thousand years.
At the absurd passage of time, a hollow laugh automatically came out.
It felt like yesterday that he began cultivating, yet before he knew it, he came to have the span of ten thousand years before his eyes.
Since the lifespan he had blown away while unfolding the Moon-Reflecting Blade Canon became abundant again, it was truly pleasing.
‘It is good.’
Nodding his head in satisfaction, this time, he spread his Divine Sense as widely as possible.
Sensation. What could be called vision expanded endlessly.
It crossed 1,600km and broke through 2,000km, but did not stop. Exactly double from there.
A radius of 4,000km.
A whopping ten thousand li. Everything within that distant range was felt as clearly as if grabbed by his hand.
‘It is amazing.’
His Divine Sense, which was at the limit of 1,600km during his late Soul Formation stage days, increased to 2,000km as he reached the Great Circle, and ultimately became 4,000km upon treading the Void Refinement stage.
If the distance he could scan with his Divine Sense was ten thousand li…
It was at the level of the late Void Refinement stage.
The maximum limit of the Supreme Great Ability also increased to one hundred billion points. Now, he could fill a trillion-scale proficiency in just a year.
Law power?
Naturally, it became stronger. Through various trials, especially treading the Lightning Tribulation, it was refined and came to harbor the strength of the 6th rank in name and reality.
It meant that even when using the same amount of law power, the strength he could exert was on a completely different dimension.
Just as he was appreciating the mighty energy flowing grandly along his meridians.
Pajijik…!
The dark-red lightning wrapped around his entire body scorched the skin of his forearm black.
Although the skin regenerated in an instant, the burning heat left by the lightning did not easily vanish.
At the pain that made his brow furrow, he closely examined the dark-red lightning that sought to make his physical body into ash.
‘To think Black Lightning struck during the breakthrough to the Void Refinement stage.’
Compared to the true Black Lightning that was said to possess Unity stage-level power, it was lacking in many ways, but it was certain that a normal Void Refinement stage cultivator could not endure it.
Jin So-myeong, who looked at the Lightning Tribulation he had forcibly held onto because he had not yet digested it, nodded his head.
Since he could not waste such powerful energy, naturally he had to absorb all of it.
Actually, originally, no matter how much he had mastered the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, he would not be able to forcibly hold onto the Black Lightning.
Absorbing as much as possible the moment the Black Lightning struck and letting the rest flow away would have been the best.
However, as he reached the Void Refinement stage, things changed.
He realized the change that occurred as the Primordial One Qi Art reached Proficient.
Should he say he came to not distinguish between phenomena and energy?
To state only the core simply, he came to be able to store unbearable damage in the Chaos Origin Wheel and digest it slowly.
Sizzle!
Suppressing the Black Lightning that tried to escape control whenever it had a chance, he organized the tasks to do in the future.
‘First, I will govern the Qi that became unstable as my realm rose…’
It seemed he just had to go straight to the secret realm that would open in a year and a half in the Blue Cloud Sea Region.
Ah, since his Divine Sense became stronger, he must not forget to strengthen the Secret Realm of the Mind either.
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