Chapter 287: Ten Thousand Years of Lifespan
===================
Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
===================
‘A beast-taming bag?’
It was a storage pouch manufactured to store living existences like spiritual beasts or spiritual insects.
What was inside?
At first he was tempted, but he soon gave up his expectations.
‘If there had been more Void Refinement stage spiritual beasts, he would have summoned them during the battle.’
The fact that he did not do so meant there were no spiritual beasts that could be of help in a Void Refinement stage battle.
Probably, the three-headed serpent that had been with him since the beginning of the battle was the strongest spiritual beast.
Furthermore, most demonic cultivators placed restrictions so that their spiritual beasts or spiritual insects would die along with them when they died.
Whatever was left in the beast-taming bag, it was expected that it probably would not be very useful.
‘Still, should I take a look?’
Hoping there would be at least some usable byproducts, he examined the beast-taming bag here and there.
Although absorbing it using the Secret Realm of the Mind divine ability would expand the sub-space, there might be living creatures inside, so he split the restriction with his sword and opened it by force.
At the same time he confirmed the contents.
“…Hmm?”
His expression could not help but become strange.
This was because a crowd of haggard people was inside.
‘They are all Soul Formation stage cultivators.’
Approximately twenty people.
Their attire was different, and the auras they faintly revealed were completely different. Just by looking, one could tell they did not belong to the same affiliation.
He narrowed his brow and pulled them out of the beast-taming bag, and they all looked extremely terrified.
“We greet Senior.”
As soon as they saw Jin So-myeong, they bent their waists, but they rolled their eyes and looked around as if searching for Yin Cheon-ho.
Who were they, and why were they imprisoned?
Also, what was their relationship with Yin Cheon-ho? At the very least, he had to distinguish whether they were enemies or not.
After contemplating for a moment, he simply asked them directly.
“Who are you, and why were you locked up in the beast-taming bag?”
If there was one good thing about having a high realm, it was that there was no need to beat around the bush or watch others’ reactions needlessly.
From among the hesitating crowd, a man with the appearance of someone in his early forties stepped forward and bowed politely.
“Senior. I am Sa Geon-woo, the Sect Master of the Juyeom Sect.”
When he nodded to accept the greeting, the explanation of what had happened followed.
“You were captured by Yin Cheon-ho and used as bait?”
“…To summarize, yes.”
Was it because he had spoken the name of the Dark Soul Demonic Sect’s Elder so casually?
Sa Geon-woo, whose shoulders flinched, swallowed dry saliva and lowered his head.
“Our assigned task was to awaken the Stone Heart race and flee by scattering in all directions.”
He said that there were originally over a hundred Soul Formation stage cultivators locked in the beast-taming bag, but most of them died in the process of luring the Stone Heart race, leaving only twenty.
Listening to this, it was absurd.
Yin Cheon-ho was an undisputed powerhouse.
Even though he possessed that kind of strength, to think he would use such a dirty method as bait.
‘Was it difficult to deal with the Stone Heart race using demonic techniques?’
Demonic techniques that broke down the boundary between illusion and reality and twisted emotions at will were the polar opposite of the Stone Heart race.
To pierce the carapace of the Stone Heart race and destroy their hearts, an extremely strong physical force was required.
Of course,
even considering various circumstances, a powerhouse of Yin Cheon-ho’s level could sufficiently deal with the Stone Heart race.
Yet, to go out of his way to use humans as bait…
Did he not want to take even a small risk? Perhaps he simply hated consuming dharma power within the secret realm.
“Um, Senior. May I ask what happened to the Elders of the Dark Soul Demonic Sect?”
To the question asked cautiously in a slightly trembling voice, he replied indifferently.
“They are already dead.”
“Ah…!”
Although they might have faintly guessed it upon seeing Jin So-myeong holding the beast-taming bag, it was still a shock, as they could not hide their astonishment.
Was it gratifying to know that the one who had enslaved them was dead? Some secretly clenched their fists.
Astonishment and joy.
Seeing the diverse reactions, a question suddenly occurred to him.
“But why did you not run away? You could have fled far away when luring the Stone Heart race.”
“It was because of the restrictions.”
He said that a curse that collapsed the mind and body had been engraved on their dantians and souls, which would trigger after some time.
“A restriction… May I take a look?”
“Of course.”
Using the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, he examined Sa Geon-woo’s dantian, and a wedge-like black energy was embedded here and there in his meridians and dantian.
It seemed that if he touched it carelessly, the dantian would be torn to pieces.
“Indeed, it would be difficult to resolve at the Soul Formation stage level.”
“Oh dear…”
He glanced at the Soul Formation stage cultivators, whose complexions had turned dark, and spoke.
“If you wish, I will handle it for you.”
“Ah! Thank you so much.”
“It might be quite painful, is that alright?”
“Pain does not matter. In any case, if the restriction is left alone, I am a dead man.”
“If that is the case.”
At the reply that popped out without even a hint of hesitation, he smirked and flicked his finger.
Crrrackle!
The Five Elements Divine Thunder, which flew across the air, swept through Sa Geon-woo’s meridians and dantian.
“Gggk?!”
Using the lightning energy, he completely burned away the restriction engraved by Yin Cheon-ho.
He caught the demonic energy that was about to turn into smoke and scatter, condensed it into the shape of a bead, and kept it safe.
He planned to use this curse later for cultivating the Primordial One Qi Art.
“Ugh…”
He frowned as he looked at Sa Geon-woo, who was completely out of his mind and dripping saliva.
“It shouldn’t be to that extent. You are exaggerating.”
“…”
Although Sa Geon-woo, who had been swept by the lightning energy, could not easily regain his senses, the restriction was resolved regardless.
Dismissing Sa Geon-woo, who was merely opening and closing his mouth as if broken, he looked at the other Soul Formation stage cultivators.
“What about you all?”
“P-Please help us.”
“Alright. Come before me one by one.”
Since demonic energy was helpful for cultivating the Primordial One Qi Art, the more the better.
How much time had passed?
“Groan…”
Groans mixed with pain and a burnt smell vibrated from all directions.
‘To make such a fuss just because their meridians were slightly scorched by lightning.’
The Soul Formation stage cultivators suffered considerably during the process of burning the restrictions, but what could be done?
Jin So-myeong was not a kind doctor.
Moreover, no one complained because of a little pain.
Being seared by lightning was a hundred times better than dying when the curse triggered. In any case, simply having a chance to live was a great favor.
Anyway,
Jin So-myeong, who had released all the restrictions, brushed himself off and stood up.
He was not a babysitter, and he had no intention of continuing to take care of Soul Formation stage cultivators.
“There are no Stone Heart race members within five hundred li of this place, so do as you please, whether you want to cultivate or set off to find treasures.”
“Ah.”
The Soul Formation stage cultivators, who had been unable to regain their senses after being seared by the lightning energy, jumped up and bent their waists.
“Thank you, Elder! We will not forget this grace!”
Should he say they were quick-witted? No one asked for his name.
Since circumstances made it clear that Jin So-myeong had killed the Dark Soul Demonic Sect’s Elders, they seemed to think it would be better not to know his identity at all.
Of course, to Jin So-myeong, it did not matter either way.
He did not care whether it was revealed that he had killed Yin Cheon-ho.
What would he fear at this point?
In any case, no matter how much he hid it, it would eventually be revealed. He planned to ignore it and focus on cultivation.
Boom!
Wrapped in lightning, Jin So-myeong soared into the sky and vanished beyond the horizon in an instant.
***
One day, after some time had passed.
Three men and one woman appeared in the deepest depths of the Limitless Pure Land.
Elders of the Infinite Void Temple and Ha Do-jin.
Traversing the sky with exhausted faces, they also had a connection with Jin So-myeong.
Ha Do-jin, who had the appearance of a young man, was a rogue cultivator whom Jin So-myeong had hired to hunt the Lightning Pattern Hermit, and the elderly man with a gentle impression was Jeok Song, who had introduced himself at the entrance of the Limitless Pure Land.
Since entering the secret realm, they, who had been flying through the sky without resting even once, paused.
This was because Ha Do-jin, who was flying at the front, pointed to an empty plain.
“It is hard to be sure, but… it seems there is something down there.”
Although his tone lacked confidence, the Elders of the Infinite Void Temple did not scold him.
This was because finding something deep underground in the Limitless Pure Land, where divine sense was restricted, was no easy task.
“Good. Let us dig it up.”
“Everyone, please replenish your dharma power. I will do it this time.”
The only woman in the group, a beautiful lady dressed in palace robes, stepped forward.
The moment her slender fingertip pointed at the ground.
The sky distorted like a broken windowpane, and thousands of light masses poured down.
Boooom!
The flat earth was instantly devastated, but the light masses did not stop.
They poured endlessly with the momentum to split the entire earth.
How much time had passed?
“Hmm? Fairy So. Please wait a moment.”
Jeok Song, who was meditating cross-legged in the air, widened his eyes.
One million zhang below.
Deep underground, to an almost remote degree, something as white as snow and larger than a mountain was buried.
“Ah!”
Not to mention the woman who was digging the ground, even the Elders who were replenishing their dharma power, everyone’s expression brightened.
“Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone!”
“Oh! We finally found it!”
Jeok Song, who was particularly delighted, expressed his gratitude to Ha Do-jin.
“Daoist Brother Ha. You have truly worked hard. As expected, the earth-attribute dharma arts of the Ha Clan are peerless under heaven.”
“Peerless under heaven? That is too high a praise.”
“Haha. Who else could find the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone buried one million zhang below? It would have been impossible if not for Daoist Brother Ha.”
“Ahem. Well, that is true.”
“…What? Ah! Instead of staying here, let us go down quickly. We do not have much time, so we must hurry.”
The snow-white rock buried one million zhang below.
No, as they advanced toward the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone, which was so massive it should be called a geological stratum, they paused.
“Hold on, I do not think we should go any further.”
“Yes. If we approach the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone at the Void Refinement stage level, we might die… so we have no choice.”
The closer they got to the 7th-rank spiritual object, the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone, the more they felt a strange suction force.
“Was this not expected? For now, let us just extract and take the vitality contained within the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone.”
“Very well. Let us set up the formation first.”
The Elders of the Infinite Void Temple moved in perfect order. It seemed they had prepared thoroughly even before entering the secret realm.
After a while.
The formation, which consumed all kinds of precious treasures, was successfully installed, and Jeok Song, wiping the sweat from his forehead, spoke.
“Daoist Brother Ha. I am sorry, but could you lend your strength to maintain the formation? The primordial energy consumed here will be compensated outside the secret realm.”
“Hmm… Understood.”
The three men and one woman, looking at one another, nodded and took their positions at the four corners of the formation.
How much time had passed?
The complexions of the Infinite Void Temple Elders and Ha Do-jin, who were maintaining the formation, grew increasingly pale, yet no change occurred.
Just as Ha Do-jin, unable to endure any longer, was about to say something.
As if dew was forming, a transparent droplet of water formed on the surface of the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone.
Drip…
The freezing, transparent liquid, smaller than a fingernail, rose against gravity and gathered at the center of the formation.
“Oh…!”
“Good! Let us continue.”
To think they put in such immense effort only to get a single drop.
Even if it would not be strange for them to be disheartened, the Elders of the Infinite Void Temple rejoiced as if they had obtained an immense treasure.
There was another, even stranger thing.
Right next to the group struggling to maintain the formation, a man stood openly with his hands behind his back, yet no one noticed him.
The name of the man looking down at the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone in silence was Gwang-rim.
He was the avatar of the Asura Unity stage Dao Sovereign.
***
One day, two years later.
Jin So-myeong, who was concentrating on his cultivation as usual, paused.
Feeling somewhat warmer for some reason, he looked at the sky, and a strange sense of incongruity was felt.
‘…Was the sun originally that large?’
He retraced his memories from when he first entered the Limitless Pure Land, but he was not sure.
Because the difference was so subtle, he was uncertain.
Jin So-myeong, who narrowed his eyes while staring at the sun, shook his head.
The time he could stay in the Limitless Pure Land was not very long.
He had to move diligently to achieve the mid Void Refinement stage before leaving the secret realm.
【Jin So-myeong】
【Lifespan】: 243 / 12,707
【Realm】: Void Refinement Stage 2nd Layer
【Supreme Great Ability】: 92 billion / 150 billion
【Dharma Power Amplification】: +102%
【Divine Ability】: <Secret Realm of the Mind>, <Myriad Flows Restoration>
He had achieved many results during this time.
First and foremost, his lifespan had finally exceeded ten thousand years.
This was thanks to his body tempering realm rising to Rank 6, which increased his lifespan by over 3,600 years.
‘Ten thousand years… That is truly an astronomical amount of time.’
Even a thousand years was a distant time.
Even nations often collapsed without lasting a thousand years. As a single living being, he had come to possess a lifespan of ten thousand years.
It was such an overwhelming span of time that it did not easily sink in.
‘…Lifespan is just lifespan.’
He calmed his overwhelmed heart.
No one knew what the future would hold. To put it extremely, could he not die tomorrow?
While a long lifespan was naturally a good thing, he must not become too obsessed or enchanted by it.
Turning his gaze away from his lifespan, Jin So-myeong focused on other areas.
Void Refinement Stage 2nd Layer.
This was a result obtained by diligently roaming around for the past two years.
He had originally expected it to take about five years to reach the 2nd layer of the Void Refinement stage, but he broke through the realm in just three years.
This was because he had obtained a large number of Void Refinement stage-grade Stone Heart hearts, and the surrounding spiritual Qi had become rapidly denser as he approached the center of the secret realm.
Aside from the rise in realm, there were many achievements.
【Cultivation Method】
Nine Successes Golden Body Art (Mastery 0.1 trillion / 100 trillion)
The Nine Successes Golden Body Art, which was at the Proficiency stage when he fought Yin Cheon-ho, had surpassed the Mastery stage,
and the rank of Limitless had also risen to Rank 6.
It had become a Void Refinement stage-grade dharma treasure, what people in the world called a divine weapon.
Although there were many changes…
summarizing it in a single phrase before explaining in detail, it was sufficient to say that he had become stronger.
Enjoyed the chapter?
If you like our work, consider supporting us on Ko-fi. This site solely runs on donations. Every donation helps us keep translating!
Support on Ko-fi