Chapter 296: A Sword Cultivator Appearing by Clefting the Sky (1)

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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As the endlessly spread-out earth raised its body, an immensely massive shadow covered heaven and earth.

It was tall.

And it was large.

The mountain range that continued beyond the horizon became the spine, and the wide plains and fields became the skin.

RUUUMBLE…!

It seemed gravity had broken down.

All the visible soil endlessly soared toward the sky.

Because his Divine Sense was restricted, it was difficult to be certain, but looking at the shape vaguely revealed, the massive column of soil that pierced the sky seemed to be Gon-ak’s leg.

‘Tremendous…’

It was a feeling similar to a giant, but it was too big to even take in with his vision.

An utterly absurd size. It felt like the sun would be reached even if he just reached out his hand.

‘Is that a True Spirit?’

An overwhelming presence filled heaven and earth.

It was on a different level from when it was trapped in the sub-space.

It was a dignity worthy of the name mythical creature, having awakened by itself from heaven, earth, and nature.

Just as he was genuinely admiring it.

………………!

Simultaneously with a roaring sound that could not possibly be understood, his vision distorted.

The perfectly fine world warped arbitrarily, and it was like a feeling of looking at the world through soap bubbles stacked layer upon layer.

He reflexively drew his sword to examine it, and the blade was not straight but twisted like a pretzel.

Was it a simple optical illusion, or had it truly warped?

“Ah.”

A chilling cold was suddenly felt, so he raised his head and saw.

That which existed exceptionally clearly alone amidst the weirdly distorted vision.

The sun.

That which still floated loftily amidst all kinds of clamor shone upon the world,

and Gon-ak, who exerted an overwhelming presence, turned like melted candle wax.

His astonishment was brief.

Crack…!

Countless fine cracks appeared in the rock columns estimated to be Gon-ak’s limbs, and they eventually shattered into pieces.

Without even being able to maintain his shape, he began to revert to dust.

Had it failed?

Around the time he narrowed his eyes because the situation did not look good.

Bwahahaha!

Simultaneously with the laughter that struck his eardrums,

a brilliant light was emitted from Gon-ak’s pupils.

The pupils, which were far enough to not be reached by his Divine Sense, let alone his vision, were exceptionally clear.

“I, the True Spirit Gon-ak, shall vow! That someday, I will surely tear you to death!”

The moment Gon-ak, who laughed like crazy, declared toward the sky.

He instinctively unfolded the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye to the extreme.

And he saw.

The sight of the massive shadow rushing toward the sun turning into a handful of ashes.

Simultaneously.

All the visible sky cracked like a breaking window pane, then shattered while making an intense cracking sound.

Through the cracks made in the void, unfamiliar scenery that changed relentlessly was visible.

The way leading outside had opened.

‘…Outstanding.’

Along with the admiration that leaked out automatically,

a pain as if his optic nerves were burning surged. It was the price of unfolding the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye to the extreme, but he did not mind it.

“Huh. A surprising eye indeed.”

His gaze collided with Gon-ak, who was already half melted, and a voice full of laughter followed.

“Perhaps… on a day not so far off, I might end up asking a favor of you.”

“That will be the case.”

Had they said they would talk about the reward after he reached the Integration Stage?

He did not know when that day would be, but it would not be very far.

“Haha! You are a fellow daoist with outstanding confidence. Then, farewell.”

As if a cliff was carved away by long years.

Gon-ak, who was disappearing moment by moment, reached out his hand toward the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone, and Jin So-myeong leapt toward the cracks made in the void.

***

A certain wasteland.

A large sailing vessel with a length reaching three thousand zhang was flying through the sky, and uniquely, over tens of thousands of people were aboard on the deck.

It was truly a strange thing.

It was because those sitting on the deck floor were all cultivators.

Most were in the Foundation Establishment Stage, and a few were in the Golden Core Stage.

Why were cultivators who could be respected wherever they went sitting on the bare floor?

Furthermore…

how should it be said about these people, their appearance was a bit like that.

Should it be called shabby?

Their complexions were haggard and gloomy, looking like defeated soldiers or refugees.

“Damn it. I do not know what kind of state this is because of the cursed Asura race.”

“My thoughts exactly. *Sigh*.”

“To think we have to leave like we are chased, even though we settled in Flying Cloud City with hard work…”

“Is there anything that can be done? If we stayed continuously in Flying Cloud City, we might get caught by the Asuras and be treated like slaves.”

“Slaves? I heard they treat us as workers if we surrender quietly?”

“There are such words indeed, but how can we believe rumors?”

Exactly twenty years ago.

The Asura race, which gathered a grand army, invaded by surprise, and thousands of cities were occupied.

Naturally, the human race was not just being hit quietly either.

They established a front line centering on large sects like the Infinite Void Temple or the Dark Soul Demonic Sect, and fought fierce battles daily.

As advances and retreats continued, the front line expanded day by day, and because of that, low-level cultivators were having a deadly time.

Whenever there was a gap, they were forcibly mobilized to produce goods for the war, and if they were truly unlucky, they were dragged to the battlefield to guard formations.

They were treated as literally living spirit stones.

Because the situation was like this, those who lived at the front, which was near the front line, had no choice but to tremble in fear without even being able to sleep properly.

Since they did not know when they would be dragged to the battlefield.

However, in truth, the things mentioned above were cases of relatively good luck.

Because if one day, suddenly,

a high-level cultivator descended, they would end up dying without even being able to resist.

Anyway, for various reasons, everyone wanted to get away from the front line, but there was no way high-level cultivators would tolerate that.

If everyone fled, who would guard the front line?

Naturally, they controlled it thoroughly so that no one could escape.

That was how it should be normally, but…

when did the world ever run normally?

Naturally, it did not.

There were also cases where a castellan, who should guard the city more desperately than anyone, fled first.

The owner of the sailing vessel currently traversing the wasteland was precisely that castellan.

He did not simply flee either.

He scraped and gathered all the cultivators who could be called competent artisans by mastering cultivation arts like elixir refining or talisman making, and fled together.

It was to grow his utility, out of fear that they might not accept him and cast him out when he reached the rear.

Of course, those currently on the deck did not know well about such facts.

They were merely gathered suddenly, ended up boarding the vessel while going “uh uh,” and heard the words that they were leaving the front line to go to the rear.

“Where did they say we are going? Myriad Swords City?”

“Probably.”

“If it is Myriad Swords City, it is a Rank 6 immortal city, right? *Tsk*. Going to a relatively safe city is a relief, but honestly, it is too much.”

“Hmm…?”

“Look at the size of this sailing vessel. Even the number of rooms must exceed thousands, yet why must we stay on the deck? Petty.”

At the figure of the Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator squatting on the deck and complaining,

the Golden Core Stage old man, who watched silently, frowned.

“So-ryeong. Let us move places.”

“Yes?”

“That fellow seems to not know well how sensitive a high-level cultivator’s senses are. To spout backtalk while trusting in a mere Rank 2 soundproofing talisman.”

Bringing along his bewildered granddaughter, he distanced himself as far as possible from the man who had just voiced complaints.

Just as expected.

“Say it again.”

“Yes…?”

A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator wearing a golden robe. The chief deacon of Flying Cloud City appeared and stared coldly.

“Impudent bastard. You should know to be grateful if we bring you to a safe place. If you have complaints, get lost!”

“I-I am sorry.”

“You do not understand words. Shall I personally drop you off?”

The Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, whose complexion turned pale, immediately knelt, but the chief deacon’s expression did not soften.

Just as his gaze became colder and colder.

“Calm down. Was it not spoken by a Foundation Establishment Stage child who knows nothing?”

A middle-aged man draped in a dragon robe appeared, and all those who watched with bated breath hurriedly stood up and bowed.

“We pay respects to the Castellan!”

“Hmm.”

The Soul Formation Stage cultivator, the Castellan of Flying Cloud City who received the greeting by nodding his head, looked at those on the deck and spoke.

“It is true that there are vacant rooms, but the space is not abundant enough to accommodate all of you. Since we cannot give special privileges only to some, bear with it even if it is slightly uncomfortable.”

“Yes!”

Ending with those low words, the Castellan and the chief deacon left the deck and returned to the cabins.

The Golden Core Stage old man, who watched the commotion while hiding his granddaughter behind his back, frowned.

Seeing the Nascent Soul Stage chief deacon, who was always relaxed back when they were in Flying Cloud City, getting angry easily, he felt anxious for some reason.

Could the situation be extremely bad?

“…”

The silent old man raised his spiritual power.

He blocked the surrounding gazes and pulled out a worn talisman he had in his bosom.

An unattractive talisman with a negligible aura and cracked edges.

It looked old and shabby, but that was merely a disguise. This was a truly precious object.

It was a Rank 5 Transfer Talisman left behind by an ancestor who was in the Soul Formation Stage before the family declined.

It was a powerful talisman that, when used, transported one to a random location a hundred thousand li away, serving as a lifeline to survive even in the worst situation.

The old man, who was fingering the worn talisman with slightly trembling hands, closed his eyes.

This Transfer Talisman was different from ordinary talismans.

Because the ancestor, who possessed genius talent in talisman arts, had consumed True Blood to infuse energy into it, even he, whose realm was lacking, could use it.

Hesitating for just a brief moment, he tapped his granddaughter and held out the worn talisman as if handing over junk.

“Grandfather?”

“Do not say useless things and keep it well secured.”

“If you give this to me, what about you, Grandfather?”

“I have another sheet, so do not worry.”

“…I understand.”

“Since you, So-ryeong, are clever, I believe you will know well when this talisman must be used.”

The girl, who packed the talisman with trembling hands, pursed her lips and soon smiled brightly.

“Grandfather, do not worry too much. Didn’t you say it is safe as long as we reach Myriad Swords City?”

“Hmm… Indeed. Because a Void Refinement Stage sword cultivator resides in Myriad Swords City. At the very least, it should be able to hold out for dozens of years.”

“For dozens of years? Wow!”

At the sight of his granddaughter opening her eyes wide in surprise, the old man wore a bitter smile.

To a cultivator, dozens of years was not such a long time.

It meant the city might fall even though there was a Void Refinement Stage sword cultivator, but… there was no need to scare her unnecessarily.

“Grandfather. Is a sword cultivator that strong? Strong enough to block the Asuras alone for dozens of years?”

“Extremely strong. It is said that if a Void Refinement Stage sword cultivator makes up their mind, unless it is an Integration Stage Dao Sovereign, they have no choice but to be wary.”

“Wow…”

“However, just in case, do not even think about becoming a sword cultivator.”

The blinking granddaughter frowned.

“Why? Isn’t it good if one is strong?”

“I have never seen anyone among sword cultivators who lived long.”

“Yes?”

“Just because one is strong does not mean one lives long. What is important is keeping away from danger in the first place.”

“Oh, what is that.”

The old man, who was looking around, lowered his voice.

“Furthermore, since you, So-ryeong, possess the Heavenly Spiritual Root, there is no need to take risks. Since the world has become turbulent as is, live as quietly as possible without catching eyes.”

“…I do not think that will go as I wish. It would rather be safer to become a sword cultivator.”

“You child, do not say immature things! Becoming a sword cultivator is absolutely forbidden! Do you understand?”

The sulking girl pouted her lips.

Just as the old man, who narrowed his brow, was about to scold her.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Suddenly, bell sounds rang like crazy, and the formation installed on the sailing vessel began to emit intense light.

“Uh, uh?”

The moment everyone on the deck was bewildered.

BOOM…!

The thickly laid clouds scattered in all directions, and then a fist as massive as a mountain dropped down.

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