Chapter 304: The Pavilion of Secret Transmission Arrays
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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The Blue Cloud Sea Region of the Stone Heart Realm.
The Blue Cloud Sea Region, which had nothing special about it other than being vast, had before long become a key battlefield where the human race and the Asura race collided fiercely.
However, looking closely at this situation, one could tell that something was strange.
Why was a front line formed in the Blue Cloud Sea Region, which was not particularly a strategic hotspot?
There were few who knew the truth, but in fact, the situation becoming like this was entirely because of Jin So-myeong.
The Asura Avici Dao Sovereign sought to completely seize the vicinity of the Blue Cloud Sea Region in preparation for the off chance that Jin So-myeong escaped from the secret realm, and the human Unity stage Dao Sovereign, catching wind of that, had also responded.
Since Jin So-myeong had already escaped, there was no longer a need to confront each other in the Blue Cloud Sea Region, yet the front line was still maintained.
This was because if they rashly retreated in a situation where large-scale forces tightly faced each other, their formation might collapse, resulting in fatal damage.
In this deadlocked situation.
The Avici Dao Sovereign, the Cheonra Dao Sovereign, the Myeolsim Dao Sovereign, and the Gongya Dao Sovereign.
Transcendent existences who could single-handedly destroy an ordinary race. The four Asura Unity stage Dao Sovereigns gathered in one place.
Just as the teacups placed on the table were turning icy cold, the giant figure who was half a head taller than the others, the Avici Dao Sovereign opened his mouth.
“Jin So-myeong must be killed without fail.”
“Indeed. If we leave Jin So-myeong alone… we will truly suffer a massive loss.”
As the white-skinned woman whose skin was covered in blue shining threads, the Cheonra Dao Sovereign agreed, the remaining Dao Sovereigns also nodded.
A single jade slip was placed between them, in which what Jin So-myeong had done so far was recorded in detail.
“For someone who was merely in the Soul Formation stage a hundred years ago to already be at the 6th layer of the Void Refinement stage… Sigh. It is indeed a talent that appears barely once in a million years.”
It was a truly marvelous thing, but it was not something to simply end with admiration.
“If we give Jin So-myeong time, he might appear as an Unity stage expert.”
For the human Unity stage experts to increase to four… meant that the invasion had failed, and that meant the future of the Asura race was finished.
“We cannot let that happen. At any rate, we must kill him… but the human Unity stage experts are the problem.”
By now, the human Unity stage Dao Sovereigns would be concentrating all their attention on Jin So-myeong.
“If we take action, they will likely respond immediately.”
“Tsk. Because of a single Void Refinement stage sword cultivator, it has become troublesome.”
Absurdly, because of a mere Void Refinement stage cultivator, the direction of the war was completely twisted.
Originally, the ones who grew more advantageous as time flowed were the Asuras.
This was because the lifespan of the Taixu Sacred Venerable, one of the three pillars of the human race, did not have much left.
According to the information grasped through the war, the lifespan of the Taixu Sacred Venerable was already at its limit.
Although he was holding on by force utilizing all sorts of means, he would live for at most a hundred years.
Therefore, the Asuras did not need to overexert themselves.
They only needed to occupy the outskirts of the Stone Heart Realm slowly to break the growth of the human race, and wait until the lifespan of the Taixu Sacred Venerable was exhausted.
However…
Jin So-myeong.
Because of a single sword cultivator whose growth was bizarrely fast, the situation was completely overturned.
He was already absurdly strong now in the Void Refinement stage, so how much stronger would he become once he reached the Unity stage?
Now, time was no longer on the side of the Asuras.
“However, I do not understand.”
The Gongya Dao Sovereign, whose appearance looked featureless at a glance but whose shadow squirmed as if alive, furrowed his brow.
“The attitude of the human Unity stage experts is strange. Is there any reason they would let Jin So-myeong run amok so recklessly like that? If they simply made him undergo closed-door cultivation for a few hundred years in a safe place, he would become an Unity stage expert.”
“It is indeed strange. To rashly expose a talent of that caliber and invite danger.”
Hearing the conversation going back and forth, the Avici Dao Sovereign shook his head.
“Conversely, it might be precisely because he invited danger that he grew like that.”
“Hmm…?”
“Looking at the investigated details about Jin So-myeong, he stirred up all sorts of commotions even when he was in the Soul Formation stage. He has probably lived in that manner since he started cultivation.”
He fought frequently with strong enemies to the extent that it made one wonder if he intentionally sought out places to die.
That was why he was more dangerous.
His way of life, which ran on a completely different track from ordinary cultivators who prioritized their lives above all, had fashioned an absurd monster.
Amid the continuing silence, the Gongya Dao Sovereign let out a sigh.
“Come to think of it, the human race is a truly bizarre species. For individual inclinations to differ to that extent.”
“…We have strayed off-topic. In any case, what is important now is to kill Jin So-myeong even a day sooner.”
“That is true, but how do you plan to do it?”
“There is no need to think complicatedly. It is most certain if all four of us simply go and kill him.”
At the Avici Dao Sovereign’s firm words, the Gongya Dao Sovereign frowned.
“If we try to kill Jin So-myeong in that manner, the human Unity stage experts will not sit still. A full-scale war might break out.”
“Is there any reason we cannot? Ultimately, the longer we drag this out, the more disadvantageous it is for our side. It is not bad to settle this as quickly as possible.”
Groaning inwardly, the Gongya Dao Sovereign shook his head.
“In my heart, I also wish to do so. However, the human Unity stage experts are not easy either. If we fight so recklessly, at least two of us will die.”
“Indeed. If we perish together while fighting the humans, only the Insect-Armor Race, who are watching for an opportunity, will benefit.”
The best way was to cleanly carve out only Jin So-myeong and continue the war.
Advancing slowly from the outskirts to push the humans all the way into the Green Garden Realm, and occupying the Rank 7 spiritual veins of the Stone Heart Realm was their ultimate goal.
While the Avici Dao Sovereign, who scowled, clicked his tongue, the Dao Sovereigns discussing the method to kill Jin So-myeong made a decision.
“Since Gwang-myeong’s location has been exposed, two of us will step forward to tie him down, and we will contact the Insect-Armor Race to ask them to pressure the Green Garden Realm.”
If the Unity stage experts of the Insect-Armor Race appeared at the border of the Green Garden Realm, the humans would have no choice but to respond.
If two of the three Unity stage experts had their feet tied, only one would remain.
With this much, they could create a gap sufficient to kill Jin So-myeong.
***
“Senior Jin. Here is the latest news that has come in.”
“Thank you.”
“If there is anything you need, please let me know at any time.”
An Infinite Void Temple disciple with high discipline offered the jade slip, and Jin So-myeong, who checked it, nodded.
It was written about the constantly changing war situation, and the biggest news that had come in recently was that an Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the Insect-Armor Race had appeared at the border of the Green Garden Realm.
‘I thought it could be ended easily, but… it is regrettable.’
Because of the Insect-Armor Race, the plan went awry.
After using himself as bait, he had planned to combine strength with the friendly Taixu Sacred Venerable to target the Asura Unity stage Dao Sovereigns, but he could no longer do so.
The Taixu Sacred Venerable had crossed over to the Green Garden Realm to block the Insect-Armor Race, and the Gwang-myeong Dao Sovereign had his feet tied due to confronting two Asura Unity stage Dao Sovereigns.
If he struck the Asuras now, he might be tag-teamed by two Unity stage Dao Sovereigns.
The situation had changed. As he pondered how to respond, two thoughts occurred to him simultaneously.
A competitive spirit wishing to fight an Asura Unity stage Dao Sovereign, and a somewhat uneasy feeling.
One could say it was a feeling of being swayed by the situation.
‘…Never mind. Let us raise our strength for a bit.’
The most important thing when fighting an enemy was to not act as the opponent desired.
In any case, the longer time passed, the more advantageous it was for his side. There was absolutely no reason to move as if chased.
Jin So-myeong had the confidence to become distinctly stronger even after just one year.
‘I should copy the Clear Soul Mind-Settling Pills to train my soul, and master sword arrays.’
Utilizing the teleportation arrays installed throughout the Stone Heart Realm, he returned to the Infinite Void Temple.
He visited a deacon handling public affairs, and the reaction was quite intense.
“Ah! It is an honor to meet Senior Jin, whose reputation has been resounding recently!”
“Reputation?”
The Soul Formation stage deacon, who seemed young due to being full of energy, sparkled his eyes.
“Did you not slay Void Refinement stage Asuras in succession! Hearing that news was truly gratifying!”
“Hmm.”
“To be honest, the recent war situation was not very good, but everyone is admiring the majesty Senior showed.”
It seemed that slaying a few Asuras for revenge had spread widely even to low-realm cultivators.
“Indeed. More than that, I wish to use my contribution points to view high-realm array books of Rank 6 or above. Would that be possible?”
“Of course it is possible. I will report to the Elder and return, so please wait a moment.”
How many minutes had he waited?
Instead of the deacon who went to report, Jeok Song appeared.
“Fellow Daoist Jin. If there was something you needed, why did you not simply seek me out?”
“Elder Jeok must also be busy, so I could not bother you with minor matters.”
“Haha. This much is fine. More than that, you said you need array books?”
“Yes.”
The contribution points Jin So-myeong had gathered currently were roughly fourteen billion points.
He had gathered twelve billion points by taking down two mid and two early Void Refinement stage cultivators, and gathered two billion more points by handling the Asura fleet.
He was thinking of spending about one billion points to view the secret transmission array books gathered by the Infinite Void Temple.
“I understand. Follow me. I will guide you to the pavilion where the array books are stored.”
Following Jeok Song, who guided him personally as if he were not even busy, they arrived before long at a seven-story pavilion.
“Sigh… It is incredibly vast.”
Upon entering the pavilion, which looked ordinary on the outside, the space expanded dramatically.
A room as vast as a grassland was packed with jade slips, and because there were so many, even a rough count exceeded tens of millions.
“The array books on the lower floors are ambiguous to call secret transmissions, so they will not be of help to Fellow Daoist Jin. Let us go to the 6th or 7th floor.”
“Yes.”
The smiling Jeok Song extended a flat, palm-sized jade token.
“You must have this jade token to roam the pavilion freely, so please keep it. Well then, I shall take my leave now.”
“Wait a moment. How many contribution points must I pay?”
“Pardon?”
Jin So-myeong had originally planned to look at the list of array books and choose a few that caught his eye.
Since he had not expected them to open the entire pavilion in this manner, he asked about the cost, but Jeok Song, blinking his eyes, waved his hand.
“If not for Fellow Daoist Jin, I would have been captured by the Asuras by now and ended up in a wretched state. How could I demand contribution points merely for lending you a few array books?”
“Hmm…”
“Simply view them comfortably. You only need to be careful not to damage the jade slips or distribute them indiscriminately.”
“…I understand. I will consider it as goodwill and accept it gratefully.”
“Haha. Well then, I shall go.”
Left alone in the pavilion packed with jade slips, Jin So-myeong let out a soft sigh.
‘They are treating me so well that it is almost burdensome…’
He felt like he had only been receiving since arriving at the Infinite Void Temple.
Jeok Song said it was a reward for helping in the Limitless Pure Land, but that alone was sufficiently repaid by the two thousand years’ worth of cultivation resources given last time.
If there were a balance scale for giving and receiving, it would already be tilted one-sidedly.
“…”
After silently staring at the jade token he had just received for a long time, Jin So-myeong exhaled a long breath.
At any rate, he had no intention of returning what he had already received.
The Infinite Void Temple was a large sect ranking within the top three in the entire human race. How many array books would they have gathered, possessing such a vast history?
He could not simply pass over such a useful opportunity just because it was burdensome.
‘Cheon Jin-il. Bring out the clones.’
After calling his clone whose primary duty was to research formations, he had him sweep through starting from the 1st floor.
“If you see anything usable, copy it.”
“Understood.”
Leaving behind Cheon Jin-il who answered with a blunt face, he continued to deploy clones as he ascended to the upper floors.
As he ascended to the 6th floor of the pavilion, the room that was as vast as a grassland narrowed drastically.
While the number of jade slips decreased visibly, finally, arrays that could be called the secret of secrets began to appear.
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