Chapter 309: Absurd Rumors (2)
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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“He survived a direct hit from an Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the Asura race? Hoho.”
“There are even rumors that Senior Jin’s age is not even a thousand years yet.”
It was hard to believe because the rumors were so absurd, but such things did not matter.
Perhaps it was because it was a time when only gloomy news of the frontlines being pushed back by the Asuras arrived day after day.
This rumor was like a breath of fresh air blowing in after a long time.
“They say he was already strong enough to defeat a Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord during his Soul Formation stage.”
“There is also a saying that he is a disciple secretly raised by three of the human race’s Unity stage Dao Sovereigns.”
The topic of conversation did not easily subside and grew larger and larger.
Even words like this came out.
Jin So-myeong was a peerless genius who would only appear once in millions of years, so he could master any cultivation art just by lightly scanning it.
He was proficient in all of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, including elixir refining and formations.
In truth, his specialty was the Thunder Law, but because there was no worthy opponent, he only used the sword.
He mastered the cultivation art of the legendary Battle Immortal, becoming stronger the more he fought.
Originally, he was a Qi Condensation stage cultivator, but he obtained a once-in-an-eternity fortuitous opportunity and became a Soul Formation stage cultivator overnight.
No. He was the reincarnation of a supreme powerhouse born in a human form.
As proof of that, it had only been a hundred years since Jin So-myeong reached the Soul Formation stage, yet he had already reached the mid Void Refinement stage.
This immense cultivation speed could not possibly be explained unless he was the reincarnation of a supreme powerhouse.
…
All kinds of rumors, which made it impossible to distinguish whether they were true or not, boiled over.
Shops, taverns, inns, teahouses, and merchant unions.
Wherever people gathered, regardless of the location, it was filled with stories about Jin So-myeong.
At first, everyone smiled and enjoyed it.
Since they were frustrated from being harassed by the Asuras, it felt like a rare burst of energy.
“They say if we can somehow endure for just a hundred years, Senior Jin, who has ascended to the Unity stage, will end the war.”
“The Unity stage in a hundred years…? Is Senior Jin not still at the mid Void Refinement stage?”
“Since he went from the Soul Formation stage to the mid Void Refinement stage in a hundred years, the Unity stage will not take long either.”
Someone listening to the rumors wore a bitter smile, and this phenomenon gradually grew.
Eventually.
It reached the point where such words came out of someone’s mouth.
“Sigh, I understand that this is a time when such rumors are needed, but even so, this is too much.”
“Too much? What do you mean by that?”
“How many of the rumors about Senior Jin do you think are actually true?”
“Well, of course… Hmm.”
The young man, who was about to answer immediately, shut his mouth and stammered.
This was because, thinking about it logically, there was hardly anything believable.
It was to the point that thinking someone seriously believed it made them look like a fool.
“…Still, at least, would not about half of it be true?”
“Well. I think that since the morale of our human race has fallen so low, the higher-ups are trying to artificially create hope.”
“Would they really go that far?”
“There is no telling. The situation might be that bad.”
“You are too pessimistic. Our human race is not at that much of a disadvantage.”
Those who truly believed the rumors and those who cast doubtful glances.
They were divided into two such groups.
It could not be helped.
Although rumors were originally bound to be mixed with exaggeration, even that had limits.
Killing a Void Refinement stage expert during the Soul Formation stage, and now, as a Void Refinement stage cultivator, being strong enough to contend with an Unity stage Dao Sovereign?
Haha…
Only laughter came out.
Should things not be done in moderation for one to believe them?
“In the first place, has anyone actually seen Senior Jin? If he is a non-existent figure…”
“I heard he participated in the succession ceremony there at Heavenly Feast Prefecture City?”
“Did you see it yourself?”
“Of course not. How could I, being in the Blue Cloud Sea Region, go to Heavenly Feast Prefecture City?”
“As expected.”
An annoyed young man shouted at the sight of the other smirking as if he knew it would be so.
“What do you mean ‘as expected’? When I asked those who fled from Heavenly Feast Prefecture City, most of them said they saw it directly.”
“Among those people, how many are trustworthy, that is to say, have a close relationship with you?”
“Well, really. Looking at you now, you have a talent for frustrating people. Is there a need to nitpick to that extent?”
“Ahem, I am sorry. It was just that you seemed too infatuated with the rumors, so I was giving you a warning.”
“Tsk.”
At that moment when the young man, who had somehow become sullen, drooped his shoulders.
“I saw him.”
A Nascent Soul stage cultivator who descended from the sky intervened between the low-realm cultivators.
“G-Greetings, Senior!”
“You would not disbelieve my words either, would you?”
“Yes?”
“I was also at the succession ceremony held in Heavenly Feast Prefecture City. I saw clearly with my own two eyes the sight of Senior Jin, who was at the Soul Formation stage at the time, splitting a 6th-rank divine treasure with a single stroke of his sword.”
Looking at the bewildered young men, the Nascent Soul stage cultivator snorted.
“Surely you do not think that I, a Nascent Soul stage expert, would hold onto you, who are only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and talk useless nonsense?”
“O-Of course not! Since it is what Senior said, we naturally believe it!”
At the sight of them answering blindly without even thinking properly, the Nascent Soul stage cultivator frowned.
“Do you think it was a simple coincidence that an Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the Asura race targeted Senior Jin, even breaking implicit rules to do so?”
“That… does not seem to be the case.”
“They judged that disposing of Senior Jin was far more important than observing things like rules. The movements of the Asura Dao Sovereigns are indeed clear proof that the rumors are true.”
Gulp…
Looking at the cultivators who could not answer and only swallowed dry saliva, the Nascent Soul stage cultivator clicked his tongue.
“To think you cannot even believe the sun that is clearly visible to the eyes. Tsk tsk.”
In that manner.
As absurd rumors and eyewitness accounts were bewilderingly mixed together, distinguishing what was real became an extremely difficult task.
If only Jin So-myeong belonged to a sect, they might have at least announced the truth of the matter…
Unfortunately, because he was a loose cultivator, there was no such thing.
Perhaps that was why?
The arguments over the truth did not easily settle down.
Ah, even amidst this confusion, there was one story that no one could deny.
“If by any chance the rumors are true.”
No, even if only a quarter of a quarter of the circulating rumors were true.
The existence with the highest possibility of reaching the Unity stage in the current human race was Jin So-myeong.
***
Meanwhile, Jin So-myeong, the subject of the rumors, was sitting cross-legged in an extremely quiet place.
“Hooo…”
Exhaling a long, thin breath, he opened his eyes very slowly.
As he checked his surroundings due to a cool chill brushing against his skin, the walls and ceiling of the cultivation chamber were entirely covered with ice.
Inspecting the white-dyed cultivation chamber, he wore a bitter smile while simultaneously marveling.
The reason why the perfectly fine cultivation chamber had completely frozen over was that cold energy had leaked out while he was digesting the spiritual object given by Fairy Yeongwol.
‘This cold energy. It is not as easy to digest as I thought.’
The cold energy originating from the tea made of Snow Flower Tree Honey and the Snow Pomegranate Fruit.
He had intended to refine the cold energy and dissolve it into the Primordial One Qi, but there was no end.
Should he say it was like an infinitely welling spring?
Just when he thought he had completely digested the cold energy accumulated in the Chaos Origin Wheel, it appeared again from somewhere.
Although the endlessly regenerating cold energy was troubling, he did not dislike it.
This was because, in the process of refining the cold energy and dissolving it into the Primordial One Qi, his dharmic power accumulated rapidly.
Originally, he had estimated that it would take about seven years to reach the late Void Refinement stage, but thanks to this cold energy, it seemed three or four years would suffice.
‘Did she give me this cold energy on purpose so that I would quietly focus only on cultivation?’
If he did not have the Chaos Origin Wheel divine ability, which stored energy and digested it on its own, he would have had to shut himself away in a quiet place and focus solely on cultivation.
Guessing Fairy Yeongwol’s intention, he flicked his finger.
Crack!
At the moment the lightning bundle pouring from his fingertips touched the wall of the cultivation chamber.
Sssss…!
The ice covering the walls and ceiling melted away in an instant.
Having disposed of the cold energy without difficulty, Jin So-myeong fell into thought.
‘For someone who went out only briefly, I obtained a lot.’
Absorbing the Divine Sense attack launched by Myeolsim Dao Sovereign into the Chaos Origin Wheel was also of great help.
Was the Primordial One Qi Art not a cultivation art whose realm rose higher the more diverse energies it took in?
The strike launched by the Unity stage Dao Sovereign with the intent to kill was, in itself, an extremely precious energy.
【Cultivation Art】
Primordial One Qi Art (Orthodox 37 articles / 300 articles)
After pouring the harvests obtained recently that were of no immediate use, including the energy of Myeolsim Dao Sovereign, into the cultivation of the Primordial One Qi Art, it had already surpassed 30 articles before he knew it.
‘The proficiency has also risen quite a bit…’
His body tempering realm, which had been stagnant, also broke through the wall.
Was it thanks to throwing himself into actual combat where he could have died if he made a single mistake? He reached the late Rank 6 stage with great ease.
On top of that, one more thing.
As he forged his sharp intent with all his might in the moment of life and death, Mugeuk’s grade also rose, becoming a late Rank 6 Magic Treasure.
Using actual combat as a furnace, he digested the sharp intent he had accumulated in the meantime.
If one considered simply the sharpness, it had become easily twice as sharp as before.
Although it might be a somewhat arrogant thought, it seemed he could even cut down Myeolsim Dao Sovereign now.
If so,
‘If we fight again, will I be able to win?’
He conducted a simulated battle in his mind, but the conclusion was that it would be difficult.
Although it was much better compared to the past when the chances of winning were almost non-existent, it was still insufficient.
Was it lacking even though he achieved significant growth?
Indeed.
One must not forget the fact that the Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the Asura race could also activate the Heart-Shattering Blood Glyph.
The unique divine ability of the Asura race, who possessed two hearts.
Once they activated the Heart-Shattering Blood Glyph, which possessed an effect similar to the Blood Wings, the Asura Dao Sovereigns would become at least four or five times stronger.
‘I would need to be at least at the late Void Refinement stage to even have a chance.’
The unique authority of the Unity stage was also a problem.
A realm where one’s will became the law; when an Unity stage Dao Sovereign harbored killing intent, the entire world became an enemy.
Although he could bypass it once or twice with Law-Breaking, the second divine ability of the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, anything beyond that was impossible.
‘To resist the authority of the Unity stage…’
Although there might be several methods, the most fundamental and proper way was to temper the Law Domain.
All other methods besides tempering the Law Domain were mere temporary measures. Even if they worked once or twice, they could not last long.
Quietly closing his eyes, Jin So-myeong spread his Law Domain.
1 km, 2 km, 4 km, 8 km…
The Law Domain, which was stretching in all directions, stopped only after seizing a vast range with a radius of 3,500 km.
‘Compared to my Divine Sense, does it mean it is tempered to about 30%?’
Once the Law Domain is completely tempered, it matches the Divine Sense exactly.
Currently, his Divine Sense is 12,000 km.
A Law Domain that could extend up to 3,500 km could be seen as having been tempered to about 30%.
‘30%… It is slightly ambiguous.’
Even at the time when Jin So-myeong had just ascended to the Void Refinement stage, the range he could seize with his Law Domain was only a 400-meter radius.
Compared to his Divine Sense, which was 4,000 km at the time, it was a one-ten-thousandth level, yet it had already been tempered to 30% before he knew it.
Considering that reaching this level usually required thousands of years of cultivation, it was a stupendously rapid growth.
Of course, Jin So-myeong was not of a personality to be satisfied just because he was faster than others.
As always, he pondered a way to surpass the limit.
‘To temper the Law Domain rapidly… obtaining the Void Wilderness Grass would indeed be best.’
To obtain the Void Wilderness Grass, one had to acquire 100 billion contribution points, and the contribution points Jin So-myeong currently possessed were 84 billion.
To the original 14 billion points, he had recently obtained an additional 70 billion points by devastating the Asura encampments.
The remaining was 16 billion.
Acquiring this was not very difficult.
It would end if he chose an appropriate battlefield and disposed of one Asura expert equivalent to the late Void Refinement stage.
Frankly, it was simple enough that he could finish it off even this very day.
Although Fairy Yeongwol’s request for him to quietly focus only on cultivation until he reached the Unity stage weighed on his mind slightly…
To grow rapidly in the current situation, the Void Wilderness Grass was absolutely necessary.
Pondering for a very brief moment, Jin So-myeong smirked.
‘Since when have I listened well?’
Of course, the Unity stage Dao Sovereigns who supported the human race in the upper realm filled with monstrous foreign races were indeed respectable people.
However, he would not change his way of life just because of a single word of theirs.
Of course, it would be dangerous.
It might also be a foolish choice.
Yet what was more important than such trivial matters was the direction his heart pointed.
Perhaps because of that, such a thought suddenly came to him.
He wondered if this, which had become a signpost of his life at some point, was indeed his Dao Heart…such a thought.