Chapter 310: Sword Array Improvement
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Should it be called the desire to improve and move forward?
Should it be called the fighting spirit to smash what blocked the way?
Or should it be called the sense of adventure to step toward the unknown?
Although it was hard to explain it cut and dry…
It certainly existed.
That something which moved the heart, making one walk the arduous path of cultivation.
‘Is this my Dao Heart?’
It felt like wandering the vast ocean in search of something desperately desired, only to discover a twinkling light beyond the horizon.
Pondering the thoughts that suddenly arrived, Jin So-myeong nodded.
At any rate, returning to the main point, if he cut down just one late Void Refinement stage expert, he could fill the 100 billion contribution points.
It meant he could obtain the Void Wilderness Grass, and then his worries about tempering the Law Domain would be over.
Although one might be insufficient…
It did not matter. He could just duplicate it and keep consuming it.
‘I can obtain the Void Wilderness Grass and cultivate for three or four years to achieve the late Void Refinement stage.’
If so, he would be able to possess the strength to match the Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the Asura race.
Having formulated a rough plan, Jin So-myeong flicked his fingers and poured out lightning.
This was because there was a problem to solve before heading to the battlefield.
Boom!
The lightning spitting out thunder split into three streams, became palm-sized daggers, and lodged into the ground.
Limitless Sword Heaven.
It was a small-scale deployment of the sword array, which possessed an Unity stage-level power.
Clang, clang, clang!
He stroked his chin as he looked at the thunder swords, which vibrated with a hum and then poured out sword Qi.
Although the Limitless Sword Heaven was a sword array powerful enough to work against an Unity stage Dao Sovereign, after undergoing actual combat, a few shortcomings caught his eye.
‘The power is insufficient.’
He did not know what a general Unity stage expert would be like, but the Asura Dao Sovereigns who reached the Unity stage through body tempering possessed incredibly tough bodies.
Since they only had their skin cut even after being hit by the Burning Moon Slash, it was difficult to deal effective damage with the Limitless Sword Heaven.
‘Which means I must increase the power of the sword array.’
However, the firepower of the Limitless Sword Heaven was already in a state where it had been raised to the maximum.
As he had already utilized all means including the Supreme Great Ability, making it stronger than now was difficult.
‘It would be solved if I used lifespan, but I cannot use my lifespan just to increase the sword array’s power.’
In a way, it might be greed.
Because, in the first place, just a Void Refinement stage cultivator mastering an Unity stage-level sword array was an amazing thing.
At that moment when he was pondering, wondering if there was a decent method anyway.
‘Right. There was the Secret Realm of the Mind.’
He realized it while fighting Myeolsim Dao Sovereign.
That in the Secret Realm of the Mind, a divine ability obtained by consuming half of his lifespan during his Qi Condensation stage and used very usefully throughout his cultivation, there remained potential that had not yet bloomed.
What kind of potential was it that would be helpful when deploying the Limitless Sword Heaven?
He recalled the sensation he felt at the time of the battle.
He searched his memories to bloom the potential, but it felt like something faintly visible was hovering around him.
Almost touching, yet not.
It was useless even if he reached out to grasp it. It slipped through his fingers like a formless wind.
‘…Forget it.’
It was regrettable, but it seemed the time was not yet ripe.
Since such enlightenment would only grow distant if he obsessed over it, he decided to forget it for a moment.
Putting aside the issues concerning the Secret Realm of the Mind and the sword array’s power,
He thought of a more urgent point for improvement.
‘The durability of the thunder swords, which are the array objects, is too weak.’
Jin So-myeong, who was staring at the thunder swords that constantly reflected sword Qi, extended his fist while deploying his Blood Wings and Golden Body Dharma Image.
Boom!
The moment the fist wind, which flew across the empty space, touched the surface of the thunder swords.
The sword body trembled violently as if it would break.
Boom, boom, boom!
How many times did he strike? After a cracking sound from the sword body, a fine hairline crack appeared.
‘It is certainly weak. It is not to the extent of enduring an Unity stage-level strike.’
How should he raise the durability of the thunder swords?
The Supreme Great Ability?
He shook his head. The Supreme Great Ability had plenty of places to be used anyway. It was a waste to use it to strengthen array objects that were close to consumables.
‘In that case, it would be better to strengthen Mugeuk instead.’
Was there no other method?
Actually, making the thunder swords tough was not a difficult matter.
The crystals created via the Thunder Dao Refining Art possessed a characteristic of absorbing the surrounding world Qi, so they grew increasingly tough just by being left in a spiritual vein.
However, this method took a long time.
Rather than strengthening the thunder swords through a spiritual vein, it seemed becoming an Unity stage cultivator through direct cultivation would be faster.
It was a problem that arose because his cultivation speed was so fast, but anyway, leaving them in a spiritual vein was not the solution.
‘What should I do…’
He fell into thought while staring blankly at the Limitless Sword Heaven, the sword array deployed with three daggers.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The sword Qi springing from a thunder sword was reflected by another thunder sword, and then split into two.
Watching the sword Qi that rapidly increased and filled all directions, he recalled the core principle of the Limitless Sword Heaven.
First, the thunder swords splitting the sword Qi was derived from the characteristics of the Myriad Mirrors Prison-Shattering Array, a Rank 6 array deployed with ten thousand mirrors.
On top of that, an array where ten thousand Soul Formation stage cultivators joined forces to activate a Rank 7 Dharma treasure.
The Limitless Sword Heaven was precisely what was made by adding the principle of the Ten Thousand Men Resonating Treasure-Controlling Formula.
Although more than hundreds of other arrays were mixed in, it was not important right now.
At any rate, to state only the core simply…
The Limitless Sword Heaven could be called a sword array that used the thunder swords as mirrors to split the sword Qi, and resonated the rapidly multiplied sword Qi with the thunder swords to amplify the power.
‘Which means it is problematic if the thunder swords playing the role of mirrors shatter.’
At that moment when he was deeply contemplating a solution.
Crack…
The sword Qi, which had already multiplied to an astronomical number, collided with the thunder swords endlessly, and
Boom!
The cracks on the sword’s surface grew larger and larger, and eventually, it was completely shattered to pieces.
It was a natural result since he had left the cracked thunder sword unattended.
As the thunder sword playing the role of the array object shattered, he let out a sigh while rounding up the sword Qi that had begun to run wild at will.
‘There are many problems.’
Although the Limitless Sword Heaven was an array powerful enough to work even against an Unity stage expert, there were too many regrettable points.
A feeling that it was only annoying but not threatening?
At that moment when he frowned, not getting a sense of where to start solving it.
The sword fragments scattered on the floor caught his eye.
‘This is…’
As he looked down at the completely shattered fragments and blade shards, his face reflected on the surface wore a strange expression.
Staring blankly at the face reflected in a fingernail-sized piece,
He flicked his finger and shot sword Qi.
Ting!
As he watched the sword Qi bounce off after colliding with the fragmented thunder sword, it felt like a clue was being caught.
“A mirror is still a mirror even if it is broken.”
Perhaps,
It seemed he did not have to obsess over the durability of the thunder swords.
***
A certain cave filled with boiling red lava.
In that place so hot that an ordinary person would burn to death before taking a single breath.
A woman wearing a white martial robe was sitting cross-legged with her eyes half-opened.
Her red pupils, outstanding against her snow-white skin like moonlight, drew attention, and her hair, flowing down to her waist, was like silk woven from the night sky.
If Jin So-myeong had seen this woman, he would have been exceptionally glad.
Her name was Hong Seol.
She had a connection with Jin So-myeong since his Qi Condensation stage, and was an existence called a master.
She, who remained in the human realm when Jin So-myeong ascended to prepare for any unforeseen event, had already ascended to the upper realm before anyone knew it, and surprisingly, she had become a Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord.
To become a Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord in only a hundred years since ascending.
Just what had happened?
Recalling the past, Hong Seol wore a bitter smile.
In truth, it was not a hundred years.
She had been trapped in some strange place, and spent a really long time there.
It was a time so long that it would have been considerably difficult if she were not a hybrid of the Artifact Spirit race possessing an inherently long lifespan.
In the past, at the time she ascended using the Rank 6 Boundary-Breaking Talisman given by Jin So-myeong.
She lost consciousness after being swept up by the Wild Wind of the Nine Heavens, which made her unable to control her Divine Sense as well as her dharmic power, and when she opened her eyes, it was a land where the Artifact Spirit race lived.
She was extremely confused by the accident she experienced as soon as she arrived in an unfamiliar world.
At that moment when she was highly tense because everything was suspicious and unfamiliar.
Before she could even grasp the situation, a secret realm suddenly opened and she was swept into it.
To be swept into a secret realm without any information as soon as she ascended…
It was a succession of absurd misfortunes.
Although it was an accident where it would not be strange for an ordinary person to die a hundred times, she overcame it.
In the first place, Hong Seol was not an ordinary existence either.
Excluding Jin So-myeong and Star-Shattering True Monarch, she was the most outstanding Soul Formation stage expert in the human realm, and had even learned the Light-Moon Silent-Life Sword from Jin So-myeong.
Thanks to being strong enough to run on a completely different track from ordinary cultivators, she could survive even in the secret realm she was suddenly swept into.
In that way,
Was it the reward for enduring the pouring misfortunes? Misfortune turned into a blessing.
After overcoming the trials of the secret realm, she received the recognition of the Rank 7 divine treasure, the Red Heaven Ultimate Sword, which was slumbering in the secret realm, and
Using that event as a turning point, she reached the point of becoming a disciple of an Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the Artifact Spirit race.
“…”
Brushing away the thoughts that suddenly arrived, Hong Seol shook off her seat and stood up.
Since her long-continued closed-door cultivation was over, it was now time to go out.
Exiting the cave filled with lava, dazzling sunlight poured down.
And,
Twenty maids, who had been lined up in an orderly fashion, bowed their waists.
“Greetings, Young Mistress.”
Their appearance as they shouted in unison was similar to humans, but their expressions were different.
Should she say they were bland? Joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, as well as vitality, were so faint that it felt like facing rocks or stones.
Looking at the expressionless maids who resembled dolls, Hong Seol let out a sigh internally.
Having grown up in the midst of the human race, she was unfamiliar with such scenery.
Silently pausing for a moment, Hong Seol looked at the girl at the very front of the maids lined up in the hallway.
The woman who could be called the chief among the maids. Un-ah was a Soul Formation stage cultivator, and perhaps because her realm was high, her expression was vivid for an Artifact Spirit race member.
“Un-ah. I wish to see master, so prepare.”
“Sister, that seems difficult. The Dao Sovereign went to support the human race.”
Stopping just as she was about to take a step, Hong Seol narrowed her brows.
“Went to support the human race? What do you mean by that?”
“While Sister was in closed-door cultivation, a war broke out between the human race and the Asura race.”
“War?”
Feeling her mouth dry up, Hong Seol swallowed dry saliva and raised her voice without realizing it.
“How is the situation? Surely they are not at a major disadvantage?”
Tilting her head at Hong Seol’s appearance of taking it far more seriously than expected, Un-ah shook her head.
“It is not to that extent. They are being pushed back slightly in local battles, but I heard it is generally a stalemate.”
“Is that so…?”
“Ah! Come to think of it, a few major commotions occurred recently. They say an Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the Asura race set out to kill a mere Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord.”
“…”
“Even that alone is surprising, but they say that Void Refinement stage Heavenly Lord survived even after receiving a head-on blow launched by the Unity stage Dao Sovereign. Fascinating, right?”
Somehow, she felt anxious.
Recalling her disciple who parted ways over a hundred years ago and would fight whenever they had a moment, Hong Seol barely opened her faintly trembling lips.
“If there is a jade slip summarizing what happened in the war, give it to me.”
“Ah, yes.”
Reading the jade slip summarizing the war, Hong Seol closed both eyes tightly.
Although she had half-doubted it…
The sword cultivator who confronted the Asura Unity stage Dao Sovereign was indeed her disciple, Jin So-myeong.
“Sigh… Truly amazing. Amazing.”
Doing so even in the human realm… it was really mind-boggling.
Spreading his reputation enough to be known even to the Artifact Spirit race, and reaching the Void Refinement stage as a loose cultivator.
Although all were admirable, she could not help but feel worried in a corner of her heart.
She exhaled deep sighs and bit her lips, and Un-ah, who rolled her eyes here and there, clearing her throat as if she interpreted that appearance in a certain way.
“Senior Jin. No, although that human named Jin So-myeong is amazing, do not care too much. Because Sister, who received the recognition of the Rank 7 divine treasure, is far more amazing.”
“…”
Watching her clench her fist as if to comfort her, only a hollow laugh came out.
Did she perhaps think she was jealous?
“Really! With Sister’s aptitude, you will be able to catch up soon!”
“…Catch up?”
“Yes! If you can handle the Red Heaven Ultimate Sword freely, is it not the same as becoming an Unity stage Dao Sovereign?”
Yet, why was it?
Listening to the energetic voice, she realized the emotion hidden deep within her heart.
Chewing on that emotion, Hong Seol gazed at the distant sky.
“Well… catching up will likely not be that easy. He is a far more amazing person than you think, Un-ah.”
“Ah, well.”
“At least, it will be difficult just by cultivating like this.”
Stroking the red longsword bound at her waist, she moved her steps.
***
One year later.
Shutting himself in a cave dwelling in the eastern region and researching the sword array, Jin So-myeong’s eyes shone.
“It is done.”
He finally improved the shortcomings of the Limitless Sword Heaven.
By changing the sword array’s structure flexibly, it did not collapse easily, and the limit of its power also rose.
Although he could be confident that it had become a sword array that was one level higher…
‘The important thing would be whether it works in actual combat.’
Nodding his head, Jin So-myeong left the cave dwelling.
He headed to the battlefield to test the improved Limitless Sword Heaven and to fill the lacking contribution points.