Chapter 320: Dao Integration Pill

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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The largest merchant union in the 7th-rank immortal city, Sea God Abyssal Palace, was the Melting Scale Merchant Union operated by the Sacred Scale Alliance.

The Sacred Scale Alliance could be called an alliance of races possessing scales, which was a large force whose number of belonging races easily exceeded a thousand.

Was it because of that? The Melting Scale Merchant Union, which was a merchant union operated by the Sacred Scale Alliance, also boasted a considerable scale.

Not to mention buying and selling 6th-rank spiritual objects of the Void Refinement stage, they said they periodically hold exchange meetings for Unity stage Dao Sovereigns.

An exchange meeting where Unity stage Dao Sovereigns gather.

Although he was curious what kind of treasures would go back and forth, he did not have the leisure to care about that now.

The information he came to know after looking at the map bought from the Melting Scale Merchant Union was shocking.

‘Xuanhuang Realm.’

There were dozens of Xuans belonging to the Xuanhuang Realm, and among them, Northern Mang Xuan was not present.

It meant it was a place incredibly far away from the human territory.

‘…Returning won’t be easy.’

To traverse dozens of Xuans, he had to break through immense distances and dangers.

At least, it was impossible with the Void Refinement stage level.

“Daoist? Is there some problem with the map?”

At the words of the Melting Scale Merchant Union Elder, who had an appearance as if a snake and a human were mixed, Jin So-myeong, who was silently lost in thought, shook his head.

“No. Rather, I would like to rent a cave dwelling, is it possible?”

“Of course. Coincidentally, a single 6th-rank high-grade cave dwelling is vacant. However…”

The Elder, who slurred the end of his words, let out a dry cough and continued speaking.

“You might not like the price a little.”

“How much is it for you to say that?”

“One year’s rent is ten thousand mid-grade immortal stones.”

He frowned his glabella at the words spoken with an awkward smile.

“I investigated roughly, and I heard the rent for a 6th-rank high-grade cave dwelling is at the level of a thousand mid-grade immortal stones, though.”

To be ten times more expensive than the market price?

There was no need to feel regret over a few mid-grade immortal stones, but being ripped off was an unpleasant thing.

“Ah, you must have come from outside. In fact, ten thousand mid-grade immortal stones per year is the normal price, and a thousand is a benefit applied only to those belonging to the Sacred Scale Alliance.”

“Sacred Scale Alliance?”

“Yes. When pioneering the Sea God Abyssal Palace, the Sacred Scale Alliance spent considerable effort. In fact, it is safe to say all the cave dwellings in this city belong to the Sacred Scale Alliance.”

Lest he misunderstand, he nodded his head while listening to the explanation that continued.

“If the circumstances are so, I understand. I will pay. How is the deposit?”

“…I will waive the deposit by my discretion.”

“Thank you. Then I will rent it for only one year.”

If it was not a rip-off, it did not matter whether the rent was a thousand or ten thousand.

That was also because…

Currently, the mid-grade immortal stones piled up in his sub-space easily exceeded ten million.

Jin So-myeong also did not know exactly how many there were. Because after exceeding ten million, he thought it was meaningless and did not count them.

Anyway, when he offered the pouch containing mid-grade immortal stones, the Elder’s eyebrows twitched minutely.

Was it because he paid without a second thought a price that could not help but be burdensome.

Interest dwelled in the eyes of the Elder, who was responding indifferently while wearing a mask of kindness.

That was also brief.

The Elder, who smiled beamingly, spoke with the same attitude as before.

“For the cave dwelling, I will call a disciple to guide you. Is there anything else you need?”

“I would like to know about the large and small events that occurred recently in the Xuanhuang Realm. As detailed as possible.”

“Since there is a jade slip where they are organized, I will prepare it for you immediately.”

“Thank you. And I would also like to buy cultivation resources of the Void Refinement stage. Please make it as diverse kinds as possible.”

Although he did not lack cultivation resources because of what Taixu Sacred Venerable took care of for him, he was curious what level the medicinal pills obtainable in the Xuanhuang Realm were.

After handling several errands besides the cultivation medicinal pills like that.

“Senior. I will guide you to the cave dwelling.”

He departed for the cave dwelling along with the snake-faced Soul Formation stage cultivator who was waiting outside the reception room.

Traversing the sky filled with seawater instead of air for a long time.

They were able to arrive at a structure that looked like expanding a honeycomb tens of thousands of times.

“It is here, Senior.”

Entering one of the thousands of entrances, a mountain with a blue sky and a tranquil lake appeared.

“The trees on the mountain are all 6th-rank Mind-Clearing Trees, which have the effect of clearing the head. And in the lake…”

He scanned the cave dwelling roughly while listening to the Soul Formation stage cultivator’s explanation.

A clear lake and refreshing air.

Although it was a quite plausible spiritual mountain, he did not like it.

‘They artificially expanded a space that was originally not even a hundred pyeong.’

Because they forcibly expanded a narrow space, the space was unstable.

Sitting quietly and cultivating was fine, but if he practiced techniques or swung his sword, the cave dwelling seemed about to collapse.

To speak bluntly, it was worse than the cave dwelling rented out by the Taixu Pavilion.

Should he say it felt like there were only the minimum facilities to cultivate.

“Are there no other cave dwellings? It does not matter even if I pay more immortal stones.”

“Yes?”

Did he not expect him to say he did not like it.

The Soul Formation stage cultivator, who was proudly introducing the cave dwelling, paused, then could not hide his bewildered expression.

“I am sorry. Currently, the only vacant 6th-rank cave dwelling is here. If it does not satisfy your mind, I will ask the Elder if there is another method.”

“If it is troublesome, it is fine.”

“Thank you for your understanding. If a better cave dwelling appears, I will tell you immediately.”

Sending away the Soul Formation stage cultivator who bowed his head repeatedly, once he was alone, many thoughts arose.

‘Is it because it is the outskirts of the Xuanhuang Realm? The resources do not feel particularly plentiful.’

While scanning the cave dwelling that forcibly expanded a space not even a hundred pyeong, he checked the cultivation medicinal pills bought just now from the Melting Scale Merchant Union.

‘This is also not good. The refinement skill level is outstanding, but they spared the ingredients too much.’

The medicinal efficacy was lower than the medicinal pills Taixu Sacred Venerable gave.

It was not because the refinement skill level was lacking, but because the ingredients put in were poor.

The medicinal pills Taixu Sacred Venerable took care of for him were high-end products made by using top-grade ingredients without sparing, but the medicinal pills sold at the Melting Scale Merchant Union were mass-produced just by looking.

Should he say they felt focused on efficiency rather than effect.

Although the technology to pull up the medicinal efficacy contained in the ingredients to the limit was outstanding, the medicinal effect itself could not help but be poor.

‘Why did they spare ingredients this much? While it is wide enough to be called the Xuanhuang Realm, could it be that resources are lacking?’

To be honest, it was disappointing, but he did not completely put down his expectations.

Sending his clones to various places in the city to investigate the Xuanhuang Realm in detail, he was able to know what the reason was.

First, the Xuanhuang Realm was correct to be a place rich in resources.

Compared to the Stone Heart Realm, it was at least tens of thousands of times more even at a low estimate.

Since the 7th-rank spiritual veins marked on the map easily exceeded several thousands, it was certain that it was an incredibly wide and prosperous land.

Resources are plentiful.

However, the cultivators living in the Xuanhuang Realm were even more numerous.

Literally a saturated state.

Because the demand requiring cultivation resources was too, too high, the supply could not follow at all.

‘Usually in this situation, a war breaks out… I do not know how it is here.’

Jin So-myeong, who was lost in thought while tapping his scabbard, headed to the cultivation room.

Anyway, since he obtained a place to stay for the time being, it was fine.

Now it was time to establish a medium-to-long-term plan.

The highest priority goal?

There was no need to contemplate. Naturally, it was the Unity stage.

‘While cultivating to the Great Circle of the Void Refinement stage, I should find out how to obtain an Integration spiritual object.’

Nodding his head, Jin So-myeong operated the Primordial One Qi Art.

He gauged how long it would take to reach the Great Circle of the Void Refinement stage, and it seemed it would take about 80 years.

Although it was not a particularly pleasing speed, he passed it over for now.

Increasing the cultivation speed could be done gradually. The important thing was to adapt to the Xuanhuang Realm.

‘I also have to organize the Asura race’s Dao Sovereigns’ storage pouches… I will be busy for a while.’

While concentrating on recovering his injuries and accumulating dharmic power, he released his clones to investigate the Xuanhuang Realm.

*

Half a month later.

The clones who were engrossed in investigation brought good news.

‘They say there is something called the Dao Integration Pill?’

A medicinal pill made by using an Integration spiritual object as the main ingredient, which had the effect of dramatically increasing the success probability when a Void Refinement stage cultivator challenged the Unity stage.

Did they say the effect was twice as good as just consuming the Integration spiritual object?

It was a medicinal pill developed relatively recently 150,000 years ago, and thanks to it, they said the number of Unity stage Dao Sovereigns in the Xuanhuang Realm increased sharply.

‘To think such a good thing exists… I absolutely must obtain it.’

If possible, he also wanted to find out the refinement method. Because if he delivered it to the human race, it would be a great strength.

Since learning about the Dao Integration Pill.

He sharply narrowed the direction of his investigation.

Roamimg around diligently, he investigated how he could obtain the Dao Integration Pill.

“Are you speaking of the Dao Integration Pill? Mmm…”

He also asked the Melting Scale Merchant Union Elder, and an answer did come out.

“The most realistic method is to perform missions assigned by the Sacred Scale Alliance.”

“Missions? I do not even belong to the Sacred Scale Alliance, so can I perform missions?”

“If you wish, I will intermediate the missions. Since Daoist Jin is at the late Void Refinement stage, if you sincerely accumulate contribution points for about a thousand years, you will be able to obtain the Dao Integration Pill.”

Serve for a thousand years?

Considering the value the Dao Integration Pill held, it was not an excessive demand, but considering the ability he currently possessed, it was a waste of time.

If so, it was rather better to hunt a True Spirit-grade entity to achieve great success in the Nine Successes Golden Body Art, and rise to the Unity stage through physical tempering cultivation methods.

Rejecting the Melting Scale Merchant Union Elder’s proposal, he looked for other methods.

‘Is there no decent secret realm?’

He looked for whether there was a secret realm where he could sharply increase his cultivation speed and obtain an Integration spiritual object, but the timing did not match.

When weighing various conditions, there was a perfectly suitable secret realm, but they said it would open 300 years later.

‘That’s a pity…’

Although disappointing news continued, he did not give up.

While recovering his injuries and cultivating, he continued to investigate in his spare time.

Then one day.

He was able to find an extremely perfect method that was highly to his liking.

Precisely pioneering .

Exploring a place where cultivators’ footsteps had not reached, a land full of the unknown.

In fact, most of the Xuanhuang Realm was unpioneered land.

The land where transportation and safety were secured was not even a quarter.

‘I wondered how they could manage this many cultivators, but thanks to continuous expansion, it did not burst.’

The reason the Xuanhuang Realm did not self-destruct even while holding a massive population was because they did not stop expanding.

Even at this very moment, countless individuals were advancing toward the unknown land according to their respective purposes.

Pioneering was a matter accompanied by extreme danger, but they could obtain that much.

If lucky, they could obtain an Integration spiritual object, and if they discovered a 7th-rank spiritual vein, they could even become the master of a 7th-rank immortal city.

‘A 7th-rank spiritual vein… decent.’

Coincidentally, he was dissatisfied because there was no suitable place to cultivate, so this was good.

He did not have the thought of establishing a city grandly.

Just building a cave dwelling and cultivating would be able to increase the speed of accumulating dharmic power.

‘Good.’

The path he should advance in the future became clear.

It seemed perfectly good if he obtained an Integration spiritual object to refine the Dao Integration Pill , and occupied a suitable 7th-rank spiritual vein to cultivate there.

Since he made a decision, he did not hesitate.

To go to the unknown land where even a map did not exist, he set out for full-scale preparations.

***

In the Xuanhuang Realm, truly many races lived.

From powerful races possessing more than ten thousand Unity stage Dao Sovereigns to weak races that could not even make their names known.

It was diverse to the point where counting them one by one was impossible.

One of the countlessly many races.

The Golden Rune Fox Clan, which bloomed a brilliant civilization in the past but collapsed at some moment, made a choice on which the fate of the race was hung.

To find a land where the entire race could stay, a new home, they organized a pioneering team.

The migration of an entire race. Naturally, it was a gamble accompanied by massive danger.

If sane, it was a deed that should absolutely not be done, but the Golden Rune Fox Clan had no choice.

Because they were pushed in the fierce survival competition, driven to the edge of a cliff, and struggling to find a way to live.

“…”

At some dawn.

A woman who possessed silver hair that seemed to weave moonlight, perked fox ears, and a thick tail swaying according to the wind stared at the rising sun.

The dark sky was dyed golden, and a morning glow was held in her blue pupils.

A woman who was beautiful even to human aesthetic standards, possessing an unrealistic beauty that transcended species.

Baek Myo-hwa, the only remaining Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the Golden Rune Fox Clan, turned her gaze.

With the pupils that contained the dawn sky, she scanned the empty lot, and a massive crowd of more than ten thousand people had gathered.

They were those who gathered to participate in the pioneering along with the Golden Rune Fox Clan, and the Void Refinement stage cultivators alone exceeded a thousand.

Baek Myo-hwa, who was scanning those waiting while sitting cross-legged or standing with their hands behind their back, paused.

Did they call him Jin So-myeong?

She could not take her eyes off the late Void Refinement stage cultivator who joined the pioneering team last.

Why?

Around the time she knitted her glabella on her own.

Jin So-myeong, who was lost in meditation, opened his eyes, and their gazes met for an instant.

And,

“Ah.”

She saw a sword. An extremely sharp sword.