Chapter 325: The Ruins Enveloped in Mist

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Jin So-myeong, who discovered the city buried in the sand, narrowed his eyes.

The city was surrounded by a translucent barrier, and pavilions of dozens-of-stories-high scale were densely packed far beyond the horizon.

Although it was difficult to confirm the exact appearance because the entire city was submerged in black mist, only the fact that it was wide enough that putting it in a single glance was impossible was certain.

‘There seems to be no sign of life… and the scale is considerable.’

To think that such a large city was in an unpioneered land where human footsteps did not reach.

At a glance, it was an absurd thing, but peculiarly, it was not that this kind of case did not exist at all.

Although cases where traces of civilization were discovered in the Ancient Wilderness were rare, they clearly existed.

The reason why a city was in an unpioneered land was not accurately revealed, but guessing was possible.

That a force different from the Xuanhuang Realm cultivators existed, or that there were native creatures that established an independent civilization.

Or…

There was also a story that in the very distant past, the Ancient Wilderness was originally a land occupied by cultivators, but went to ruin due to some reason.

“Even though the city is right in front, no spiritual Qi is felt.”

“It is not detected even with Divine Sense.”

“It seems to be because of that barrier. By all appearances, it seems to be a 7th-rank array… we seem to have found the right place.”

Jin So-myeong, who scanned the city like the buzzing cultivators, admired.

Even though he pushed the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye to its utmost limit, he could not pierce and see the mist. The Divine Sense that reached the Unity stage was also identical.

Although he failed while trying to scan the city, he was rather happy. Because it meant the array level was considerable.

‘At least it is certain that a 7th-rank spiritual vein is there.’

For an array of this level to be maintained for a long period, a 7th-rank spiritual vein was absolutely necessary.

And also. Inside that city, the possibility of extremely precious spiritual objects being scattered was large.

The sand covering the city accumulated and accumulated to become a desert, didn’t it.

Since it meant it was neglected for an extremely long time, all sorts of spiritual objects would be growing naturally.

‘It might be more correct to call it a ruin rather than a city.’

Just when he was grasping the situation through various information.

The sand that soared into the sky. No, the desert was blown beyond the horizon.

Baek Myo-hwa, who cleared away the desert in a few gestures of her hand, closed her eyes filled with heat and opened them, then regained her composure.

“Everyone, calm down. Do not approach carelessly, but it seems good to scan the surroundings first.”

The sailing vessel carrying the pioneering team cleared the sky.

Whether there were dangerous factors in the city, whether there was an entry point to enter, whether there were entities staying inside the array…

Circling along the outskirts, they collected various information.

“There seems to be no living entity in the city. At least no intelligent being.”

“There is no entry point either. All directions are blocked.”

“Bizarre… did they seal off the city and leave?”

“Who knows. Still, thanks to that, the heaven and earth spiritual Qi must be piled up immensely.”

“7th-rank spiritual objects might be scattered all over the place.”

Everyone in the pioneering team stepped forward actively, and at the end of mobilizing all sorts of means, they drew a conclusion.

“We must shatter the array to be able to enter.”

There was no disagreement.

The city or ruins. Although they did not know what would be inside, there was no one who intended to give up after coming all the way here.

In the end, Baek Myo-hwa, who was scanning the array intently, extended her right hand.

Whoosh…!

A sphere created at the tip of her finger. At just a single fist-sized fireball, the atmospheric temperature shot up rapidly.

The moment the red-hot flame was dyed white.

The white flame compressed into a wedge shape was shot as if bouncing, and flew while drawing a white straight line to collide with the array.

Kaboooom!

At the hot wind that raged one beat late, the sailing vessel fluctuated as if it would plunge.

‘As expected…’

The wind brushing past his cheek was hot.

In the single move thrown lightly, a heat enough to evaporate the entire sea and still have some left was contained.

However,

the barrier enveloping the city was fine.

Becoming very slightly blurry was all of the change, and even that returned to its original state.

Watching that sight closely, Baek Myo-hwa let out a small sigh.

“Indeed, it seems we cannot break it easily.”

Whether it was an expected result, there was no bewildered look.

While contemplating something for a moment, she saw Jin So-myeong and spoke.

“Daoist. By any chance, is there a decent method? It seems difficult with my power.”

Everyone winced. Because it was a tone that clearly treated him as an identical realm cultivator.

Although it was a surprising thing, Jin So-myeong did not react greatly. He just shook his head at the end of closely scanning the array.

“It seems difficult for me as well. At least in a day or two.”

It was not a lie.

It was what he found out when Baek Myo-hwa shot the white flame earlier; the array enveloping the city was absurdly thick and solid.

To make a comparison… it was like a barrier made of a single lump of iron.

It was crude yet hard. Because vast energy was condensed to solidify into the shape of a barrier, there was no gap to dig into either.

“It cannot be helped. Then we have no choice but to break it with power. Let’s all suffer some trouble together.”

Since that day.

A super-large array was installed right next to the city.

It was an array that gathered the dharmic power of all pioneering team members into one to forge it into a wedge shape.

Boom!

From cultivators exceeding tens of thousands of the Soul Formation stage to cultivators exceeding a thousand of the Void Refinement stage, the wedge made by gathering everyone’s dharmic power flew toward the city.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The wedge that flew several times a day constantly pounded the barrier, and the barrier, which did not even have a scratch at first, became unstable as time flowed.

There is a saying called dripping water hollows a stone .

It means that even a tiny water drop, if it constantly drops on a single place, pierces a rock.

Even with mere water drops, a rock is pierced, so what would happen when tens of thousands of high-realm cultivators join forces.

The barrier, which was fine even at the Unity stage-grade strike, weakened day by day.

Precisely three years later.

The barrier, which was originally thicker than a human’s height, became thinner than a finger.

Creak…

In the end, even a faint crack appeared on the solid barrier, and color rose on the faces of the pioneering team members who had become haggard from squeezing out their dharmic power.

“Now we only have to do it a few more times. Everyone, recover your dharmic power.”

“Yes!”

Three years. No, the achievement of suffering in the Ancient Wilderness for over ten years drew right before their eyes.

Just when everyone was purely rejoicing. For some reason, the complexions of a few were not that bright.

One of the cultivators whose complexions were exceptionally dark, Tae-ok originating from the Wa-oh Race, let out a sigh.

Standing up with an expression as if he had no choice, he bowed his waist toward Baek Myo-hwa.

“Senior. Please wait for a moment. I have something to tell you.”

“What is the matter?”

“I kept hesitating because it seemed Senior would be displeased, but now it seems I must tell you.”

As Baek Myo-hwa knitted her glabella, Tae-ok, who was smiling awkwardly, licked his dry lips.

“Please do not be excited and listen. In fact, this ruin is a place managed by our Sacred Scale Alliance.”

“…”

“It means all the spiritual objects in this place belong to the Sacred Scale Alliance, so you must not take them carelessly.”

The faces of everyone crumpled.

Since he laid out preposterous nonsense shamelessly, they momentarily had no words to say.

From where they should argue, it was to the point where distinguishing it was difficult.

Baek Myo-hwa, who was silent for a long time, narrowed her glabella and spoke.

“You are of the Wa-oh Race, so why do you claim to be of the Sacred Scale Alliance?”

“Although we have not announced it yet, it has been a while since the Wa-oh Race belonged to the Sacred Scale Alliance.”

The Wa-oh Race, who did not even have scales, belonged to the Sacred Scale Alliance? That alone was a strange thing, but she passed it over for now.

Because the story about the ruins was more important now.

“Is there evidence that this place is a place managed by the Sacred Scale Alliance?”

“Currently, three Dao Sovereigns belonging to the Sacred Scale Alliance are coming to this place, so ask them directly.”

Tae-ok, who gathered both hands at his abdomen, spoke while bowing his waist, and a stealthy threat was contained in his polite and well-mannered attitude.

Just when they were scowling in unpleasantness.

Tae-ok, who was scanning their reactions, flew up to the sky, and stood with his back to the barrier that the pioneering team pounded for three years.

As if a gatekeeper, he blocked the front so they could not enter the ruins.

The eyes of the pioneering team, who had become haggard while pouring out dharmic power for three years, held anger, but Tae-ok did not even care.

Looking at Baek Myo-hwa, he bowed his waist.

“Senior. There was a word that Dao Sovereign Wi-ryeon, who is currently coming to this place, told me to deliver.”

“Speak.”

“Even if you find a 7th-rank spiritual vein, what would change.”

“…”

“Can the Golden Rune Fox Clan establish a 7th-rank immortal city in a dangerous place like the Ancient Wilderness? Probably many difficulties will follow.”

Baek Myo-hwa’s eyes turned chilly, but Tae-ok did not stop. After letting out a dry cough for a moment, he continued.

“Rather, cooperating with the Sacred Scale Alliance will be a good path for each other. Please judge wisely. …is what he said.”

“Hah.”

Although murderous intent brushed past deep in Baek Myo-hwa’s pupils, she could not use her hand hastily.

Although disposing of Tae-ok who was a Void Refinement stage was a matter ended in a single gesture, managing the Sacred Scale Alliance behind him was a matter of a different dimension.

Just when silence was continuing.

Jin So-myeong, who was observing all these scenes, wore a peculiar expression.

The moment he saw the Unity stage Dao Sovereign hesitating in front of Tae-ok, who was barely a Void Refinement stage.

The long-held doubt inside his head was resolved.

In fact, since the moment he came to know this was the Xuanhuang Realm, he had been curious.

Why on earth did Taixu Sacred Venerable send him to this place.

The Xuanhuang Realm was a place so distant that even the existence of the human race was not known. Would it have been easy to send him all the way to this place?

Absolutely not.

Probably most of the power obtained while unleashing the Discarded Dao, Two Moons was poured into this.

The true reason why he sent him to the Xuanhuang Realm even while pouring away all his lifespan.

He realized it now.

Seeing the Golden Rune Fox Clan patriarch unable to dispose of even a single Void Refinement stage who laid out nonsense shamelessly, he had no choice but to know.

Because they did not want to become a burden.

Lest he be unable to advance forward because of the human race behind his back.

So they had thrown him all the way to this distant place.

‘…’

Jin So-myeong, who was silent for quite a long time, wore a bitter smile.

Was it because the doubt was resolved? He felt as if his heart became light, and conversely, heavy.

But at least, what he should do from now on became clearer.

Seeing Tae-ok who blocked the entry point as if he were the master of the ruins, a chuckle came out.

It had already been sixteen years since he joined the pioneering team.

To give up like this the achievement obtained at the end of pouring out massive time and effort? He had no intention of doing so in the least.

Thud.

As he stood up from his seat, gazes gathered, but he did not care.

Looking at Baek Myo-hwa who looked to have many worries, he spoke.

“Do you intend to back down like this?”

“…”

“Your thought is different from mine. I understand. Since I cannot cause trouble, I will leave the pioneering team now.”

“You are leaving the pioneering team?”

“Yes. Let’s make all the actions to be done from now on as my sole discretion.”

The glabella of Tae-ok, who was listening beside, frowned. Whether he felt the situation was turning strangely, his lips parted.

The moment he was about to say something.

Jin So-myeong, who took a step forward, disappeared like an afterimage, then appeared right in front of Tae-ok.

Tae-ok, who retreated several steps in fright, urgently shouted.

“Daoist Jin, why are you doing this! Don’t tell me you intend to interfere in the Sacred Scale Alliance’s matter? It is a word spoken for the sake of the Daoist, please do not do this.”

“Your reaction is a bit slow.”

To think he still could not grasp the situation. Letting out a dry laugh, he raised his fist.

And,

he loaded the energy amplified by the Blood Wings intact into the Golden Body Dharma Image.

A giant giant phantom that appeared in the empty air punched a house-sized fist, and the massive physical force contained in it turned into a fist wind.

………………!

A shockwave in the shape of a fist flew while crossing the empty air.

It brushed past right next to the head of Tae-ok, who could not even react, and

Kaboooom!!

It shattered the barrier protecting the city.

“…!”

Simultaneously with everyone’s mouths gaping open.

Beyond the barrier pierced precisely in the shape of a fist, immense heaven and earth spiritual Qi poured out.

The high-density spiritual Qi that was trapped by the array burst out.

“As expected.”

It was worthy of a spiritual vein sealed off for long years. Smirking in satisfaction, he nodded his head, and then,

“Ugh.”

Tae-ok, who checked his cheek that the fist wind brushed past with a trembling hand, retreated falteringly.

With a face pale as a sheet of paper, he murmured.

“Crazy… do you mean you will defy the Sacred Scale Alliance now?”

“I intend to do so, do you have some dissatisfaction?”

Ignoring Tae-ok who was only gaping his mouth with a dazed expression, he moved his footsteps.

The moment he passed by Tae-ok who was standing blankly, Tae-ok gritted his teeth and shouted as if struggling.

“You must be doing this knowing how large a force the Sacred Scale Alliance is, right? Combining all the Unity stage Dao Sovereigns belonging to the Sacred Scale Alliance, they exceed five hundred!”

“Five hundred?”

Jin So-myeong, who contemplated for a moment, smirked, then disappeared into the ruins enveloped in dense mist.

Leaving behind a single word.

“That will be interesting. However, if you want to kill me, you will have to hurry. Before it is too late.”