Chapter 346: Myriad Spirits Merchant Union
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Yoo Cheon, who was scanning the information on Jin So-myeong, smirked.
“This is interesting. They say a fellow named Jin So-myeong invaded the Sacred Scale Alliance’s stronghold alone.”
“To the Sacred Scale Alliance alone?”
“Yes. He competed one-on-one with the Supreme Elder, and it was decided in a single sword strike. They say it was a fast sword so rapid that no one present could react.”
Yoo Cheon, who stroked his chin as if interested, spoke of the eccentric acts Jin So-myeong committed,
and a look of admiration flashed in the eyes of the old man who was only sipping wine.
“Amazing. The Sacred Scale Alliance is not a faction that would bow its head so easily.”
Was he bothered by the pure admiration and generous evaluation? Yoo Cheon’s eyebrows twitched.
“It is not to the extent of being called amazing. I can suppress the likes of the Sacred Scale Alliance by myself.”
“Of course you could. But was it possible even before you entered the Heavenly Law Palace? Even before mastering the cultivation method bestowed by the superior?”
“…”
As Yoo Cheon failed to answer readily, the old man, who paused, waved his hand as if apologetic.
“I misspoke for a moment. I did not mean to compare. Simply that the likes of the Sacred Scale Alliance is a fairly strong faction.”
If one asks people to pick the largest factions in the Dark Heaven Xuan, they all name two.
The Heavenly Law Palace and the Sacred Scale Alliance.
Some even conclude that the Sacred Scale Alliance is the sole ruler of the Dark Heaven Xuan. The Sacred Scale Alliance was that large a faction.
But the reality was slightly different.
The Heavenly Law Palace, which was evaluated to be at a similar level to the Sacred Scale Alliance, had only ten Unity stage Dao Sovereigns belonging to it. It had almost no subordinates either.
Nevertheless, they were considered on par with the Sacred Scale Alliance; what would be the reason?
It meant the Dao Sovereigns belonging to the Heavenly Law Palace were overwhelmingly strong.
They were literally a select few elites.
Although the common people did not know well, the purpose of the Heavenly Law Palace’s establishment was only one: to handle the Heaven-Defying Treasures.
And there were very many organizations similar to the Heavenly Law Palace.
At any rate, what they usually did was pull up their combat power, and as long as they performed their missions properly, everything they needed was provided.
Because there was no need to dispute over resources with anyone else, they did not display their power nor activate publicly.
That they made their reputation at a similar level to the Sacred Scale Alliance was because those who defied the Heavenly Law Palace had all died.
“So what I want to say is, the likes of Jin So-myeong is a fairly useful talent.”
“…Well, I agree with that too. It is not an easy thing for a rogue cultivator without a faction to possess that kind of strength.”
“It is good that you understand. Then, instead of killing Jin So-myeong, how about recruiting him?”
“Are you suggesting we draw him into the Heavenly Law Palace?”
“Yes. I should also rest slowly now.”
Yoo Cheon, who contemplated, nodded his head.
“Very well. It is about time I also took in a successor. If the information contained in the transmission talisman is true, it seems fine to let him into the Heavenly Law Palace. I will test him and recruit him if I see promise.”
“Do not do it too harshly. In the end you will have to go around together, so what good is there in having red faces between you?”
“Naturally I will do it moderately. But still, I must teach him who is above and who is below.”
Yoo Cheon, who was evaluated to have ascended to the Unity stage at an earlier age than anyone else at 2,482 years old, let out a cold sneer.
“Only then will he become obedient.”
***
Half a month later.
“It is done.”
Jin So-myeong, who was looking at the Secret Realm of the Mind’s spiritual herb field, nodded his head.
To speak cleanly from the conclusion, he succeeded in mass-producing the Golden Yang Splendid Leaves and the Purple Cloud Immortal Herbs.
That meant,
that the preparations to mass-produce the Great Gold Essence Pill, the cultivation pill, were finished.
Growing the two spiritual herbs for over ten thousand years, extracting the essence, and mixing it with several auxiliary ingredients yields the Golden Yang Immortal Dew.
Growing the spiritual herbs for ten thousand years was a considerably arduous process in itself, but since he had the Secret Realm of the Mind’s spiritual herb field, it was not difficult at all.
‘Now I will not have to worry about cultivation pills for the time being.’
The resources needed for body tempering cultivation were another matter, but since he could resolve that step-by-step, he did not care about it now.
At any rate, a minimal foundation for rapid cultivation was established.
He estimated how much time it would take to raise his realm.
Operating the Primordial One Qi Art that had reached Minor Success to accumulate magic power, he made some calculations.
‘It will take about forty to fifty years to reach the 2nd layer of the Unity stage.’
If so, how long would it take to reach the great circle of the Unity stage?
Considering that cultivation becomes rapidly more difficult as the realm grows higher…
it was estimated to take at least two to three thousand years.
A substantial amount of time. Considering variables, it could take even longer.
‘Still… I feel as though I am finally getting the hang of it.’
Until reaching the heavens. A path was starting to be vaguely visible.
Tapping the scabbard, Jin So-myeong opened his status window.
Consuming 5 trillion, half of the Supreme Great Ability recovered to its maximum limit, he raised the proficiency of the Nine Successes Golden Body Art.
【Cultivation Methods】
Nine Successes Golden Body Art (Orthodox, 16 trillion / 100 trillion)
Seeing the steadily rising proficiency, he naturally nodded.
He felt that the day his body tempering realm would rise to Rank 7 was not far off.
‘Then I will grow even stronger. My lifespan will also increase rapidly.’
Master the Black Cloud True Scripture to enter the gateway of the Sky-Writing Divine Ability, and even master the recently obtained cultivation method, the Lightning Meridian Diagram Manual…
he was expected to grow at least twice as strong as now.
‘I will be busy for a while.’
Should he say it felt like the fortuitous opportunities accumulated so far were exploding?
Because methods to pull up his strength in a short period were overflowing, he was even in contemplation about what to do first.
‘Hmm… should I go to the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union first?’
The Myriad Spirits Merchant Union was a faction large enough to be counted among the top ten in the Xuanhuang Realm.
Trading with them would be helpful in one way or another. He needed to stop by at least once.
‘Since I happen to have something to investigate as well.’
Nodding his head, Jin So-myeong left.
*
The Myriad Spirits Merchant Union was, in a way, an extremely arrogant faction.
He was not trying to speak badly, but it actually was so.
To trade with them, one had to possess an object called the Myriad Spirits Token, and if they lacked the token, they were not even treated as guests.
Choosing to pick guests while being merchants making a living on trade…
They were an absurdly lofty faction, and perhaps because of that, curiosity arose instead.
Just how outstanding an ability must they possess to make such arrogant behavior possible?
Visiting the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union with curiosity…
they were far friendlier than expected.
“I greet Cultivator Jin. I am called Seomun Yeong, holding the position of Elder in the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union.”
Upon visiting the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union, he was immediately guided to the VIP room.
“If it is not uncomfortable, I would like to prepare simple refreshments, how is it?”
“I will not decline.”
The woman possessing an elegant atmosphere like a noble smiled as she greeted, seemingly holding quite a high position in the merchant union.
‘She resembles the human race… no, does she resemble the Asura race more?’
She was dressed in a court robe where red and white were harmoniously mixed, but her pupils were vertically long like a feline animal, and a small horn grew on the side of her head.
Although minor things differed, she was a beauty who generally gave off a feeling similar to the human race.
“But how did you know my name?”
“How could we not know Cultivator Jin? You knelt the Sacred Scale Alliance in a single sword strike.”
“Hmm.”
When he fought the Supreme Elder at the time, those nearby were all at the Unity stage.
Low-realm cultivators did not even dare to look.
Yet for them to know it was finished in exactly a single sword strike.
Unless the humiliated Sacred Scale Alliance leaked the situation at the time, it meant a few of the Dao Sovereigns present sold information to the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union.
Or they were informers planted by the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union from the beginning.
‘As expected…’
Worthy of a faction mighty enough to be counted among the top ten in the Xuanhuang Realm.
Although it would be an extremely unpleasant affair from the Sacred Scale Alliance’s perspective, there was nothing bad from his position of wishing to trade with the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union.
‘Because it meant they had capability, at any rate.’
Just as he nodded while looking at her, who harbored a smile bright as a flower.
Spiritual tea with steaming vapor and dried fruit snacks were served.
“Please enjoy comfortably.”
“I will eat gratefully.”
Examining it with the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, dense heaven and earth Qi was felt.
Since he could digest almost any energy as the Primordial One Qi Art rose to Minor Success, he did not decline and lifted the teacup.
The moment he swallowed a sip of the spiritual tea.
His head grew clear, and the fatigue accumulated in his mind and body was released.
The energy flowing along his meridians naturally converted into magic power, and the quantity was substantial.
Energy that would take at least half a month to accumulate through cultivation alone without pills accumulated in a single sip of tea.
Although it was a spiritual tea casually offered, it was far better than expected.
Considering the preciousness of Unity stage-grade cultivation pills, this spiritual tea would also be extremely rare.
To bring out such a precious object on their first meeting without a second thought…
he could understand just how massive the wealth possessed by the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union was.
“Does it suit your taste?”
“Yes. It is truly a good tea. Do you happen to sell it as well?”
“We are sorry, but that is difficult. Because the production of the Five Spirits Hundred Flowers Tea is not large. We only serve it when a precious guest visits.”
He had asked because he thought it would help his cultivation if he drank it occasionally, but as expected, it was not possible.
Since it was a polite yet firm refusal, he did not insist.
“Then, I wish to purchase spiritual herbs or pills suitable for cultivation in large quantities. Would that be possible?”
“…Cultivation resources in large quantities?”
“Yes.”
Seomun Yeong, who was silent for a moment, expanded her Divine Sense.
She searched every corner of the VIP room surroundings to confirm that no one was eavesdropping, and because the movement of her Divine Sense was blatant, her intention was clearly visible.
She, who examined the surroundings silently, spoke in a much lower voice:
“Cultivator Jin has only just become an Unity stage cultivator so it seems you do not know, but under heaven, no matter what merchant union, they will not be able to sell cultivation resources in large quantities.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Because the cultivation resources circulating among Unity stage Dao Sovereigns are too precious.”
Listening to the softly continuing voice, he thought.
Was it truly that they could not sell because they lacked supply?
A large-scale merchant union counted among the top ten in the Xuanhuang Realm that was vast enough to be distant?
Or…
Contemplating deeply, he slightly bowed his head to express gratitude.
“It is a pity there is no supply. I understand well what you mean.”
“We are only sorry that our capability is lacking.”
He handed the jade slip to her, who bowed in return.
“These are the spiritual objects I need; please check if they can be obtained.”
Golden Blood Wood fruit, Soul-Floating Vine, Forget-Heaven Flower, and so on.
The Heaven-Turning Reviving Pill, a pill that extremely pulls up regenerative power to bestow the Undying Body.
The Life-Returning Pill, which they say helps recall past-life memories.
Showing the list where the necessary spiritual objects were written, including the ingredients to make the two pills, Seomun Yeong harbored a bitter smile.
“Strangely, there are many things to be sorry for today.”
“Hmm?”
“Most of the spiritual objects Cultivator Jin is looking for are things whose seeds dried out long ago. Still, our merchant union had secured supply, but…”
Clearing her throat, she spoke as if apologetic:
“From what I know, a certain person who visited a few years ago bought them all.”
“All of them?”
“Yes. Still, just in case, I will contact the headquarters to find if there is any remaining supply.”
“…Understood.”
When he tried to purchase cultivation resources in large quantities, it felt like she was gently dissuading him, but this time it seemed there truly was no supply.
‘To think they were all sold just a few years ago.’
How could he be this unlucky? Just as he was clicking his tongue internally, he paused.
‘…Luck?’
Could it be that the side effect of having used the Heavenly Lifespan Life-Prolonging Stone had found him?
Contemplating for a moment, he shook his head. It was too minor an affair to decide hastily.
“If you wait for just thirty minutes, a reply will come from the headquarters.”
“Yes. And I also wish to purchase information.”
“What kind of information…?”
She, who had harbored a relaxed smile when they first met, slurred the end of her words, and with good reason.
Since she had already repeated that it was not possible several times.
“I need information on demonic beasts or True Spirits possessing special divine abilities in the vicinity.”
The reason he requested this information was because of the Golden Body Dharma Image’s divine ability.
The Golden Body Dharma Image required taking in a demonic beast’s inner core during the cultivation process, and in that process, one could obtain the innate divine ability possessed by the demonic beast.
The divine ability to harden thunder Qi into crystals and the divine ability to observe long distances with the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye were obtained in this process.
Because he had not found any coveted divine abilities in the meantime, he had postponed the Golden Body Dharma Image cultivation, but now the proper time had come.
“Ah, that is simple information.”
Was it a request that could be granted this time?
Seomun Yeong’s face, which had been visibly tense, brightened completely.