Chapter 355: The Test

Yoo Cheon, who concluded that Jin So-myeong was below him, stroked his chin.

“By the way, I do need to see Jin So-myeong’s skills… but I do not know what kind of method is best to test him.”

Jin So-myeong was a wandering rogue cultivator who did not even have a proper base, and had been restlessly roaming all over the Xuanhuang Realm for the past twenty-five years.

If we laid a hand on him rashly and he decided to flee, we would have to go through a very troublesome process.

To the question that contained such concern,

Gok Man, who was lying on the bare floor, wore a bitter smile and shook his head.

“There is no need to think too complicatedly. Even if you bait him openly, he will come on his own.”

“…True. Since he probably prides himself on having quite outstanding skills, he will not avoid it even if he thinks it is a trap.”

Just looking at him visiting the base of the Sacred Scale Alliance alone, one could tell what kind of personality he had.

Yoo Cheon, who was contemplating for a moment, opened his mouth.

“Jin So-myeong was seeking the Golden Blood Wood fruit and the Forgetful River Flower. Since I happen to have a Golden Blood Wood tree, it seems baiting him with that will do.”

***

Meanwhile.

Jin So-myeong was in the middle of thinking about the recruitment offer.

‘The Heavenly Law Palace…’

What should I do? Should I accept the recruitment offer?

Before making a decision, I weighed the advantages and disadvantages first.

What can I obtain if I enter the Heavenly Law Palace?

‘My cultivation speed will become faster.’

Self-sufficiency in all cultivation resources, versus receiving someone’s support.

Which was more efficient did not even need to be compared.

If the Supreme Great Ability currently consumed in mass-producing cultivation resources was invested elsewhere, that alone could yield considerable results.

And I also coveted the cultivation methods presumed to have been touched by the hands of the Great Ascension stage.

They would not give a complete cultivation method from the start, but that did not matter.

Did I not have the Supreme Great Ability and the Proficiency System?

Even if I found out only a part of the cultivation method, I could obtain a cultivation method superior to the original.

And in all likelihood, the Heavenly Law Palace was a subordinate force connected with the Great Ascension stage.

If I became a member of that place, I would be able to access secrets that are difficult to know from the outside.

‘There are many advantages, but…’

At first glance it seemed like a decent option, but I was not very pleased.

Usually, a force of a certain scale would naturally perform a special ceremony during the entry process.

It was common to place restrictions to prevent betrayal, or to make oaths to strictly keep secrets.

They even made Soul Tablets containing a portion of the soul to track life, death, and location, so I had no choice but to be reluctant.

If by some chance I suffered an irreversible restriction, it would be too fatal.

Of course, most of the restrictions could be resolved by using the Supreme Great Ability, but even so, it would not be a very pleasant experience.

‘Since it is an organization related to the Great Ascension stage, it is right to be careful.’

After contemplating for a moment, I decided to rather go simply.

As in, having a refreshing fight with whoever came.

If I defeated the arriving enemies one after another, I would naturally obtain various information and cultivation resources would also pile up.

‘A perfect plan.’

It was half a joke and half sincere.

If I fought, fought, and fought again to survive until the end, I would eventually be able to reach the Great Ascension stage.

Since I had made a decision, I forgot about the matters regarding the Heavenly Law Palace for a moment.

I diligently roamed around the exchange venue, purchasing spiritual objects and gathering information.

“A method to leave the Xuanhuang Realm… Well.”

“Even an uncertain rumor is fine.”

“Hmm. There was a rumor spread that forces with long histories of over three million years possess super long-distance teleportation arrays. Of course, they strongly denied it, though.”

Around the time I reaped various harvests as time flowed,

The disc distributed by the Myriad Spirits Merchant Union vibrated, and a voice transmission flowed out.

–Fellow Daoist Jin. You said you were seeking the Golden Blood Wood fruit, is that correct?

It was a message from an Unity stage Dao Sovereign who introduced himself as Musong.

–I discovered a Golden Blood Wood tree in the unpioneered territories.

–However, unfortunately, since it was in such a dangerous location, I had no choice but to leave it behind. I am currently recruiting fellow Daoists to go harvest it together, are you interested?

At the coincidental news that arrived just in time,

Jin So-myeong, who was tapping his scabbard, sent a reply.

The content of the reply… was so obvious that there was no need to speak of it.

***

On the deck of the vessel crossing the sky.

Four Unity stage Dao Sovereigns were sitting while keeping their distance from one another.

One of them, who had taken positions in the four directions of north, south, east, and west, keeping watch.

Musong, who was of the Horned Ghost Race, glanced over.

‘So this is Jin So-myeong…’

The young man, who was sitting cross-legged with his sword lying across his knees, had his eyes closed as if meditating, making it difficult to read what he was thinking.

After examining the appearance of him slowly stroking the scabbard, I took my gaze away.

Someone had made a request to him, who was attending the exchange meeting.

To lure Jin So-myeong out and kill him.

At first, he naturally declined.

Because his lifespan was barely remaining anyway, and he did not want to fight an Unity stage Dao Sovereign of the same class.

However…

His mind changed upon hearing the compensation. Since they offered what he sought so desperately as a reward, he could not possibly refuse.

–Brother. Can we trust the person called Yoo Cheon? I do not know if he really possesses three of such precious pills like the Clear Soul Never-Forgetting Pill.

When I turned my gaze to the secretly delivered voice transmission, I saw the woman who decided to do this work together due to their usually deep friendship.

I understood what she was worried about.

The Clear Soul Never-Forgetting Pill was known as a pill that can preserve memories when reincarnating through samsara after death, and of course, it was extremely precious.

Since it was also something desperately desired by an Unity stage Dao Sovereign whose lifespan was barely remaining like him, it was worth whatever price was named.

They were worried whether the person called Yoo Cheon would give such a precious pill as a reward.

–I confirmed myself that he possesses the Clear Soul Never-Forgetting Pill. And upon investigation, the Heavenly Law Palace turned out to be a force that spread its fame in the Dark Heaven Province. They probably would not have lied.

–I hope so…

–Let us worry about the reward later and first establish a plan to deal with Jin So-myeong. They said Jin So-myeong is an immense powerhouse, so we must never let our guard down.

–Yes? Jin So-myeong is at most at the 1st layer of the Unity stage, is he not?

–They said he mastered the Lightning Escape Art to the limit and raised it to the realm of divine ability. He said we might die in a single strike if we let our guard down, so we must absolutely exert our full strength.

–A master of escape arts… We must be careful.

Musong, who looked at her deep in thought, secretly moved his Divine Sense.

He connected the party with Divine Sense, three out of the four currently on the vessel, excluding Jin So-myeong.

If he did this, they could exchange voice transmissions secretly from Jin So-myeong.

–Once we arrive, I will install a formation. Since I said a Golden Blood Wood was planted there, let us utilize that. If I give the reason that the Golden Blood Wood must be transplanted, he will not be able to suspect.

–Even if he suspects, it is of no use. Since it is a fact that a formation must be installed to transplant the Golden Blood Wood.

–After that…

***

Same time, same space.

Jin So-myeong, who was meditating on the deck of the vessel, opened his eyes very slowly.

After glancing around at the Dao Sovereigns silently sitting cross-legged, he gazed at the golden sunset beyond the horizon.

Admiring the reddish sky at dusk, a laugh came out naturally.

Was it because of the landscape so beautiful that it elicited gasps?

Or was it because of the three people busily exchanging voice transmissions?

The smile that once formed did not easily disappear.

Two mid Unity stage and one early Unity stage.

The friendship of those gathered to go harvest the Golden Blood Wood was truly deep.

They probably did not know, but his Divine Sense had long since far exceeded the standard of ordinariness.

A radius of 60,000 km.

That was the range Jin So-myeong’s Divine Sense could detect.

Considering that the Divine Sense of a general early Unity stage cultivator was at the level of a 10,000 km radius…

Literally, the class was different.

Although he could not grasp even the contents of the voice transmissions, he could know that voice transmissions were going back and forth without even trying.

Woong…!

Was it because he imagined what would unfold soon?

Limitless, who was dwelling in the sword, vibrated minutely.

While stroking and calming down the highly excited Limitless, he brushed off his seat and stood up.

“Fellow Daoist Musong. It seems we have arrived at the Crimson Hot Land Sea you mentioned.”

In an instant, the focused gazes turned forward,

Chiiik!

A terrible heat that felt like it would melt lungs was felt.

And, the vicinity of the horizon was dyed bright red.

Bubbling, boiling red lava spread endlessly.

Literally, a sea of lava.

Musong, who stared at the scenery that looked like hell manifested, nodded his head.

“From now on, I will guide you. Since there are many strange insects in the Crimson Hot Land Sea that are a threat even to the Unity stage, everyone please be tense.”

Musong, who operated the vessel, headed into the middle of the lava sea, and a fortnight of time passed.

As we crossed the endlessly spreading lava sea, all kinds of strange insects assaulted us.

Around the time when the oppressive heat became a daily routine,

Musong, who was carefully examining the surrounding terrain, let his eyes shine.

He immediately turned the direction of the vessel,

Chiiiik…!

And plunged into the boiling hot lava. We submerged deeper and deeper while crossing through the lava where we could not see even an inch ahead.

How much time had passed?

We eventually arrived at the bottom, and upon entering a deeply carved crack, an underwater cave hidden by rocks appeared.

“It is here.”

“Is the Golden Blood Wood in there?”

At the question of Jin So-myeong, who was carefully examining the cave entrance, Musong, who froze, nodded his head.

“Yes. Since the ancient demonic insect, the Flame Horn Tyrant Scorpion, was there, I had no choice but to retreat.”

“You were truly lucky to find such a place.”

“Haha… Literally, I was lucky. Everyone please prepare. Since the Flame Horn Tyrant Scorpion freely handles powerful fire-attribute spells, we must be careful.”

The party, who exchanged glances, finished their preparations, and the vessel advanced.

We entered the cave slowly, and at some point, the lava vanished and a cool chill was felt.

It was because the violet crystals embedded all over the cave repelled the heat.

Jin So-myeong, who scanned the cave covered in frost beyond a simple cold level, said calmly,

“There is no Flame Horn Tyrant Scorpion.”

“Hmm… It seems it has left its spot. That is just as well. Let us harvest the Golden Blood Wood in this interval.”

Musong, who was examining the giant golden tree in the center of the cave, opened his storage pouch.

He said while pouring out over hundreds of formation tools,

“If you touch the Golden Blood Wood carelessly, it will rot down to its roots. Since a formation must be installed to transplant it, everyone please guard the surroundings.”

The party, who naturally dispersed, took positions at the outer edges of the cave, which coincidentally formed a situation centering on Jin So-myeong.

While watching the appearance of them installing formation tools all over the cave,

Jin So-myeong, who was silently stroking the hilt of his sword, chuckled.

“…Why are you doing that?”

I smirked while looking at Musong, who froze while installing the formation.

“No matter how I look at it, this formation seems to be for suppressing me.”

“What on earth are you talking about all of a sudden…”

Musong, who blurred the end of his words, let out a deep sigh and clicked his tongue.

“How did you know? I prided myself on having my skills reach the peak while mastering formations my entire life.”

“To reach the peak with merely that level? Your confidence is too excessive.”

Musong, who frowned, snorted.

“I know you have good senses. But why did you come all the way here with those good senses?”

The woman who occupied the rear sneered.

“It seems those good senses could not tell you the place where you would die.”

She spoke fiercely, but that was all.

Her pupils were trembling minutely. She could not hide her tense look.

What were they so afraid of when three of them were dealing with one?

After looking at the Dao Sovereigns whose fingertips flinched every time their eyes met, one by one,

I slowly turned my head to look around the cave covered in frost.

“It is a very good place.”

Was it because it was out of the blue? Or was it because of the relaxed tone?

The old people who frowned retreated one more step.

Amidst the old people swallowing dry saliva,

I leisurely walked to where the Golden Blood Wood was, and plucked the fruit just like that.

“Uh?”

Crumble!

The trunk and branches that had been emitting a brilliant golden light withered in an instant, then collapsed completely.

It had rotted away, leaving only the single fruit I had just plucked.

“What are you doing!”

“It was a Golden Blood Wood at least 100,000 years old. How could you so carelessly…”

I ignored the old people lamenting because the Golden Blood Wood was a waste in the midst of this.

While packing away the fruit to be used as a seed, I spoke while looking at the empty void.

“It is a perfect place to have a fight. Is it not?”

When my gaze met exactly with Yoo Cheon, who was hiding in the void, Yoo Cheon raised one eyebrow.

“Your senses are quite decent. Decent enough to bring the Sacred Scale Alliance to its knees with a single sword.”

Yoo Cheon, who curled the corners of his mouth as if amused, appeared while cutting through the void,

Shng…

And the blade that had been hidden by the scabbard was revealed to the world.