Chapter 273: Pillar (4)

Chapter 273: Pillar (4)

Translator: TranslatingNovice

Editor: Z0Rel

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Tududududu

Kim Young-hoon and I are skimming across the southern sea.

'We're going slowly.'

Given the speed at which Kim Young-hoon and I could move, we should have reached the Sea Dragon Palace in no time. There must be a reason for us traveling this slowly.

Apparently, even Kim Young-hoon isn't feeling good about going to see the state of Cheongmun Ryeong.

As I follow behind Kim Young-hoon, I gradually notice that various parts of the South Sea have changed.

'Originally... there were small islands everywhere....'

No islands are in sight.

It seems that all the islands had sunk due to a previous battle.

I slowly ask Kim Young-hoon a question as I trail behind him.

"I have something to ask."

"What is it."

I question him about the strange stone said to have emerged from the innards of Cheongmun Ryeong.

"Was that mysterious stone... safe for Buk Hyang-hwa to keep using?"

"No. Later on, it was found that madness was faintly emanating from the stone, so all the crew of the Buk Hyang Fleet had to be replaced with puppets. However, for some reason, Buk Hyang-hwa alone was not eroded by the madness. Even though she was merely at the late stage of Qi Building."

"Um...?"

'How is that possible?'

I believe in her mental strength, but what exactly had happened?

"I don't know for sure, but she always carries a norigae with her. She firmly believes that the norigae protects her. Whether it's true or not...."

"..."

"Ah, and also, using the method of extracting knowledge from the strange stone that Cheongmun Ryeong taught her, she extracted some of the stone's knowledge and then sealed all the stones together. The interesting thing is that norigae."

"...Yes?"

I'm surprised by the unexpected information.

"She says that the only material that can seal the mysterious stone in this world is that norigae. Really, I wonder what material it's made from...."

"...?"

I feel something odd about that statement.

'That norigae is made from Gathering Soul Jade found in the Heaven-Treading Desert....'

It's a very common material for making magic artifacts.

But that norigae was the only material that could seal the strange stone?

Yet, what's strange is Kim Young-hoon's following remark.

"After sealing all the stones in the norigae, she placed it in the main ship's power source of the Buk Hyang Fleet, linking the power from the main ship to the rest of the Buk Hyang Fleet to strengthen their control. In my view, her talent is no less than that of Cheongmun Ryeong"

I feel like I'm plunging into a maze as I listen to him.

'She sealed the mysterious stone in the norigae?'

Sealing implies that there had to be space inside for it to be possible.

But the norigae was a dharma treasure I had refined myself.

I know it best.

There was no such space inside the norigae.

Perhaps due to regression, the properties of the dharma treasures had overlapped causing the norigae to transform, but even when I dismantled the Colorless Glass Sword, there was no sign of material transformation or space creation.

'What on earth is it?'

The function of the norigae was only 'communication.'

It had no other functions.

'What did Buk Hyang-hwa do? I can't get a grip on it.'

For now, that's all I can think of.

'Perhaps the knowledge she extracted from the mysterious stone might have been of some help...'

Thinking this, I continue to follow Kim Young-hoon.

Kim Young-hoon was using purely his own martial skills to perform a water-skimming technique across the sea, without using the abilities or accelerations of the Surpassing Radiant Saber.

Looking up at the sky as I follow him, I ponder.

'In the third stage of Manifestation, lifespan increases by about 300 years.'

Precisely, it's 343 years.

'This isn't even Qi Building.'

Despite reaching a level comparable to the Heavenly Being stage, the increase in lifespan is only at the level of Qi Building, which leaves me somewhat incredulous.

I grew curious.

"Young-hoon Hyung-nim."

"What is it."

"Is your true body beyond Shattering Heavens?"

"That's right, but?"

"In that case, do you perhaps know how much your lifespan has increased?"

But after asking about his lifespan, I immediately realized.

'Kim Young-hoon wouldn't know his own lifespan.'

How could he know if he hasn't even performed the Seven Star Ritual?

Kuaaaang!

With a tremendous boom, the barrier collapses entirely.

Kugugugu

"Just like when you crumpled the dimensional barrier, I'm reminded again that you've become a monster."

Kim Young-hoon looks at me with a weary expression.

"How troublesome it was every time we had to break through one of these..."

"Really? It was considerably weaker than the dimensional barrier though..."

"That's true, but if you fail to break it in one go, an even stronger counterforce emerges, making it a very tricky barrier. And now, you smashed it in one go without even exerting much effort...."

Kim Young-hoon clicks his tongue as we both move beyond the collapsed barrier.

Just as I set foot in the Astronomical Observatory.

Wo-woong!

I feel a refreshing clarity come over my mind.

'This is...'

Again.

The 'mind-clearing spell,' characteristic of Seo Hweol, was cast over the entire Astronomical Observatory.

'Why in the world is this guy using such spells in every building he constructs?'

It certainly wasn't for mental health benefits.

Eventually, he would just brainwash everyone, making me curious about the true purpose of laying such spells.

Moreover, the spell cast over the Astronomical Observatory feels much stronger than the one at the Sea Dragon Palace.

'I should visit all the places where Seo Hweol had caused trouble at least once.'

I recall what Seo Hweol had said.

'He said he had built up his Axis Foundation at the Sea Dragon Palace, Serving Command Palace, the Black Castle, and Ascension Path.'

Maybe building up an Axis Foundation has something to do with the mind.

Or maybe it's for some other reason.

In any case, I could learn more about his intentions and the method Seo Hweol used to build up his Orthodox Axis Foundation.

While I was thinking about this.

"...Young-hoon Hyung-nim?"

I suddenly realized that Kim Young-hoon had stopped speaking and was standing still since entering the Sea Dragon Palace.

"Is there something wrong?"

I can tell even without asking.

Kim Young-hoon is uneasy about coming to the place where he had personally cut down Cheongmun Ryeong.

"...No. Let's go."

He hesitates for a moment then takes the lead.

I clench my teeth and follow him.

'Cheongmun Ryeong... What has happened to you?'

How long have we been moving inside the Astronomical Observatory?

I notice characters engraved everywhere inside the observatory.

'What is this...?'

The Astronomical Observatory itself, due to an automatic restoration spell, appears quite intact despite what must have been a fierce confrontation between Kim Young-hoon and Cheongmun Ryeong.

However, oddly, there are parts that haven't been restored and are engraved with 'characters'.

"Young-hoon Hyung-nim, those are..."

"They are words left by Cheongmun Ryeong. We don't exactly know what they mean."

"Is that so..."

I read the characters left by Cheongmun Ryeong one by one.

Mountain ()...

Summit ()...

Thirty-three ()...

"...?"

Words I know individually but unknown when together.

Soon, Kim Young-hoon and I enter the center of the Astronomical Observatory.

"...That is..."

"Look."

Kim Young-hoon points with his hand at 'something' in the center of the Astronomical Observatory.

"That, is Cheongmun Ryeong sealed by me. He ended up... mutated like that."

"...Ah..."

Stunned, I look at 'Cheongmun Ryeong.'

Cheongmun Ryeong has turned into a giant [Salt Pillar] and is situated at the center of the Astronomical Observatory.

Below the salt pillar, another word is written.

I slowly read the crookedly written words.

"...Audience Chamber ()."

Translator Notes: This is some Eldritch horror. Also, Mountain, Summit, and Thirty-three are a reference to "Tryastria" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryastria). It is the second of the six heavens of the desire realm in Buddhist cosmology, and located at the peak of Mt. Sumeru.

***

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