Chapter 275: I Saw (2)

Chapter 275: I Saw (2)

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Ever since the Heavenly Martial Divine Demon () Kim Young-hoon created the Divine Demon Secrets (), a method to confuse the consciousness of cultivators by martial artists beyond the pinnacle stage spread throughout the martial world.

Initially, this secret martial art slowly spread among the high-ranking elders of major martial factions.

However, after the news spread in the cultivator world that Heavenly Martial Divine Demon Kim Young-hoon had fought on equal footing with Cheongmun Ryeong, a core member of the Pure Friends Alliance, and even mortals caught wind of it.

The Divine Demon Secrets, reputedly created by him, spread throughout the martial world.

There was also a theory that initially, Kim Young-hoon had spread the secret technique far and wide by assigning masters in various places.

Thereafter, cultivators at the Qi Refining stage, who governed mortals, could no longer underestimate martial artists.

A slight mistake could lead to nobles or royals being decapitated by a highly skilled martial artist.

The higher stage cultivators were less concerned.

Even if the martial artists got a bit stronger, those capable of executing broad-scale destructive spells had little to worry about.

However, it was different for cultivators below the mid Qi Refining stage.

They were crucial in ruling over the mortals.

Now aware that the mortals they had treated as 'livestock' could retaliate, they could no longer afford to be arrogant.

Therefore, Jin Wei-yeon, a cultivator at the 6th star of Qi Refining, also tensed up as she faced the man before her.

'He's definitely a master of Three Flowers Gather at the Summit... and he must have mastered the Heavenly Martial Divine Demon's Divine Demon Secrets, as well. A typical Qi Refining 6th star cultivator would've been helpless, but...'

She is confident.

She has brought a high-level magic artifact that could be used by someone at or above the 12th star of Qi Refining.

Although it consumes quite a bit more spiritual power, she has enough spirit stones to replenish her spiritual energy, so she believes she has a good chance of winning.

'I will win!'

She lifts a red fly whisk embossed with a lion's head and activates her spell.

"Depart (), Ten Suns ()!"

Huarururu!

Ten fireballs burst forth from the artifact, engulfing the man.

Jang Hyuk, an external member of the Jin Clan, forms a hand seal and assists Jin Wei-yeon.

'This is my chance. If I make a good impression on the lady, I don't know about the main Jin family, but my position in the imperial palace could rise! I could secure the position of the department head by impressing her!'

Boom!

A battle ensues within the depths of the astronomy department.

The two cultivators fight fiercely against the sinister martial artist who had infiltrated the department.

Finally, Jang Hyuk and Jin Wei-yeon manage to defeat the martial artist.

"We won! Haha, my bottleneck was cleared during the battle, creating a perfect foundation for advancing to the 7th Star of Qi Refining!"

Jin Wei-yeon is thrilled with the fortuitous breakthrough that occurred during the battle.

"Well done, Jang Hyuk! I will speak to the elders at the Qi Building stage about you! Not just the head of the astronomy department, with your loyalty and ability, you could possibly even obtain the position of minister of ceremonial rites!"

Jang Hyuk is overjoyed by her words.

"Thank you! Thank you, miss!"

It all feels like a dream.

"7th star Qi Refining right before my eyes"

"The elder has acknowledged me"

I watch as the children blissfully snore away in front of me.

'Seeing such youngsters after a long time, they're quite adorable.'

Even the weakest disciples of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect are at the 11th star of Qi Refining.

Those were the ones who had been dragged from the Bright Cold Realm immediately upon entering the sect.

Originally, among the disciples from the Head Realm, none had failed to reach the Qi Building stage.

To me, someone who hasn't surpassed the Qi Refining 7th Star is a first since Jeon Myeong-hoon.

'It's quite refreshing Qi Refining 6th Star, eh.'

I take a deep breath and remove the sleep-inducing spell that fills the astronomy department.

"Sweet dreams, you cute little things."

I lean over and scratch the belly of the old man lying sprawled out, who chuckles as if he is having a pleasant dream.

Wo-woong!

My spiritual energy naturally envelops him, melting away the impurities within his body. It's likely that he won't suffer from minor illnesses for the rest of his life after this.

As I glance at the 6th star Qi Refining cultivator, the perfect foundation for advancing to the 7th star Qi Refining stage is inadvertently established within her.

"Grow well and strong."

Thinking that sticking around might attract more annoying folks, I pack all the astronomical data into my storage scroll and split space to step outside the royal palace.

'I should just go to a nearby guesthouse and read.'

It seems like a more comfortable option for uninterrupted reading.

The food from the Lower Realm I tasted after a long time was quite delicious.

'Thinking about it, I barely remember eating since reaching the Core Formation stage.'

After attaining the Nascent Soul stage, I hadn't even drunk water.

My vitality is fundamentally different from mortals, so I can sustain myself without food.

"Waiter, bring me another bowl of noodles."

"Yes, my lord!"

After quickly finishing a bowl of noodles, I begin reading the astronomical data.

'Let's see... first, the astronomical traces from the last 500 years... I'll read the flows of the sun, moon, and stars'

I begin to apply spells to the traces I read through.

'If I integrate the flow of the Seventy-Two Earthly Sha True Words and the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Method Decrees into astronomy, and continue moving up to the Twelve Earthly Branches and the 10 Heavenly Stems Diagram'

I float a small stream of spiritual energy in the air and begin to manifest basic spells according to the flow of celestial phenomena.

Soon after, I can see the clusters of spiritual energy before me taking on a shape.

'Eh? It's taking on a form?'

I didn't expect to see results so quickly, so I look closely at the form.

One of the martial artists at another table suddenly sent chopsticks flying at another, challenging him to a duel to the death, turning the guesthouse into a battlefield.

I focus on the form without much concern for the surrounding chaos.

In that context, they are trading divine bodies ().

'Spiritual energy is scarce in the Head Realm, so... maybe that's justifiable?'

But no matter how much he ponders, it feels wrong.

However, seeing their smiling faces caught in his consciousness makes it hard to reprimand them.

'...Well, if that's the case, I should at least tell them to stop trading my parts externally.'

Jeon Myeong-hoon makes up his mind.

'I'll only allow Seo Eun-hyun's parts to be distributed externally.'

"...Furthermore, our Gongmyo Clan has made significant advancements in pill-refining through research conducted with the Jo Clan relics obtained in collaboration with the Buk..."

Before he knew it, Gongmyo Hee's introduction of his clan is coming to an end.

"We also dispatched experts when constructing the Buk Hyang Fleet, and have obtained the technology related to the 'Buk Hyang Fleet.' In short, our clan is capable of manufacturing Buk Hyang Fleet that traverses dimensions, if you wish."

'Buk Hyang Fleet... Was the creator named Buk Hyang-hwa? It has a funny name, just like General Seo.'

"Excellent. Technology that traverses dimensions is essential if aiming for ascension, so I'll definitely keep that in mind."

Jeon Myeong-hoon nods and sends Gongmyo Hee off.

'The name might be funny, but from what Jin Hae-min explained, they can recreate the divine object of the Black Ghost ValleyTo be able to create something at the level of a divine artifact of the Human Race's Six Great Sects, I need to remember them.'

Whenever I had time, I would stop by the Jin Clan's territory and sweep through it with my consciousness.

Most of my disciples had aged and died, but their descendants were alive.

After confirming this, I intended to fly over to Byeokra.

That was when it happened.

[Master.]

"Hmm? Hong Fan?"

Hearing a spiritual message from inside the storage scroll, I reach inside to pull out the jade orb in which Hong Fan was sealed.

After the calamity had passed, Hong Fan said he would try to escape on his own, so I left him be. It seems he had finished interpreting the seal.

"Is it all done?"

[Yes, I am ready to come out.]

"Alright."

I lift the jade orb.

Shortly after, cracks form on the surface of the orb, and dark poison begins to seep out.

[Since the seal was carefully set by the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, it will take some time to exit. I apologize, but could you wait a bit longer?]

"Of course."

I settle nearby, setting up a protective formation and placing down the orb containing Hong Fan.

'The poison is getting stronger...'

Even while sealed, Hong Fan seems to have continued his research on poisons, as his art of poison has become even denser inside.

"You've become much stronger."

[Yes. While trying to dissolve the seal using only poison, I've recently glimpsed a new realm of poison arts.]

"A new realm in poison arts is..."

I ask, startled.

"Formless Poison ()!?"

[Yes.]

Having once been a practitioner of poison arts myself, I am aware of this realm.

After entering the cultivation world, I had even looked it up once out of curiosity.

A dream poison that exists above all others, capable of poisoning anyone below the Integration stage regardless of their cultivation realm!

But in the world of poison arts, it had been so legendary that it was treated merely as a fantasy, yet Hong Fan had gained insight into it.

[It's not complete yet, and it will take quite some time.]

"Well, that's fine. I can wait.

According to some theories, Formless Poison is said to have a certain relationship with the Netherworld.

Whether that's true or not, I sit there happy for Hong Fan's achievement.

Sssss...

'Is the formation melting from Hong Fan's poison...?'

I sit watching the formation while keeping an eye on Hong Fan.

About half a day passes when it happens.

Kuaaang!

Suddenly, a powerful magic artifact strikes the formation from outside. It seems to be not so much an attack but for some other purpose.

'Hmm, cultivators? But how did these guys find this formation? There must be some trick to it.'

A large number of them had gathered.

[Please come out from within that formation.]

Puzzled by the booming spiritual message, I look outside.

[The head of the Jin Clan is looking for you. Please come out and cooperate.]

I look at them and laugh heartily.

"Sorry, kids. I have some things to do here, so that might be difficult."

My calm response makes the situation awkward for the cultivator who had spoken.

[Um, it appears you are a senior from the Core Formation stage, but... no matter what, the place you are sitting on belongs to the Jin Clan. If you do not cooperate, no matter how much of a senior you are at the Core Formation stage, we may have to use force.]

"Force?"

[It may sound presumptuous, but even if you are a senior at the Core Formation stage, it would be difficult for you to disregard this many Qi Building stage elders. Please accept our invitation.]

They bow politely.

I smile faintly, looking out at the Qi Building cultivators who are surrounding me.

About 500 Qi Building cultivators have gathered.

Translator Notes: 72 Earthly Sha True Words and the 36 Heavenly Gang Method Decrees are a reference to the Ursa Major in Daoism with the 72 Earthly Stars and 36 Heavenly Stars.

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