Chapter 12 – This Is Possible

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Jin So-myeong, who had been excited by the rich harvest, calmed his emotions.

In a state of having become calm, he calculated the value of the items that Wang Shin possessed.

“At least 1,000 spirit stones.”

No matter how low he estimated, it exceeded a thousand spirit stones.

Of course, if he excluded the mask, which was a Rank 1 highest-grade dharma treasure, it would decrease drastically, but anyway, it was so.

‘Wang Shin is only at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation, so does this make sense?’

It was too much.

By his judgment, the amount of a thousand spirit stones was a burdensome sum even to a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator.

Furthermore.

Even if everything else was considered fine, the white Faceless Mask was the problem.

This, which he had examined without much expectation, was the greatest treasure. Compared to this suspicious mask, even the storage pouch was insignificant.

‘A Rank 1 highest-grade dharma treasure that works even against Foundation Establishment.’

It was not an object that a mere mid-stage Qi Condensation could possess. A thing like this could not be bought even if one paid spirit stones.

What kind of existences were the Foundation Establishment grand cultivators?

They were the powerful figures who held sway over the entire Red Yang Market, where tens of thousands of people lived.

What would those who held power in their hands worry about?

Naturally, it was their own safety. There was absolutely no way they would distribute an object that posed a threat to themselves in the market.

It was suspicious.

Wang Shin, whom he had killed, had a secret. He was no longer considered a normal cultivator.

‘How did he obtain the Faceless Mask in the first place?’

Jin So-myeong, who had been contemplating for a while, startled. Without realizing it, he muttered blankly.

“The only one who can deal with a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator… is a fellow Foundation Establishment.”

He got goosebumps at the conclusion derived suddenly.

He wanted to believe that Wang Shin had simply obtained the Faceless Mask by luck, but he could not do so.

He assumed the worst-case scenario. If the fellow had a Foundation Establishment-level expert as his backing…

‘I’m screwed.’

A corner of his chest turned cold. Without even realizing it, he had become enemies with a Foundation Establishment old monster.

Foundation Establishment was a monster in human form.

The difference in strength was too great. To them, Qi Condensation was no different from an ant.

It was over even if they just pointed with a finger. Crushed by overwhelming spiritual power, the physical body would burst apart.

‘Let’s calm down.’

Nothing had been decided yet. He calmed his mind while taking a deep breath.

He recalled the situation when he killed Wang Shin back then.

‘The fellow definitely called Cheong Hwa-ran boss.’

This meant that the guy’s greatest backing was Cheong Hwa-ran. At least on the surface, it was so.

In a normal situation, this was beyond doubt. Who would weigh the pros and cons when threatening ahead of death?

‘But Cheong Hwa-ran is not Foundation Establishment. She is still only in the late Qi Condensation stage.’

If she was in the late Qi Condensation stage, could she obtain a Rank 1 highest-grade dharma treasure?

He was skeptical.

Even if she could obtain it, it would be extremely precious.

If she had given such a treasure to a subordinate… it meant she cherished that subordinate very much.

Either way, there were many problems.

Examining several possibilities, Jin So-myeong let out a sigh.

“Since information is lacking, judgment is difficult. I need more clues.”

Postponing his conclusion, he left the cave dwelling.

This was because he felt the need to find out in detail about Cheong Hwa-ran, the late Qi Condensation stage expert whom Wang Shin had warned about.

First, he bought spiritual fruits and spiritual tea with 1 spirit stone.

These food items imbued with spiritual Qi were delicious, but they also helped in cultivation.

Any cultivator liked them. They were perfectly suitable to give as gifts between neighbors.

Carrying the food items, he visited the surrounding cave dwellings one by one.

“…Who might you be?”

“Nice to meet you. I am a rogue cultivator named Yeo Dong-bin, who moved into the Jeong No. 17 cave dwelling.”

He introduced himself while gifting spiritual fruits to the surrounding neighbors.

Perhaps because he gave gifts, most of them welcomed him with smiles, so it was not difficult to continue the conversation.

“Since it has not been long since I came to the Red Yang Market, I am ignorant of rumors. If there is any person I should watch out for, could you give me guidance?”

“A person to watch out for? That is not difficult. You must especially be careful of the geniuses of the Three Great Families.”

The important figures that the neighbors thought of were mostly similar.

They were the famous geniuses from the Red Yang Sect and the Three Great Families, who were the rulers of the market.

“The geniuses of the Three Great Families. Joo Yeon-hwa, Duan Sa-ryang, and Heo Mook. If you happen to meet these three, absolutely do not commit rudeness.”

“…Are their personalities picky by any chance?”

“Aigoo! Daoist Yeo. What are you talking about? They are all kind and righteous people. Just…”

The neighbor, who glanced around, continued the explanation in a cautious tone.

“The geniuses of the Three Great Families are all next-generation Foundation Establishment seeds. Before long, they will become Foundation Establishment grand cultivators and lead their families. Naturally, shouldn’t we treat them politely?”

“I see. However, due to their noble status, it seems I will have no occasion to meet them. Are there any figures among rogue cultivators that I should watch out for?”

“Rogue cultivators? Indeed, the people we truly must be careful of are experts of rogue cultivator origin.”

The neighbor, who nodded his head, prattled on for a long time. It seemed he had a personality that liked to talk.

How long did he listen attentively?

Finally, the desired name came out.

“Cheong Hwa-ran. You must also be careful of this person. She is the leader who leads the Blue Flood Dragon Gang, and it is widely rumored that she cherishes her subordinates.”

“Cherishes her subordinates…”

“So, if possible, do not cause conflicts with those belonging to the Blue Flood Dragon Gang. Just yielding will be more comfortable.”

Although he was glad that the story of Cheong Hwa-ran, which he had internally intended, came out, he did not show it and asked naturally.

“Cheong Hwa-ran is clearly a feminine name, but it is indeed fascinating that she is called leader.”

“Ahem. Do not say such things anywhere. I am saying this for Daoist’s sake.”

The explanation of him, who coughed dryly, continued.

“Cheong Hwa-ran. She was originally an orphan abandoned in the market. What would the fate of a beggar kid be in this world? Naturally, it would be miserable. However, amazingly…”

*

Jin So-myeong, who found out the desired information, returned to the cave dwelling.

He quietly shut his mouth and sank into thought.

Finding out about Cheong Hwa-ran was not difficult. She was an extremely famous rogue cultivator in the Red Yang Market.

Her reputation rose even higher as she rejected the marriage proposal of Duan Sa-ryang, the genius of the Duan clan, one of the Three Great Families.

‘She is similar to me after reincarnation.’

Cheong Hwa-ran had points of resemblance in her life trajectory with him.

She was an orphan who grew up without proper parents. She was picked up by a beggar pack and grew up as a begging child.

Also, that she started cultivating without a master was the same, but the point of resemblance with Jin So-myeong was exactly up to here.

At only nine years of age, she started practicing the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art alone, and based on her outstanding talent, she entered Qi Condensation without even a spirit stone.

The first thing she did upon becoming a Qi Condensation cultivator was to beat down the beggar pack leader who had abused her.

Since then.

Leading the brothers and sisters who had begged together, she established the Blue Flood Dragon Gang.

‘Amazing.’

She had achieved independence by leading snotty kids in the harsh Red Yang Market, where it was difficult to survive alone.

Since she had even become a late-stage Qi Condensation expert in the meantime, she was truly an extraordinary figure unlike typical rogue cultivators.

“Haa.”

Just thinking about Cheong Hwa-ran brought out a sigh. She was a person he did not want to become enemies with if possible.

‘What is already done cannot be helped.’

He fold away his worry about her to one side.

Since he had disguised his identity and rented a cave dwelling in the Inner City, the minimal self-defense measures were finished.

What was most important right now was the existence of the Faceless Mask, which worked even against Foundation Establishment.

‘How did a fellow who followed me just because he coveted a mere 50 spirit stones possess such a treasure?’

He glanced away.

He swept his gaze across the items that had been in Wang Shin’s storage pouch.

Wishing to see if there was another clue, he inspected them one by one thoroughly.

‘There are Qi Condensing Pills too… is this a Detoxification Pill?’

Although there were many useful pills, he could not consume them recklessly. It was better to sell them off and exchange them for spirit stones.

Putting them aside, he continued to rummage through the storage pouch.

10 minutes later.

He examined all the items including miscellaneous goods, and was finally able to discover a suspicious token.

It was an octagonal treasure tablet made of antique wood, and although no pattern was drawn on it, it looked like something special.

A strong vibe unique to a painstakingly manufactured masterpiece emanated from it.

However, even when he injected spiritual Qi, there was no reaction. Even looking closely, it seemed like a normal wooden token.

“…Tsk. No matter how I look at it, it is suspicious.”

If Wang Shin’s identity had not been suspicious, he would have skipped past it casually.

However, he could not do so now.

Jin So-myeong, who tightly grasped the wooden token, concentrated his mind. He exerted the divine power engraved on his soul.

The moment he amplified his five senses, which were already sensitive.

The hidden secret was revealed.

A faint warmth was felt deep within the ordinary wooden token.

“…This seems like a formation plate?”

Since it was similar to the cave dwelling nameplate he possessed, he could recognize it.

This wooden token was the key to open a barrier with a very high probability.

Furthermore, the warmth emanating was also somehow familiar. He had definitely felt it somewhere before.

The moment he groped through his memory while groaning.

A revelation flashed in his head.

“Red Yang Sect!”

It was certain.

He felt a grand mountain range wrapped in flames. The texture was completely identical to the energy he had experienced at the main gate of the Red Yang Sect.

It was clear that this wooden token was a formation plate of the Red Yang Sect!

“Why is an object no different from a key in Wang Shin’s possession?”

Nobody hands over a key to an outsider.

That Wang Shin possessed the formation plate meant the fellow belonged to the Red Yang Sect.

However, this also did not make sense.

‘Cheong Hwa-ran should have bad relations with the Red Yang Sect, right?’

According to what he found out, it was so.

Cheong Hwa-ran was a late-stage Qi Condensation rogue cultivator. She was also famous for having outstanding talent.

There was no way her relationship with the Red Yang Sect and the Three Great Families could be good even if she wanted to.

The reason was simple.

It was because if she broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, she would become equal in rank with them.

This was an act that could absolutely not be permitted from the ruler’s standpoint.

Who would welcome a competitor? It could not be helped because their respective interests clashed.

Cultivation resources were always limited.

The Red Yang Market was already saturated with just the Three Great Families and the Red Yang Sect. It could no longer accommodate another Foundation Establishment cultivator.

There was only one way for Cheong Hwa-ran to reconcile with the powerful figures of the Red Yang Market. It was to submit and entrust her life line to the opponent.

‘There is absolutely no way she would do that.’

The moment she bowed her head, cultivation would no longer be possible.

There would be no choice but to become a high-class slave and work for them.

‘If Cheong Hwa-ran were going to submit, she would not have rejected the Duan clan’s marriage proposal either.’

Under these circumstances, Cheong Hwa-ran’s subordinate, Wang Shin, possessed the Red Yang Sect’s token…

The two pieces of information clashed with each other.

Jin So-myeong sank deep into thought. He wished to grasp what was going on by synthesizing the gathered clues.

While staring at the Faceless Mask, he paused.

The mask, which was a disguise dharma treasure, was as if…

“It seems like a spy tool.”

At the words muttered inadvertently, his eyes widened.

It felt as if his stifled heart was cleared. The Faceless Mask was exactly a good object for a spy to possess.

His rapidly spinning brain derived a single conclusion.

“Wang Shin. What if that fellow was a traitor who was monitoring Cheong Hwa-ran?”

Everything was explained.

The most dangerous existence to the Red Yang Sect was indeed a talented late-stage Qi Condensation.

There was no reason not to be vigilant!

This was because they had to suppress the geniuses who did not know when they would become Foundation Establishment to maintain the position of the Red Yang Sect.

Dispatching a spy to monitor was not a difficult task either. Whether it was threat or temptation, there were many methods.

“…That is a relief at least.”

It was good news to Jin So-myeong.

If this assumption was true, it was no different from a ray of light descending in the worst-case scenario.

From the Red Yang Sect’s standpoint, they would suspect Wang Shin’s death was Cheong Hwa-ran’s doing, not his.

Also, the possibility of becoming friends rather than enemies with Cheong Hwa-ran arose.

Because if Wang Shin, whom he had killed, was a spy, Jin So-myeong had in effect given her help.

From a relationship that could absolutely not be reversed, they could develop into an alliance with a common enemy.

“Hoo.”

Jin So-myeong let out a sigh.

Anyway, an assumption was just an assumption. Whether the guess was true or not, he did not know either.

In the end, the most important thing was strength.

Before potential enemies came looking for him.

He had to raise his realm. Otherwise, he would be done in without even knowing how he died.

“Even so… I must do what I can do.”

Chuck.

The moment Jin So-myeong, who wore the Faceless Mask, injected spiritual Qi into the mask.

His face changed completely.

Becoming a man so fierce that a bandit would be recalled, he stepped out onto the street.

Visiting an escort agency that ran various errands, he wrote a letter of exactly one line.

[Wang Shin is a traitor. Traitors must die.]

After paying spirit stones and sending word to the Blue Flood Dragon Gang.

Guarding against being followed, he returned to the cave dwelling.

‘This is enough.’

The reason he sent the letter to the Blue Flood Dragon Gang was nothing special.

It was because he wanted them to direct the mind to track him elsewhere, and the more important point was that it was not very difficult.

Sending a letter was at most sufficient with ten minutes.

‘Now let’s just cultivate.’

He composed his mind, which was about to become slack at the suddenly poured harvest.

He sat cross-legged in the middle of the cave dwelling. He circulated the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art at the place with the densest spiritual Qi.

*

3 days later.

Jin So-myeong, whose complexion had darkened, let out a hollow laugh.

While cultivating with all his might for three days, he realized once again. That his spiritual root aptitude was the worst.

It took half a year just to pass from the 1st layer to the 2nd layer of Qi Condensation.

“Too slow.”

That was also the result of consuming a Qi Condensing Pill worth 20 spirit stones.

If there had been no Qi Condensing Pill, nobody knew how long a time it would have taken to break the wall of the 2nd layer.

“To reach the 3rd layer… I would have to cultivate for at least two more years?”

Despite it being the early stage of cultivation, that progress was this slow. The future to unfold in front of him was dark.

Perhaps because of the life-and-death struggle that had occurred a few days ago, the emotion called impatience reared its head before he knew it.

He calculated how much time would be needed to reach the 9th layer of Qi Condensation.

“…Haha. Truly superb. Even if I practice diligently every single day without missing one, it would take 100 years?”

Clap, clap, clap!

No matter what, if it crosses the line, it is bound to be grand. Indeed, applause burst out at his garbage-like talent.

100 years was already too late. Becoming a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator at that age was impossible.

To achieve Foundation Establishment, one had to break through three passes, and this was extremely difficult.

Although Jin So-myeong did not know in detail either, he at least knew the common sense that one must challenge it before sixty years of age.

“…What should I do.”

He had sworn to see a wider world, and that goal remained the same.

Since he had no intention of giving up even a bit, he pondered a method. He must not just practice like a diligent fool.

Of course, it was not that there was no way to shorten the cultivation period.

He could cultivate in a better spiritual vein and consume pills like drinking water.

In this world, even a pig could become a high-level immortal if only spirit stones were poured in.

“In the end, money is the problem.”

Opening the storage pouch, he counted the spirit stones.

Because he had rented the Rank 1 low-grade spiritual vein, the remaining spirit stones were 23 in total.

Excluding those he would personally use among the items left by Wang Shin, if he sold them off, it seemed roughly 200 spirit stones would be added.

223 spirit stones.

It was an immense fortune, but it was insufficient. It seemed it would be depleted by the time he reached around the 4th layer of Qi Condensation.

“Should I sell the storage pouch too?”

But even if he did, it would just be that. In the end, it could not be a fundamental solution.

For him who lacked talent to continue cultivation, a steady income was required.

“Haa… Won’t spirit stones fall from the sky somewhere.”

Jin So-myeong, who was uttering an absurd wish, paused.

Recalling the word ‘wish’, the flow of his thoughts naturally reached the Supreme Great Ability.

“With this divine power… wouldn’t I be able to make spirit stones too.”

Yes.

To be called a great ability in name, shouldn’t one be able to make something like spirit stones out of thin air?

Jin So-myeong, who had been silent, muttered slowly.

“Spirit stones, I need many spirit stones. So many that they pile up like a mountain!”

He showed the greed in the deep corners of his heart intact. It was somehow different from until now when he had made wishes while keeping a line in his own way.

“No! Simply making spirit stones is insufficient. The Supreme Great Ability must be used more efficiently.”

He recalled modern times in his past life. What kind of people became rich?

“Building owners.”

What is the reason real estate is valuable? It is because it provides passive income.

It felt as if his stifled head was opened up.

To him, a ‘money tree’ was needed!

He had to make something that steadily earned spirit stones even if he did nothing, using the Supreme Great Ability.

Such an existence was not difficult to imagine.

In fact, in this world, there was something that endlessly produced spirit stones.

“Spirit stone mine.”

In a specific place with dense spiritual Qi, spiritual Qi naturally condenses and spirit stones are generated.

A proper spirit stone mine was no different from a permanent source of income.

The problem was that because such a mine was an object of greed, it was difficult to guard.

Even if he summoned a mine, it was clear it would be snatched away.

Therefore…

“Inside my body. No, it does not matter where. I need a special sub-space that only I can access. If I make a spirit stone mine there, I will be able to monopolize it safely.”

He slapped his knee at the perfect wish that made him ecstatic just by imagining it!

“Hmm, and it would be good if a spiritual vein were also there to help with cultivation.”

Although it was a greedy wish that would make low-level cultivators scattered all over the market pour out curses if they heard it, he was satisfied precisely because of that.

If only there was a ‘money tree’ like this, it would be of great help to the bleak road of cultivation.

Achieving the Great Dao of Longevity was also not a dream.

If there was one unique problem…

It was whether such an immense miracle could be accomplished with only fifteen Supreme Great Ability beads.

‘…I wish to know the consumption amount of the Supreme Great Ability to fulfill this wish.’

Crackle!

After all the remaining golden beads disappeared.

【15 Supreme Great Ability beads and half of lifespan】

He was dumbfounded at the single sentence that floated into his mind.

“This is possible?”

It felt as if someone had said they would grant a wish made half in jest.

If a wish like this was possible, he would also be able to try things that he had unavoidably postponed, like improving his spiritual root aptitude.