Chapter 16 – The Land of Opportunity, Red Cloud Secret Realm

===================
Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
===================

Jin So-myeong, who had gathered information about Beom Chang by putting in the legwork, stroked his chin.

‘That bastard was the nephew of a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator?’

The original plan was simple.

He had planned to launch a surprise attack on Beom Chang using concealment art, smash his dantian, and throw him near another hostile faction.

It would be best if the bastard’s life was ended by a hostile faction of the Red Yang Sect.

If only he succeeded, it would kill two birds with one stone. He could deal a blow to both the Red Yang Sect and Beom Chang at the same time.

However, the bastard’s background was larger than he had thought.

He was blood-related to a Foundation Establishment old monster, a monster who could live for over two hundred years.

‘No wonder. I wondered why he was so arrogant despite being a mere gatekeeper.’

He had found it strange that a fellow who was supposedly the nephew of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was working as a gatekeeper, so he had looked into it, and it turned out to be merely a punishment.

Beom Chang’s notoriety was widespread throughout the entire market.

Even before provoking Jin So-myeong, he had committed all kinds of wicked deeds.

It was not once or twice that he had used the name of the Red Yang Sect to deceive rogue cultivators who knew nothing of the world. The number of people whose lives were ruined because of him was countless.

‘He is a bastard who deserves to die.’

Although Beom Chang’s tyranny never ceased, no one could admonish him. This was because the Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator protected and coddled him.

If he had been an ordinary disciple of the Red Yang Sect, he would have received a major punishment and become a crippled person long ago, but for him, it ended with merely becoming a gatekeeper.

‘Tsk. Authority is indeed good.’

People do not change easily.

Even after becoming a gatekeeper, Beom Chang did not come to his senses. This could be known just by looking at how he had tried to deceive Jin So-myeong into a slave contract.

‘It probably wasn’t a normal entrance contract. No wonder the terms were like garbage.’

The Red Yang Sect was not foolish either. There was no way they would recruit people with such conditions.

Of course. It was not that Beom Chang had nothing to do and harassed the rogue cultivators.

The bastard’s purpose was clear.

It was none other than Foundation Establishment.

All of his actions culminated in gathering cultivation resources.

To achieve Foundation Establishment, one had to possess at least one of three things.

Being born with talent, obtaining a fortuitous encounter, or pouring in an astronomical amount of resources enough to turn even a pig into an immortal.

The path Beom Chang had chosen was resources, and for that, he did not mind sucking the lifeblood of others.

‘Should I just quietly assassinate him and get it over with?’

He was confident in his success.

The concealment art utilizing the Supreme Great Ability had already been proven.

He could know if he recalled what happened on Mount Red Yang.

Not to mention Wang Shin, even that terrifying swarm of venomous insects had not sensed his presence in the slightest.

It would be no different for Beom Chang, who was at the mid-stage Qi Condensation level.

‘Killing him is not difficult. The aftermath is the problem.’

One must not clumsily touch someone associated with a Foundation Establishment old monster.

Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment were lifeforms on completely different levels. It was so in terms of ability level, and it was so in terms of status.

If Beom Chang were to die suddenly, they would investigate everyone involved.

A Grand Cultivator who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage could even forcibly delve into an opponent’s memory through the Soul Search Art .

Although the Soul Search Art was a fatal act that dealt severe damage to the target’s mind, the Foundation Establishment old monster would not hesitate.

They did not even need evidence.

What the strong needed was not something like evidence. Just a minor suspicion, a reason to act, was enough.

Because to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, a mere Qi Condensation practitioner was nothing but a mayfly.

‘…I should kill him slowly over time. If he dies suddenly after looking for Yeo Dong-bin, even my disguised identity will be linked to it.’

It seemed he would have to extend Beom Chang’s tenacious life a little longer.

This was because he did not want to abandon the cave dwelling, for which he had already paid a deposit, and leave just to deal with him.

Jin So-myeong, who clicked his tongue, shook his head.

He folded his desire for revenge against Beom Chang in a corner of his mind. It was a waste of time and emotion to keep worrying about it.

He believed that he would be able to create a good opportunity before long.

‘Since I’m out, I should buy some pills.’

Jin So-myeong’s next goal was the 4th layer of Qi Condensation.

Transitioning from the 3rd layer of Qi Condensation to the 4th layer was difficult enough to be called a minor boundary breakthrough.

It was only natural, as it was the turning point from the early stage to the mid-stage.

At this time, consuming cultivation pills was of great help.

Of course, since pills were something that went into the mouth, they could not be bought from just anyone. They had to be purchased from a proper place.

*Swoosh.*

Entering an alleyway, Jin So-myeong caressed the Faceless Mask.

Changing into a man in his thirties with a sharp impression, he moved his steps.

He visited the Thousand Treasures Pavilion , the largest shop in Red Yang Market.

Passing by the items displayed on the shelves, he immediately stated his business.

“Shopkeeper. Give me one Qi Condensing Pill.”

“Yes. It is 25 spirit stones.”

Jin So-myeong, who was about to take out spirit stones from his sub-space while pretending to rummage through a pouch in his chest pocket, paused.

“Twenty-five? I recall it was twenty not too long ago, though.”

“Customer. I know what you are thinking, but please do not misunderstand. We are absolutely not ripping you off. Our Thousand Treasures Pavilion considers credibility to be the most important.”

He let all the talk about credibility and whatnot filter out. He could not believe everything a merchant said.

Jin So-myeong spoke in a suspicious tone.

“Then what is it? For it to suddenly become more expensive by five spirit stones, is that not too severe?”

“Recently, the demand for pills in Red Yang Market has surged, so the price has risen. If you are suspicious, please try going to other shops. Not just pills, but everything needed for cultivation, including dharma treasures and talismans, would have become more expensive.”

For cultivation resources to become more expensive overall.

It was a rather unsettling matter. He worried if a war had perhaps broken out.

“…What is the reason?”

“I am sorry. I cannot tell you for free. Our Thousand Treasures Pavilion treats information as a product as well. If you pay just five spirit stones, I will explain the reason for the price increase clearly.”

Jin So-myeong, who pondered for a moment, shook his head.

“No, thank you. Just give me one Qi Condensing Pill.”

The reason he refused was because the price of the information was too cheap.

How valuable could information worth five spirit stones be? It was obvious that it would be at a level that just about anyone would know.

On the contrary, if it had been expensive, he might have bought it even if it was a stretch. Survival was more important than spirit stones.

‘I will be able to find out even if I just walk around the market a bit.’

Of course, if it was difficult to obtain information by asking around, it did not matter if he purchased the information then.

“It is quite useful information… Will you really not buy it?”

When he nodded firmly, the owner, who had a look of regret, handed over the Qi Condensing Pill.

He paid the spirit stones and left the Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

He carefully placed the single Qi Condensing Pill into his sub-space. He planned to consume this pill when challenging the 4th layer of Qi Condensation.

‘…My income is high, but what I can actually use isn’t much.’

In his heart, he also wanted to buy dozens of Qi Condensing Pills and drink them like water.

However, he did not have many spirit stones on hand.

This was because he was reinvesting spirit stones into the Secret Realm of the Mind as soon as he earned them.

‘Let’s endure just a little. Soon, the daily spirit stone production will increase to five. Then I will have some breathing room.’

As time passed, the spirit stone income would increase exponentially. It was an undoubtedly confirmed future.

When that time came, spirit stones would pile up like a mountain, so he would only have to worry about how to use the overflowing spirit stones.

“Ahem.”

Jin So-myeong, who was intoxicated by the future that would gradually get better, cleared his throat.

What was more important than a vague future was to be faithful to the present.

First, he had to find out about the rumors circulating in the Red Yang Market. Just then, an appropriate person came to mind.

‘Deacon Ju Hong will be the best.’

Deacon Ju Hong, who handled public affairs, had the highest status among the people Jin So-myeong knew.

Also, Ju Hong liked to brag.

Obtaining information from his mouth was not particularly difficult. Just flattering him moderately was enough.

Jin So-myeong, who made up his mind, soon arrived at the Deacon’s Office, and was able to find a familiar face.

“Fellow Daoist Yeo? What brings you here? It is not yet time to pay the rent.”

Greeting Deacon Ju Hong, who had a puzzled expression, politely, he spoke.

“Deacon. I plan to focus on cultivation for a while, so I would like to pay the rent in advance.”

“You are paying the rent in advance?”

Ju Hong, who blinked his eyes like a person who had heard something incomprehensible for a moment, expressed admiration.

He even clapped his hands and was incredibly pleased.

“Goodness! I really like you! If all rogue cultivators paid their rent as diligently as you, we deacons would not even need to suffer.”

“Haha… Since I rented a cave dwelling, paying the rent is only natural, is it not?”

“Indeed! Of course! But there are also many troublesome bastards who cannot even do that properly. My head hurts because someone has been delaying the rent while making all sorts of excuses since a while ago.”

It was difficult to answer. Jin So-myeong, who scratched his head as if embarrassed, rummaged through his chest.

Taking out the spirit stones and handing them over, he spoke as if he had just remembered.

“Ah! Come to think of it, did something happen in the market recently? The price of pills suddenly rose.”

“Hmm? That is, of course, because of the Red Cloud Secret Realm.”

He perked up his ears at Ju Hong, who answered lightly as if it were no big deal.

Soon, a voice in a pleasant tone was heard.

“Did you not know that the Red Cloud Secret Realm opens in three years? Well, you have not been in Red Yang Market for very long.”

Perhaps because his mood had improved upon receiving the spirit stones, his mouth opened easily.

Red Cloud Secret Realm .

At that word, what Beom Chang, the gatekeeper of the Red Yang Sect, had said came to mind.

The bastard had intended to force him into the secret realm to make him bring something back.

Jin So-myeong furrowed his brows.

He needed to find out a little more.

“Red Cloud Secret Realm… I think I have heard of it briefly, but I do not know the details. Could you perhaps tell me?”

“Haha. You must have also heard about secret realms or grotto-heavens, right? I mean spaces or worlds that have been fragmented due to various reasons.”

When Jin So-myeong, who suddenly thought of the Secret Realm of the Mind, nodded, Ju Hong’s explanation continued.

“Those small worlds are usually hidden in the void and cannot be found, but they reveal themselves to the world at a specific time or opportunity. The Red Cloud Secret Realm is the same.”

Certain secret realms open when a specific time comes…

Jin So-myeong, who muttered in a low voice, spoke.

“Are you saying that the time when the Red Cloud Secret Realm opens is exactly three years from now? And that is why cultivation resources are becoming expensive in Red Yang Market?”

“Yes. You understand well. The Red Cloud Secret Realm opens on a thirty-year cycle, and it overflows with all kinds of treasures inside. If one has the will to cultivate, there is no reason not to risk one’s life to challenge it!”

“Risking one’s life…? The Red Cloud Secret Realm must be a fairly dangerous place?”

“To be honest, it is. The survival rate is not even thirty percent. Even at the time with the fewest casualties, one out of two died. No, they could not even recover the corpses!”

Jin So-myeong understood.

He clearly realized the reason why cultivation resources had become expensive.

The secret realm that would open soon was a place overflowing with treasures, but it was dangerous to that extent. In order to increase the chance of survival, one had to raise their strength as much as possible.

There would probably be no one who would save spirit stones while going to a place where they might die.

“If not for my duties as a deacon, I would have also challenged it… The secret realm is a dangerous place, but if luck is on your side, you can even obtain a Foundation Establishment spiritual object!”

When he uttered the words ‘Foundation Establishment spiritual object,’ Ju Hong’s face relaxed dreamily.

Foundation Establishment was the dream of all Qi Condensation cultivators.

Once one achieved Foundation Establishment, their lifespan would increase and they would leap into a superhuman in the true sense, so who would not want it?

Naturally, everyone wanted it.

There was a pill that gave tremendous help when challenging this realm, and that was none other than the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Since the core ingredient for making the Foundation Establishment Pill was called a Foundation Establishment spiritual object, to someone, it was a heavenly material and earthly treasure that could completely change their entire life.

It was a treasure that could be compared to one’s life!

‘Foundation Establishment…’

Jin So-myeong’s heart trembled just the same.

His lifespan was only sixty-seven years. Because he had sacrificed his lifespan to move forward, it was shorter than others.

Only by raising his realm could he defy heaven and ascend the path of longevity!

For Jin So-myeong, there was no path to turn back, and he had no intention of doing so in the first place.

This was because he had a dream.

“Not only that! Starting from cultivation methods to pills, items, spiritual herbs, and dharma treasures! The secret realm is a land of opportunity overflowing with all kinds of fortuitous encounters.”

“…If there are so many benefits in the secret realm, the competition must also be fierce.”

“Naturally! Half of the deaths occurring in the secret realm are caused by people. Do you not see the state of the market right now? Everyone is offering up their entire fortune to raise their realm even a day faster.”

Jin So-myeong, who savored the word ‘Foundation Establishment,’ narrowed his eyes.

Listening to Ju Hong’s continuing explanation, he fell into deep thought.

‘Beom Chang certainly said he would put me into the Red Cloud Secret Realm. It means the bastard is also targeting this secret realm.’

Numerous plans flashed through his mind.

If he did it well, it seemed he would be able to reap an incredibly large profit beyond just dealing with Beom Chang.

‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Since he tried to make me a slave, I will do exactly the same to him.’