Chapter 37 – Entering the Red Cloud Secret Realm

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Beyond the horizon, a sword so massive that it was mistaken for a battleship approached, slicing across the sky.

‘Ugh.’

Jin So-myeong let out a groan at the flying sword that grew larger and larger as it approached.

This was because a mysterious pressure weighed down on him.

His heart throbbed and his dantian throbbed with pain.

An impulse to flee from this spot right this instant if he wanted to live shook his head.

If he did not want to flee… he had to bow his head.

Gritting his teeth, he forced his head up and scanned the surroundings.

Even the Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivators who acted confidently were all greeting the approaching Golden Core sword cultivator with bowed heads.

‘…I refuse.’

With wide eyes, Jin So-myeong stiffened his neck.

In truth, it would end with just a single bow, but stubbornness welled up.

This was because bowing for a moment out of strategic judgment and truly surrendering with a broken spirit were completely different matters.

He felt that if he prostrated now, he would lose something important.

Rumble!

Just as he gritted his teeth. Before he knew it, the massive sword had approached right before his nose, and the bizarre pressure reached its peak.

Just at the moment when he felt it was no longer possible and that he could not endure it at all.

Clack!

He gripped the sword at his waist. It was an instinctive judgment, not logic.

But strangely. The moment he held the sword, his mind became comfortable.

This was because the Sword Qi of the River and Cloud Sword Art that was with him made him step aside slightly from the mysterious pressure.

“…”

Just as he closed his eyes quietly and concentrated on that sensation just now.

“M-move aside!”

The cultivators gathered in the center backed away in a crowd. This was to make space for the massive sword to land.

Thud!

As the flying sword as massive as a battleship landed, a heavy vibration was felt.

Around thirty cultivators riding the giant sword stepped down in an orderly fashion.

Wuuung!

Along with a sword hum that made his heart tremble just by hearing it, the flying sword that was larger than an ordinary building began to shrink.

It instantly became an ordinary longsword that could be held in one hand and flew up with a whir.

Clack!

The flying sword that rose on its own was retrieved into the scabbard of the man with a cool impression.

‘…Golden Core sword cultivator.’

Just as Jin So-myeong narrowed his eyes.

His gaze met the expressionless Golden Core sword cultivator. Before he could flinch and react.

The Golden Core merchant’s gaze vanished faster than it had arrived.

At that moment.

The bizarre pressure weighing down on his shoulders vanished cleanly.

‘Ah.’

He realized simultaneously that the momentum he barely endured was not even intended by the Golden Core sword cultivator.

It was merely the presence scattered by the flying sword that had reached Rank 3.

Since continuously observing an expert was extremely rude, Jin So-myeong inspected the Giant Sword Sect disciples behind him.

‘Are they the disciples of a Golden Core-grade immortal sect?’

There were about thirty of them, and without exception, every single one was in the late Qi Condensation stage.

Judging by their sharp auras, they were all sword cultivators, and their attitudes were different from the Red Yang Sect disciples right from the start.

Standing in an orderly fashion with their hands on their sword hilt, they looked confident.

There was no trace of tension whatsoever. Rather, only a subtle anticipation was felt.

‘Indeed.’

They were not to be underestimated just because they were thirty.

They could not even be compared with other riffraff who were merely large in numbers.

Everyone was a genius with the potential to achieve Foundation Establishment.

Did they really come because they needed the Foundation Establishment spiritual objects?

No way.

The reason the disciples of the immortal sect came to the dangerous secret realm was only one.

‘Trial.’

Because they realized through long experience that one could never go far without the experience of putting their life on the line.

They used the secret realm as a training ground.

It was different from most Foundation Establishment forces that tightly hid their successors and tried not to send them to dangerous places.

‘It can’t be helped.’

For the Red Yang Sect or the Three Great Families, Foundation Establishment was the final destination.

This was because reaching Foundation Establishment was enough to protect and maintain their forces.

Beyond that… it was an extremely difficult path.

It was not simply a matter of courage.

If a successor died while challenging beyond Foundation Establishment, what would happen to the numerous family members who relied on them?

Being able to challenge while risking life, disregarding everything, was an action possible only for someone who had no burdens on their shoulders.

‘That is the price for cultivating with the family’s help.’

Just as Jin So-myeong was lost in thought.

The Golden Core sword cultivator, who folded his arms with an expression indifferent to all matters, opened his mouth.

“Listen, everyone! This opening of the Red Cloud Secret Realm is managed by our Giant Sword Sect. I dislike long speeches, so I will get straight to the point.”

The Golden Core sword cultivator, who paused for a moment to draw attention, spoke in a cold voice.

“It doesn’t matter who it is! If you collect five Foundation Establishment spiritual objects in the secret realm and present them to our Giant Sword Sect, we will give you one Foundation Establishment Pill. Also, if you wish, we will escort you to a nearby market. Judge for yourself what is the wise course of action!”

The Golden Core sword cultivator’s speech ended, but no one replied.

They just stood politely with submissively bowed heads.

“The secret realm will be open only for one month. If you do not want to die, make sure to find the exit and return within the time limit.”

Listening closely, Jin So-myeong nodded.

The method of coming out of the secret realm was simple yet difficult.

One had to find the exit generated in a random location in the vast space to escape.

If heard vaguely, one would consider it impossible, but since they discovered a few locations with a high probability of being the exit through accumulated experiences, it was fully possible.

“Fine. From now on, I will open the secret realm.”

At the Golden Core merchant’s signal, the Giant Sword Sect disciples began to move diligently.

They planted flag-like objects throughout the wasteland, seeming to try to open the secret realm using the power of the formation.

Did about three to four hours pass?

“Master. We are ready.”

Simultaneously with the polite words of a Giant Sword Sect disciple.

The Golden Core sword cultivator, who had been standing still, slowly gripped his sword.

Shring!

The moment the sword was drawn with a desolate metallic sound.

A sharp sword intent weighed down on everyone.

“Ugh…”

Groans mixed with pain did not cease all around.

Not only the Qi Condensation cultivators but even the Foundation Establishment experts could not move before the sharp aura of the Golden Core sword cultivator.

Slice!

From top to bottom.

A clear trace drawn vertically appeared in the empty air.

Rumble!

Along with a massive vibration, something appeared in the empty air. A swirling massive darkness spread out centering on the slash.

“The s-secret realm!”

“Finally!”

“The Foundation Establishment spiritual object is mine!”

The excited cultivators shouted with bloodshot eyes, and the Golden Core sword cultivator, who had sheathed his sword before he knew it, frowned.

He carefully inspected the secret realm’s entrance, wondering if something had gone wrong.

“Master? Is there by chance some problem?”

The sword cultivator, who was silent at the disciple’s question, shook his head.

“It is nothing. It was just strange because the secret realm seemed to open too easily compared to last time.”

“Ah! That is a good thing! Doesn’t it mean Master’s strength has become greater.”

“Well…”

Slide.

Folding his arms again, the Golden Core sword cultivator gestured lightly with his chin. Pointing at the dark vortex created in the empty air, he spoke.

“Those who wish may enter. However! No one will take responsibility for your lives.”

Simultaneously with the permission falling.

Numerous people rushed into the secret realm as if pouring in.

“You all go quickly too. Do not forget to be alert to the surroundings as soon as you enter!”

“Yes!”

The disciples shouted loudly at the command of Elder Beom, Beom Chang’s uncle and a Red Yang Sect elder.

Everyone was infected by the intense heat and rushed toward the secret realm.

Jin So-myeong was no exception!

*

Flash!

Feeling a slight headache, Jin So-myeong hurriedly took a stance.

He kept alert to the surroundings while pointing his sword. He looked around meticulously, but no sound was heard.

‘Is no one here?’

All those many people who had been at the entrance had vanished.

This was because they were scattered in all directions due to the restriction existing in the secret realm.

‘A desert?’

The first thing he felt upon entering the Red Cloud Secret Realm was intense heat.

Whoosh…

A hot wind mixed with sand brushed past his cheek, and since it had no moisture at all, it tingled.

Suddenly, the warning the drunken old man made a few days ago came to mind.

‘They said this place was extremely hot even just a week ago?’

It was hot, but not to the extent of being unendurable.

Since the old man wouldn’t have lied, it would be related to the secret realm opening in a thirty-year cycle.

Shaking his head, Jin So-myeong contemplated what this could mean.

‘It is not something to think about right now.’

He inspected the surrounding terrain and objects first.

Looking at the desert stretching endlessly in all directions, he regulated his breathing.

Swish!

Casting the Wind Control Art, he leapt vertically. As his field of vision became higher, what had been invisible was revealed.

Green zones existing sparsely among the golden sand captured his attention.

‘Seeing it in person is indeed fascinating…’

To think there is a dense forest in the middle of the desert.

It was a unique place where intense vital energy and a desolate environment existed simultaneously.

Thud.

Landing on the ground, he stroked his chin.

He compared the landscape with the map in his head, which he had completely memorized over and over. This was to grasp his current location.

‘It seems to be the outskirts of the secret realm…’

Just as he was looking around in all directions.

Feeling his hair stand on end, he immediately kicked off the ground.

The moment he backed away using the Rising Dragon Steps specialized in short-distance movement.

Boom!

A powerful pillar of fire surged from the spot he had just been standing. The fatal heat was enough to dry out his mouth.

Clank!

Pointing the Limitless Divine Sword, he gathered his concentration.

As the sand dust that rose sharply settled, the identity of the assailant was revealed.

‘A demonic beast!’

A three-meter-sized massive tentacle was wriggling within the pillar of fire.

Every time the hole presumed to be its mouth opened, dozens of sharp fangs were revealed, which was disgusting.

Sizzle…!

The tentacle demonic beast, which resembled an earthworm at a glance, shook its head.

It spat lava as if drooling, and that sight made him feel alert beyond being unpleasant.

Screeech!

Simultaneously with a grating shriek.

The part presumed to be the tentacle’s belly swelled sharply, and dark red fireballs poured down like rain.

Boom, boom, boom!

Hot heat shook the desert.

Jin So-myeong, who dodged all dozens of fire bullets, kicked off the ground.

Wielding the Rank 1 highest-grade dharma treasure, the Limitless Divine Sword that contained Sword Qi.

Screeech!

The tentacle, split in two, wriggled as if going wild, but its life force was incredibly tough.

The severed part was healing at a speed visible to the eye.

‘Ha.’

Jin So-myeong, shaking off the bodily fluid on his sword, frowned.

Only after swinging the sword several more times and completely turning its brain into mush did the movement stop.

‘Its regenerative power is outstanding.’

Normally, the meat of such a demonic beast was highly useful as it increased physical recovery.

However, since its appearance was an earthworm… no, a tentacle, he instinctively recoiled.

‘…Let’s pack it for now.’

Since he obtained meat that would be of great help to the body tempering method, he could not throw it away just because its appearance was repulsive.

Besides, who knew. It might be as delicious as a heavenly delicacy.

‘Although I don’t want to eat it no matter how delicious it is.’

Drawing a dagger, Jin So-myeong butchered it. He selected only the parts that looked most precious and placed them in his sub-space.

After quickly finishing the harvesting.

He pulled out his Red Yang Sect name tablet from his bosom and contemplated.

If he injected spiritual Qi into this name tablet, he could share his location with other Red Yang Sect disciples.

Joining them was not a difficult task either.

‘Let’s travel alone for now.’

Since he had gathered a vast amount of information even before entering the Red Cloud Secret Realm.

There were a few things worth testing by himself.

Slap.

Wearing the Faceless Mask, Jin So-myeong transformed into a young man in his twenties with an ordinary impression.

He even transformed the Green Bamboo Dharma Robe, choosing a grey long robe that an ordinary rogue cultivator would wear instead of the Red Yang Sect attire.

Swish!

After estimating the approximate direction, he cast the Wind Control Art.

Flying toward the direction presumed to be the center, he inspected the terrain and landmarks.

What was most urgent right now was to grasp his precise current location.

‘Found it!’

How long did he run around? He finally discovered a structure that could specify his location.

It was a rock resembling a human face, which exactly matched the information he had seen on the Red Cloud Secret Realm map.

Thud.

Landing near the rock, Jin So-myeong’s eyes shone. Seeing that there was even a forest full of vital energy nearby, it was certain.

‘Good. If I go south like this, it is the center where the Foundation Establishment spiritual objects are.’

Just as he was about to move his steps, he froze.

This was because a bright red flower blooming under a tree three meters away captured his attention.

‘Red Blood Herb?’

This spiritual herb, red as blood, was a spiritual herb that was of great help to body tempering.

Since its effect was far superior to the Qi and Blood Pills Jin So-myeong mainly consumed, it was quite expensive.

‘Did it cost around one hundred spirit stones…?’

There was no reason to leave behind a spiritual object that appeared before his eyes.

He plucked the spiritual herb and placed it in his bosom. The moment he stored it in his sub-space as if putting it in a storage pouch.

Thud!

An arrow flew in and pierced Jin So-myeong’s temple.

It possessed such powerful force that the tree next to him was shattered.

“I hit him! …Uh?”

The voice filled with joy was dyed with embarrassment.

This was because Jin So-myeong’s figure pierced by the arrow dispersed like an afterimage.

Looking at it now, what was hit was not his temple but merely a tree.

Glance.

Jin So-myeong, who evaded the arrow in just a single step, met the gaze of a rogue cultivator.

“Heup!”

The rogue cultivator who attacked was startled and tried to flee, but he did not show mercy.

Kicking off the ground just like that, he charged faster than an arrow.

“W-wait a moment! I was wrong—”

Slash!

The moment the sharp blade scattered sword light.

The eyes of the rogue cultivator, who belatedly drew a dharma treasure and tried to resist, lost their light.

He had cut off the neck with a sword swung relentlessly.