Chapter 41 – Treasure Vault

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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【If absorbed, the characteristic allowing living creatures to live in the sub-space will be added.】

I wanted to accept immediately, but I held back for now.

This was because I did not know what would happen to the contents inside if I absorbed the Beast-Taming Pouch.

‘Shall we see what is inside?’

He injected spiritual Qi to examine the inside of the Beast-Taming Pouch, but the unexpected gruesome sight made him feel nauseous.

This was because hundreds of bizarre insects, including wasps and mantises, were all dead.

Thud, thud!

He flipped the Beast-Taming Pouch upside down. He poured out all the insect corpses that emitted a fishy smell.

‘Did they die together when their master died?’

Since spiritual beasts and spiritual insects also possessed intelligence, they could not be easily controlled.

To handle them properly, one had to learn the relevant cultivation method and form a contract with them from the moment they were born.

It seemed that the man in black had made it so that all the insects would die along with him when he died.

“Hmm?”

While shaking the Beast-Taming Pouch clean, he lowered his gaze. This was because he saw larvae wriggling amidst the pile of corpses.

‘Did they just hatch and not have a contract?’

Crunch, crunch.

Watching the larvae devouring the corpses of their own kind, he pulled out the last remaining object in the Beast-Taming Pouch.

‘It is a jade slip.’

As he placed the light purple jade stone to his forehead, four characters first floated into his mind.

Secret Teachings of the Insect Dao .

Starting with the name, a vast amount of information poured in.

Upon a brief look, it was a compilation of methods for raising various insects, including the Black Slaughter Insects handled by the man in black.

“Mmm…”

The wriggling larvae before his eyes were also Black Slaughter Insects. Out of curiosity, he scanned the rearing method, and his brow furrowed.

This was because it was too vicious.

They had to be fed human blood every day to grow, and to meet the amount demanded by a hundred Black Slaughter Insects, one had to kill five people every month.

Although it was written that in the early stages, they could be fed the blood of mortals rather than Qi Condensation cultivators…

‘This is a bit much.’

Even for Jin So-myeong, who valued becoming strong, this was difficult to accept.

Of course, as difficult as the Black Slaughter Insects were to raise, they were that powerful.

Once they became adults, they would harbor a lethal poison, and this poison was virulent enough to be a threat even to a 9th layer Qi Condensation cultivator.

‘They explode like a poison smoke bomb when they die?’

If the Black Slaughter Insects had been adults, he would not have won as easily as he just did.

“Hmm.”

Stroking his chin, Jin So-myeong meticulously memorized the contents of the jade slip.

It was not to raise the Black Slaughter Insects.

It was to find out how to deal with them the next time he encountered such insects.

‘I must either kill them before they approach, or quickly raise the stage of my Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art. Then my resistance to poison will increase tremendously.’

Nodding, Jin So-myeong threw the jade slip into a corner of the sub-space.

He paid no further attention to the Black Slaughter Insects.

Once one crossed the line, they were bound to fall into an endless abyss.

Since he was confident in becoming strong without relying on such insects, it was not particularly tempting.

Screech!

Perhaps unsatisfied even after eating the corpses of their own kind, he sliced up all the larvae wriggling towards him.

After that.

With expectation, he absorbed the Beast-Taming Pouch to reinforce his sub-space.

‘Let’s see.’

The sub-space was an ability derived from the Secret Realm of the Mind. As it was a divine ability engraved upon his soul, he naturally realized how to use it.

‘…First of all, I cannot enter.’

Scanning the information in his head, Jin So-myeong moved swiftly.

He caught just any random insect nearby and tried putting it into the sub-space.

After waiting for about a minute, he took it out, and seeing it moving around perfectly fine made him smile.

‘Good. With this sub-space, it will be convenient when growing spiritual herbs in the Secret Realm of the Mind.’

Smiling with satisfaction, he moved on to the next harvest.

He scanned another storage pouch and was first able to find a Red Capture Fruit.

‘Did he plan to destroy the tree after already taking his share?’

In any case, it was fine. Including the one he had picked himself, there were two Red Capture Fruits in total.

Next, Jin So-myeong’s eyes shone as he looked at the miscellaneous dharma treasures with joy.

This was because he discovered a jade box tightly wrapped in talismans.

‘A Foundation Establishment spiritual object!?’

Opening it in a hurry, it was indeed so! Inside the jade box lay a Nourishing Jade Essence Flower, from which a blazing heat and vitality could be felt.

The corners of his mouth hooked up so high they seemed about to tear.

‘Good, good.’

He had already gathered three Foundation Establishment spiritual objects.

Now, if he could just find a skilled master elixir refiner, making a Foundation Establishment Pill would not be difficult.

‘If I gather just two more, I can even exchange them with the Giant Sword Sect.’

According to what Jin So-myeong had investigated, the Giant Sword Sect was reasonably trustworthy.

If one gave them five Foundation Establishment spiritual objects, they would actually exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

He was conflicted between relying on the reputation of a Golden Core-grade immortal sect to gather five and exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, or trusting a thirty percent success rate to commission the refining.

‘…Let’s think about that later.’

For now, he properly stored the Foundation Establishment spiritual object.

He put it into the sub-space so that no one could take it away, and examined the next harvest.

‘A wooden box?’

After pulling out a gold-leafed wooden box and inspecting it here and there to see if there was any restriction.

As he opened it carefully, his eyes narrowed.

The wooden box contained a single talisman, which looked special at a glance as its geometric patterns glowed faintly.

‘…A Rank 1 Restriction-Breaking Talisman !’

Although it was his first time seeing one in person, he could recognize it because it was an extremely famous item.

What was the core that protected the base of a force like the Red Yang Sect?

It was none other than arrays.

The Restriction-Breaking Talisman was a talisman specialized in piercing through such array barriers, making it a sort of strategic resource.

With this talisman, even breaking through the ice wall would not be difficult. This was because it was also effective against physical barriers.

It was incredibly useful, but so rare that ordinary forces would not even dare to dream of it.

This was because only talisman makers who had reached the realm of masters could produce them in extremely small quantities.

‘A Restriction-Breaking Talisman… What a suspicious fellow.’

A certain plaque was hidden in a corner of the storage pouch, and because it continuously emitted spiritual Qi, it seemed to be transmitting its location to someone.

After pondering something deeply, Jin So-myeong waved his hand.

Plop!

He threw the plaque into the river visible in the distance. He nodded as he watched it drift away along the swift current.

Afterward, he purified the storage pouch entirely with his Supreme Great Ability.

He blocked any potential tracking methods and put all the treasures, including the Restriction-Breaking Talisman, into the sub-space.

‘I must hurry.’

Judging by the time, the ice wall would be breached soon.

Since competitors would flock here soon, he had to move deep into the secret realm.

*

Three days later.

Arriving at a steep canyon, Jin So-myeong let out a sigh.

‘Not here either.’

According to the map, a Foundation Establishment spiritual object should have been here, but there was nothing.

It was filled only with traces of broken and scorched combat. It meant someone had already been here.

‘Is it a bust today too?’

For the result of running around diligently without even sleeping properly, it was hollow.

The competition was too fierce.

It had only been a few days since the secret realm opened, yet all sorts of places had already been looted.

As time passed, obtaining Foundation Establishment spiritual objects would become even more difficult.

‘Still, it is a relief that I obtained three.’

If he did not have the Foundation Establishment spiritual objects he had secured on the first day, he would have been incredibly anxious by now.

Looking at the empty spot, Jin So-myeong ran towards the next target.

He had to move instead of wasting time complaining. Doing his best at all times was his nature.

However, contrary to his will, reality was harsh.

Just as he, who had ended up empty-handed several more times, was frowning.

Far away, a faint scream was heard from beyond the horizon.

‘Let’s go check it out.’

An instinctive calculation was made in an instant, and concealing his presence, he headed towards the place where the disturbance had occurred.

He saw two Qi Condensation cultivators, one chasing the other…

‘Red Yang Sect?’

The clothing of the fleeing woman was familiar.

Although it was torn here and there and turned into rags, it was definitely the disciple uniform of the Red Yang Sect.

The Red Yang Sect disciple, whose hair had become disheveled as she fled desperately, shouted while sobbing.

“Why do you keep chasing me! I already gave you my storage pouch!”

“Heh!”

A large rogue cultivator with a bushy beard sneered.

Driving her like chasing prey, he pulled out a rope-type dharma treasure from his chest and threw it.

Swish!

The rope, swimming through the air as if it were alive, flew rapidly and snagged the ankle of the Red Yang Sect disciple.

“Ah!”

Simultaneously with a tearing scream, the disciple, who fell flat with a thud, was bound in an instant.

Because the rope that climbed up from her ankle wrapped tightly around her body, she could no longer escape.

“Hehehe. I finally caught you.”

“Sob!”

Just as the completely despondent Red Yang Sect disciple lowered her head deeply.

Licking his lips as if savoring a taste, the rogue cultivator said.

“You wench. What makes you so aggrieved? If you absolutely need a reason to die, this grandfather will tell you.”

Flinch.

Trembling, the Red Yang Sect disciple carefully raised her head. Even while fearing death, she could not suppress her curiosity.

Enjoying that sight leisurely, the rogue cultivator grinned and said.

“That you, wench, are weaker than me is that very reason! Bwahahaha!”

“Ah.”

Perhaps realizing only then that she had been trifled with, the Red Yang Sect disciple bit her lip.

However, since she had no way to resist, she could only glare with bloodshot eyes, when suddenly.

“In that case, you won’t have any complaints either.”

Simultaneously with a calm voice echoing in the air, a white flash of sword light grazed the rogue cultivator’s neck and passed.

“…!”

“Even if you die, that is.”

The head of the wide-eyed rogue cultivator fell with a thud. Without even being able to react, he turned into a headless corpse.

A single strike.

Ending the situation with a single swing of his sword, Jin So-myeong revealed himself.

After taking the two storage pouches the rogue cultivator was wearing.

He looked down at the Red Yang Sect disciple bound tightly in the rope.

“T-Thank you for saving me!”

Currently, Jin So-myeong had changed his face with the Faceless Mask. Naturally, the Red Yang Sect disciple could not recognize him.

Yet she thanked him first.

He could not tell if she was quick-witted or just desperate to live.

“Which of these storage pouches is yours?”

“The one with the blue flower engraved on it. But…”

Hesitating for a brief moment, she smiled awkwardly and said.

“Senior, if there is anything you need, you may take all of it.”

“Hmm.”

He did not refuse what was offered. He quickly scanned what was inside the storage pouch with the blue flower.

‘Nothing much.’

It was the storage pouch of a typically poor cultivator. Honestly, at Jin So-myeong’s current level of wealth, there was not a single thing he coveted.

Losing interest, he tossed the storage pouch to her.

Then, he retrieved the rope dharma treasure and freed her from the bindings.

“Ah! Thank you so much! If you could at least tell me your name, Senior, I will surely repay this favor!”

Perhaps finally feeling genuinely relieved, she bowed her head repeatedly.

“No need. I saved you because I have a connection with the Red Yang Sect, so do not mind it.”

It was literally as he said.

Since it was not a particularly difficult task, he had simply helped her and had no intention of revealing his identity.

Swish!

Leaving just like that, Jin So-myeong examined the rogue cultivator’s storage pouch. He hoped there would be something useful inside.

‘Oh!’

Was it thanks to his earnestness?

The red flower inside the storage pouch welcomed him! The Foundation Establishment spiritual object that the rogue cultivator had obtained from somewhere had come into his hands.

‘Finally, there are four!’

Four Foundation Establishment spiritual objects. For something gathered alone, it was an incredibly large amount.

It was certain that those who had gathered more spiritual objects than the current Jin So-myeong were few enough to be counted on one hand.

Of course, he could not be satisfied with this.

For the more Foundation Establishment spiritual objects he had, the better.

Choosing his next target destination, Jin So-myeong furrowed his brow.

It was a headache.

Although many Foundation Establishment spiritual objects marked on the map still remained, it was difficult to judge which places had not been looted.

‘Hoo.’

It was not that there were no other ways to obtain Foundation Establishment spiritual objects.

He could just kill every person he met indiscriminately and take their storage pouches.

It was the method used by most cultivators, but honestly, it was not a very pleasant solution.

‘…Should I rather go to the deepest part of the secret realm?’

A place even deeper than the center.

The deepest part held so many secrets that even the Red Yang Sect could not complete its map.

Unexplored, uncharted lands overflowed. Many fortuitous opportunities would remain.

‘Wait a minute.’

Suddenly, a certain location he had seen on the map flashed through his mind.

It was a place like a ‘treasure vault’ that most cultivators knew of, but no one had been able to enter because the barrier was too strong.

Even stopping his steps, Jin So-myeong pulled out the Restriction-Breaking Talisman from the sub-space.

‘What if I use this talisman and the Supreme Great Ability simultaneously?’

Perhaps he could enter the treasure vault that no one had been able to open for a long time.

Just what was hidden in the core area of the Red Cloud Secret Realm?

‘It would be a jackpot if I could obtain even a Rank 2 cultivation method that is written up to the stage after Foundation Establishment.’

Habitually stroking the Limitless Divine Sword, Jin So-myeong, who had agonized fiercely for an instant, made his decision.