Chapter 46 – Desperate Fight (2)

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

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

Above the volcanic area thick with poison-mixed ash.

Jin So-myeong thrust his sword toward the old Foundation Establishment monster.

Boom!

The blade enveloped in a golden haze clashed incessantly with the shield.

“Ugh!”

He chased and chased the old Foundation Establishment monster who backed away continuously. He drove him hard without giving even a single moment’s opening.

“Ahahaha!”

Even though it was painful enough to die because of the poison and the curse, seeing the distorted expression of the enemy made him laugh.

Following the thumping sound of his heart, he kept rushing in without backing away even a single step.

This was because of his instinctive judgment that if he missed this opportunity, it would be the end.

“You fellow!”

The old monster, whose complexion had turned dark after inhaling the poison-mixed ash, scolded loudly, and a vast spiritual Qi raged around him.

To widen the distance between himself and him who clung tenaciously, the old monster could not bear it and exploded his spiritual Qi.

At that moment, Jin So-myeong’s eyes shone.

‘An opportunity!’

This was a secret realm. An attack of that magnitude consumed a massive amount of spiritual Qi.

Even if he was an old Foundation Establishment monster, since he was restricted to the Qi Condensation stage, he must not have much spiritual Qi left!

He gathered the River and Cloud Sword Qi, specialized in twisting the flow, at the tip of the blade.

The gap existing between the roar-mixed spiritual Qi. He stabbed his Sword Qi toward that spot, and…

Slash!

Twisting the violently raging spiritual Qi, he threw his body forward.

Instead of backing away, he took another step forward and swung the Limitless Divine Sword.

Clang!

Although the shield dharma treasure which reacted quickly stood in the way, it did not matter.

If once was not enough, then twice.

He kept trying until it worked.

“You…!”

A vicious fight continued with the old monster who tried to shake him off somehow.

A war of attrition!

The one whose spiritual Qi was consumed first would die.

Of course, he did not know who would win. Though his cultivation was restricted to Qi Condensation, the opponent was originally at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Despite all kinds of restrictions, his spiritual Qi was twice as much as Jin So-myeong’s.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Jin So-myeong also had something he trusted.

The spiritual Qi flowing in from the Secret Realm of the Mind, which was connected to the depths of his soul!

This was because, thanks to it, his recovery speed was faster than others.

Resisting the curse that ate away at his body from the inside with his tough physical form, he swung his sword like crazy.

“Tenacious! Why do you not die!”

Cough!

He had already vomited blood countless times. He did not even care about his front, which was dyed red.

Even ignoring the pain of his flesh rotting.

Only one thing. He looked only at the opponent.

Gathering the Sword Qi that was about to disperse, he stabbed and slashed along the path led by the Limitless Divine Sword.

He had already long surpassed the point he had considered his limit.

The moment the strike of his entire soul, thrown unconsciously, clashed with the shield.

Shatter!

The blade, piercing through the shield, penetrated the heart.

“You…!”

The man in black, who vomited blood with a surge, tried to shout something but paused. He looked up at the sky with a hollow expression.

“Damn it. To think there would be a fellow like you in a backwater place like this.”

The eyes that were looking at empty air as if aggrieved split.

This was because a long red line running diagonally divided him in two.

Thud!

Simultaneously with the collapsed corpse.

The tottering Jin So-myeong shook his head. He forced his body, which felt as if it would collapse at any moment, to stand upright.

He poked the opponent with the tip of his sword.

It was to check if he was truly dead, or if it was perhaps a clone.

‘…It is the real deal.’

The moment he became certain of the powerful enemy’s death after several tests.

All sorts of pain rushed in.

His entire body was a mess. Especially the curse and poison collapsing him from the inside were the problems.

Crunch!

He stuffed himself with all kinds of pills and antidotes within his grasp and sat down.

Holding spirit stones, he focused on breathing.

Humming!

Every time spiritual Qi filled his dantian, he infused it into his five viscera to convert it into blood energy.

It was to heal his body which had become a rag.

A short time.

Jin So-myeong, who had recovered just enough to catch his breath, stood up.

This was the deepest part, the most dangerous area in the secret realm. He could not sit leisurely in a place like this.

“Hoo.”

Jin So-myeong, who was forcing his tired body to move, glanced down.

He saw the corpse split diagonally and divided in two.

It was chilling that even in death, it glared at him. It was the strongest enemy he had faced so far.

‘…Still, I won.’

He had staked everything he had built up and won. That was enough.

Stroking his sword out of habit, he furrowed his brow.

This was because of a faint whisper captured by his senses, which had become extremely sensitive due to the life-or-death battle.

Gathering all his newly recovered spiritual Qi, he enhanced his hearing.

“It seems to be this way.”

“But is it really okay to go? It seems dangerous.”

“If you’re scared, back out. What would be the reason for them fighting so fiercely? It’s all because of treasures.”

The whispering voice in the distance was as clear as if speaking right next to him. Thanks to awakening Divine Sense, even his five senses had become stronger.

‘Tsk.’

He had known that jackals seeking a fisherman’s profit would seek him out, but for them to be this fast.

There was no time to quietly indulge in sentiment.

‘Still, I must take what needs to be taken.’

As much as it was a hard-fought victory, he absolutely had to obtain the reward. After obtaining everything, including the storage pouch of the Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator.

He pulled out a Breath Concealing Talisman from the sub-space and burned it.

Fortunately or unfortunately, concealment was easy.

This was because the spiritual Qi he had stabilized as a temporary measure had all been refined in the extreme combat.

Swish!

Just as he hurriedly left the place borrowing the power of the talisman.

Vaguely, a tongue-clicking sound was heard.

“What, he’s already dead.”

“Tsk. A step too late.”

Following the voice that sounded regretful.

“W-Wait a minute. I think I’ve seen this person somewhere…?”

“Sigh. Just who is it that you are so surprised?”

“Heh! F-Foundation Establishment! A Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator died in the secret realm!”

“What…? That’s impossible!”

“It’s certain! This person is definitely from the White Horse Sect—”

The astounded cultivators chattered noisily, but Jin So-myeong did not hear them.

This was because the distance had become too far and he could no longer hear.

‘I’m tired.’

He needed a safe place to rest.

At this moment, he was not even curious about what was inside the storage pouch he had just obtained.

He just wanted to take a deep sleep.

Dragging his heavy steps as he moved, Jin So-myeong furrowed his brow.

Although he had found a cave that looked relatively safe, some demonic beast was sleeping there.

Snort… Snort…

It was a wolf whose size was about three to four meters, and since its fur was sharp like blades, it looked to have a ferocious temperament at a glance.

Perhaps because it was the deepest part, the most dangerous area in the secret realm, finding a safe place was not easy.

‘Groan.’

With his physical condition at its worst like now, he could not even defeat one such demonic beast.

Just as he was pondering a solution while pressing his brow.

Suddenly, the Red Yang Sect nameplate came to mind, and he took it out from the sub-space.

‘…Should I check it just in case.’

If he received the help of the Red Yang Sect disciples, resting for a while would not be difficult.

He first checked Beom Chang’s location, which was unexpected. This was because he was considerably close.

Seeing the fellow near the entrance of the Elixir Refining Room where the pillar of light had shot up, his brow furrowed.

‘He was alive?’

He had definitely commanded Beom Chang to obstruct others from approaching.

Yet not only Cheong Hwa-ran but even the old Foundation Establishment monster entered the Elixir Refining Room.

This meant Beom Chang had failed to stop them.

‘Since Cheong Hwa-ran entered considerably quickly, it can be seen that Beom Chang was late, but what about the old Foundation Establishment monster?’

Of course, he did not think that with Beom Chang’s ability, he could stop the old Foundation Establishment monster.

However, if he stood in the way of the old monster who seemed far from merciful and yet was perfectly alive…

‘Something is strange.’

Jin So-myeong, who was lost in thought, burned another Breath Concealing Talisman.

He carefully approached the location pointed to by the Red Yang Sect nameplate.

The moment he climbed to the top of a forty-meter tree and elevated his eyesight.

He saw Beom Chang pacing with an anxious expression in the canyon near the pillar of light.

‘It is him.’

It was certain. Someone else had not picked up the nameplate and disguised themselves.

Mobilizing even his Divine Sense, he closely inspected the fellow’s appearance.

Being covered in dirt, he seemed to have experienced a considerably troublesome matter.

About a dozen Red Yang Sect disciples were also together next to him, and they were also a mess.

As if they had rolled on the ground, their clothes were dirty, torn in places with blood dripping.

‘Could they have been beaten by that old Foundation Establishment monster?’

Stroking his chin, Jin So-myeong made a decision.

Tidying up his messy appearance as much as possible with a Cleansing Talisman, he pulled out a Voice Transmission Talisman and conveyed news to Beom Chang.

– Brother. I have arrived just now. I would like to speak briefly in private.

The moment the Voice Transmission Talisman that flew off reached Beom Chang.

The fellow’s expression brightened instantly.

Commanding the surrounding Red Yang Sect disciples something, he approached toward Jin So-myeong alone.

“Brother! You have finally come!”

“Don’t even mention it. I got trapped in some restriction on my way and suffered miserably before barely escaping.”

When Jin So-myeong spoke in a tired tone, Beom Chang paused. He scanned the surroundings with a slightly frightened expression.

“B-Brother. Why are you suddenly using polite language when it’s just the two of us? It makes me anxious.”

“…Hmm.”

Jin So-myeong, who closely observed the cowering Beom Chang, nodded.

“I was just checking just in case. What on earth happened to make you look like that?”

“That… I tried to block other people at the pillar of light as you ordered, Brother, but I ran into some monster-like guy and almost died.”

“A monster? Tell me in detail.”

“Uh, as soon as I received Brother’s command, I dragged all the surrounding Red Yang Sect disciples and ran to the pillar of light. When we arrived, there was some array.”

“And?”

“At first, nothing happened. We waited for you, Brother, while testing if we could pierce the array. A few minor characters attacked, but we blocked them without difficulty.”

“Did the monster appear then?”

“Yes. He was a tremendous powerhouse. With a few waves of his hand, all of our Red Yang Sect disciples fell. When I came to my senses, I had already fainted and woken up.”

Listening closely, Jin So-myeong furrowed his brow.

It was indeed as he had expected. However, because of that, it was even more of a question.

“And there are no dead?”

“Yes. Everyone is injured, but they are fine.”

“Why did such a strong person spare you all?”

“Uh… well. Perhaps he did not want to become enemies with our Red Yang Sect?”

“Hah.”

His strength drained away.

Hearing the absurd nonsense, he realized. Beom Chang knew absolutely nothing.

‘…’

Jin So-myeong did not forget the thick smell of blood coming from the man in black.

That old monster was a person for whom slaughter was a daily routine.

‘Why did he spare them? Does it have some connection to the Red Yang Sect?’

Suddenly, he remembered how the messy Red Yang Sect had won a fierce competition and came to dominate the market.

Jin So-myeong, who was pondering habitually, paused.

What did it matter to him what secrets the Red Yang Sect held? It was no longer his concern now.

“Brother. Please do not be too angry. It is not that I disobeyed the command. It is just that my ability was lacking, so inevitably—”

“Forget it. Since there is such a powerful person at the pillar of light, it is better to give up.”

In any case, since he no longer had a Restriction-Breaking Talisman, it was difficult to enter again.

Especially since cultivators who arrived late would be swarming the entrance.

“Is there anywhere to rest?”

“Ah! I have dug a decent tunnel. Let’s go there.”

*

A few days later.

“Junior Brother Jin. Are you really going to travel alone?”

“Yes. Though traveling together would be safe, obtaining Foundation Establishment spiritual objects will become more difficult. Even if we manage to obtain a few, we would have to divide them.”

“…That is true. Alright, see you outside.”

Jin So-myeong, who had become perfectly fine in a few days thanks to his powerful recovery ability, left the Red Yang Sect disciples.

Glancing back, he saw his senior brothers and sisters, along with Beom Chang, waving and saying goodbye.

‘I don’t know if we will meet again.’

For some reason, he felt unburdened.

Heading as far into the outskirts as possible, Jin So-myeong pulled out a jade box from his chest.

It was something Beom Chang, who had come secretly just before his departure, had provided for him.

Click.

Opening it, he saw the red flower of a familiar appearance, making him let out a hollow laugh.

‘To offer a Foundation Establishment spiritual object without even being asked. Is this a bribe to look kindly upon him in the future?’

In any case, it was good. Thanks to this, his Foundation Establishment spiritual objects had increased to five in total.

It was an amount that could definitely secure a Foundation Establishment Pill if exchanged with the Giant Sword Sect.

Now, the remaining work was simple.

Gathering treasures as much as possible until the exit opened, and simply leaving the Red Yang Market.

‘Ah, right!’

Jin So-myeong, who had stopped his steps, felt around his waist. He pulled out the storage pouch he had obtained from fighting for his life against the old Foundation Establishment monster.

Just how much wealth would a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator, who could live for over two hundred years, have gathered?

With expecting anticipation, he examined the storage pouch here and there.

‘Hmm?’

He injected spiritual Qi, but it was bounced back.

It was somehow different from the storage pouches used by Qi Condensation cultivators.

It was locked tightly, making it utterly impossible to open. He scanned it with his Divine Sense, but felt only a complex restriction.

‘Tsk. It seems it will take several months to open?’

Because it was a restriction combining arrays and Divine Sense, he did not even have a clue on how to unravel it.

The first method that came to mind was to forge his Divine Sense like a blade and scrape it away little by little.

Though it would be laborious and hard, it was a sure solution.

‘…Wait a minute. What if I absorb the storage pouch entirely into the sub-space, what will happen to the contents?’

Thinking of this, he checked immediately.

He used one of his Supreme Great Ability spheres that had recovered while resting well for a few days.

【Consuming 10 Supreme Great Ability spheres will preserve the contents.】

Jin So-myeong’s expression brightened instantly.

Though it would have been a considerably burdensome number in the past, it was different now.

This was because as he became an 8th layer Qi Condensation cultivator, his Supreme Great Ability spheres had increased to 190.

Gathering ten was sufficient in just two days!

‘Of course, it is possible even now.’

Counting the piled-up golden spheres, Jin So-myeong’s eyes shone.

The Secret Realm of the Mind never disappointed him.

Without having to suffer over several months, he could completely obtain the Foundation Establishment-grade storage pouch!