Chapter 48 – Cultivation Holy Land, Azure Elixir City

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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, holding the jade box in which the Foundation Establishment Pill was sealed, scanned his surroundings.

No one was watching. Even the Divine Senses of the old Foundation Establishment monsters were the same.

The Foundation Establishment Pill was too important. Even if it was from a Golden Core immortal sect, he had to verify it.

Click.

Jin So-myeong, who was wishing, carefully opened the jade box.

In an instant, he felt as if he would be intoxicated by the pure fragrance that wafted out.

His head clearing up, it felt as if the fatigue accumulated while being in the secret realm for a month was melting away.

‘···It is correct.’

A dense spiritual Qi was felt from the blue pill. Looking at it as if possessed, he snapped out of it.

He immediately put it into his storage pouch and did not take it out again.

Putting it into the storage pouch instead of the sub-space was simply to be cautious.

Because he did not know how sensitive the Golden Core sword cultivator’s senses were, he did not expose the sub-space.

‘Once the distance widens, I must store it in the sub-space immediately.’

Just as he barely held back the corners of his mouth that kept twitching.

“Daoist Friend. If you wish, I will escort you to the nearby market.”

“Ah, please do.”

“Very well. Then please wait until the secret realm completely closes.”

How long did he wait in the vacant lot guided by the Giant Sword Sect disciple?

He saw the Red Yang Sect disciples who had just emerged from the secret realm.

Especially Beom Chang was looking around all directions incessantly, which was clearly searching for Jin So-myeong.

Since he would leave soon, he did not bother to acknowledge him.

Just as he quietly averted his gaze.

People who had gathered five Foundation Establishment spiritual objects appeared one by one.

They all went through the same process as Jin So-myeong, and no matter how cool-headed a person was, once they held the Foundation Establishment Pill in their hands, their eyes shot with blood.

Some Qi Condensation cultivators even shed tears.

Jin So-myeong, who watched quietly as his excitement subsided before long, understood all of it—what feelings they would have.

‘It must feel like having the world in their hands.’

Twelve people in total.

This was the number of people who had come out after gathering five Foundation Establishment spiritual objects.

‘Tens of thousands entered, yet only twelve?’

Jin So-myeong thought it was considerably few, but the reactions of the surrounding people were the exact opposite.

“Heavens, there are as many as twelve?”

“To think there are so many lucky people! I’m dying of envy!”

“Do you see them as merely lucky people?”

“Then what?”

“Sigh. Forget it.”

Around the time the conversation of the unnamed rogue cultivators ended.

Rumble!

Simultaneously with a roaring sound, the secret realm exit vanished.

The Golden Core sword cultivator who had been motionless like a stone statue opened his eyes slowly.

“This secret realm is ended. Those who have still not come out are no different from dead, so there is no need to wait.”

“Ah…!”

Countless people lamented, steeped in sorrow, but the Golden Core sword cultivator’s attitude was cold.

Without giving even a single glance, he tapped the scabbard.

Swish!

The flying sword that rose on its own enlarged in an instant. Becoming giant like a warship, it radiated an immense sense of oppression.

At that moment, the Golden Core sword cultivator motioned with his chin toward the twelve people, including Jin So-myeong.

“All of you mount. I will escort you to the nearby market myself.”

The twelve people, reading the mood, jumped onto the flying sword without needing to say who went first.

Following them, the moment the Giant Sword Sect disciples who survived the secret realm also climbed on.

The giant sword gained altitude.

By the time the cultivators looking up from the ground became smaller than ants.

Shring!

Simultaneously with a sword cry that made his hair stand on end.

“Ugh!”

A wind fierce enough to blow one away if they let down their guard raged. It was to the point that even Jin So-myeong lost his balance and staggered for a moment.

Quickly taking his stance and scanning the surroundings, the scenery swept past rapidly.

It was too fast for anything to be seen properly.

Just as he was surprised by the tremendous flight speed.

“We have arrived.”

As if merely a few minutes had passed, the Red Yang Market appeared before his eyes before he knew it.

To the twelve wide-mouthed Qi Condensation cultivators, the Golden Core sword cultivator spoke in a calm voice.

“There are no gazes watching this place right now. Do not worry and go your separate ways.”

“…Thank you, Senior!”

Since there was the Golden Core sword cultivator’s guarantee, the matter became easy. Jin So-myeong ran faster than anyone else.

Moving around the most remote places, he changed his appearance dozens of times.

Ultimately becoming a 70-year-old man with thick white hair, he walked through the Inner City leisurely with hands behind his back.

Of course, the Foundation Establishment Pill had already been stored in the sub-space.

“Yawn.”

His eyes, yawning peacefully, scanned the streets. That it was filled with subtle excitement was definitely different from usual.

“Shouldn’t they have arrived at the market by now? I heard there are twelve of them…”

“Let’s find just one person. A senior I know said he would reward heavily if we find the location of a Foundation Establishment Pill. He said it doesn’t matter even if it’s in the Inner City.”

“Heh. If we do well, we’ll make a tidy sum.”

Vaguely, a whisper reached his sensitive hearing.

Scanning with Divine Sense, they were cultivators wearing bamboo hats. It was unusual that they carried a gray rat on their shoulders.

This was because the rat, which looked like a spiritual beast, sniffed incessantly to track odors.

‘Are they tracking the scent of the Foundation Establishment Pill or the Nourishing Jade Essence Flower?’

Jin So-myeong, narrowing his eyes, brushed past them.

The gray rat failed to find any clues and merely continued to sniff.

No matter how specialized a spiritual beast was in sense of smell, it could not detect objects stored in the sub-space.

‘What a relief. It is as expected.’

Inwardly relieved, Jin So-myeong went straight to the Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

“Welcome!”

To the branch steward who greeted him in a familiar manner, he said.

“Manager. I want to board the transport vessel heading to Azure Elixir City, is there a spot?”

“Uh… there is, but where did you hear about the transport vessel?”

“Haha. At my age, how could I not know about the transport vessel? Here are 500 spirit stones, so prepare a spot for me.”

***

Some unnamed market.

In a bustling tavern filled with cultivators.

A hairy man who was gulping down a large goblet of liquor smirked and said.

“Hey. You know about the Red Cloud Secret Realm that has been so noisy lately, right?”

“Of course. If I were just five years younger, I would have challenged it too.”

“Braggart!”

The hairy man gestured to his colleague who smiled awkwardly.

Glancing around, he whispered with a slightly serious face.

“They say a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator died in the Red Cloud Secret Realm.”

“Huh? …Good grief, I thought it was real for a second. How can you make a joke so seriously?”

“It’s true!”

“Hey now! Do you think I’m a fool who would believe that? Even if a hundred Qi Condensation cultivators attack, they cannot defeat a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator!”

“I said it was inside the secret realm. Since they are restricted to the same cultivation, why shouldn’t it be possible?”

“Hmph! It’s because you’ve never met Foundation Establishment that you are swayed by such stupid rumors.”

The hairy man beat his chest with a face that was frustrated to death.

He repeated the same words several times, but it was useless. The opponent did not believe.

“Cut it out. Just drink.”

“Ugh. This is driving me crazy.”

The voices of the two grew louder and louder.

Just as they were arguing back and forth as if about to grab each other by the collar, at that moment.

An old man drinking in the adjacent seat smirked.

“Stop fighting. You don’t seem to know, but the identity of the dead person has already been revealed.”

“Old man. Is that true?”

“Yes. Old Monster Black Net of the White Horse Sect is the protagonist of that rumor. They say he died after going to search for hidden treasures in the Red Cloud Secret Realm carrying a Restriction-Breaking Talisman.”

“W-White Horse Sect?! Those crazy murderous fiends?”

“Hehe.”

The Qi Condensation cultivator who had his mouth wide open flinched. He asked the old man in a subtle tone.

“By the way, a hidden treasure? What is that about?”

“Belch! I’m drunk. Of course I don’t know either.”

“Tsk.”

The disappointed hairy man motioned with his chin to his colleague. It was an attitude as if asking if he had heard clearly what the old man said.

“Ahem. Anyway. If it’s true, it’s really amazing. Just what kind of Qi Condensation cultivator defeated Foundation Establishment?”

“Didn’t they attack as a group?”

“Indeed. It must be so.”

“No! It’s not! You guys really know nothing.”

The old man, who was now drunk to the point of his face being flushed red, chimed in again.

“Tsk, tsk! A Foundation Establishment cultivator who survived in a demonic sect wouldn’t be a fool. Would he fight a crowd head-on? Especially in a secret realm where the cultivation realm is restricted.”

“Then are you saying, old man, that a single Qi Condensation cultivator killed Foundation Establishment? That makes even less sense!”

Gulp… Gulp…

The eyes of the old man sipping from his gourd grew hazily unfocused.

Ignoring the cultivators he had been talking to until just now, he muttered to himself.

“But just what kind of person managed to handle the life essence accumulated over a thousand years at the Qi Condensation level? That truly makes no sense…”

“What is that old man suddenly talking about?”

“…Who knows.”

The Qi Condensation cultivators, looking at the old man with uncomfortable eyes, left their seats one by one.

The old man, whose surroundings had become empty before long, laughed and shouted.

“What does it matter! If there is fate, we shall meet!”

Grasping his gourd and laughing heartily, he disappeared just like that, turning into a beam of light.

***

Aboard the flying transport vessel.

Jin So-myeong, who tried to resolve the resentment smeared on his soul using the Supreme Great Ability, shook his head.

Regrettably, he failed.

‘I must try again after my Divine Sense becomes stronger.’

Leaving the cabin, he moved to the open deck.

Observing intently near the horizon, his eyes shone.

‘Finally arrived!’

Azure Elixir City was visible in the distance. Since it was an overwhelming scale at a glance, a smile came out naturally.

Though there were twists and turns, he had ultimately left the Red Yang Market with a healthy body!

He closely inspected Azure Elixir City, where he believed he would stay for quite a long time if nothing went wrong.

‘It is amazing…’

Just looking at the simple area, it was dozens of times larger than the Red Yang Market.

Looking at the castle walls piled higher than the clouds, the phrase ‘city of immortals’ fit perfectly.

Complex talismanic characters shimmered on each and every brick composing the city walls, which looked extremely safe as a powerful array seemed to be installed.

‘Fitting for a cultivation holy land of rogue cultivators.’

He looked forward to what a province-level city managed by a 3rd realm cultivator, also called a Golden Core Sage, would look like.

First impressions were good for now.

This was because the numerous cultivators passing through the city gates looked very lively.

Thud!

Jin So-myeong, disembarking from the landed transport vessel, approached the city gates.

He stood at the end of a long line, and before long, the gatekeeper spoke in a businesslike manner.

“Is this your first time in Azure Elixir City?”

“Yes.”

“If you tell me your name, I will issue a temporary identity token. For your information, the cost is 5 spirit stones.”

“It is Yeo Dong-bin.”

Soon, the gatekeeper who handed over a wooden plaque engraved with a blue petal said.

“Since Daoist Friend Yeo is in the late Qi Condensation stage, the daily stay fee is 1 spirit stone. How many days will you stay?”

To think there was a fee even for staying in the Outer City. Moreover, it was 1 spirit stone a day.

‘It is fine for me, but isn’t it too expensive?’

His brow furrowed in puzzlement, but the surrounding people were calm.

Since everyone reacted as if it were natural, he could tell it was not a rip-off.

“…I will stay for a month. Here are the spirit stones.”

At Jin So-myeong’s level of wealth anyway, a few spirit stones were nothing.

The moment he paid the stay fee and passed through the city gates.

Air as refreshing as entering a forest welcomed him.

“Ahem.”

“This is amazing.”

Exclamations were heard here and there. Those who had come to Azure Elixir City for the first time like Jin So-myeong were amazed with their mouths wide open.

The reason was simple.

This was because the spiritual Qi concentration was incredibly dense.

Even though it was just a simple street, it seemed it could be about a Rank 1 low-grade spiritual vein.

‘Did they gather spiritual Qi utilizing arrays?’

The phrase ‘cultivation holy land’ hit home clearly.

At this level of spiritual Qi, it could even be used for cultivation. It would be quite helpful for low-layer Qi Condensation cultivators.

Indeed, cultivators meditating with closed eyes were visible here and there on the streets.

Since cultivating in an open space was an extremely dangerous thing, it was somewhat novel.

‘Does it mean the public security is that good?’

He gazed along the long-extending avenue.

It was filled with numerous shops, so it seemed anything needed could be obtained.

Jin So-myeong, who spent the whole day diligently wandering around, was pleased.

The more he knew about Azure Elixir City, the more satisfied he became.

‘A good place!’

Just as he had heard, it was indeed a cultivation holy land for rogue cultivators.

It was an environment where one could concentrate on cultivation without any inconvenience as long as they had spirit stones.

Even.

Since one could even rent a Rank 2 spiritual vein which was of great help when challenging Foundation Establishment…

There was no need to say more.

‘If it were the Red Yang Sect, it would be a spiritual vein monopolized by the Foundation Establishment elders.’

Azure Elixir City was a good place to live as long as one had spirit stones.

Spirit stones?

To Jin So-myeong, spirit stones were not lacking at all.

If it was the treasures piled high in his sub-space, they were sufficient to train until Foundation Establishment!

“Heh.”

Rubbing his palms in expectation, Jin So-myeong calmed his excitement.

He organized his tasks step by step.

‘First, let’s organize what was obtained from the secret realm, and grow the spirit stone mine significantly.’

Next was the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art.

Upon opening the final organ, his heart, his physical body would become strong like the Foundation Establishment level.

An immense amount of resources was required to evolve the heart into a spiritual Qi organ, but it was not a problem at all.

This was because he had harvested numerous spiritual herbs from the Red Cloud Secret Realm.