Chapter 53 – Aftermath of War
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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***
Having arrived at Azure Elixir City, Jin So-myeong first visited Deacon Go.
It was to find out the reason the Lord of Azure Elixir City had summoned them through him, with whom he was acquainted.
“Haha. I do not know either. This kind of thing is truly rare.”
“Is that so…”
“Since the City Lord only dedicates himself to cultivation, I have also met him in person only a few times.”
However, unfortunately, it was of no use. In the end, he headed to the palace where the City Lord stayed along with Deacon Go.
At the moment when they arrived at a main hall so spacious that one could even practice flying techniques,
“Everyone has arrived.”
His gaze met that of the Lord of Azure Elixir City, who sat in the highest seat.
‘Unexpected.’
The first impression of the Lord of Azure Elixir City was different from his imagination.
Because the Giant Sword Sect Golden Core sword cultivator he had seen in the past was engraved too strongly, he had inwardly thought the Lord of Azure Elixir City would be similar…
but he was not at all.
The Lord of Azure Elixir City was a white-haired old man who brought to mind the word gentleman.
His well-groomed beard was neat, and a benevolent smile was formed around his eyes and mouth, making those who saw him feel comfortable.
However, thoughts were just thoughts.
“We greet the City Lord.”
Naturally, he treated him politely. A Golden Core-grade expert could not be judged by appearances.
“Mmm. You are Yeo Dong-bin, who newly became a deacon. Glad to meet you.”
As he sat down following a hand gesture, the City Lord’s voice continued.
“Everyone, listen carefully. The recent trends of the war are unusual. Information has been received that a Giant Sword Sect Golden Core sword cultivator recently fell into a trap and was heavily injured.”
“Is his life perhaps in danger?”
“We do not know that yet.”
“That is not good.”
The deacons’ expressions hardened.
It was because if the Giant Sword Sect, which played a major role in the Righteous Sects’ forces, was hit, the demonic side would gain the advantage.
From the standpoint of the neutral Azure Elixir City, maintaining a tight balance was best, rather than one side winning.
“Since the situation is suspicious like this, we do not know who might play what tricks. We must expand the patrol range.”
“Ah.”
Relief appeared on the faces of the deacons.
It was because everyone had been anxious not knowing the reason the City Lord summoned them, but they finally came to know.
The City Lord, who gave them a moment to think, spoke calmly.
“Since I also came from a rogue cultivator background, I know your feelings well. If I only order you to work like this, you will surely complain inwardly.”
“A-Ah, no.”
Perhaps startled, one deacon immediately denied it, but the City Lord only chuckled.
“It is fine. In any case, a reward must be given. I will give everyone cultivation medicinal pills equivalent to one hundred mid-grade spirit stones and a Rank 2 cultivation method. Everyone, please work hard.”
The City Lord, who delivered a few additional warnings, left, and the head deacon, called the second-in-command, stepped forward.
“Deacon Seo can focus on patrolling the Inner City… Deacon Yeo? You seem close with Deacon Go. The two of you please inspect the vicinity of the Outer City.”
When Jin So-myeong looked at Deacon Go, he nodded his head while caressing his beard.
***
It was peaceful, but somehow felt like the calm before the storm.
One day when a tense atmosphere was continuing.
Deacon Go, who was patrolling the vicinity of Azure Elixir City, admired as he looked at Jin So-myeong’s face.
“Truly amazing. I cannot recognize you at all. Was the Thousand Transformations Art you chose such a miraculous disguise technique?”
“It seems to have matched me well by chance.”
Jin So-myeong, who had become a middle-aged man in his fifties, chuckled.
It was because he liked the Rank 2 spell the Lord of Azure Elixir City gave as a reward quite a bit.
‘It was regrettable that the Faceless Mask’s effect was weakening, so this is a relief.’
The Thousand Transformations Art he chose was a Rank 2 highest-grade disguise technique.
It was a secret transmission combining various martial arts and immortal spells, such as the Bone Shrinking Art that adjusted the skeleton, and its characteristic was that it literally transformed based on the physical body.
If one achieved great success, one could assume ten thousand appearances, and it was highly useful because it was not easily cracked by Divine Sense or eye techniques.
‘Although I also wanted to learn a movement technique to replace the Wind Control Art…’
he chose the Thousand Transformations Art after contemplating.
It was because a divine ability similar to a movement technique would additionally be generated once the recently practiced Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art reached the mastery stage.
‘It is said that one can move by riding lightning.’
He looked forward to how powerful the lightning escape art, which was swift enough to be counted among all escape arts in the world, would be.
【Cultivation Method】
Five Elements Qi Condensation Art (Mastery 2129 / 10000)
Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art (Mastery 3210 / 40000)
Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art (Beginner 11260 / 20000)
Looking at the status window he made himself, he felt proud.
Having invested the Supreme Great Ability for half a year and practiced with all his heart, the mastery of the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art had already surpassed halfway.
‘A few more months and the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art will reach mastery.’
The lightning growing day by day in his mindscape was pleasant. At the moment when he was looking forward to that day which would come someday,
Jin So-myeong, who was startled, stopped.
“Wait a moment. Someone is approaching.”
“Hmm…?”
Deacon Go, who had been about to continue flying, frowned. It was obvious what his suspicious expression meant.
He could not believe that Jin So-myeong, who had become a Foundation Establishment cultivator not long ago, noticed before him.
Deacon Go, who was about to say something, opened his mouth wide. He stared at Jin So-myeong with wide eyes.
“I-It was real. It seems the two of them are fighting… No, are they fleeing?”
“It seems so. What shall we do?”
“Mmm. Let us withdraw for now.”
He turned in the direction of Azure Elixir City at Deacon Go’s words, but it seemed already too late.
The two cultivators engaged in a pursuit kept getting closer. It was because the fleeing party flew toward Jin So-myeong’s group.
“Fellow Daoists! Please help me! I am a disciple of the Immortal Flower Golden Bell!”
His brows narrowed at a woman’s voice heard from beyond the horizon.
It was because the Immortal Flower Golden Bell was a Golden Core-grade righteous sect currently in the midst of war with the demonic forces.
“Ignore it. There is nothing good for us in intervening.”
“Understood.”
He withdrew as quickly as possible along with Deacon Go, but the opponent was more desperate.
“Ugh…!”
Whether the woman had used a secret technique, she rapidly sped up.
At the sight of her flying while turning into a flame, he reflexively grabbed his sword but did not swing it.
It was annoying that she tried to drag them into a troublesome matter, but he could not kill her for that either.
“Hah… hah!”
Squeezing between Jin So-myeong and Deacon Go with a pale face, she immediately took a medicinal pill.
It was absurd to see her closing her eyes as if meditating.
And.
Not even a few breaths had passed before the pursuer caught up.
Except for a long scar on his face, he was a neat young man, but with his pale skin emitting a musty smell of rotting corpses, he was openly a demonic cultivator.
‘Mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Is he right before reaching the late stage?’
While Jin So-myeong instinctively calculated the chances of winning, the young man who arrogantly raised his chin spoke.
“You fellows. Do you dare intend to interfere in the business of this body, the Young Master of the Thousand Corpses Sect?”
Deacon Go was flustered by the arrogant voice. At the sight of him not knowing what to do, Jin So-myeong stepped forward.
“We have no interest, so take care of it yourselves.”
Leaving behind the disciple of the Immortal Flower Golden Bell who was still meditating, Jin So-myeong gestured to Deacon Go.
It meant they should leave and not get involved in troublesome matters.
Just as they were about to fly away.
“Wait!”
The Young Master of the Thousand Corpses Sect, who had been looking down arrogantly from start to finish, distorted his face.
Frowning, he stared while caressing the scar crossing his cheek.
“Looking at you now, you are a sword cultivator. You wouldn’t happen to be a Giant Sword Sect disciple, would you?”
“What if I am not?”
“Hmm…”
The Young Master’s expression turned subtle. The fellow, who stared with narrowed eyes, shifted his gaze.
After scanning Jin So-myeong, Deacon Go beside him, and even the disciple of the Immortal Flower Golden Bell meditating behind, he clicked his tongue.
His attitude, which seemed like he would charge right away, suddenly changed.
He smiled brightly, spreading his palms as if surrendering.
“Thinking about it, it seems I made a mistake. You appear to be Azure Elixir City deacons; I am sorry for causing a nuisance.”
Nodding, he apologized even bowing his head, and then flew off in a flash.
Clack.
Jin So-myeong, who was gripping the sword hilt, let out a sigh.
The fellow called the Young Master was quite suspicious.
If he had it his way, he wanted to slash him refreshingly, but there were too many watching eyes.
The Thousand Corpses Sect was a Golden Core-grade force that dealt with Jiangshi.
If he were to kill him, he had to clean up the aftermath neatly, which was impossible under the current circumstances.
At that time.
The disciple of the Immortal Flower Golden Bell meditating opened her eyes and smiled broadly.
“Fellow Daoists, thank you very much for helping. I will surely repay today’s grace someday.”
After greeting them shamelessly, she flew across the sky and disappeared.
Looking at that sight, his head throbbed. Perhaps Deacon Go felt the same, as he let out deep sighs.
“Sigh. Things have truly become troublesome. What should we do about this…”
“How about returning to Azure Elixir City for now and reporting to the City Lord.”
“Mmm. We must do so. Let us go quickly.”
A while later.
Jin So-myeong’s group, having arrived at Azure Elixir City, visited the Lord of Azure Elixir City.
When reporting, he neither added nor subtracted anything.
He spoke exactly as it was, and the City Lord, who listened quietly, let out a sigh.
“Even without that, a message has arrived for me. They told me to compensate them, saying you attacked the Young Master of the Thousand Corpses Sect and heavily injured him.”
“…What?”
It was absurd. Not a single sword had been swung, yet what heavy injury were they talking about?
He had been suspicious since the fellow apologized politely…
He felt annoyed, as if he had been hit on the back of the head while standing still.
Just as Jin So-myeong was about to reply, the Lord of Azure Elixir City waved his hand to cut him off.
“Ah, do not worry. I also know well that it is nonsense. There is no way you would attack the Young Master of the Thousand Corpses Sect without any reason.”
Deacon Go, who was beside him, hastily replied.
“That is right! We did not even touch him.”
“Whew. The calculation of those fellows is obvious. They are probably trying to drag me, a neutral party, into the war.”
“Ah.”
“From now on, they will make all kinds of moves, using you as an excuse. However, something is a bit strange.”
Frowning, the Lord of Azure Elixir City looked at Jin So-myeong and spoke.
“Deacon Yeo. They are specifically pointing you out and demanding that I hand you over. Saying they will return you after receiving just an apology? Do you perhaps have an estimated reason?”
“Mmm.”
Jin So-myeong traced back the situation at that time, but there was only one reason that came to mind.
‘Their attitude definitely changed after knowing I was a sword cultivator.’
Suddenly, the scar on the Young Master’s face came to mind, but almost nothing could be known from that.
‘Is it because he was once defeated by a sword cultivator, so he hates sword cultivators immensely?’
However, it was not convincing. It was too weak to be a reason.
‘Maybe, since demonic fellows are all psychopaths.’
In any case, the situation was not good.
Since the Thousand Corpses Sect, a Golden Core-grade demonic sect, demanded him to be handed over, he did not know how the Lord of Azure Elixir City would react.
Jin So-myeong, who was contemplating, shook his head.
“I do not know either.”
“Hmm.”
The City Lord, who looked back and forth between Jin So-myeong and Deacon Go, sighed.
“It cannot be helped. It would be best for you to leave Azure Elixir City as quickly as possible. Since it is clear that the demonic fellows are trying to drag me into the war using you as a pretext, we do not know what they might do.”
“What?”
“…Understood.”
Deacon Go opened his mouth in shock, but Jin So-myeong nodded calmly.
It was because he had already anticipated it to some extent from the moment the Lord of Azure Elixir City appeared troubled.
It was a relief that he did not forcibly capture him and hand him over to the Thousand Corpses Sect.
“Do not think too regretfully. The demonic fellows are persistent. No matter how much it is me, I cannot keep protecting you. Especially since it is a war right now…”
***
Jin So-myeong, wearing a necklace made of the Stealth Orb, left secretly alone.
The Stealth Orb, a dharma treasure obtained in the Red Cloud Secret Realm, concealed one’s presence just by carrying it, making it useful in times like this.
Standing under the wide sky after leaving Azure Elixir City as if expelled, a hollow laugh suddenly broke out.
“So what.”
Since he was a free body, where could he not go?
He was no longer a weak Qi Condensation cultivator.
He was a Foundation Establishment cultivator capable of flying through the sky to leave for another city!
Looking at the pure white clouds, he felt his stuffiness being washed away as well.
‘Should I go to another country instead?’
That might be better than getting caught up in the war.
Recalling the map of Damun Kingdom, he took a direction. He intended to look into transport ships at a nearby market.
‘Since it is a war, I do not know if I can pass through the border.’
Although the probability of problems arising was high, it did not matter.
As long as there was will, a solution always existed. He just needed to go first and find a way.
At the moment when he was flying using spiritual power,
front, back, left, and right, simultaneously.
goosebumps rose at the presences felt from all directions.
There were seven or eight at the Foundation Establishment stage alone, and those below Qi Condensation well exceeded ten.
His vigilance surged at the sight of them forming a siege network as if tightening a net.
‘How?’
Just in case, he inspected the Stealth Orb, but there was nothing wrong.
Right now, even ordinary mid-to-late Foundation Establishment cultivators should not be able to detect him…
‘Could it be the Lord of Azure Elixir City?’
Although it was slightly suspicious, honestly the probability was low.
There was no reason for a Golden Core Sage to go around in such a roundabout way.
If he wanted to sell him off, it would have sufficed to just suppress him openly.
All kinds of thoughts flashed by, but there was no time to contemplate leisurely.
Immediately landing on the ground, he additionally consumed the Supreme Great Ability to strengthen his stealth.
He hid his body in a canyon scattered with house-sized boulders.
‘Did it work?’
It indeed had an effect. The net that had been tightening from all directions was tangled.
At the moment when he was about to sigh in relief seeing the fellows falter,
the loose siege network suddenly became solid again. It was reconstructed accurately centering on him.
‘…Ha.’
He tried to escape as much as possible, but it was impossible. He felt like he was being chased by an army led by a general.
Closing the distance while maintaining a certain gap from one another, they were clearly pinpointing his position accurately.
Jin So-myeong, who contemplated for an instant, kicked off the ground.
Boom!
Abandoning stealth, he ran with all his might. Fully displaying his physical body that had reached the Foundation Establishment level, he targeted one spot.
He intended to break through by concentrating everything on speed!
Thanks to the blood energy emitting from his organs trained by the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art, his rapidly accelerated speed surged endlessly.
“Uh?”
A mere few breaths.
His eyes met with an early Foundation Establishment cultivator who was forming the siege network in the distance.
It was close. Jin So-myeong’s figure was reflected like a mirror within the wide-open pupils.
“T-This!”
Looking at the opponent who hastily tried to retreat, perhaps shocked by the absurd speed, he could tell who had formed the siege network.
‘Thousand Corpses Sect!’
The texture of their attire was identical to the Young Master he had met while patrolling. It was less luxurious, but clearly the disciple robes of the Thousand Corpses Sect.
However, thoughts were brief.
He emptied all distracting thoughts from his head. At this point, who was chasing and why was not important at all.
Whoosh!
He raised the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art to its full potential.
He mixed the blood energy and spiritual power that surged centering on his heart.
The moment he controlled all the energy that felt like it would explode and condensed it into the soles of his feet,
Boom!
reaching its limit, it pushed off the ground.
His figure, which was swift enough to be hard to follow with eyes, accelerated once more!
Clang!
Simultaneously with drawing the sword, the sword light that stretched out grazed the neck, and along with a fountain of blood that erupted late, the corpse collapsed.