Chapter 61 – Entering the Ascending Immortal Tournament

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The starting day of the Ascending Immortal Tournament.

Jin So-myeong, who had been heading to the tournament grounds since dawn, recalled his achievements over the past month.

There were only three things he had aimed for.

First, to cultivate the River and Cloud Sword Art to the mastery stage.

Second, to cast the Lightning Escape Art using the lightning summoned by the Thunderstrike Talisman.

Third, to enter the gate of the Water-Fire Fusion Chapter of the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art.

He had attempted the above things during the thirty days of time, but unfortunately, two of them yielded no results.

The River and Cloud Sword Art still failed to reach mastery, leaving 1 proficiency point remaining, and the Lightning Escape Art using the Thunderstrike Talisman also failed.

With his current realm of the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, he could only handle the lightning he summoned himself.

‘If I could have moved by riding the lightning summoned by a talisman… it would have meant that I could also control other people’s lightning.’

It seemed he would have to try again when the proficiency of the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art reached mastery.

He was slightly disappointed, but it was fine.

This was because he had shown proper results in the body tempering cultivation method.

He had successfully fused the existing Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art with the Water-Fire Fusion Chapter.

In fact, it was not even that difficult.

This was because the two cultivation methods naturally interlocked with each other, clearly showing that they were originally one.

‘It is a good thing.’

The effect obtained from the newly born Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art was simple and clear.

Meridian strengthening.

As the passages through which spiritual power flowed became stronger, many things changed.

He became able to draw out more lightning at once, which had to be handled carefully due to its ferocious nature.

It meant that his instantaneous output had become stronger.

In addition, the burden of the spiritual power flowing in from the Secret Realm of the Mind was drastically reduced.

Looking at the current state of his meridians, it seemed fine to grow the mine to Rank 2 mid-grade.

[Secret Realm of the Mind]

[Facilities]: Rank 2 low-grade spiritual vein, Rank 2 low-grade spirit stone mine

[Resource Production]: 10 mid-grade spirit stones / 1 day

[To grow the mine to Rank 2 mid-grade, 1,000 mid-grade spirit stones are required.]

He scanned the subspace and saw approximately 800 mid-grade spirit stones.

There was not much left until 1,000. Before long, the daily production would increase to 20.

Imagining that time, he dispersed the status window.

‘For now, let’s focus on the tournament.’

Because he had walked for quite a while, he soon arrived at the venue where the Ascending Immortal Tournament was being held.

The impression upon seeing the tournament grounds, which resembled a colosseum, was only one.

‘It’s huge.’

He would have believed it even if it were a capital city where a king of some country lived. It was grander than any building he had seen on Earth.

Gazing at the circular arena that was so high that its top could not be seen, he headed toward the entrance.

From the Qi Condensation stage to the Foundation Establishment stage. All kinds of people were mingled together, chattering with excited expressions.

“Who will win?”

“Why do you ask such a thing? Naturally, it is the daughter of the Lord of the Sky Island.”

“Haha. Although she is a genius who reached the late Foundation Establishment stage at a young age, did she not grow up too sheltered? Has she ever even fought a life-and-death battle?”

“That is…”

“I think Young Master Baek Yu-geon is a strong candidate.”

“Baek Yu-geon? Do you mean the disciple of Senior Hyeon Jin-ja, the master of formations?”

“Yes.”

“Indeed. Formations that have reached a high level are very terrifying. If you cannot block a formation that unfolds in an instant, it is over just like that.”

“There is also a rogue cultivator who became famous for slaughtering a thousand demonic beasts…”

It was literally a festival.

Looking at the endlessly long line, he turned his gaze.

There was one more entrance that was relatively uncrowded, and that place was precisely the entrance for the tournament participants.

“Welcome. Are you an applicant to participate?”

“Yes.”

The Foundation Establishment receptionist, who was scanning Jin So-myeong up and down, tilted his head.

“I have lived on Sky Island for thirty years, but you are a face I am seeing for the first time. What is your name?”

“…Jang Sam-bong.”

Jin So-myeong, who pondered for a moment, gave any name that came to mind. He had given a pseudonym out of habit.

“Very well. You know the rules, I assume. To participate in the main tournament, you must submit a Rank 2 demonic beast’s inner core.”

Since it was exactly as he had investigated, there was no need to ask back.

The moment he took out a mid-grade inner core from the storage pouch he wore for disguise and placed it on the reception desk.

“…A mid-grade inner core?”

The startled receptionist knit his brows tightly. He clicked his tongue openly and cast a look of contempt.

“How shameless! You do not even think to hide it at all. Why are there so many people who do not even know shame… Do they not know that doing that is meaningless anyway?”

The openly sarcastic tone was grating to the ears.

Was he trying to pick a fight?

No matter how old a Foundation Establishment cultivator the opponent was, he had no intention of being polite to a rude person.

“Hey. Is there some problem?”

“Whew! Never mind. Even if I ask, you will probably say it is a demonic beast you caught yourself. Even if it was bought with spirit stones, there is no issue in the regulations, so what can I do about it.”

Realizing what kind of misunderstanding the receptionist had, he found it absurd.

The receptionist thought he was trying to pass the preliminary round by buying a mid-grade demonic beast inner core with spirit stones.

He was about to explain but felt it was too troublesome, so he just let it be.

It did not matter what the receptionist thought.

Did he really have to make him understand that he had caught a Rank 2 mid-grade demonic beast with the strength of the early Foundation Establishment stage?

Even if he was assumed to have bought the inner core with spirit stones, it was fine anyway.

Although it was not an honorable act… there was no issue under the regulations.

The reason for not properly banning this kind of foul-play-like behavior was simple.

From Sky Island’s perspective, it was more important to reduce the number of demonic beasts somehow…

And because if one had no skill, it was meaningless even if they passed the preliminary round. Rather, they were highly likely to only lose the spirit stones spent on buying the inner core.

“So, is the registration finished? Where should I go to participate in the main tournament?”

“Tsk. There is still one thing left. Do you see that building? If you go and wait there, you will be able to proceed with the additional preliminary round.”

The receptionist pointed to a three-story pavilion.

Given its small scale, it was clear at a glance that it was not a venue for the main tournament.

“Additional preliminary round? I heard that if one collects demonic beast inner cores, they go straight to the main tournament?”

He wondered if the receptionist was playing tricks, but that was not the case.

“It is because the competition in this tournament is exceptionally fierce. We need to select 128 people, but as many as 133 people, including you, have gathered.”

“…Hmm?”

“Therefore, those who brought eleven or more demonic beast inner cores pass immediately, and those who collected ten will duel among themselves.”

“Do you mean that the people who undergo the additional preliminary round start the tournament having fought once already?”

“That is right. It will be disadvantageous, but do not think of it as unfair. Well… normally, we would have conducted the additional preliminary round among those who brought about eight, but what can we do.”

Staring at the receptionist who gestured for him to hurry up and go, he clicked his tongue.

Fortunately, just in case, there was one more inner core he had kept.

Thud.

He threw the blood-stained inner core onto the reception desk.

“Is this enough?”

The demonic-Qi-laden blood dripped down the surface of the inner core onto the reception desk…

At the blood that had not even properly congealed yet because the demonic beast had been caught not long ago, the receptionist flinched. His pupils shook minutely.

“…It seems you managed to catch at least one yourself.”

“Enough. So, is it correct that I passed the preliminary round?”

When he asked calmly without caring about what was said, the receptionist’s eyebrows twitched.

He looked back and forth between the blood-stained inner core and Jin So-myeong in silence for a long time, then sighed as if he realized something.

“I am sorry. It seems I misjudged you.”

“Hmm?”

“Now that I see it, you seem to have obtained the mid-grade inner core yourself as well… If so, you must be truly strong, Fellow Daoist. Around what rank do you think you will achieve in the tournament?”

Seeing him apologize with a smile, Jin So-myeong uncrossed his arms.

There was no need to keep acting crookedly over nothing.

“Well. Wouldn’t I make at least the top ten?”

“T-Ten? …Ahahaha! Your confidence is top-notch! Very well! Believing in you, Fellow Daoist, I will bet my entire half-year’s worth of spirit stones. I hope you definitely make it into the top ten.”

Hearing him speak, it seemed there was a gamble predicting wins and losses.

By the way, a half-year’s worth of spirit stones…

“A pity.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, if you had bet your entire fortune, it would have multiplied several times.”

***

Sky Island, Filial Moon City.

In a certain alleyway, a male and a female ran at full speed, even using spells.

Between the two Qi Condensation cultivators who appeared to be siblings, the young girl yelled.

“Agh! What is this because of you, Brother! I told you we should hurry!”

“S-Sorry. Still, the match probably hasn’t started yet.”

“Are you really a fool? The Ascending Immortal Tournament only has meaning if we watch it from a good seat!”

Having run enough to be drenched in sweat, they soon arrived at the circular arena…

They could not help but be overwhelmed by the immense scale.

To the extent that even the angry girl forgot everything and gasped with her mouth wide open.

“Wow… It’s huge! In Beacon Fire Island where we were born, there isn’t even land for such a building to fit in!”

“Y-Yeah.”

“It was a good thing we came to Sky Island.”

The ones standing with their mouths wide open were precisely the Seo siblings, who had been chased by a demonic beast and saved by Jin So-myeong a few years ago.

Standing blankly and looking up at the arena, they suddenly snapped back to their senses.

Without anyone needing to say it first, they ran toward the entrance. They stood at the end of the long line.

“Phew.”

The girl, who was wiping the sweat beads forming on her forehead, paused.

This was because a heated debate broke out among the people standing in line.

“No, do you not know who installed the Rank 3 formation in this arena? It was Senior Hyeon Jin-ja! His disciple, Baek Yu-geon, will naturally win!”

“Your words have merit, but in the end, realm is everything in this world. Lady Ha Yul-hee, the daughter of the Lord of the Sky Island, is already at the 8th layer of Foundation Establishment.”

“…Tch. Anyway. Ultimately, those two will meet in the finals. I wonder who will win.”

At that moment, when the people became quiet for a while as they pondered,

the girl, who pouted her lips as if dissatisfied with something, chimed in.

“What about the Thunderclap Swordsman, why are you only talking about those two?”

“Huh? Ah… that sword cultivator who is said to handle lightning?”

“Yes!”

“Hmm. The Thunderclap Swordsman… Could it be that he is also participating in the tournament?”

“W-Well.”

“But what is the realm of the Thunderclap Swordsman?”

The girl, who had stepped forward confidently, avoided their eyes. In truth, she knew nothing.

At that time, a cultivator who was stroking his chin spoke up.

“He is probably in the early Foundation Establishment stage.”

“Oh? Why is that? As far as I know, he has never revealed his identity.”

“The sword and lightning techniques are too difficult. If one cultivates both at the same time, no matter how much of a genius they are, it will be hard to reach the mid-stage before the age of eighty.”

“Indeed! If so, winning will be difficult. No matter how much of a sword cultivator he is, it is impossible with an early stage realm.”

“No…!”

The moment the girl, who knit her brows tightly, was about to shout something,

the young man beside her grabbed her sleeve to stop her. It was a sign to act in moderation.

The hesitating girl let out a deep sigh and whispered.

“Brother. Will the Thunderclap Swordsman really appear in the Ascending Immortal Tournament?”

“Well. Seeing that he is quiet even though the rumors have spread, he might be someone who dislikes revealing himself.”

The young girl said with an embarrassed expression.

“Then did we make a mistake? We spread the rumors hoping to raise his reputation.”

“Perhaps so.”

“Urgh. If we meet him again, we should at least apologize.”

“Let us do so if there is an opportunity.”

The girl, who had been briefly downcast, shook her head. She shouted with a bright smile.

“Anyway, let’s watch the tournament closely today! Since we paid an expensive admission fee to enter, we should learn at least one thing.”

“Haha. Sure.”

***

Meanwhile.

Jin So-myeong, who was meditating in a quiet private waiting room, slowly opened his eyes.

‘Is it finally starting?’

As expected, before long, a female Qi Condensation cultivator approached and said politely,

“Senior. You will enter the field soon. Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

He followed the guide, who was polite but businesslike.

How long did they walk through the hallway that was quiet enough to echo with footsteps?

Waaaaaa—

Simultaneously with the wide-open view, the cheers of over tens of thousands of spectators were heard.

It was hot. The heat was so fanatical that the atmosphere fluctuated under the humming waves of energy.

Due to the strange emotion he was feeling for the first time, he even stopped his steps and looked around the spectator seats.

A Qi Condensation cultivator waving something like a stick and shouting, a Foundation Establishment old man sitting gently and looking down as if evaluating, and so on.

Countless gazes shot down toward him.

Step… step…

While he was walking toward the rectangular stage paved with stone resembling marble,

a middle-aged man in the late Foundation Establishment stage, who appeared to be the referee, said with an expressionless face,

“There is only one rule to keep during battle. Do not receive help from others. As long as it is your own power, it does not matter what means you use.”

“Understood.”

“A Rank 3 formation is installed in the arena. If you receive an attack that endangers your life, you will be automatically teleported off the stage, so fight without worry.”

The moment Jin So-myeong, who nodded, stood at the entrance,

Flash!

all noise stopped abruptly.

It was because he had stepped onto the stage where the barrier was set up through a short-distance transmission array!

Even the cheers that had been deafening became faint. They became so small that they could only be heard by concentrating with spiritual power.

“Huh? You are…”

Simultaneously with being teleported, a familiar voice was heard.

The opponent he faced for the first time in the main tournament was unexpectedly an acquaintance.

It was precisely the middle-aged man named Cheong Mok whom he had met at the rogue cultivator gathering half a year ago.

“Jang Sam-bong? Did you not say your surname was Jin?”

“Isn’t giving a pseudonym a common thing.”

“That is true. By the way, I did not expect to meet you here. I am sorry, but I cannot yield. Do you know how hard it was for me to get here? It cost three thousand mid-grade spirit stones!”

Jin So-myeong, who stared at Cheong Mok whose face was flushed red with excitement, nodded.

“I understand.”

“Indeed… your situation is probably similar to mine. Since you must win at least the first match to recoup the spirit stones you invested.”

While Cheong Mok, who was licking his dry lips as if to ease his tension, was grumbling,

the referee outside the stage shouted at the top of his lungs, even using spiritual power,

“Hey! What kind of boast is it to talk about buying an inner core with spirit stones! Hurry up and start!”

“…Understood. Jang Sam-bong? Fellow Daoist Jin? I do not know what I should call you. Anyway, whoever wins, let’s not resent each other.”

“Very well. That is just what I hoped for as well.”

“Mmh!”

Cheong Mok, who glared with cold eyes as if intending to do his best, pulled out a handful of talismans.

The moment the bundle of talismans held in both hands burst with light,

Clack!

a faint metallic sound produced as a sword entered its scabbard echoed on the stage…

And on the stage where two people had been facing each other, only one person remained before anyone knew.

It was precisely Jin So-myeong, who sheathed his sword with a calm expression.

“Huh?”

Cheong Mok, who blinked with a bewildered face, groped his own body outside the stage.

He seemed not to understand why he had suddenly been teleported here.

At that time,

“…Jang Sam-bong wins!”

In the arena that had become strangely quiet before long, Jin So-myeong’s pseudonym echoed loudly.

The referee, whose face had hardened, shouted belatedly.