Chapter 66 – The Soul Washing Land

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Just when Jin So-myeong was looking forward to the Soul Washing Land,

“Before entering, I will inform you of the precautions. As everyone probably knows, the time you can stay in the Soul Washing Land is exactly one month.”

“Only one month…”

A few award winners lamented as if it was a pity, but the Golden Core Sage was firm.

“When the time passes, you will be automatically teleported out of the Soul Washing Land by the restriction.”

“Ah.”

“There is no room for compromise on this. If it is opened longer than that, the source Qi of the Soul Washing Land will suffer too much damage. The next generation must also benefit, so one month is the best.”

Ultimately, everyone nodded submissively. Confirming that, the Golden Core Sage said as if consoling,

“Do not be too disappointed. With one month, your realms will rise by one layer each. Ah, and!”

As if he had just remembered, the Golden Core Sage slammed his fist against his palm and said playfully,

“There are many treasures in the Soul Washing Land. Take whatever you can on your own, as long as you have the ability. Instead, swear just one thing. That if you form your core someday, you will replenish it with something better.”

A vow?

He wondered if they had to write some contract, but in truth, it was just a vow.

“Do you mean that just a single word is enough?”

“You are still low in realm, so you might not know well, but those who look toward the Great Dao like us must be careful of vows. If there is something weighing on your heart, it could become a Heart Demon someday and block the path ahead.”

A Heart Demon…

He pondered, but there was nothing particularly problematic.

Anyway, if he reached the Golden Core stage, the treasures that were precious now would become nothing special.

Filling it back with something better was not even a chore.

“Very well. Then let’s set off immediately. Everyone, get on my flying carriage.”

Within the gazes of the spectators filled with concentrated envy, longing, admiration, and jealousy,

the ten award winners who rode the flying carriage vanished in an instant…

***

The moment Jin So-myeong entered the Soul Washing Land through the transmission array,

he saw the wide-open blue sky and the river reflecting it.

Looking at the river as clear as glass, he went blank. This was because he expected what substance composed this river water.

‘This is the Jade Well Lake.’

The exact same water as the Jade Well Bath provided as a tournament reward filled the entire river.

It was a tremendous amount. To the extent that even if he absorbed it for a whole month, he could only consume a tiny fraction of it.

“Ohhh!”

“Amazing! Just by using the Jade Well Lake, my realm will rise by one more layer!”

Excited voices were heard. They were the award winners who entered the Soul Washing Land together, and they all sparkled their eyes looking at the Jade Well Lake.

Even Ha Yul-hee, the daughter of the Lord of Sky Island, gulped.

“…Everyone, hurry. A month is short.”

The cultivators who were standing as if shocked suddenly snapped to their senses.

Without anyone needing to say it first, they scattered in all directions and took their respective places. Immersing themselves in the Jade Well Lake, they absorbed spiritual power.

Jin So-myeong was the same. Moving faster than anyone, he went to a place far away from the entrance.

‘Phew. Finally alone.’

He amplified his senses with the Supreme Great Ability to inspect his surroundings, but there was no one.

Because the Jade Well Lake was wide enough for a horizon to form, he could become alone merely by widening the distance.

He tapped his storage pouch.

He took out all the rewards he received from winning the Ascending Immortal Tournament.

He float various spiritual medicines, including the Sword Seed and the wooden box, in the empty air, he concentrated his mind.

‘I want to know if there is any problem with these.’

Crackle!

To make sure, he consumed as many as 500 Supreme Great Ability beads at once.

An ambiguous feeling swept through his mind.

If he were to interpret it…

‘It depends on how it is used?’

At the almost meaningless answer, only a sigh emerged.

Every item in the world has its gains and losses decided depending on how it is used.

Even water, which is absolutely necessary to live, is harmful if you drink too much, is it not.

‘But at least I know it is not very dangerous.’

Honestly, there were quite a few times he tried to find out information with the Supreme Great Ability, and it was usually like this.

Jin So-myeong, who was stroking his chin, took out only the Sword Seed separately and questioned again.

‘If I make a Natal Magic Treasure with this Sword Seed, will there be any problem with my safety?’

The Natal Magic Treasure was too important. He consumed 200 Supreme Great Ability beads to ask more specifically.

“No problem?”

He was relieved by the very neat answer.

The meaning of this was clear. That the Sword Seed was that clean.

He would have probably found out easily even if he had checked in another way instead of the Supreme Great Ability.

‘Fortunately.’

Relieved, he stored it in his subspace. He planned to plant it in the Secret Realm of the Mind and grow it when he had time.

The next thing to check was the wooden box the Lord of Sky Island had given as an apology gift.

Click…

He opened it carefully with caution, and a very familiar shape was visible.

‘An inner core?’

A complete vermilion bead without a single blemish. It was a demonic beast’s inner core that radiated a chillingly powerful energy.

However, something was strange.

The energy wafting from inside the wooden box was unusual.

‘…Could it be a Rank 3 Demonic King’s inner core?’

The moment he inspected it in detail using his Divine Sense,

Roar!

he flinched at the roar of a wild beast that passed like an auditory hallucination. It felt as if sharp claws had swept past his neck.

His forehead throbbed as if pierced by a needle. Far from feeling bad, admiration emerged rather.

‘Indeed, it is Rank 3.’

To think this much power remained from a corpse that was already dead, and merely a part of it at that.

Pondering for a moment, he infused his Divine Sense again. Ignoring the stinging pain, he inspected it as closely as possible.

Thump… thump…

A force stronger than a volcano right before erupting was felt from the bead smaller than a fist.

Especially since it was packed with blood energy useful to a body tempering cultivator, it seemed it would be of great help if he absorbed it little by little.

‘It must have been a demonic beast whose body was sturdy during its lifetime.’

It was a truly satisfying gift. If he had this inner core, cultivating the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art would become much easier.

However, the words spoken by the Lord of Sky Island weighed on his mind.

‘He said not to lose the Dao Heart by being tempted by the shortcut.’

What did it mean?

Did it mean not to be stained by the ferocity of the demonic beast by absorbing it too excessively?

Jin So-myeong, who was stroking his chin, closed the wooden box.

For now, the fact that there was no major problem with the gifts he received was enough.

Since he had entered the Soul Washing Land, cultivation came first.

‘For now, let’s challenge the 4th layer of Foundation Establishment.’

Immersing his body in the spotlessly clear Jade Well Lake, he quietly closed his eyes.

Five days later.

Jin So-myeong, who had not budged at all, snapped his eyes open.

Crackle!

The lightning energy flowing along his skin was pleasing. Within the wild energy that might have killed an ordinary person, he laughed.

[Jin So-myeong]

[Lifespan]: 25 / 210

[Realm]: 4th layer of Foundation Establishment

[Supreme Great Ability]: 1630 / 4000

[Divine Ability]:

[Cultivation Methods]: Omitted

[Spells]: Omitted

What would be the reason the lightning energy that should be asleep in his dantian overflowed? Naturally, it was because his realm had risen!

‘Finally, the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!’

As much as he broke through the minor realm, a rapid growth occurred.

The Supreme Great Ability doubled, becoming as many as 4,000. It was a truly massive amount.

‘Since 4,000 recover in a month… the amount generated daily alone is about 130.’

Did only the Supreme Great Ability grow?

Naturally not. All of his abilities, including the Sword Qi, grew stronger overall.

His Divine Sense, which was originally a 100-meter range, also exactly doubled to 200 meters. This level was at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Right now, he was confident even if he fought head-on with Ha Yul-hee who used the Rank 3 Magic Treasure.

‘Mmh, mmh.’

Enjoying the feeling of becoming stronger, he looked around.

Even though he absorbed to the best of his ability for the entire five days, the spiritual power radiated by the Jade Well Lake was the same.

Not a quarter of a quarter. No, he had not even absorbed a tiny fraction in reality.

‘Is there no way to take this?’

The Jade Well Lake’s help was great in easily breaking through the minor realm. If he could transfer this water to the Secret Realm of the Mind, it would be truly useful.

Just in case, he took out a gourd and tried to scoop the water, but strangely, the moment he scooped the water, it turned into plain water.

‘A pity.’

It was just as he had investigated before the tournament, but it was regrettable.

If only he could take this water, his cultivation would become incredibly fast… it was not easy.

‘He told us to take everything if we had the ability. It was truly literal.’

In truth, the things in the Soul Washing Land were all like this.

Since they were all managed under strict restrictions, there were in fact few things he could take.

It was not incomprehensible.

The Soul Washing Land was an important foundation that could constantly produce Golden Core cultivators on Sky Island. There was no way they would let a single person sweep it all away.

‘It seems something could happen if I use the Supreme Great Ability…’

Jin So-myeong, who was stroking his chin, shook himself off and rose.

The Jade Well Lake was good, but the Soul Washing Land did not only have this place.

Since he had achieved his primary goal of the 4th layer of Foundation Establishment, next was the turn of the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art.

‘I must go to the Jade Light Spring.’

If he immersed his body in that place, which was a thunder-attribute spiritual spring, the proficiency of the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art was highly likely to skyrocket.

Recalling the map of the Soul Washing Land received before entering, he set his direction.

Swish!

He flew through the air heading toward the outer edge of the Jade Well Lake, and he saw the cultivators who had entered the Soul Washing Land gathered together.

‘Huh?’

They were not cultivating, but had lit a campfire and were conversing, which made it feel like a waste just to watch.

‘Why are they resting after going through all that trouble to enter the Soul Washing Land?’

Looking at them who were talking centered around Baek Yu-geon, he turned his gaze.

He was puzzled, but he had no intention of meddling in other people’s business.

At that time,

“Jang… no, Fellow Daoist Jin!”

Landing on the ground with a sigh at the cheerful voice filled with delight,

he replied to Baek Yu-geon who waved his hand with a bright smile,

“What is the matter?”

“Haha! Do not be so guarded. I am just suggesting we talk. Huh? Looking at you now, you have already risen to the 4th layer of Foundation Establishment! Congratulations indeed.”

“…Thank you.”

He felt uncomfortable at the openly shown goodwill.

The final rank of Baek Yu-geon, who was called a candidate for the championship, was fifth. Because he lost to Jin So-myeong, his rank plummeted.

Yet he spoke to him so affably.

Did he not dwell on victory or defeat? It was a personality difficult for him to understand.

“Fellow Daoist Jin. Could it be that you were inside the Jade Well Lake for the entire five days?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“Heh. Although the Jade Well Lake is good, do not overexert yourself. If the dantian and meridians grow too quickly, minute damage occurs.”

Jin So-myeong, who paused, turned his gaze.

Looking closely at the cultivators resting around the campfire, regret was filled in the depths of their expressions.

They also wanted to continue cultivating, but it was impossible.

‘Did no problem arise for me thanks to the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art.’

Body tempering consumed dozens of times more cultivation resources than general cultivation methods, but it was always helpful in ways unknown to others.

He shook his head to Baek Yu-geon, who gestured for him to come and rest a bit.

“Thank you for the advice, but as a rogue cultivator, it is too much of a waste for me to miss such an opportunity. I plan to move diligently during the remaining time.”

“Ah. If so, I will not stop you. Please do not overdo it too much.”

After greeting the resting cultivators, he left.

How long did he fly? A laugh emerged of its own accord at the faintly heard thunder.

‘The Jade Light Spring!’

What would the spring water containing lightning look like. He had anticipated it deep down, and it was exactly as he had imagined!

The blue water, about 400 meters in diameter, flashed incessantly.

Crackle!

Every time the sound of sparks flying was heard, thick bundles of lightning soared from the water surface.

The appearance of whipping the empty air like a whip looked extremely dangerous.

If one was in their right mind, it was a place they should absolutely not enter.

Of course, that was the case by the standards of ordinary cultivators.

‘To me, it is no different from a restorative medicine.’

The moment he approached the spring water spewing blue light and carefully dipped his hand in,

Rumble!

thunder erupted as if the heavens were angry.

The lightning that soared from the center of the Jade Light Spring transformed into the shape of a dragon. It flew toward him as if it had a will!

Jin So-myeong, who was about to dodge reflexively, quietly closed his eyes.

Sizzle…!

Along with the heat that scorched his skin, the lightning energy penetrated through his meridians, but it was just what he hoped for.

Operating the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, he awakened the lightning in his mind.

As if suppressing poison with poison, he devoured the lightning energy that had invaded without permission with the energy raised from his dantian.

A violent but silent war broke out inside his body, and the result appeared soon.

‘As expected!’

The lightning in his mind, which symbolized the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, grew slightly larger.

[Cultivation Methods]

…

Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art (Experienced 81,320 / 200,000)

Just in case, checking the proficiency made it more certain. In just a few minutes, the proficiency had risen by 10!

As expected, the Jade Light Spring was of great help to the cultivation of the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art.

Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art (Experienced 81,330 / 200,000)

Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art (Experienced 81,337 / 200,000)

Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art (Experienced 81,351 / 200,000)

Every time he absorbed the lightning imbued with spirituality, the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art grew. The constantly rising proficiency was exceptionally pleasant.

‘If things go well, I might raise the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art to the mastery stage here.’

How much stronger would he become when that time came.

The remaining time was approximately twenty-five days. He could not waste even a bit.

Rumble…!

Looking at the Jade Light Spring that threatened while spewing lightning as if to repel the invader, his eyes shone.

Splash!

He leaped in altogether as if diving. With the momentum to absorb all the lightning energy in this place.