Chapter 69 – Growing the Secret Realm of the Mind

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The moment Jin So-myeong invested one thousand mid-grade spirit stones,

Rumble!

along with a welcome vibration, the Secret Realm of the Mind began to expand.

[Secret Realm of the Mind]

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

[Resource Production]: 20 mid-grade spirit stones / 1 day

The secret realm, which had been nothing more than a small hill initially, had easily exceeded 2,000 pyeong before long.

It had become so wide that it was difficult to take it all in at a glance.

And,

the most important spiritual power concentration also increased. The spiritual power, which had become nearly twice as dense, permeated his lungs with every breath.

Sssip…

Enjoying the feeling of becoming full, he nodded his head.

‘My meridians are still fine. I can continue strengthening them for the time being.’

It seemed fine to grow it above Rank 2 high-grade.

Thanks to his elevated realm and the meridians strengthened by the Water-Fire Fusion Chapter of the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art, there was no burden.

After fully enjoying the expanded secret realm and the dense spiritual power,

‘Next… I must create my own Jade Light Spring.’

He took out blue stones the size of a fist from his subspace.

Crackle! Spark!

According to his investigation in the market, the name of this stone that spewed lightning on its own was the Jade Thunder Pearl.

It was a rare mineral discovered in special environments where lightning struck all year round.

‘They said it was finished just by immersing it in water imbued with spiritual Qi.’

He snapped his fingers. The spiritual power condensed in the empty air became a giant shovel and dug up the Secret Realm of the Mind.

Ten meters wide and ten meters long.

After digging a pit of a suitable size to be used as a bath, he took out the Thunder-Bearing Stone, a Rank 2 mineral resistant to lightning.

Slash!

He sliced a rock as large as a house neatly with Sword Qi. Sculpting it into the shape of a tub, he placed it in the pit.

‘It looks decent.’

Next, he took out the gourd purchased at the market and poured it.

Splash, splash!

Spiritual water poured out endlessly.

This water was dew in which spiritual Qi had condensed, which the Qi Condensation cultivators of Sky Island had climbed the mountains early in the dawn to harvest.

Into the open-air bath completed in an instant, he threw all twelve of the Jade Thunder Pearls as well.

‘Is it done?’

Originally, the most difficult and important thing when creating such a spiritual spring was guarding against intruders.

He had to set up a formation to block thieves or demonic beasts that might come sniffing, but Jin So-myeong had no need to do that.

This was because the Secret Realm of the Mind itself was one of the safest places in the world.

‘Having my own land is indeed convenient.’

How long did he watch the quiet water surface?

Rumble…

A faint thunder began to be heard. The lightning energy spewed from the Jade Thunder Pearls had filled the water.

Feeling glad, he dipped his fingertip and felt the energy of the lightning becoming minutely stronger.

Estimating the speed at which the small Jade Light Spring grew stronger, he nodded.

‘If I absorb it every month, the proficiency of the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art will rise by about two thousand.’

Of course, converting it into spiritual power to raise his realm was also possible. For the time being, that seemed likely to have better efficiency.

‘I should obtain more spiritual objects like the Jade Thunder Pearl.’

Since thunder-attribute spiritual objects were extremely rare, it would not be easy, but he decided to aim for them if there was an opportunity.

Next was the turn of the Sword Seed.

In a way, this seed was the most important among what he had obtained from the Ascending Immortal Tournament.

Fiddling with the golden seed that might become his Natal Magic Treasure, he pondered.

‘Where should I plant it.’

If possible, he wanted to choose the best location.

He roamed the Secret Realm of the Mind to find the place with the densest spiritual power, and it was the top of the hill.

Thud!

Digging a small hole, he planted the seed. He also generously sprinkled the Rank 2 highest-grade spiritual soil, which was earth imbued with spiritual Qi.

Staring at the protruding mound of earth, he snapped his fingers.

Swish!

The moment he shot Sword Qi toward the Sword Seed,

the haze that penetrated into the soil was absorbed by the seed. He worried if the Sword Seed might split, but such a thing did not happen.

Despite being a mere thumbnail-sized seed, it sucked in all the Sword Qi unleashed by Jin So-myeong.

‘…Amazing.’

To think its resistance to Sword Qi was this high, despite not looking very sturdy.

It was to the extent that he grew curious about the abilities of the ancient cultivators who had developed this seed.

Swish, swish, swish!

He kept pouring Sword Qi until he grew tired, but there was no change.

‘Hmm… is it because it is a Rank 3 spiritual crop? It is not easy.’

Pondering for a moment, he even mobilized the Supreme Great Ability.

Consuming 500 beads that had recovered while he rested for a few days, he made a wish.

‘Become a good sword.’

The moment the mysterious wave originating from the Supreme Great Ability touched the seed,

Buzzing!

the Sword Seed trembled. It was as if it was rejoicing after eating delicious food. Its originally golden color also became minutely darker.

It had an effect! If it kept going like this, it seemed it would sprout before long.

‘Done.’

He dusted off his hands and stood up. Now, all that remained was to grow it steadily by investing time.

The spiritual vein that reached Rank 2 mid-grade, the small Jade Light Spring, and the Sword Seed.

Looking around at the changes that occurred in the Secret Realm of the Mind, a corner of his heart felt proud.

If he kept filling it up one by one like this, the Secret Realm of the Mind would someday become a cultivation holy land more outstanding than the Soul Washing Land.

Flash!

After finishing all his business, he returned to his cave dwelling and fell into thought.

He had to establish a rough plan on how he would cultivate in the future.

Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art (Experienced 17,320 / 40,000)

Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art (Mastery 83 / 20,000,000)

River and Cloud Sword Art (Mastery 9,298 / 3,000,000)

If he were to choose the ones that exerted the greatest influence on his current combat power, it was these three.

Sweeping through the state of the proficiencies, he saw exactly what was suitable as the next goal.

‘I should raise the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art to mastery first.’

The method was not difficult either.

He could invest his Supreme Great Ability, or absorb the energy contained in the Rank 3 inner core given by the Lord of Sky Island.

However, the advice given by the Lord of Sky Island weighed on his mind.

‘Do not be tempted by the shortcut… just what is the shortcut?’

He felt the need to investigate it in detail somehow.

Going to the Magnificent Brocade Pavilion, the largest shop in Filial Moon City, to buy cultivation resources, he questioned,

“Shopkeeper. Where on earth are demonic beast inner cores used that they are this expensive?”

“They are used to grow special spiritual crops or refine dharma treasures, but they are usually made into spiritual medicines a lot.”

“Is there perhaps no other special usage method? Like directly absorbing the inner core’s energy…?”

“Ah! Some sturdy demonic beasts can also be used for body tempering cultivation. I happened to obtain a few thanks to the recent raid; are you interested?”

“Hmm. Do you perhaps have a Rank 3 inner core as well? If possible, I want to buy a good one.”

“Rank 3? Haha. You are speaking of a dream-like thing. How could one hunt such a powerful existence? It is not an easy task even for a Golden Core Sage.”

“…A pity.”

“Even if you obtain a Rank 3 inner core, absorbing it is a waste.”

“Why is that? If one absorbs a Rank 3 inner core, there would be a great progress in cultivation.”

“Cultivation is eventually resolved if you invest time, is it not. What was it called… the External Elixir Method? I do not know in detail either, but I heard that as long as one has a Rank 3 inner core, they can reach the Golden Core stage.”

“The External Elixir Method…?”

“They say it is the easiest among the methods of reaching the Golden Core stage. Well, since obtaining a Rank 3 inner core is impossible, it is a meaningless story.”

Although it was welcome news that made his eyes widen, the spiked curiosity subsided soon.

The words the Lord of Sky Island spoke while giving the Rank 3 inner core were finally understood.

‘A shortcut. Could there be some problem with that External Elixir Method?’

It seemed likely to be so. If reaching the Golden Core stage were that easy, Sky Island would be overflowing with Golden Core Sages.

Good things in the world were not common.

Exiting the shop, he fell into deep thought.

‘The External Elixir Method… Still, I am curious.’

His current realm was at the 5th layer of Foundation Establishment. Since he would soon reach the late stage, he had to gradually investigate the Golden Core stage.

However, information regarding Rank 3 was precious.

Although he went around several shops and dropped hints, there was not a single person who knew properly.

‘Baek Yu-geon seemed somewhat kind. Should I go visit and ask him?’

He felt frustrated to the point that even such a thought emerged. While cultivating for a few days and pondering how he would investigate,

a demonic beast subjugation order was issued on Sky Island.

It was a mission to clean up Sky Island, which had become a mess due to the recent raid.

‘Oh?’

At the pleasant news that arrived while he was in a bind, his fist clenched tightly.

If you tell a cultivator who is busy cultivating to fight demonic beasts risking their lives, who would do it diligently? Naturally, there was a reward.

A very large reward at that.

‘If one brings a Rank 2 high-grade demonic beast inner core, they give Golden Core Insights?’

The subjugation order was structured to exchange demonic beast inner cores for the desired rewards, and on the very top line of the reward list lay the Golden Core Insights.

Reading the description just in case, it was indeed a jade slip summarizing the methods of reaching the Golden Core stage.

‘The exchange cost is 5 Rank 2 high-grade demonic beast inner cores.’

Interpreting it, it meant catching ten to twenty late Foundation Establishment level demonic beasts.

It was a task difficult enough to be impossible for an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. It would probably only be possible by gathering companions and hunting as a group.

However, Jin So-myeong was sufficient on his own. This was because he possessed combat power diligently polished.

‘With my current strength, if I even mobilize the Supreme Great Ability, how far will I be able to reach…’

Tapping the sword handle, he hurried his steps.

***

Three months later.

Focusing on cultivation, if news was heard that a Rank 2 high-grade demonic beast appeared, he immediately went looking.

Most were in vain, but he did not give up and kept trying.

How many times did he repeat this? He could finally face a late Foundation Establishment level demonic beast.

“Human!”

It was a blue Fish-Dragon, an intermediate form between a snake and an imugi, but the fellow fled while kicking up water spray as soon as it met Jin So-myeong.

‘…?’

It was not like a ferocious demonic beast.

He was flustered because it fled without even looking back, but he gave chase immediately.

Rumble!

Just as he was tracking using even the Lightning Escape Art. The desperately fleeing demonic beast stopped at some point and looked around.

“You. Did you really come looking for this body alone? Even though you are a human with a low realm?”

It glared this way while wriggling the scales that appeared to be eyebrows.

Looking at the Rank 2 high-grade Fish-Dragon that growled as if resentful of having fled, like a person who was scammed, he chuckled.

“I am sufficient alone, so is there a need for other people?”

“Kuhaha! Sea water must have filled your brain while cultivating! It seems you are high and mighty after learning lightning techniques…”

The moment demonic Qi fluctuated from the horn sprouted on the fellow’s forehead,

“I will let you know the reason the Sea Dragon Clan is called the strongest in the sea!”

Dark clouds gathered in the clear sky.

Rumble…

A crackling discharge phenomenon occurred in the thick cumulonimbus cloud generated in an instant.

Judging by the incessantly echoing thunder sound, it was a cloud formed by the combination of lightning Qi and water Qi.

“Since ancient times, lightning has been the authority of our Dragon Clan!”

Rumble!

A dazzling flash dyed the entire sea.

Confronting the mercilessly pouring lightning baptism,

Jin So-myeong, who narrowed his eyes, did not respond. For some reason, he just stood still.

He allowed the lightning gathering from all sides as it was.

Boom, boom, boom!

How long did the violent lightning storm, comparable to a natural disaster, last?

Jin So-myeong, who had been enveloped in the flash, let out a sigh.

“It’s only noisy on the outside. It’s worse than the Jade Light Spring.”

“…!”

Whether it realized something, the Fish-Dragon that was about to jump into the sea altogether and flee was split diagonally.

It was simultaneous with a golden sword light grazing past the demonic beast.

“What is this…”

The arrogant Fish-Dragon’s pupils were dyed in shock. It seemed unable to believe that its body had been sliced like tofu.

“Just what kind of spell is this! Do you know how hard my scales are!”

“A fellow who will die soon has too many curiosities.”

The Fish-Dragon, whose life force was scattering, glared tenaciously.

Its look was as if begging for an explanation before dying, but Jin So-myeong merely sheathed his sword silently.

‘There’s no way I would tell you.’

In truth, the slash just now was a strike that consumed as many as one thousand Supreme Great Ability beads.

He had tested it to grasp his combat power in the case of using the Supreme Great Ability, but regrettably, the opponent was too weak.

Splash!

Unable to satisfy its curiosity in the end, he retrieved the Fish-Dragon that fell into the sea as a corpse and split its belly.

‘I wonder if there is an inner core…’

He wielded the Sword Qi condensed at his fingertips.

After butchering for quite a while focused on the part where demonic Qi was felt strongly,

‘Found it!’

he discovered a yellow bead that looked like an enlarged pearl.

Rumble…

Judging by the faint thunder heard, it was certainly a thunder-attribute demonic core, said to be extremely rare.

Estimating the energy contained inside, it was at the level of a single Jade Thunder Pearl in the Secret Realm of the Mind.

Although it would not charge continuously like the Jade Thunder Pearl, it was a considerably useful treasure.

‘Mmm… should I just use this myself?’

If he absorbed the lightning Qi contained inside and converted it into spiritual power, the time taken to reach the 6th layer of Foundation Establishment would shorten drastically.

However, doing so would place the Golden Core Insights further away.

‘Finding Rank 2 high-grade demonic beasts is too difficult.’

Fighting and winning was not a problem, but discovering a late Foundation Establishment level demonic beast itself was not easy.

The Fish-Dragon caught this time was also barely discovered after three months.

It was fortunate that it had an inner core; had it been a demonic beast without one, it would have been a waste.

‘Just how many years will it take to gather five…’

Pondering for a moment, he postponed the decision for now.

It seemed he should judge after seeing the speed at which the inner cores gathered in the future.

After collecting other byproducts floating in the sea, he returned to Sky Island.

While focusing on cultivation again,

at the time he even placed a bounty to inquire about late Foundation Establishment level demonic beasts,

Baek Yu-geon, the chief disciple of the Rank 3 formation master, visited his cave dwelling.

“Fellow Daoist Jin. I heard you are looking for Rank 2 high-grade demonic beasts lately. Is it perhaps to exchange them for the Golden Core Insights?”

“Yes.”

Since he had searched for them publicly, it was not particularly a secret.

When he nodded, Baek Yu-geon clapped his hands as if it worked out well just in time.

“With your strength, Fellow Daoist, wandering around looking for Rank 2 high-grade demonic beasts is a waste of time. I will rather give you the Golden Core Insights I received from my master. Instead…”