Chapter 71 – Cultivation

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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, who had been lying on the bare ground laughing, stood up stumblingly.

He took out a Rank 3 inner core from his sub-space and absorbed the blood energy.

He fell into thought while recovering his body, which had become tattered as the price of using the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration.

‘Why did such a big change occur only in the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art?’

There were not a few cultivation methods and spells that had reached the Mastery stage.

Even excluding the Wind Control Art, which was a low-grade spell with a low starting point in the first place, the River and Cloud Sword Art and the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art were also at the Mastery stage.

However, those did not generate a powerful ability like the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration.

What was the reason?

After pondering for a long time, he suddenly thought of the opposite.

‘…Could it be that they have already been generated?’

What change occurred when the River and Cloud Sword Art surpassed the barrier?

In the Ascending Immortal Tournament, he had cut through the core of a fire-attribute spell against Baek Yu-geon, and stood against the Rank 3 Magic Treasure, the Elegant Wind Fan.

Was such a thing possible for an ordinary Foundation Establishment sword cultivator?

At least, Jin So-myeong had never heard even a similar rumor.

Also.

The lightning spells poured out by the Fish Dragon Clan he hunted recently also came to mind.

At that time, he had ended it thinking that the opponent was too weak, but…

‘Comparing it to the Jade Light Spring in the first place was wrong.’

The Jade Light Spring was a spiritual spring created by the accumulation of lightning Qi emitted from more than two hundred Jade Thunder Pearls for decades.

The lightning resistance generated as the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art reached the Mastery stage might be much more powerful than he thought.

‘Could it be at the Golden Core grade?’

Even if it was not, it was at the highest level among Rank 2. This was certain.

For him, who was still only at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, to gain the power to aim for a higher rank…

The proficiency system, which he had created by consuming a massive amount of vital energy in the Red Cloud Secret Realm, was much more amazing than he had vaguely thought.

Suddenly, the impulse to fight a Rank 3 existence surged, but he soon shook his head.

‘Still not enough.’

It was clear if he thought about it based on the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration.

The power that turned the rocky mountain to dust was certainly close to Rank 3, but it was like a self-destruction technique that squeezed out all of his strength.

If it did not work, there was no next time.

However, if it were a true Golden Core, they would be able to pour out this kind of attack endlessly.

‘…Still, there is not much left.’

The distant realm had become close enough to reach if he just stretched out his hand.

***

After testing the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration and returning to Filial Moon City, Jin So-myeong continued a regular life.

He raised his body tempering realm by absorbing Rank 3 Demonic King inner cores, and continued to hunt late Foundation Establishment-grade demonic beasts.

Although he had already obtained the Golden Core Insights, it was because there were many useful things among the exchangeable rewards.

‘Dream-Roaming Primal Pill.’

It was a medicinal pill that could only be exchanged by gathering seven Rank 2 high-grade inner cores, but since it strengthened the divine soul and increased the probability of Golden Core success, it was a treasure he must absolutely obtain.

Of course, he did not neglect his cultivation either.

The small-scale Jade Light Spring created in the Secret Realm of the Mind, the inner core of a thunder-attribute Fish Dragon, and the high-quality spiritual medicine obtained as a reward from the Ascending Immortal Tournament.

He raised his realm by unsparingly using precious spiritual objects of heaven and earth.

‘Five years. No, four and a half years from now, when Sky Island enters the Demonic Roaring Sea, I will have to fight demonic beasts at all times. I must raise my realm as much as possible until then.’

Although Sky Island would soon turn into a battlefield, he had no intention of leaving.

It was because there was no place as good for cultivation as Sky Island in this sea.

Moreover, the Demonic Roaring Sea was not necessarily a bad place. In a way, it was a land of opportunity.

‘I heard it becomes much easier to obtain various spiritual herbs.’

This was because what was needed for demonic beasts and humans was different from each other.

Just as humans did not need the Speech-Opening Herb that opened speech, some precious spiritual herbs were treated as weeds by demonic beasts.

It was a fact he had learned thanks to Baek Yu-geon, who came to visit him often to get close.

Thanks to his talkative personality, several points he had been curious about since before were also resolved.

“A method to improve spiritual root aptitude? Is there a reason for a genius like Fellow Daoist Jin to be interested in such a secret technique?”

“My spiritual root aptitude is probably worse than you think.”

“Heh…”

Looking with a suspicious expression as if it were hard to believe, Baek Yu-geon shrugged his shoulders.

“As far as I know, there are not many such secret techniques. Because it is more efficient to invest in geniuses rather than forcing those with poor aptitude to grow.”

“…That is a pity.”

“Do not be too disappointed. It is not that there is no way. I heard that if one bathes in a medicinal bath made by boiling various spiritual herbs, their spiritual root aptitude improves very minutely.”

Bathing in water with dissolved spiritual herbs…

It was an absurdly luxurious method.

Since doing it for a day or two probably would not have an effect, an immense amount of resources would be consumed.

However, it did not matter to Jin So-myeong, who had spirit stones constantly springing up thanks to the Secret Realm of the Mind.

“By any chance, do you know what kind of medicinal bath it is?”

“Hmm… was it the Green Root Harmonizing Decoction? Perhaps the method to make that medicinal bath is also among the rewards of this subjugation order.”

It was welcome news.

After Baek Yu-geon left, he immediately went to the Deacon’s Office of Filial Moon City and checked the reward list.

‘It is here. Green Root Harmonizing Decoction .’

It was written that if one bathed in the medicinal bath once a week for ten years, even a mixed spiritual root could become a mid-grade spiritual root.

According to the description, it was meaningless to Jin So-myeong, who had already become a mid-grade spiritual root, but he possessed a power that could be called a fragment of omnipotence.

‘If I amplify the effect with the Supreme Great Ability, I might be able to become a high-grade spiritual root.’

He examined the exchange cost, and it was much cheaper than he thought. One Rank 2 mid-grade demonic beast inner core was enough.

Since he had been hunting late Foundation Establishment-grade demonic beasts lately, minor demonic beast inner cores were overflowing.

Without hesitation, he exchanged for the jade slip containing the medicinal bath recipe.

‘Hundred-year-old Frankincense Magnolia, Moon Shadow Root, Fire Jade Herb…’

Converting the ingredients for a single dose into mid-grade spirit stones, it was approximately one hundred.

Although it was a price expensive enough for an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator to scream, he did not regret it at all.

Rather, he selected only good quality ingredients to make an even more expensive medicinal bath.

Bathing in the medicinal bath made of top-grade ingredients every week, he also consumed 500 points of the Supreme Great Ability each time.

‘It has an effect!’

He had been worried that the speed of improving his aptitude had slowed down after becoming a mid-grade spiritual root, but it was resolved cleanly like a clogged road being cleared.

Sensitivity to spiritual Qi, absorption rate, the feeling of casting spells, and so on.

Those called aptitude grew better with each passing day. He was convinced that he would soon possess a high-grade spiritual root.

Crackle!

Whenever he accumulated spiritual power by operating the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, a laugh came out naturally.

He had bathed in the Green Root Harmonizing Decoction for only a few months, but the difference was stark.

His cultivation speed increased by about 10% compared to before!

‘I will be able to reach the 6th layer of Foundation Establishment in four to five years.’

Although it was a speed fast enough that if someone had heard it, they would have told him not to talk nonsense, he was not satisfied.

Always doing his best was Jin So-myeong’s nature.

‘I should also raise the Immortal-Severing Earth Art to Mastery.’

This secret technique, derived from the Taiyi Medicine King Scripture, had the effect of allowing him to consume medicinal pills more and more frequently.

It was one of the secrets that allowed Jin So-myeong to grow faster than others.

Immortal-Severing Earth Art (Proficiency 1,398 / 5,000)

The remaining proficiency was approximately 4,000. It was a level that was not a big burden now, unlike in the past.

As a result of pouring in the remaining Supreme Great Ability over a month,

the Immortal-Severing Earth Art reached Mastery.

The added effect was simple but powerful. His resistance to pill toxins increased further.

Now, he was fine even if he consumed medicinal pills four times more frequently than other people.

‘Should I also raise the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art? What kind of effect will be generated if it reaches Mastery?’

To be honest, this cultivation method was not used much now, but curiosity arose.

Since he thought of it, he checked the status window, and the remaining proficiency was not much.

Five Elements Qi Condensation Art (Proficiency 5,605 / 10,000)

If he raised it by approximately five thousand, the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art would also reach Mastery.

‘Should I spend the remaining Supreme Great Ability here?’

He invested what was left after excluding the Supreme Great Ability periodically consumed to improve his spiritual root and grow the Sword Seed.

He raised the proficiency with the feeling of opening a gift box, and obtained a quite decent effect.

He became more sensitive to the Five Elements spiritual Qi, and the power of all spells belonging to the Five Elements increased slightly.

He was satisfied because the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art and the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art also became slightly stronger.

‘I should raise everything that does not cost much Supreme Great Ability.’

Jin So-myeong’s gaze, which was choosing the next goal, turned toward the Lightning Escape Art.

***

Time flowed quickly.

The aura of war grew increasingly thicker on the peaceful Sky Island.

The market prices of goods related to cultivation and battle skyrocketed, and the expressions of the relaxed cultivators also hardened stiffly.

However, not many people actually left.

It was because unless they intended to give up cultivation, remaining on Sky Island was the best choice.

In this kind of atmosphere, the time that flowed was four years.

A powerful lightning Qi burst from the body of Jin So-myeong, who was absorbed in cultivation without missing a single day.

He had finally reached the 6th layer of Foundation Establishment!

【Jin So-myeong】

【Lifespan】: 29 / 210

【Realm】: 6th layer of Foundation Establishment

【Supreme Great Ability】: 4,721 / 8,000

【Divine Ability】:

【Cultivation Methods】

Five Elements Qi Condensation Art (Mastery 107 / 1,000,000)

Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art (Mastery 25,000 / 4,000,000)

Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art (Mastery 80,000 / 20,000,000)

【Spells】

Wind Control Art (Mastery 1,000 / 300,000)

River and Cloud Sword Art (Mastery 72,000 / 3,000,000)

Immortal-Severing Earth Art (Mastery 1 / 500,000)

Thousand Transformations Art (Proficiency 1 / 100,000)

Lightning Escape Art (Mastery 1 / 10,000,000)

Looking at the status window, which had become significantly longer compared to the old days, he felt proud.

“Heh.”

A smile formed naturally in his pleased mind.

If there was one questionable point, it was that the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration was not in the divine ability section, but this was understandable in its own way.

It was just that the standard of the status window was too strict.

‘Indeed. Making a secret realm in the void cannot be compared to a divine ability that simply explodes a Golden Core-grade blow.’

In any case, many things had changed over the four years.

First, as the Lightning Escape Art reached Mastery, his speed took another leap.

‘It has become incredibly fast.’

The Divine Sense range that expanded as he reached the 6th layer of Foundation Establishment was 300 meters.

If he stretched it as long as possible in one direction, it was about 900 meters, but within that range, he could move as if almost teleporting.

He became able to move a distance close to 1 km in an instant. This was a speed comparable to the Golden Core grade.

Although he could not cast it consecutively because he had to maintain a high level of concentration and the consumption of spiritual power was also massive, it was a rapid progress compared to the past.

‘His body tempering realm also rose.’

Currently, his physical strength was at the top level of Rank 2. It was at the level of the very end of Foundation Establishment.

It was the result of absorbing all the blood energy contained in the Rank 3 Demonic King’s inner core.

Although a treasure that could make one a Golden Core if used in the External Elixir Method was consumed, he did not regret it at all.

‘Hmm… should I try using the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration after a long time?’

For four years, whenever he had spare time, he went to a quiet place and used the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration.

It was a cultivation to control the mighty divine ability.

Of course, every time he used the Light-Accumulating Destructive Vibration, his entire body became a mess, and he had not even succeeded properly yet, but he continued with the feeling of investing in the future.

After controlling the spiritual power that had become unstable while breaking through the realm, he came out of the cave dwelling.

Just as he was about to seek a wasteland,

a familiar Qi Condensation cultivator ran over in a hurry and shouted.

“Senior Jin! A Rank 2 high-grade demonic beast has appeared in a village three hundred li away to the northwest!”

“A high-grade demonic beast? Well done. I will go immediately.”

Kaboom!

Casting the Lightning Escape Art and soaring into the sky, he took out a mid-grade spirit stone and flicked it to the young man who brought the news.

“Thank you!”

The expression of the Qi Condensation cultivator named Hwang Dal-pung became wide with a grin.

This person was one of the people Jin So-myeong had saved while coming out of the Soul Washing Land in the past, and one day, he really came looking for him to repay the favor and did small errands.

Since there were times when he brought useful news like today, there was nothing bad from Jin So-myeong’s perspective.

Whoosh!

In the mind of Jin So-myeong, who crossed the sky like a meteor, only a single thought was filled.

‘Please let there be an inner core.’

He did not even worry about how to face the Rank 2 high-grade demonic beast. He had caught it easily in the past, so how would it be now?

It could not withstand even a single strike of his sword.

The important thing was the inner core. The Rank 2 high-grade inner cores Jin So-myeong currently possessed were six in total.

If he gathered just one more, he could exchange it for the Dream-Roaming Primal Pill, which increased the probability of Golden Core success.

‘I heard one can experience trials and grow stronger in a dream.’

Recalling the effect of the Dream-Roaming Primal Pill, a secret medicine that trained the divine soul, he raised his lightning Qi and increased his speed.

Rumble!

He became a ray of light and parted the clouds…

and a wolf causing a blizzard and a village whose formation was on the verge of collapsing came into his sight.