Chapter 74 – The Red Blossom Unit

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Clang clang clang!

Jin So-myeong furrowed his brows at the rough bell sound that carried a strong sense of urgency.

‘Demonic beasts have invaded already?’

Thinking about it for a moment, it was not strange either.

Since Sky Island would soon enter the Demonic Roaring Sea, the demonic beasts also had no reason to stay quiet.

Whoosh!

Soaring into the sky, he inspected the outside of the city walls.

‘Not visible yet…’

In the plains outside the city, there was not a single demonic beast, but the urgent bell sound was still the same.

Probably, before long, the guys would fill all directions.

Just as he landed on the ground,

a Foundation Establishment cultivator with whom he got along relatively well as a neighbor approached with a serious expression.

“Fellow Daoist Jin. I was just about to go look for you, and it happens that you came out. What do you plan to do now?”

There was no need to even ponder the answer.

It was because from the moment he knew that Sky Island would enter the Demonic Roaring Sea, he had decided what to do.

“I plan to enter the Red Blossom Unit.”

“The Red Blossom Unit? Do you mean the unit that selectively hunts only commander-class demonic beasts?”

“Yes.”

The Red Blossom Unit was a kind of small-scale independent unit.

It was a unit created by gathering rogue cultivators who did not want to formally join the army but wanted to hunt demonic beasts.

“Heh. Is there a need for Fellow Daoist Jin, who is a rogue cultivator, to go out of your way to take on such a dangerous mission?”

“Because the reward is good. And in any case, if the situation turns bad, we will eventually be conscripted. There is nothing bad about accumulating merits beforehand.”

“…Indeed. Since Fellow Daoist Jin is the winner of the Ascending Immortal Tournament, there would be no worry of your life being in danger. I think I will have to ponder it a bit.”

Parting with his neighbor, he went straight to the central square of Filial Moon City.

Indeed.

The square, which was vast enough to hold several thousand people, was packed. It was to the extent of wondering just where so many people came from.

Although it was a chaotic atmosphere, minimal order was maintained.

It was because the Filial Moon City Enforcement Team wearing armor maintained security.

“Fellow Daoists! The demonic beasts have dared to surround our Sky Island. But do not worry. As long as the Golden Core Sages maintain the Reverse Polar Grand Lock Formation, the Rank 3 Demonic Kings cannot enter Sky Island!”

A Foundation Establishment cultivator who went up onto the platform shouted while using even his spiritual power.

“However! If the city falls, the Reverse Polar Grand Lock Formation will collapse, and Sky Island will turn into a battlefield between Rank 3 existences. Therefore, we must protect it! Please support the defense army. We promise to treat you generously!”

Listening to the speech, Jin So-myeong turned his gaze.

Since it was a scene he had seen dozens of times over the past few years, he already knew what they would say.

The five Golden Core cities on Sky Island were all the core of the formation.

If a city fell, the Rank 3 Demonic Kings would run wild, so it must absolutely be stopped.

‘To apply for the Red Blossom Unit… Ah! Over there.’

An area decorated like a reception desk on one side of the square. As he approached, the receptionist welcomed him with a visibly brightened expression.

“Welcome! …Huh? Have we met somewhere? Your face is familiar.”

“Well. It is my first time seeing you, though.”

The receptionist, who was furrowing his brows and pondering, spoke as if frustrated.

“Phew. I cannot remember. In any case, what is your name?”

“It is Jin So-myeong.”

The receptionist, who was recording something on a jade slip, flinched.

“Jin So-myeong? Ahhh! The winner of the Ascending Immortal Tournament! I knew I had seen you somewhere!”

Whether it was gratifying to remember, the receptionist, who rejoiced while flicking his finger, spoke in a much friendlier tone.

“Fellow Daoist Jin. Is there a unit you wish to support? If you have a specialty, I will send you to a related unit.”

“I request the Red Blossom Unit.”

“Uh… that is a place that hunts late Foundation Establishment-grade demonic beasts, will you be fine?”

“Yes.”

At the firm and neat answer. The receptionist, who was implicitly showing signs of dissuading him, gave up. Just as he was only nodding his head,

“A young fellow is quite cocky. Do you even know how strong a Rank 2 high-grade demonic beast is?”

Someone overtly picked a fight.

Glancing back, a man in his thirties who was in the late Foundation Establishment stage was sneering.

Although he looked young at first glance, the wrinkles formed around his eyes suggested his age was not small.

Jin So-myeong, who closely observed the sword worn by the opponent, tilted his head and asked.

“A sword cultivator?”

“Hmph. Can you not tell just by looking? Even a neighborhood mutt would know that I am a sword cultivator.”

“I am sorry. I was confused because your sharp energy was too weak.”

“…Ha. You are quite high and mighty just because you won the Ascending Immortal Tournament. Let’s see just how sharp your Sword Qi is.”

Clang!

Simultaneously with the man drawing his sword, eleven additional flying swords popped out of his storage pouch.

A total of twelve flying swords strolled through the empty air at will as if they were alive.

Although it was a movement flashy enough to make one’s eyes dizzy, it lacked the single most important thing.

Sword Qi.

The sharp energy formed on the blade was blurry as if it would vanish at any moment.

The moment he saw that.

His desire to have a match dropped abruptly.

Suddenly, he felt like he knew why this fellow was picking a fight like this.

He wanted to use him as a whetstone to sharpen his weakened Sword Qi.

“Tsk. It is useless to cling to me. You must resolve your Sword Qi on your own.”

“…What nonsense are you talking!”

Just as the startled man glared while clenching his teeth,

the receptionist, who was looking with his mouth gaped wide, hurriedly intervened.

“H-Hey! What on earth are you doing at a time like this! Put away your dharma treasures immediately!”

“Tsk.”

The hesitating man eventually put his sword away, and Jin So-myeong, who stared blankly at that, shook his head.

No longer paying attention to the nameless sword cultivator, he spoke to the receptionist.

“Am I now belonging to the Red Blossom Unit?”

“Yes? Uh… correct. Because Fellow Daoist Jin’s identity is certain.”

“I heard that if one enters the Red Blossom Unit, they are given a formation nameplate that allows them to enter and leave Filial Moon City even during the war.”

The receptionist, who was only blinking his eyes, slapped his own forehead.

“Oh dear, I am sorry. I forgot because of that idiot. You just need to infuse spiritual power into this nameplate here. Please note that only you can use it. And…”

Listening to various precautions, Jin So-myeong, who received a wooden tablet carved with a dawn moon, nodded his head.

Now, he became able to enter and leave even when the formation was activated.

To hunt demonic beasts outside the city at a time like this, it was convenient to have a nameplate.

Whoosh!

Leaving behind the sword cultivator who was still glaring from behind, he went near the city wall.

Going up to a building high enough that the entire plains outside the city were visible, he sat cross-legged.

Just how long did he wait while meditating quietly?

Around the time the moon set and the sun rose,

he opened his eyes at a strange sensation that tickled his heart. He stared at the horizon that had already begun to be dyed pitch-black.

‘What a spectacle.’

There was no need to even ponder what existence had surrounded all directions airtight.

A demonic beast army.

Since the entire plains were blackened to that extent… it was an absurd number.

Boom!

An explosion echoed from the sky. The battle between Rank 3 existences had begun outside Sky Island.

At the same time,

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Along with the drum beats ringing as if they had been waiting, demonic beasts of all shapes and sizes advanced.

From a giant ape reminiscent of the giants in legends, to a three-headed strange bird.

There were truly many.

To the extent that the formation fluctuated merely by the gathering of the primitive killing intent emitted by the guys.

His heart tickled at the pressure given by the overwhelming numbers.

Suddenly,

a curiosity close to an impulse surged.

‘How much of my strength will work against that army?’

He wanted to test it.

Just as he stood up unconsciously and took a step forward,

“Phew. I finally found you.”

the sword cultivator he had encountered at the registration desk appeared again. Hearing what he said, it seemed he had searched the entire city to find him.

‘What kind of fellow is he?’

Why did he come here? Did he really want to have a match?

As he furrowed his brows deeply, the sword cultivator clicked his tongue.

“Tsk. Acting all high and mighty. I just came looking for you because I was curious about what you would be doing. And I am also in the Red Blossom Unit now.”

It was ridiculous to see him looking triumphant while showing the nameplate engraved with the dawn moon.

‘Is he a crazy guy?’

Surely, he was not following him around because he was curious about the secret of strength?

An absurd reason came to mind for a moment, but he believed that was not it.

“…”

But why was it?

Looking at the guy staring at the demonic beast army with a stiffened face, he had something he wanted to ask more than the reason.

“Hey. What is your name?”

“Ha. You ignored me completely earlier, and only now are you curious about my name?”

“Do you not see those demonic beasts? You might not even be alive tomorrow, do you not want to at least leave your name?”

“…Hong Un-gwang.”

For the first time in a really long time, Jin So-myeong, who felt playful, spoke with a smile.

“Should I tell you the reason your Sword Qi became weak?”

“…!”

As if hit right on the mark. His eyes grew wide.

He spoke to the fellow who could not even answer properly.

“No. To be precise, it would be the method to sharpen Sword Qi. But this secret is quite expensive. I found it out with some difficulty.”

“H-How much is it?”

Hong Un-gwang, who asked with an earnest expression, overlapped with someone.

A rogue cultivator who awakened Sword Qi without proper teaching.

It was himself in the dream he had after eating the Dream-Roaming Primal Pill.

‘What happened to me?’

Did he safely exit the Red Cloud Secret Realm after awakening Sword Qi?

What about after that?

Perhaps he entered the Giant Sword Sect, the sect of sword cultivators…

“Ah, forget it. I will not tell you. In any case, it is too expensive for you to afford.”

“Damn it! I asked how much it is!”

“Well… would about ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones do?”

Since he spoke playfully, Hong Un-gwang’s face distorted violently.

Although it was half-serious, the fellow glared like a person who had been mocked.

“Hmph! Just how great is the secret of a mere mid Foundation Establishment stage cultivator? I will learn it on my own.”

He ignored the fellow who crossed his arms beside him, whether he intended to follow him around openly.

He turned his gaze to the gamey smell of beasts lingering at the tip of his nose. He focused on the demonic beast army that had gotten close enough to hear their breathing.

The moment the guys approached within a distance of 3 km,

– Gruooooh!

a particularly eye-catching giant size. An ape as large as a building roared and threw a rock.

Boom!

The rock flying with a sound of breaking through the air struck the city wall. As if it had dealt significant damage to the formation, the spiritual power fluctuated.

The overwhelming mass was no different from a siege weapon in itself.

Gulp…

Simultaneously with the sound of Hong Un-gwang swallowing spit,

– Kyeeeek!

the demonic beast army numbering over hundreds of thousands rushed in.

The blazing flames and the clashing metallic sounds of spears and swords dyed the entire sky…

Boom boom boom!

Every time the drum beats echoed, thousands of demonic beasts poured out a fierce offensive, disregarding even their lives.

– Gruooooo!!

Especially the guys with building-sized bodies were a headache.

Every time they threw rocks from afar, the formation fluctuated as if it would collapse right away.

At that moment,

“Everyone prepare! The formation will weaken for a moment!”

Some commander shouted loud enough to echo through the entire city.

At the same time,

right above Filial Moon City. A massive energy began to condense in the empty air.

Rumble…!

A heavy sense of pressure weighed down the entire city. It was to the extent that even the demonic beasts rushing like crazy recoiled.

Veritably a sun. The moment the compressed energy emitting radiant light reached its limit,

——!

sound vanished.

The sphere of light became a whip and lashed the earth. Nothing remained in the place where the pillar of light scraped through.

Thousands of demonic beasts evaporated in a single blow.

The giant ape that was throwing rocks like a catapult was no exception. It vanished from the world without even leaving a handful of bloody water.

…Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that moment, along with the drum beats that began to echo in the silence, the frozen demonic beasts burst into their beastly nature.

Howling, they charged toward the city walls.

“Block them!”

Breaking through the formation that had weakened after pouring out the blow, they collided with the cultivators.

In a brief moment of less than a few seconds… numerous people died and died again. This was war.

Slashed!

Jin So-myeong, who went up the city wall and was slicing the invading demonic beasts, paused.

It was because the spiritual power fluctuated in the Red Blossom Unit nameplate.

The moment he infused his Divine Sense into the wooden tablet,

[Demonic beasts are installing a formation fifty li away to the southeast. It is estimated that there are three Rank 2 high-grade demonic beasts, so everyone reached by this voice transmission, gather at the South Gate.]

The first mission he had waited for was assigned.

‘To discover late-stage grade demonic beasts so easily.’

This war might perhaps become another opportunity.

Jin So-myeong, who dispatched all the surrounding demonic beasts by flying his Sword Qi, kicked off the ground.