Chapter 95 – A Thousand-Year Spiritual Herb

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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A fortnight later.

From early dawn, Jin So-myeong, who came out of Vast Wilderness Immortal City, flew toward the southwest.

This was because today was the date decided to harvest the Moonbright Grass with Madame Ryeo.

After flying for about three hours on the Black Jade Flying Boat, the moisture in the atmosphere began to disappear.

‘Is this the Dead Soul Wilderness?’

Before long, a desert filled with golden sand appeared.

This place, which was also the location of the secret realm, the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda, was precisely the place promised with Madame Ryeo.

Within the bone-dry and muggy air, he stared beyond the horizon.

‘I heard that if I cross this desert, it is the Southern Province.’

Of course, the Dead Soul Wilderness was extremely wide and filled with all kinds of dangers, making it not easy to traverse.

If one wanted to go to the Southern Province, it was convenient to pay spirit stones and board a regular passenger vessel.

Stopping for a moment, he moved the Black Jade Flying Boat while admiring the desert scenery.

How much further had he flown?

His gaze met with Madame Ryeo, who was waiting in the shadow of a rock shaped like a trident.

“My, you came early.”

“I came early just in case. What about the others?”

“They have not arrived yet. Since we decided to gather by noon, they will probably come soon.”

Jin So-myeong, who nodded his head, took a spot in a corner of the shadow.

Closing his eyes as if meditating, he inspected the status window.

Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art (Mastery 2,320,000 / 4,000,000)

Already eight months had passed since he poured his Supreme Great Ability into this body tempering cultivation method.

The proficiency gained during that time was roughly 850,000.

Because there was also proficiency gained through direct cultivation, the total increase was slightly more than 850,000.

Seeing the speed of proficiency rising, it seemed he would reach the next stage within one and a half years.

‘It is a relief that the timing matches.’

The remaining time until the secret realm was two years. Fortunately, it seemed he could raise the realm of the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art before then.

Actually, he had contemplated whether to raise the Immortal-Severing Earth Art first to increase the dosage of medicinal pills, but postponed it due to several reasons.

First of all, obtaining medicinal pills in large quantities was not easy either.

This was because if the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art reached the next stage, the probability of a new divine ability appearing was high.

Although he did not know what that divine ability would be, he needed time to get used to it before entering the secret realm.

However, if he raised the Immortal-Severing Earth Art first now, the time would become tight.

He might have to enter the secret realm without properly researching the new divine ability.

What if a divine ability did not appear?

‘No way, surely.’

Although an ominous thought occurred very briefly, he believed it would not be so.

Just as he was checking the cultivation status while looking at the status window.

Neigh!

The neighing of horses was heard.

Shifting his gaze, he saw a splendid carriage flying from the distant sky.

Eight horses were pulling the carriage in midair, but something was strange.

‘Are they alive?’

Manes fluttering in the wind, elastic thigh muscles, periodically blinking eyes, and so forth.

Although signs of life were distinct, strangely, no vitality was felt at all.

He inspected closely, but it was certain.

Among the horses pulling the carriage, not a single living existence was present.

‘Are they puppets?’

It seemed those horses were special dharma treasures called puppets.

A puppet was a kind of doll, and it was convenient to think of it as a machine that moved by a power source like spirit stones.

It was quite useful, but both making and handling it were not easy.

Only a puppet master, treated as non-mainstream like body temperers, could properly control it.

“Haha. Madame Ryeo, long time no see. Hmm? There is someone I meet for the first time.”

“I am Mr. Jin.”

“Oh… nice to meet you. I am Hye-gong.”

Hye-gong, who scanned Jin So-myeong too quickly to easily notice, acted in a friendly manner.

Jin So-myeong also scanned the opponent, and Hye-gong’s realm was Golden Core 1st layer.

“Since everyone has arrived, let us depart immediately.”

After a short introduction.

The party, who boarded the flying carriage taken out by Madame Ryeo, flew toward the desert.

*

Jin So-myeong’s party traversed the desert while taking turns to control the flying carriage.

One day, two days, a week.

Identical-looking desert scenery continued endlessly. Just how much did they fly over the desolate and lonely sand?

‘Hmm?’

Since it was his turn, Jin So-myeong, who was controlling the flying carriage, narrowed his eyes.

This was because a colorful flower field appeared in the middle of the desert.

Purple, red, light pink, and so on…

Splendid flowers, to the extent that it was hard to believe they were in a desert, were spread out all the way beyond the horizon.

“Madame Ryeo. It seems we have arrived at the Mind-Bewildering Grass habitat you spoke of.”

The voice carrying spiritual power echoed in the flying carriage, and the party resting in the cabin appeared.

“It is indeed the Mind-Bewildering Grass habitat. I will control it from now on. You two please guard the surroundings.”

Jin So-myeong, who descended from the helm, pulled up his Divine Sense. Just as he was scanning the flower field spread wide like a sea.

A sweet fragrance brushed the tip of his nose.

The space between his eyebrows tickled. It felt like being tapped with a twig.

“Ah, by the way! The fragrance of the Mind-Bewildering Grass damages not only the physical body but also Divine Sense, so be careful. For reference, it is useless even if you hold your breath.”

Having said so, she put what appeared to be an antidote into her mouth.

“…”

As if the heavily focused gazes were not burdensome, Madame Ryeo spoke with a broad smile.

“Do not stare like that. Since I have prepared yours as well.”

Everyone received the antidote, but nobody actually put it into their mouth.

Knowing what kind of medicine this was, how could they readily eat it? That was an action too lacking in vigilance.

Hye-gong, who rolled his eyes here and there, smiled awkwardly and put the antidote inside his breast pocket.

Jin So-myeong was similar.

Staring blankly at the round pill carrying a light yellow color, he simply stored it in his sub-space.

“How unmanly.”

A nasal sneer was heard, but he only shrugged his shoulders.

In the first place, something like an antidote was unnecessary. This was because his poison resistance was strong from learning the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art.

The fragrance of the Mind-Bewildering Grass was also annoying only at first, and he developed immunity before long. His physical body as well as Divine Sense were perfectly fine.

‘Although body tempering is difficult to cultivate, it is useful in many ways.’

The effort of pouring in countless resources and enduring the pain paid off. Just as he was inwardly satisfied.

“Groan…”

Hye-gong, who clenched his teeth, fumbled inside his pocket. Fiddling with the antidote, he seemed to be conflicted over whether to take it or not.

Seeing that sight, Madame Ryeo snickered. It was a reaction as if she knew it would be so.

An hour later.

Hye-gong, whose complexion turned yellow, spoke with difficulty.

“Madame Ryeo. How much is left until we pass through the Mind-Bewildering Grass habitat?”

“Well. About half a day?”

“H-half a day.”

Hye-gong, whose eyes grew as if they would pop out, lamented.

Sighing deeply, he emptied the antidote into his mouth. He did not seem to have the confidence to endure for another half day.

Now, Jin So-myeong was the only one who had not eaten the antidote, yet he was still perfectly fine.

‘Is it to that extent?’

Apparently, the fragrance of the Mind-Bewildering Grass was much more toxic than expected.

Six hours, eight hours…

The gazes of the party toward Jin So-myeong gradually changed.

At first, it was a playful feeling of wanting to see how long he would endure, but as time went on, they practically stared at him as if looking at a monster.

This was because no matter how much time flowed, Jin So-myeong remained the same. He did not even show a sign of struggling.

“…Fellow Daoist Jin’s physical body is truly extraordinary.”

As if unable to believe it, Madame Ryeo, who stared blankly, muttered.

Perhaps because she realized part of the strength Jin So-myeong possessed, she seemed to have many thoughts.

While keeping her mouth tightly closed and contemplating deeply on something, she started.

This was because a huge canyon appeared amidst the flower field.

“Here it is. We will soon arrive at the place where the Moonbright Grass is, so prepare.”

As the flying carriage entered inside the endless canyon, the surroundings darkened.

‘A canyon in a sandy desert… It is a mysterious place.’

Jin So-myeong, who scanned the surroundings for anything dangerous, faltered.

This was because the shape of the canyon was suspiciously straight. It was clean as if a massive existence had drawn a line.

It by no means seemed like a naturally formed terrain.

In particular, the cliffs on both sides were smooth enough to reflect a face, looking like glass formed by sand melting under intense heat.

“Is this… by any chance a blade cut?”

“Well. Since it is a terrain that existed since too long ago, I also do not know whether it is a blade cut or not.”

Just how powerful a sword cultivator must they be to leave such a trace?

‘Nascent Soul stage? Or the legendary Soul Formation stage?’

Staring as if possessed at the canyon wide enough for a city to enter, he started.

The deeper they entered the canyon, the more complex the terrain became.

‘…It is a good place for an ambush.’

Countless intersections appeared, as if thousands of blade cuts were overlapped.

He pulled up his senses while placing his hand on the sword hilt.

Preparing for any potential ambush for a long time.

Rendering his tension useless, they arrived at a spacious empty lot without incident.

‘A formation?’

However, instead of the Moonbright Grass that should be there, a restriction was visible. It meant someone had already preempted it.

“Relax. Because it is a formation I installed.”

When Madame Ryeo took out the formation plate, the restriction opened, and the scenery revealed inside the formation was quite unexpected.

This was because a middle-aged man at the Golden Core 3rd layer realm was waiting with his arms crossed.

“Ryeo Jeong. Who are the people behind you?”

“I brought people to help just in case things go wrong when harvesting the Moonbright Grass.”

“…The two of us should have been enough?”

“It is literally preparing for the off chance. Ah, the reward will be subtracted from my share, so do not worry in vain.”

The middle-aged man, who clicked his tongue slightly with a frown as if displeased with something, stood aside.

Seeing that he could not get angry even though Madame Ryeo handled the work as she pleased, the ownership of the Moonbright Grass seemed to lean toward her.

The moment the flying carriage completely entered inside the formation.

In the middle of the empty lot the size of a playground, a white spiritual herb wrapped in yellow light particles was visible.

“Moonbright Grass?”

Hye-gong, who scanned the progressing situation, spoke as if something was strange.

“Madame Ryeo. Did you not ask us to help harvest the Moonbright Grass? However, in my view, it seems that spiritual herb can be harvested just by reaching out?”

“I am sorry. Actually, I told a bit of a lie.”

Although Jin So-myeong and Hye-gong’s eyebrows twitched, they did not hastily get angry. They quietly awaited the next words.

“That Moonbright Grass is actually not five hundred years old. It is right before reaching a thousand years.”

“A thousand years? Then…”

“On the day the next full moon rises, it will transform into the Golden Moonbright Grass.”

Golden Moonbright Grass.

It was exactly a single character difference from the original name, but the value was completely different.

The Moonbright Grass was famous for being a spiritual herb that could not live long to a bizarre extent.

Being eaten up by insects, or discovered by demonic beasts or humans, or otherwise struck by a sudden bolt from the blue.

Should it be said that it lacked luck? Calamities poured down, so it could not live for many years.

Nevertheless, if it survived for a thousand years, the original white petals would be completely dyed gold.

From then on, it was called the Golden Moonbright Grass, and its medicinal efficacy, which was originally effective only for Golden Core, became strong enough to work on the Nascent Soul stage.

Of course, there were a few conditions for this.

All twelve petals of the Golden Moonbright Grass had to be complete, and one had to consume the spiritual herb whole by oneself.

However…

“Regrettable. It lacks petals.”

It was exactly as Hye-gong murmured.

This Moonbright Grass already lacked three petals. Even if it became the Golden Moonbright Grass, it was not to the extent of working on the Nascent Soul stage.

“Hmph. If that spiritual herb were intact, would an opportunity have gone to you?”

At the middle-aged man’s stinging tone, the atmosphere sank coldly.

“Un-bi.”

“…I am sorry. Having guarded the spiritual herb for several years, my nerves have become sharp.”

Madame Ryeo, who rebuked Un-bi, let out a sigh.

Apologizing with a look to Hye-gong whose expression stiffened, she continued explaining as if refreshing the atmosphere.

“The moment it transforms into the Golden Moonbright Grass, a bizarre fragrance spreads in all directions. Interlopers might swarm, so you just need to help at that time.”

“Can we not just block the fragrance?”

“Even if a formation is installed, it leaks out, so it is difficult.”

Hye-gong, who was hesitating, shifted his gaze.

He looked at Jin So-myeong as if seeking an opinion, who nodded his head after contemplating for a moment.

“I will do it.”

Having come all the way here, how could he give up? Although it became more dangerous than before, the reward rose by that much.

Even an incomplete Golden Moonbright Grass was Rank 3 high-grade in terms of rank.

Consuming just a single petal would be of great help to the divine soul, which was at the mid Golden Core level.

Furthermore, from the perspective of Jin So-myeong who had continuously ground and polished his combat power, it did not seem particularly difficult either.

“Good. Then the full moon will rise soon, so you just need to help at that time.”

How many days had he waited?

A chillingly bright moonlight descended between the canyon.

‘Is it beginning?’

The faint yellow energy hovering around the Moonbright Grass became deeper and deeper.

As if plating, the moment golden light swelled from the inside of the petals.

A clear and elegant fragrance that refreshed all the way into the chest was emitted.

Just by smelling the fragrance, his head became clear. Distracting thoughts disappeared, and his concentration soared.

He realized how rare of a spiritual herb the Golden Moonbright Grass was through instinct rather than knowledge.

Gulp.

Someone swallowed hard.

Amidst the party locked in excitement and tension, Jin So-myeong, who quietly drew his sword, stood up from his seat.

“Fellow Daoist Jin? Why suddenly…”

“It seems guests have arrived.”

“The fragrance only just began to emit, yet already?”

The complexion of Hye-gong, who muttered as if something was strange, turned pale.

The pouring moonlight stopped. The sky visible through the canyon crevice was dyed black before they knew it.

“B-Black Cloud Insects!”

Like a black cloud.

The rapidly multiplied swarm of strange insects covered the sky.

They were so numerous that the canyon trembled just by the sound of their buzzing wings.

Another name for the Black Cloud Insects was calamity. Just as everyone instinctively stepped back.

Step.

There was only one who stepped forward, and it was precisely Jin So-myeong.