Chapter 82
Translator: T_Fan
On the second day after their departure.
Lee Hyun set down his teacup in the flying boat’s tearoom.
At one side of the tearoom, a burly man sat silently drinking tea.
Across from Lee Hyun sat Yuanjing, a monk of the Concentration and Wisdom Court. He was a senior brother with narrow eyes and a faint smile that always lingered at the corners of his lips.
Between them floated a bronze bell about two finger joints long.
“I’m ready.”
Yuanjing spoke.
Lee Hyun drew his divine sense into a fine point.
The divine sense infused with vow power condensed into the shape of a needle. The moment its tip pointed toward the bronze bell, Yuanjing’s divine sense surrounding the bell shifted ever so slightly.
The Spirit-Jolting Needle shot forward.
A thin outer layer of the divine sense enveloping the bronze bell peeled away. The Spirit-Jolting Needle pierced the thin membrane, but as the membrane gave way and curled around it, the needle was pulled off course.
Lee Hyun withdrew the Spirit-Jolting Needle after it veered past the bell.
“…Missed again.”
“Still, that was close.”
Yuanjing smiled and raised his teacup.
The bronze bell was a training magic tool that rang whenever divine sense touched its interior.
At first, Yuanjing had simply been ringing the bell by himself with his divine sense.
It had looked like nothing special, but on closer inspection, Lee Hyun saw that the divine sense surrounding the bell was constantly changing shape.
When Lee Hyun showed interest, Yuanjing had invited him to try it together.
“Fascinating. How do you predict where I’ll strike…?”
“Predict? Junior Brother, you told me where you were going to strike.”
“I did?”
“The tip was pointing this way from the moment you formed the needle.”
Yuanjing pointed to one side of the bronze bell.
Lee Hyun thought for a moment, then nodded.
‘I see.’
He could maintain the shape of the Spirit-Jolting Needle, but he was still unskilled at concealing the signs of its formation or changing its direction just before releasing it.
Against an opponent watching him, that was as good as giving them all the time they needed to prepare.
‘Of course, if I really wanted to, I could force my way through…’
Lee Hyun’s divine sense was also far stronger than that of cultivators at the same realm. Unlike spiritual power, however, there was no clear numerical standard by which to measure it, so he had been unable to include it in his handmade status window.
Even just now, while forming the Spirit-Jolting Needle, he could have poured far more divine sense into it, even if the same was not true of vow power.
But if he did that, Senior Brother Yuanjing would notice his abnormal strength.
Besides, Lee Hyun liked practicing this way. There was much he could learn from Senior Brother Yuanjing about controlling divine sense.
“May I try again?”
“Of course.”
With Yuanjing’s help, Lee Hyun continued practicing for one ke (about 15 minutes).
Yuanjing deliberately repeated the same movements, and thanks to that, Lee Hyun began to get a feel for how he should train the Spirit-Jolting Needle.
‘I’m already learning something before we’ve even reached the Dao symposium. I’m glad I came.’
Lee Hyun brought his palms together.
“Thank you for helping me.”
“What need is there for thanks between fellow disciples? Still, Junior Brother Li, you’re quite skilled at condensing divine sense.”
“I suppose it’s because I use divine sense so often while practicing alchemy.”
“Come to think of it, you’re from the Lotus Court, aren’t you? Perhaps I should learn a little about fire control myself…”
The burly man who had been silently drinking tea laughed.
“If you say that to the Elders of the Lotus Court, they’ll have you preparing medicinal ingredients for the next ten years.”
It was Zhang Taishan, a disciple of the Vajra Court. His hair was tied back, and he was so broad across the shoulders and arms that their contours showed even beneath his loose robe.
A teacup was wedged between his thick fingers. The cup looked so tiny in his hand that, from a distance, it seemed as though he were pinching a small lid between his fingertips.
When Zhang Taishan set down his cup, black prayer beads slipped out from beneath his sleeve.
Thud.
The moment one bead touched the table, round ripples spread across the surface of the tea.
When Lee Hyun’s gaze fell on the prayer beads, Zhang Taishan smiled.
“Would you like to hold them?”
He sent the prayer beads flying over, and Lee Hyun reached out to catch them. Not only were they remarkably heavy, but fierce Metal-attribute spiritual power was condensed within them.
“Are these for training?”
“Indeed.”
Lee Hyun returned the prayer beads while studying Zhang Taishan’s arm.
A faint golden sheen flowed beneath the skin of his thick forearm.
The energy had been invisible while he sat still, but when he retrieved the prayer beads, it moved along his wrist and elbow.
Once the energy was drawn back in, Zhang Taishan’s arm returned to an ordinary flesh tone.
‘That must be another kind of golden body modeled after the Leakless Golden Body…’
Zhang Taishan looked at Lee Hyun.
“For some reason, Junior Brother Li, you strike me as strong.”
“Surely not.”
“How about a spar once we arrive?”
“I think I’d lose.”
“Liar.”
A voice came from the entrance to the tearoom.
It was Lu Hongyan.
She looked over the three of them before taking an empty seat.
“Junior Brother Li is probably the strongest one here, isn’t he?”
Lee Hyun picked up the teapot.
“Senior Sister Lu, someone might misunderstand if they heard you. Would you like some tea?”
“Changing the subject, are we?”
…
The flying boat continued northeast with barely any shaking.
By day, rivers and mountain ranges passed beneath the clouds. At night, lamps and formation inscriptions softly illuminated the hull.
The disciples cultivated in their own cabins, but from time to time they came outside to socialize.
Even those who had spent decades at Baoguang Temple rarely had an opportunity to mingle with fellow disciples from so many different courts.
***
On the sixth day after their departure.
Lee Hyun was refining the shape of the Spirit-Jolting Needle inside his cabin when he sensed a commotion outside.
When he opened the door, Senior Brother Mingyun of the Lotus Court was passing through the corridor.
“Looks like we’ve arrived.”
The two went up to the deck together.
The first thing Lee Hyun saw was a long chain of mountain peaks.
A vast basin spread out beneath them, and at its center stood an enormous immortal city gleaming white in the sunlight. Tall towers and halls stretched endlessly within the walls, while small boats traveled along the waterways that cut between them.
The cities known as immortal cities in this world were truly immense. Even when Lee Hyun thought back to the cities he had seen in Korea in his previous life, he could not think of anything that offered a proper comparison.
The waterways that had looked like thin lines from afar were, up close, twice as wide as the Han River in Seoul had been in his previous life. More than a hundred carriages were traveling abreast across the stone bridge spanning them. The watchtowers flanking the city gates rose high enough to look down upon all but the grandest halls.
Everything that made up the city was built on such a different scale from the cities of his previous life that it was difficult to grasp its full size at a glance.
A blue lake lay to the north of the city, and villas and cultivation grounds rose in tiers along the slopes beside the shore.
Lee Hyun’s gaze, however, soon turned toward the sky.
Flying boats.
Flying boats hung everywhere in the sky.
There were long, slender vessels wrapped in clouds, as well as strangely shaped ships that traveled with enormous bronze rings revolving around their hulls.
In the distance, a flying boat approached that looked as though it were carrying an entire sprawling pavilion.
Dozens of banners fluttered above its tiered railings, their shadows sweeping across the clouds below.
Lee Hyun moved closer to the railing.
‘There really are a lot of flying boats.’
Those aboard the other vessels were probably thinking the same thing when they saw Baoguang Temple’s flying boat, emblazoned with the image of a lion walking upon clouds.
Flying boats dispatched by great sects from every region, along with smaller flight magic tools ferrying guests, filled the skies.
Yet all those vessels moved in an orderly fashion.
Tall towers had been erected atop each peak outside the city. Whenever the crystal pillars atop those towers lit up, paths of light appeared in the air.
The flying boats followed those paths, slowing down before descending toward the broad mooring grounds on different peaks.
Mingyun braced a hand against the railing and leaned out slightly.
“Look at that.”
“Which part?”
“The pillars between the peaks. They’re connected to the formation inscriptions in the city walls.”
Excited, Mingyun, who was skilled in formations, began looking back and forth between the pillars and the walls as he analyzed their structure.
While Lee Hyun listened quietly, the voice of a Golden Core Elder came from behind them.
“That is Huiyun Immortal City.”
The disciples turned to see an elderly monk in Buddhist robes stepping onto the deck.
“It is jointly administered by Taiyue Sect and Qingxiao Palace of Jing Kingdom. It lies along the route between the territories of the two sects, so cultivators pass through in great numbers even in ordinary times.”
Lee Hyun looked around.
Flying boats were descending even beyond the distant mountain ridges.
The disciples participating in the Dao symposium were not the only ones coming here.
Merchants who had come to sell goods, cultivators wishing to exchange their arts, and people coming to meet members of other sects were all converging on the city.
Hummm―
A small boat appeared in front of Baoguang Temple’s flying boat.
Two cultivators dressed in blue stood upon it and respectfully offered their greetings.
“Greetings, Seniors of Baoguang Temple. We have come from Qingxiao Palace to escort you.”
After the Elder returned the greeting, the silver boat slowly turned around.
Baoguang Temple’s flying boat followed behind it.
…
On the way down toward the mooring ground, they passed alongside another flying boat.
Dozens of male and female cultivators stood on the deck of the pale jade vessel.
Lee Hyun naturally began observing them.
Three sword sheaths were strapped diagonally across the back of a sharp-eyed young man. A female cultivator with her hair tied high had her hands exposed beyond her sleeves, and dark droplets of water rolled between her fingers.
A man leaning against the rear railing had his eyes closed.
He was merely standing there, yet his aura seemed unusually deep and steady.
Lu Hongyan spoke quietly.
“Most of them are at higher cultivation levels than us.”
She was right.
Most of the people Lee Hyun noticed were at late Foundation Establishment, and some appeared close to Great Perfection.
The disciples on the opposite flying boat were also examining those on Baoguang Temple’s deck.
At that moment, a door on the upper level of the other flying boat opened. When a white-haired old man stepped out, the surrounding disciples naturally moved aside.
The old man exchanged greetings with Baoguang Temple’s Elder.
Neither Golden Core Elder displayed any particular pressure, yet the presence of the two old men made the imposing auras of the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had filled the decks moments before seem to vanish without a trace.
…
The residence assigned to Baoguang Temple was a villa in the northern part of the immortal city.
Several pavilions stood within a low wall, with a small pond and pavilion in the center.
The disciples were divided into small groups and assigned buildings. Lee Hyun ended up staying in the same building as Mingyun.
Each room was equipped with a simple defensive formation.
After putting away their luggage, everyone gathered again in the front courtyard.
A steward from the Guest Reception Hall handed each of them a jade token and a thin jade slip.
“Do not lose your jade tokens. You will need them to pass through the villa’s restrictions, and they will also serve as proof of identity for those participating in the sparring matches.”
Lee Hyun hung the jade token at his waist and pressed the jade slip to his forehead.
The first thing that appeared was a simple map of Huiyun Immortal City.
It marked the locations of the cultivator market, auction houses, the villas housing the various sects, and the training ground where the sparring matches would be held.
After that came the schedule for the Dao symposium.
‘There are still ten days until the opening.’
The official events were scheduled to continue for roughly a month from opening day.
The spaces between the sparring matches were packed with the times and locations of various other events.
There were alchemy lectures, artifact-refining demonstrations, magic tool appraisals, joint formation demonstrations, and exchange gatherings for spirit plants and spirit beasts. Technique symposiums were also being held, where the various sects would share their experiences with techniques and cultivation.
A disciple from the Vajra Court standing nearby asked,
“Will we be able to attend all of these and still compete in the sparring matches?”
The steward smiled.
“Check the time of your own match first, then choose whichever other events you wish to attend. You don’t need to go to all of them.”
“How many people are participating in the sparring matches?”
“The rosters submitted by the various sects already contain more than five hundred names. We won’t know the final number until registration is complete.”
Several disciples let out quiet exclamations.
More than five hundred.
And they were not just any Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered together at random.
They were disciples whose abilities had been recognized by their sects and who had been chosen to represent them.
Once the cultivators accompanying them and those who had come to attend the lectures were included, the number of people gathering in the immortal city would be far greater.
The prizes for the sparring matches also caught Lee Hyun’s eye.
Three exceptional supreme-grade magic tools listed in Yunzhou Artifact Appraisal had apparently been prepared as prizes.
The Elder looked over the disciples and said,
“Until the opening, you need only complete your registration and make whatever preparations you require. You may interact with people from other sects or browse the cultivator market if you wish.”
The disciples’ expressions brightened.
“However, wherever you go, make sure at least one fellow disciple knows your destination. If you engage in a private sparring match, use one of the designated training grounds.”
“Yes.”
The Elder paused for a moment before adding,
“Do not create needless grudges. Someone you befriend here may one day be able to help you, so give some thought to building good relationships as well.”
…
After they dispersed.
Lu Hongyan prepared to go out with several disciples from the Demon-Subduing Court.
“Junior Brother Li, want to come with us?”
“I’m going to look around the cultivator market first. There are a few things I need.”
“Really? Then let’s go around together later.”
Lee Hyun told Mingyun, who was standing in the villa’s rear courtyard, where he was going, then left the villa alone.
…
The main streets of the immortal city were broad, but they certainly did not feel empty.
Cultivators in all manner of clothing traveled up and down the streets, and people streamed through the covered corridors stretching between the buildings.
Large signs advertising the Dao symposium hung outside the shops on both sides of the street.
Many temporary stores had also opened specifically for the symposium.
Some displayed spirit plants from various regions, while others kept spirit insects suspended within small restrictions.
A circle of spectators had gathered in front of a shop demonstrating a new magic tool.
The sound of music drifted from the windows of upper-story pavilions, while the cultivators passing below carried jade slips or small boxes in their hands.
Lee Hyun walked slowly as he looked around.
There was an enormous amount of merchandise.
‘This must be the largest cultivator market I’ve ever visited.’
Goods that would normally require traveling between major cultivator markets in several different nations were all gathered on a single street.
Plenty of things caught his eye, but he already knew what he intended to buy today.
Magic tools.
He had the Sinking Moon Sword, the Six-Leaf Shield, and the Three-Molt Silkworm Robe worn beneath his outer robe. All three were excellent exceptional supreme-grade magic tools, but that also meant they were famous.
The Sinking Moon Sword ranked eighth in the Nanming Hundred Artifacts Register.
Because of its light-retraction property, the blade itself was difficult to see, and someone unfamiliar with the magic tools of the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance might fail to recognize it.
But artifact refiners and appraisers from various nations had gathered here.
If even one person recognized it, word could spread.
The Six-Leaf Shield was listed in Yunzhou Artifact Appraisal, making it even more conspicuous.
‘This isn’t the same as sparring a few times inside the temple…’
At Baoguang Temple, the only people who had seen his magic tools up close were his acquaintances from the Lotus Court and the fellow disciples who had gone on missions with him.
Even if they recognized his exceptional supreme-grade magic tools, they had no reason to go around telling outsiders about them.
But matters were different in sparring matches watched by cultivators from across the Nine Kingdoms of Yunzhou.
The Three-Molt Silkworm Robe was less of a concern because he wore it as an undergarment.
Unless he took an attack powerful enough to force it to shed a spirit molt, there was almost no chance anyone would see it from the outside.
‘It would be better to prepare a separate sword and shield.’
With any magic tool at all, he could easily win a sparring match against a Foundation Establishment cultivator. The outcome depended entirely on how much Lee Hyun chose to reveal, so for now, he only needed magic tools that could stand in for his exceptional supreme-grade ones.
Lee Hyun stopped walking and counted the spirit stones in his storage pouch.
A staggering 6,400 mid-grade spirit stones!
In the past, when he had accumulated 4,000 spirit stones, he had bought the Three-Molt Silkworm Robe. Soon afterward, however, he had recovered most of its purchase price through the spirit stones and proceeds from the magic tools taken from the four cultivators who had attacked him.
A little over twenty years ago, he had received 1,200 mid-grade spirit stones for the Scale-Armored Sea Ape’s demon core, and another 400 for its scales, tendons, skeleton, and other materials. That alone had brought in 1,600 mid-grade spirit stones.
There was also the money he had earned over the decades by taking on refining and alchemy work and selling spirit plants. Even after accounting for cultivation pills and other supplies, along with the expenses of maintaining his spirit field and Bonefuzz, his spare funds had increased by another 900 or so.
After tallying all his income and expenses, he was left with 6,400 spirit stones.
Moreover, the spirit plants growing in his spirit field were worth far more than that, so he could simply buy a few ordinary magic tools to use without worrying about them.
…
A shop specializing in magic tools stood a little way off the main street.
Four swords lay on the table.
The middle-aged cultivator who owned the shop pointed to one of them.
“If you intend to pour a large amount of spiritual power into it, this Azure Steel Sword would be the better choice.”
“May I test it?”
“Of course.”
The owner led him to a small training ground in the rear.
Lee Hyun sent the Azure Steel Sword floating into the air, infused it with a little spiritual power, and moved it around several times.
‘Not bad. Perfect for something I can use without worrying about it.’
The owner explained,
“Even among supreme-grade magic tools, its blade is quite durable.”
“How much?”
“One hundred and eighty mid-grade spirit stones.”
Lee Hyun nodded.
“I’d also like to see defensive magic tools.”
The owner soon brought out several.
Lee Hyun chose the Threefold Shield, which consisted of three shield plates.
Unlike the Six-Leaf Shield, it could not disperse the force received by one plate across the others. Still, Lee Hyun was already accustomed to using multiple shield plates floating independently around his body.
‘This one will be easy to use too.’
“This is one hundred and ninety.”
The last item he selected was a magic tool called the Mountain-Suppressing Seal. It was a square seal with a yellowish hue, about the size of a fist when resting in his palm.
When infused with enough spiritual power, it could expand to a maximum of ten zhang (about 33 m) and was well suited to smashing down from above.
Other than that, it possessed no particular features.
The owner priced it at 130 mid-grade spirit stones.
After examining the restrictions in all three magic tools, Lee Hyun took out 500 mid-grade spirit stones and paid.
…
By the time he returned to the villa, the sky had already grown dark.
Once inside his room, Lee Hyun took out the Azure Steel Sword, Threefold Shield, and Mountain-Suppressing Seal and began bonding the three magic tools through their restrictions.
…
Three days later.
The training ground in the villa’s rear courtyard.
Three round shields, the Azure Steel Sword, and the Mountain-Suppressing Seal slowly revolved around Lee Hyun.
‘This should be enough for basic use.’
Just then.
“Junior Brother Li, are you here?”
Mingyun’s voice came from nearby.
“Yes.”
“Good. Junior Sister Lu is looking for you.”
“What is it?”
“She said we’re going to meet fellow Daoists from Qingxiao Palace and Jinding Sect. I’ve agreed to go as well. Would you like to come?”
“Certainly.”
Lee Hyun put away the magic tools.
…
The lakeshore in the northern part of the immortal city.
Small waterside pavilions stood at intervals along a long covered walkway extending over the water.
Liuxia Waterside Pavilion.
Beneath a signboard written in an elegant, old-fashioned handwriting, Qi Refining attendants welcomed the guests.
Lotus leaves floated between the pavilions, and beautiful fish of every color swam beneath them. When the breeze from the lake passed through the covered walkway, the small bells hanging from the pillars rang with a clear sound.
Seven people had come from Baoguang Temple. Along with Lee Hyun, Mingyun, Yuanjing, and Zhang Taishan were Lu Hongyan and two other disciples from the Demon-Subduing Court.
Lee Hyun followed behind his fellow disciples while looking over the lake.
Guests were also seated in the waterside pavilions across the walkway.
They could see one another, but no voices carried between them. Formations around each pavilion blocked the sound.
An attendant guided the group farther inside.
Eight cultivators had already gathered in the largest pavilion at the very end. Four were disciples of Qingxiao Palace, and the other four were disciples of Jinding Sect from Xuan Kingdom.
A round-faced cultivator with a short beard was the first to rise.
“Venerable Yuanjing, it has been a long time.”
“Fellow Daoist Lin, have you been well?”
It was Lin Jinghua of Qingxiao Palace in Jing Kingdom. He and Senior Brother Yuanjing had apparently become acquainted at an exchange gathering in Xuan Kingdom several years ago.
Beside him sat a female cultivator in a dark blue robe. Her hair was neatly tied back, and thin silver thimbles covered two fingers of her right hand.
Yin Cailing of Jinding Sect in Xuan Kingdom.
When she was introduced as someone skilled in artifact-refining arts, Mingyun was the first to strike up a conversation with her. The others also exchanged their sects and names with the people seated nearby.
Once all fifteen had taken their places around the large round table, the previously quiet pavilion quickly grew lively.
Lin Jinghua nodded to the attendant.
Before long, the dishes began arriving one after another.
Clear broth was poured over thin slices of spirit fish. Beside it were bowls of spirit rice and a plate of tender spirit-vegetable shoots.
When the attendant lifted a small lid, gentle steam rose along with a fresh fragrance.
Lu Hongyan picked up her chopsticks.
“How did you find this place?”
“Disciples of our palace often bring fellow Daoists from other lands here. There are many guests today, so I reserved a larger pavilion.”
Lin Jinghua smiled and picked up the wine flask.
Yuanjing lightly brought his palms together.
“I’ll have tea.”
“Of course.”
Spirit wine was poured for those who drank, while those who did not were served pale spirit tea.
Lee Hyun took a spoonful of the broth.
A clear, refreshing flavor spread through his mouth.
When he swallowed, warmth spread through his stomach, and gentle spiritual qi seeped into his meridians before slowly dispersing.
‘Delicious!’
Lin Jinghua raised his cup.
“Thanks to the Dao symposium, we have the chance to sit together with fellow Daoists from many different nations. I hope we can meet often while you’re staying here.”
The cups lightly clinked together.
…
The conversation began with the sparring matches.
They talked about who had seen disciples from which sects, and what kinds of techniques this year’s competitors were known to use.
The brackets had not even been announced yet, but several cultivators’ names had already come up repeatedly.
Lu Hongyan said,
“I saw him too. The cultivator with three sword sheaths on his back, right?”
“That’s the one. I’ve heard he’s extremely strong.”
A Jinding Sect disciple seated nearby added to the conversation.
Lin Jinghua looked at Yin Cailing.
“Fellow Daoist Yin, do you know which magic tools will be offered as prizes?”
“I don’t know what they are either. But even if I win an exceptional supreme-grade magic tool, I plan to sell it and use the money for travel expenses.”
Lee Hyun asked,
“Is there somewhere you’re planning to go?”
“I’m thinking of traveling to the Qianyuan Empire.”
Those sitting nearby turned toward her.
Mingyun raised an eyebrow.
“The empire to the east?”
“Yes.”
The Qianyuan Empire.
A Tier-5 cultivation nation said to lie in the distant lands east of Yunzhou.
It was supposedly an empire guarded by Spirit Transformation cultivators.
That, however, was about all Lee Hyun knew of it.
Yin Cailing said,
“One of the Elders of my sect traveled there to study artifact-refining arts before returning. Since then, the number of refining methods taught within our sect has increased considerably. According to the Elder, the Nine Kingdoms of Yunzhou are nothing but the countryside compared to the cultivation world of Qianyuan.”
Yin Cailing paused briefly before continuing.
“I believe people need to venture into a wider world if they want to grow. The Qianyuan Empire is classified as a single Tier-5 cultivation nation, but its overall scale is beyond comparison with the Nine Kingdoms of Yunzhou.”
Lee Hyun nodded.
Considering that Tier-4 cultivation nations did not even regard regions containing only Golden Core sects as proper cultivation worlds, a Tier-5 cultivation nation was likely on an entirely different level from a Tier-4 one.
Lin Jinghua spoke.
“Isn’t the Qianyuan Empire far away?”
“It is. Even after traveling east through Heng Kingdom and leaving Yunzhou behind, you still pass through several cultivation nations. There are Tier-4 cultivation nations there as well, ruled by Nascent Soul sects.”
“And after that comes a desert, from what I’ve heard.”
At Yuanjing’s words, Yin Cailing nodded.
“You have to cross the Duanmai Sand Sea. Even after crossing it, you’ve only reached the empire’s western frontier.”
The Duanmai Sand Sea was a vast desert where spirit veins appeared only in scattered, broken stretches.
Where small spirit veins remained, there were oases and settlements, and merchant caravans crossed the desert by traveling between those outposts.
The problem was the distance between them.
“Keeping a flying boat in the air consumes spirit stones, and cultivators need to rest as well. If you take the wrong route, you might go days without being able to properly replenish your spiritual qi.”
Yin Cailing emptied the wine left in her cup.
“I haven’t seen it myself either. I’ve only read the records left by people who made the journey.”
…
Another round of dishes was served.
Perhaps because the Qianyuan Empire had come up, the conversation spread to other distant lands.
“In the north, there is a place where the very landscape moves.”
One of the Qingxiao Palace disciples brought it up. He said he had traveled the northern trade routes before.
Someone asked,
“You mean the Liutian Plateau?”
“Yes. I’ve been as far as its southern reaches. The mountain belonging to the sect we were supposed to deliver our goods to arrived late, so we had to wait nearly a month.”
Lu Hongyan asked,
“The mountain arrived?”
“Yes. The mountains really do move.”
The Qingxiao Palace disciple opened his palm and slowly moved it through the air.
“The mountains float through the air and wander across the plateau. Some contain spirit veins. Great sects occupy the larger mountains, while cultivation clans sometimes live on the smaller ones.”
Mingyun spoke.
“I’d like to see it for myself one day.”
“If you ever go, a map alone won’t be enough.”
The Qingxiao Palace disciple smiled.
“You need to know where each mountain will pass at different times. Most follow roughly fixed routes, but they can still be delayed, as happened with the mountain I was waiting for.”
Lu Hongyan asked,
“What’s beyond that plateau?”
The Qingxiao Palace disciple shook his head.
“I’ve never heard any stories about what lies beyond it.”
Lu Hongyan said,
“It’s similar in the west. Even our sect has almost no records from people who traveled farther west beyond the Cangmang Forest.”
Lin Jinghua nodded.
“I’ve heard there are many demon beasts in that region.”
“They say that deeper inside are territories belonging to Tier-4 demon beasts, the equivalent of Nascent Soul cultivators.”
One of the Jinding Sect disciples joined in.
“Our sect also has records left by a Nascent Soul Elder who traveled there. They say it is extremely dangerous because you have to cross the territories of several demon beasts.”
Someone said,
“I suppose every good spirit vein already has an owner, no matter where you go. Even if that owner isn’t of the human race.”
Lin Jinghua replied,
“Indeed. I’ve even heard that in the Nanming region, they force the spirit veins they seize to yield more than they normally would.”
Lee Hyun stopped halfway through raising his cup and looked at Lin Jinghua.
“Force them to yield more?”
“I heard there’s a method that shortens the lifespan of a spirit vein in exchange for making it produce higher-grade spiritual qi than normal for a time.”
Mingyun also turned toward Lin Jinghua.
“Who did you hear that from?”
“A merchant who travels the Nanming Sea. It’s one of the theories people have long put forward to explain how the Nanming Twelve-Sect Alliance was able to expand its power while advancing north.”
Someone asked,
“What utter fools. Do they not think of future generations? Once the spirit vein declines, what are the disciples left behind supposed to do?”
Lin Jinghua replied,
“Someone whose lifespan will run out unless they break through now might see things differently. Of course, it has yet to be confirmed whether such a method truly exists.”
*****
Author’s Note:
Map as of Chapter 81 (Spoiler Warning)
Some readers have been asking about the geography and the balance of power between the different factions, so I brought a simple map to give you a rough idea of how things are laid out.
As you can see, the borders on the map are drawn in neat, angular shapes. This is because it is only a simplified diagram meant to make the relative locations easier to understand.
In the actual world of the story, the borders and coastlines are much more complex and irregular.
The scale and distances are not exact either, so I would appreciate it if you could treat this as a general reference only.
If there is ever a discrepancy between the map and the descriptions in the main chapter, the main chapter should be considered canon.
Thank you, as always, for reading and following the story. I hope you enjoy it!
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