Chapter 54
Translator: T_Fan
The Lecture Hall of Yanxia Peak.
More than twenty disciples sat on their respective cushions. Aside from the few who had left the Mountain Gate on outside missions, nearly every disciple currently staying at Yanxia Peak had gathered.
A short while later, Tan Yunsheng opened the inner door and entered. The disciples rose as one and bowed.
“Greetings, Master.”
“Sit.”
Tan Yunsheng extended a hand, and a large map unfolded in midair.
“Today, I have something to discuss regarding the Huatian Secret Realm. Since the end of last month, cultivators of unknown origin have been appearing inside the secret realm. At first, only a few spirit plants around the outskirts disappeared, but ten days ago, they attacked one of our sect’s spirit fields.”
The Lecture Hall fell silent.
“The disciples guarding the spirit field were injured and forced to withdraw, and a considerable number of the spirit plants cultivated there were taken. We have now withdrawn from the two neighboring spirit fields as well.”
Fang Jiyun asked,
“Were they sent in by another sect?”
“From what we have confirmed so far, they are not from the cultivation world of the Kun Kingdom. Some of the methods they used are rarely seen in the nearby cultivation nations. And…”
Tao Wenqian added,
“There is also no sign that they passed through the entrance to the secret realm on our side.”
“Are you saying there is another entrance?”
At one disciple’s question, Tan Yunsheng nodded.
“That is our current judgment. Until now, we believed the realm gate managed by our sect was the only one leading into the Huatian Secret Realm, but it seems the secret realm is also connected to a cultivation world very far away.”
A quiet stir spread among the disciples.
“There have also been reports of disturbances in the earth veins inside the secret realm recently. We still do not know whether the realm gate on their side opened at that time, or whether it had always existed and they only began using it now.”
Tan Yunsheng lightly tapped the map.
“Many kinds of spirit plants are cultivated in the Huatian Secret Realm. As you all know, some of them are difficult to grow outside the secret realm. That is because lesser yang qi seeps from the secret realm’s earth veins.”
Tan Yunsheng looked over the disciples.
“For that reason, our sect cannot abandon the Huatian Secret Realm. This is not a problem that will end with the loss of a few spirit fields. If we lose that place, both the variety and quantity of pills we can refine in the future will decrease.”
At that moment, Zheng Yanshu, who was seated toward the back, raised his hand. He was an early Foundation Establishment cultivator who had entered Tan Yunsheng’s tutelage several years before Lee Hyun.
“Master. Could the Golden Core Elders not enter personally and subdue them?”
Tan Yunsheng shook his head.
“The Huatian Secret Realm is a Tier 2 grotto-heaven. Golden Core cultivators cannot enter.”
When doubt remained on Zheng Yanshu’s face, Tan Yunsheng thought for a moment before speaking.
“Some of you have never entered a secret realm before, so I should explain that first.”
…
“Planes and realm heavens, heaven and earth and grotto-heavens… There are many names for worlds. The places we commonly call secret realms are often a type of grotto-heaven space as well.”
Lee Hyun listened closely.
“A naturally formed grotto-heaven can be regarded as a small plane. If it grows over countless years, it may even develop into a plane in its own right. In that sense, the human realm in which we live could also be considered an enormous grotto-heaven. Every grotto-heaven… no, every plane has its own Heavenly Dao. The Heavenly Dao governs the laws that operate within that world. One such law is the upper limit of the cultivation realms it can accept.”
“Does that mean a cultivator whose realm exceeds that limit cannot enter?”
“That is correct. The Heavenly Dao of the Huatian Secret Realm permits cultivators up to Foundation Establishment to enter. The moment a being who has formed a golden core attempts to pass through the realm gate, the realm force rejects them.”
Zheng Yanshu asked again,
“Even if they conceal their aura?”
“Concealing one’s true strength before the Heavenly Dao is exceedingly difficult. If that were possible, the great Immortals of the upper realm could descend into the human realm whenever they pleased. In any case… that is why the Foundation Establishment cultivators of our sect must step forward and deal with these foreign cultivators. Since only their Foundation Establishment cultivators can enter the secret realm as well, we should be fully capable of standing against them.”
After thinking for a moment, Tan Yunsheng continued.
“For reference, our sect has already requested assistance from the Biluo Sect, and they have agreed. The Danxiao Sect will dispatch around a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators to the Huatian Secret Realm, while the Biluo Sect will send roughly fifty. If the situation worsens, we may have to commit even more Foundation Establishment disciples.”
Once actual numbers were given, the disciples’ expressions grew serious as the scale of the situation sank in. Deploying this many Foundation Establishment cultivators was practically the same as going to war.
One disciple asked,
“Master, can we trust the cultivators of the Biluo Sect?”
“The Biluo Sect’s cultivators are not particularly skilled in alchemy, and they receive a considerable supply from our sect of pills refined from medicinal ingredients produced in the Huatian Secret Realm. They want to protect the Huatian Secret Realm nearly as much as we do.”
Another disciple cautiously asked,
“Will the alchemists of our Inner Alchemy Court also be sent?”
“Yes. Our sect has well over ten thousand Qi Refining disciples, but fewer than a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators. And some among those must continue handling outside missions.”
Tan Yunsheng slowly swept his gaze across the disciples.
“The Danxiao Sect is a sect whose primary craft is alchemy. If we excluded everyone belonging to the Inner Alchemy Court, how many cultivators would we have left to deploy?”
When no one answered, Tan Yunsheng continued.
“Yanxia Peak will send four people. Wenqian will lead them, and three others will accompany him. I will give priority to volunteers.”
Silence settled over the Lecture Hall, and Lee Hyun studied the map of the secret realm Tan Yunsheng had suspended in the air.
It was the secret realm where Fire-Heart Orchids, an ingredient of the Foundation Establishment Pill, grew. If he could personally examine the soil, water, and flow of earth qi there, he might discover things that could never be learned from pill recipes and written records alone.
‘If I can dig up the source that produces the lesser yang qi from underground… couldn’t I grow Fire-Heart Orchids in Tunnel No. 3 as well?’
Lee Hyun spoke.
“May this disciple volunteer?”
Tao Wenqian turned his head.
“Junior Brother Li?”
“Yes.”
Tan Yunsheng asked,
“Do you have a particular reason for volunteering?”
“I am relatively accustomed to combat. I also wish to contribute to the sect. In the past, I spent thirty years serving as a resident cultivator in the Anling Kingdom. During that time, I learned martial arts from experts of the mundane world and exchanged moves with gu warriors from the Qianyang Kingdom.”
Tan Yunsheng looked at Lee Hyun for a moment.
“Good. That is commendable. I will give you one of the positions.”
“Thank you, Master.”
A short while later, two more disciples volunteered.
…
Once the members of the dispatch had been decided, the discussion moved on to preparations. One month remained until departure.
The sect would provide basic recovery pills and communication talismans, as well as a communal formation to be installed at their encampment. Naturally, everyone would have to prepare their own magic tools and consumables for combat.
Upon completing the mission, they would receive more contribution points than usual, with additional rewards for anyone who rendered distinguished service.
When the explanation ended, Tan Yunsheng said,
“If you have any questions, ask Wenqian. Those who remain will have to divide up the alchemy duties handled by these four, so settle that before you leave as well.”
The disciples cupped their hands.
“Yes, Master.”
…
On the way back to Qingyu Ravine, Lee Hyun flew slowly through the clouds.
‘The Huatian Secret Realm….’
Lee Hyun had volunteered despite the danger partly because he had confidence in himself. He felt that he could handle any Foundation Establishment cultivator he encountered.
Of course, a cultivator at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection might possess hidden methods he could not anticipate.
But the amount of spiritual power Lee Hyun possessed should be at least twice that of a cultivator at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, even by the most conservative estimate. On top of that, he had techniques and martial learning honed over many years, and he could use Earth-Origin Force. If necessary, he was also confident he could escape underground.
‘Still, there are no absolutes in this world.’
Lee Hyun glanced down at his storage pouch.
He had thought about replacing his magic tools after reaching Foundation Establishment. He had only put it off because there had been no pressing need.
Now things were different.
‘It’s time to spend some spirit stones.’
***
The next day, at the Artifact Court in the Danxiao Range.
When Lee Hyun presented his inner disciple identity token, the Qi Refining disciple at the counter bowed respectfully.
“Senior. What are you looking for?”
“First, can I sell the magic tools I’ve been using?”
“Of course. You can have them appraised first.”
Lee Hyun was guided to a small hall farther inside. There, a middle-aged cultivator at early Foundation Establishment was appraising magic tools.
When Lee Hyun took out the Force-Dispersing Inner Armor, Mountain-Suppressing Sword, and the Earth Shovel Sword he had used long ago, the other cultivator picked them up one by one.
“You’ve used these for quite a long time.”
The man tapped the blade of the Mountain-Suppressing Sword.
Ting–
A clear note rang out briefly.
“They’re still in decent condition. Though they are only mid-grade magic tools….”
Lee Hyun did not take out his six bronze flying swords, black-iron longspear, or Protective Bell. All of them were high-grade magic tools, and he was already accustomed to using them, so there was no reason to replace them yet.
…
After selling off his mid-grade and lower magic tools, Lee Hyun decided to buy a new defensive magic tool first.
As he looked around the Artifact Court, his eye was drawn to a suit of inner armor made from overlapping black scales.
“The Black Scale Inner Armor. Even among high-grade magic tools, its defensive power is excellent.”
“What is the price?”
“Twelve mid-grade spirit stones.”
“I’ll take it.”
The next item he selected was a small shield called the Profound Iron Buckler. Normally, it was only the size of a palm, but once spiritual power was poured into it, it expanded enough to cover the upper body.
“This is also a high-grade magic tool. It is excellent for blocking attacks coming from a single direction.”
“How much?”
“Fourteen mid-grade spirit stones.”
Lee Hyun paid the price.
…
Next, he went to look at swords. The Artifact Court had separate sections displaying longswords and flying swords, and the attendant cultivator first took out a blue longsword.
“The Wind Spirit Sword. Its blade is light, and it is fast when using Sword Control.”
Lee Hyun examined it briefly before shaking his head.
“Do you have anything a little longer and sturdier? Preferably something suited for close combat.”
“In that case, take a look at this.”
The attendant brought out a broad, thick-bladed sword. However, Lee Hyun set it back down soon after gripping the hilt. For a high-grade magic tool, its capacity for spiritual power did not seem much greater than that of the Mountain-Suppressing Sword.
“Do you have anything better?”
“A high-grade magic tool still isn’t enough?”
“I would prefer something capable of accepting a large amount of spiritual power. The blade and its restrictions also need to withstand it without being damaged easily.”
The attendant cultivator thought for a moment, then headed deeper into the display area. When he pressed his identity token against a restriction on the wall, a locked wooden case slid forward.
Click.
The lid opened, revealing a longsword.
Its blade was about one chi (about 33 cm) longer than an ordinary longsword. The blade was broad and thick, but it narrowed gradually toward the point, preventing it from looking cumbersome.
There were no particular decorations on its surface. Only a single black line that barely reflected any light ran straight down the center of the blade.
“The Profound Gate Sword. Even among high-grade magic tools, it is particularly capable of withstanding large amounts of spiritual power.”
Lee Hyun gripped the hilt. It was heavy, but he liked its balance.
“The primary material is Heavy Spirit Profound Iron, and particular care was put into the Adamantine Form-Fixing Restriction that keeps the blade solid and stable.”
Lee Hyun poured Primordial True Qi into it.
Hummm–
As he fed in a little more spiritual power, the black line down the center glowed faintly. He could barely feel any vibration through the hilt.
‘Not bad.’
Lee Hyun withdrew his spiritual power.
“The price?”
“Thirty-two mid-grade spirit stones.”
“I’ll take it.”
…
After leaving the Artifact Court, Lee Hyun entered the Spirit Talisman Pavilion. The old cultivator sitting behind the counter rose to his feet.
“Greetings, Senior.”
“I’m here to look at some talismans. Before that, can I sell these here?”
Lee Hyun took several old wooden cases from his storage pouch. Inside were talismans he had obtained as spoils long ago, sorted by type.
All of the talismans had lost much of their spiritual power over the years.
Of course, Lee Hyun could force them to activate by pushing spiritual power into them. However, their age made their power inconsistent, so they were too unreliable to trust in an emergency.
The old cultivator picked up one talisman and held it up to the light. Red talisman inscriptions remained on its yellowed surface.
“These are quite old.”
“They are.”
“Still, the material used for the talisman paper is good. Some of it should be worth salvaging.”
The old cultivator separated the talismans whose materials could be recovered. He said the rest could also be passed on to talisman makers studying talisman inscriptions, but they would not fetch much.
After selling all of them, Lee Hyun examined the new talismans.
He chose talismans that protected the body, talismans that blinded opponents with intense light, and talismans that covered the surroundings in dense fog. Most were Tier 2 talismans.
Even as the old cultivator sorted the talismans by function and placed them into small jade cases, Lee Hyun continued choosing more. As one jade case after another accumulated on the table, the old cultivator finally spoke.
“Senior. This defensive talisman serves much the same purpose as one you chose earlier.”
“I know.”
“Are you planning to activate them together?”
“When the talisman I use first runs out, shouldn’t I use the next one?”
The old cultivator was momentarily taken aback.
‘Is this fellow planning to start a war or something?’
…
After buying enough talismans, Lee Hyun also stopped by the place that sold pills.
The pills provided by the sect might well be sufficient, but Lee Hyun decided to stock up on a few additional recovery and antidote pills.
…
After purchasing the pills, he decided to acquire a defensive formation as his final preparation.
The Formation Equipment Pavilion in western Danxiao Immortal City.
Once inside, he saw shelves lined with wooden cases containing formation plates and formation flags. Some cases held only four formation flags, while others contained dozens. The formation plates were equally varied, ranging from round and square ones to those divided into several separate pieces.
Lee Hyun explained what he wanted to the cultivator manning the counter.
“I’m looking for a defensive formation that can be transported easily and deployed quickly in an emergency.”
“You’re not installing it in a cave abode?”
“I intend to use it outside.”
“In that case, one powered by spirit stones would be better.”
The cultivator brought out several wooden cases. Among them, the one that caught Lee Hyun’s attention contained a dark yellow formation plate and nine small formation flags.
The formation plate was engraved with patterns resembling flowing sand, while the flags were embroidered with designs reminiscent of winding mountain ranges.
“The Nine-Bend Dust and Sand Formation. A Tier 2 mid-grade formation.”
The cultivator planted the nine formation flags around a demonstration formation plate, and faint yellow light connected them.
Whoooosh–
A palm-sized cloud of sand rose. Within it, layers of veils wound and overlapped, blurring the view inside.
“The sand gathered within the formation forms multiple layers of barriers. Even if an attack breaks through one layer, it will be stopped by the next. Since the sand is constantly flowing, damaged sections will gradually be filled in again using the power of the spirit stones.”
The cultivator fired a thin beam of light from his fingertip.
Thump.
The edge of the sand cloud caved inward for a moment before filling back in.
“Of course, it cannot withstand continuous powerful attacks. And the more attacks it takes, the faster it consumes spirit stones.”
“How long does it take to deploy?”
“If the formation flags are positioned properly, only a few breaths. But doing that from the start is difficult. You will need practice.”
The cultivator opened a thin booklet. Diagrams showed the spacing and direction in which the formation flags should be placed.
“The price?”
“Eighteen mid-grade spirit stones.”
Lee Hyun thought briefly, then nodded.
“I’ll take it.”
Since he had purchased the Nine-Bend Dust and Sand Formation, Lee Hyun took the opportunity to ask the cultivator a few questions about formations.
Strictly speaking, formation plates and formation flags were magic tools as well.
In antiquity, formations had not originally been used in this way. The standard method had been for a formation master well versed in formations to personally survey the terrain, inscribe formation inscriptions, and lay out the formation.
However, formations were so difficult that after long years of research, cultivators eventually learned how to embed formations into magic tools and deploy them that way.
This method brought many conveniences. Even cultivators who knew little about formations could now deploy them, and as formations became more widespread, formation masters were also able to earn far more spirit stones.
Lee Hyun knew some basic formation inscriptions, but understanding and deploying a formation himself was still beyond him. Formations were practically an entire academic discipline, and studying them was exceedingly tedious and dull.
‘Buying them really is much easier.’
He examined the formation plate again. Lines extended from the grooves where spirit stones were inserted, repeatedly splitting and rejoining before connecting to the patterns at the center and along the edges.
‘Hmm….’
The restrictions engraved into magic tools, the talisman inscriptions on talismans, and the formation inscriptions on formation plates bore certain similarities in shape. They also seemed alike in that they directed spiritual power along predetermined paths and caused it to function under specific conditions.
‘They’re like circuits from my past life. You determine the path the power flows through and make it produce the response you want.’
He had heard that there was also a craft called the Puppet Art. The formation inscriptions and restrictions engraved inside puppets that could move on their own and follow simple commands likely determined their movements as well.
‘Maybe I don’t need to study all these fields separately. Puppets, formations, artifact refining, talisman crafting… there may be principles shared between them to some extent. It might not be a bad idea to study them little by little whenever I’m bored.’
***
Qingyu Ravine.
Lee Hyun took out the remaining spirit stones and placed them on the table.
Clatter.
After purchasing new magic tools, a formation, talismans, and emergency pills, he had around twenty mid-grade spirit stones left. He had spent most of the spirit stones he possessed.
But his greatest asset was Tunnel No. 3’s spirit field anyway.
‘If I need spirit stones, I can just sell a few plants.’
He put away the spirit stones, then took out the Profound Gate Sword. It was time to begin bonding the magic tools he had purchased.
Within a few days, Lee Hyun finished bonding all of the magic tools.
Bonding them was not difficult. However, it seemed he would need more time before he could wield them as naturally as the bronze flying swords and black-iron longspear that had accompanied him for centuries.
He also practiced deploying and retrieving the formation flags of the Nine-Bend Dust and Sand Formation.
…
Before departing, he also visited Tunnel No. 3, filled the water tank to capacity, and checked the irrigation system again. The Jade-Condensing Grass he had planted relatively recently showed no problems.
The Ringless Divine Tree was still growing, little by little.
Squeak! Squeak squeak!
The fuzzbees circled around him.
Lee Hyun placed some of the fuzzbees into his spirit-insect pouch, including the three that had broken through to Tier 2.
“I might be going somewhere a little far away this time.”
Squeak.
The fellows did not seem particularly interested.
After ordering the remaining fuzzbees to guard the spirit field, Lee Hyun inspected the tunnel one final time and slipped into the wall.
By the time he returned to the sect, only a few days remained before they were scheduled to depart for the secret realm.
***
The day of departure.
A deep gorge north of the Danxiao Range.
Tall, thick stone pillars stood in rows along both cliffs. Formation light connecting the pillars enveloped the depths of the gorge in layer after layer.
Beyond them, a long vertical fissure split a massive rock wall, and faint red light slowly rippled within. It was the realm gate leading to the Huatian Secret Realm.
More than a hundred and fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators had gathered on the broad stone platform. More of them wore the long robes of the Danxiao Sect, while the cultivators of the Biluo Sect had gathered separately to check their personnel and supplies.
Their appearances varied widely. Some had high-grade magic tools strapped to their backs, while others stood empty-handed with their arms crossed. Voices calling one another’s names in greeting could be heard throughout the area.
‘This is the first time I’ve seen so many Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered in one place.’
Lee Hyun stood at one side of the stone platform with his fellow disciples from Yanxia Peak.
A short while later, a deep bell rang from the front of the gorge.
Dooong–
As the cultivators’ voices quieted, three Golden Core Elders standing before the realm gate raised their respective jade tokens and began reciting complex incantations.
Hummmmmm–
The stone pillars surrounding the gorge lit up one after another. The red light spilling from the fissure in the rock wall gradually widened, and within its center, the hazy outlines of unfamiliar mountains and forests appeared.
⚬──────────✧──────────⚬
Join our discord server: https://discord.gg/96hMXymzMP