Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 351
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 351
Setting aside the Clarity Restoration Pill mentioned earlier.
There were many spirit medicines in that place.
First, Blood God Grass could elevate the quality of one’s internal energy by a full stage, and the Thousand-Year Fleece Flower Root, still rare and difficult to obtain even now, extended lifespan and improved one’s constitution. The Ice Heart Lotus stabilized the mind and aided in purifying internal energy. Finally, Dragon Blood Mushroom excelled at healing wounds and fortifying qi and blood.
Additionally, there was a secret manual called the Qingxu Compendium, the life’s masterwork of Qingxu the True Immortal.
According to what Seol Woon-hwi knew, it had been sold to Cheon Lim, where the Crown Prince of Jeokna Kingdom, who had secretly visited that black market, purchased it for a thousand gold nyang.
Word had it that the Qingxu Compendium was a unique cultivation method combining Daoist mental techniques with Buddhist meditation practices, capable of greatly enhancing mental power. Within it were recorded approximately five alchemical formulas documented by Qingxu the True Immortal, who had been skilled in alchemy.
Seol Woon-hwi had been somewhat curious about its contents, but they were lost together when a fire broke out in the Imperial Capital’s warehouse of Jeokna Kingdom.
Tsk.
Seol Woon-hwi clicked his tongue lightly and made his decision.
He would go in.
Folding the letter away silently, he opened his mouth.
“Manager Seong.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I intend to delay our departure to Snow Palace for a time.”
Manager Seong’s eyes widened.
“Suddenly, sir?”
“There is a place I must visit before going to Snow Palace.”
“Where might that be?”
“Where else could it be?”
…
“Did you not read the letter?”
Manager Seong scratched his chin.
“…You know well I didn’t read it by choice, sir.”
“I know, I know.”
Immortal Maitreya had left the letter spread open. One couldn’t help but read it.
“Would you like to come with me? Do you have any objections?”
Manager Seong’s expression brightened instantly.
“Of course I must go. Who else would attend to Young Master if not I? But, you’ll be disguising yourselves, won’t you?”
Seol Woon-hwi thought for a moment before speaking.
“Since I prefer not to reveal my identity if possible, I shall be Mu Myeong, and you, Manager Seong, shall be Cheon Mu-jeon.”
“Understood. I shall prepare immediately.”
* * *
It was when the full moon hung high in the sky.
At the foot of Mangwol Peak, several martial artists had already gathered.
There appeared to be roughly thirty of them, and though each wore different attire, one could tell at a glance that all were formidable masters.
Seol Woon-hwi and Manager Seong, dressed in shabby robes and wearing masks over their faces, observed the situation from a distance.
The entrance hadn’t even manifested yet, and already thirty people had assembled—it seemed the records he had read in his previous life were indeed accurate.
“Most of them appear to be at the Flame Qi Four Stages level.”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded at Manager Seong’s assessment.
Of the thirty people visible to the eye, all but exactly two were martial artists of the Flame Qi Four Stages.
Yang Gwang I Hyeon, Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, Five Energy Harmonizing Origin—the variety was remarkable.
“Until the Insi hour arrives… it seems like roughly one moment should suffice, but you mentioned over a hundred people, didn’t you?”
“That’s right.”
“The remaining seventy…”
“They will be arriving. Or perhaps they’re already here.”
Both Seol Woon-hwi and Manager Seong were in a state of perfect qi suppression at this moment.
They had taken measures to prevent their aura from spreading outward, and in preparation for a potential ambush, they controlled only a radius of approximately three hamlets.
Nothing more than that area was within their dominion.
As time passed, both those who had been hiding and those who arrived late revealed themselves.
Their number approached nearly seventy.
“…Roughly a hundred, then. That matches.”
Seol Woon-hwi nodded and surveyed his surroundings.
Among those hundred, there were several who stood out particularly.
The first was a middle-aged man dressed in a resplendent golden daopo. Around him, a faint sword energy constantly circled, and other martial artists treated him with careful deference.
‘The Golden Sword Sect’s Sword Emperor of Renown, Geum Mu-jeok.’
The Golden Sword Sect was a renowned sword school in the Gangnam region, and Geum Mu-jeok was its sect master. A sword master who had reached the realm of Heaven-Human Unity, his Thirteen Golden Swords was counted among the most supreme techniques in the martial world.
Interestingly, Geum Mu-jeok’s name had not appeared in the existing Cheonin Palzwa.
However, from the moment Mae Wi-dong died, a vacancy opened in the Cheonin Palzwa, and three individuals were being discussed as candidates to fill that seat—Geum Mu-jeok was one of them.
As could be discerned from his alias and the name of his sect, he valued honor greatly.
Geum Mu-jeok was the type to struggle desperately to secure a place in the Cheonin Palzwa.
“…This is somewhat unexpected.”
“What is, sir?”
“If my memory serves, Geum Mu-jeok was not in this Secret Realm.”
Manager Seong tilted his head in confusion.
“Aren’t you simply misremembering? It was so long ago, after all.”
Seol Woon-hwi shook his head and gazed toward a certain location.
There stood a woman dressed in black with her entire face concealed, and around her emanated a killing intent so potent that others could not approach, much like that surrounding Geum Mu-jeok.
“Ya Su-yeong, Tower Master of the Black Clothes Tower.”
The Black Clothes Tower was an assassination organization, and Ya Su-yeong was its leader.
Her martial prowess had reached the Heaven-Human Realm.
And beside her stood a monk of enormous stature.
A golden aura flowed subtly from his body, and an extraordinary energy emanated from the stone staff he carried.
“Mu-jin, the Young Novice of Jeongson Temple.”
Mu-jin was being discussed as the next abbot of Jeongson Temple.
As a master of the Diamond Indestructible Divine Art, his defensive capability was among the highest in the martial world.
His realm, too, was the Heaven-Human Realm.
Beyond these two, masters from various sects were visible, but they were not particularly significant.
“In my previous life, these two claimed the treasures of this Secret Realm.”
“…Then.”
“Either the situation has changed, or something has happened inside.”
Unfortunately, all I knew was the outcome.
I couldn’t discern the details of what transpired.
It was then.
Geum Mu-jeok stepped forward and spoke.
“Everyone, it appears you’ve all come here with the same purpose. However, there is only one entrance to the Secret Realm, and it’s difficult to predict what will unfold within.”
At those words, Ya Su-yeong and Mu-jin simultaneously stepped forward.
“So you’re Senior Geum of the Golden Sword Sect. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“And you’re the Tower Master of the Black Clothes Tower. And beside you is… Shin Gang, an acolyte of Jeongson Temple.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Unlike the silent Mu-jin, Ya Su-yeong was lively.
Ya Su-yeong spoke.
“So what do you propose?”
“It’s simple. Based on our assessment, this Secret Realm is of the lowest tier among Martial God Grade realms, and it likely contains considerable traps within. Before we enter, wouldn’t it be wise to form a temporary alliance here?”
“…An alliance?”
“Yes. Temporary, of course. We would simply promise not to harm each other while inside the Secret Realm.”
A subtle smile bloomed at the corners of Ya Su-yeong’s lips.
“Senior Geum of the Golden Sword Sect is the strongest martial artist present, yet you suddenly speak of an alliance…”
“Do you find it disagreeable?”
“Not disagreeable, exactly. It’s just that my instincts as a martial artist are screaming that something about this isn’t right. I find it rather troubling.”
Geum Mu-jeok chuckled softly.
“It seems the Tower Master of the Black Clothes Tower has something to say. Would you care to speak before all these hundred-odd martial artists gathered here?”
Ya Su-yeong smiled with characteristic composure.
“To be frank, we’re quite concerned about Senior Geum.”
“I… am a concern to you.”
“Yes. We would prefer it if you didn’t enter the Secret Realm.”
Geum Mu-jeok let out a hollow laugh.
“It’s not as simple as you make it sound, Tower Master…”
“I’ll give you one-third of the Secret Realm’s treasures.”
Geum Mu-jeok blinked, and those around him looked taken aback.
“The condition is that Senior Geum doesn’t enter the Secret Realm. Rather than robbing our juniors of a stage to grow, wouldn’t it be better to give them the opportunity? I humbly propose this—would that be acceptable?”
Surprisingly, Geum Mu-jeok seemed intrigued.
The problem lay with the others.
Just as those gathered around were about to interject, seeing that no one had yet claimed ownership of the Secret Realm’s treasures, the silent Mu-jin struck the ground forcefully with his staff.
A deafening boom erupted.
Kwaaang.
The thunderous sound silenced all those who had been about to speak.
Geum Mu-jeok spoke.
“Fascinating.”
“Then you accept?”
Geum Mu-jeok wore a meaningful smile.
“Since my junior offered an intriguing proposal, and I have no desire to rob my juniors of the opportunity to grow… very well. I shall do as you suggest.”
Ya Su-yeong spoke.
“I am grateful for your kindness, Senior. After we pass through the Secret Realm, where should I come to find you?”
“I will be at the Black Clothes Tower.”
Ya Su-yeong cupped her fist in salute.
“Simply mention my name, and everything will be provided. I am deeply grateful for your boundless generosity, Senior. I shall see you after this is finished.”
Mu-jin, who had remained quiet, also cupped his fist and spoke.
“Amitabha Buddha. I too have been greatly moved by the grace of Master Geum Mu-jeok. I shall visit you together after passing through the Secret Realm.”
Geum Mu-jeok, his smile never fading, simply turned and walked away slowly.
Silence alone remained until his figure disappeared from sight.
Seol Woon-hwi and Manager Seong, who had been watching, exchanged glances.
“Young Master. I believe this is it.”
Manager Seong felt the pieces fit together perfectly, but Seol Woon-hwi did not.
Soon after, Ya Su-yeong addressed everyone, explaining that treasures obtained within the Secret Realm would be distributed sequentially, while beside her stood Mu-jin, his martial prowess unmistakably on display.
Having witnessed all this, Seol Woon-hwi spoke briefly.
“This Secret Realm proved far more troublesome than expected.”
Once the two Heaven-Human Realm martial artists took the lead, matters concluded far more swiftly than anticipated.
“If you agree with our proposal, enter with us. If you do not, simply turn around and leave.”
Having said so, Ya Su-yeong asked the martial artists.
“Do you agree?”
One by one, they began to express their consent. Of course, not all were sincere, but at least on the surface, agreement had been reached.
Just then, the eyes of Ya Su-yeong and Seol Woon-hwi met.
“You are wearing a mask? The weather is somewhat cold, but not to that degree.”
At those words, Seol Woon-hwi and Manager Seong removed their masks.
Their faces were then revealed, so completely transformed that anyone who had known these two before would immediately ask who they were.
Seol Woon-hwi smiled gently and spoke.
“We also agree.”
Seol Woon-hwi’s slightly altered voice matched that of someone in their mid-twenties.
This was done to match the changed appearance.
Ya Su-yeong seemed to have her interest drawn elsewhere.
“You have a cute face.”
“…Are you speaking of me?”
The name Mu Myeong carries a face to match it—as ordinary as ordinary could be, with eyes set in a slant, just as when entering Yang-ryeong’s Secret Realm.
This face, by any measure, did not suit the description of cute.
Manager Seong let out a hollow laugh as if at a loss, and this time Ya Su-yeong turned her gaze to Manager Seong.
“The young gentleman beside you appears to be only in his twenties… yet you seem quite dignified?”
Manager Seong spoke to Seol Woon-hwi.
Since they were disguising themselves anyway, he asked to have his face altered to appear slightly younger.
Having done exactly as requested, Ya Su-yeong’s perception proved surprisingly keen.
Mu-jin, standing beside Ya Su-yeong, opened his mouth.
“Amitabha Buddha, which sect do you hail from?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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