The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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26. Accepting the Chaotic Dark Valley Commission from Liaison Trading Hall

“You’re not going straight to Chaotic Dark Valley, are you?”

As they came out of Liaison Trading Hall, In Deok looked at Kang Hyeon and asked.

“Well, it seems like there are things to do before that?”

“Don’t I know you? I can tell just by looking at your eyes that you’re scheming something, Kang Hyeon.”

“Heh, is that so? You’ve grown a lot, haven’t you? Right, I’m not going straight to Chaotic Dark Valley. There are things to prepare, and things to test this time.”

“What is it? Huh?”

“I didn’t expect you to pick the Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushroom collection commission, In Deok, but I did anticipate that our main work would be in that direction.”

“Spirit herb collection?”

“Right.”

“You knew we’d mainly be doing spirit herb collection? So if you prepared something, it must be related to the True Fertile Earth Secret Method?”

“Who are you?! Our In Deok can’t be this smart…”

Thwack!

“Stop joking around. So what are you planning to do with the True Fertile Earth Secret Method?”

“I’m thinking of getting some spirit herbs, planting them, and then going to Chaotic Dark Valley.”

“You mean to quickly grow young spirit herbs using the True Fertile Earth Secret Method?”

“Not quickly growing them, but making them possess medicinal effects that won’t fall behind thousand-year-old ones. Even the True Fertile Earth Secret Method can’t do anything about time itself.”

“Is that so? Not like, turning a 10-year-old one into a hundred or thousand-year-old one?”

“How could that work? They say there are high-level spell arts or formation techniques that deal with time, but that’s something only immortals in the Spirit Realm could do.”

“I see.”

“Enough noise, let’s go to the Outer District’s Market Street. There should be spirit herbs there.”

“That’s right. Even if there’s nothing particularly valuable, it’s a place that even the Inner District here can’t match in terms of variety and quantity.”

Not only Liaison Trading Hall’s building, but the representative buildings of major sects and organizations are located in the Inner District.

However, for Kang Hyeon and In Deok, who are only at Early Qi Accumulation, the level difference is too great for trading.

The cultivation resources mainly traded in the Inner District are mostly for Late Qi Accumulation and above.

So the low-grade spirit herbs that Kang Hyeon is looking for would be faster to find at shops or stalls in the Outer District.

***

“That True Fertile Earth Secret Method really seems amazing.”

On the flying sword heading toward Chaotic Dark Valley in the Muyeon Mountain Range, In Deok spoke with excitement still not subsided in his voice, drawing Kang Hyeon’s attention.

“While the True Fertile Earth Secret Method is an excellent field creation secret method, if used wrongly, the cure could be worse than the disease. So you must always be careful.”

“Honestly, I’m frustrated too. I haven’t even properly mastered the regular Fertile Soil Secret Method, let alone the True Fertile Earth Secret Method.”

“Still, you must master at least the Fertile Soil Secret Method. As you know, if a cultivator can’t tend an herb garden, there are really many troublesome things.”

“I know too. Whether it’s pill refining, talisman making, or artifact refinement, there are few places in the Hundred Arts of Cultivation where basic medicinal materials aren’t used. And you need to be able to handle such basic things yourself for convenience.”

“Right. If you try to obtain and use all of that from others’ hands one by one, the hassle could become unbearable.”

“Yes, I understand, so stop talking about that and let’s talk about the Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushroom. Starting with the spirit herbs planted underground at the manor.”

In Deok waved his hand as if tired of being scolded with stories he already knew, changing the topic.

“What more is there to talk about when you watched everything from the side? Some were planted just in case, and some were prepared because we might be able to use them if we get the Mystic Spirit Pill refining method after completing our commission.”

“But weren’t the resources you poured into testing that too grand?”

“Hahaha. If it fails, it becomes too grand, but if it succeeds, it becomes gaining tremendous profit with just that much investment.”

“Huh? Does it work out that way?”

“At our Early Qi Accumulation level, the resources I used for the underground herb garden this time seem impressive, but at Late Qi Accumulation level, it’s not that impressive. But if spirit herbs that can truly substitute for Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushrooms actually grow?”

“It becomes a jackpot, right?”

“They might even pay more than for Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushrooms.”

“Huh? Why is that? They’re substitutes for Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushrooms, aren’t they?”

In Deok couldn’t understand how substitutes could receive higher prices.

Kang Hyeon explained this to him step by step.

“Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushrooms are literally spirit herbs that have endured a thousand years of worldly hardships. So how many various energies must be mixed in there? Also, traces of time aren’t just energies. There are also flows and momentums.”

“Flows and momentums?”

“Even the same spirit herbs differ slightly depending on the surrounding environment. That’s what I’m talking about. Naturally, such additional factors often become hindrances when refining pills.”

“But if you can grow substitutes for Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushrooms in herb gardens made with the True Fertile Earth Secret Method, there would be almost no such variables from time, right?”

In Deok’s expression brightened as if he was getting the idea.

“Mm, I think that’s how it would be. Of course, if time itself contained in the pill refining materials is an important factor, then it’s a different story. That would be difficult to substitute with the True Fertile Earth Secret Method. But at least Mystic Spirit Pills don’t fall into that category.”

“Really?”

“Mystic Spirit Pills are spirit pills that have the effect of correcting imbalances in the disrupted framework of essence, energy, and spirit. One of the two main ingredients is the Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushroom, and the reason Thousand-Year Mystic Spirit Mushrooms are needed here is because of the mystic spirit.”

“Mystic spirit… black spirit?”

“No, here ‘mystic’ doesn’t mean black but pure. Spirit herbs grow well in yin environments, and ghostly energy always lingers in yin places.”

“Ghostly energy?”

“When I planted spirit herbs in the True Fertile Earth Secret Method herb garden and created an environment to grow them, what I paid most attention to was placing soul orbs from demons and monsters, didn’t you see?”

“Yeah, I saw it. Burying soul orbs around the spirit herbs.”

Soul orbs refer to orbs containing the souls of the dead, but they actually contain things like corporeal souls and lingering thoughts rather than actual spirits.

Souls originally belong to powerful reincarnation laws and cannot be handled carelessly.

So when talking about spell arts or cultivation methods related to the souls of the dead in the cultivation world, most should be seen as related to corporeal souls or lingering thoughts.

If it truly deals with souls after death, one would need to be strong enough to easily overcome the heavenly tribulations of Heaven and Earth Laws to even attempt it.

However, interfering with souls while alive is not uncommon.

As long as the soul doesn’t completely perish before death, Heaven and Earth Laws rarely interfere.

That too is seen as part of the life process.

“What does soul orbs being important elements for growing spirit herbs have to do with time?”

“Natural thousand-year spirit herbs gained their medicinal effects by absorbing and accumulating lingering thoughts and corporeal souls that flowed around them for a thousand years. Naturally, what’s important here is not time but medicinal efficacy.”

“And that medicinal efficacy depends on how many lingering thoughts and corporeal souls were purified and contained, right? So the spirit herbs planted in the manor’s underground herb garden absorb the corporeal souls of monsters and demons contained in soul orbs to build medicinal efficacy regardless of time?”

“Right. That’s the story.”

“The problem is how much pure energy is accumulated, right?”

“Right. The value is determined by how strong and pure the accumulated mystic spirit is.”

“I hope it goes well. Then we’ll become rich quickly.”

“We could just sell the spirit herbs as pill refining materials, or if this commission goes well and we get the Mystic Spirit Pill refining secret method, we could make and sell Mystic Spirit Pills.”

“That’s not all, right? With the True Fertile Earth Secret Method, you could grow any number of other spirit herbs too, couldn’t you?”

“We need to consider the possibility of failure too. If that happens, the invested resources could just disappear.”

“It’s something you’re doing, so that won’t happen.”

“Sigh.”

At In Deok’s response that came without any hesitation, Kang Hyeon let out a short sigh but couldn’t help but smile at the existence of a friend who gave such trust.

However, Kang Hyeon soon hardened his expression and looked at In Deok.

“It’ll take several days to arrive, so let’s study the Fertile Soil Secret Method until then. Come on, sit up straight and look at me.”

“Huh? What? You want to study on top of a flying sword?”

“What does the location matter? Come on, first try reciting the formation incantation that’s the core of the Fertile Soil Secret Method.”

“Hey hey, Kang Hyeon, this isn’t right….”

“Of course it’s not right. Don’t resist uselessly and start!”

“Ugh.”

At Kang Hyeon’s resolute expression, In Deok groaned and rolled his eyes upward as he began recalling the contents of the Fertile Soil Secret Method.

Thus In Deok had to listen to Kang Hyeon’s special lecture on the Fertile Soil Secret Method until they arrived above Chaotic Dark Valley.

***

Clang!

“Ugh! What is this….”

“It’s a barrier. Someone set up a barrier to block access.”

“What, why would they put up a barrier in the wide open sky?”

In Deok grumbled as he stroked the front part of the flying sword that had been partially damaged from the collision, repairing it with his palm.

“This wasn’t an original barrier. This was recently made to prevent approach to Chaotic Dark Valley.”

“So it’s the work of one of the other three who received the same commission as us?”

“That’s highly likely.”

“But we’re not going to turn back here, right?”

In Deok looked at Kang Hyeon with expectation that he absolutely wouldn’t do that.

“Of course. How could we retreat just because of this interference? Besides, Chaotic Dark Valley is a very vast place, so blocking the entrance like this is excessive greed.”

“Should I break through it?”

“Yes. Do that.”

In Deok had a hidden intention when he asked if he should break through the barrier.

If Kang Hyeon broke through the barrier, his method would be gentle, but if In Deok himself did it, then it would be.

“Urararararah!”

Crack crack crack crack! Snap snap snap!

Kuaaaang! Kwaaaaang!

Inevitably violent like this.

In Deok wasn’t the type to carefully analyze barriers one by one to find their weaknesses and unravel them, and his understanding of Qi Accumulation level barriers was still lacking.

So inevitably it had to go in the direction of destroying it with force.

“What!? This is?”

Kwaang! Kwaaaaang! Kwaaaaaang!

Since the barrier didn’t break through in one blow, In Deok drew up his lightning energy even stronger and continued punching.

Though it was punching empty air, in reality he was pounding on the barrier that was blocking other cultivators’ approach.

Because of this, each time he punched, faint lines and patterns would appear and disappear in the empty air repeatedly.

Kang Hyeon stared intently at the barrier formation that repeatedly appeared and disappeared in sync with In Deok’s punches, analyzing it.

But since he had entrusted this task to In Deok, Kang Hyeon didn’t bother telling In Deok the information about the barrier he had figured out.

He knew the barrier would eventually break through even without doing so.

“Urarara! Chaat!”

Kwaaaaang! Hissssssss!

“Got it!”

And finally, after more than ten consecutive punches from In Deok, the barrier formation broke.

As In Deok cheered, the pattern of the barrier formation that had appeared in the air began crumbling from the bottom and disappeared without a trace.

The sight looked like the formation pattern was crumbling like silver powder and falling, then being quickly erased as it went downward.

Whoooooosh!

“Wow, that must be the real entrance to Chaotic Dark Valley?”

When the barrier formation was destroyed, changes occurred at the entrance to Chaotic Dark Valley that had been visible until just before.

If it had looked motionless like a painting until now, now wind and mist were swirling together, spewing out an ominous aura.

“That’s proper. With that level, it makes sense that all sorts of remnants of the dead would gather there.”

With such abundant yin energy, it was an ideal environment for spirit herbs to grow naturally.

Kang Hyeon was impressed because he recognized this.

“Let’s go. They say you can’t use flying magical tools inside the valley, so let’s fly there directly.”

“Oh, right. But the aura really is chilly, isn’t it? Ghosts would certainly like it.”

“Are ghosts the problem right now? The problem is not knowing what kind of people might be ahead.”

“You said Chaotic Dark Valley is vast? Surely those who blocked the entrance wouldn’t….”

“Watch out!”

Whiriririk! Pipipipiping!

“Whoa!”

Thud thud thud! Thud!

As In Deok was speaking carelessly to Kang Hyeon while entering the valley, suddenly two streams of attacks flew from within the mist-shrouded valley.

One was dozens of flying daggers, and the other was arrows.

But fortunately, thanks to Kang Hyeon’s warning, In Deok was able to quickly deploy a shield gleaming with golden light to block in front of the two of them.

“Who’s there!”

In Deok, who had blocked the flying daggers and arrows with his shield, shouted.

Then an ominous voice flowed out from within the valley’s mist.

“These days’ juniors have no fear.”

“That’s right. Mere Early Qi Accumulation daring to shout at their seniors!”

There were two voices heard, and they were calling Kang Hyeon and In Deok juniors.

“What seniors, when you’re just hiding and making sneak attacks. If you’re confident, come forward!”

In Deok shouted back without losing momentum.

Originally, In Deok was taught by Kang Hyeon to be polite when dealing with other cultivators normally, but he felt there was no reason to maintain such courtesy after being attacked first with intent to kill like this.

“My, this puppy-like thing should have understood and retreated when his seniors gave a well-intentioned warning….”

“These foolish ones are bringing disaster upon themselves.”

A chilling murderous intent settled in the voice from within the valley at In Deok’s reaction.

They were claiming that they had given a warning to Kang Hyeon and In Deok, and were instead getting angry.

“Hahaha. You’re trying to cover the sky with your palm. How can you try to package your own shameless acts like that?”

But then Kang Hyeon stepped forward and burst into laughter.

And at the same time, he swept his sleeves to create a strong wind and began pushing away the fog that blocked the valley entrance.

“Hmm.”

“Well now.”

Then from within the fog came uncomfortable groans and sighs, as if things weren’t going as intended.

“Taaaat!”

Crackle crackle crackle crackle!

And matching Kang Hyeon’s movements, In Deok spread Lightning Energy widely into the fog that was scattering in the wind.

“As expected!”

“These bastards?!”

But when the fog actually dispersed, not a single person’s shadow could be seen inside.

“They hid themselves in the scattering fog and retreated.”

“Yeah. They got slightly caught by the Lightning Energy, but immediately shook it off and escaped.”

At Kang Hyeon’s words, In Deok nodded with a regretful expression.

“An unexpected situation arose right from the start?”

“Indeed.”

“Let’s move carefully. Hide our presence too.”

“Oh, got it.”

In Deok agreed with Kang Hyeon’s words, and the two immediately deployed their Concealment Technique to hide their bodies before slowly entering Chaotic Dark Valley.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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