The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 33

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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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33. Let’s Completely Erase All Traces of No Cheong Woo

“You want a commission to go outside the market town?”

“That’s correct.”

Mo Yeom’s confirmatory question seemed a bit strange, but Kang Hyeon answered calmly.

Then Mo Yeom looked at Kang Hyeon for a moment before asking.

“It seems you haven’t been going outside the manor lately?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m saying this because you seem completely unaware of what’s happening in the market town.”

“Is something going on?”

“Huh, you’re really a frustrating fellow. How exactly do you live in the market town? Have you just been holed up in your manor cultivating?”

“I completed several commissions before coming here.”

“You mean that spirit herb delivery job?”

“That’s right.”

“So in the end, you just grew spirit herbs at your manor without any external interactions!”

“If you put it that way, yes, but what’s going on? It seems like there’s been some major change in just a few months?”

Kang Hyeon asked as if he had guessed something from Mo Yeom’s attitude.

“A few months, I see. When you think about it, it hasn’t been that long. But a cultivator should always be aware of the surrounding situation. If you’re as slow to grasp things as you are, you’ll easily meet with disaster.”

“I’ll engrave your teaching in my bones.”

“Tsk, I’m telling you this because I have high expectations for you people, so really take it to heart.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Kang Hyeon bowed his head once more at Mo Yeom’s advice.

“Right now, to leave the market town for the outside, you have to go through strict screening.”

“Screening? Are they looking for someone?”

“That’s right. The Blazing Fire Spirit Beast Sect, Blue Wood Academy, Cheon Gwang Moon, and Mujin Sound Temple have joined forces to half-blockade Cheong Myeong Market Town.”

“A blockade? What do you mean by that…”

“Literally, they’ve started strictly managing entry and exit from the market town.”

“What happened to make them do such a thing?”

“They say they’re looking for someone called No Cheong Woo.”

“No Cheong Woo? Who is that?”

Kang Hyeon’s heart nearly jumped to his throat at the sudden mention of No Cheong Woo’s name, but he maintained his composure and asked.

“Well, you wouldn’t understand with just that name. Here’s what happened…”

Mo Yeom showed no particular suspicion at Kang Hyeon’s surprised expression and told him the whole story.

“So you’re saying that fellow Bang Yul claimed No Cheong Woo was here in Cheong Myeong Market Town?”

“That’s right. Bang Yul used No Cheong Woo’s belongings to perform mystical arts and track his movements, and the trail led to this Cheong Myeong Market Town.”

“So this No Cheong Woo fellow took some treasure and hid in this Cheong Myeong Market Town?”

“So they say.”

“But if high-level masters step in, wouldn’t finding that fellow be easier than flipping your palm?”

The abilities of high-ranking cultivators were unfathomable.

Even the Foundation Establishment stage was impressive, and those at higher realms might be able to see the entire market town as if looking at their palm.

Kang Hyeon was asking with such thoughts why they couldn’t find this No Cheong Woo fellow.

“The more important the matter, the more carefully it must be examined. If they swept through the market town but couldn’t find No Cheong Woo, is he not in the market town, or is he well hidden?”

“Both possibilities exist.”

“But since the one who used mystical arts says No Cheong Woo is here, the scales tip toward him being well hidden, don’t they?”

“That would make sense.”

“So they decided to blockade the market town and search through it like hunting lice. In this situation, what would happen if you sought external commissions?”

“Well, after thorough examination, if they conclude there’s no connection…”

“It’s a treasure that major sects have stepped forward to find. It would be nice if things went as you say, but even without a speck of doubt, they might think it’s better to crush you outright rather than leave behind any trouble or unpleasantness.”

“Th-that’s…”

“If things go wrong, the entire market town could be massacred.”

“But with Cheon Gwang Moon here, how could such a terrible thing happen?”

“Didn’t I say Cheon Gwang Moon is also involved in this matter?”

“Even so…”

“I can’t dare to guess either, but it must be that incredible of a treasure.”

“An incredible treasure… I can’t even fathom a treasure so incredible it would stain the entire market town with blood. But if the market town’s situation is as you describe, there’s no need to take unnecessary risks. I should just return to the manor to cultivate and grow spirit herbs.”

“Yes. That’s the right choice. You should do exactly that.”

When Kang Hyeon accepted his advice, Mo Yeom nodded repeatedly with a satisfied expression.

“Then I’ll head back. But…”

“Do you have more to say?”

“If the situation changes, could you possibly contact our manor? Of course, I’m not asking you to do it for free – I’d like to make it a commission.”

“Hahaha. You’re indeed clever. Of course. Our Liaison Trading Hall doesn’t refuse such commissions either. Now then, what specific content should we organize for the commission?”

When Mo Yeom saw that Kang Hyeon wasn’t leaving immediately but was trying to understand the market town’s situation, he was greatly pleased and tapped the table to summon a contract for the commission request.

***

“Hey, hey, I think we’re in big trouble.”

When Kang Hyeon finished his business at the Liaison Trading Hall and hurriedly returned to the manor, In Deok greeted him with an urgent expression.

“Let’s go inside first.”

Kang Hyeon led In Deok to the spirit herb field inside the building.

Since it was where they grew spirit herbs using the True Fertile Earth Secret Method, it was the safest place in the manor.

“You heard about the market town being blockaded, right?”

After reaching the spirit herb field and checking the various barriers and formation techniques once more, Kang Hyeon turned to In Deok and asked.

“Yeah. They say four of the Five Great Sects of Nok Province have gathered.”

“Right. That’s why the Liaison Trading Hall said they’re being cautious about commissions going outside.”

“How did this happen? How did they find us?”

“From what I heard, they’re not looking for us but for No Cheong Woo.”

“That dead bastard? But how did they pinpoint this place?”

“It seems there was someone among those who knew No Cheong Woo who had learned strange mystical arts. That person used No Cheong Woo’s belongings to perform mystical arts and pinpointed this Cheong Myeong Bang Si.”

“But how could they do that? Ah, perhaps they weren’t looking for No Cheong Woo himself, but rather something he possessed?”

“I think that’s likely too. Since we ransacked No Cheong Woo’s belongings, there’s a high possibility they tracked some specific item among them.”

“Then what do we do? Won’t we be discovered soon?”

In Deok couldn’t hide his worried expression as he cautiously looked around.

“If that were the case, we would have been caught long ago. They somehow pinpointed this market town, but after that, they seem to be stuck.”

“That’s true.”

In Deok’s expression relaxed a little.

“But we can’t be at ease.”

Kang Hyeon was aware that they were currently in a very dangerous situation.

“Shouldn’t we deal with No Cheong Woo’s belongings first?”

In Deok fumbled at his waist where his storage pouch was attached, as if he might take out the items immediately.

“No, whatever the case, taking No Cheong Woo’s belongings out of the storage pouch is dangerous. If they’re still tracking, we could be caught instantly.”

The storage pouch itself had the effect of concealing the items contained within.

So taking items out of the storage pouch would inevitably result in highlighting the presence of those items.

“Then what do we do?”

“I’m thinking of leaving only the items related to No Cheong Woo in the storage pouch, then calling Trent to absorb them.”

“You’re going to have Goemok absorb them?”

“It can absorb anything, and if I use reverse summoning, it will enter my Mental Space, so there’s no safer method than that.”

“That’s true. Then let’s start by organizing the items first.”

In Deok began hurriedly organizing his storage pouch with an expression of agreement, whatever method Kang Hyeon had proposed.

Kang Hyeon also extended his consciousness into his storage pouch to examine its contents.

Meanwhile, Kang Hyeon and In Deok each thoroughly searched their respective halls several times to check if there were any items connected to No Cheong Woo.

Afterward, the two gathered again in the underground spirit herb field beneath the hall.

“Phew, here they are. There shouldn’t be a single one missing.”

“I’ve gathered them all too.”

“But what about that?”

“What?”

“The Soul-Killing Nail. Isn’t that a bit of a waste?”

The Soul-Killing Nail was a dharma treasure with tremendous power that could annihilate the soul of its victim, and when its special power was activated, it could even lead to the complete destruction of the spirit.

Knowing this, In Deok felt it was wasteful to have Trent absorb even the Soul-Killing Nail.

“It can’t be helped. The Soul-Killing Nail was a treasure that No Cheong Woo cherished, so there’s a high possibility that those currently searching for No Cheong Woo have made the Soul-Killing Nail their tracking target.”

“That’s true, but if you can put it into your Mental Space, I thought we might not need to go as far as absorption.”

Peering into another person’s Mental Space is a very difficult task.

So if artifacts were stored in the Mental Space, detecting them from the outside would be truly difficult.

In Deok was asking whether there was really a need to have Trent absorb the treasure in such circumstances.

But Kang Hyeon firmly shook his head.

“Originally, nothing can be placed in the Mental Space unless it’s completely assimilated with the soul like a Life-Bound Treasure. But I’m using Trent as a workaround to force these things in. This will inevitably have side effects. So I need to have them absorbed and eliminated as quickly as possible.”

Being able to store miscellaneous items in the Mental Space, even temporarily, was a great advantage.

However, the Mental Space was originally a place that represented a monk’s consciousness, and there would be no benefit in accumulating anything that could interfere with or contaminate that consciousness.

Especially something like the Soul-Killing Nail that strongly contained evil energy was even more dangerous.

Moreover, consciousness was so important to a monk who had to continue cultivation – how could one carry something harmful to it for long?

“Is that so? Then it can’t be helped.”

In Deok also seemed to understand something from Kang Hyeon’s words and quickly let go of his regret about the Soul-Killing Nail.

“And when Trent absorbs the Soul-Killing Nail, it should be able to digest some of the Soul-Killing Nail’s power. Then Trent’s branches or roots might become capable of producing the Soul-Killing Nail’s effects.”

“I’m hoping for that too, but…”

“Anyway, let’s deal with these things right away.”

Kang Hyeon said this and placed the storage pouches containing items related to No Cheong Woo, then summoned Trent to have it absorb them.

As soon as Trent was summoned, it immediately wrapped the storage pouches that Kang Hyeon and In Deok had presented with its branches, then disappeared.

Kang Hyeon’s intention to erase even the slightest trace of No Cheong Woo was manifested in Trent’s actions.

“How long do you think it will take?”

As Trent appeared and then disappeared immediately, In Deok looked at Kang Hyeon and asked.

“The only thing worth worrying about is the Soul-Killing Nail, but since there are many different types, it’ll probably take about three or four days.”

“Really?”

“Mm, during that time I need to meditate and watch for changes in my Mental Space, so In Deok, you’ll have to guard the outside.”

“If you’re not there, naturally it’s my job. Got it. Don’t worry.”

“Right. Then I’ll come out when the absorption is finished, so wait for me.”

“Yeah, do well and come out.”

“Understood.”

Kang Hyeon sent In Deok out like that, then sat in lotus position at the edge of the underground spirit herb field and focused his consciousness on his Mental Space.

The Mental Space is where the Spiritual Root exists, and where a monk’s cultivation achievements are projected.

Currently in Kang Hyeon’s Mental Space was Mok Yeong Geun in the form of Trent, and before it was a translucent cauldron with mysterious incantations intricately intertwined.

That cauldron was the Heavenly Void Cauldron that Kang Hyeon had obtained from the Heaven and Earth Laws during his Qi Accumulation Breakthrough.

‘A permit to avoid heavenly tribulation no matter what is refined.’

An ancient treasure that, when the Heavenly Void Cauldron’s incantations were absorbed into a pill refining furnace during pill refining, could refine any heaven-defying elixir without heavenly tribulation.

‘But using that will be a matter for the distant future.’

He currently had neither pill refining methods that would bring down heavenly tribulation, nor the ability to perform such refining.

‘Still, just seeing it is reassuring.’

Kang Hyeon briefly gazed at the Heavenly Void Cauldron’s incantations, becoming intoxicated by their mystical nature, then quickly gathered his thoughts and shifted his consciousness to Trent.

Trent was in the process of transferring the storage pouch it had brought from outside to its roots and absorbing it whole.

‘They all contain spiritual energy, but nothing particularly remarkable, so Trent probably won’t grow significantly.’

Kang Hyeon didn’t have much expectation for this absorption.

He was only slightly curious about what changes the Soul-Killing Nail, which could be called a treasure among them, would bring to Trent.

***

“What’s going on? Why is it taking so long?”

In Deok, who had left Kang Hyeon in the underground spirit herb field and come outside, was getting anxious as Kang Hyeon hadn’t shown himself even after half a month had passed.

“He said it would only take a few days.”

In Deok was struggling to suppress his desire to enter the underground spirit herb field where Kang Hyeon was to check on him, looking in Kang Hyeon’s direction several times a day.

And Kang Hyeon, who was causing In Deok such worry, was troubled by an unexpected situation.

‘How could a mere Spiritual Energy Technique practitioner possess such a thing?’

Kang Hyeon stared at the hanging scroll that Trent was absorbing, unable to hide his bewilderment.

Who would have thought that the scroll filled with indecipherable ancient text would be something so tremendous?

‘At this rate, it will take over three years to absorb everything. Then I won’t be able to summon and use Trent during that time.’

Kang Hyeon had expected it would take only three or four days for Trent to absorb all the hundreds of items including the Soul-Killing Nail.

But now Kang Hyeon was estimating three years to absorb a single mysterious hanging scroll taken from No Cheong Woo’s eastern wall.

‘What kind of item could it be that Trent is having such difficulty absorbing it?’

Kang Hyeon wanted to stop the absorption immediately and take out the scroll to examine it.

But No Cheong Woo’s belongings absolutely could not be brought outside.

He couldn’t create even the slightest possibility of himself and In Deok falling under suspicion.

‘No matter how precious a treasure it might be, it cannot compare to In Deok’s and my lives. And the treasure’s identity will be revealed once Trent’s absorption progresses to some degree.’

Kang Hyeon tried to calm his mind with these thoughts and stood up from his seat.

He couldn’t sit and wait for the entire three years of expected absorption, so he decided to periodically check on the Mental Space and Trent’s absorption progress as he rose.

“Hey, why are you so late!?”

As Kang Hyeon emerged from the underground spirit herb field, In Deok, who had been eagerly waiting, immediately appeared and welcomed him.

Seeing In Deok like this, Kang Hyeon smiled brightly.

How could he not be delighted to have a friend who worried about him?

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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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