The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 46

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

46. The Blood Soul Envoy’s Alchemy Dreaming of Realm Advancement

“In Deok… did he go to Hyeop Province?”

After a moment, Kang Hyeon, having somewhat composed himself, asked the Old Monster.

“Is that what you’re curious about right now? When you’re about to melt away as pill refining material soon?”

“If I can’t change that fate, shouldn’t I at least know what I want to know right now so I’ll have no regrets?”

“Ho? Your eyes are still alive, so you clearly haven’t given up, yet you ask about that disappeared fellow – it’s hard to understand. But there’s nothing urgent right now, so I’ll answer you. That thunder-gold spiritual root brat is currently at the Great Unity Hall.”

“Was the Great Unity Hall a place you could go without a token?”

“Even without an entry token, it’s possible since he’s the subject of a commission.”

“Then…”

“But entering that way, there’s nothing he can do at the Great Unity Hall. He’ll just be confined for a while and then moved back to Hyeop Province.”

“So the Thunder Gate only needed In Deok?”

“Since he possesses a special thunder-gold spiritual root, he seems to fit perfectly with the Thunder Gate. They must have thought he matched well since the Thunder Gate’s main focus is thunder attribute techniques.”

“You could say In Deok’s future is bright. That’s fortunate.”

Kang Hyeon said this with a faint smile.

Though they had parted for now, he thought this could be a good opportunity for In Deok.

Since a sect that matched well with the thunder-gold Cheon Yeong Geun had eagerly sought him out and taken him, they wouldn’t treat him poorly.

If so, he could expect In Deok’s rapid growth.

And once his realm improved, wouldn’t there be opportunities to meet again someday?

‘Fortunately, that Old Monster returned Trent’s Branch to In Deok at the end. Though In Deok had half-refined it saying he’d make it into a life-bound treasure, the connection with Trent wasn’t completely severed.’

Perhaps through that branch, there might be times when the entrance to the Mystic Realm could be opened from Hyeop Province.

With his current realm, it was hard to even dream of, but if Kang Hyeon’s own realm improved, it would be possible.

‘It’s just a temporary parting. And to truly make that happen, I must escape from that Old Monster’s grasp.’

Kang Hyeon closed his eyes with these thoughts.

The only thing he could do right now was virtual training in his mental space.

When an opportunity arose, he would absorb the Old Monster’s blood that had entered his body through Trent, and simultaneously, if a gap opened to release spiritual energy externally, he would immediately open the entrance to the Mystic Realm.

Opening the entrance to the Mystic Realm and entering it could be done simultaneously without needing to distinguish between them, so if he could just open the entrance, he would be able to escape the crisis of becoming a pill core.

“Keke. I don’t know what scheme you’re plotting, but no matter how hard you try, you can’t break free from my blood’s binding. So calm your mind and prepare to become a good pill core.”

As Kang Hyeon sat motionless with his eyes closed, Blood Extreme Mountain Villa’s Old Monster slyly provoked him.

At this, Kang Hyeon opened his eyes and asked the Old Monster.

“What kind of place is the Great Unity Hall?”

“Hm? Suddenly curious about the Great Unity Hall?”

“I’m from Haram Continent in Hyeop Province. There, once every ten years, a great formation that encompasses the continent is deployed to summon children with spiritual roots to a specific location.”

“Yes, that story is quite famous. Recently there’s been active discussion about finding and taking spiritual root holders in that manner. So?”

“The children taken that way participate in a test called the Great Unity System, and tokens are distributed to each of them at that time.”

“Tokens?”

“That’s right. And they say that if you achieve good results in that Great Unity System, they’ll make that token into an entry token for the Great Unity Hall.”

“Hmph! That’s just like the capital sects of Hyeop Province.”

“Does saying it’s like Hyeop Province’s sects mean other places don’t do this?”

“Tsk, entry tokens that allow access to the Great Unity Hall are precious things. Even I only managed to obtain one after long effort once I reached the Spirit Body Stage. But that’s because this is Nok Province. In other provinces, obtaining entry tokens is said to be somewhat easier. Among them, Hyeop Province especially has abundant entry tokens.”

“Are you saying there are differences between each region?”

“Provinces where many people frequent the Great Unity Hall naturally make it easier to obtain entry tokens. Our Nok Province started much later, so there are still many shortcomings.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Tsk, the abundant places could share some, but they show no interest in Nok Province particularly. It’s probably because Nok Province’s cultivation world is generally lacking.”

“Is Nok Province like that?”

“If you think about it, Nok Province could be called the most backward place among One Heaven, Five Provinces, Six Seas, and Three Forbidden Domains. That’s why it has the fewest Great Unity Hall entry tokens.”

“I see. Yet you possess an entry token, elder.”

“Most even among Spirit Body Stage cultivators don’t have entry tokens. Even though they’re not particularly difficult to obtain at the Great Unity Hall.”

“Then wouldn’t it be good to obtain several according to one’s ability and share them?”

“Hmph! Who would bear the costs required for that? They may be common at the Great Unity Hall, but can you imagine how much of Nok Province’s cultivation resources would have to be poured in to obtain them? Moreover, even if entry tokens were obtained that way, who would you give them to?”

“Well, to sect brothers or disciples…”

“Hmph! To those fellows? Why would I?”

“…”

At the Old Monster’s question, Kang Hyeon closed his mouth.

He himself had no intention of giving precious things to others, yet he was demanding that from the Old Monster.

“Great Unity Tokens can only be obtained by those who frequent the Great Unity Hall. But why would anyone bother to obtain another when they already have one?”

“You’re saying a tempting price must be offered?”

“Kekeke. Yes. Exactly that.”

“Naturally, a price equivalent to obtaining an entry token at the Great Unity Hall wouldn’t make a deal, right? You’d need to offer at least double?”

“Double? That’s only considering material wealth, and thinking of the time and effort that must be invested beyond that, you’d need to receive three or four times as much. Yes, that’s how it should be.”

Kang Hyeon could easily tell that the Old Monster intended to receive several times what he had invested when obtaining the entry token.

Because the Old Monster’s eyes were full of greed.

“Then…”

“You! How far are you planning to go? Do you think it’s natural for me to humor you?”

“…”

“That’s enough, so now I must attend to my business. Boy, how did you do it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Deceiving the spiritual root. I’m asking how you did it.”

“I said I wouldn’t tell you that.”

“Huh, I answered your questions sincerely, yet you have no shame?”

“Hahaha. Since I’m going to die as pill refining material anyway, why would I voluntarily offer up even the smallest advantage? Could you do such a thing, old sir?”

“Among yourselves you called me Old Monster, but to my face you say old sir? Are you afraid?”

“With such a great difference in realm, shouldn’t I maintain what should be maintained? Though I don’t know what I’ll be like at the final moment.”

“So you’re saying to understand even if you speak harshly before dying?”

“I’ll have to see when it comes to that, but I don’t know how I might change when that time arrives.”

“Keke. Yes, everyone showed different aspects before dying. But having spent years in the cultivation world, they all hoped their souls would at least enter reincarnation smoothly at the end.”

“If death is unavoidable, that would be the final hope.”

“But you know.”

“Yes?”

“You don’t seem to have any desire to die peacefully. It seems you’re inviting all kinds of suffering before death, and moreover, bringing harm even to your soul.”

“You’re saying if I don’t reveal how I disguised my spiritual root, you’ll make me suffer like that?”

“Not just your body, but both your spirit and flesh will become tattered. So if you wish for proper reincarnation, how about confessing obediently?”

“…”

“Your stubbornness is remarkable. Then you must be prepared accordingly?”

When Kang Hyeon kept his mouth shut and didn’t respond, the Old Monster’s eyes turned fierce.

And without hesitation, he waved his palm toward Kang Hyeon, at which moment the blood that had entered Kang Hyeon’s body began to writhe.

“Krgh?!”

“Kahahaha. Do you think my blood is only used for binding? Depending on my will, it can tear you to shreds. How is it? Can you bear it?”

“Krrrgh!”

The Old Monster’s blood transformed like thorned vines inside Kang Hyeon’s body and rampaged freely along the pathways of spiritual energy.

It moved like a snake with its head and tail connected, and accordingly, the inside of Kang Hyeon’s body gradually turned to mush beneath his skin.

So how terrible must that pain be.

“Krgh!”

But Kang Hyeon only let out a few short groans and made no pleas to the Old Monster.

“Good. You’re indeed a tough one. But you should know that physical pain is not the end. Let’s see you endure more.”

The Old Monster frowned as if displeased by Kang Hyeon’s appearance of enduring to the end.

And once again he flipped his palm toward Kang Hyeon.

“Heoeoeogh!”

At that moment, Kang Hyeon felt his consciousness sinking deeply as all his senses faded dimly.

This happened because the Old Monster’s blood had penetrated beyond the flesh into the realm of consciousness.

“Heueup!”

Kang Hyeon felt the Old Monster’s blood trying to dominate his consciousness and struggled desperately to resist.

But the malevolent thoughts originating from the Old Monster’s blood relentlessly penetrated and contaminated Kang Hyeon’s consciousness.

Like ink spreading in clear water, dark red energy occupied Kang Hyeon’s consciousness, and his awareness gradually faded by that much.

‘Damn it!’

Eventually, Kang Hyeon’s consciousness was driven into his Mental Space and became trapped there.

‘Only the Mental Space remains.’

Kang Hyeon realized that his Mental Space was the only realm his consciousness could perceive.

Not only could he not perceive reality, but he couldn’t feel his physical body at all.

Since one cannot interfere with what one cannot perceive, Kang Hyeon was now in a state where he could touch nothing except the conceptual Mental Space.

‘What is he trying to do?’

The fact that he could maintain consciousness even in the Mental Space was thanks to his Spiritual Root.

The Spiritual Root was another self, so unless the Old Monster destroyed the Spiritual Root, his consciousness wouldn’t completely disappear.

‘If he destroys the Spiritual Root, he won’t be able to use the Pill Core, so that won’t happen. But what can I do in this current state?’

He hadn’t expected the Old Monster to use Mental Suppression, trapping his consciousness in the Mental Space like this.

In this state, he couldn’t know what the Old Monster was doing outside, and naturally, his plan to use Trent to absorb the Old Monster’s blood and create an opening became useless.

‘I’ve truly become helpless. Is there no way?’

Kang Hyeon tried to extend his consciousness outside the Mental Space.

But each time, the Old Monster’s malevolent thoughts penetrated his consciousness, forcing him to flee back inside.

And as much consciousness as was devoured by the Old Monster’s thoughts when extended outside, his mental strength decreased, making it difficult to attempt multiple times.

‘I can only rely on Trent.’

Eventually, Kang Hyeon acknowledged that only the final method of using Trent to absorb even the Old Monster’s blood and malevolent thoughts remained.

And he decided to wait for the right moment again.

‘Anyway, if he uses me as a Pill Core, there will surely be some change. Now, waiting for that moment to use Trent is my last hope.’

***

“Hehe, it’s perfectly ripened.”

The Blood Soul Envoy, a late-stage Spirit Realm cultivator from Blood Extreme Mountain Villa, floated Kang Hyeon’s body in the air and muttered while examining it from all angles.

Right now, Kang Hyeon’s body was torn to the point where bones and flesh were nearly mush.

Yet the system constituting his physical body hadn’t scattered, so bones and flesh, muscles and tendons, brain and such all remained in their proper places.

“It would be fine to use as a Pill Core like this, but to raise the efficacy of the Spirit Pill more, I need to elevate the level of the Pill Core.”

The Blood Soul Envoy muttered this and sent Kang Hyeon’s body high above his head.

This positioned Kang Hyeon at the center point of the formation, placing his body where the life force sent from the thirteen Life Chain Curses condensed.

Thus, the life force gathered from the Thirteen Life Chain Curses would densely permeate Kang Hyeon’s body, which was dismantled piece by piece, raising its value as a Pill Core for alchemy.

“The technique for disguising Spiritual Roots is remarkable and tempting, but I have no more means to pressure that fellow, so I must give up.”

If not for using him as alchemical material, there would have been more ways to torture Kang Hyeon’s consciousness and soul.

But to use him as a Pill Core for alchemy, both spirit and flesh needed to be in a reasonably intact state.

The Blood Soul Envoy decided to give up on the secret of Spiritual Root disguise, fearing he might lose good Pill Core material if he pushed too far to the extreme.

“Fortunately, that fellow’s Spiritual Root is wood-attribute, so it matches well with absorbing life force. So I must treat good materials preciously.”

The Blood Soul Envoy deliberately ignored his regret at not obtaining the Spirit Root Disguise Technique and consoled himself with these words.

“There’s nothing more to wait for now. The Life Chain Curse has also reached its peak, so I’ll begin the alchemy.”

Huuuuung!

As the Blood Soul Envoy declared this and stretched both arms toward the sky, the formation he was sitting on greatly swelled and shot up into the heavens.

The sky was already filled with red clouds imbued with the energy of the Life Chain Curse, and now the formation controlled by the Blood Soul Envoy was inscribed into those clouds.

Whirirririri whirirriririk!

Gooooooooo! Sssssssseuk!

As the formation was inscribed into the red clouds, crimson liquid immediately condensed from the clouds and fell drop by drop, seeping into Kang Hyeon’s body floating in the void.

“Oh, yes. That’s how it should be.”

As the crimson liquid seeped into Kang Hyeon’s body and his form began to swell little by little, the Blood Soul Envoy let out a cry of joy.

The crimson liquid now seeping into Kang Hyeon’s body was itself a tremendous crystallization of life force.

The Thirteen Soul-Binding Pillars were currently dominating the entire ruins, absorbing all life force.

From the ruins space as vast as a continent, all life force was being absorbed and sent to the Blood Soul Envoy, and the crystallized essence of that life force was being absorbed into Kang Hyeon.

Once he absorbed life force to the limit, the remaining life force would then be used to begin pill refining.

And if at the final moment of that pill refining, Kang Hyeon’s body filled with life force was pushed into the pill core to complete the spirit pill.

“Kahahaha. How could Avatar Stage advancement be called a mere dream! Kahahaha.”

The Blood Soul Envoy burst into maniacal laughter, dreaming of Avatar Stage advancement.

A spirit pill completed by grinding up hundreds of monks and the life force of the entire ruins seemed like it would make Avatar Stage advancement within reach.

Perhaps if the pill refining succeeded without variables, the Blood Soul Envoy’s dream could become reality.

If only there were no variables.

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