The Wizard Who Endured the World of Murim - Chapter 68

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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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Surviving in the Martial Realm as a Mage: Episode 68
Life is much the same wherever people dwell.
The Upper Realm was no exception—a place where people lived and breathed.
It differed little from the Lower Realm.
At least, that was how Ilhyang perceived it.
“So this fellow is the friend who recently ascended from the Lower Realm?”
“Indeed, Lord Nacheon Jingun. Moreover, this one hails from the Mountains and Waters!”
“Ah? Raised harshly in the wilds, I see. There’s a keen light in those eyes. Excellent, excellent—I like this one already.”
The middle-aged man paused mid-sentence, tilting his head with curiosity.
“Hmm? But it seems you’ve undergone some peculiar cultivation. The fact that even I cannot discern your realm suggests you’ve mastered something quite extraordinary.”
Curiosity and bewilderment flickered simultaneously in Nacheon Jingun’s eyes.
Ilhyang then responded.
“Since I come from the Street, I’ve been indiscriminate in what I’ve learned.”
Before meeting Nacheon Jingun.
Ilhyang had received instruction from Man Chong on proper speech and conduct.
Man Chong had told Ilhyang that he fully understood how, having lived in the Mountains and Waters all this time, the concept of hierarchy was foreign to him.
Yet before visiting the sect’s elders, he had very kindly educated this impertinent Junior Guard and corrected his manners.
Since Ilhyang intended to remain here for some time to gather information about the Immortal Celestial Realm, he had obediently accepted the instruction and correction.
“Coming from the Mountains and Waters must have been quite arduous.”
“I received no formal education. I simply picked up whatever cultivation techniques I could find.”
“Remarkable! To ascend to the Upper Realm through such effort alone. A rare specimen of determination in this age.”
As Ilhyang responded with consistent courtesy, Nacheon Jingun—the Law Artifact Hall master of the Purple Cloud Sect—displayed both a sympathetic and approving expression.
“Sigh, the youth of today are far too selective, you see. They pick and choose, studying only what suits their fancy. In my time, without a single cultivation manual, I spent a hundred years serving my elders just to learn one line at a time. Now these youngsters have it so easy, yet they waste time searching for better manuals instead of simply mastering whatever comes their way. Tsk, there’s wisdom in learning and perfecting all that you encounter.”
Nacheon Jingun continued his lengthy lament without pause for breath.
This talkative fellow was a Celestial Watcher of the early Won Young stage.
A sect of modest to moderate scale.
One of the three strongest within the Purple Cloud Sect.
Since merely a mid-stage Won Young Celestial Watcher held the position of sect master.
Nacheon Jingun could be considered one of the highest echelons of leadership.
“So how far have you progressed in Law Technique? It must have been difficult, coming from the Mountains and Waters? No matter—you can learn gradually.”
“Only mid-stage Second Tier, I’m afraid.”
Ilhyang had deliberately understated his level out of modesty, but those listening perceived it differently.
“What? You can already craft mid-stage Second Tier Law Artifacts? Accumulation-type artifacts?”
“Are you certain?”
Nacheon Jingun’s expression shifted to one of genuine shock.
Man Chong, standing beside him and providing the report, wore the same astonished look.
“You truly possess remarkable talent in Law Technique!”
Mid-stage Second Tier Law Artifacts were, by Celestial Watcher standards, precisely the level of accumulation-type artifacts.
He had mentioned it thinking it wouldn’t be particularly impressive.
But hearing Man Chong’s enthusiastic reaction, it seemed his assessment was mistaken.
“Originally, flame technique and flame alchemy require innate talent. Yet you managed to craft a second-tier intermediate Law Artifact alone in the Lower Realm without a proper master! A flame technique user creating second-tier intermediate Law Artifacts—that’s truly remarkable!”
“Indeed. This one possesses extraordinary talent! An unexpected windfall!”
Nacheon Jingun’s eyes gleamed with excitement, and as Man Chong poured forth praise with an expression of great admiration, Ilhyang turned his head slightly and scratched the back of his neck.
‘Did I misspeak? I should have said I was only capable of crafting first-tier Law Artifacts.’
Unfortunately, I didn’t understand the standards of this sect well.
I realized I should ascertain the level of other disciplines within the sect beforehand.
“From now on, you belong to our Law Artifact Hall. Having a solid sect backing as someone from the Mountains and Waters will be advantageous for you as well.”
“Thank you, Beobgi Dangjoo.”
“Go to the Internal Affairs Hall and collect your provisions. Let’s work together for a while. I’m usually here, so come find me whenever you have questions.”
Nacheon Jingun dismissed Ilhyang with a satisfied expression, and Man Chong, naturally following behind, guided Ilhyang to the Internal Affairs Hall.
“Collect your standard provisions here. The initial items won’t be of particularly high quality, but once you take on commissions as a member of the Law Artifact Hall, you’ll soon be living comfortably.”
“Understood.”
Just as Ilhyang answered without much thought.
Man Chong, who had been lost in contemplation beside me, carefully opened his mouth.
“If the provisions don’t suit you, you can purchase better items with spirit stones. But… I heard that obtaining spirit stones in the Lower Realm is quite difficult. You probably don’t have many, do you?”
Sensing that saying I had plenty would seem suspicious, I simply nodded silently.
Man Chong pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Bah! Tell me if you need anything! I can’t provide much, but I can purchase the basics for you.”
Ilhyang received robes and living garments bearing the Jayun Faction’s insignia at the Internal Affairs Hall, then paused and looked at Man Chong.
“But Senior, why do you show me such kindness?”
“Because you’re my first achievement.”
“Ah…”
That made sense.
As Ilhyang nodded in understanding, Man Chong lowered his voice and whispered softly.
“The Beobgi Dangjoo only recently became capable of crafting third-tier Law Artifacts. Our sect is particularly weak in Law Artifacts.”
Won Young-jin is called a fourth-tier Celestial Watcher.
Only recently became capable of crafting third-tier Law Artifacts?
Facing Ilhyang’s bewildered expression, Man Chong coughed and replied.
“Ahem! Typically, a Celestial Watcher can only craft items one tier below their own level.”
“I didn’t know.”
I truly hadn’t known.
So that’s why they made such a fuss when I said I could craft second-tier intermediate Law Artifacts as a flame technique user.
Now I understood.
“You’re a special case. Crafting flame technique at your own level—that’s extraordinary talent. You should take pride in it.”
“Understood.”
After that, Man Chong truly spent his own spirit stones to purchase higher-quality living items than the standard provisions and gave them to Ilhyang.
“This is where you’ll be staying from now on.”
He then personally guided me to the Dormitory.
The Dormitory was a single spacious chamber with only a bed and a table placed sparsely within.
“Phew.”
Ilhyang settled onto the bed with a slightly disappointed expression, gathering his thoughts.
His overall impression of the Immortal Celestial Realm was singular.
‘This Realm is far too complacent.’
The demons in the Demon Immortal Realm, regardless of their individual caliber, all possessed a certain ruthless tenacity.
Yet here, such qualities were scarcely evident.
‘It feels like flowers blooming in a greenhouse, if I’m being honest.’
The people seemed pleasant enough, and gathering information from them would prove useful in various ways.
‘Is this Sect truly content to remain as it is?’
The entire Sect lacked an abnormal degree of vigilance—or perhaps a sense of crisis.
At first, he’d thought only Man Chong, the patrol guard, possessed such laxity.
But Nacheon Jingun, whom he’d just met, was far too relaxed for someone in a leadership position.
It was loose enough to concern even an outsider like myself.
‘Well, it’s not my concern anyway, being merely a transient visitor.’
Ilhyang forcibly suppressed the bewilderment rising in his mind.
For now, he unpacked his belongings and took adequate rest.
Tomorrow onward, he would need to move with genuine urgency.
He might even complete his information gathering in the Upper Realm faster than anticipated.
* * *
The following day, after finishing his meal, Ilhyang made his way directly to the Law Artifact Hall.
True to his word from the previous day, Beobgi Dangjoo Nacheon Jingun greeted him with a radiant smile.
“I thought you’d rest a few more days. You’ve come out quickly.”
“I’ve gone to the trouble of ascending to the Upper Realm—I should learn what I can as swiftly as possible.”
“That’s precisely the right attitude. Those who’ve just ascended from the Lower Realm all possess such fierce determination. Excellent.”
Nacheon Jingun promptly guided Ilhyang to the Law Artifact Workshop within the Law Artifact Hall.
‘Interesting.’
The workshop contained an enormous bellows the size of a house and a specialized furnace where earthen flames flickered and danced.
Beside the furnace sat a cauldron as large as an ox, filled with a sweet-scented spiritual spring water that emanated an ethereal fragrance.
“Our Law Artifact Workshop’s equipment is hardly inferior to those of other Sects.”
“Indeed, it appears quite impressive.”
“However, while we possess cultivation techniques for Law Artifact creation up to the fourth tier, our refinement techniques only reach the third tier—which is somewhat regrettable.”
In other words, the Sect lacked fourth-tier refinement techniques, though Ilhyang took little issue with this.
“That’s perfectly acceptable. Learning up to the third tier is more than sufficient.”
“Exactly! Ha! What matters most is maintaining such a positive attitude. Who knows? Perhaps one of our disciples will venture into a Secret Realm and bring back fourth-tier refinement techniques for the Sect.”
Nacheon Jingun spoke with evident delight, though Ilhyang remained indifferent to the prospect.
From the outset, refinement techniques had never been his true objective.
‘After all, I’ll surely be the finest at artifact creation.’
Artifact creation fundamentally shared the same conceptual framework as refinement techniques.
Whether through enchantment—inscribing runes onto equipment for enhancement—
or through alchemical methods using special materials to forge equipment,
both approaches operated on similar principles.
I simply had far too many questions about this Upper Realm.
Yet that concern proved entirely unnecessary.
Beobgi Dangjoo Nacheon Jingun.
He was indeed a prodigious chatterbox, exactly as his first impression suggested.
On my first day of work at the Law Artifact Hall.
I couldn’t so much as touch a single tool or material before suffering through an entire day of Nacheon Jingun’s relentless torrent of words.

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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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