The Wizard Who Endured the World of Murim - Chapter 95

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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 95
The moment I finished crafting the artifact, I prepared to descend to the Lower Realm.
But before making that descent, a certain concern arose.
“I can’t just leave this empty….”
The Magic Tower was currently being constructed based on the 4th Realm Spirit Vein of the Jayun Mountain Range.
Work was underway to concentrate magical energy into a single point.
“In truth, it’s already nearly complete.”
What troubled me slightly was this:
The Magic Tower’s mana concentration effect exceeded my initial expectations.
“At this rate, it seems to have already surpassed a 5th Realm Spirit Vein. Could it reach 6th Realm Spirit Vein caliber?”
Knowledge of the formation techniques of this world combined with knowledge of the magical circles from the Seven Continents.
My specialized Mana Convergence Formation, born from the fusion of these two distinct disciplines, possessed far greater efficacy than I had anticipated.
“With slightly more precise adjustments, I can definitely achieve 6th Realm Spirit Vein grade.”
Redesigning the Magic Tower’s magical circle formation was quite enjoyable.
But leaving this nearly-completed structure unattended while I descended to the Lower Realm was deeply troubling.
What if, during my absence, someone noticed the Magic Tower’s secrets?
Unnecessary nuisances might swarm around it.
“Hmm… Then I suppose I’ll have to modify it to produce spirit stones instead, as regrettable as that is.”
Spirit stones seemed like a manageable compromise.
Though I’d still need to veil it with concealment formations.
I carefully adjusted the Magic Tower’s design circuits and decided to transform its overall environmental conditions.
The Magic Tower currently stood thirty stories tall, a colossal structure built upon the very peak of the mountain range.
It was visible even from Hyeontcheon Holy City, which lay several days’ journey away.
“The taller the Magic Tower, the better its magical effects—there’s no helping it.”
I would have preferred to construct it a hundred stories high immediately.
But I currently lacked the capability to maintain such a structure without collapse.
If I built it too tall and it crumbled?
That would only create more work, so I could only build it to a manageable height.
“Let me begin.”
Rummmble―
As I gently manipulated my mana to touch the Magic Tower’s design circuits.
The massive tower’s form gradually transformed from a simple cylindrical shape into something resembling a spiraling seashell.
I was concentrating the flow of mana into a single point.
Crackcrackcrack―!
Naturally, the surroundings trembled as if struck by an earthquake, and the mana in the atmosphere churned violently.
As a result, Jeok Yang-jin, the Sect Master of the Jayun Sect, who had been nervously coming and going these past days, appeared at the Magic Tower’s entrance and peered about.
‘I should have given advance notice.’
In truth, I felt considerable guilt toward Jeok Yang-jin.
Of course, having saved the Jayun Sect from the brink of annihilation, I could have brazenly brushed aside any concerns.
But the devoted support he had shown these past weeks was more than enough to move me.
‘He even mobilized his disciples to attend to me.’
This seemed to be treated as quite natural in the world of the Celestial Watchers.
But from the perspective of Ilhyang, a mage, such a one-sided relationship felt far from organic.
So I had decided to leave a small gift before departing.
Thud, thud, thud—
Having finished modifying the Magic Tower, Ilhyang opened his mouth slightly from its peak.
“You may come in now.”
“…I had no intention of troubling you, Senior.”
“No, I had things to discuss as well. Come up here and let’s talk for a moment.”
Before the words even finished, Jeok Yang-jin stepped onto the automatic lift and arrived at the top floor of the Magic Tower in an instant.
“Sit there.”
Jeok Yang-jin took a seat across from the table.
Ilhyang summoned a teacup and teapot from empty air, offering hospitality to his guest.
Splash—
As I poured green tea into the cup, I opened my mouth.
“How is the work on reconstructing the formation arrays progressing?”
“…The range of the mountain range is simply too vast, so we’re struggling.”
To be precise, we couldn’t afford to hire 4th Realm formation masters due to lack of funds.
Because of this, I had considered hastily setting up 2nd Realm defensive formations across the entire Jayun Mountain Range, but abandoned the idea.
After all, the Magic Tower now stands on the Left Peak of Jayun Mountain Range, and within it resides the powerful Hwa Shin-gi Jonja.
There seemed no need to establish defensive formations.
“Then shall I help you a bit? Formations aren’t particularly difficult.”
Jeok Yang-jin’s shoulders trembled slightly.
It was something I had secretly hoped for all along.
But revealing that openly was something only amateurs did.
Jeok Yang-jin shook his head with an outwardly declining expression.
“How could I trouble you, Jonja, as a junior?”
“I know of your devotion to me all this time. I simply wish to offer a small token of gratitude in return, so there’s no need to refuse.”
“…!”
Jeok Yang-jin’s face showed slight emotion.
In this desolate Suxian Realm, it was utterly natural for higher-ranking Celestial Watchers to treat lower-ranking ones like beasts of burden.
There was no need for gratitude or reciprocation for such things.
But Ilhyang was different.
And before Jeok Yang-jin could even utter words of refusal, I flicked my fingertip lightly.
Snap—
With that signal, the atmosphere trembled gently, and tremendous spiritual energy surged.
Jeok Yang-jin swallowed hard, feeling the undulating spiritual energy without realizing it.
In the meantime.
Whoooosh—
Waves of spiritual energy swept in from all directions like a frenzy, stretching out in all directions like a spider’s web.
The flow was so immense in scale that Jeok Yang-jin felt dizzy.
‘This, this is the power of Hyeon-ma Jonja!’
In truth, it was a far more refined level of mana control than that, but Jeok Yang-jin’s senses couldn’t perceive it to that degree.
I could only feel the overwhelming, crushing torrent.
And detect the entire environment transforming in real time.
Whoosh—
How much time had passed?
At some point, when the spiritual energy that had been churning as if ready to burst finally settled into calm, Ilhyang brought the teacup to his lips and spoke.
“All done.”
“Th, thank you.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what had changed.
But at least one thing.
The spiritual energy that had been flowing chaotically in all directions now moved in a single direction with far greater composure—I could feel that distinctly.
“With this, you’ll be able to modify the formation however you wish.”
What Ilhyang offered was a small jade ring.
The jade ring was a modified version designed to make handling the core of the formation easier, and recognizing its value, Jeok Yang-jin wore a cautious expression.
His gaze filled with reverence as he looked upon Ilhyang.
“Thank you, Hyeon-ma Jonja. The Jayun Sect has received a tremendous favor.”
“We’ll be living under the same roof for a while, so this much is only natural.”
In truth, I hadn’t expended that much power.
For the mana, I’d simply drawn from the spirit veins using the Magic Tower as a pump.
And the materials consumed were merely a few low-grade immortal stones produced by the Magic Tower over time, along with some premium spirit stones.
“It should have an effect equivalent to roughly a 5th Realm defensive formation. Since I’ve improved the efficiency of the spiritual energy, it will consume about the same amount as your previous formation.”
“Th, thank you.”
If desired, I could have increased the formation’s power further from here.
But then I’d have to drain all the energy from the 4th Realm Spirit Vein and dedicate it solely to the formation.
That would be foolish.
Considering that the formation previously protecting the Jayun Sect had been a 4th Realm formation, the current level was precisely adequate.
‘This should be sufficient to leave for a while without worry.’
The Jayun Sect’s disciples were somewhat naive overall.
But at least they weren’t the type to stab me in the back, which I appreciated.
Nacheon Jingun, the Beobgi Dangjoo, lacked perceptiveness, so he was somewhat difficult to work with.
But Jeok Yang-jin was sharp-witted and quick-thinking—quite useful indeed.
In fact, during the few weeks I’d spent here, I’d lived without particular inconvenience.
Jeok Yang-jin had judged matters within his own discretion and handled everything that might trouble me.
“I’ll rely on you going forward. I intend to seclude myself here for cultivation for a while, so you won’t be able to see me for some time.”
Seclusion for cultivation meant not to allow any uninvited guests.
Naturally, Jeok Yang-jin understood the implication and bowed deeply.
“I will heed your words, Hyeon-ma Jonja.”
Unless they were masters of the Hwashin Order that Jeok Yang-jin couldn’t handle.
The rest, he would handle on his own terms.
As Ilhyang nodded in acknowledgment,
Jeok Yang-jin carefully slipped the jade ring into his sleeve and opened his mouth with deliberation.
“In truth, I have something delicate I wish to present to Hyeon-ma Jonja.”
“Hmm? Do tell.”
Jeok Yang-jin had been the sort to assist quietly, without making particular requests or complaints.
Seeing him broach the subject with a slightly tense expression, I found myself genuinely curious about what he intended to say.
Jeok Yang-jin observed Ilhyang’s eyes gleaming with interest, then brought his teacup to his lips for a moment.
His mouth had gone quite parched.
After lowering the now-empty cup, Jeok Yang-jin carefully began to speak.
“Until recently, our Jayun Sect served as a subordinate sect under the Xuantian Sect. The problem arose when the Xuantian Sect suddenly met with catastrophe and was annihilated, leaving our Jayun Sect in a rather precarious position.”
“I see….”
That much was true.
The Xuantian Sect had indeed shown particular care toward the Jayun Sect.
They had annihilated the Guiyin Sect, which belonged to the Demonic Sect Alliance, and even transferred the 4th Realm Spirit Vein they controlled to the Jayun Sect.
“The fact that our Jayun Sect came to possess the 4th Realm Spirit Vein was ultimately due to the Xuantian Sect’s benevolence. Thus, if time passes without an upper sect to support us, external pressure will inevitably come bearing down upon us.”
Ilhyang stroked his smooth chin thoughtfully.
From what had been said thus far, I could already discern what Jeok Yang-jin intended to propose next.
“By external pressure, you mean the disciples of the Hwashin Order?”
“Precisely.”
The 5th Realm Spirit Vein was far too precious.
Even the early disciples of the Hwashin Order would not dare to covet it.
But the 4th Realm Spirit Vein was different.
For the Hwashin Immortal,
while it would not greatly aid his personal cultivation,
the 4th Realm Spirit Vein was a reasonably attractive asset for strengthening the faction to which the Hwashin Immortal belonged.
“You’re asking if I would allow the magical sect I establish to become your upper sect.”
“If Hyeon-ma Jonja would grant us this favor, we would gladly do so.”
In the Suxian Realm, a powerful backing was an element of utmost importance.
From Jeok Yang-jin’s perspective, he needed to secure a faction with sufficient strength—one belonging to the Hwashin Immortal—as quickly as possible.
The problem was that having relied so heavily upon the Xuantian Sect until now, he lacked adequate connections with other Hwashin Immortals who might serve as alternative backing.
Of course, if he were to offer massive tributes upfront and promise regular contributions thereafter, there were many factions willing to serve as his backing.
‘But they would merely exploit us unilaterally.’
He did not desire such a relationship.
From Jeok Yang-jin’s perspective, the sudden appearance of Hyeon-ma Jonja seemed like a lifeline thrown down from heaven itself.
Truthfully, following the recent attack by the Black Night Sect,
Jeok Yang-jin had even begun considering abandoning the 4th Realm Spirit Vein, regrettable as it was.
Yet this time, having already crafted defensive formations for us, I had placed the sect’s future in Hyeon-ma Jonja’s hands with a measure of hope.
‘Shrewd indeed.’
Jeok Yang-jin’s judgment was excellent.
He had a keen eye for people as well.
In a way, I could have felt displeased realizing that all this quiet support from behind the scenes had such a clear purpose.
Yet Ilhyang rather appreciated this proactive initiative.
“I dislike rumors spreading about externally.”
Ilhyang despised internal secrets leaking to the outside world.
And Jeok Yang-jin immediately grasped the meaning behind those words.
“The traitors have already been purged. The Black Night Sect incident has actually strengthened and solidified the cohesion within the Purple Cloud Sect.”
“I trust you.”
That was all.
Jeok Yang-jin waited for more, but Ilhyang simply nodded a few times and fell silent.
No mention of offering spirit stones in the future, or requesting resources, or mobilizing labor.
Nothing at all.
As Jeok Yang-jin wore a puzzled expression, Ilhyang, reading his thoughts, let out a soft chuckle.
And spoke.
“What I need from you going forward is simple.”
And the words that left Ilhyang’s lips left Jeok Yang-jin utterly bewildered.

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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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