WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: DereKimchi
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◈ Carefree Tale of Cultivation ◈
Chapter 28: Attempting Artifact Refining
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Ha Seung’s attempt at Core Formation left Jin Hyeon with no choice but to give up on seeking his help.
Since there was no knowing how long the process would take, it seemed unlikely he would see Ha Seung for a while.
Instead, after parting with Ha Seung, Jin Hyeon asked Son Yu-seol, who was staying in a nearby cave dwelling, where Myeong Seokho was. He wanted to greet him after so long and perhaps ask him to repair the Black Turtle Shield.
Son Yu-seol was stunned by Jin Hyeon’s growth, having surpassed her realm in merely a month.
She was still striving to break through to late Qi Refining, while Jin Hyeon, who had been at Qi Refining, Level 7, had reached the late stage before her. She had never imagined he would advance so quickly.
Yet rather than becoming jealous, she simply smiled and said that her master had given her medicinal pills after the tournament, so she would soon catch up.
She told Jin Hyeon that Myeong Seokho had recently entered closed-door cultivation in his cave dwelling to break through to Foundation Establishment.
A master and disciple entering closed-door cultivation at once.
Jin Hyeon regretted it, but there was nothing he could do.
Forced to give up, he merely left Son Yu-seol with his wishes for Myeong Seokho’s successful breakthrough before boarding the Silver Swallow Board.
“Closed-door cultivation, huh...”
As Jin Hyeon returned to his cave dwelling, he saw disciples wandering through the mountain range below and others flying through the air on magical artifacts like his own.
Yet their numbers were extremely small compared to the Qi Refining disciples of Blue Willow Sect he had seen at the disciples’ tournament.
Had he merely passed through one section of the sect and failed to see the crowded places?
No.
Most cultivators spent the greater part of their lives cultivating.
Even without undertaking lengthy cultivation such as closed-door cultivation, the less talented one was, the greater portion of each day cultivation occupied.
Naturally, the overwhelming majority of disciples were usually shut away in their cave dwellings, cultivating. That was why they were nowhere to be seen.
Thinking of ordinary disciples’ lives, as well as Ha Seung and Myeong Seokho’s closed-door cultivation, Jin Hyeon felt like a bear wandering about alone while every other bear hibernated.
As he continued the pointless fantasy, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
‘Should I try artifact refinement properly while I’m at it?’
The thought had arisen impulsively as he considered both his inability to borrow Ha Seung and Myeong Seokho’s artifact-refinement skills and the abundance of time he had compared to others, but it did not seem like a bad idea.
His other task, practicing the Three-Thunder Sword Art, still required preparation, and he had intended to attempt artifact refinement soon anyway.
He could regard it as practice for the artifact-refinement techniques he had learned by watching others.
He also wanted to take a break from the puppet construct, which had shown no progress, and try something else.
As he planned his coming schedule, Jin Hyeon returned to his cave dwelling.
Before attempting artifact refinement, he decided to finish the work he had put off.
Jin Hyeon immediately immersed himself in extracting thunder qi from the Thunder Horn Snake’s horn and the pangolin demon beast’s claws. He completed the entire process in less than two hours.
He obtained two jade bottles filled with faintly crackling currents.
The materials, drained of all the energy they contained, became brittle on the surface before crumbling into powder.
Jin Hyeon lined up the two jade bottles, which made his hand tingle the moment he touched them, and stared at them.
Practice of the Three-Thunder Sword Art began with handling three different kinds of thunder qi. Aside from the cultivator’s own thunder qi, the other two had to undergo a process of internal refinement.
This internal refinement was an exceedingly common practice in the cultivation world.
The targets varied widely, including not only energies such as thunder qi but magical artifacts and particular materials.
Yang Woo-hyeon firing a sword from his mouth during the tournament could also be considered part of this practice.
The most common method of refinement was to use one’s lower danjeon, the point in the lower abdomen commonly called the danjeon.
One placed the item to be refined there, one of the places where spiritual qi gathered most densely and powerfully, nurtured it, cleansed it with one’s own energy, and assimilated it.
Of course, it was also possible to refine something in the Soul Sea, the foundation of cultivation.
No, from the perspective of high-level cultivators, that was the natural method.
Nurturing something with one’s own soul and spiritual qi was more efficient than simply using a point where spiritual qi circulated.
However, cultivators at the Qi Refining stage or Foundation Establishment stage did not have Soul Seas sturdy enough to casually introduce external matter into them, so they chose the danjeon as the next best option.
“Until a few years ago, I never imagined I’d one day swallow lightning...”
Jin Hyeon gave an awkward laugh and opened the jade bottle containing the Thunder Horn Snake’s thunder qi.
He then used spiritual power to seize and guide the bright yellow lightning leaking from it as he began swallowing it.
A stinging rejection followed, but Jin Hyeon eventually felt the thunder qi settle within his danjeon.
After circulating spiritual qi for a while and calming his insides, Jin Hyeon picked up the bottle that emitted even stronger thunder qi than the bottle whose contents he had just swallowed, wearing a bitter smile.
After emptying the remaining bottle, Jin Hyeon suppressed the thunder qi trying to run wild in his danjeon with spiritual power and resumed circulating qi in the outside world for the first time in a very long while.
* * *
Blue Willow Sect was known as one of the Four Great Sects.
As a sect, Blue Willow Sect naturally had a sect leader.
Unlike the leaders of martial sects in the mortal world, however, this sect leader was not the public face and overall head of the sect. The position was closer to that of chief administrator for lower-ranking disciples.
Still, it was a post held by a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Combined with the nominal title of Blue Willow Sect’s sect leader, the Graceful River Hall where the sect leader stayed was exceptionally imposing.
This massive building stood in the heart of Blue Willow Sect, facing south, with a small river of the same name flowing behind it.
The four-story hall possessed an unusual architectural style that Jin Hyeon could not point to anything from his previous life and say it resembled.
Still, its predominantly blue decorations and pure white exterior walls, with the plaza before it and the South Sea Suppression Stele behind it, gave it the atmosphere and grandeur of an immortal abode.
Even as he passed in the distance, Jin Hyeon could not help glancing toward it.
Even apart from the building’s imposing presence, the statue of Immortal Cheongyu standing proudly before it naturally drew his eye.
Of course, the statue’s beauty, realistic yet unreal, played a part. But what truly caught Jin Hyeon’s interest was Immortal Cheongyu’s specialty.
He had heard that Immortal Cheongyu was not only a Spirit Transformation cultivator, but also a master of artifact refinement.
One of the relics she had created still remained as the sect-protecting treasure, which was enough to suggest her greatness.
And though its former prestige had now diminished, Blue Willow Sect had originally been renowned for inheriting her exceptional artifact-refinement skills.
‘The sect probably doesn’t value Martial Uncle Ha solely because he’s a candidate for Core Formation. Establishing a branch of Azure Forge Pavilion for him, even if only in name, must mean the sect still considers artifact refinement important.’
After making his own guesses, Jin Hyeon steered the Silver Swallow Board onward until Graceful River Hall disappeared from view.
Jin Hyeon’s current destination was Azure Forge Pavilion, the place responsible for artifact refinement within the sect and the inheritor of Immortal Cheongyu’s true legacy.
Not Martial Uncle Ha’s Third Branch Pavilion, but the true Azure Forge Pavilion built near the heart of the sect.
After spending three full days in his cave dwelling settling the thunder qi in his danjeon, Jin Hyeon headed for Azure Forge Pavilion as soon as the refinement stabilized.
Unlike the Third Branch Pavilion, which was practically reserved for Ha Seung’s use, the main pavilion supposedly contained numerous refining chambers. Disciples seeking to use its facilities came to rent them.
Jin Hyeon also intended to rent one of the refining chambers provided by Azure Forge Pavilion and attempt artifact refinement.
After flying for some time, Jin Hyeon soon spotted terrain so flat that it was difficult to believe it belonged to a mountain range, as well as a single building.
The structure was closer to a tower than a hall, and tall enough to be visible from a considerable distance.
A massive metal gate on the lowest floor stood half open. Near the tower’s peak was an enormous disk.
The disk appeared to be made of a unique material somewhere between bronze and jade, and it bore a design as large as the disk itself.
It was a gigantic cauldron.
It was not especially different from an ordinary cooking cauldron, but its three spike-shaped legs and the strangely shaped fish ornament on its lid gave it an ancient air.
Jin Hyeon had actually seen this cauldron design in Ha Seung’s cave dwelling before, so he knew its origin.
It represented the Myriad-Fish Spirit Cauldron, a relic said to have been left behind by Immortal Cheongyu, whose location and function were unknown, unlike the South Sea Suppression Stele that was visible to all.
He did not know exactly what kind of dharma treasure it was, but records stated that Immortal Cheongyu had used it herself for artifact refinement. It therefore served as the symbol of Azure Forge Pavilion.
After gazing at it briefly, Jin Hyeon entered Azure Forge Pavilion.
The interior was wholly unlike the quiet exterior around the tower.
The spacious first floor, a single open area, was brightly illuminated by many lamps.
Several disciples walked about, talking among themselves or purchasing artifact-refinement materials at the reception counter.
Whenever the storage compartments behind the counter opened and closed, countless ores and supplementary materials gleamed in the lamplight.
There were also eight passageways in the space. Since there did not seem to be anywhere outside for them to lead, Jin Hyeon wondered where they went.
After looking around for a moment, Jin Hyeon saw the disciple ahead of him leave and approached the counter.
“You’re a new face. Give me your identity token, tell me how long you’ll be using the facilities, and let me know if there are materials you want to buy.”
Behind the reception counter, which resembled a dais stretched long to either side, sat a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Jin Hyeon was briefly startled. He had not expected a Foundation Establishment martial uncle to handle reception personally. Fearing the other cultivator might take it as disrespect, he hurriedly took out and handed over his identity token.
“My name is Jin Hyeon. As for the facilities and materials... this is my first time here. Could I perhaps receive an explanation?”
“An explanation? Do you think I’m that free... Ah, you’re Senior Brother Gwang’s disciple?”
The Foundation Establishment cultivator snatched up Jin Hyeon’s identity token and brought it to a round disk on the counter. He sounded irritated at Jin Hyeon’s words, but quickly changed his tone.
“Yes. I entered my master’s tutelage not long ago.”
“Oh, you should’ve said so! Haha, even if I don’t look it, I entered the sect around the same time as Senior Brother Gwang did. I’m Senior Brother Gwang’s junior, junior.”
Do Do-ryeo tucked in his plump chin and gave what he seemed to consider the freshest possible smile.
Along with Ha Seung and Jeong Mu-wol, Gwang Seung-hyeon was one of the most influential Foundation Establishment cultivators in the sect.
Not only had his cultivation reached late Foundation Establishment, he was also the disciple of a Core Formation elder. Even elders of the same rank would not dare provoke him lightly.
Though he had passed well beyond half his lifespan due to slow cultivation, Do Do-ryeo remained at early Foundation Establishment. Standing at the reception desk rather than holding even an administrative role in Azure Forge Pavilion, he wanted to form a good connection with Gwang Seung-hyeon’s disciple at least.
Besides, it was not a lie that he was a junior who had entered the sect around the same time as Gwang Seung-hyeon.
He had entered several decades earlier, but in the cultivation world that was not much. His cultivation was lower, too, so if he was not a junior, what was he?
“My name is Do Do-ryeo. You can call me Martial Uncle Do comfortably!”
Jin Hyeon did not particularly doubt Do Do-ryeo's words. He immediately addressed him as Martial Uncle Do and cupped his fist in his palm.
What did it matter if it was a lie? The art of getting along with people was the same everywhere.
Do Do-ryeo smiled in satisfaction and wiped sweat from his lightly pink skin.
He explained Azure Forge Pavilion’s rental system to Jin Hyeon.
Azure Forge Pavilion was not simply a structure built above ground. It extended deep underground.
The passageways connected to the first floor were entrances to each underground section, and numerous refining chambers lay below.
Every refining chamber had earthfire available. Disciples could pay spirit stones to use the facilities for a set period, and they could purchase artifact-refinement materials here if they lacked any.
Jin Hyeon nodded.
He had brought the materials he planned to use, so he did not seem to need to buy anything.
“I’d like to use a refining chamber for two weeks first.”
“Two weeks? You could stay longer...”
Do Do-ryeo scratched his head but accepted Jin Hyeon’s request.
Using one of the few privileges he possessed as the reception attendant, he selected a refining chamber for Jin Hyeon.
“Follow Passageway One to First-Class Room Two. A disciple will guide you along the way, so don’t worry. The cost is ten spirit stones.”
Jin Hyeon took ten gleaming spirit stones from his storage pouch and placed them in Do Do-ryeo’s hand, receiving a plain iron plate in return.
After politely bidding Martial Uncle Do farewell and entering Passageway One, he found that it was not as dark as he had expected.
No, it was bright.
The first floor of Azure Forge Pavilion had merely been so bright that it did not stand out. This place was as bright as day thanks to the blue lamps hung on the walls.
“Greetings, Senior Brother! Which room will you be using?”
A young-looking disciple waiting to one side of the passageway approached Jin Hyeon.
“First-Class Room Two.”
Jin Hyeon was intrigued to find that the disciple was already at Qi Refining, Level 5. He gave a short answer and showed the iron plate he had received.
“Understood. Please follow me.”
The disciple led Jin Hyeon down the passageway.
After following a path that somehow curved in a slight circle, Jin Hyeon soon arrived at a fairly large cavern.
There were five doors in the cavern, each marked with a different number.
Approaching the second door, the disciple inserted Jin Hyeon’s plate into a slot beside it.
“You may enter now. If you remove the plate from the slot inside, the formation will seal the room completely, and no one will be able to disturb you, Senior Brother.”
Jin Hyeon opened the door as instructed and inspected the refining chamber beyond.
An exceptionally spacious stone chamber awaited him, too large to believe it was meant only for artifact refinement.
At the center was an earthfire vent, smaller than the one in Ha Seung’s cave dwelling but still quite large, along with a cauldron of suitable size.
Yet one side of the stone chamber held a cool spring, another held baskets of snacks made from various spirit fruits and spirit herbs, and shelves in another corner displayed all manner of fine-looking tools.
Moreover, the lavish decorations everywhere and the unusual spiritual qi emanating even from the cauldron itself made this place seem far too luxurious to rent for ten spirit stones.
Jin Hyeon realized that Martial Uncle Do had given him special treatment, with the strange feeling of having planned to rest at an ordinary motel only to find himself staying at a five-star hotel.
“Well, it’s not bad for me...”
Following the explanation he had received, Jin Hyeon pulled out another iron plate beside the door.
At once, with a ripple of spiritual power, a faint milky-white barrier covered the refining chamber’s door.
After tapping it a few times out of curiosity, Jin Hyeon tossed the storage pouch containing the materials he had brought to one side and approached the cauldron.
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