WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ Ophidian of the Immortal World ◈
Chapter 113: Jimakwon, Gwangyangseong
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Once Jegyeong had gained a foothold at Yangseo Lake and begun gathering information, they had also sought news of the Jugye Mountains, where they had once lived.
More precisely, they had investigated Upper Demon Grove and Jeyeon Sect, the two factions that divided the Jugye Mountains between them.
Back when Jegyeong had been an insignificant Demon Beast, they had been unwillingly caught up in the war between those two forces and barely escaped death.
Even now, after becoming a Great Demon Beast, Jegyeong vividly remembered crawling along the ground like a tiny creature to avoid the aftermath of battles raging in the sky.
No, it was not a memory. It was a burden.
The fear and humiliation felt back then still scarred Jegyeong's heart, even now that they were called Dragon Lord.
That was why Jegyeong had looked into the two factions of the Jugye Mountains.
It was not because they particularly wanted to do anything. They simply wanted to know.
Perhaps one day, Jegyeong would return to the Jugye Mountains in majesty and look down arrogantly upon those who had once made them tremble in fear. For now, though, that was only a dream.
As they gathered information, Jegyeong naturally came to realize something.
Neither Jeyeon Sect nor Upper Demon Grove was a place they could afford to meddle with.
'Late Great Demon Realm.'
Jegyeong also learned about that Demon Race cultivator who had radiated such unfathomable pressure that merely glimpsing them had felt as though their soul would be pulled away.
Chaesan Old Demon.
A late Great Demon Realm demon fiend.
One of Upper Demon Grove's three elders.
Slain by Sin Baekrim, the Supreme Elder of Jeyeon Sect, during the conflict with Jeyeon Sect.
'Dead.'
Jegyeong could still vividly recall the Ghost Energy that had covered the sky and the pressure that had weighed down everything around them.
Yet someone who had seemed so formidable was dead.
'Jeyeon Sect. Upper Demon Grove.'
Even if they were merely Foundation Establishment-level forces squabbling over a shabby place like the Jugye Mountains, they could not be underestimated.
At least, Jegyeong had no right to underestimate them yet.
And according to the information they had gathered, Heavenly Fire Sect was also a force on the same level.
Its publicly known strength alone included a Grand Elder at late Foundation Establishment, along with numerous other Foundation Establishment-level cultivators.
That was only what was known openly. Heavenly Fire Sect was even older than Jeyeon Sect, so there was no telling how much hidden strength it possessed.
Jegyeong had a feeling that borrowing a spark of Guardian Mountain Heavenly Fire would not be easy.
* * *
Jimal Plain.
A dry plateau where forests were hard to find.
The thin stream flowing from Yangseo Lake was its only source of water, and the balance of heaven-and-earth Spiritual Energy here was somewhat distorted.
Fire qi was abnormally dense, while Spiritual Energy of other attributes, especially water qi and wood qi, was exceedingly scarce.
As a result, not only ordinary living creatures but even cultivators who practiced water-attribute or wood-attribute cultivation methods would instinctively feel repulsed the moment they set foot here.
Conversely, cultivators who practiced fire-attribute cultivation methods often felt as comfortable in Jimal Plain as if they were always at home.
Jegyeong was no exception.
The moment they inhaled Jimal Plain's hot air, their mood lifted and their body seemed to brim with vigor.
'Is that the place?'
Far away, a city wall rose into view.
It seemed rather unimpressive in height compared to its great length, but height was not important for cities in the Cultivation World.
No matter how high a wall was built, it meant little to cultivators who could stomp once to climb mountains or even fly through the sky.
What mattered were restrictions and Formation Arrays capable of suppressing cultivators' strength.
Jegyeong could sense the power of the vast Formation Array spread over Gwangyang City.
With their knowledge of Formation Dao, Jegyeong could only tell that a City-Guarding Grand Formation existed. They could not discern its effects.
'Gwangyang City.'
Jimal Plain differed from the Jugye Mountains.
The Cultivation Worlds themselves were similar in size, but unlike the Jugye Mountains, which the Human Race and Demon Race divided between them, Jimal Plain was entirely Human Race territory.
Here, it was difficult to see even Other Race factions, much less Rogue Cultivators.
Human Race strongholds such as Gwangyang City stood everywhere, while ruling forces like Heavenly Fire Sect exerted their influence.
Gwangyang City, now before them, was jointly controlled by Heavenly Fire Sect and the Yangbu Seon Family. They reportedly held eight-tenths of the city's commerce between them.
“Name.”
“Han Cheongyu.”
At the gates of Gwangyang City, Jegyeong had an unfamiliar experience.
They had to stand in line and wait, then submit to an inspection by stern-faced cultivators.
It was fortunate they had brought Han Cheongyu. Otherwise, Jegyeong might have hesitated for a moment.
And if they had looked that clueless... they would probably have become entangled in trouble with those gate-guard cultivators.
“And that one?”
“This is the elder I serve.”
At those words, the gate guards' expressions changed after remaining blank the entire time.
Han Cheongyu had not deliberately revealed their Spiritual Power, but neither had they concealed it.
Guarding a city gate required not only strength, but also good judgment.
The guards immediately recognized Han Cheongyu as a late Qi Refining Stage cultivator. Then what sort of person was this “elder” whom such a cultivator treated with extreme respect?
This “elder” even looked younger than Han Cheongyu, and no trace of Spiritual Power could be sensed from them.
Had Han Cheongyu not spoken, the guards would have assumed this “elder” was either a cultivator who had just begun cultivation or an ordinary mortal.
“Confirmed. Please enter.”
Having finished their calculations in less than a second, the gate guards bowed with faint smiles.
Their change in attitude was so dramatic that it was hard to believe they were the same people as a moment ago.
Han Cheongyu's lips twitched slightly.
So this was the sort of person needed to guard the entrance to a city.
“Thank you.”
After returning their greeting, Han Cheongyu passed through the gate. Jegyeong followed indifferently behind, not even sparing the gate guards a glance.
That air of seeming uninterested in everything in sight was the typical bearing of a powerful cultivator.
The gate guards did not take offense at being ignored. Instead, they found it only natural.
'No doubt about it. A Foundation Establishment senior. But why would a Foundation Establishment cultivator stand in line to enter the city?'
After Han Cheongyu and Jegyeong disappeared, the gate guards who had worn forced smiles returned to blank expressions and resumed their inspections.
Only their faces had returned to normal. Their hearts still pounded uneasily.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Why would someone like that stand among juniors so far beneath them and wait in line?
What kind of twisted hobby was this? Were they trying to make the hearts of harmless juniors like them stop?
* * *
“I hear Gwangyang City was built during the early days of the Expansion War.”
After entering the city, Jegyeong had been looking around when Han Cheongyu's words caught their interest.
“The Expansion War?”
“Yes. I hear that the original inhabitants of Jimal Plain were Fire Spirits. But thousands of years ago, the Human Race began an Expansion War, drove out the Fire Spirits, and took Jimal Plain for themselves.”
Spirits were, in a sense, beings formed from transformed Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth.
Spiritual Energy that should naturally exist and endlessly circulate would, for some reason, gather together and even develop consciousness, becoming a living being. That was a spirit.
Fire Spirits were spirits born from fire qi, and they were often born in places with abundant fire qi, such as Jimal Plain.
So to Jegyeong, the tale that Jimal Plain had once been the land of Fire Spirits thousands of years ago sounded plausible.
So did the claim that humans had waged war in this land and driven the Fire Spirits out.
The Human Race had launched countless Expansion Wars, winning them to achieve its current prosperity.
Jimal Plain was merely one of them.
This land, once perhaps walked by Fire Spirits and other races as well, now belonged to the Human Race alone.
'Watchtowers?'
Jegyeong took in the small, weathered structures floating throughout the city.
They had not thought much of them at first, but looking again, they felt somehow unusual.
It was as though the scent of blood left behind thousands of years ago faintly brushed their nose.
“Hello, Seniors! Is this your first time in Gwangyang City?”
As Jegyeong slowly walked on, observing every part of Gwangyang City, a cautious yet expectant young voice called out from behind.
“And if it is?”
Having noticed the person's approach from more than a hundred paces away, Jegyeong only turned their head slightly to look at the owner of the young voice.
It was a child in shabby clothes.
There was a childlike innocence in their eyes, but Jegyeong saw through the shrewdness hidden behind it.
“My name is Ju Hyeong. I was born and raised in Gwangyang City. There isn't a place in Gwangyang City I don't know, so if you wish, I can guide you.”
Han Cheongyu looked Ju Hyeong up and down.
“Dragon... Elder, what shall we do?”
Without a word, Jegyeong took out a lowest-grade Spirit Stone and flicked it toward Ju Hyeong.
“Th-thank you, Elder!”
Startled, Ju Hyeong caught the Spirit Stone.
They had worked as a guide for years, but this was the first time a customer had paid before the guide work was even done.
“Elder, is there somewhere in particular you seek?”
Ju Hyeong looked at Jegyeong as they asked.
“First, lodging. Cost is no concern, so take us to the best place.”
“Understood. Then I will take you to Yuhyang Inn, the finest inn in Gwangyang City, directly managed by Heavenly Fire Sect.”
“Oh? Heavenly Fire Sect?”
For the first time, light gleamed in Jegyeong's eyes, which had long remained indifferent.
“Yes. You know of Heavenly Fire Sect as well, Elder? It is the foremost sect in Jimal Plain. Heavenly Fire Sect has several businesses in Gwangyang City, and Yuhyang Inn is one of them. I hear a steward from Heavenly Fire Sect resides there.”
“I have heard Heavenly Fire Sect's name. But the foremost sect in Jimal Plain? I imagine there are those who would disagree.”
“Ah... ha ha.”
Ju Hyeong gave an awkward laugh and scratched the back of their head.
Then, lowering their voice as much as possible, they continued.
“That is true, but in Gwangyang City, you ought to say it that way. Otherwise... you understand, right?”
Of course, Jegyeong understood the shrewd child's difficulties.
No one could deny Heavenly Fire Sect's might, but it was ultimately only one of several ruling powers in Jimal Plain.
There were several cultivation forces in this land comparable to Heavenly Fire Sect, and the Yangbu Seon Family, which divided Gwangyang City with Heavenly Fire Sect, was one of them.
Of course, they were a cultivation clan, so they would not object to being called Jimal Plain's foremost sect.
“Very well.”
Ju Hyeong cautiously glanced sideways at the elder, who nodded agreeably.
Just like gate guards, city guides could not do their jobs without good judgment.
If they attached themself to the wrong ill-tempered senior, they would likely suffer for it. To survive, they had to learn to judge people well.
'Strange. No ordinary person.'
Ju Hyeong's cultivation had only just reached the level of Spiritual Energy Sensing, but their ability to sense Spiritual Power was no worse than that of seasoned early Qi Refining Stage cultivators.
Yet the Spiritual Power Ju Hyeong sensed from this “elder” was far weaker than that of the man who seemed to be the elder's servant.
But in the Cultivation World, the strong did not become servants to the weak.
At least, Ju Hyeong had never heard of or seen such a thing.
So it must simply be that Ju Hyeong could not sense it. This elder was surely strong.
Could this be a Foundation Establishment cultivator?
Though all sorts of thoughts ran through Ju Hyeong's mind, they did not stop talking for even a moment.
It was not meaningless chatter. They selected and briefly explained various useful pieces of information about Gwangyang City.
Their speaking skills, honed through years of work as a guide, were fully on display.
As they moved along diligently and were nearly at Yuhyang Inn...
“Hmm?”
Jegyeong, who had been following Ju Hyeong, suddenly stopped.
“What is it?”
Han Cheongyu behind them and Ju Hyeong ahead also stopped.
They looked at Jegyeong in confusion, but Jegyeong was not looking at either of them.
“Argh!”
In the distance, screams and explosions rang out in succession.
At first, only Jegyeong noticed them, but before long, Han Cheongyu and Ju Hyeong also sensed the commotion drawing closer.
“What is that?”
Ju Hyeong anxiously stepped back, then suddenly checked the elder's demeanor.
Seeing that Jegyeong remained calm without the slightest sign of panic, Ju Hyeong forced down their fear and cautiously moved closer to their side.
Boom!
A loud crash rang out, and even the ground shook lightly.
Only then did Jegyeong confirm the source of the disturbance.
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