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Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Episode 23: Core Formation Realm Great Cultivator (6)

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After dismissing the Azure Dragon Hall members, Ise headed to the Library Pavilion.

He intended to make use of the free access granted to Core Formation Realm great cultivators, one of their greatest privileges.

When he entered the tenth archive, the administrative officer who recognized him sprang to their feet.

This was the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator who, when Ise had first arrived at the headquarters, had practically scolded him for not starting with the first archive.

Of course, Ise was not so petty as to hold a personal grudge over something like that.

“Greetings, Hall Master of Azure Dragon Hall...!”

“I came to look around.”

“Yes. This way, please.”

After leading him to a reception room, the officer handed him a long silk scroll.

It was densely filled with a catalog listing the names and brief descriptions of every secret manual held in archives one through ten.

As Ise calmly reviewed the list, the officer added,

“If you tell me which secret manuals you need, I will bring them here.”

“First, bring me every Core Formation Realm cultivation-method manual and spell-art manual. I’ll point out the rest, so bring me all of those too.”

Ise spread the scroll wide and quickly pointed out the entries that caught his eye, one by one.

“Would you like to mark them?”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ve memorized them.”

Ise nodded, impressed.

A short while later, secret manuals were piled like a mountain on the writing desk before him.

He first skimmed through the three basic spell arts used by Core Formation Realm great cultivators.

The most common spell arts learned immediately after reaching the Core Formation Realm were Regeneration Art, Flight Art, and Deceptive-Realm Art.

Regeneration Art, which rapidly restored the bodies of its user and others, was a useful spell art that freed one from relying on medicinal pellets such as Restoration Pellets and Regeneration Pellets.

Flight Art allowed one to fly quickly without a flying spirit artifact, but Ise skipped it because he had already learned Wind-Riding Art, the Core Formation Realm spell of the Wind-Shattering Qi Art.

Deceptive-Realm Art, which used external qi to deceive others about one’s realm, also seemed fairly useful.

After learning it, he could make himself appear to be in the Qi Condensation Realm or Foundation Establishment Realm.

That meant he would no longer need to rely on a Spirit-Hiding artifact or a Demon-Qi Concealment Talisman.

Now that he had reached the Core Formation Realm, he truly felt somewhat freed from spirit artifacts and talismans.

Most things could be replaced with spell arts.

‘There isn’t much that’s new.’

One disappointing point was that most of the Core Formation Realm manuals available were little more than applications and expansions of the spell arts from the Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment Realms.

The main difference was simply that what had once been used with cultivation power was now used with primordial qi.

That seemed to be the limit of a public Library Pavilion.

‘Is this my only meaningful gain?’

Ise opened Origin-Drawing Divine Art, the Great Exorcist Order’s secret cultivation method.

It was a divine art that sharpened primordial qi until it could cleave through a Golden Core in a single stroke.

It was a supreme technique that had raised the Great Exorcist Order’s great cultivators into the ranks of the strong.

Ise soothed his disappointment with that secret cultivation method and continued reading.

Even so, simply being able to examine so many cultivation methods and spell arts was enough to satisfy his thirst for knowledge.

Unlike lower-tier spell arts, which produced a fixed output regardless of who used them, the effectiveness of spell arts used by great cultivators varied enormously according to primordial qi.

Even if great cultivators of the same realm used the same amount of internal qi to cast Fireball Art, its power could differ.

After reviewing the Core Formation Realm cultivation-method manuals, Ise realized something interesting.

Having reached the Core Formation Realm, he could now see the deeper principles behind spell arts.

Rather than merely memorizing a prescribed flow of cultivation power and using it as written, he could understand its principles and apply them.

A hypothesis came to Ise’s mind, and he immediately put it into action.

He cut open his palm with his hatchet and activated Blood Cultivation Art and Dokkaebi Shadow-Hunting Demonic Art at the same time.

He fused the overlapping manifestations of primordial qi into one and wove together the diverging currents like strands of rope.

The greenish Dokkaebi Flame Art then became stained with blood, turning almost purple.

At that moment, an alarm sounded and water poured down from above.

In an instant, he looked like a drowned rat.

A flustered mission operative hurried over with a cloth.

“A-are you all right?”

“Your security is thorough.”

The blood flame itself had not gone out.

Ise extinguished it and dried himself with the cloth the operative handed him.

Still, he had gained something.

If he researched and delved deeply enough into a single cultivation method, it felt as though he might be able to devise an entirely new one.

It was commonly said that the creation of cultivation methods and spell arts usually began with immortal cultivators at the level of great cultivator or above.

Ise now understood why.

He rapidly devoured the secret manuals before him, committing them to memory.

He did not intend to learn them all.

It was closer to the way he had once wandered in and out of the libraries at Gwisu Temple and the Training Compound, satisfying his hunger for knowledge.

After reading every manual set before him, Ise spoke to the mission operative standing nearby.

“Bring me everything from here to here. If you’re busy, I can fetch them myself.”

“That is all right. There are only so many cultivators permitted into the tenth archive, so I have plenty of free time.”

Ise intended to remain there for at least a month. He wondered if the operative would grow tired of it.

As Ise continued reading without moving, the operative checked the time and asked,

“The Library Pavilion is open until the end of the Hour of the Rooster. Do you need more time?”

“Do I have to leave?”

“Of course not. You may remain as long as you wish.”

“I can stay here alone, right?”

“Well...”

The mission operative said they would give up their personal time until Ise was finished, but Ise firmly sent them home.

Even so, the staff deserved to get off work.

The silent Library Pavilion was actually better for concentrating on the secret manuals.

As day and night changed dozens of times, Ise’s exploration of the Library Pavilion continued.

There were so many secret manuals stored across the ten archives that it took nearly a month just to review them all.

After committing the cultivation methods and spell arts he wished to learn to memory, Ise first learned Origin-Drawing Divine Art, Regeneration Art, and Deceptive-Realm Art to the first star before leaving the Library Pavilion.

Just then, word arrived that his new residence had been completed, and he followed an attendant to the site he had previously selected.

Five buildings had been constructed on the empty lot, arranged in a square around the central building.

“The building in the center is the cultivation chamber. The northern wing contains living quarters, including a study and bedroom. The western wing contains a butchery and an immortal-cuisine kitchen.”

The attendant calmly guided him through the residence and continued the introduction.

The southern wing contained guest rooms for receiving visitors and viewing the waterfall.

The eastern building stood empty, decorated with ornaments and works of art.

The attendant told him he could use it later if he developed a hobby.

A massive old tree had been transplanted into the courtyard, with a large nest atop it where Bisang could lie down and rest.

Bisang had already settled in, and apparently pleased with the new nest, flapped its wings while sitting in it.

A daybed had been placed near the waterfall pond, and neat, well-tended flower beds filled the courtyard.

“If you dislike the flower beds, we can clear them away.”

“No. They’re bright and lovely.”

“Yes. We will maintain them well, so you need not trouble yourself. If there are any ornamental plants you would like, please tell us. You said you had no need for a spirit field, so we did not build one, but... if the attendants use their spare time to manage one, I believe it may be of some help to you, Hall Master.”

“Let’s do that, then. Tell me if you need a budget.”

“We can cover it with the funds allocated for maintaining your residence, Hall Master. Please do not concern yourself.”

“Good.”

The attendant next explained the formations placed around the residence.

Three layers of security and warding barrier formations had been installed.

One around the residence, one inside the buildings, and the last within the cultivation chamber.

Anyone seeking to enter the cultivation chamber had to pass through all three formations.

“The outermost warding barrier permits entry only to disciples of the Great Exorcist Order. The middle barrier permits servants and those carrying access plaques to pass through. The final barrier around the cultivation chamber permits entry only to you, Hall Master.”

“What kind of spell arts power the defensive formation?”

“It uses a metal-attribute Foundation Establishment Realm spell that activates immediately and continues until the intruder’s life is ended. If you would prefer another kind of spell art, we can make a request to Chuyo Hall.”

“No, this is fine. It’s enough.”

It was a little disappointing that the formation was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, but there were no formation specialists among the Great Exorcist Order’s Core Formation Realm great cultivators.

Besides, outsiders could not even pass through the headquarters’ warding barrier. This would be enough.

“Is there anything you dislike?”

“No, it’s excellent. Please pass on my thanks to Cultivator Ujeol.”

“Yes. How many access plaques will you require?”

“Ten should be enough for now.”

After finishing his tour of the residence, Ise went to find Haeil, the Order Lord.

He intended to obtain permission to hunt Han Juok.

Instead of granting permission, Haeil abruptly raised their sword.

“Block it. Let us see how accustomed you have become to primordial qi.”

“A spar?”

“I’m not trying to kill you. Just defend yourself. Do not counterattack.”

A Nascent Soul Realm great cultivator was really making a fuss, Ise thought.

* * *

After being beaten up day after day for several days, Ise looked at Haeil with an exhausted expression.

Despite telling him only to defend, Haeil’s earnest sword strikes moved so quickly that Ise could not even catch their shadows.

Whenever he thought he had followed them with his divine sense, his flank had already been cut. Whenever he thought he had blocked one, a second sword flew in from behind him.

With a body that had only just entered the Core Formation Realm, even following the blade path of a Nascent Soul Realm great cultivator was beyond him.

The elation he had felt over his new realm had completely cooled over those few days.

Still, after growing somewhat accustomed to it, he was able to cut away most of Haeil’s attacks.

Only then did Haeil nod.

“You have adapted sufficiently. You may proceed.”

“Thank you for your instruction.”

“Good. Stop by from time to time and report your progress.”

“Yes.”

Ise bowed in thanks, then immediately headed to Azure Dragon Hall and summoned its members.

They gathered in Azure Dragon Hall as if they had been waiting for the call.

Having apparently gathered sufficient information, Seolryeong stepped forward with a confident expression.

“Then I will begin the report!”

She brought out a hexagram board bearing a Burial Map.

A complete map of the Eastern Continent was drawn upon it.

“Before I explain the Han Clan’s information, I will briefly cover the situation across the continent. At present, there are ten ruling powers in the Eastern Continent.”

Knowing that their Hall Master was not particularly familiar with international affairs, Seolryeong began with the basics.

The three great sects, the Great Exorcist Order, Pill Altar Sect, and Kunlun.

The five great clans, the Han Clan, Pear Blossom Spear Clan, Red Crow Clan, Soaring Wind Clan, and Azure Heavens First Clan.

And Cheoryang Thunder Gate and Phantom Demon Valley, which were classified as demonic sects.

Ise tilted his head and asked,

“New Martial Sect isn’t included?”

“New Martial Sect became a subordinate sect of Pill Altar Sect. Besides, as an independent power, it cannot compete with the three great sects.”

Seolryeong continued.

“Kunlun and Phantom Demon Valley did not participate in the last war. Kunlun is known for staying out of wars and cultivating among themselves, while Phantom Demon Valley pretends to submit to Pill Altar Sect on the surface but does not actually cooperate. Even if it did, it would only be used as a disposable tool.”

She added that the Han Clan was among the five great clans closest to Pill Altar Sect.

“Han Juok did not participate in the previous war because they were considered too old. They are now settled in Tabaro with part of the Han Clan’s forces, presenting themself as New Martial Sect’s overseer, but... in truth, they are stationed there to watch the surrounding area and fleece disciples of the Great Exorcist Order.”

“Have there been victims recently?”

“Great Exorcist Order disciples rarely travel to Tabaro, but there have occasionally been reports of disciples sent on information-gathering missions being discovered and having their resources stolen.”

A detailed profile of Han Juok followed.

Han Juok. Fire and metal two spiritual roots.

They had received ample support from their clan, but their combat ability was ordinary.

Han Juok was known as a petty person who only picked conflicts with those weaker than themself.

Their primary cultivation method was the secret art, Han Clan Molten Fire Art.

There had been so many cases involving him that the records were quite detailed.

Most of Han Juok’s victims had been lower-level cultivators.

However, one entry said that Han Juok had even struggled against a late Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator of the Great Exorcist Order.

More precisely, Han Juok had failed to subdue that cultivator and let them escape.

After gauging Han Juok’s strength, Ise decided that he had more than enough chance of winning.

“If Han Juok is hiding near New Martial Sect, we will need someone to lure them out. Who wants to act as bait?”

Ise glanced over the five cultivators for a moment.

To lure Han Juok out, the bait needed excellent flying ability.

Their movement arts were all about equal, so Seolryeong, who rode the best flying spirit artifact, seemed most suitable.

Just as he was about to speak to Seolryeong, she hurriedly struck Doksu’s arm.

“If you think it should be you, raise your hand. Isn’t this the sort of thing the youngest should do?”

For a moment, Doksu’s face filled with confusion.

He looked around at the other cultivators, then awkwardly raised his hand.

“I think it should be me.”

Seeing Seolryeong slyly push the task onto the youngest with a prim expression, Ise felt the urge to tease her, but he let it go.

She was right that this sort of thing was usually done by the youngest.

He had been a little concerned that Doksu might struggle to fit in as a nonhuman, but seeing them joke and tease one another, it seemed Doksu had adapted well.

“Then the youngest will act as bait. Seolryeong, lend Doksu your flying spirit artifact. Doksu will need a fast mount to escape.”

“Yes, no, I mean, yes!”

Although she had to lend out a spirit artifact she treasured, Seolryeong agreed readily.

Doksu looked bewildered at the pats on his shoulder and asked,

“Um, is this Han Juok person very strong?”

The Azure Dragon Hall members exchanged glances.

Come to think of it, this was Doksu’s first time entering the cultivation world after becoming an adult dokkaebi, so Doksu did not know Han Juok.

The headquarters’ abundant spiritual energy was uncomfortable for Doksu, so Doksu usually did not leave the residence where demonic qi had been condensed.

Naturally, Doksu had not participated in gathering information. Since it was information everyone already knew, they had not mentioned Han Juok’s realm either.

Thinking Doksu needed an explanation, Ise answered,

“If I had to compare Han Juok to someone, they are about as strong as Acting Leader Gong Wol-a.”

“Eek!”

Only then did Doksu’s face turn deathly pale.

Light laughter spread through the room at the bewildered sight.

“Do not worry too much. It is not as though you will die, right?”

At Hong Wonseo’s less-than-reassuring comfort, Ise grinned and asked,

“Then do you want to do it, Hong Wonseo?”

“Me? No.”

That suggestion had no chance of working.

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