WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Chapter 45: Episode 7: Assigned Mission (2)

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The formula for the seventh star of the Qi Condensation Realm was Spirit Drawing.

According to the cultivation manual, it was the process of drawing in heaven-and-earth spiritual energy from outside the body.

Until now, Ise had only dealt with the spiritual energy that belonged to him. From this point on, even if only in small amounts, he would be able to handle the external heaven-and-earth spiritual energy flowing through nature.

Once he reached the seventh star, he could cast spells with a small amount of heaven-and-earth spiritual energy even when his internal qi was completely depleted. Through meditation, he could also recover spiritual energy faster than he would naturally.

The fifth star was the beginning of spellcasting, the sixth was the stage of mastery, and the seventh was the stage of expansion.

It was also preparation for the later stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, when he would begin the true process of Body Tempering.

Ise repeatedly used several spells until the internal qi in his body was completely drained, then followed the flow of spiritual energy in nature.

He still could not quite grasp it, but Ise was not impatient.

He knew from everything so far that his cultivation speed was already fast enough.

After continuing his cultivation calmly, he rose just as the effects of the Resting-Head Somyeon in his body began to fade.

It was about time to find ingredients for immortal cuisine.

The Training Compound was rather crowded. Normally, many of the entry disciples would be out on missions, leaving the place quiet. But after news of fellow disciples dying arrived one after another, the fervor had cooled.

Few were willing to volunteer for anything beyond their formal missions.

As a result, missions had piled up. Anyone who wanted one could head out at any time.

After taking about thirty steps and turning the corner of the training room building, Ise heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, Fellow Daoist...”

It was Park Gangseo.

“No... Senior... You finally crossed the minor realm boundary.”

With the expression of someone resigned to the inevitable, Park Gangseo trudged over.

“The day has come when I have to call an entry disciple Senior... I must be near death...”

“I told you, you don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable. Also, how do you always find me? Are you trying to become a Shadow Agent?”

“There are only three places you ever go: the butcher shop, the training room, and the administration office. How could I not find you? And what can I do if it's uncomfortable? I need to get used to it. You should start speaking casually to me too.”

“I'm more comfortable speaking this way... And you're older than me.”

“Older by how much? You're the one who needs to get used to it, even if it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Do we really need to?”

“You're going to leave me far behind anyway. It's one thing now, but what about when you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm? Or the Core Formation Realm? If you're still speaking formally to me then, the seniors at that realm won't leave me alone. They'll say I'm disrupting the order of the cultivation world.”

“That's quite a leap.”

“There you go. That's how you should talk. You need to get used to it too. Whatever you say, once the gap between our realms grows, I'll address you with the proper honorifics and treat you accordingly.”

“...”

It was truly ridiculous. He was showing respect, yet the other person was begging him to speak down to them.

Ise had been taught from childhood to treat his elders with utmost respect, as though the lesson had been branded into him. It was difficult for him, but this was also something he had to adapt to.

Adaptation was one of Ise’s specialties.

“Still can't get a feel for the minor realm boundary?”

Only after Ise spoke casually did Park Gangseo answer with a satisfied expression.

“I feel like I understand it, but also like I don't. If you've got time, could you help me, Senior?”

“Sure.”

“See? It's good to have connections. Where else would I get private lessons from a genius like you?”

Seeing Park Gangseo snickering made Ise feel better as well.

“So, how does it feel to be the one who overtook everyone? Feels good? The way people treat you must have changed a lot too.”

“More than feeling good, it's kind of funny. It's interesting.”

“Ha ha ha, honest as ever.”

Ise did not bother denying it. Park Gangseo laughed foolishly and continued.

“And this.”

Park Gangseo took a pouch from his robes and handed it over. Inside were twenty Spiritual Stones.

“Two months of wages. Haven't you run out of talisman sheets yet?”

“I still have enough.”

“You were away for nearly two months, so that makes sense. I brought news again today.”

Ise’s eyes lit up at Park Gangseo’s words.

“I think there might be a war.”

“...A war?”

The unfamiliar word startled Ise enough that he asked again.

“There are two reasons. One happened a few months ago. Core Formation Realm cultivators from the Zheng Empire ambushed Hall Master Haeil of Azure Dragon Hall.”

It was something Ise had heard directly from Haeil.

“Of course, Hall Master Haeil was the one who went into the Zheng Empire and stirred things up first, but... this is the first time an armed clash has happened so directly. The Hall Masters are all itching to kill them.”

“I understand, but does it not seem like something they could settle through negotiation?”

“Of course. Hall Master Haeil wants that too. But this is the real reason.”

Park Gangseo lowered his voice, glanced around once, then continued.

“Signs of a secret realm have been found.”

A secret realm. A mysterious space connected to another dimension. Ancient spirit artifacts, rare spiritual materials, and ores unknown to the world were said to lie dormant within them.

Usually, the place where it opened would be inside the territory of the faction that discovered it, so ownership would naturally be decided.

Provided that faction had the strength to guard the entrance to the secret realm.

If a secret realm opened in Great Exorcist Order territory, every disciple of the Great Exorcist Order would have a chance to enter. Cultivators from the Zheng Empire could not even dream of it.

“The problem is that it is in unclaimed territory between the Three Peninsula Kingdoms and the Zheng Empire.”

If it opened in unclaimed territory, the story changed. It would belong to whoever claimed it first.

“They say it will open within a few years. Depending on the secret realm’s size and value, there could be bloodshed. No, there definitely will be.”

“Do you know what kind of secret realm it is?”

“Not yet. Once ownership is decided, they will investigate it properly. All the entry disciples will head to headquarters before winter comes, so you will probably hear about it before I even need to look into it for you, Senior.”

The time had already come. Soon, he would shed the title of entry disciple and enter headquarters as a formal disciple.

What kind of place would it be?

He had been satisfied enough with life at the Training Compound, but now that it was time to go to headquarters, curiosity and anticipation rose within him.

Park Gangseo said they would meet again when it was time to move to headquarters, then left.

As Ise walked, he turned over the thought of the secret realm in his mind.

Ancient spirit artifacts. Ores as precious as cold iron, or even more so. The very thought was intoxicating.

If the chance came, desire welled up within him to enter it at all costs.

That was for later. Before going to headquarters, he had to do what lay before him.

Ujeol was alone in the administration office.

When he saw Ise, he set down the secret manual he had been reading and spoke.

“You came at a good time. An assigned mission has arrived.”

“An assigned mission?”

“Yes. Headquarters specifically designated you for this mission.”

“I have already completed my formal mission...”

“This is not a formal mission. It is exactly what it sounds like, a designated request mission. You have the choice to accept, and there is a reward. This is the first time an entry disciple has received an assigned mission.”

What could have happened for them to designate him specifically?

Ujeol unfolded the mission document.

“It is a hunt for a cultivator.”

“A cultivator? Not a demonic cultivator?”

“Yes. An independent cultivator who killed three of your fellow disciples and looted their resources. Since the culprit is active in Cheongsan City, they are likely not a demonic cultivator. What happens in the future is another matter.”

Ise accepted the mission document.

- Name and portrait sketch unknown. Estimated to be in the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm. Has targeted and killed entry disciples of the Great Exorcist Order, then looted their resources.

- Thirty Spiritual Stones and forty contribution points for confirming the portrait sketch.

- Fifty Spiritual Stones and sixty contribution points for killing the culprit. Proof that they were the culprit is required.

- One hundred Spiritual Stones and seventy contribution points for capturing the culprit alive.

Ise’s eyes stopped briefly as he read.

The bastard had killed three fellow disciples. He had wondered why so many people had died in such a short time. They had been murdered.

“The reward is high.”

It was the first thing he said after seeing the figures at the bottom.

“Because it is dangerous for an entry disciple to take on.”

Ujeol answered calmly.

“Then why designate me? Would it not be better for seniors at a higher realm to handle it more reliably?”

“We have already sent people. The bastard is cunning enough that even late Qi Condensation Realm cultivators could not get near. They said they could not even encounter the culprit after using a Spirit-Veiling Art to hide their realms. The bastard has spent enough time in Cheongsan City to recognize every entry disciple by face.”

“...Since the culprit will not appear for anyone other than entry disciples, you need to send someone among us who can face a mid-stage Qi Condensation Realm cultivator.”

“You saw it clearly. If you did not exist, we would use someone else as bait to lure the bastard out. But since there is a viable option, we are offering it to you. It is dangerous, so headquarters has agreed to lend you two spirit artifacts. Even so, if it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, you may refuse.”

“What will happen to the bastard if I refuse?”

“The Great Exorcist Order won't stop pursuing the culprit. The mission will remain open, and someone will keep tracking the bastard. Eventually, they'll pick up the culprit's trail.”

From the order’s perspective, the culprit had only killed a few entry disciples. They would not devote excessive manpower to the matter, but neither would they let it pass easily.

Ujeol took two items from a drawer. One was a small pearl. The other was thin, light armor.

“This is a Spirit-Veiling Pearl. Carry it, and it will conceal the spiritual energy in your body, making your realm appear two substages lower. This is called Life-Saving Armor. If you suffer a critical injury and pour spiritual energy into it, it will move your body to a designated nearby location.”

The mission was dangerous enough that he needed spirit artifacts for protection.

After having hunted a demonic cultivator two substages above him, Ise wondered whether it was truly that serious. Still, considering headquarters only gave him missions they were certain he could complete, he understood their concern.

Ise tucked the pearl into his robes and put on the armor. It was an unspoken sign that he would accept.

Ujeol looked Ise over, then nodded. It seemed to be working properly.

“If you are uneasy, we can send a late Qi Condensation Realm cultivator to lie in ambush.”

“Then I would have to split the reward?”

“Of course. You would need to give up more than eighty percent for a cultivator to agree to move.”

“I would rather die and keep it all for myself.”

As though he had expected that answer, Ujeol’s lips curled faintly.

“Go punish that arrogant independent cultivator who dared lay hands on a disciple of the Great Exorcist Order.”

“I will complete the mission without fail.”

As Ise turned to leave, Ujeol added something. His voice lowered as though he were worried for Ise.

“All three were completely overwhelmed. There were barely any traces of battle, and the bodies bore only faint signs of struggle. The culprit is clearly using some underhanded method, so be especially careful.”

Footnotes:

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