novelraw Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Episode 32: Pouring Blue-green Stone Oil on the World Tree
Suddenly, breathing felt easier. Jang So-cheon stopped cultivating the Nameless Manual of Intent and opened his eyes—only to be startled.
A massive Fire Dragon was coiled before him, standing guard.
Realizing this was the Avatar he had created, Jang So-cheon gazed at the Fire Dragon in fascination. Though it was a product of his own alchemical will, the Fire Dragon looked as vivid and lifelike as a real creature.
The will Jang So-cheon had instilled in the Fire Dragon was simple: kill enemies and protect its master. Now that his alchemical intent had materialized, he could summon the Avatar at any time to defend himself—even if he were lost in deep meditation.
Fsssss...
As Jang So-cheon willed it, the Avatar shrank to the size of his palm.
Yet, the aura it exuded did not diminish in the slightest.
Whoooosh!
When Jang So-cheon increased the Fire Dragon’s size again, it let out a fierce roar.
It soared around him, breathing fire and raking the air with its claws.
At that moment—
A sharp Claw Shadow shot from the Fire Dragon’s foot, slashing the rock wall.
Scritch.
Rumble!
The solid rock cracked and collapsed in a heap.
The Fire Dragon was far more powerful than Jang So-cheon had imagined. He found himself revisiting the Five Elements Heavenly Record, the magic manual.
When Sanggwan Cheonse had demonstrated these magic techniques, Jang So-cheon had only found them impressive—not overwhelming. But the Fire Dragon before his eyes shattered all his preconceptions.
As if awakened, Jang So-cheon released earth-attribute Spiritual Energy outside his body.
He then created an Earth Walking Ghost to further enhance his Avatar’s abilities.
Choosing the Earth Walking Ghost was only natural—it was all because of the Earth Escape Technique. Escape techniques were all about fleeing.
The Earth Escape Technique allowed one to burrow and flee through the earth.
There were many ways to perform Earth Escape, but the method used by the Earth Walking Ghost was both swift and stealthy.
However, after fighting the Centipede Clan, Jang So-cheon realized it was still lacking.
The speed was decent.
But stealth was the real issue.
He wished he could move as silently as a ghost, evading Divine Sight like the Invisibility Talisman crafted by Makjang...
‘Ah! I still have the Invisibility Talisman Makjang gave me.’
Jang So-cheon pulled the talisman from his robes and infused it with his alchemical intent.
Recalling the sensation of using the talisman against the Centipede Clan, he pondered how to evade Divine Sight.
In the end, this approach wasn’t very effective.
His understanding of talismans was simply too shallow. Still, as time passed, the form of the Earth Walking Ghost became increasingly blurry to Divine Sight. Amusingly, this was thanks to Jang So-cheon’s knowledge of stealth technology from his previous life.
He applied the same principles used to hide objects from radar to evade Divine Sight.
That didn’t mean the Earth Walking Ghost was completely undetectable. If the opponent was close or a high-level expert, they could still sense him.
One benefit of cultivating the Nameless Manual of Intent was that the range of his Divine Sight had greatly increased.
A Qi Refining Stage investigator could sense about twelve jang with Divine Sight.
But with his strengthened consciousness, Jang So-cheon could see nearly a hundred jang.
That was comparable to an early Spirit Refining Stage investigator.
Even so, Jang So-cheon moved cautiously underground, suppressing his presence.
Everyone he encountered here was an enemy.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Someone was tunneling toward him at tremendous speed. Jang So-cheon froze, holding his breath. The opponent’s cultivation was so high, he didn’t even dare use Divine Sight.
After a long while—
When the presence faded, Jang So-cheon began to move again, cautiously.
Soon, he ran into a noisy group of Demon Clan members.
They were Centipede Clan members he’d fought before.
There were three in total.
One of them had a very low cultivation level.
But since he was guarded by two bodyguards, his status was likely not low.
“Young master, are you tired?”
“I’m fine. By the way, the item Elder Baek Jung-seon gave me earlier—are you sure it’s the Five-colored Immortal Treasure Jade?”
“It’s certain.”
“Then what’s inside must be Blue-green Stone Oil?”
“It’s said that Blue-green Stone Oil forms in tiny amounts over tens of thousands of years from the jade fluid condensed within the Five-colored Immortal Treasure Jade. Judging by the jade’s blue-green color, it’s almost certain there’s Blue-green Stone Oil inside.”
“I came here for Supreme Grade Spirit Stones, but I’ve stumbled on a real windfall. This is enough. Let’s withdraw.”
“Are we returning to the Demon Clan’s territory?”
“That seems best. Tae Hwa-rang is a suspicious one—he may have already noticed our clan is secretly smuggling out Supreme Grade Spirit Stones.”
“In that case, we should leave now. I’ll guide you to the barrier.”
“Do so.”
The young investigator was surprisingly decisive.
Hiding his presence, Jang So-cheon’s ears perked up at the mention of Blue-green Stone Oil.
Greed flared within him, and he began to tail them stealthily.
He looked for a chance to steal the Blue-green Stone Oil, but it wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped.
The bodyguards were both Earth Brilliance Grade, early stage.
He might be able to take on one by force, but not two.
Then, an unexpected opportunity arose.
One of the bodyguards, Baek Yi, led the group off in the wrong direction.
The young investigator noticed.
“Baek Yi! This isn’t the way to the barrier, is it? Are you betraying us?”
As the young Demon Clan investigator shouted, Baek Yi’s face twisted into a vicious sneer.
He swung his sword, severing several of the young investigator’s legs.
Baek Gi, the other bodyguard, realized Baek Yi’s betrayal and rushed to protect the young investigator, engaging Baek Yi in a desperate battle.
Watching from afar, Jang So-cheon carefully crept closer.
But he didn’t act rashly.
If he revealed himself now, the combatants might join forces and attack him first.
“I’ll wait and watch. When one falls, I’ll attack the survivor. If both collapse, I’ll just snatch the Heaven and Earth Pouch from the young investigator and run...”
As Jang So-cheon waited for his chance, Baek Yi’s sword slashed Baek Gi’s chest.
Gah!
Blood gushed from Baek Gi’s chest as he staggered back.
With Baek Gi at a disadvantage, the young investigator made a clever move.
He unfastened the Heaven and Earth Pouch from his waist and hid it behind a dark rock.
Then, using the Earth Escape Technique, he fled in the opposite direction from the barrier.
Thud!
Meanwhile, Baek Yi killed Baek Gi and wiped his bloodied sword on his clothes.
He then used the Earth Escape Technique to chase after the young master.
Ssssss...
Once Baek Yi was gone, Jang So-cheon appeared.
“Getting treasure without a fight—my luck isn’t bad today.”
Grinning with satisfaction, Jang So-cheon found the Heaven and Earth Pouch hidden by the young investigator and tied it to his own waist.
Then he used the Earth Escape Technique to burrow deep underground.
A short while later—
“Huff, huff!”
The young Centipede Clan investigator, having circled back, frantically searched behind the rock.
But no matter how hard he looked, the Heaven and Earth Pouch was gone.
“Baek Yi, you bastard! Betraying the clan wasn’t enough, you even stole my Heaven and Earth Pouch... I’ll never forgive you!”
Cursing, the young investigator used the Earth Escape Technique and headed for the barrier—unaware that Baek Yi was waiting there.
Jang So-cheon was well aware of the effects of Blue-green Stone Oil.
It was a miraculous elixir, said to revive even the dead.
Swoosh!
Arriving in the Eastern Region, Jang So-cheon asked the Fire Dragon to shield him from the heat.
He opened the Demon Clan’s Heaven and Earth Pouch and found treasures he hadn’t expected.
Inside were the Five-colored Immortal Treasure Jade and seven Supreme Grade Spirit Stones.
There was even a secret manual for the Earth Escape Technique.
Eager, Jang So-cheon grabbed the manual first.
Upon inspection, he realized its method was completely different from the Earth Escape Technique he’d practiced.
Still, there were things to learn. A small smile crossed his lips as he found a method to increase speed.
He pondered how to apply it to the Earth Walking Ghost, then immediately began cultivating the Nameless Manual of Intent.
He infused the newly learned technique into the Earth Walking Ghost through his alchemical intent.
One day, two days...
After three days of solidifying his intent, Jang So-cheon stopped, exhausted.
He looked at the treasures before him, then, as if making up his mind, picked up the Five-colored Immortal Treasure Jade and entered the Mysterious Heavenly Blessed Land.
>
Guided by his intent, Jang So-cheon approached the World Tree, smiling at the lush blue-green herb leaves below.
The herbs were bursting with life.
Using his Special Ability, he saw that their efficacy far surpassed anything from the outside world.
He’d known Kunyak Soil was good, but even he hadn’t expected it to be this extraordinary.
If he used these to concoct Elixir Pills, their effects would be greatly enhanced.
Turning his gaze to the World Tree where he’d buried the Wood Spirit Pill, Jang So-cheon let out a quiet sigh.
The ground was brimming with vitality, but the World Tree itself was unchanged.
No matter how he examined the trunk and branches, there wasn’t a trace of life.
His Special Ability suggested it wasn’t dead, but...
Jang So-cheon stroked the World Tree’s branches and set the Five-colored Immortal Treasure Jade on the ground.
Just as he’d resolved before entering the Mysterious Heavenly Blessed Land, he used the Primordial Divine Sword to pierce the jade and poured the Blue-green Stone Oil onto the World Tree.
Gurgle, gurgle...
Jang So-cheon did feel a pang at pouring such a precious elixir into the World Tree’s roots.
But only an ancient spirit fluid like Blue-green Stone Oil could hope to revive the World Tree, which granted Spiritual Energy and raised Innate Spirit in all things.
If it failed, so be it.
But if, by some miracle, the World Tree revived...
It could grant him benefits thousands of times greater than the Blue-green Stone Oil itself.
Drip, drip...
Jang So-cheon poured every last drop onto the World Tree, then gently stroked it again.
“World Tree, you have to survive. Understand?”
Having even spoken to the World Tree, Jang So-cheon left the Mysterious Heavenly Blessed Land without regret.
All that remained before him now were the seven Supreme Grade Spirit Stones.
Supreme Grade Spirit Stones were so valuable, it was impossible to put a price on them.
While the difference between Medium and High Grade Spirit Stones was a hundredfold, the leap from High Grade to Supreme Grade was nearly three hundredfold.
In fact, comparing prices was meaningless.
Other Spirit Stones were mainly used to power flying magic devices or equipment, but Supreme Grade Spirit Stones could be directly absorbed by investigators.
According to Soso, they even had a high ratio of Spiritual Energy.
There was no reason to hesitate.
Lately, Jang So-cheon’s greatest concern had been Divine Power.
Holding a Supreme Grade Spirit Stone in each hand, Jang So-cheon began circulating the Mystic Heaven Wuji Heart Method, drawing in the energy from the stones.
Whoosh...
At first, the energy flowed like a trickling stream.
Then the flow thickened, surging into his dantian like a mighty river.
The torrent was so overwhelming, even Jang So-cheon could barely contain it.
Drip, drip...
As the energy from the stones dwindled, the Mystic Heaven Wuji Heart Method showed its true worth.
It absorbed every last drop of energy from the stones, leaving nothing behind.
Whoosh!
The Spirit Stones, now drained of all Spiritual Energy and Spiritual Power, crumbled to dust.
They had served their purpose.
“Wow! Incredible.”
Supreme Grade Spirit Stones were worth every bit of their reputation.
Absorbing just two had flooded Jang So-cheon’s dantian with Spiritual Energy.
Even more astonishing was the amount of Spiritual Energy.
Just as Soso had said, there was so much that his Spirit Realm overflowed with Law Power and Divine Power.
Noticing the Halo of his Primordial Spirit growing larger and brighter, Jang So-cheon sensed an imminent breakthrough.
His consciousness had been strengthened by cultivating the Nameless Manual of Intent, and now his Spiritual Energy and Law Power had surged all at once.
No wonder Supreme Grade Spirit Stones were so highly praised.
He placed two more stones on his palms and began circulating energy again, reaching the mid-stage of the Eight Stars of Spiritual Energy.
But it didn’t stop there.
As the second stone was nearly depleted, he advanced to the late stage of the Eight Stars, and with the last two stones, he reached the middle stage of the Qi Refinement Assembly in one leap.
Then the growth stopped. Jang So-cheon realized that raising his level further with Spirit Stones alone would be difficult.
Everything had its limits.
He carefully stored the last unused Supreme Grade Spirit Stone in the Heaven and Earth Pouch, then used Divine Sight—smiling with satisfaction.
His Divine Sight now extended a full 150 jang.
That wasn’t all.
The Fire Dragon was stronger than ever, and the Earth Walking Ghost seemed even more mysterious.
When he separated the Earth Walking Ghost from his body and looked at it with Divine Sight, it appeared like a faint mist.
Without focus, it would be impossible to spot.
Feeling pleased, Jang So-cheon donned the Earth Walking Ghost and left the Eastern Lava Region.
Using the Earth Escape Technique, he sped through the earth, amazed at his newfound speed.
His cultivation had improved, and he’d learned the speed-enhancing secret from the Centipede Clan’s Earth Escape Technique, applying it to the Earth Walking Ghost.
At this level, he felt confident he wouldn’t be caught easily.
With that, Jang So-cheon boldly set off toward the Demon-Suppressing Cave.
Where his Master, the Patriarch, and the experts of Taehyeon Kingdom had gathered.