Returning Immortal

Chapter 52 : True Spirit Soil

When Gwi Seongjin arrived at the Dark Spirit Council, an unfamiliar guest was waiting in his office.

It was a woman.

"Hohoho! I had high expectations hearing that a new Legal Guard had come, but you're a younger brother than I thought. Nice to meet you! My name is Byeon Geumryeon. You can call me pretty older sister."

A woman, who was precariously covering her bursting figure with a small cloth, spoke to Gwi Seongjin in a provocative manner.

"Who are you?"

"Well, who do you think I am?"

The woman in front had a strange brain structure.

To secretly enter someone else's room and then ask the owner to find out her identity...

Gwi Seongjin, who had been thinking for a moment, let out a chuckle.

"Are you Legal Guard Byeon?"

"Why do you think so?"

"First of all, you have no manners."

"What!"

The woman shouted shrilly.

"And you're pretty, and your figure is good..."

But at Gwi Seongjin's following words, her eyebrows that had shot up to the sky slowly came down.

"I thought you wouldn't have an eye for people because you're so pretty, but you're still a man... Well, I am very beautiful. My figure is also good... Shall I say, fatal?"

According to Ho Risim, Byeon Geumryeon was an expert in information analysis.

That her sixth sense and judgment were very outstanding...

As soon as Byeon Geumryeon's words ended, another person walked into the room.

It was a sickly-looking scholar.

"It seems the reason Legal Guard Gwi inferred your identity was because of the former reason. Legal Guard Gwi! Isn't that right?"

Gwi Seongjin, who had guessed the scholar's identity, pulled himself together.

It was because he had guessed that he had not spoken with a good purpose.

"You must be Legal Guard Mun. I've heard a lot about you."

"Oh! What have you heard?"

This time, Byeon Geumryeon received Mun Jillyang's words.

"Hmph! You probably heard that I look unlucky."

There was no way Byeon Geumryeon wouldn't know that he had just driven a wedge between the two of them.

So no good words came out.

"I heard you are a person with many talents."

"My specialty is growing flowers and researching cooking."

"I know."

Gwi Seongjin said, nodding his head.

Although he said his specialty was growing flowers and researching cooking, Mun Jillyang's real talent was in alchemy and alchemy.

Moreover, even strategy and tactics...

In a word, he was a genius in many fields.

However, he was said to be sinister.

While the three were engaged in a war of nerves, another person entered the room.

It was Academician Yu.

"The reason I have called you here is to introduce Gwi Seongjin, who has newly become a Legal Guard. Legal Guard Gwi has an outstanding talent in formations and barriers."

"Hohoho! I already know. By the way, what about the other Legal Guard?"

"He has urgent business, so it seems he won't be able to attend."

"I understand. Then shall we move to the conference room?"

"No. I called you today to get to know each other's faces. Legal Guard Gwi! Was there anything special in the Hall of Supreme Rule?"

At the words 'Hall of Supreme Rule', the two Legal Guards' gazes were concentrated on Gwi Seongjin.

In fact, the purpose of their coming here was also to hear that content.

"The Cult Leader told me to devote myself only to researching formations and barriers from now on. He said he would even open the Heavenly Demon Library if necessary..."

"The Heavenly Demon Library?"

Mun Jillyang and Byeon Geumryeon made surprised expressions.

The Heavenly Demon Library was a place that only those who had made a great contribution to the cult could enter.

Although the number of floors one could go up and the time were controlled according to the contribution...

Basically, it was a place where one couldn't even dare to enter unless one had accumulated a great achievement.

"You've got a good opportunity. When are you going to enter that place?"

Mun Jillyang asked with an envious expression.

"I'm thinking of using the Spring and Autumn Pavilion in the Dark Spirit Council first. I heard there are also many books related to formations there."

At Gwi Seongjin's answer, Academician Yu nodded his head.

Next, he said to Gwi Seongjin.

"A good thought. In the Spring and Autumn Pavilion, there are also books on mechanisms, formations, barriers, and restrictions piled up like mountains. There are not a few booklets written in unknown ancient characters..."

"I heard so too. So for the time being, I'm thinking of stopping by the Spring and Autumn Pavilion and devoting myself only to researching formations."

"Are you not going to pick a Transformation Life?"

"It seems I won't need up to three for now. Still, I think I'll need about one... Is there anyone you can introduce me to?"

At the words to introduce someone, Academician Yu smiled.

It was because Gwi Seongjin's intention had been read.

"How was that friend from before?"

"He was a very smart person. It seems he is a person you, Academician, cherish... Is it okay for me to use him?"

"I'll send him in a little while."

"Thank you."

Gwi Seongjin bowed his waist, saying thank you.

Before Gwi Seongjin had even straightened his waist, Mun Jillyang stepped forward.

"Legal Guard Gwi! I also have many good talents under me, so if you need them, use them anytime."

"Thank you for just saying so."

Gwi Seongjin took a half-bow to Mun Jillyang.

Although he had said so, Gwi Seongjin had no intention of accepting Mun Jillyang's subordinate.

It was because that was digging his own grave.

* * *

In the afternoon, when Ho Risim came, Gwi Seongjin appointed him as a Transformation Life.

And they visited the Spring and Autumn Pavilion together.

The Spring and Autumn Pavilion was a three-story building.

An old man was sitting at the entrance, and when Gwi Seongjin showed his nameplate, he opened the passage to the second floor without a word.

However, Ho Risim, who had a wooden plaque, could not go up to the second floor.

So Gwi Seongjin went up to the second floor alone.

Although he could also go up to the third floor, Gwi Seongjin went deep into the library on the second floor.

And he carefully examined his nameplate.

He had heard from Ho Risim on the way, and he said that the silver nameplate he was wearing now basically had one thousand contribution points in it.

Since the points needed to go out and come back from the outer fortress were three hundred, it was not a low score.

But the reason Gwi Seongjin had taken out his nameplate now was not because of the contribution points.

The black flame that had entered his nameplate in the Bright Light Pavilion.

It was because of the fear that it might still be remaining in the nameplate.

As he thought, the black flame was not an ordinary flame.

Looking at its behavior, there was a very high possibility that a spirit was dwelling in it.

A flame with a spirit dwelling in it...

The astonished Gwi Seongjin inspected the nameplate with all his strength, to the point of forgetting to even breathe.

Looking at its appearance, the nameplate had not changed much from before.

It was to the extent that one of the ghost-faced man's pupils had turned dark red.

That was all.

No matter how much he concentrated his spiritual sense, the black flame was not discovered.

Phew!

After a long time, Gwi Seongjin let out a sigh of relief.

It was because he was sure that the black flame was not in the nameplate.

When his anxious heart, which had been like a thorn in his throat, had calmed down, the bookshelf finally came into Gwi Seongjin's view.

As Academician Yu had said, the books were densely packed on the bookshelf.

The books were also systematically managed, so he could find the booklet he wanted without much difficulty.

Gwi Seongjin, who had nodded his head with a satisfied expression, hung his nameplate on his waist and then took out a crumpled piece of paper from his bosom.

It was a paper with a drawing of the mushroom he had fed to the Ghost-Patterned Red-Tailed Scorpions.

Before looking for the mushroom, Gwi Seongjin first looked for booklets that drew rare animals or demonic beasts.

But no matter how much he searched, he couldn't find a booklet that explained the Ghost-Patterned Red-Tailed Scorpions.

Well, the Ghost-Patterned Red-Tailed Scorpions were demonic beasts that were not even recorded in the 'General Essentials of Spiritual Beings' passed down in the Ghost Valley Sect.

There was no way he could find it so easily.

Having no choice, Gwi Seongjin rummaged through a booklet that recorded poisonous herbs or spiritual medicines.

But this time too, there was no result.

Although he had rummaged through hundreds of booklets, the large, hideous, and hard mushroom he had fed to the Ghost-Patterned Red-Tailed Scorpions was not in a single place.

But he couldn't give up.

Rustle! Rustle!

Gwi Seongjin forgot to even breathe, took out a book, and turned the pages.

He was in a momentum to scan all the books in the library.

"..."

In the end, Gwi Seongjin came out of the Spring and Autumn Pavilion only when it got dark.

But an unexpected person was standing outside the door.

It was Ho Risim.

"Huh! Haven't you gone home?"

"I was waiting in case you had any instructions."

"You... There's nothing, so just go home."

"I understand. By the way, are you, Legal Guard Gwi, going straight to the cave?"

"I'm thinking of looking around the underground market for a while and then going."

"Is there... something you want to buy?"

"It's a rare item, so I don't know if it's in the market. I'm just going to look around."

"Then I will escort you. I can't guarantee, but I might be of help."

"...Then I'll ask you to."

Gwi Seongjin said as if he couldn't win.

Since he was a person who had worked under Academician Yu for a long time, his work would not be dark.

In the east area of the underground market, rare spiritual herbs and medicinal materials were displayed.

But Gwi Seongjin's gaze was consistently focused only on the mushroom types.

"Can't you see the item you want?"

Ho Risim, who was watching Gwi Seongjin's expression, asked.

"Hmm. I can't see it."

"It seems the item you're looking for is a type of mushroom, and the most famous shop for that is deep in that alley."

Ho Risim said, pointing at a dark alley.

"Guide me."

"I understand. The path is narrow, so please be careful."

When he walked for a long time following Ho Risim, he saw an old shop in a corner.

It was a shop whose sign was so worn that he couldn't even read the name.

"Although it looks like this, this place boasts a long history and tradition. If it's not here, it will probably be hard to find."

"I see. I'll take a look."

In the shop, there were not a few people looking around besides Gwi Seongjin.

Gwi Seongjin's complexion, who was looking at the items among them, gradually darkened.

It was because it wasn't here either.

Ho Risim, who was carefully observing Gwi Seongjin's expression, called out to the old man who was guiding the customers.

"Hey, Galno! This person is the one I serve. He is looking for a peculiar type of mushroom, is there any other place to show him besides here?"

At Ho Risim's words, the old man looked Gwi Seongjin up and down.

It was because he was doubtful of Gwi Seongjin's financial power.

Still, perhaps because he was thinking of Ho Risim's face...

The old man gave a cunning smile.

"Hehehe! Why wouldn't there be. Please come this way."

The place the old man took the two was the basement of the building.

As he entered the entrance of the basement, the old man asked Gwi Seongjin.

"Do you happen to know the name of the mushroom you are looking for?"

"I don't know. It's a mushroom I saw by chance when I was young, and I only remember that it was as hard as a stone and was black."

"A very peculiar mushroom. Such a mushroom is rare, so there are only a few here..."

The old man, speaking in a tone that lacked confidence, guided Gwi Seongjin to one side of the room.

As the old man had said, there were not a few rare mushrooms here.

Although a few of them were hard and black, unfortunately, they were not the type Gwi Seongjin was looking for.

"It seems it's not here either. The mushroom I saw had a bumpy surface and was much harder than these."

"That's a shame. By the way, can you tell me what you will use it for? I will recommend a mushroom with a similar efficacy."

"I don't feel like it."

Gwi Seongjin, who had expressed his refusal in a roundabout way, was about to go out but then stopped his steps.

It was because of the soil stored on one side of the room.

Although it was clearly soil, it was strangely shimmering with five colors.

"Hehehe. That is the True Spirit Soil used when planting precious trees or spiritual herbs. It's a precious item that you can't sell because you don't have it."

"What's the price?"

"Five taels of silver per geun."

Gwi Seongjin's mouth fell open when he heard the price of the True Spirit Soil.

Ho Risim even got angry.

"Are you kidding us now? To think this kind of soil is five taels of silver per geun..."

"I swear on my conscience, five taels of silver per geun is by no means a high price. The True Spirit Soil is rare and not easy to obtain, and this too was barely found after a year. It will probably be all sold out by tomorrow."

"Even so..."

Gwi Seongjin raised his hand and stopped Ho Risim, who was about to refute.

And he took out a gold coin of one tael from his bosom and handed it to the old man.

"Give me four geun of the True Spirit Soil."

"I understand. Four geun of the True Spirit Soil is twenty taels of silver, so one tael of gold is correct. If you also need a flowerpot, please choose one. I will give it to you for free to celebrate our first transaction."

"Thank you."

Gwi Seongjin, who had expressed his gratitude to the shop owner, pointed to a rather large flowerpot.

It was a flowerpot that suited the tree stored in his Qiankun Pouch.

"Is there anything else you want to buy?"

"It seems there's nothing downstairs. Let's go up."

"Yes."

While the group was going out of the basement, the owner called a clerk and instructed him to pack the items Gwi Seongjin had bought.

And he quickly followed Gwi Seongjin.

Gwi Seongjin, who had come up to the ground, bought a few more mushrooms.

He bought one of each type, including hard or black mushrooms, and even poisonous mushrooms.

The amount he had paid for the mushrooms was two taels of silver.

Compared to the soil he had bought in the basement, it was an amount of only one-tenth.

Was it because he had confirmed Gwi Seongjin's financial power?

When Gwi Seongjin was about to go out, the old man hinted at him and suggested.

"Can you draw the mushroom you are looking for? I will mobilize the connections I know and try to find it."

"...Good."

Gwi Seongjin, who thought he had nothing to lose, took out the paper with the mushroom drawn on it and handed it to the old man.

"If you find the item, please contact the Dark Spirit Council."

"I understand. Then please go safely."

The old man followed them to the front of the door and bowed politely.

And after watching the two leave without a word, he ran into the shop as if in a hurry.

He was somehow in an excited state.

Meanwhile, Gwi Seongjin, who had failed to find the mushroom he wanted, turned his steps to the west, soothing his disappointment.

It was the area where he had bought the barrier stones before.

The item Gwi Seongjin was trying to buy here was the material needed to repair the Nine Palaces Peach Blossom Formation.

The broken barrier banner was not an ordinary barrier tool, but a legal tool.

Perhaps because of that, it was not easy to find the material.

Still, since it was not a high-level legal tool, Gwi Seongjin was able to complete the materials with difficulty.

'Phew! At this rate, I'll use up all the money I received from Academician Yu.'

Gwi Seongjin, who had spent ten taels of silver on the materials, sighed inwardly.

The gold coins he had received as a reward for returning from the absolute forbidden zone now had only eight taels left.

(End of Chapter)