Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Ascension (3)
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Seoran, Damcheong, and Deng Jingun gathered together and headed for the bureau.
No one knew the bureau's location, but it didn't matter.
Deng Jingun knew the Pathfinding Spell.
During the flight, Seoran asked,
"What’s this Pathfinding Spell? It’s amazing. Can it pinpoint and track a specific target?"
"No, it can’t be used that way. The Pathfinding Spell only points to the nearest Ascension Monuments."
"Ascension Monuments?"
Deng Jingun gazed into the distance as he replied.
"I’ll explain that in a bit. It looks like they’ve settled in a place closer to the central district than I thought. We’re almost there. Let’s slow down for now."
"Huh? Why?"
"Naturally, we need to get our stories straight first."
Damcheong asked with a puzzled look.
"Why do we need to do that?"
"Are you planning to tell them everything honestly? That Investigator Liu ascended from the mortal world at the young age of 65, and that you, Damcheong, ascended alongside an entire specific race while carrying a Dharma Treasure? You’d draw way too much attention for a normal life."
"Indeed, that makes sense."
After a moment of thought, Deng Jingun said,
"First, let’s change Investigator Liu’s age. Inflate it tenfold to around 650 years—that’s fitting, and easy to remember as a lie. We can say the Black Bamboo Sect and Gold Forge Sect were always part of a single minor sect to downplay the numbers... And for you, Damcheong, let’s say you ascended alone like the other dragons."
Damcheong asked,
"What about the merfolk?"
"We’ll just call them an undiscovered native species of the immortal realm. Got it? You met the merfolk in the immortal realm, Damcheong? And absolutely never mention the Dharma Treasure."
"Understood. I’ll keep that in mind."
Deng Jingun continued,
"And from now on, be careful with my title. 'Jingun' is a honorific reserved only for transcendents of Quasi-True Immortal realm or higher. Using it carelessly could cause big trouble. It might even reach the ears of some unknown enemy of mine."
Seoran said,
"So what should we call you from now on? Investigator Deng?"
"Let’s make up a pseudonym entirely. Hmm... Baekwol. I like the ring of Baekwol. It’s decided—my name is now Deng Baekwol."
"Do we not need to change your surname? Vendettas often tie into bloodlines or family names."
Deng Baekwol shrugged as he said,
"The Deng clan is one of the top hundred surnames in the immortal realm. That means it’s extremely common. As long as you don’t use the 'Jingun' title, they’ll never find me."
Seoran felt inexplicably uneasy at Deng Baekwol’s confident assurance.
*****
The group soon arrived at their destination.
The place where Seoran’s group had settled was called District Im-6.
Skyscrapers dotted the area around the Ascension Monuments installed by the Immortal Realm International Alliance, Peach Blossom Haven.
This was the heart of District Im-6.
Deng Baekwol lowered the altitude as he said,
"From here on, it’s a flight altitude restriction zone."
"What happens if we keep flying high?"
"After one warning, they open fire from the skies."
Seoran and Damcheong obediently lowered their altitude without complaint.
They finally reached their goal: the Ascension Monuments.
The Ascension Monuments were a cluster of steles floating in the air.
Deng Baekwol explained in a tour guide-like tone,
"What you see before you are the Ascension Monuments. There are 110 steles in total. Once a cultivator completes the ascension ritual and reaches True Immortal realm, their name is engraved there."
Seoran asked,
"So does that mean there are currently 110 True Immortal cultivators in the immortal realm?"
"No, not at all. Take a close look at the steles in the highest positions—the ones with unusual shapes. Out of ten, three are empty, right?"
"Oh, you’re right."
Deng Baekwol continued his explanation.
"I mentioned before that True Immortals are divided into two or three stages, remember? When a Quasi-True Immortal undergoes the ascension ritual, they become a World-Crossing Immortal. The next stage is Earth Immortal. The Ascension Monuments consist of 100 World-Crossing Immortal steles and 10 Earth Immortal steles. Whenever a new immortal is born, the heavens engrave a title like 'So-and-So Jingun' onto one."
Damcheong, who had been closely observing the Ascension Monuments, said,
"So the existing True Immortals are just seven Earth Immortals and eighty-four World-Crossing Immortals?"
"Yes, exactly. The blank steles represent open slots."
"What happens when all the slots are filled?"
Deng Baekwol replied,
"I’m not entirely sure. Probably no one can reach True Immortal until a vacancy opens? Or maybe the ascension ritual itself becomes impossible..."
This time, Seoran asked,
"What’s the third stage of True Immortal?"
"Oh, that? With 100 World-Crossing steles and 10 Earth Immortal steles, plenty of people speculate there might be one more stele above them, following the pattern. Sounds plausible, right? That’s why some chatter about a supreme realm called Heavenly Immortal after Earth Immortal. Of course, it’s all baseless."
"You know a lot about this."
Deng Baekwol gave a slight smile as he said,
"This is just common knowledge. Ah, it’s getting late. Let’s head to the bureau now."
Seoran took one last look at the Ascension Monuments.
At the very top, among the ten Earth Immortal steles, one in particular caught her eye.
It bore the title "Layer-Piercing Heavenly Response Jingun."
Moments later, the group followed the signs to the bureau.
*****
Seoran stared blankly at the calendar hanging on the wall.
Surprisingly, the immortal realm’s calendar was remarkably similar to the one from the mortal world where she was born.
They called it the Three Thousand Worlds encompassing the immortal, nether, and mortal realms—so coincidences like this existed, she thought.
Ding-a-ling.
Seoran’s head turned toward the electronic board.
The others seated nearby did the same.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t her number.
Ding-a-ling again.
The number on the board had nothing to do with Seoran’s ticket.
Instead, Damcheong and Deng Jingun stood up.
Seoran endured another stretch of waiting as she watched their backs heading to the counter.
Ding-a-ling.
Seoran alternated between the board and her ticket before leaping to her feet.
She dashed to the counter.
It was finally her turn.
The clerk’s soulless voice greeted her.
"Please place your ticket here. What’s your business?"
The human clerk across from her was a Soul Transformation cultivator.
Deng Baekwol had already told her that hiring requirements varied wildly by race.
For reference, human cultivators could apply starting from Soul Transformation.
That was when the soul transcended limits, eliminating the need for sleep and language barriers.
Of course, the bureau’s insane work environment was none of Seoran’s concern.
"I’m here for ascendant registration."
"Name and age?"
"Liu Seoran, 650 years old."
The clerk pulled a jade toad from a drawer.
"Put your hand in the toad’s mouth."
"Yes."
"Good. Don’t pull it out—hold still. A bit longer. Yes, all done. You can remove it now."
As Seoran withdrew her hand, the jade toad cried out,
"Cultivation: Soul Transformation! Dimensional transfer traces detected in the body!"
The clerk hurriedly jotted something down as he said,
"Confirmed. Read this guide later when you get home. Shall I issue your ascension certificate?"
"Yes, please. And where do I file for unclaimed land occupation?"
"That’s on the 52nd floor, Land Division."
Seoran pocketed the ascension certificate and guide before standing.
The clerk quickly rang the bell.
The next petitioner approached the counter.
Damcheong, having completed his ascendant registration with Deng Baekwol’s help, was waiting for Seoran.
"All done?"
"Yes, registration complete. Now let’s go file for unclaimed land occupation. They said Land Division on the 52nd floor."
"52nd floor! Then we can try the elevator!"
Deng Baekwol, who had been listening quietly, said,
"Ah, before that, we have one more stop. You got the ascension certificate, right? Good, you didn’t forget. Let’s head straight to the commercial district."
Deng Baekwol led Seoran and Damcheong out of the bureau.
*****
The group arrived at a government-run auction house.
Seoran, who had only bad memories of auctions, recoiled.
Damcheong was busy gawking at everything.
Deng Baekwol, checking the facility map, said,
"Item registration is on the 12th floor. Let’s go."
They rode the elevator up, where a staff member greeted them.
Seoran handed a wooden box from her sleeve to the staff.
Inside were two earth spirit fruits.
They were the remnants from the five received from the Ten Great Sects of the Eastern Continent, minus the wood spirit fruits eaten by Seoran, Yeomujin, and Geum Gyowol.
The staff registered the two earth spirit fruits for auction.
They even advanced the starting bid amount in cash.
They were told the difference from the final sale price, minus fees, could be collected later.
Seoran clutched her money pouch and muttered,
"Is this really okay...?"
Deng Baekwol said,
"We need funds right away. Plus, items as liquid as spirit fruits are rare. No risk of going unsold, and the fees alone are substantial. Government auction houses don’t advance starting bids for nothing."
"That good?"
"Those two earth spirit fruits will likely end up with Quasi-True Immortal cultivators. Maybe even a World-Crossing Immortal. Parents all wish long life for their children and cherished descendants."
Damcheong, utterly lost, followed as the group left the auction house.