Chapter 11
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 11
“I see. But even if it was originally forged as a shovel, if it was custom-made to plow fields using the Cheonggang Sword Formula, wouldn’t it still hold its own as a weapon? Did it really fail to sell just because of the price?”
When Lee Hyun asked, Jo Beom shook his head.
“That’s the problem… the Earth-Shoveling Sword is a thoroughly awkward piece of work. When the smith carved the Soil-Softening restriction into it, they completely omitted the restriction that assists the Sword Control Technique.”
“So you can’t use sword control with it?”
“Exactly. Normally, even a low-grade magical artifact shaped like a sword comes with auxiliary restrictions so you can maneuver it effortlessly using spiritual power and divine sense. But with this one, pouring spiritual power in only activates the Soil-Softening Technique. That means if you want to use this Earth-Shoveling Sword for combat-level sword control, you have to levitate and direct this massive slab of iron through pure divine sense and brute spiritual power alone—without a shred of assistance from auxiliary restrictions.”
Jo Beom rapped his knuckles against the thick blade of the Earth-Shoveling Sword.
“In the end, it’s far too much for a Qi Refining cultivator’s divine sense to handle. You would need the spiritual power and divine sense of a senior at the Foundation Establishment stage just to manage basic sword control. But why would an esteemed Foundation Establishment senior bother buying an inferior, oversized chunk of metal like this? They would simply wield a high-grade artifact instead. So, it ended up utterly useless to everyone.”
“Can it still be used for close-quarters combat?”
“That, you can do. It’s forged from Black Iron mixed with Earth Bone Stone, so as long as you channel spiritual power into it, the edge won’t chip even against mid-grade magical artifacts.”
Having said his piece, Jo Beom looked Lee Hyun up and down with a skeptical eye.
“Don’t tell me you’re actually planning to buy it?”
“I am.”
“Didn’t you hear a word I just said? A Qi Refining cultivator can’t use sword control with this! Wouldn’t it be far wiser to buy a proper low-grade magical artifact?”
“Other swords can’t dig up dirt, can they?”
“Why on earth are you digging dirt?”
“Because I’m a spirit plant farmer.”
Jo Beom stared at Lee Hyun for a long, quiet moment. The young man’s complexion was worse than pale—it was sickly and sallow, with dark hollows beneath his eyes and an unkempt beard looking entirely out of place on a face that had yet to see twenty summers.
Tsk… So young, yet the poison of the Withered Yin Field has already rotted his mind. Well, the materials and durability are solid enough, at least.
A flicker of pity softened Jo Beom’s stern expression.
“…The price is sixty low-grade spirit stones. Normally, it would go for a hundred, but… it’s been gathering dust in the back of the shelf for nine years, so I’ll give you a steep discount. That is the absolute lowest price the Artifact Hall regulations allow.”
Lee Hyun quickly tallied the spirit stones inside his storage pouch.
Low-grade spirit stones… thirty-one saved from working under Senior Martial Brother No, and fifty-four received from the Withered Yin Field. That makes eighty-five in total…
“I’ll take it.”
“You won’t regret this?”
“Not at all. It fits what I need remarkably well.”
“Suit yourself.”
“I’d like to deduct whatever contribution points I have as well.”
Jo Beom took Lee Hyun’s identity token and pressed it against the Artifact Hall’s spirit medallion. The carved characters on the token blurred, and his contribution points dropped straight to zero.
Having spent the lion’s share at the Scripture Pavilion, very few points had remained; Lee Hyun still had to pay fifty-five low-grade spirit stones out of pocket.
After counting and stowing the stones, Jo Beom pulled a plain leather scabbard and a length of cord from beneath the counter, sliding them across the desk.
“Take these. No other sword would ever fit into this scabbard anyway. You’ll have to strap it across your back or sling it at your waist, so take the cord too.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother.”
“More importantly…” Jo Beom tapped the flat of the Earth-Shoveling Sword with his index finger. “A magical artifact isn’t something you can just buy and swing around right away. You have to refine it first.”
“Refine it?”
“Right. First, bite your finger to drop a bead of blood onto the blade, extend your divine sense, and imprint your brand upon the restriction. After that, you must meticulously wrap your spiritual power around the core restriction situated at the center of the artifact. Once the artifact accepts your spiritual power and the patterns resonate, it will recognize you as its master. Only then can spiritual power flow seamlessly through the Earth-Shoveling Sword, allowing you to trigger the Soil-Softening restriction inside. Since this artifact has relatively crude restrictions, it should take about two days, even for a novice. Have you by any chance read the Primer on Telekinesis and Sword Control?”
“I haven’t… read it.”
Lee Hyun almost blurted out that he had, but caught himself just in time. Wang So had been the one to check out the Primer on Telekinesis and Sword Control, while Lee Hyun had merely transcribed and memorized it in secret.
Though unlikely to be checked, it would invite needless trouble if Senior Martial Brother Jo discovered that the text was absent from Lee Hyun’s official borrowing records at the Scripture Pavilion.
“You can find it at the Scripture Pavilion. Standard magical artifacts don’t require complex, proprietary incantations to refine. What I just explained is the universal method, and the Primer on Telekinesis and Sword Control covers every detail.”
Jo Beom hoisted the Earth-Shoveling Sword with one hand and passed it over. A heavy, solid weight sank into Lee Hyun’s arms.
The weapon weighed a full ten catties—more than three times heavier than an ordinary mortal longsword.
Fortunately, having broken through to the second layer of Qi Refining, Lee Hyun possessed strength far beyond that of a normal man and could lift it with ease. Even so, wielding it effectively in actual combat would demand rigorous conditioning and practice.
* * *
Returning to his cabin at the Withered Yin Field, Lee Hyun immediately drew the Earth-Shoveling Sword from his storage pouch.
First, he mentally reviewed the refinement steps memorized from the Primer on Telekinesis and Sword Control.
Simply advancing to the Qi Refining stage enhanced a cultivator’s memory beyond anything a mortal could fathom. This mental evolution occurred because the primordial spirit was awakened the moment one successfully guided qi into the body.
Cultivators were fundamentally composed of three treasures: Essence, Qi, and Spirit—representing the physical vessel, spiritual power, and the primordial spirit.
When a mortal broke through the threshold of Guiding Qi into the Body to reach the Qi Refining realm, their entire nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, underwent a thorough baptism of spiritual power. This process birthed the primordial spirit, a profound concept encompassing the soul, mind, and divine spirit.
With the primordial spirit awakened, one’s cognitive faculties expanded exponentially; rarely would a cultivator ever forget something they had seen even once.
Resting the broad Earth-Shoveling Sword across his knees, Lee Hyun began the refinement process, combining Senior Martial Brother Jo’s instructions with the techniques detailed in the manual.
Two nights passed in deep concentration.
Even while tending to his daily duties across the spirit fields, Lee Hyun finally succeeded in mastering the weapon’s internal matrix!
Wuuung—
The minute formation lines carved across the blade flared with a faint, earthy yellow radiance, establishing a seamless link with Lee Hyun’s divine sense.
“Finally…!”
With the refinement complete, restless energy surged through his limbs. Leaving his secluded cabin, he slipped into the dense woods bordering the field.
After casting his senses about to ensure no one was watching, he took a wide stance and swung the Earth-Shoveling Sword at a withered tree.
Slash!
A trunk as thick as a man’s thigh was sheared through at a clean, sharp angle.
Though he had yet to truly master the Cheonggang Sword Formula and had merely struck with two hands while channeling raw spiritual power, the cut was remarkably smooth.
“Oho…”
Next, he stepped up to a grey boulder and brought the heavy blade down.
Crack!
Perhaps owing to his unpolished technique, the boulder only split halfway through, yet the Earth-Shoveling Sword came away without a single nick or scratch.
Lee Hyun channeled his qi, activating the Soil-Softening restriction.
A pulse of yellow light rippled across the thick steel, and the unyielding surface of the stone instantly turned as pliant as wet mud.
Thwack!
The broad, shovel-like tip sank effortlessly deep into the rock face.
Lee Hyun twisted the hilt and pried hard, levering a chunk of stone the size of a human head clean out of the boulder. It tumbled heavily onto the damp soil.
Incredible…!
* * *
Two months later, the perfect opportunity to leave the sect presented itself naturally.
The Yin Sand Soil used to maintain the Withered Yin Field had run critically low.
Yin Sand Soil was a pitch-black earth mined from deep underground caverns overflowing with rich yin qi. Periodically dusting it around the roots of Bone-Corroding Flowers and Purple Poison Orchids stabilized their volatile medicinal properties, preventing their toxic vapors from leaking out.
There was nowhere within the boundaries of Cheongha Valley to harvest this rare soil; it had to be dug by hand from an abandoned mine at Black Crow Ridge, more than a hundred li beyond the mountain gate.
By established tradition, the caretaker of the Withered Yin Field had to make the journey in person once every few years. Lee Hyun had discovered this while combing through the old field ledgers, and he had earmarked it as his primary escape route from the sect.
Leaving the sect grounds was not entirely impossible through other means, but using an official assignment provided the cleanest cover. It would deflect immediate suspicion, buying him crucial days before anyone realized he was gone. The longer it took for his escape to be uncovered, the lower the chances of pursuit.
Lee Hyun made his way to the Outer Sect Administration Pavilion and applied for the mission to harvest Yin Sand Soil.
The steward inscribed a temporary exit-and-entry permit onto his identity token, along with a strict mandate to return within seven days.
The day before his departure, Lee Hyun visited spirit field No. 73.
No Baek-san was hunched over the edge of the terrace, inspecting the delicate leaves of Clear Dew Herbs.
“What brings you here?”
“I’m heading out to Black Crow Ridge to collect Yin Sand Soil. I came by to pay my respects before setting off.”
“Why bother with a formal farewell for a short seven-day errand?” No Baek-san straightened up and scrutinized Lee Hyun’s face. “Your color isn’t half bad for someone living inside the Withered Yin Field.”
“It’s all thanks to the spells and habits you drilled into me, Senior Brother.”
“I hardly taught you anything. Listen to me: don’t get greedy and venture too deep into that mine for the Yin Sand Soil. Gathering what sits around the outer rims will be more than enough.”
“Yes, Senior Martial Brother.”
Lee Hyun bent at the waist, offering a deep, respectful bow.
“Senior Martial Brother No, thank you truly for everything you have done for me.”
No Baek-san narrowed his eyes, a flicker of confusion passing over his weathered face.
“You’re acting strange today.”
“Living in the Withered Yin Field simply made me realize that a cultivator’s life can end at any moment, that’s all.”
“Stop talking nonsense and just keep your wits about you.”
“I will remember your words.”
Though No Baek-san was technically just a senior martial brother, to Lee Hyun, he had served as an anchor and a guide.
Outer sect disciples rarely had the privilege of taking a master, so in practice, Senior Martial Brother No had filled that void. His advanced age and steady demeanor had made him feel like a true elder.
Lee Hyun had desperately wanted to repay him, just as he had gifted Vitality-Nourishing Pills to Wang So. But he had been forced to hold back; if anyone discovered that Lee Hyun possessed untouched pills despite working in the poisonous field, it would expose the secret behind his survival.
Offering any other gift was equally fraught. He had no spirit stones to spare, nor did he possess any treasure that would catch the eye of a veteran cultivator.
If fate allows me to encounter Senior Martial Brother No’s descendants in the distant future, I will repay this debt of gratitude. Even if I don’t know when, or if, I will ever return to Cheongha Valley…
* * *
At the crack of dawn the following morning.
Lee Hyun dragged out the wooden handcart that had sat neglected in a forgotten corner of the Withered Yin Field.
Pointing the open mouth of his storage pouch toward the cart, he funneled his spiritual power inward. A shimmering cone of light spilled from the pouch, enveloping the wooden frame.
The cart’s silhouette blurred like a reflection cast on water, shrinking rapidly before being sucked cleanly into the pouch’s interior.
With just the cart inside, Lee Hyun could feel that a significant portion of the small dimensional space was already occupied.
This basic storage pouch is far too cramped. Once I have the means later, getting a proper, expansive one is a top priority.
Stepping through Cheongha Valley’s mountain gate, Lee Hyun paused, instinctively glancing back over his shoulder. The jagged peaks of Cheongha Valley pierced the morning mist, regal and indifferent.
Farewell. May you all live long and prosper.
Beyond the mountain gates, Lee Hyun deliberately refrained from rushing.
He maintained the steady pace of an ordinary traveler heading toward Black Crow Ridge. He exchanged polite nods with passing woodcutters and herb gatherers, and when night fell, he paid for a room at a small roadside inn, intentionally registering his name on the manifest.
He needed an unmistakable trail, ensuring that anyone investigating his movements would conclude beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had headed straight for Black Crow Ridge.
On the afternoon of the second day, Lee Hyun reached the mouth of the abandoned mine.
A chilling, damp draft leaked from the cavernous entrance.
Conjuring a faint, hovering orb with the Glimmer Spell, Lee Hyun stepped into the gloom.
The mine had been deserted for decades. Rotted timber supports tilted precariously along the tunnels, and the damp path was choked with roof collapses and patches of black, stagnant sludge.
Deep inside, several hundred paces from the entrance, the rough walls and ground shifted into an eerie pitch-black hue. Scooping up a handful of earth, he felt an icy thread of yin qi creep along the skin of his palm.
Lee Hyun summoned both the cart and the Earth-Shoveling Sword from his storage pouch.
Infusing the blade with qi, he triggered the Soil-Softening restriction. The broad edge sliced into the rocky floor like a hot knife through grease, turning the dense earth soft and manageable.
He shoveled until the cart was loaded to the brim with Yin Sand Soil.
Without clear proof of him carrying out his mission, the sect would immediately realize he had planned to defect from the very beginning.
Once the cart was overflowing, Lee Hyun produced a large, sealed wooden crate from his storage pouch.
He proceeded to fill this second container with Yin Sand Soil as well.
While the cart was merely a prop to stage the scene, the soil in the crate was an investment—a precious supply he could use to nurture cold-attribute spirit herbs within his hidden tunnels later on.
It wasn’t an absolute necessity, but since the opportunity was right in front of him, he refused to leave it behind.
Fastening the heavy lid tight, he slipped the crate back into the pouch. Then, Lee Hyun took his time reconnoitering every tunnel, crevice, and blind corner both inside and outside the abandoned mine.
Around sunset, rain began to patter against the mountain slopes.
What began as a soft drizzle quickly deteriorated into a torrential storm as darkness fell, unleashing a downpour so fierce it erased all sight of the paths outside.
Perfect timing.
Lee Hyun dragged the loaded cart toward a dead-end fork deep inside the cavern complex.
Reaching the cul-de-sac, he tipped the cart hard onto its side, sending the black earth spilling across the wet stone.
Raising the Earth-Shoveling Sword, he smashed one of the wooden wheels to splinters and battered the cart’s sideboards until it looked as though it had violently slammed into the jagged cave wall.
Nearby, faint scratches scarred the rock—ancient claw marks left by some subterranean beast long ago. Studying their pattern, Lee Hyun used the tip and edges of his heavy blade to carve several fresh, jagged furrows into the surrounding stone.
It wasn’t an exact match, but in the depths of a dark cave during a raging storm, no investigator would be able to spot the discrepancy.
Next, Lee Hyun shredded one of his outer sect robes and hooked the tattered fabric onto a sharp outcropping of rock. Finally, he pressed his outer sect identity token halfway into the mud nearby.
To any pursuer, the scene would tell a clear, tragic story: an inexperienced disciple ambushed by a feral predator or a subterranean beast, slaughtered, and dragged down into one of the abyssal crevices.
Beneath the mine’s floor lay several bottomless vertical shafts; with torrential water currently flooding the underground network, any attempt to search the depths would be nearly impossible.
Lee Hyun kept his second sect robe sealed inside the storage pouch. Leaving both robes behind while his pouch was missing would only look deliberate and suspicious.
Stripping down, he changed into coarse, commoner brown garments he had prepared in advance. He tied his hair back firmly with a rough cloth wrap and smeared yellow clay across his face, neck, and hands.
Moving to the farthest chamber of the mine, he halted before the solid stone wall he had selected earlier as his escape vector. He brought his hands together, weaving the hand seal for the Earth Escape Technique.
His Primordial Unity True Qi shifted, taking on the heavy, receptive nature of the earth attribute. As the golden-brown qi cloaked his skin, the unyielding rock wall before him softened like standing water.
Lee Hyun stepped forward, and the stone swallowed him whole.
Surrounded entirely by cold earth, pitch darkness claimed his sight. He could draw no breath through his mouth or nose.
Circulating the Breath-Holding Formula, he pushed his divine sense outward in a thin aura.
The differing textures of packed dirt and jagged stone registered faintly in his mind. Selecting a path with minimal rock density, Lee Hyun pushed slowly through the underground strata.
The Earth Escape Technique guzzled spiritual power at an alarming rate. Part of it was his green mastery, but fundamentally, it was an advanced art never meant to be sustained by a cultivator merely at the second layer of Qi Refining.
After advancing only a hundred zhang, he felt the Primordial Unity True Qi in his dantian dropping precariously low. The protective earth qi clinging to his skin began to flicker, and the immense weight of the earth began bearing down directly on his flesh.
If my qi runs dry in here, won’t I be crushed alive beneath the mountain…?
The crushing pressure mounted with every passing second. Even with the Breath-Holding Formula active, the primal terror of suffocation clawed at his focus. The claustrophobia of total, unbroken darkness was far more terrifying than anything he had imagined.
He quickly discarded the idea of relying solely on the Earth Escape Technique, immediately integrating the Soil-Turning Spell and the Earth-Shoveling Sword into his progress.
Using his divine sense to seek out softer pockets of sediment, he loosened them ahead of him with the Soil-Turning Spell, then used the broad Earth-Shoveling Sword to pry and burrow forward through the newly opened gaps.
Where loose dirt stretched ahead, he slipped through using the Earth Escape Technique; where the rock grew dense and stubborn, he softened it step-by-step with the sword’s innate restriction.
Alternating between all three techniques reduced his spiritual power consumption by more than half.
As he settled into a rhythmic pace, confidence slowly steadied his nerves. Relying on the mental map he had burned into his memory, he maintained his bearing beneath the shifting subterranean terrain.
Half a shichen later, his reaching divine sense finally brushed against open air above.
Plop!
The sodden earth tore open, and Lee Hyun burst through a cluster of thick briars on the outer mountain slope.
“Phaah!”
Collapsing into the mud, he sucked in great, greedy lungfuls of air, his chest heaving violently.
The biting mountain wind and freezing rain beat against his face. Simply filling his lungs with unhindered air brought an overwhelming, intoxicating rush of freedom!
“Phew…”
Wiping the muck from his eyes, he scanned the misty landscape. He had breached the surface on the far side of the mountain ridge, precisely where he had aimed.
Shwaaa—
The torrential rain showed no sign of stopping, relentlessly pounding the hillside and washing the clinging soil from his body and clothes. Any footprints he left behind would be obliterated by the deluge within seconds.
Allowing himself only a brief moment to catch his breath, Lee Hyun circulated his spiritual power, lightened his steps with the Lightness Technique, and vanished into the stormy night, heading straight south toward the Untaek Kingdom.