Chapter 105
Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Sacred Star Secret Realm (1)
The Sacred Star Secret Realm opens in the middle of a vast, barren plain devoid of anything. To be more precise, it opens in a wasteland where everything was obliterated by wars waged by various cultivation powers vying for control of the Sacred Star Secret Realm in ancient times.
"From what I know, about 2,700 years ago, a war broke out during the third opening after the discovery of the Sacred Star Secret Realm."
If Saran hadn't informed me of the secret realm's exact location and origins, I might have mistaken the bizarre traces scattered across the wasteland for something resembling the formations of the Sacred Star Secret Realm.
In fact, some cultivators ignorant of the information were circling particularly unusual traces, warding off others or investigating them. If I hadn't known these were remnants of the war left by cultivators 2,700 years ago, I might have been similarly captivated by those pointless marks, wasting energy fighting other cultivators.
While the uninformed cultivators squabbled over the traces, those too reluctant to join the fray or like me, who knew the information and quietly awaited the realm's opening, settled in various spots.
A great many cultivators had come seeking the Sacred Star Secret Realm, which opened only once every 300 years. Core Formation Realm cultivators like myself were innumerable—my divine sense casually swept over roughly a thousand—and the number of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators was far from small either.
'There are cultivators from other cultivation worlds as well.'
There were cultivators in unfamiliar robes I'd never seen while traveling the Central Spirit World, others riding spirit beasts I'd never encountered, and even demonic cultivators or beast cultivators.
Saran patiently explained which cultivation world each came from and what abilities their spirit beasts possessed.
'How do you know so much?'
A voice from Saran echoed within my soul in response to my mental question.
"My husband was a pill refiner, so I traveled the world gathering pill refinement materials for him."
I nodded in understanding at Saran's reply. Would I end up as well-traveled as her after wandering for cultivation?
"Bandou, we meet here."
"Seong Dou! It feels like ages—maybe a century—since last we met."
"I was away in a neighboring cultivation world."
"Mi Madam, how about cooperating this time? As long as our goals don't overlap, we can surely work together."
"Very well. What I seek this time is..."
Perhaps because the secret realm was indeed dangerous, cultivators seeking allies filled the surroundings. Many who knew about the Sacred Star Secret Realm and had lingered here long seemed to be longtime acquaintances, banding together.
A few even approached me.
"Um, Daoist... would you perhaps join me?"
"The Sacred Star Secret Realm is perilous, so allying would be wise. Ah, if you wish, even after exiting the realm..."
"Do you have a Dao companion?"
I politely smiled and turned them away. After repeatedly refusing the women for a while, the rejected ones ended up forming their own alliance and settling nearby.
For a moment, I found myself surrounded by a group of women, leaving Saran speechless.
"Master? Did you use an enchantment art?"
'No, they just approached on their own.'
"Does that make sense? Why are they positioned like they're guarding you?"
'Hm. Because I'm handsome?'
Saran responded to my words as if I were spouting nonsense.
"What kind of ridic— Hm... Ahem..."
'It's not entirely ridiculous, right?'
"...Ahem!"
Saran ultimately said nothing more.
She hadn't reacted much to my face at first glance... Was her changing feelings toward me making her respond to it now?
'Does my face work better or worse depending on the target's affinity for me?'
It was possible.
Loved ones seem endearing in everything, while hated ones appear loathsome no matter what.
I suddenly recalled how Geum So-ryeo's attitude toward me had grown subtly warmer since our first meeting, wondering how I appeared to Hyang-mae or other women.
'Could enchantment or illusion arts be my path?'
The thought crossed my mind, but such illusion techniques weren't my style. Among current illusion spells, I had the Bewitching Appearance Reversal Song, though I used it less than others.
The reason was simple: It never quite felt right in my hands, so I naturally avoided it.
'Attacking, blocking, dodging... I prefer intuitive spells like that.'
Still, I should learn a variety of spells for times when direct approaches fail. More spells and divine abilities were always better, just like dharma treasures.
You never knew when or where you'd need a particular treasure or ability.
After a few days like this, the center of the wasteland warped dramatically, birthing a mass of black substance filled with countless stars.
The scene resembled ink dissolving in water, as mesmerizing as if a chunk of the universe had been transplanted here.
'...It doesn't feel like the Primordial Secret Realm.'
Probably not a fragment of the Immortal Realm. The profound vastness and futility I'd sensed there were absent.
In the Primordial Secret Realm, my existence was less than roadside pebbles or random weeds.
Thus, I'd tripped over tiny stones smaller than my fingernail and been sliced to the bone by flimsy blades of grass. This realm lacked that sensation, which was somewhat reassuring.
'Saran. What must we do to reach our destination?'
"One moment."
Saran observed the outside through my eyes, deciphering the stellar clusters amid the cosmic ripples.
The star clusters never stayed still, constantly shifting form. Especially when a cultivator entered, the configuration changed drastically, preventing followers from pursuing the same path.
'Fascinating.'
While others diligently analyzed the formations and feng shui of the star clusters, I leisurely admired the stars, leaving everything to Saran.
Soon after, Saran indicated the position for the Mystic Moon Stone. I flew there, placed it, and infused spiritual power. The cosmic space rippled, reshaping the star cluster to admit me into the realm.
Once inside, I spread my divine sense to quickly survey the surroundings.
The Sacred Star Secret Realm was a space of endless night.
The stars in the sky were a hundred times larger than seen from the ground, every constellation vividly formed and frolicking across the night sky.
Occasionally, constellations clashed, sending stars plummeting to the ground with massive impacts and spiritual qi waves—a truly spectacular sight.
Apart from this peculiar night sky, the realm consisted of thirteen massive, flat continental plates stacked in layers. Each plate featured different constellations and skies, with the lowest-grade heavenly materials and earthly treasures on the first layer and the most powerful on the thirteenth.
The purer and stronger the Mystic Moon Stone used for entry, the higher the layer one could access.
That was why cultivators vied for superior stones. After hearing from Saran, I'd acquired one permitting access to the thirteenth layer.
"The realm stays open for a year, right?"
"Yes, Master."
"I can't spare a full year... Let's grab what we need quickly and leave."
Under Saran's guidance, I swiftly traversed the Sacred Star Secret Realm.
The Cloud Concealment Art, executed via Harmonization, granted speed rivaling Nascent Soul Realm cultivators. I hurtled through at terrifying velocity, drawing an exclamation from Saran.
"This speed... It's truly..."
"Why?"
"It's no exaggeration that Harmonization lets one rival Nascent Soul Realm cultivators."
"You didn't believe it?"
"A little... It was hard to believe. A fusion art granting power transcending major realms. Of course, the insights you shared on Harmonization were profoundly deep, so I expected considerable might."
"You thought it'd only bridge minor realms at best?"
"Yes. Even that would be remarkable. I've never heard of a fusion usable by one person that amplifies power so dramatically."
Elated by Saran's praise, I laughed heartily while soaring through the realm.
Occasionally, spirit beasts native to the realm attacked, but I effortlessly dispatched them with my fully powered Bi Jun Sword, storing their corpses in my storage pouch as I went.
"Master, your Dao combat aptitude is exceptional."
After I'd slain about a dozen spirit beasts, Saran addressed me in a voice tinged with peculiar fondness.
"Yeah. I've always received praise for my Dao combat talent. I used it and Harmonization to smash the noses of those who despised me."
"I did the same. Hehe, it felt great putting down those who underestimated me or lusted after my body."
"Exactly. I felt amazing when I took down a Core Formation perfection Senior Brother back in Foundation Establishment."
Saran seemed to fancy Dao combat aptitude, responding enthusiastically and later sharing tales from her Qi Refining days.
Most were about fights—whom she battled, how she won, what she seized—but I listened with pleasure.
True to her Soul Transformation Realm stature, she recounted her Qi Refining exploits from her current perspective, weaving in profound insights that proved immensely helpful.
"Do you know of the Azure Armor Cultivation World? It's a place for cultivators with superior Dao combat aptitude like us."
"Hm. Maybe visit someday?"
They'd probably come invading first anyway.
In the midst of our chat, using a 'backdoor' Saran knew, I skipped layers and reached the thirteenth in an instant.
Surveying the thirteenth layer, I spotted my target—a dragon-shaped constellation flying about—but refrained from hunting, observing instead.
Soon, five Nascent Soul Realm cultivators seeking the dragon constellation banded together to hunt it. After a three-day struggle, the defeated dragon fled.
But the five pursued relentlessly... only for the starry sky to split open, devouring both the dragon and the cultivators whole.
"Master, that's our target."
Saran spoke calmly despite the absurdity.
"Angler Starry Heaven Fish. Specifically, one bearing a dragon-shaped lure infused with draconic aura. It camouflages in the starry sky, luring prey with the bait and dissolving their spiritual power into dust upon capture, rendering them powerless."
I watched the dragon constellation reemerge nonchalantly before speaking.
"Saran."
"Yes, Master."
"Truth is, I hate fish... They give me rashes if I get too close."
"Didn't you enjoy them at the banquet?"
"...Sigh."
I sighed and pondered how to catch the thing. Sending Saran would taint the heavenly treasure with nether qi, so I had to do it myself...