Chapter 64
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64
"My, if it isn't the administrator who was promoted to the new Master Stonemason! What might your name be?"
As Ise patrolled the Silver Dragon Mine alongside Goe Tong, a female laborer approached him, her voice sweet and coaxing.
Despite the laborers being mistreated to the point of starvation, this woman maintained an oddly neat and tidy appearance.
Her relaxed demeanor—unbelievable for a mere laborer—only heightened the sense of incongruity.
It was as if she had someone backing her up.
Not that it mattered. No matter who her backer was, no one in the Silver Dragon Mine possessed higher authority than he did.
"Back off. Take one more step, and I’ll chop off your wrist."
Even though her demonic energy was sealed by a restriction, Ise still found the approach of any demonic cultivator revolting.
"My, how frightening. I only meant to say hello since we crossed paths. Call it fate, perhaps?"
"Fate? Fate my foot, you wench! Get the hell back!"
Even at Goe Tong’s roar, the female demonic cultivator continued to smile brightly, creeping closer step by step.
Realizing words wouldn't work on her, Ise released a wave of killing intent. The laborer flinched, retreating a few steps before sauntering off with muttered complaints.
Becoming the Master Stonemason came with two major changes: upgraded living quarters and access to classified information.
Stored inside the Master Stonemason’s Office were bamboo slips containing detailed personal records of both the mission personnel and the laborers.
As Ise sifted through the contents to familiarize himself with his new duties, his eyes stopped on the personal record of the female demonic cultivator he had just encountered.
– Han Chun-hwa: 8-Star Qi Refining Demonic Cultivator. An Essence-Harvesting Demonic Cultivator, arrested after being caught capturing several Daoists of the Great Martial Dao to practice Plucking Yang to Nourish Yin.
Her original realm was higher than his own. At a glance, she was clearly a dangerous demonic cultivator.
Ise turned to Goe Tong, who had unexpectedly ended up back in his old role as supervisor, and asked,
"Regarding the demonic cultivators... Is there a reason they were only sealed with restrictions instead of having the Meridian-Severing Art used on them?"
"That? If you use the Meridian-Severing Art, you can't use them as miners. The rock in a spirit stone mine is as hard as diamond; a mortal body could never mine it. That's why, during the arrest phase, they select those with intact spirit roots, place restrictions on them, and put them to work as laborers."
At Goe Tong's answer, Ise tapped a jade slip labeled 'Restriction Art' stored in the Master Stonemason's archive.
"What’s on your mind, sir?"
"Nothing major."
He was merely a temporary Master Stonemason, but was there any harm in learning the restriction art practiced by true Master Stonemasons?
Ise quickly made up his mind.
It was a free dharma spell. How many spirit stones would it cost if he had to buy it at the Scripture Hall?
There was no reason to refuse.
* * *
Contrary to the Discipline Pavilion cultivator who had promised to send a replacement within a few days, nearly two months passed without a new Master Stonemason arriving.
Fortunately, no major incidents broke out in the meantime.
According to news brought by newly arrived mission personnel, the scattered remnants of the demonic path sects were putting up a surprisingly stubborn resistance.
"It seems everyone is swamped trying to eradicate them root and branch. Normally, war-related missions aren't assigned to Qi Refining cultivators, but exceptionally, even seniors at the Great Completion stage have been drafted this time."
If the situation outside was that severe, it would be embarrassing to complain. Ise decided to quietly accept his lot.
‘I have to earn my keep for those pills.’
The power of medicinal pills was truly magnificent.
Raising one's realm through pills was thrilling. The Jedan Sect was right, the Great Martial Dao was wrong, and Hall Master Hong Mi-hui was a god.
Three days ago, Ise had broken through the barrier of his minor realm and reached 8-Star.
It was an achievement ten months in the making since he reached 7-Star. He had barely managed to advance his timeline, which had threatened to take much longer than he'd targeted.
Naturally, the Mid-Grade Qi Condensation Pill crafted by Hall Master Hong Mi-hui played the decisive role.
As soon as he swallowed the Mid-Grade Qi Condensation Pill, it replenished the vast majority of his lacking spiritual energy. Better yet, it was a clear, pure energy that required no Cleansing Turbidity and Purifying the Spirit.
‘It didn't feel like breaking through a wall.’
The final grasp of energy had been tantalizingly elusive. Yet, memories of the battlefield hovering between life and death; the back of an old man who risked everything to save his parents; the heavy weight of farewells inherent to the path of longevity; the repeated questions of what immortal cultivation truly meant...
After delving deep into contemplation regarding the path of cultivation and longevity, repeating his thoughts on life and death, he had reached a conclusion.
‘Since I have embarked on immortal cultivation, I will not stop. I will press forward to the very end.’
That conclusion and resolve melted away the final layer of the barrier.
Rather than feeling blocked by a physical wall, it felt as though the process itself had simply been long and drawn out.
It was a natural progression. The amount of spiritual energy required for 8-Star was double that of 7-Star.
‘Next is 9-Star.’
Ise craved growth like a wild boar on a rampage.
* * *
Late at night.
Inside a shabby hut near the female laborers' area, a secret rendezvous was taking place.
As Goe Tong lifted the straw mat covering the entrance and walked in, the eyes of the woman waiting inside turned toward him.
Naturally lying down beside her, Goe Tong slyly reached out a hand.
The woman—Han Chun-hwa—coyly slapped it away.
"You haven't come looking for me lately. I suppose you've grown tired of me already."
"It’s not that! The newly appointed Master Stonemason is just far too strict. I can barely find a spare moment unless he goes into secluded cultivation!"
"I even overlooked how you cursed at me before. What was it you said? 'Get the hell back, you wench'?"
"Hey, that was just wordplay! 'Fate' sounds like 'wench'! It was a joke, why are you still holding onto it?"
"Who knows? The wound hasn't healed. Senior, I want to go back today. I'm just not in the mood."
"What? That won't do. I don't have many days left before I return. This might be our last time—are you really going to be like this?"
Softening at the reminder that he didn't have much time left, Han Chun-hwa pretended to give in, reluctantly releasing Goe Tong's hand. At once, his hands began to roam busily.
Though summer had long passed, inside this hut alone raged a scorching midsummer night.
"Senior~"
"Hmm?"
At Han Chun-hwa’s languid call, Goe Tong replied with a breathless gasp.
"Once Senior finishes your mission and leaves, how... how am I supposed to live?"
"……"
"If I undergo the Meridian-Severing Art and return to being a mortal, could I promise my hand in marriage to you, Senior?"
"That’s……"
Goe Tong couldn't answer.
To him, this was merely a fling to pass the nights.
Inwardly, he scoffed, 'Why would I pledge marriage to a mere mortal?' But right now, there was a far more pressing matter at hand than such stray thoughts.
"It’s impossible, isn’t it?"
"Why worry about such things now?"
"Today is our last day, right, Senior?"
"Probably. Tomorrow is the temporary Master Stonemason's patrol day. That guy has sharp senses, so we could never escape his gaze."
"Then, couldn't you lift my restriction just for a moment? Just for tonight?"
"What? What are you talking about?"
"I... I have mastered the Arts of the Bedchamber. Though, I suppose that's what got me branded as a demonic cultivator. Since it's our last night anyway, how about it? Want to experience a hotter... sweeter night than anything else in the world? I'll give you a night you'll never... ever forget, even after you leave me."
Her whispery, languid voice tickled his ear.
"But I don't know how to undo the restriction."
"I know how to unbind restrictions. Having lived a life where I never knew when I might be abducted..."
"Still... that seems a bit dangerous."
Han Chun-hwa gently pushed Goe Tong away. At the loss of contact, a burning thirst surged in his throat.
"I am only at 4-Star Qi Refining. Are you afraid of me?"
"It’s not that, but still..."
"Or was all the love you whispered to me from the start a lie? Did you just treat me as a temporary plaything?"
"No, it’s not that—"
"Then don't be afraid."
Han Chun-hwa’s touch pulled Goe Tong close again. Their joined hands guided his touch to the starting point of the unsealing—an intimate area of her body.
"Undoing the restriction starts right here. Channel your spiritual energy into my body. Slowly. As if playing an instrument."
Goe Tong's hands began to move as if bewitched.
A short moment later.
Han Chun-hwa stood up, sinking her fingernails deep into Goe Tong's throat.
Licking the blood dripping from her fingertips, she let out an enchanting, dangerous smile.
* * *
The night sky bore a crescent moon hanging askew, as thin as a thread of fine silk.
Suddenly, alarms blared loudly.
Someone had activated the Alarm Art Dharma Artifact installed at the mountain's peak.
Ise immediately burst out of the secret cave that Senior Shin Hyeon used to occupy.
As soon as he emerged, what met his eyes was demonic energy rampaging in all directions.
The demonic cultivators had been released from their restrictions.
Before the question 'How on earth?' could even fully form in his mind, Ise infused his voice with spiritual energy and roared:
"All mission personnel! Gather in front of the Master Stonemason’s Office!"
He didn't know what trick they had used, but as long as he held the Master Stonemason’s Office, the demonic cultivators couldn't escape.
The defensive formation of the Great Martial Dao would not allow it.
A moment later, seventeen people gathered.
Five were missing.
Goe Tong was absent, as was the night guard. The three assigned to the dawn patrol were nowhere to be seen either.
"What’s the situation?"
A mission operative, covered in injuries as if he had already engaged in combat, spoke up.
"Someone lifted all the restrictions on the demonic cultivators. It seems they ambushed the patrol group and are trying to gather all the demonic cultivators to break out... They'll probably head here—"
Before the operative could even finish speaking, a horde of demonic cultivators bearing torches came rushing toward them from the western shaft of the mine.
Their numbers reached a staggering one hundred.
Leading the charge was the demonic cultivator Han Chun-hwa. The demonic cultivators following her carried the severed heads of Great Martial Dao disciples in their hands.
In Han Chun-hwa’s hand was a familiar face: Goe Tong.
"……"
Ise stared at the severed head for a moment.
Then, he raised his eyes toward Han Chun-hwa.
"This damn Silver Dragon Mine really never gets a day of peace. Once my mission is over, I won't even piss in this direction."
Han Chun-hwa gave a bright smile.
"My, Master Stonemason. When you see someone, shouldn't you greet them warmly?"
Thick, sticky demonic energy surged around her.
The demonic energy he had encountered until now usually gave off a chilling sensation, but the energy emanating from this woman felt slimy and viscous.
Frowning, Ise spoke to the demonic cultivators:
"You can't get out anyway, so what is the point of this circus?"
"Why couldn't we get out?"
Han Chun-hwa pointed at the Master Stonemason’s Office behind Ise.
"Once we kill all of you, we just have to find the core energy sustaining the barrier formation and destroy it, don't we?"
It was true that physically destroying the core energy would collapse the barrier. If they could destroy it, that is.
Ise glanced at the tense faces of the cultivators beside him.
They were all painted with despair and terror.
The enemy outnumbered them five to one. Among the enemy, the highest realm was 8-Star.
Most of the formal disciples on Ise's side were at or below the Mid Qi Refining stage. And they likely still believed Ise's realm was only 7-Star.
Even if their bodies were those of starved and abused laborers, demonic cultivators were still demonic cultivators.
"Everyone, relax. It’s fine."
The one who reacted to Ise’s calm words was Han Chun-hwa.
She scanned Ise's realm once more, then tilted her head at a bizarre angle.
"You...? I heard you were at 7-Star, but looking at you now, you've reached 8-Star. But are my eyes playing tricks on me? Why does your qi feel like demonic energy?"
"Cut the nonsense."
Narrowing her eyes, Han Chun-hwa licked her upper lip.
"Right. Whatever the case... yours is a talent so astonishing it makes my mouth water."
Instead of answering, Ise drew the Twin Sickle Spirit Domain Uprising from his storage pouch.
He was not keen on having the effects of his ghost treasure widely known, but he could not allow more sacrifices among his comrades.
Nor was he willing to waste any more precious cultivation time.
He immediately swallowed an Explosive Spirit Pill in one gulp. At once, his internal qi began to surge frantically.
Gathering the surging demonic energy all at once, he slammed the Twin Sickle Spirit Domain Uprising forcefully into the ground.
Like a victorious conqueror declaring the battlefield as his domain.
A barrier expanded outward from the ghost treasure.
The translucent veil expanded, spreading across the space without stopping until it met the barrier at the mountain peak enclosing the entire mine.
In unison, the flow of demonic energy inside the demonic cultivators' bodies ground to a halt.
"……?"
For the first time, the smile froze on Han Chun-hwa's face.
The demonic energy she had just painstakingly restored was frozen immobile, as if sealed once more.
"W-What is this?!"
The demonic cultivators whose restrictions had been lifted struggled furiously to channel their demonic energy, but not a single person's energy responded.
"Say that again. You're going to kill whom and do what?"
Color returned to the faces of the formal disciples.
For whatever reason, the demonic cultivators were panicked and shaken.
"They're no different from mortals now. Don't worry."
The violent momentum from moments ago had completely vanished.
It had to be related to that Dharma artifact and the translucent veil spreading across the mine.
Ise spoke in a low voice.
"Subdue them all."
At that single command, the formal disciples moved as one.
Faced with the surging golden spiritual energy of the disciples, the demonic cultivators scrambled to flee in panic.
But there was nowhere to run.
Unlike the demonic cultivator who had used a formation before, the option to escape outside the barrier had been completely erased.
"I certainly managed things a bit too leniently. I'll have to reflect on that."