Chapter 110: Plum Shadow Pavilion (1)

The Puppet Demonic Warlord couldn’t scold Karlstein for dabbling not only in Puppet Techniques but also in Alchemy, Forging Techniques, and other cultivation methods.

It was because he really did have time to spare.

“I’ve already finished this one, though? Teach me something else.”

[What? Already….]

Karlstein’s cultivation speed was terrifying. It was the result of Automatic Cultivation and the talent of a Heavenly Spiritual Root.

[Wasn’t he sleeping?]

“Junior Brother now cultivates even during narcolepsy…”

Under the full support of the Galactic Empire and the guidance of the Puppet Demonic Warlord, he thrived like a fish in water.

[It’s impossible with the Qi Refining Stage. You need to reach the next realm, the Foundation Building Stage, for it to be possible.]

“Then there’s no helping it.”

At that, the Puppet Demonic Warlord had nothing to say.

Could it be said that he was too perfect a disciple?

After all, even his realm was…

“Junior Brother…. No, I can’t even call you Junior Brother anymore.”

“Yihong. Call me Senior Brother.”

“…”

He who was at 8 Stars of the Qi Refining Stage not long ago had risen to 13 Stars of the Qi Refining Stage. Even though Zhang Yihong, not wanting to fall behind her Junior Brother, had cultivated hard and risen to 9 Stars.

“Hong. Fetch me some water.”

“…”

She strongly felt the futility of life.

At any rate.

“Is it time to step outside now?”

“Everyone will be shocked and fall over.”

[I’m certainly curious. I wonder how the world has changed after so many years.]

There was a limit to staying cooped up in a room cultivating forever.

“What did you say was needed to reach the Foundation Building Stage?”

***Karlstein, who had completed the construction of the shelter within the Prohibitions of Metal Spiritual Mountain, also opened a side passage with the help of the Puppet Demonic Warlord.

He didn’t go out through the main entrance(?) leading to the hut.

“It’s troublesome, isn’t it?”

“No but… Master must be waiting…”

He didn’t know many people, but if he encountered Ma Yucheol, there would be a lot to explain, starting with what had happened.

“He’ll probably forget after some time passes. He didn’t seem to care much anyway.”

“…”

Zhang Yihong absolutely didn’t think so, but she kept her mouth shut.

Well, in the current situation, if they encountered someone, it was obvious that troublesome things would happen for Junior Brother Gahwi.

“When I reach the Foundation Building Stage, won’t Ma Yucheol become a fellow Senior Brother? Then troublesome things should decrease too.”

“No, what…”

How could he think of abandoning the original system laid down by their ancestors so nonchalantly?

No, it’s not wrong, but…

The cultivation world was a world where ability and realm were everything.

Even if you started as the youngest disciple, if you surpassed others in realm, positions would be reversed in the Xianxia world.

Only ability! Only realm!

That was rather to Karlstein’s liking.

“Rather than that, can you become an Elder with just the Foundation Building Stage?”

“

The next realm after the Qi Refining Stage was the Foundation Building Stage.

It went beyond just refining Spiritual Power. Perhaps it could be called the realm of properly condensing it within the body?

Although the culture differed slightly between cultivation sects, generally, cultivators at the Foundation Building Stage managed the main sect.

Starting from the Core Formation Stage, the next realm, they focused on personal cultivation and didn’t take on miscellaneous management positions.

“From Masters of the Core Formation Stage and above, they are practically the key combat strength of sects.”

“Is that so? Hmm. That sounds convenient.”

“Convenient…?”

Zhang Yihong was confused due to Junior Brother, no, Senior Brother Gahwi, whose values were very different from ordinary cultivators.

“Anyway, you said we need something called the Foundation Building Pill to reach the Foundation Building Stage, right?”

“Yes…”

This was unavoidable even for a Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Accumulating cultivation within the Qi Refining Stage to rise from 1 Star to 13 Stars could not be compared to crossing over to the Foundation Building Stage.

The process of crossing from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Building Stage required not only Spiritual Power, ability, and enlightenment, but also special Spiritual Pills and luck.

“Probably less than 10% of cultivators at 13 Stars of the Qi Refining Stage cross over to the Foundation Building Stage.”

Even saying 10% was generous; in reality, it must be much worse.

“Even monsters of talent can’t avoid this? How troublesome.”

“Monsters of talent…?”

[Just what does he think cultivation is? Forget it! Don’t pay attention to this punk’s words!]

This time, it was the Puppet Demonic Warlord’s turn to comfort Zhang Yihong.

[More importantly, let’s hurry and go! Seeing this punk, the world must have changed a lot too. I can’t wait!]

“It’s better not to expect too much…. Gahwi is particularly unusual…”

“Hahaha.”

Karlstein told Zhang Yihong to just speak casually. It felt awkward to hear formal speech like “Senior Brother” at this point.

“Ah, is that the shopping street?”

Tall pavilions were lined up, and numerous cultivators were striding through the streets. Flying was prohibited here, so even cultivators had to walk on two legs.

“Yes. All those stalls are free markets, and the pavilions are run by shop owners who paid tribute to the Flame Metal Sect and obtained operating rights.”

“Hmm…. A market in a sect, huh.”

The Flame Metal Sect alone had over 300,000 members.

“I guess it’s natural for a market to form?”

Although called a market street, it was an area the size of a decent city.

“Our Flame Metal Sect’s Dharma Tools are quite famous outside, so outsiders frequently come and go.”

“Is that so.”

[I can’t wait to look around!]

Thanks to Zhang Yihong, who had stayed in the Flame Metal Sect for a long time, they could wander the streets without getting lost.

[Ah, hurry inside! Inside!]

The old Puppet was urging them with an excited voice like a child.

However, it didn’t take long for that voice to change to disappointment.

[What on earth is going on?]

“…”

[Why are there only such crude things….]

“Old man, what did you expect?”

[Impossible! What about the technology that went into your Puppets?!]

“That’s why I said not to expect too much.”

[How can this be?]

The old Puppet had only seen the items Karlstein had brought from the Galactic Empire, so he seemed to have thought the world had changed a lot during his seclusion within the Prohibitions.

It was a great misunderstanding.

[Technology and civilization are like the wheels of a carriage! There can’t be something tilted to just one side!]

“Haha.”

[Ordinary people can’t have better technology than cultivators. I mean, putting aside everything else….]

The Puppet Demonic Warlord, who had been muttering in frustration, suddenly stopped.

[Just what is your identity? Things don’t add up at all. The technology used in your Puppets is absolutely not something that can be created in such a crude civilization.]

“How many times do I have to say it? I’m the Strongest Supreme King God Emperor of the Universe.”

Karlstein’s playful tone.

[I knew you were crazy… but you’re an even crazier bastard than I thought.]

“Hahaha.”

Because of this behavior, the Puppet Demonic Warlord was still half in doubt, unable to fully believe his words.

[At any rate, let’s go back. If it’s just this level, there’s nothing more to see!]

“What? Already? We haven’t even looked around properly?”

[I hate to say this, but after seeing your Puppets, looking at these crude Dharma Tools feels like my eyes are rotting. It would be more beneficial to dissect your Puppets.]

“Who said you could? Haha.”

[Kuh!]

He ignored the old man’s minor complaints.

“Let’s go there first.”

“Huh? Th-There?”

The place he pointed to was the tallest pavilion, obvious at a glance.

Zhang Yihong stuttered in surprise.

“Hm? Is there a problem?”

“That place… I know it only deals in high-end products. They won’t accept just anyone.”

“Then there’s no problem, right?”

“Huh?”

“I’m not just anyone, am I? Haha.”

[….]

“Let’s go and see.”

As Zhang Yihong had said, it was indeed a pavilion that gave a splendid and high-class feeling, unlike other places. The eyes of the cultivators coming and going from the pavilion were also fierce.

Of course, Karlstein headed towards the entrance more confidently than anyone else.

***“How boring.”

Plum Shadow Pavilion, the best-selling pavilion in this marketplace.

He, who was guarding the entrance of Plum Shadow Pavilion, nodded while scanning passing cultivators with his eyes.

His role was to stop poor lower-realm cultivators who might come just to look around.

There were especially many such cases when the Plum Shadow Pavilion’s Flame Metal Sect branch first opened.

“Now even those punks don’t show up much.”

Those who knew, knew. That ordinary funds were far from enough.

Plum Shadow Pavilion’s prices were much higher than other places.

Because of that, one might think customers would stop coming, but that was absolutely not the case. That was because they only dealt in high-quality Dharma Tools.

“Hm?”

A man and woman in strange attire caught his eye. He quickly scanned them from head to toe.

What’s this?

They don’t look like they have enough to come to a place like this?

He had been guarding this entrance for over a decade. He had honed his eye to the point where he could gauge people just by looking at their attire.

In his eyes, they were…

Judging by their attire… they don’t seem like much.

Especially the woman, who looked anxious, with a strangely excited expression noticeable.

It was obvious. They must have heard rumors about Plum Shadow Pavilion and come to take a look.

Normally, he would block them, making excuses about recommendation letters and chasing them away. Even better if they resorted to force.

After all, his realm was at the Foundation Building Stage.

However, the eyes of the man beside her were not ordinary. Although he wasn’t showing it openly, how to put it… His eyes seemed to look down on the world.

That level of aura can’t be shown by someone at the Qi Refining Stage, though? But his Spiritual Power is… at the level of 13 Stars.

That confidence and dignity, as if able to sweep away anything blocking his path.

He was ever so perplexed, wondering how this could be possible.

Moreover, that innate dignity.

It was not something anyone can imitate. He had the unique dignity that only those in high positions could possess.

What should I do…

The reason Plum Shadow Pavilion paid an enormous amount of Spiritual Stones to station him, a cultivator, at the entrance was to filter out riffraff on his own.

He had to manage the quality from the entrance so that the class of customers wouldn’t be damaged.

However, before he could finish his judgment, the young man approached and spoke first.

“Hm? What? Do you have something to say?”

Ah. I see.

This one passes.

That boldness of casually speaking down to him, who openly revealed his Foundation Building Stage realm.

He was either someone with a death wish, a madman, or no ordinary big shot.

Because even though he was just doing the job of a doorkeeper for the compensation…

“Esteemed Yu. Thank you for your hard work today as well.”

Behind the ambiguous couple, a young cultivator approached, bowing politely.

He was a familiar face. He visited frequently too.

“Ahem. It seems the item you requested has been prepared.”

“Is that so?”

See?

Even this young man, a direct descendant of the Flame Metal Sect’s Grand Elder, treated him politely, didn’t he?

So… the arrogant fellow in front of him must surely have an unimaginable backing…

“Huhh? Wench! You are?”

“Eh? What’s this? Senior Sister, do you know each other?”

“That… the one who robbed your house before…”

“GAL!! You wench! What did you just say?! And you, are you the one who just joined as the youngest?”

Chaos unfolded.

What on earth is going on?