Invitation to the Chatroom of the Gods - Chapter 50



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Episode 50 – The Great Wall of China (1)

The rewards distributed to the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan were by no means small.

It was impossible to write down the number of people who were given the minimum amount of gold in units of 4,000 won.

It was a reward from Jukwancheon and was enough to tarnish the fortune of Cheonsanja. And conversely, it meant that he had accumulated that much merit.

Maybe that’s why my heart was pounding with anticipation, but I took out the folding screen with great anticipation.

And then, as I was about to unfold the folding screen to check the contents, my hand suddenly stopped.

The thousands of Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan gathered before my eyes.

A group of 4,000 swordsmen look at me with determined expressions and glaring eyes.

When I saw the old general last time, it seemed like the contents of the scroll were only visible to me. So even if there were eyes around, it didn’t really matter if they checked the scroll.

But should we call it saving face?

Wouldn’t it be a bit odd to speak so grandly up front and then mutter to yourself like a madman?

Of course, thanks to the mask, his face and expressions won’t be revealed, but he still has to maintain his dignity as a great king.

I put the folding chair back in my arms and said.

“Then, let the former General distribute and receive the awards together with the executives.”

And then he quickly turned around.

I heard a voice calling me from behind, but I couldn’t control my desire to confirm the merit as soon as possible, so I quickened my pace.

* * *

The expression ‘I’m dazed······’ is exactly right.

[Conversion Merit] – 581 months and 3 days (+579 months)

If I were to express my feelings as I look at the scroll right now.

A merit equivalent to 581 months and 3 days, or a merit equivalent to a whopping 17,433 days.

Converted into years, it is a merit of over 48 years and 4 months, and is close to 50 years.

This could be seen as an average of four days of merit accumulated by each member of the 4,000-strong Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan.

Of course, in return, a tremendous amount of wealth, over 4,000 gold ingots, had to be consumed.

It was like having to sacrifice one gold coin to extend one’s life by four days, so it was like pouring water into a bottomless pit, but it was okay.

There was still a lot of wealth left from the rewards of the main character and the wealth of the mountain man that would never dry up no matter how much was used, so even if it was called a bottomless pit, he could just pour it in and that would be it.

Of course, it really didn’t dry out no matter how much I used it.

This award was a rather tarnished fortune, but it didn’t matter if I spent it all.

No matter how important money is, it is not more important than life.

More than anything, now that I could spend my life and virtue to purchase things from the heavenly world, virtue was more valuable to me than money.

So, the accumulated merit of 48 years.

This was an incredible merit that allowed me to purchase 4 units of ‘Okryeongsan (玉靈散)’, which instantly restored my innate energy and increased my internal energy for one year, and still have 8 years left.

“ah······!!”

I couldn’t help but let out a gasp as the fullness welled up deep in my chest.

Isn’t this what merit is, isn’t this what money is, isn’t this what reward is, isn’t this what the mind of the subject is?

With this money······ no, with this merit, what should I buy?

My heart is already starting to beat with excitement.

The first thing that came to mind was, of course, ‘Seondan’, which is excellent for increasing internal energy.

This is a fleet that focuses on ‘increasing internal energy’ rather than focusing on recovering innate energy.

I couldn’t even imagine what its effects would be, and I couldn’t even imagine how much internal energy would be accumulated.

And that’s not all.

The only thing I could buy wasn’t the silk ‘Xian Dan’.

To be exact, in the Damsobang, there were not only Taoist immortals, but also blacksmith immortals, Yasin (冶神), and if you wanted, you could purchase various ‘divine instruments’ from them.

Of course, I couldn’t ask for it myself because I didn’t want my identity to be revealed.

However, since it was possible with the help of the senior immortals in the Taoist temple, there was no problem at all.

“Or should I just ask Taesangnogun to buy me a suitable jewel?”

There was even a way to ask the Supreme Master to make one for you.

Taesang Laojun was the highest authority not only in creating ships, but also in creating ‘treasures’ with mysterious effects.

Thus, the treasures created by Taesang Laojun were truly terrifying, and the most representative one was a scroll called the ‘Taegeukdo (太極圖)’.

It is said that when you open this scroll, anyone who is in it will be sucked into it. And when you close the scroll again in that state, the object inside it will ‘disappear’.

It is said that there is no way to avoid it, regardless of the target, so it is truly the strongest treasure that is invincible and ignores all odds.

However, it had the disadvantage of not working on beings with powers similar to or greater than the owner’s, but since the owner was the Supreme Taoist Immortal, Taesang Laojun, there was simply no match for him.

There are so many fearsome treasures created by the Supreme Lord, but if I were to mention one more, I cannot leave out the one called the ‘Diamond Pearl’.

This bracelet-shaped thing is made by applying the ‘elixir’ made by Taesang No-gun to a moderately good iron. If you hold this bracelet in your hand and say ‘Attach!’, all the opponent’s ‘weapons’ will fly and attach to you.

Simply put, as a treasure with the ability to steal an opponent’s weapon, this was completely ‘unresistible’.

Even the Great Jecheon was unable to resist this Geumgangtak and had his Ruyi Bang taken away, so what more needs to be said?

Furthermore, it is said that everything classified as a ‘weapon’ was taken away, even the ‘hair’ that Jecheon Daeseong used for his clone technique was taken away.

This could truly be called an ‘irresistible treasure’.

It was a merit that allowed one to purchase anything at a reasonable price, whether it was an elixir of immortality, a divine instrument, or a treasured shell, so it was truly a happy dilemma.

“Come on, calm down.”

I calmed my excited heart. I tried to calm my heart that was beating so fast that I couldn’t control it.

“First of all… I should ask the Grand Prince.”

I immediately wrote the words on the scroll and sent them.

└[Cheongun]

: I may be presumptuous, but I have something to ask you, Your Majesty.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: Hmm? What was it?

I wrote down the above question in detail and asked it to the Grand Master.

So, the question was, how should I use the 48 years of merit, whether it was an elixir of immortality, a divine instrument, or a precious shell?

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: ············What, what?

For some reason, it was Taesang No-jun who once again became a fool.

* * *

Taesang Laojun, who had been in a state of confusion, did not recall the words for a long time. After waiting for quite some time and receiving no answer, I wondered if Aoi had really ‘become a fool’.

Suddenly, the words of Taesang Laojun came to mind.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: 48 years······? Not 4 years and 8 months?

He seemed quite surprised to learn that I had accumulated 48 years of virtue.

In fact, it had been less than two weeks since I had spent ten years’ worth of merit in Jiangsu Province. And at that time, the Grand Master Laojun was astonished at the fact that I had accumulated ten years’ worth of merit.

But, in just a few days, he has accumulated 48 years’ worth of merit, not 10 years’ worth. How could he not turn back and give up?

And it wasn’t just Taesangnogun.

└[Emperor Divine Right]

: What the hell are you talking about? 48 years?

└[Auxiliary Emperor Wang Zhongyang]

: Ah, no… What on earth could possibly be done to accumulate that much merit in this world…?

└[Hyeonhyeonja (玄玄子) Jang Sambong]

: Didn’t you just accumulate and spend 10 years’ worth of merit not long ago? Then, if you add up to what you have now······.

└[Purple House Immortal Gwangseongja]

: A total of 60 years···? Now the youngest has accumulated the virtue of ‘Il Gapja (甲子)’??!??!!

└[Gwangyeongja (廣零子) abuse]

: Me, how much merit did I accumulate just before I ascended the throne······?

Other sect investigators, including Jongri Kwon, were also at a loss.

However, Yeo Dong-bin was surprisingly quiet, and the reason was not special; it was because he was still ‘passed out’.

Yeo Dong-bin, who has not yet woken up since he fell over foaming at the mouth after hearing that I used the Cheon-dun Sword Technique.

Actually, I wondered if it was something that could be that embarrassing.

But at the same time, I thought that it might be possible that there was a ‘successor to the Cheon-dun Sword Technique’ called ‘me’ who had never existed and never would.

In any case, for that reason, the person who got the most response in the chat room was, as expected, Gucheonhyeonnyeo.

└[Nine Heavenly Wise Women]

: Aah!!! So, I can be with the youngest for at least 48 years?!!

The face of Gucheonhyeonnyeo in the portrait floating next to the text was filled with the joy and excitement of the world.

└[Nine Heavenly Wise Women]

: Oh, then!! I’ll go see the flowers in the paradise garden with the youngest! I’ll go for a walk on a moonlit night holding hands with the youngest! I’ll go to the Western Paradise garden with the youngest and have a cozy lantern festival together!!! And again······!!

A girl named Gucheonhyeon who is unable to contain her excitement and joy and is stomping and rolling her feet.

As I gaze at that lovely sight······.

If Namgung Se-ga calls Namgung Ye-rin’s beauty ‘the most beautiful of the country’ and Dang So-hyang’s beauty ‘the most beautiful of the world’,

└[Nine Heavenly Wise Women]

: Can I mix the youngest and the sword together like crazy?!

The beauty of Gucheonhyeonnyeo was a ‘transcendent beauty’ that could not be called the beauty of this world.

It wasn’t necessarily for that reason, but if I could, I would have liked to go see the flowers in the paradise garden with Gucheonhyeonnyeo.

Furthermore, it was nice to walk hand in hand with Gucheon Hyeonnyeo on a moonlit night, and it was also really nice to go to the Western Paradise to have a cozy lantern festival with just Gucheon Hyeonnyeo.

But in the end, I didn’t want to mix the Nine Heavenly Women and the sword…

“You mean Bimu······?”

So, it is a friendly competition where they test each other’s martial arts skills.

Surely, they wouldn’t have talked about a life-or-death decision that put their ‘lives’ on the line.

······But if we fight, will we be able to win?

The Nine Heavenly Women in the portrait were a transcendent beauty and a female immortal with a body as slender as a flower petal.

If you only look at the difference in physique and physical condition, it seems like we could win, but that wasn’t the case.

According to legend, she was a goddess of the nine heavens who defeated great evil spirits and monsters with just one sword.

And the great evil spirits and great monsters mentioned here do not mean at most the ‘monsters of the Shan Hai Jing’.

At least the ‘Four Evils’ level monsters and evil spirits, such as Do-cheol, Gung-gi, Do-ol, and Hon-do.

Even Yeo Dong-bin would notice when Gucheonhyeonnyeo was truly angry, so he didn’t want to mix swords with Gucheonhyeonnyeo.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: That, that’s right······. In any case, it is true that I have accumulated 48 years of merit.

└[Cheongun]

: Yes.

My reply caused silence to fall on the chat room.

I was worried that maybe it was the Eoi who had fallen for the odds again, but fortunately that wasn’t the case.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: I think Seondan would be good.

The words of Taesang Laojun suddenly came to mind.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: Now, I think it’s time to start learning the Cheon-dun Sword Technique. Even if you use up your innate energy, if you successfully cast it, it means you’re qualified.

As Taesang No-gun said, it was a Cheon-dun sword technique that was performed by drawing on the innate energy and using it in a reckless manner.

But as the saying goes, the first time is difficult, the second time is easy, and there were quite a few enlightenments gained through forcing myself to succeed.

The decisive reason why I was able to reach the pinnacle of my abilities was because of the enlightenment I gained by practicing the Cheon-dun Sword Technique.

In a state of preparation, Taesangnogunpyo’s ‘Okryeongsan’ served as a trigger and catalyst, allowing him to reach the pinnacle of excellence.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: However, learning the Cheon-dun Sword Technique requires a considerable amount of internal energy. Currently, youngest, how much internal energy do you have?

└[Cheongun]

: It has 200 years of internal energy.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: That’s not enough.

Taesangnogun’s reply came to mind without hesitation.

In fact, it was rare to find a warrior with 200 years of internal energy in the world.

Since I had to take elixirs like I was eating rice since I was little, it was only possible for people my age to achieve the ‘review index of the old file room’.

That is to say, it is something that can be counted on one hand among people my age, but since they say it is ‘wildly’ inadequate, I could see how crazy the Cheon-dun Sword Technique is, and when I actually used it, it was also a crazy martial art.

In any case, the point was that in order to practice the Cheon-dun Sword Technique, I needed to raise my internal energy even higher than I had now.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: If it’s 48 years of merit······ I think I could make a ‘Taewon Dan’, even if it’s just barely.

Taewondan.

The direct translation was ‘great first’, but it was difficult to grasp the meaning right away.

└[Emperor Divine Right]

: Senior Noh, even if the youngest is a thousand-year-old, I think Taewondan is a bit excessive.

But when I see Jong-Ri-Kwon speak like that, it seems like it is a fleet with a ‘growth-oriented’ effect.

└[Emperor Divine Right]

: First of all, the youngest’s current training in the Youngbo Pil method is not very good.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: Youngest, how advanced is your current level of skill in the Youngbo method?

The highest and ultimate method of training in the Immortal Way, Yeongbo Pilbeop.

The practice of Yeongbopilbeop is divided into three stages and realms, called the Three Immortals’ Practice (三仙功): human immortal practice (人仙功), earth immortal practice (지선공), and heavenly immortal practice (천선공).

And the stage and realm I am currently practicing at is······.

└[Cheongun]

: This is the middle realm of human immortality.

It was the lowest level of human immortal achievement, and could be said to be the ‘middle realm’ among the first, middle, and upper realms.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: That’s okay. At least I won’t get swept away and die. It doesn’t matter since the main goal is different anyway.

└[Emperor Divine Right]

: Hmm? Oh, that’s what you meant? Well, if that’s what it is.

That’s what you mean? Something like that?

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: Then just wait a moment. I’ll make it right away.

Regardless of my doubts, it was decided that I would purchase the Taewondan. I was a bit bewildered, but······ it was none other than the words of ‘Taesang No-gun’, so there was no room for doubt.

To be exact, there was no reason not to follow it, even if there were doubts.

* * *

Ink suddenly sprinkled on the table.

The sprinkled ink moved on its own, drawing a ‘dagger’ the size of a tangerine, over the scroll. Soon, the shape became clearer as gold was added.

The completed painting floated up onto the screen and took on a complete form.

“······That’s amazing.”

This was the second time, but it was still amazing, and because it was the second time, I could also understand.

[Conversion of Merit] – 13 days (-580 months 22 days)

17,422 days of merit that evaporated in an instant, and a merit of over 48 years.

“······.”

Honestly, it was a shame.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t regret it.

But I had no choice but to learn the Cheon-dun Sword Technique.

In order to survive from the sky, I had to learn the Cheon-dun Sword Technique, and even if that wasn’t the case, I was now greedy for the Cheon-dun Sword Technique.

The overwhelming force that burned all things.

How could I, as a single person, not be greedy?

It was my merit that had fallen to the ground, but since Cheon San Ja’s property still remained, I could always gather my merit again.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: Taewondan (太元丹) is made by melting down a part of what can be called a fragment of the origin. It requires only a little caution when taking it, but there are no major problems, but it is still good to have a guardian.

└[Cheongun]

: I thought it might be like that anyway, so I prepared a warning in advance.

Taesangnogunpyo was a fleet with a ‘growth-oriented’ effect.

I don’t know the details of its efficacy, but just looking at the amount of merit consumed, it would be four or five times more than that of Okryongsan.

Then, at the very least, it would be around 4 or 5 gapja.

Fortunately, I was able to fully absorb this amount now that I had cleared my energy and blood vessels with the Youngbo Pil Method and the Yeokgeun Se Soo Gyeong.

So, while Taesang No-jun was creating the Taewon-dan, I called in thirty-six executives of the Jangjiang Swordsman and stationed them around.

Although he wasn’t as trustworthy as Eungseon, his loyalty to me was sky-high as of today, so I didn’t think he would stab me in the back.

└[Taishang Laojun (Great Elder Lord) Laozi]

: Take it when you are ready.

└[Cheongun]

: Then I will eat.

After taking his hands off the folding chair, he carefully picked up the Taewondan.

It was about the size of a tangerine, so I could barely fit it in my mouth in one bite, but when I put it in my mouth in one breath, the taewondan mixed with my saliva and dissolved.

It would be more accurate to say that it was dissolved and absorbed rather than dissolved and disappeared.

└[Emperor Divine Right]

: Youngest, I told you last time that no elixir in the world could fully fill the vessel of your celestial body, and even the elixir of the celestial world would not do it.

The words of Jongli Kwon suddenly appeared above the table.

That’s what Jong-Ri-Kwon said to me last time I took the Yoji Seongdan······.

└[Emperor Divine Right]

: However, the situation is a little different for the old senior’s fleet.

It was just then.

Kwaaaa …

Suddenly, an overwhelming amount of internal energy spread throughout my entire body.

I was finally able to understand the words of the previous article.

The Taesang Laojun fleet could understand that the situation was ‘slightly’ different.

This terrible amount, which is ‘a little’ by the standards of the Supreme Lord, but to me, it feels like a ‘great ocean’ pouring down······.

Fifty-year cycle.

“!!!!!!!”

A whopping 3,000 years of insane and crazy internal energy was pouring into my danjeon and entire body.