The Black Snake (3)
p>Swish—swish—swish—
p>I stood in the sky for a moment, enjoying the breeze, when a tingling sensation suddenly shot through me. Far in the distance, something was approaching.
p>The Sky Spirit Line.
p>Among the Integration-level Heavenly Persons stationed on this planet, the Sky Spirit Line had dispatched his clones—called Total Spirits—to every void in the Human Realm Alliance.
p>From this position, he used those clones to watch over all major events unfolding in the voids. The presence rushing toward me right now had to be one of his Total Spirits.
p>The aura radiating from it felt like the Heavenly Person realm.
p>Someone in one of the voids was being hit with a thousand reincarnations in a row, yet I couldn’t detect the culprit with my Wansuigungmurok. This had to be the clone making the move.
p>Of course, even if he came, if I deliberately hid my trail, the fellow couldn’t do anything to me… but.
p>Still, something stirred inside my flesh as I watched the approaching momentum.
p>Hmph…
p>Want to give it a try?
p>My body is an Integration cultivator, but right now this guy is at the Heavenly Person level.
p>I suddenly burned with a desire to spar with the Sky Spirit Line’s clone.
p>Adding the full force of my Answer Heaven and Earth Source Energy, I should be able to handle a Heavenly Person no problem.
p>Woo-woong!
p>The talent of the Immortal Beast I had obtained in my past life spurted out in hazy mist, stimulating me.
p>The powerful physique of the Fish Beast had boosted my strength, and the Qi of Answer Heaven’s Invisible Sword surged from my entire body.
p>Answer Heaven’s power had honed my flesh into a sharp, unyielding sword.
p>The Fish Beast’s power strengthened my own body force while multiplying the efficiency of Answer Heaven’s energy by several times.
p>On top of that, I had this beast’s strength from my past life and the Colorless Glass Sword.
p>Even without the path of the Heavenly Race, I should be able to defeat someone at the Heavenly Person level.
p>The thought filled me with confidence.
p>…No.
p>But I suppressed the desire.
p>I’ll wait for the next opportunity.
p>The Integration-level Heavenly Person who monitored major events on the Human Realm Alliance was known to be weak among early Integration cultivators because he had not focused on combat-oriented techniques from the start.
p>Still, an Integration cultivator was an Integration cultivator. If I fought him and killed the clone, the Sky Spirit Line would have to fly here in person.
p>I was sorry, but I set aside the battle with the Sky Spirit Line for later and waved my hand toward the sky.
p>Swish!
p>My hand, carrying the Invisible Sword, cut straight through the air and carved out a blind spot in the space-time.
p>I slipped into the blind spot of my own Wansuigungmurok, consciousness, and energy, vanishing like a ghost from the Sky Spirit Line’s sight.
p>When the Sky Spirit Line arrived at the spot and failed to find me, he formed a seal and began deploying an even stronger monitoring spell across the entire void.
p>* * *
p>Passing by the flustered Sky Spirit Line who couldn’t sense my presence, I landed once more in a suitable spot on Noeryeong-do.
p>It was a small city built for the monks of Noeryeong-do. The market inside the city was bustling.
p>A human-market scene after such a long time.
p>I entered the market while hidden by Wansuigungmurok.
p>In such a bustling place where countless consciousnesses and intentions moved about, this was the perfect spot to hide.
p>The Sky Spirit Line was probably going to search for me with extra focus now, so I had to stay hidden in the market until the monitoring spell weakened again.
p>Zing—zing—zing—
p>I felt the monitoring spell growing even stronger than before.
p>Several Foundation Establishment and Core Formation monks among those in the market also looked up at the sky, sensing something odd.
p>Of course, casting a spell this strong to monitor an entire planet from the Heavenly Person level couldn’t last forever.
p>Before long, it would drop back to normal levels.
p>I strolled around the market at ease, gathering the materials I needed for Hong Beom’s awakening.
p>In my past life… I had definitely only traveled with Hong Beom.
p>I remembered never having any other companions.
p>So perhaps awakening Hong Beom and raising his talent would let the events of my past life resurface.
p>It was at that moment that I was looking for materials for Hong Beom’s soul awakening.
p>“This is the Fish Beast technique we brought in this time from the Black Forest Thunder Gate. Please take a look!”
p>A sudden interest piqued by the word Fish Beast technique, I turned to look.
p>The Black Forest Thunder Gate had connections with the Sound Race, making it easier for them to acquire Fish Beast techniques from the Earth Source Region…
p>The seller was a mountain-dwelling merchant who looked around Foundation Establishment level.
p>In front of him were piles of shed skins that looked like snake molts.
p>Only I had shown interest in the word Fish Beast technique? Several Foundation Establishment and early Core Formation monks also approached the man.
p>“Hmm, where are the technique manuals?”
p>“These skins are the Fish Beast manuals. Fish Beasts record their techniques on their bodies instead of books or jade slips like us Heavenly Races.”
p>“Yeah, I’ve heard the Black Forest Thunder Gate sometimes imports Fish Beast techniques from the Earth Source Region, but…”
p>A goat-bearded man gave the merchant a suspicious look.
p>“How exactly did you get Fish Beast techniques from the Black Forest Thunder Gate to sell them? I heard they only sell to high-level monks.”
p>“Haha, you must not know the situation on Noeryeong-do well.”
p>The merchant glanced at the goat-bearded man with an expression that said, “Explain it properly.”
p>“The Fish Beast techniques we occasionally import from the Earth Source Region aren’t the ones the Black Forest Thunder Gate personally selected and brought back. The Fish Beast merchants from the Fish Beast side collect techniques from countless Fish Beasts and dump them all on the Black Forest Thunder Gate to sell.”
p>The merchant continued speaking, and I nodded, already having a rough idea of how the Fish Beast merchants treated their techniques.
p>For them, Fish Beast techniques were just one source of income. If the Heavenly Race side offered to buy them, they would gather every scrap they had and turn a profit. It was profitable for the Fish Beast merchants.
p>“Among the collected Fish Beast techniques, the Black Forest Thunder Gate discards those the Human Race could never learn, those with too low a grade, or unstable ones. They pick out only the usable ones and sell them to high-level monks.”
p>“Wait, so the manuals you’re selling here are all ‘discarded’ techniques?”
p>“No, no, listen until the end. Once the Black Forest Thunder Gate has selected those ‘usable’ Fish Beast techniques, a new category of techniques that ‘must be processed’ arises.”
p>“Hmm?”
p>The man continued.
p>“First, Dragon Race techniques. The Black Forest Thunder Gate has connections to the Dragon King of the Earth Source Region, so they control anything that might leak to the Heavenly Race side. Next, Bird Race techniques—‘bird’ species Fish Beast techniques. Because Dragon Race Fish Beasts sometimes reveal weaknesses to Bird Race Fish Beasts, they avoid leaks there too. Lastly, Snake Race techniques.”
p>“Snake Race? Snake Fish Beasts?”
p>“Yes. Snake-line Fish Beast techniques are oddly disliked by the Black Forest Thunder Gate side. But they aren’t banned from leaking. Since they’re snakes, they have to sell them to make a profit, but they don’t want to sell them openly. So the Black Forest Thunder Gate often dumps Snake Race techniques cheaply in bulk to anyone. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to import Fish Beast techniques from the Black Forest Thunder Gate.”
p>“Umm… Why does the Black Forest Thunder Gate dislike Snake Race techniques? You’d think they’d cherish them the most since they’re connected to Dragon Race. Aren’t Snake Race techniques just a branch of malicious demonic arts?”
p>“Hmm… From what I know, it’s not that the techniques have a problem, but that the Black Forest Thunder Gate has a bad impression of ‘Snake’ internally.”
p>“The Black Forest Thunder Gate has a bad impression of ‘Snake’?”
p>I had never heard such a secret before, so my curiosity peaked and I focused on the conversation.
p>“Why does the Black Forest Thunder Gate hate Snakes?”
p>“I don’t know. Ask the elders. By the way, are you really interested in Fish Beast techniques? The Black Forest Thunder Gate doesn’t teach Snake Race techniques for internal reasons, but isn’t there a legend that any Snake becomes a Dragon after ten thousand years of training? And since Snake Race is related to Dragons, it could be an opportunity to learn the secrets of the Dragon Race techniques, the most noble species on the Earth Source Region!”
p>“If that were possible, would the Black Forest Thunder Gate, which is as lowly as a dog compared to the Black Dragon King, have leaked it…?”
p>The other monks present shared my thoughts, their faces showing disgust.
p>Unaware of this, the Foundation Establishment mountain merchant kept talking excitedly.
p>“If you’re reluctant or find it difficult to train yourself, why not go to the Fish Beast pens over there and buy a Snake Fish Beast to train it as a pet? It’s a great chance to have a proper Snake Race technique taught to your pet by the Earth Source Region’s legitimate Snake Race Fish Beasts!”
p>“Hmm…”
p>“Even though it’s a technique discarded by the Black Forest Thunder Gate, I still feel a bit uneasy…”
p>“Uuuuh…”
p>Despite the merchant’s words, the other monks clicked their tongues in unease and dispersed.
p>The merchant’s face fell as he drooped his hands clutching the skins.
p>“You need to improve your salesmanship if you want to do business. You told them everything, including the uneasy parts, and no one’s interested.”
p>Even a monk gave him business advice before leaving, leaving only me in front of his stall.
p>“The monitoring spell seems to be weakening a bit…”
p>Swoosh…
p>I subtly removed Wansuigungmurok and revealed myself in front of him.
p>“Besides those uneasy points in the techniques you’re selling… is there nothing strong about them?”
p>“Ah, of course there is, my lord!”
p>He looked up at me, and upon realizing I was at least a Core Formation early-stage monk, he bowed and began explaining.
p>“The Snake Race believes the legend that they will become Dragon Race. They constantly train to become Immortals. Even if they don’t actually become Dragon Race, training in Snake Race techniques at least makes them Immortals.”
p>“Immortals… The Human Race can also become Immortals?”
p>“No, not that. It means they can gain the power of an Immortal. Of course, if you keep a Snake Fish Beast as a pet, training it in Snake Race techniques isn’t bad.”
p>“I don’t keep Snake Fish Beasts, but…”
p>“N-no, it doesn’t have to be a Snake Fish Beast! If you keep an eel Fish Beast, or a centipede, a turtle, a lizard—any creature related to Dragons—Snake Race techniques should have an effect…”
p>“Hmm? Centipedes?”
p>My interest piqued at the word, and I asked.
p>“Do centipedes also benefit from Snake Race techniques?”
p>“Yes! Why, don’t they say that a centipede becomes a Dragon after ten thousand years of training? Since centipedes are related to Dragons, Snake Race techniques that make one an Immortal are effective!”
p>“Oh ho…”
p>“I came to buy a centipede Fish Beast anyway. If it’s a Fish Beast technique that Hong Beom can train in…”
p>I decided it wasn’t a bad idea to buy one in advance.
p>“I happen to be looking to keep a centipede Fish Beast. Give me a technique manual that suits it.”
p>At my words, the Foundation Establishment mountain merchant happily showed me the skins.
p>“Among Snake Race, the shinier and darker the scales, the more auspicious the treatment. That’s why deeper-colored skins mean higher-grade Snake Race techniques.”
p>“Is there no black snake skin? I’d like the best Fish Beast technique…”
p>“Unfortunately, black snakes are highly esteemed in the Snake Race, so their skins don’t leak.”
p>“I see…”
p>I remembered Snake Race as well.
p>I had seen a few of them briefly while passing through the Earth Source Region Alliance.
p>Most Snake Race were reclusive, only training and ignoring the world’s storms. They were a patient race.
p>Occasionally I met some, and most had that disposition.
p>“At first I didn’t know much because most stayed hidden and trained, making encounters rare…”
p>I accepted the dark blue and pure white centipede skins from the merchant and tucked them into my robes.
p>“A centipede becomes a Dragon…”
p>If Hong Beom’s talent was involved, maybe it was possible.
p>I didn’t know why.
p>But for some reason, it felt completely natural that Hong Beom would become a great being.
p>* * *
p>Woo-woong!
p>With Yuan Yu’s help, I split my Source Energy into many pieces and buried them in the various spiritual mountains of Noeryeong-do.
p>This was a secret technique for planting Source Energy fragments in places with spiritual veins, like those of Won Rip’s Blood Energy, so they could later be retrieved.
p>The only difference was that Won Rip needed a large amount of blood energy to retrieve his fragments buried in human settlements, but I didn’t need any.
p>“If I reach Source Energy in a single day, I’d be treated like a spy or a monster who stole the Heavenly Dao’s fortune.”
p>I had no intention of stupidly going to the Golden Spirit Thunder Gate and advertising, “I reached Source Energy in a day!”
p>“I’ll scatter the Source Energy for a while… and seal the Earth Prison.”
p>Crackle—crackle—
p>When Yuan Yu formed the seal, the energy flowing from his body sealed the power of my Earth Prison.
p>Lastly, I took out the Five Elements Blood Curse Flag and planted it in five spots inside the Earth Prison.
p>Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!
p>The Five Elements Blood Curse Flag and Yuan Yu’s technique completed the seal.
p>“Now there’s no way anyone can detect that I reached Source Energy through the Fish Beast method.”
p>All that remained inside me was pure Heavenly Race technique Qi Condensation sixth stage power.
p>“If it were Source Energy, they’d suspect me from the start, but at least reaching Qi Condensation sixth stage is within an acceptable range.”
p>Thinking that way, I returned to the Golden Spirit Thunder Gate.
p>* * *
p>“Master, your unworthy disciple has come seeking your guidance on cultivation.”
p>I went to find Jin Hwi and bowed.
p>Jin Hwi looked at me with warm eyes and nodded.
p>“Yes, I imagine you’ve already completed the Law Flower Core…”
p>“Is it difficult to understand the Seventy-Four Vital Points Sword?”
p>“No. I have reached Qi Condensation sixth stage.”
p>“…”
p>“I need to undergo the Seven Star Ceremony, but could you help me with it?”
p>And Jin Hwi’s eyes widened like oil lamps, and he shot up from his seat.
p>“Y-you’re lying! I gave you the Earth Thunder Technique in the morning and you say you reached Qi Condensation sixth stage by evening? How dare you disrespect your master!!”
p>“…”
p>“I reached Source Energy, not Qi Condensation sixth stage…”
p>If I had told the truth, the reaction would have been far beyond surprise—perhaps even a heart attack.
p>“It is true, Master.”
p>“What nonsense… L-let me see your hand. I’ll check for myself if you really reached Qi Condensation sixth stage.”
p>“…”
p>And I extended my hand to Jin Hwi so he could verify my cultivation.
p>A short while later.
p>The Golden Spirit Thunder Gate was flipped upside down because I had reached Qi Condensation sixth stage in just one day after receiving the basic technique.