The Black Serpent (4)
The sub-sect master of the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect, Jin-hwi, found himself doubting his own sanity.
He had taken Seo Eun-hyun to the lecture hall in the morning and bestowed upon him the Lightning Tribulation Gong. He had taught him the principles of Foundation Establishment.
He had expected that Seo Eun-hyun would naturally refine his Law Flower Dantian. After all, Jin-hwi himself possessed a Heavenly Spiritual Root and had created his own Law Flower Dantian with ease. And Seo Eun-hyun, who had been born with a Thunder Body, should certainly have been able to do the same.
Of course, reciting the exact verses of the Qi Condensation One Star would have been slightly confusing. He had estimated it would take several days.
Jin-hwi had thought the same.
‘No, this is good. Since he possesses legendary talent, he should be able to surpass Qi Condensation One Star in an instant. Qi Condensation Two Star is connected to One Star, so he should be able to advance together. But….’
Jin-hwi swallowed hard as he stared at this incomprehensible genius that defied his understanding.
‘Teaching the Lightning Tribulation Gong in the morning and reaching Qi Condensation Six Star by evening—what kind of nonsense is this?’
And those who had gathered around him, along with the other disciples, were all looking at Seo Eun-hyun with the same awe-inspiring gaze, as though he were a monster.
Including the sub-sect master Jin-hwi, the sect master Geum-rin, the Supreme Sect Master Geum Byeok-ho, and all the elders had gathered before Seo Eun-hyun.
Surrounding him!
“So… you bestowed the Lightning Tribulation Gong upon this fellow this morning?”
“That is correct.”
Jin-hwi nodded.
Geum Byeok-ho’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
“…Is what you taught him really correct now? Or did you secretly teach him while he was secretly joining the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect from the Sub-sect?”
“No, Supreme Sect Master, that would be absurd. Rather, I shall ask you. I heard that you inspected his talent when you first met him in the lower realm. Was he truly the criminal back then? Not Qi Condensation Six Star?”
“No, he was indeed on the cusp of Core Formation. But… yes, that makes sense.”
Geum Byeok-ho nodded.
“From the beginning, he was already at the early stages of Core Formation. Perhaps he had already understood the principles of the Seventy-Two Orifices, the Thirty-Six Thousand Rivers Secret Technique, the Ten Branches and Ten Stems, the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, and so on. That explains it, doesn’t it?”
“Supreme Sect Master, didn’t you confirm just now? This fellow did not merely know the verses of an external technique. He reached Qi Condensation Six Star through pure ‘Lightning Tribulation Gong’!”
“…”
“Knowing the verses of an external technique does not mean he can reach Qi Condensation Six Star that quickly with Lightning Tribulation Gong. How many times does one have to repeat the method of shattering one’s own self-cultivation and then ascending through enlightenment after adversity before such a feat becomes possible?!”
“Hmph… So that is what you mean.”
Geum Byeok-ho asked, slightly excited.
Jin-hwi shouted with wide eyes.
“Bestow upon me Geum So-hae! Without Geum So-hae’s level of talent, we can never hope to control this fellow’s insane talent!”
“…”
At the mention of Geum So-hae, Geum Byeok-ho’s brows furrowed slightly.
Jin-hwi pointed at Seo Eun-hyun with an excited expression.
“If it is not Geum So-hae, then we must select a Core Formation elder from the sect’s masters to pair with him for balance. I have lived a hundred and fifty years, and this is the first time I have encountered such an impossible level of enlightenment! Seo Eun-hyun, show us.”
Under Jin-hwi’s excited command, Seo Eun-hyun stepped forward and calmly performed the Seventy-Two Orifices seal.
He realized the Thirty-Six Thousand Rivers Secret Technique’s chief chant, the Spirit Wave of the Ten Branches and Ten Stems, and all the patterns of the Ten Stems.
Not only that, but he fully mastered the principles of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams. Even Geum Byeok-ho and the other elders let out murmurs of astonishment.
“Perfect…”
“He has completely comprehended the principles of the Seventy-Two Orifices with Lightning Tribulation Gong?”
“It is as if one is looking at children who have only practiced enlightenment after adversity for a few years and risen through that alone. He is that perfect.”
The elders’ admiration caused Seo Eun-hyun’s eye corners to twitch for a moment, but no one noticed.
“Indeed, what an unbelievable talent. I am looking forward to seeing how much further he will grow after he completes the Seven-Star Ceremony. His enlightenment is so extraordinary that there is no need to feed him any pills or elixirs. And to think he was born with a Thunder Body and possesses a Core Formation-level consciousness…”
For a moment Geum Byeok-ho stood there in a daze, then burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! Excellent! The reputation of the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect for the past one hundred and twenty thousand years is about to echo through the world once more!”
Geum Byeok-ho stomped his foot.
Kuuuung!
From behind him, a mud chair rose as if from the ground, and the thunderbolts he had been spitting melted into glass.
Seated upon a jade throne of glass, Geum Byeok-ho laughed heartily and continued spitting thunderbolts.
“I understand about Geum So-hae. Since she is born with a Wall-Breaking Body, I shall pair you with a Core Formation master. If the two of you form a dual cultivation bond, you will surely unleash tremendous power. But… I am sorry. I have already promised the child’s parents that I would pair her with the person she desires.”
Smiling happily, Geum Byeok-ho looked at Seo Eun-hyun and said,
“If you wish to pair the child with Geum So-hae, it is simply a matter of making her accept him. Otherwise, simply assign her a Core Formation elder from the main sect. That would be better.”
“…”
“And since you possess a Thunder Body, how extraordinary must the Heavenly Thunder Body of the Ancestor’s reincarnation, Jeon Myeong-hoon, be!”
Geum Byeok-ho looked toward one side with joy.
The hall where Jeon Myeong-hoon was receiving education from Geum So-hae.
“Personally, as an ancestor of Geum So-hae, I wish for her to bond with the fellow who possesses the Heavenly Thunder Body, the symbol of the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect. Who knows what will come of it. But if that happens, perhaps Geum So-hae will prove insufficient for the Heavenly Thunder Body fellow. Haha! With such extraordinary talents, two geniuses have entered our sect. We shall reclaim the glory of the past one hundred and twenty thousand years!”
Geum Byeok-ho rose from his makeshift jade throne with genuine delight and walked over to Seo Eun-hyun, patting his shoulder.
“All sects are placing their hopes upon you, Seo Eun-hyun. I hope you do not disappoint them.”
“Yes, I shall remember.”
“Good, good. With a Thunder Body like this, how truly extraordinary must the Heavenly Thunder Body of the Ancestor’s reincarnation be? I am already excited! I hope Geum So-hae finishes her etiquette lessons quickly. Haha!”
Geum Byeok-ho, whose spirits were soaring, continued laughing as he rose into the air.
“The sect possesses a merit point system. When you undertake sect missions, you are granted merit points. Using those points, you may borrow or obtain the sect’s martial techniques, pills, talismans, treasures, and so on. But! At this moment, as Supreme Sect Master, I decree that Seo Eun-hyun and Jeon Myeong-hoon, the two geniuses of the sect, shall be excluded from the merit point system! Support them with everything they desire! Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
After speaking, Geum Byeok-ho, with his mouth stretched from ear to ear, flew away using his Dun-bun Technique.
***
‘I can hardly distinguish the golden lightning from his golden thoughts.’
Watching the golden thunderbolts and thoughts of Geum Byeok-ho, I let out a dry laugh.
And turning my head toward the hall where Jeon Myeong-hoon was, I thought,
‘Having focused my gaze on him so heavily from the very beginning, Jeon Myeong-hoon will have to devote himself to cultivation whether he likes it or not.’
Honestly, in the fifteenth loop, when I first met Jeon Myeong-hoon in a healthy state, I was quite surprised.
With such insane talent, how could he still be at the Core Formation stage?
He could not have simply played around for decades.
‘This time I shall stimulate him from the side.’
Moreover, if he could not understand, I planned to use the Changheon Gaebyeokmun method to inject him, and if that still did not work, I would use something like Seo Hyul’s brainwashing to forcibly raise his level.
‘The Heavenly Thunder Banner feared Jeon Myeong-hoon’s touch.’
I clearly remembered.
When Jeon Myeong-hoon had taken hold of the Heavenly Thunder Banner with his hand.
The Heavenly Thunder Banner had feared his Heavenly Thunder Body.
‘If that fellow recovers his level, he will also be able to control the Heavenly Thunder Banner.’
In that case, perhaps sealing the Heavenly Thunder Banner within the Water Realm would become even easier.
Of course, there was a possibility that Jeon Myeong-hoon would not listen to me.
In preparation for that, I would have to increase my own power as well.
I resolved to quickly advance my level faster than Jeon Myeong-hoon and, following my master Jin-hwi, decided to complete the Seven-Star Ceremony in a few days on Noeun-bong.
***
“Fortunately, there is information in the Noeun Pavilion about the constellations of the Gwanghan Realm. Study this.”
“Yes.”
Although I already knew everything about the constellations, I flipped through the book while pretending to listen to Jin-hwi’s order.
“Well then, honestly, your Seven-Star Ceremony should be straightforward. After that, let us decide who among the sect’s masters will be your Core Formation partner.”
“…”
At that, I could not help but let out a murmur.
‘He wants to pair me with a Core Formation elder?’
Most of the cultivators in the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect already had Core Formation partners.
That is why most, whether male or female, were in couples.
In that state, pairing me with a Core Formation partner would mean one of two things.
Either a widow or an existence whose gender is unclear after mastering the Taiji Thunder God Body.
‘Either way, it is worrisome….’
Moreover, I had avoided pairing up because of the logic that I would form a bond after the Seven-Star Ceremony, so this time it would be even harder to avoid.
‘There is no choice.’
After forming the bond with the Core Formation partner this time, I would immediately enter closed-door cultivation to recover my Heavenly Race Core Formation level.
After that, once I became a Core Formation elder, I would say there was no need for a partner.
‘Actually, there are quite a few Core Formation sorceresses who have remained unmarried even now. It seems that from the elder stage onward, one is not forced to form a bond.’
In that case, everything would be resolved!
I planned the strategy in my mind and nodded.
“Understood.”
“Good, good. After you complete the Seven-Star Ceremony, your Core Formation partner will be Elder Hong.”
“…”
‘Elder? Not a master?’
The term “elder” meant Heavenly Person in the future.
“The Heavenly Person late-stage sorceress Hong Elder will be assigned as your Core Formation partner. Do you understand?”
“…”
“She is a very good person. She is just a little… eccentric. All the Core Formation partners she has formed so far have fled, but… she is not fundamentally bad.”
“…”
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Why would her Core Formation partner flee…?”
“Hong Elder… that is, actually…”
“…”
“Umm…”
For a while Jin-hwi let out murmurs, then finally revealed the truth.
“She tried to bring her Core Formation partner and perform human experiments in an attempt to realize the legendary physiques of the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect.”
“…”
The moment I heard that, I realized that Hong Elder was as insane as Goe-gun.
“…”
“Am I not a key talent of the sect?”
“That is correct. But if you are a Thunder Body, she would not dare to treat you lightly. Moreover, her goal is to realize the legendary physiques. You are nothing more than the target she hoped for.”
“There is also the Heavenly Thunder Body, isn’t there?”
“Hong Elder has not even touched the Heavenly Thunder Body. She has only aimed for the Thunder Body, so you will never be harmed.”
“…”
“Is that certain?”
I asked while reading Jin-hwi’s thoughts with suspicious eyes.
“Could it be that the master has already discussed this with Hong Elder?”
At my probing question, Jin-hwi broke out in cold sweat and suddenly lowered his head.
“I am sorry, disciple! I did not know what kind of frenzy Hong Su-ryeong would unleash if she did not hand you over to me, so I had to convey at least a word!”
“…”
“If you really dislike it, I can change it to a normal widow Core Formation elder. Hong Su-ryeong may cause a little frenzy, but… compared to when Goe-gun came to the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect and caused chaos, the Supreme Sect Master will handle it…”
“…”
‘This…’
I found it somewhat unbelievable that Hong Su-ryeong was a person, but upon thinking about it, she seemed rather tolerable.
‘Not bad?’
I grinned.
‘She intends to experiment on me?’
As long as it was not on the level of Goe-gun trying to completely remodel me, I could tolerate it.
And I also thought about the reflexive benefits I could gain instead of her notorious reputation.
‘First, using the excuse that she wants to experiment on me, everyone will think I am fleeing the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect or running away outside.’
From Jin-hwi’s reaction, I could see how wild Hong Su-ryeong was.
Perhaps not as mad as Goe-gun, but definitely insane.
‘Moreover, it is not the Core Formation master I originally planned for, but an elder of late Heavenly Person stage….’
I would receive even more advice on the Thunder God Body.
Of course, such madmen would likely not follow normal logic.
But even if she was mad, she could not be as mad as Goe-gun.
Having grown accustomed to Goe-gun’s logic, I was prepared to grow accustomed to hers as well.
And most importantly.
‘If she is truly a madman who wants to experiment on me as human subjects, she will likely attach less affection than expected.’
After all, I had planned to flee and avoid forming a bond under the pretext of avoiding human experimentation, and if I just watched her chase and froth at the mouth, she would not attach any affection even if she wanted to.
‘Even if I regress, there will be no shock great enough to shatter my mind.’
That was the point I liked most.
Of course, since I had decided to become family with her, there would be affection as a fellow disciple of the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect.
But it would not extend to the range of the ‘family’ I was truly closely connected with.
‘That would be enough to slightly reduce the shock when I regress.’
I accepted Jin-hwi’s proposal with that thought, and he looked dumbfounded while sending waves of gratitude and apology through his thoughts.
***
The day of the Seven-Star Ceremony had arrived.
I ascended onto the altar Jin-hwi had prepared and began the ritual.
Kugugugugu—
And, as expected, thick eating clouds gathered and blocked the sky.
The path to receiving the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy was sealed.
Jin-hwi’s eyes narrowed at the sight.
“What is this… Wasn’t today supposed to be the auspicious day for the ritual? That is impossible… I have checked everything myself.”
“Master, what are those clouds?”
“Hmm, it seems today is not an auspicious day after all.”
“I heard that clouds of this type can be washed away by the ritual participant themselves and will not cause any problem with the ritual. Is that correct?”
“That is true, but… you are only at Qi Condensation Six Star. With your power, how…”
Before Jin-hwi could finish his words.
I pulled up the Lightning Tribulation Gong and reached my hand toward the sky.
And, using the Water God Body Technique, I poured out the Thunder Energy I had received upon reaching Foundation Establishment into both hands.
Kwaaarrung!
The azure thunderbolts erupting from my hands rose toward the sky and, as if by themselves, tore through the clouds, clearing the path for the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy to descend.
Jin-hwi’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.
“This… what is this…”
So astonished was he that, during the entire Seven-Star Ceremony, Jin-hwi did not think to help me and simply stood there dazed, watching.
Pazik, pazizik!
Shuushuu—
As I received the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, I confirmed that I had regained Heavenly Race vision once more.
I had reached Qi Condensation Seven Star.
The mastery of the Lightning Tribulation Gong had increased even more than before, and it felt as though a path that had been blocked had now been cleared.
“Master, the Seven-Star Ceremony is complete.”
“H-How… with Lightning Tribulation Gong, how could you…”
“Well, I just did it.”
“Heh, hehe, hehehehe…”
Jin-hwi, wearing an incredulous expression, soon began to laugh sincerely.
“Hehe… hahaha! Yes, yes!”
Only now did he seem to accept my talent.
“This is truly a Thunder Body! As expected, the great fortune of our sect! With a Thunder Body of this level, how extraordinary must the Ancestor’s physique, the Heavenly Thunder Body, be! Ah! Ancestor, I hope you are truly watching over our sect!”
I smiled meaningfully beside him while calculating the remaining amount of azure thunderbolts.
‘With this much, even reaching Foundation Establishment would be difficult, but Qi Condensation Extreme would be no problem.’
That was enough.
Since I had not yet used the Heavenly Race cultivation stored in the Colorless Glass Sword, that would be sufficient.
***
The day after the Seven-Star Ceremony had passed.
“So you are the one called Seo Eun-hyun.”
An individual in golden robes and a golden belt appeared before my east chamber.
Her long jet-black hair flowed down to her waist, surrounded by crackling static electricity.
Despite the heavy static electricity, her hair remained as unruffled as black jade.
With her clean skin, she appeared to be a rather normal-looking woman.
“I am Hong Su-ryeong, the elder of the Geumshin Cheonrae Sect. As of today, I have become your Core Formation partner.”
“Ah, it is a pleasure.”
I greeted her with proper etiquette, at least for the time being.
‘I will be avoiding her from now on, but I must still look good on the first day….’
And then.
“You bastard!”
“…”
Suddenly she stomped her foot in rage.
At that, lightning flashed outside and the heavens thundered.
“Just because I have become your Core Formation partner do you think our statuses are the same?! I am the elder of the sect! How can etiquette be that lax?!”
‘What is this talk? This is the orthodox etiquette of the Seongje Empire…’
“Back when I was young, if the elders of the sect made a procession, everyone had to kneel and bow their heads! Even eight hundred years ago, the etiquette still existed! Why is it so lax now?!”
“…”
‘…She is angry because I did not follow the etiquette of eight hundred years ago.’
I was momentarily irritated, but I adjusted the etiquette I had learned in the Seongje Empire and knelt, bowing my head.
‘For now, I will accommodate her.’
“Yes, this junior was ignorant and showed lax behavior. Please forgive me.”
‘Is that enough?’
But her thoughts twisted again, growing angry.
‘What now?’
“Is that not the correct etiquette! Do it again!”
“…”
“Senior, may this junior speak one word? As far as I know, this is the correct etiquette.”
I had searched through the advisory documents of the Seongje Empire and observed its processions many times. It could not be wrong.
But Hong Su-ryeong insisted, eyes wide.
“What do you mean wrong?! Eight hundred years ago it was not done that way!”
Mentioning her age and insisting that my posture was wrong, I was momentarily at a loss.
‘A child her age is speaking here—what nonsense?’
Mentioning her age and getting angry made my irritation rise.
And suddenly Hong Su-ryeong’s face turned scarlet and she shouted loudly.
“You bastard! You insolent fellow! Fine, if you have no intention of correcting your etiquette, I shall personally research your body…”
‘Maybe giving her a bit of education would be better…’
I looked into the eyes of the irritable Hong Su-ryeong.
And the next moment.
“Because you are a Thunder Body, I was going to give you special treatment…”
“…”
I let out a dry laugh and realized why she had suddenly come and raved at me in rage.
“I am sorry. I have too many strange thoughts and disturbed Senior with unnecessary thoughts.”
Her personality was weird, but it was not because she had brought up my age and picked a fight out of nowhere.
She had sensed my thoughts that I wanted to flee and use her, and she had immediately gotten angry.
“Ah, no… how…”
After Goe-gun, Changhoza, and Oh Hyun-seok.
I had met the fourth Core Formation cultivator.