Foundation Establishment
The Five Elements formed a perfect circle.
“Five Elements Entering the Dao!”
Transcending the Five Elements, I truly entered the realm of cultivation!
Yellow, black, red, white, and azure spiritual energies began compressing and rotating inside my dantian.
Kugugugu!
“Go!”
A star of spiritual energy formed.
The twist of spiritual energy emanating from my spiritual root was blocked by every change from the Five Elements Entering the Dao path.
“Suppress it!”
The rotations of the Five Elements inside my dantian gradually expanded their range.
Soon, the changes of the Five Elements grew larger, beginning to devour the twist of my spiritual root.
Everything I had achieved had devoured the curse I was born under.
Uuuuuung!
Thousands of times? Hundreds of thousands? Millions?
I had challenged the Qi Condensation realm countless times.
I had understood every change of the Five Elements!
Kugugugu!
All changes of the Five Elements came under my control, and the stars of the Five Colors began to stabilize.
Paaat!
From inside my dantian shone a radiant sphere of light, unlike the dots of spiritual energy I had been making with one mind and one response.
The words of Goe-gun came to mind.
“The being who creates the flow of destiny and extends lifespan…”
Through the unified spiritual meridians, Dharma power swirled and was absorbed into the star of spiritual energy.
And the star of spiritual energy compressed the Dharma power like a transformer into pure force.
Pure force then circulated throughout my entire body, making every spot of my spiritual meridians familiar with it.
Since the star of spiritual energy also prevented its own runaway, even if pure force flowed toward sensitive areas like the upper dantian or heart, no problem arose.
Kugugugugu!
Pure force, that is, Gang Qi began flowing through my entire body.
Thump, thump, thump!
I no longer needed to forcefully pressurize my heart with Gang Qi.
Gang Qi flowed naturally through my entire spiritual meridians, extending my lifespan.
Heavenly mechanism changed.
Beyond my own fate’s star constellation, another position appeared, allowing me to receive an additional 300 years of lifespan from the heavens.
“If following Goe-gun’s words means imitating the stars to tie destiny even more tightly, perhaps cultivation is ultimately the process of becoming like the heavens.”
At the same time, I gained a trace of enlightenment about the path of cultivation.
Through him, my ability to read the Heavenly Mechanism improved slightly beyond the Qi Condensation realm.
Now, simply by looking at the sky, I could sense the great dao and the inauspicious to some degree.
“From now on, the concept of time will also change a bit.”
Once I reached Core Formation, I would receive another 300 years, totaling 600 years.
Once I reached Nascent Soul, I would receive another 600 years, totaling over 1,200 years.
Starting from now, when I first receive 300 years from the heavens, my life span would be far longer.
Woong, wooring…
The dense black clouds that had been gathered near Shattered Heaven Peak gradually thinned and soon disappeared.
“Hah… haha… haha hahahahaha!”
I organized my thoughts and laughed as if the entire mountain peak was collapsing from laughter.
Finally.
After going through countless lives, finally!
“I have overcome my fate…!!!”
I had transcended destiny and overcome lifespan.
Sururuk…
I deeply understood Kim Young-hoon’s words that life is joy.
Through martial arts, I had rebuilt myself and gained even higher enlightenment.
Overcoming lifespan, I had received an additional 300 years.
How could I not be grateful.
I confirmed once more that I had reached the Qi Condensation realm, countless times, and released pure force from my entire body.
Currently, I had only one star of spiritual energy, which was like a transformer, and could only produce a thin trace of pure force.
But this was undoubtedly pure force, and since Gang Qi now flowed through my body, activating life-saving Gang Qi at all times was the same.
Up to Qi Condensation, cultivators could at least feel somewhat human when wielding cultivation techniques.
From Qi Condensation onward, it was the beginning of truly leaving humanity behind.
With Gang Qi flowing everywhere in my body, attacks below the level of sword qi and sword gangs of martial artists would not penetrate.
Even sword gangs would not be effective if I raised the concentration of pure force in the Qi Condensation realm.
“If it weren’t for the sudden return attack, honestly, blocking with life-saving Gang Qi that only flows during normal times would cause no problem. Moreover, pure force is already drawing up life force throughout my body.”
Like the Qi Condensation elders of the Baekri Sect I had seen before, even if several internal organs were torn out, pure force would continue to play its role for days, so damage to the head, heart, or abdomen would not be serious.
Furthermore.
“What I have infused with pure force is sword gang. Therefore, I can honestly pour the pure force flowing throughout my body into my dantian and expect infinite output of Gang Qi.”
Honestly, even pouring any spiritual energy flowing through my entire body into my dantian would not leave a trace.
And now, upon reaching the Qi Condensation realm, my consciousness had grown even larger than before.
Pasusut…
I released my Invisible Sword.
Then my consciousness returned to its original sphere form and embraced me once more.
Uuung—
A radius of about three zhang (one zhang is approximately three meters) centered on me was covered by my consciousness domain.
The larger I stacked my cultivation in the Qi Condensation realm, the larger my consciousness domain would become.
“If I couldn’t reach the Qi Condensation realm in this life, my consciousness would be the same size anyway, so I wouldn’t worry about it exploding in the next life. If I reached it, I would receive more lifespan, so I hadn’t thought about it… but now my consciousness is this large…”
However, after pondering for a moment, I moved my consciousness and quickly found the answer at the Woldoipcheon realm.
Sururuk…
My consciousness form changed into the Invisible Sword, and when I activated my will, my consciousness completely split and began revolving around me.
“This can even be done without spiritual energy.”
The skill of handling pure consciousness rose astronomically upon reaching the Woldoipcheon realm.
If I opened my eyes in the next life and immediately shattered my Invisible Sword, I would avoid overload to my upper dantian.
“First, I’ve caught my breath…”
I felt immense relief that I would not be trapped in the curse of my head exploding in the next life.
Of course, I didn’t know what would happen if I continued practicing cultivation techniques and my consciousness grew larger, but for now, it was enough.
Sururuk…
I restored my Invisible Sword.
Then I began thinking about the cultivation techniques I would practice from now on.
“With 300 years of time given, I need to think slowly…”
Until now, I had felt constantly chased by time due to the 50-year lifespan limit.
Now that I had 300 years in one life, I felt incredibly free and at ease.
At least, the Qi Condensation realm was divided into four major stages.
Many people called them early, mid, late, and grand without much meaning, but easily.
The four stages of the Qi Condensation realm had formal names.
Each stage was called by the names of the stars instead of the characters of the Qi Condensation realm, and
First Star: Horn, Emptiness, Womb, Room, Heart, Tail, Basket.
Second Star: Dipper, Ox, Girl, Void, Danger, Chamber, Wall.
Third Star: Kwai, Lou, Stomach, Mast, Weaving Basket, Dagger, Plough.
Fourth Star: Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Zhang, Wing, Churn.
These corresponded to the 28 star constellations in the Star Realm.
A Qi Condensation cultivator who reached the limit of the Qi Condensation realm would create 28 stars of spiritual energy in his dantian, from the star corresponding to the First Star, Gakhangjeobangsimmigi, to the star corresponding to the Fourth Star, Jeongguyuseongjangikjin.
And in the Qi Condensation realm, the blessings from the Chilseongjei performed during the Qi Condensation realm would be of great help.
The Chilseongjei had borrowed the names of seven stars from among the 28 constellations to receive the heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, and depending on which star was borrowed, one would receive help during the practice of the First Star or the Fourth Star.
“This time, I offered the Chilseongjei to Gakhangjeobangsimmigi and Cheongjanchisu, so I should receive an advantage during the First Star stage.”
Suddenly, as I recalled that fact, I remembered another interesting one.
Generally, the vast majority of cultivators never perform the Chilseongjei twice in their entire lives.
Unless they miscalculate the time and the offering fails, or some unbelievable rare phenomenon like the appearance of a star occurs.
Originally, only seven stars receive blessings during the Chilseongjei, and which star one chooses determines when help is received in the Qi Condensation realm.
Those lacking talent usually receive blessings from the seven stars of the First Star, Gakhangjeobangsimmigi or the Second Star, Dureoyohuhwisilbyeok.
They intended to receive help in the early to mid stage of the Qi Condensation realm.
And those with outstanding talent receive blessings from the seven stars of the Third Star, Gyuluwimyo piljicham, or the Fourth Star, Jeongguyuseongjangikjin, and perform the Chilseongjei.
They intend to quickly pass the early to mid stage with outstanding talent and quickly overcome the later stages.
“This cursed regression ability will also be helpful sometimes.”
But in my case, every time I regress, all Qi Condensation realms are reset, and the Chilseongjei must be performed again every time.
So, if in the early stage I receive blessings from Gakhangjeobangsimmigi, the First Star, and then recall the enlightenment about that realm, and in the next life I let the First Star pass to the second and receive blessings from the Second Star, then…
“Receiving blessings from the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Stars while reaching the limit of the Qi Condensation realm is not an empty thought.”
Perhaps the Qi Condensation realm will be a little easier than during the Qi Condensation realm.
It was then that I was lost in thoughts about the Qi Condensation realm.
“Eun-hyun-ah.”
Kim Young-hoon was approaching this way.
After nearly ten years, he spoke with his own voice.
“It seems that many cultivators from various cultivation clans who have settled on Shattered Heaven Peak are coming this way.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
Since lightning had struck and clouds had been torn apart, and many things had happened, it was only natural that they were coming this way.
“Then Shattered Heaven is now sl…”
And that was when I had spoken the word Shattered Heaven.
Flash!
Instantly, lightning flashed before my eyes, and the entire heaven and earth were bathed in an eerie light.
I immediately realized that I had been transported to some strange place.
“What is this…!”
I panicked and tried to guard myself, but I realized my physical body had disappeared.
I had suddenly been sucked into this strange world in the state of my consciousness.
“What the hell is going on?”
It was when I looked around in confusion.
Chwaaa—
Flash, flash!
The strange space began filling with lightning of all colors.
Red, blue, gold, white, jade green, pastel pink, dark crimson, and so on…
And beyond the world of lightning.
From there, a human figure shaped like a dark shadow appeared.
I tensed, watching the unidentifiable strange situation, and fixed my gaze on the figure.
The figure had no visible outline, and its entire body was a dark shadow, like a ghost.
However, no ghost qi was felt, making it look like a strange spirit.
It was then that I observed that being.
Suruk…
“…”
From the face part of the shadow, blood began to flow from the place where eyes would be.
The sight was as if an indignant wandering soul was shedding tears of blood.
[This old man is Yang Su-jin, the first sect master of the Geumsincheonloemun. The remnant shadow of fate he left behind. You, the Jongmyeongja of the next generation.
The fact that you have entered this space means you have achieved the conditions I set with a miraculous probability.
Those Jongmyeongja who entered Shattered Heaven Peak before awakening their own fate, survived being struck by the Heavenly Thunder, and uttered the impossible miracle of saying Shattered Heaven are all able to come here.]
“Yang Su-jin!?”
[Bringing the Jongmyeongja to Shattered Heaven Peak was because this old man had already created the fate’s attraction to call the Jongmyeongja to Shattered Heaven Peak. Therefore, no matter when, a Jongmyeongja can only come to Shattered Heaven Peak once.
But a Jongmyeongja who is worse than a worm before awakening their own fate happened to be struck by the Heavenly Thunder here, miraculously survived, and uttered Shattered Heaven — that is only possible with an unbelievable miracle.
Although it is an unbelievable event, if it is not a miracle, there is no place I can create to avoid its gaze.
Therefore, this old man leaves this warning for the next generation, relying only on the possibility of a miracle.]
Flash, flash!
Surrounding the figure who had introduced himself as Yang Su-jin’s remnant shadow.
Lightning surrounding all directions gradually began to turn blood-red.
[Next generation, whether you are the Jongmyeongja of the next generation, of the generation after next, or of thousands, hundreds of millions of generations in the future, unknown next generation.
Absolutely, do not leak your granted fate. No matter what gift you receive, never utter it no matter what happens.
Wherever you go in the Three Thousand Worlds, that being will know what you received.
p>It is the only slight possibility that you keep your fate a secret from that being.]
Flash!
Everywhere in the heaven and earth was filled with blood-red lightning.
From the eyes of the shadow who had introduced himself as Yang Su-jin’s remnant shadow, even more tears of blood flowed.
[If you have already leaked your secret, next generation, all even that slight possibility has disappeared.
Do not think of returning to your hometown, nor think of escaping the curse of fate.
Just give up thoughts of cultivation and live a suitable life mixed with criminals and die suitably. Forgetting your hometown forever and living and dying that way is the only way for the Jongmyeongja who has leaked his own fate to be the happiest.]
Suruk, sururuk…
Blood-like things spread from all over his shadow, and his figure began to melt into the blood-red lightning.
[Those who live their fate all feel resistance to leaking their fate.
Those like the Jongmyeongja would feel even more, but nevertheless, there are countless who casually think lightly of and leak their fate.
This old man has also become like this after leaking his fate once, so next generation. Please do not ignore my warning.
Even if you do not leak it, if that being targets you, leaking it will completely eliminate any means to resist it.
Next generation, never disregard my warning. Never…]
Flash!
Finally, he completely melted into the blood-red lightning and disappeared.
Paaat!
The next moment.
“…I should head back soon…”
I had already returned to the real world, and Kim Young-hoon had arrived in front of me.
The strange world from just before had happened in the blink of an eye.
“Jongmyeongja? That? Leaked? What exactly should not be leaked?”
“Yeah, but… are you okay? Your complexion looks bad…”
“Ah, no. It seems I exerted myself a bit upon reaching the Qi Condensation realm. By the way…”
I looked around and clicked my tongue.
“It seems we are already surrounded.”
p>Yes.
Surrounding the Shattered Heaven Peak where Kim Young-hoon and I had settled were dozens of Qi Condensation cultivators, each holding magical artifacts and riding flying techniques, staring at us.
“Who are you kids, appearing in Shattered Heaven Peak, chosen as the common territory of the cultivation clans of the Seongje Kingdom!
What are you plotting? Can’t you fix it properly right away!”
One Qi Condensation cultivator who looked to have some age shouted while pointing at us with his flame fan.
I stepped forward and cupped my hands.
“Hello, I am Seo, a Qi Condensation mountain ranger who has just entered the realm. The incident from just now was a bizarre phenomenon that occurred because I was training an unusual technique, so please understand.
And I thought this land belonged to the Geumsincheonloemun, and I didn’t know it was territory of the union of the Seongje Kingdom’s cultivation clans, so I committed a mistake and ask for forgiveness. I will never set foot in the Daesan Mountains again.”
“Hmph, the entire continent is in chaos because of the mass slaughter near the Dabcheon Desert a while ago and the great war that will happen in 200 years. You kids are suspicious! And a Qi Condensation level cultivator is only a mountain ranger in this era! No way, I will take you into custody!”
“Can’t you just forgive me once? I really only just broke through the Qi Condensation realm, and the phenomenon just now was only because I cultivated an unusual technique.”
The Qi Condensation cultivator who seemed to be the representative sneered at my words and began infusing his flame fan with spiritual power.
It seemed he had no intention of listening to my words anymore.
“Quietly surrender!”
“Sigh…”
I looked at Kim Young-hoon and said.
“We were trying to go smoothly, but it’s no good.”
“Hmph, no choice. Since there seems to be no Core Formation among us, let’s loosen our bodies now that it’s come to this. You also need to get used to the Woldoipcheon realm.”
“That’s true.”
In our conversation, the cultivator holding the flame fan shouted loudly.
“What nonsense are these kids saying! Those with the First Star of Qi Condensation and two who look like they are around the third and fourth stars of Qi Condensation are out of their minds…”
The next moment.
Kim Young-hoon grasped the Dao.
“Hah…!”
And all the Qi Condensation cultivators gathered in the hall trembled.
If they had all performed the Chilseongjei and possessed the ability to read the Heavenly Mechanism, they would have felt it.
Because a great inauspicious fate had appeared before them.
Paaat!
Kim Young-hoon’s consciousness form was dyed gold.
At the same time, strong returns rose around him.
My colorless consciousness form also changed into the shape of a giant sword and nine strong returns rose around it.
“These, these bastards! Using bizarre techniques! But can the two of you really defeat us all!”
“M-Master! This bizarre technique I’ve never seen before. Could it be the Core Formation senior’s?”
“What nonsense! It’s not the consciousness size of the Core Formation seniors! Everyone, take out your magical artifacts!”
The next moment.
Kim Young-hoon’s golden consciousness merged into his Dao body and became materialized.
My colorless consciousness left the sword form and scattered like mist before becoming materialized.
Kim Young-hoon grasped the golden Dao blade.
I gripped the Invisible Void.
Because I had reached the Woldoipcheon realm, Kim Young-hoon’s will came through much more clearly and vividly.
My will crossed with his.
[Woldoipcheon.]
[Woldoipcheon.]
“Pyung-gwang Blade.”
“Invisible Sword.”
We turned our backs to each other and swung the Light Blade and Invisible Sword toward the Qi Condensation cultivators who had surrounded us.