The Final Goodbye
Xiangonggongbeop.
Gyeonggi-gi gichogongbeop and so on were things that only the hand-picked spiritual stones were enough to acquire easily among the gyeonggi-gi cultivators. But learning xiangonggongbeop from the elders of the gyeonggi-gi clans was a far more difficult matter to obtain. There was no need to mention that gyeoldanggongbeop, which was superior to xiangonggongbeop. As for gyeonggi-gi gichogongbeop, I already knew five of them recorded in the O-wol-ip-do-gyeong and six from the Cheongmun Clan’s Jiju-won-beop. Even if other cultivators offered to sell me more gyeonggi-gi gichogongbeop, I could still do so. But right now, the only xiangonggongbeop I knew was the one my master had instilled into me with his own knowledge, the wood-attribute one. Cheonrin-suhaeseong. It was a cultivation manual that in theory could reach from xiangi-gi all the way through gyeoldang-gi to won-yeong-gi. Of course, it focused heavily on foresight and hindsight, making it hard to memorize the gongbeop-gul and its understanding level was considerable. In the Cheongmun Clan, it was a gongbeop-gul that even my master was the only one who had mastered it. “Cheonrin-suhaeseong is wonderful, but still… I suppose he will give me everything I want.” In particular, the Black Ghost Valley was said to have a deep history, and there was supposedly no attribute gongbeop they did not have. “First, I should acquire as many xiangi-gi gongbeop as possible. And in the future, I can also obtain the ones I will need for gyeoldang and won-yeong-gi in advance…” It was not a bad proposal. But. “However, how can I trust that the gongbeop manuals you give me are genuine ones?” Right now, having already been deceived once by Hofung Eungryongbyeon from Seo Hyul, I could not easily believe his offer to hand over cultivation manuals. [This guy, actually doubting this old man of the Great Blue Ghost Valley who once was.] “Old man or whatever, now you can just die. But for me, there are too many things hanging over me.” [Hng, brazen brat… Fine. Let’s make a pact.] He placed his hand on the wall of the Seopmyeong Ship and opened his mouth. [I, Songjin of the Great Blue Ghost Valley, the elder of the Seopmyeong Ship, swear before you. I swear on the honor of the name of the Great Blue Ghost Valley that I will not speak falsehoods regarding the cultivation manuals.] Uwoong! The wall of the Seopmyeong Ship vibrated faintly, and together with that vibration, some kind of shamanistic connection seemed to form between Ghost Soul, Songjin, and the Seopmyeong Ship. I looked into his inner mind and intention to judge the truth or falsehood. He definitely had something up his sleeve, but at least he had the intention not to play with the manuals. ‘Well, fine. A small scheme is fine…’ Kim Young-hoon must have read his inner mind as well, sending me a silent message. It meant something like “Is it all right?” I sent him a silent message back saying it was all right. “Fine, then let’s hear what kind of favor you want to ask. If it’s unreasonable, I won’t grant it.” [It will not be an unreasonable favor. I will teach you the manipulation method of the Seopmyeong Ship, so take it and sail to the sea.] “…Is that all?” [That is all.] At that time, Seo Ran asked with a puzzled expression. “The Seopmyeong Ship cannot move anymore, right?” [Hmph, we have only lost most of the main functions and the power source. With the remaining ghost power left on the Seopmyeong Ship, we can sail about five more times. It is completely broken… but one more voyage is nothing.] Songjin stroked the Seopmyeong Ship with a bitter expression. [The Seopmyeong Ship… can still fly.] I read Songjin’s inner mind. He seemed to want to meet his end together with this Seopmyeong Ship. ‘I want to meet my end at the place I desired, at the moment I desired…’ Somehow, I felt sympathy for him and looked around. “I will accept your request, but what about Hyung?” “Do as you please. I can’t manipulate the Seopmyeong Ship though.” “What about Seo Doo?” “I…” Seo Ran hesitated for a moment, then looked at Songjin and spoke. “I would like you to help me find what my mother left behind.” Songjin’s face darkened at Seo Ran’s words. [I was already worried about it from earlier, but yes. As I thought, it is you. The blemish of the main sect, half-dragon. Hng, I heard that even though he has the blood of the Inyo lineage, his ghost dragon blood is so thick that he cannot read the celestial phenomena through the Chilseongje, and he is treated as a half-blessed one in the clan.] Songjin glared at Seo Ran. [Your mother was a greatly promising disciple of the Blue Ghost Valley. If you had not been born, that child could have received enough support and become a won-yeong-gi elder. You created a blemish, support was cut off, and you ate with the Haeryong Clan, losing the honor of being a half-blessed one and falling to the status of half-blessed! What face do you have now, asking me for help to find your mother’s relics?] “…” Songjin looked at Seo Ran with displeasure and said. [If you want to find it, find it yourself. I will not help with such things.] I considered pressuring Songjin to help Seo Ran, but seeing his stubborn inner mind, I gave up. No matter how I pressured him, he did not seem to plan on yielding on this matter that was directly linked to the honor of the Black Ghost Valley. “Seo Doo, I will not help with what I am looking for. If we search together, we can find it faster. That said… as long as you really take the Seopmyeong Ship and sail to the sea, right?” [Yes. That is all I need. I will teach you the manipulation method of the Seopmyeong Ship, so follow me.] I followed Songjin to the highest deck of the Seopmyeong Ship. [The Seopmyeong Ship is originally a ship that moves with the ghost power and soul power stored in the ship itself. Before Goe-gun took the power source, the ghost power and soul power were infinite, but now if used a few times, the soul power will be completely exhausted.] He taught me the manipulation method of the Seopmyeong Ship. I simultaneously told Seo Ran to explore the lower deck of the Seopmyeong Ship and said I would explore the upper deck. Of course, since I had already explored the upper deck in my previous life, this was consideration to save his time. I studied the manipulation method of the Seopmyeong Ship with Songjin for several days, Seo Ran thoroughly explored the lower deck, and Kim Young-hoon trained with the Gwanghan Beam. About two weeks passed. [You seem to have become quite proficient.] Songjin looked at me and said, seeing me attach my intention to the steering wheel of the Seopmyeong Ship and control the entire ship. Originally, this ridiculously huge space-compressed ship could only move if dozens of people clung to it. But it seemed that one person was enough to make a wrecked ship move roughly. In fact, since cultivators could use the power of intention to make one person equivalent to tens, moving a wrecked ship roughly was no big deal. And around that time, Seo Ran’s exploration of the lower deck was almost complete. “Now we just need to explore about three more rooms. Among them, there will be my mother’s relics.” Seo Ran said with a trembling voice. Songjin looked at such Seo Ran with complicated eyes. And it was two days later that Seo Ran found his mother’s relics. “Did you find it?” “Yes, senior. Thanks to you, I was able to find my mother’s relics.” In Seo Ran’s hand was a volume of jade slip. “Have you read it?” “I have not read it yet. I plan to read it after returning home and preparing my mind.” “I see.” At that time, Songjin, who had been watching us, spoke. [Now that you have all roughly seen the Seopmyeong Ship, it seems it is time to fulfill my request.] “Well, let’s do that. I will manipulate the Seopmyeong Ship and go out.” I went up to the highest deck of the Seopmyeong Ship. On the deck, the steering wheel. I infused my intention into the steering wheel. The structure and system were completely different from a normal ship. Paaaaat! When I infused my intention into the steering wheel, the current state of the Seopmyeong Ship and the structure of every part of the ship flowed into my mind. [Send my intention to the auxiliary power sources throughout the Seopmyeong Ship in that state.] Kugugugu! The current state and structure of the Seopmyeong Ship rose in my mind. I sent my intention to every part of the structure diagram and stimulated it. Then the Seopmyeong Ship trembled and began to spew out more ghost wind. [Seopmyeong Ship, Ignition!] “Seopmyeong Ship, ignite!” Kuoooo! Yin wind blew from the bottom of the Seopmyeong Ship. At the same time, the Seopmyeong Ship began to rise into the air. “Heo…” Kim Young-hoon looked down from the edge of the deck of the Seopmyeong Ship, and Seo Ran also looked around with eyes mixed with tension and expectation. [Departure!] Kuuwuu! Following my will and manipulation, the Seopmyeong Ship rose into the air and began to move forward. I manipulated the Seopmyeong Ship by distributing my energy throughout the place and there according to Songjin’s advice. [Hey, why is the manipulation speed only this much? Weren’t you a gyeoldang-gi? If you were a gyeoldang-gi, the output of pure force should be overwhelmingly higher than this, so the manipulation speed should be much faster…] He looked at me with an annoyed expression and continued. However, I did not say anything in return and silently drove the Seopmyeong Ship. Chuk, chuk! Pieces and fragments that had broken and dangled from the Seopmyeong Ship fell downward. Since it was already a considerably wrecked ship, there were many fragments falling. Chwaaa! The Seopmyeong Ship pierced through the formations and seals spread across the sea. When the central Seopmyeong Ship left its position, the seal began to collapse. Chwaaa! The well was filled with seawater. ―Kiaaaaa. ―It is the Seopmyeong Ship. ―Run! You will be eaten by the ship! The ghosts in the Haemu seal beyond saw the Seopmyeong Ship and screamed, making way. As the Haemu seal passed the middle, the seal collapsed and the ghosts in the sea began to ascend one after another. And finally. Kwa kwa kwa kwang! When we properly entered a proper sea area, shattering the illusory seal intact. Swaaaaa! The ghosts were released, and the yin qi and ghost power that had been boiling throughout the sea area began to disappear. The dark clouds melted away, and sunlight came through the gaps. Chwaaa! And the Seopmyeong Ship, which had briefly flown in the air until then, fell into the sea. The Seopmyeong Ship, completely wrecked like a ghost ship, barely floated on the sea and cruised on the sea. Songjin looked silently at that scene. After watching it for a while, Songjin looked at me. [If there is something you are curious about, ask now. I will become enlightened soon. I will answer everything you ask now.] “Even if it is not about the cultivation manuals?” [Yes.] I pondered for a moment at his words and asked. “I know the name of the Ghost Valley as Black Ghost Valley, but why do you call it Blue Ghost Valley?” [That is simple. The main cultivation method of the main sect is the ghost dao technique that controls ghosts. And the ghost dao technique generally does not have black energy. But according to what has been handed down, it is said that those who master the ghost dao technique have energy with a blue light.] I recalled the blue light I saw in his ghost transformation and the blue-white self-destruction technique he summoned. [I too, after reaching the heavenly person realm, learned some of the principles of the ghost dao technique and was able to dye some of my energy blue. But only those who truly saw the ultimate meaning of the ghost dao technique had their entire body covered in blue energy.] The Blue Ghost Valley is the ideal we, the Black Ghost Valley, are pursuing. I and a few elders firmly believe that the Black Ghost Valley will eventually reach that ideal and use the name Blue Ghost Valley.] I nodded at his answer and asked the next question. “The Ascension Gate is said to open once every thousand years. Every time the Ascension Gate opens, does it mean that all sects from all continents fully ascend?” Songjin shook his head at my words. [That is true, but this time period is also special.] “…?” [At the time when this Ascension Gate opens, the entire continent is completely overheated, like a gunpowder keg about to explode. No matter what generation, there has never been a time when there were so many heavenly person realm cultivators. Heavenly person realm cultivators, and won-yeong-gi cultivators alike.] Songjin’s explanation continued. [Among those many cultivators, the elder lord of the main sect, the previous sect master of Geumsin Cheonroe-mun, the founder of Cheongcheon Gaebyeok-mun, the head of the Jeondo Seonpa Alliance, the head of the Mado Seonpa Alliance, the representatives of the three great ghost dragon clans, Seongbung-wang, Haeryong-wang, and Geo-ho-wang gathered for a meeting. Haeryong-wang Seo Hyul led the meeting, and the result of the meeting predicted that if we continued like this, the soul veins of the entire continent and the entire sea would be completely depleted by the training and competition of numerous large forces.] He seemed to recall the past events and continued. [Therefore, to prevent the soul veins from being depleted and the entire continent from being engulfed in war, at this Ascension Gate opening, all heavenly person realm cultivators should combine their strength and ascend together, with their own sects and forces. If everyone ascends together, the probability of not ascending would be higher due to mutual support against the spatial pressure, and if not ascending, even if nothing, it would be a solid support force together with the sect, and they would be given the opportunity to train in a world overwhelmingly superior to the sect’s disciples, so it was a good opinion from everyone.] “Is that why so many heavenly person realm cultivators ascended this time?” [Yes. Also, in this ascension, beings above won-yeong-gi were to be taken unconditionally, and those with the potential to reach won-yeong-gi were also to be taken. In a world where super large sects and heavenly person realm cultivators have disappeared, it was clear that won-yeong-gi cultivators would cause all kinds of chaos and seize the forces left by the heavenly person realm cultivators’ descendants or the sects they left here. Therefore, even the won-yeong-gi cultivators were forced to participate in this ascension whether they wanted to or not. The Black Ghost Valley, Geumsin Cheonroe-mun, Cheongcheon Gaebyeok-mun, Jeondo, Mado Alliance, and the three great ghost dragon clans were to kill without exception those who refused to ascend, and capture all talented gyeoldang-gi fellows who had the potential to reach won-yeong-gi and bring them into their own forces.] Songjin laughed. [Therefore, after the Ascension Gate closed, only gyeoldang-gi ghost cultivators like me who are waiting to die, or won-yeong-gi cultivators who have no chance of rising, or gyeoldang-gi cultivators with miserable talents whose lifespan is almost over, or old people grinding their teeth with almost no life left remained on the continent. It will take at least 6,700 years for a won-yeong-gi cultivator to appear on the continent. Hehe…] Only after listening to his explanation could I understand the various circumstances related to the ascension. ‘Was the reason we started producing more dan medicine after the Ascension Gate closed in the Markri Clan to increase the lifespan of gyeoldang-gi cultivators?’ They must have put more effort into making dan medicine to give the won-yeong-gi cultivators time to reach the won-yeong-gi realm. And the Jin Clan attacked the Markri Clan’s dan refining workshop in the Markri Clan to prevent the birth of a won-yeong-gi cultivator there, exerting all their strength to interfere. The young gyeoldang-gi cultivators with talent above won-yeong-gi or potential to reach it had already ascended. The old demons who were unable to reach the won-yeong-gi realm until they grew old tried to prolong their lifespan. If they reached the won-yeong-gi realm even a little earlier, their forces would become the strongest in the surrounding area because they only had gyeoldang-gi around them. I understood the relationship between the Ascension Gate and the sects and clans involved in it. By now, Songjin’s appearance had become quite transparent. [Is there no more question?] “Well, for now, this is enough. Can I ask for the cultivation manual I want?” [Hrm, fine. Before that, just a moment…] Songjin looked at Seo Ran and said. [You, half-dragon brat. Spread out the jade slip of your mother you found.] “Y-yes?” [I also need to see the contents. I also need to know why your mother, despite taking on the blemish of the Black Ghost Valley, married that guy and gave birth to you.] Seo Ran hesitated for a moment, then spread the jade slip. Songjin moved behind Seo Ran and read the jade slip with him. A while later. Tears flowed from Seo Ran’s eyes. “…Mother, father…” Songjin, who was reading the jade slip together with Seo Ran, closed his eyes with a complicated expression. […If my power had been intact, I would not have forgiven you, the blemish of the main sect.] Songjin said looking at Seo Ran. [Your mother, that child. I saw the process of that child being born on the Seopmyeong Ship, learning to walk and grow. It was my disciple, but not blood. Still, it was a remarkable child who often came to me and asked about my arts.] Songjin continued speaking while looking at the jade slip. [I hated that Haeryong Clan fellow who ruined the life of a disciple of the main sect, and I hated you, the blemish of the main sect. But, to your mother, you seemed like a son she could be proud of.] Songjin turned his back on Seo Ran and came back to me. […Are you infusing my intention into the third auxiliary power source of the Seopmyeong Ship?] “Yes, I am.” [Stop infusing your intention. If more than a certain level of stimulation is applied to the third power source, the Seopmyeong Ship is set to self-destruct.] “What…!” I hurriedly stopped infusing my intention and glared at him. Songjin smiled and said. [Originally, I was going to make all of you my traveling companions. After all, I wanted to meet my end with the Seopmyeong Ship, and since I was already a dead body, there was no regret. Thank the benevolence of the main sect’s disciples. The disciples of the main sect wanted their sons to live… That is why I changed my heart a little and decided to go alone like this.] “This…” Had I not almost been caught up in the self-destruction of the Seopmyeong Ship and died? I glared at this ghost fellow. [Don’t worry. There is nothing scheming anymore. Just say the cultivation manual you want. Since I am planning to become enlightened after giving it, it would be better to say it quickly.] “…Hng.” I looked at Songjin and held back the rising irritation. In the end, I needed to obtain the cultivation manual. “…First, the one I can learn from the xiangi-gi stage. Not a demonic cultivation manual. One I can learn based on the principle of foresight and hindsight. One that does not require precious materials, pills, or spiritual root talent, etc.” [Hah, why so picky? More than that, a cultivation manual that is not demonic cultivation in the main sect, which is a demonic dao sect? And foresight and hindsight? Who is going to learn that old-fashioned principle. A cultivation manual that does not require precious materials or spiritual root talent?] His face furrowed. [All just picky requirements. First, if it is not demonic cultivation, does it mean not using demonic energy, evil energy, or ghost energy?] However, I shook my head. “All cultivation manuals that require the sacrifice of others to learn, please exclude them.” [The range is wide. Damn…] He seemed to ponder with annoyance and said to me. [There are three cultivation manuals that meet your picky conditions. The Yin Soul Ghost Curse, the Army of Demons’ Puppet Pit Volume, and the Imperial Earth Wall Technique. Which of the three will you choose.] “…Two of the three sound like demonic cultivation manuals just from the name.” Yin soul and army of demons. The names looked sinister. Songjin explained the cultivation manuals. [Hehe, that is how I thought. But no. The Yin Soul Ghost Curse is a cultivation manual for the cultivator to understand their own suffering and malice. It is not cultivating evil energy, and the faster the cultivator understands suffering without sacrificing others, the faster the cultivation progresses. It is not a demonic cultivation manual, but the Yin Soul Ghost Curse itself. The Army of Demons’ Puppet Pit Volume is named that, but it is the best cultivation manual for a cultivator with a law treasure. The faster you understand the nature of the law treasure, the faster your practice proceeds by linking with the law treasure. The Imperial Earth Wall Technique is a cultivation manual that allows faster practice the deeper you understand the earth’s soul vein. It has the advantage that the more you stick to the same place and understand the earth, the faster your practice goes.] Songjin finished a series of explanations about the cultivation manuals and said looking at me. [Honestly, the one I recommend the most is the Yin Soul Ghost Curse.] “Why is that?” [It is obvious. Have you forgotten that I peeked into your mental world? How many people are there who understand ‘suffering’ as well as you do. If you learn the Yin Soul Ghost Curse, you will be able to practice very quickly.] “Hrm…” Suffering. I pondered inwardly for a moment. ‘The Army of Demons’ Puppet Pit Volume is not something I can learn, not even a law treasure, let alone a law artifact. The Imperial Earth Wall Technique is also useless unless I keep sticking to one place. And I have no guarantee that I will be able to stick to one place…’ But still, the Imperial Earth Wall Technique was tempting. At the same time, the Yin Soul Ghost Curse would also be a good choice if, as he said, the faster you understand suffering, the faster the progress. Of course, even just from the name, it looked the most dangerous. ‘Well, if that is the case, there is still next life…’ “I will take the Yin Soul Ghost Curse.” Since all three would eventually come into my hands, I thought I would learn the one that looked the most dangerous first and choose something better next time. [A good choice. With your mental state, you will become greatly proficient quickly.] After finishing his words, Songjin carved his intention into the remains of the Seopmyeong Ship lying nearby. Dense gul inscriptions appeared on the remains. [I did not make any tricks on the name of the Blue Ghost Valley. You can practice to your heart’s content…] He finished speaking and turned around. He headed to the bow of the Seopmyeong Ship. [The cultivators of the Blue Ghost Valley, more than sixty percent were born on the Seopmyeong Ship and die on the Seopmyeong Ship. I was born on this ship, and I died trying to protect this ship.] Gradually, his appearance became more transparent. [Listen well, half-dragon brat. You are definitely the ‘blemish’ of the main sect. But you are also the ‘blemish’ of the main sect. So grow and live so that you do not become the son of your mother, the main sect.] Pasu― [Half of your blood is the disciple of the main sect. Even though it is only half, as an adult of the sect, I cannot go without giving anything to my disciple.] Patsuch! More characters were carved on the jade slip held by Seo Ran. [You will know the value of it yourself. I do not like you. But as the last duty of a disciple who loved you while taking on the blemish as the adult of the sect, you must live grateful to your mother!] Songjin went up to the bow of the Seopmyeong Ship and looked back at the Seopmyeong Ship cruising on the blue sea. He slowly turned to us and finally looked at Seo Ran. His intention came. He seemed to see someone through Seo Ran. […And thank you. For watching over my final journey.] After finishing, Songjin dispersed in the sea breeze. Seo Ran looked at the place where he had been with a complicated expression and bowed. I prayed for a brief eulogy for the deceased anyway. *** After watching over Songjin’s final journey. I turned the steering wheel and headed toward Seo Ran’s quarters. Seo Ran began to interpret what Songjin had left him, and I sat down and began to read and compare the Cheonrin-suhaeseong cultivation manual given by my master and the Yin Soul Ghost Curse cultivation manual given by Songjin. Since all the matters to be resolved had been resolved, I could properly learn the xiangonggongbeop. “The cultivation manual of the Yin Soul Ghost Curse…” The knowledge of the Yin Soul Ghost Curse began to flow into my mind.