Chapter 14: Descending Immortal Spreading Snow (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 14: Descending Immortal Spreading Snow (3)
"Gah!"
It felt as if an explosion had gone off inside my body.
The searing poison and the frigid cold collided, and an indescribable agony began to consume me. I tried to activate the Innate True Qi within my body using the Innate Heart Method to soothe the pain, but it only served to provoke the clashing energies further.
Crunch!
"Urgh!"
My back, which I had been holding straight, doubled over.
The Namcheon Iron Sword tried to steady me.
The pain of my internal organs being torn apart was so excruciating that I couldn't even focus on circulating my energy.
The Lesser Conversation Sword’s shout echoed in my head.
In that instant, my mind cleared as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me.
The brat was right.
I had died and seized a second chance. If I were to lose now, unable to overcome a mere moment of pain, then this life would be even more pathetic than my last.
Thanks to that realization, I was able to steel my resolve. I focused on the wild, searing poison and the freezing cold raging inside me.
‘The two energies are clashing and fighting each other.’
Neither energy was friendly. Since both were trying to harm me, they were crashing into one another inside my body. My body wasn't some damn battlefield.
‘Focus.’
I couldn't let myself be swept away by these two rampaging forces. I visualized the Innate True Qi in my middle Dantian as a serene lake—a lake that remains calm and still even when thunder and lightning strike all around it.
Peace found its way into my heart.
‘Slowly... very carefully...’
Drip.
In my mind’s eye, a single drop of water fell into the serene lake, creating a small ripple that slowly spread outward.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
At that moment, I felt the pulse of the Innate True Qi settled in my chest. The pulse grew louder and louder in resonance. The Innate True Qi began to expand until it was vast enough to encompass the two energies raging wildly within me.
Twitch!
I could feel the veins all over my body bulging. Ignoring it, I focused solely on the ripples in my mindscape.
‘Ah!’
As the Innate True Qi grew stronger, the two violently clashing energies began to subside. To be precise, it felt as though they were blending together. As the cold energy and the searing poison merged, my internal organs felt as comfortable as if I were savoring a smooth, potent liquor.
I could hear the two of them saying something, but it sounded like muffled mumbling. What were they talking about? Were they worried about me?
I tried to listen closer to what they were saying. But the mumbling wasn't just coming from them.
Whispers drifted in from all directions. Voices echoed here and there inside my head, making me feel dizzy. What were these voices? What on earth were they trying to tell me?
Then, a clear voice rang through my mind.
‘This voice?’
I snapped back to my senses. When I opened my eyes, a blue flame was flickering on my right hand.
Sssssss!
Along with the sound of something searing, a change occurred in the spots on the back of my hand.
‘This is...?’
Among the seven spots arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper, the second star, Tianxuan, was turning blue. Once the spot became completely blue, the flame subsided. It felt as if it were being sucked into the back of my hand.
The Lesser Conversation Sword and the Namcheon Iron Sword asked with concern.
‘Didn’t you just see that blue flame?’
It happened again. They hadn't seen it when we were in the carriage, and it was the same now. Was I the only one experiencing this bizarre phenomenon? I still had no idea what was happening to me.
The Namcheon Iron Sword asked again as I stood there confused. I needed to check my condition first.
‘Huh?’
My body felt refreshed. Before I had started my energy circulation, it felt like my organs were being burned and frozen simultaneously, but now, beyond just being comfortable, my entire body felt light.
"Whew."
I needed to examine my internal state by circulating my Innate True Qi. I steadied my breathing and began the Innate Heart Method. I moved the energy from my middle Dantian and... wait?
The Namcheon Iron Sword asked, startled. It was a problem, in a sense. Something so incredible had happened that I was speechless.
‘It increased.’
‘...The Innate True Qi.’
The Innate True Qi situated in my middle Dantian, in the center of my chest, had increased. And it wasn't just a small amount.
‘It feels like it’s doubled.’
Originally, I had about fifteen years' worth of Innate True Qi. But its volume had doubled. In terms of numerical value, it was now an essence of Innate True Qi equivalent to thirty years of cultivation.
The Lesser Conversation Sword and the Namcheon Iron Sword shouted simultaneously in surprise. Why are you guys more surprised than me? Even in my wildest dreams, I never expected this to happen.
‘Understand what?’
I was curious too. Why had my Innate True Qi doubled?
‘So you’re saying I ended up like this because of the poison?’
So that was it. It seemed the war between the two energies inside my body had pushed me to the absolute limit. It had been so painful I felt like I was going to die. It was a truly remarkable coincidence.
‘I get stronger if I survive deathly pain?’
The more I learned about Innate True Qi, the more it seemed to operate on a completely different level than standard internal energy. Regardless, this incident had served as a miraculous encounter for me. With double the Innate True Qi, my level of power would far overwhelm that of most first-rate masters.
Seeing them so happy made me feel good as well. So this is what a "fated opportunity" feels like.
By the way, I’d been noticing it for a moment, but I could see much better inside this dark cave than before. It was clearly dark, yet it was strange how well I could see. It was as if my vision had been heightened.
‘It’s strange. I can see the cave so...’
"Gah!"
As I looked around, I reflexively glanced behind the Namcheon Iron Sword, which I had been leaning against like a backrest. I jumped back in shock.
Behind where the Namcheon Iron Sword was embedded in the ground lay a massive, hideously mangled creature. Its body looked like a snake, but it was enormous.
‘What is this?’
However, its head wasn't that of a snake; it had the shape of a human face. To call it a completely human face would be a stretch, as it had sharp fangs and four eyes clustered together, making it look like a frog. The sight was so grotesque it made me scowl. What on earth was it?
‘This thing is a spirit creature?’
The Namcheon Iron Sword had a point, but it was far too hideous to be called a spirit creature. And I hadn't noticed before, but now that my vision was clear, I could see the interior of the cave properly. There were fragments of what looked like bones scattered everywhere. They were likely the remains of those killed by this human-faced monster.
‘Hah!’
It was far too vulgar to be a spirit creature. And if it were a real spirit creature, it should have spat out an inner core or something when it died. It just lay there dead with its long tongue hanging out.
‘Spirit creature? It’s just a monster.’
I grew curious. Had the person who found the Descending Immortal Spreading Snow before my regression also encountered this monster?
Then, the Namcheon Iron Sword asked me as if puzzled.
‘I’ve been hearing it this whole time, what are you talking about?’
I shook my head at its question, which sounded as if we were meeting for the first time. But then, I suddenly realized why it had said that.
‘Huh?’
I wasn't in contact with the Namcheon Iron Sword at all right now. Yet, I could hear its voice.
*
After exiting the waterfall cave, I hurriedly used my lightness skill. They told me that the energy circulation I performed to overcome the poison had taken nearly an hour. It felt short to me, but that much time had already passed.
The Lesser Conversation Sword’s muttering echoed in my head. Just as it said, I was amazed as well. Originally, I had to be in direct physical contact with a sword to hear its voice.
But that wasn't the case anymore. I could hear them even when they weren't in my hands.
I didn't have enough time to test it properly. However, seeing as I could hear the Namcheon Iron Sword even when it was more than five zhang away, it seemed the range was quite significant.
‘Is this also the power of the Secret Records of the Sword Immortal?’
One thing was certain: things had changed after I heard that voice. I glanced at the spots on the back of my hand. Could it be that this mysterious ability grows stronger every time the color of a spot changes?
My questions only deepened. If I ever got the chance to leave Six Blood Valley, I would definitely have to look for the Secret Records of the Sword Immortal.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
Just then, I heard faint footsteps. I looked toward the sound. I could see someone running toward me from a distance.
‘Young Lady Ha Yeon?’
The person running was indeed Ha Yeon. Even though she was quite far away, I could clearly tell who it was.
‘Hah...’
It seemed my Innate True Qi had truly grown stronger. Normally, at that distance, I wouldn't have been able to see or hear her so clearly, but it felt as though my sight and hearing had developed a level further.
The Namcheon Iron Sword never sugarcoated things. Experiencing these changes made the prospect of getting stronger feel worthwhile.
"Huff, huff! Young Master!"
Ha Yeon called out to me, panting for breath. She had sweated so much that frost was clinging to her hair, and her face was bright red. It was plain to see how much she had struggled.
‘Has she been chasing them until now?’
If so, she was a truly remarkable woman. Given her large build, just running would consume more stamina than an average person, yet she seemed to possess a powerful will.
"Young Lady. I'm glad you're safe."
"Haa... haa..."
She took a moment to catch her breath. Then, she asked me.
"Haa... haa... Young Master, are you alright?"
"I am fine."
"I'm sorry. I should have released your pressure points before chasing them."
This woman was more considerate than I thought. I didn't expect her to apologize the moment she saw me.
"No. The situation didn't allow for it. Fortunately, the points were pressed lightly, so I was able to break free."
"Haa... that's a relief. I was worried the cold might have harmed you."
I debated whether to tell her the truth—that I had broken free almost immediately and had found the real Descending Immortal Spreading Snow, not to mention the increase in my Innate True Qi.
But before I could say anything, she spoke first with a smile.
"I have good news."
"Good news?"
"We caught the people who attacked us. Fortunately, Master... Ah! Young Master, what happened to your foot?"
"Ah... this is..."
"It must be their doing! How could they..."
She vented her anger in a sharp voice. Thanks to that, it seemed I wouldn't have to explain my encounter with that monster. There was no benefit in telling others about my fated opportunities.
"Let me see. Are you badly hurt?"
"It's alright. It's just a slight graze."
"But there's so much blood on your leather boot."
It would be troublesome if she saw it. Since the wound had healed completely after my energy circulation, it would be awkward to show her. I quickly changed the subject.
"More importantly, you said you caught the attackers. Does that mean you recovered the Descending Immortal Spreading Snow?"
"Ah!"
She nodded at my question.
"Fortunately, my Master was there, so we were able to catch them."
"The Sixth Blood Star?"
"Yes. We were lucky."
"Who were the culprits?"
"...They were Great Leaders of Six Blood Valley."
Just as I expected. Who else would have done such a thing? Still, they were truly unlucky. Not only did they steal an immature herb, but they also got caught by the Blood Hand Witch midway. Tsk tsk.
However, Ha Yeon spoke with a guilty expression.
"Young Master. I must apologize first."
"Pardon?"
"Just in case, I asked my Master to take the herb to the Divine Healer first. Please don't misunderstand. I will make sure you receive the sect token no matter what."
She entrusted it to the Blood Hand Witch? It didn't matter since it was a fake, but would that woman really hand over the sect token to me just because her disciple asked?
As if she could read my emotions from my face, she spoke cautiously.
"She will definitely give you the sect token."
"How can I be sure?"
"........It's just that, in exchange for giving the token to your master, the Four Venerable, I think she might ask for a favor."
Hmm...
So she wasn't just giving it away. That changed things a bit.
*
In front of the guest house to the right of the Six Blood Valley main hall.
In front of the Divine Healer's residence, Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon and the Blood Hand Witch Han Baek-ha stood facing each other. Hae Ak-cheon's expression did not look good. His face was twisted in a scowl, filled with dissatisfaction.
To him, Han Baek-ha spoke nonchalantly with her characteristic expressionless face.
"It is as I said. If the Venerable grants my request, I shall hand over the Divine Healer's sect token."
At her words, Hae Ak-cheon's expression hardened even more menacingly. What kind of favor had she asked to elicit such a reaction?
"I believe I told you I would not get involved in that matter."
"You will have to make a choice sooner or later anyway."
"Choice or not, do you really think I would grant your request just to fix a mere disciple's Dantian?"
"You speak of it so lightly."
"If it comes down to it, I can just give up on the brat."
At Hae Ak-cheon's firm stance, she fell silent.
‘Is it a bluff? Or is he serious?’
Cold-headed as she was, Han Baek-ha found Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon a difficult person to persuade. However, she didn't want to miss this rare opportunity.
"Supporting the Young Lady isn't that difficult of a—"
Creak!
Before she could finish her sentence, the door opened.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
The Divine Healer of Ten Thousand Ailments walked out of the room. At this, she turned to Hae Ak-cheon and spoke with a hint of regret.
"It can't be helped then. In that case, it will be difficult for me to give you the token."
With those words, Han Baek-ha handed the cloth-wrapped Descending Immortal Spreading Snow to the Divine Healer.
"Here it is. The spirit herb."
"You found it quickly. I thought it would take a few days."
The Divine Healer accepted the herb with satisfaction. Watching this, Hae Ak-cheon's expression was one of extreme displeasure. He felt like flipping the whole place upside down.
"Master!"
Just then, So Woon-hwi and Ha Yeon appeared near the guest house. Hae Ak-cheon spoke irritably.
"You're too late. Your Dantian is beyond saving for the rest of your—"
It was before he could even finish his sentence.
"This is unfortunate, Sixth Blood Star. This is not a fully grown spirit herb."
"Pardon?"
At the Divine Healer's words, the Blood Hand Witch Han Baek-ha frowned and asked back. Ha Yeon was also flustered by the unexpected result. After all the trouble they went through with the pursuit, to be told the herb wasn't fully grown meant all their efforts were for naught.
"Bwahahahaha!"
The one who welcomed this situation was, of course, Hae Ak-cheon. He had been in a foul mood thinking he was going to lose the sect token like this, but his irritation vanished in an instant.
Hae Ak-cheon spoke gleefully.
"Blood Hand Witch. What a shame. Looks like you'll have to go herb hunting all over again."
"Sigh..."
Han Baek-ha let out a sigh. She had gotten ahead of herself for nothing.
Then, So Woon-hwi, who had been watching quietly, stepped in.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Master. But there's no need for that."
"What?"
So Woon-hwi pulled something out from his robes.
A purple flower cluster holding seven beads that emitted a faint green light in the darkness.
It was a perfectly matured Descending Immortal Spreading Snow.
"!!!"
The expressions of everyone watching split into a myriad of different emotions.