Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Entering the Outer Sect (2)
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Yuk-gyeong had become the very first disciple from this batch of initiates to enter the outer sect.
Normally, it would take several months before everyone could enter the outer sect, but Yuk-gyeong alone had managed it in just a few days. This was quite a remarkable feat.
It was an exceptionally standout achievement for the batch.
But that was as far as it went.
In the history of the Radiant Moon Sect, every batch had its share of standout performers, yet not all of them had gone on to achieve extraordinary realms.
There were ordinary folks who shone brightly for a brief moment early on, and flowers that bloomed early often withered just as quickly.
Thus, Yuk-gyeong's rapid ascent to the outer sect via the Herb Hall had been the talk among a few outer disciples, but it wasn't anything particularly noteworthy.
As such, Yuk-gyeong's days passed in utter normalcy.
Training, washing herbs, studying herbs. Then more training, washing herbs, watering them, studying herbs.
Thanks to this, his cultivation progressed steadily, smoothly reaching the threshold of Response Qi Realm 3rd Star. This too was an accomplishment achieved in mere days.
Elder Bu, whether he'd simply forgotten about Yuk-gyeong or not, never summoned him.
Except for one thing.
"This junior brother, you need to clean those leaves more carefully. Don't give them too much water all at once. It's fine if you don't know now. I'll teach you slowly."
He'd only assigned him a senior sister. And a remarkably kind one at that.
Kang Ju-hui, the senior sister known by the nickname Plum Blossom Fairy, was an outer disciple of the Radiant Moon Sect with gentle eyes and a serene disposition.
Her fair skin seemed to tremble delicately, her large eyes, small and refined nose and mouth harmonizing with her egg-shaped face to showcase her beauty.
And above all... her figure was incredible.
She had a bit of plumpness to her, but rather than detract, it accentuated her voluptuous curves. Yuk-gyeong had to make a real effort not to stare at her breasts, which resembled small watermelons hanging there.
"Thank you, senior sister. I'll learn diligently."
"I like that enthusiastic attitude. Take a look at this Spirit Dew Flower. It has eight petals, and the bloom is red. That's why it's also called the Blood Dew Flower. Its seeds are..."
As a disciple of the Herb Hall, Senior Sister Kang was at Response Qi 8th Star and hadn't yet taken a formal master.
However, she was highly regarded for her diligent fulfillment of the Herb Hall's assigned tasks, with evaluations suggesting she could reach perfect Response Qi and impact the Gathering Qi Realm at any moment with significant progress in her cultivation.
Her current mission, assigned by Elder Man Dok-ja, was to properly develop her junior brother Yi Yuk-gyeong into a full-fledged herb apprentice.
She needed to instill him with basic knowledge and cultivate the skills to handle the Herb Hall's auxiliary tasks.
Senior Sister Kang seemed well-accustomed to such duties.
Someone as warm and composed as her excelled at teaching others. In fact, she'd already trained several herb apprentices, making her an excellent teacher.
And Yuk-gyeong was keeping up well with her instruction.
"The Spirit Dew Flower is a 2nd-grade spirit herb featured in the Mountains-Rivers Flora Chronicle. It contains spirit energy potent enough to greatly benefit cultivators in the Response Qi Realm."
"Exactly! You've memorized it well, junior brother. Good job."
The Mountains-Rivers Flora Chronicle was a sort of cultivation world's encyclopedia chronicling spirit herbs, medicinal plants, spirit beasts, and more.
Its Flora section covered medicinal plants and spirit herbs.
The profundity of the Mountains-Rivers Flora Chronicle lay in its comprehensive compilation of numerous cultivation world flora and fauna.
Even if it didn't cover everything perfectly, its accurate descriptions indicated that its author was someone well-versed in the biology of the cultivation world.
'As expected, people are the same everywhere. Even here, there's a high-realm biologist.'
Yuk-gyeong thought this as he bowed to Senior Sister Kang. Being able to study like this was largely thanks to her.
"It's thanks to your guidance, senior sister."
"My guidance can only lead the horse to water—you drank because of your own determination."
Senior Sister Kang praised Yuk-gyeong with a warm smile.
Yuk-gyeong wasn't one to care much about others' gazes or evaluations. But as the saying goes, even whales dance for praise—her words certainly lifted his spirits.
Yuk-gyeong humbly lowered his head.
Senior Sister Kang's smile deepened. Her gentle eyes and features blended with her laughter, radiating fresh beauty.
Studying spirit herbs with Senior Sister Kang progressed swiftly.
In this way, Yuk-gyeong was growing accustomed to the knowledge and duties of a herb apprentice...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Elder Bu, who had seemed to forget all about Yuk-gyeong, suddenly summoned him one day.
The elder, seated in the Elder Hall handling paperwork, glanced at Yuk-gyeong as he entered, set down his documents, and asked.
"Have you memorized the entire Flora section of the Mountains-Rivers Flora Chronicle?"
"Yes, Elder."
Yuk-gyeong, having committed the Flora section to memory, could now recite from any page which spirit herb was where, its properties, appearance, and more.
"And the basic elixirs from the Compendium of Materia Medica?"
"Yes, Elder."
The Compendium of Materia Medica's basic elixirs numbered thirty-six in total, involving hundreds of spirit herbs and ingredients.
Yet Yuk-gyeong had memorized them all. Though he hadn't made them himself, he'd simulated the processes thousands of times in his mind. With thousands of mental rehearsals, his skills would surely skyrocket once he tried for real.
"And the other texts I assigned?"
"Yes, Elder."
Satisfied with Yuk-gyeong's polite responses, Elder Bu nodded approvingly.
The elder had provided the basic texts and assigned a senior disciple precisely to elevate Yuk-gyeong to a foundational level in pill refinement.
After all, he couldn't use a dedicated herb apprentice who knew nothing of pill refinement.
"Good. You're now a properly trained herb apprentice. You'll assist me in my pill refinement as my personal aide. Understood?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Assisting with pill refinement won't involve anything too difficult for you. You have an instinctive feel for fire, so watch me when I control the flame, and ask if anything puzzles you."
So, he wants to borrow my Fire Control ability, but phrases it as 'ask if you don't understand' to save face?
Fair enough. At that age, face matters most.
Oh, right—Elder Bu is one hundred forty-four this year. Ridiculous age. With an average lifespan of seventy here, he's lived double a mortal's life.
Anyway, elders that old are always hung up on honor and dignity.
Yuk-gyeong could understand that much.
Elder Bu would guide him as a senior cultivator and elder, while Yuk-gyeong aided with his Fire Control talent.
A true win-win symbiosis.
Yuk-gyeong replied courteously.
"This disciple's knowledge is shallow, so I shall humbly ask you many questions, Elder."
"Do so. I'll teach you without reservation."
"Thank you, Elder."
And so began the symbiotic relationship between Yuk-gyeong and Elder Bu.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few days later.
Yuk-gyeong, eyes hollowed from exhaustion, ascended to Response Qi 8th Star.
An astonishing pace. The Response Qi Realm was fundamentally about adapting the body to heaven-earth spirit energy, so progress varied greatly by physical aptitude.
Thanks to his Single Spiritual Root, Yuk-gyeong's body had rapidly transformed, becoming receptive to pure heaven-earth spirit energy.
His body was now like a conduit through which spirit energy winds could flow freely.
Upon reaching Response Qi 7th Star, Yuk-gyeong could even make the spirit energy wriggle as it flowed through him.
He couldn't attack or alter things with it yet, but he could influence the flow of spirit energy winds. A remarkable advancement.
Yuk-gyeong figured he'd soon wield minor spells by manipulating spirit energy. Around 9th Star, probably.
At that point, Gathering Qi Realm would be in sight. An initiating disciple eyeing Gathering Qi in days? Any elder would be itching to take him as a disciple.
Yuk-gyeong felt little excitement over this miraculous speed. He knew it was fast, but Isn't this just standard for Single Spiritual Root holders?
'Tae-eul True Person, whoever you are—thank you. Thanks to you, I've nearly mastered the Supreme Primordial Yang Chant Scripture. Best instructor ever!'
Yuk-gyeong praised Tae-eul True Person inwardly.
Tae-eul True Person had elucidated the notoriously arcane Supreme Primordial Yang Chant Scripture in straightforward terms.
Thanks to this, not only had Yuk-gyeong breezed through it, but he'd also familiarized himself with cultivation world terminology.
For instance, he now knew Tae-eul referred to the primordial chaos before heaven and earth divided, another name for the Dao. He'd learned the basics of breathing methods, what to watch for in meditation, and more.
The Supreme Primordial Yang Chant Scripture had perfectly served as a beginner's guide.
Having shed the newbie label, Yuk-gyeong now yearned to reach Gathering Qi Realm. That was the stage for accumulating spirit energy and wielding spells freely.
'To ascend to Gathering Qi, I need to identify my spiritual root's attribute. It's key for the observation method.'
Quick learners sensed it by Response Qi 5th Star; slow ones by 9th.
Yuk-gyeong hadn't been slow. He'd simply sensed it and not bothered much.
The more he circulated spirit energy, the more he felt how it transformed into an attribute within him and affected his body. He'd first noticed at Response Qi 3rd Star.
With a Single Spiritual Root absorbing pure heaven-earth spirit energy, Yuk-gyeong had gotten that feeling right from 3rd Star...