Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Elder Han Ryeo-un (4)
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Ryeo-un noticed that Yuk-gyeong had only recently reached the Gathering Qi Realm and tried to help him with his cultivation. Even though they had shared their bodies, she was a Core Formation elder of the Radiant Moon Sect, and he was just a lowly disciple.
However, she found it strange that he had already advanced past the initial stage of Gathering Qi into the early stage, so she asked him about the reason first.
Then she heard an astonishing story.
"What? You achieved the Threefold Gathering of Heaven, Earth, and Man?"
"Yes."
"H-how?"
"It just happened. The timing was right, I guess."
The Heavenly Gathering came from plundering someone else's, the Earthly Gathering from what the sect provided, and the Human Gathering from an insight gained right before death.
All of it was just the right timing, wasn't it?
It absolutely wasn't because he was too lazy to explain in detail.
What if a disciple from the Wando Sect, who had been preparing for Heavenly Gathering, overheard this? They'd probably spit blood. Yeah, probably. But what could he do about it?
The Heavenly Gathering was already his.
"Just because the timing was right? The Threefold Gathering... isn't something anyone can achieve easily. No, even geniuses struggle with it. As you said, the timing has to align, and personal talent matters too."
Achieving the Threefold Gathering was astonishing news even to Ryeo-un, who had been called a genius her whole life. Even she, praised as a genius, hadn't managed it.
She had only achieved the Human Gathering.
Yuk-gyeong was surprised to see Ryeo-un so shocked and nodded. Was the Threefold Gathering really that impressive? It seemed pretty great, but enough to shock an elder?
"I see."
"Above all, the Threefold Gathering is difficult because you have to achieve all three at the exact moment you enter the Gathering Qi Realm."
"You're right. If I'd decided to achieve Earthly Gathering first and just swallowed the Qi Gathering Pill, I never would have had this chance."
Ryeo-un began slowly explaining to Yuk-gyeong, who seemed utterly oblivious to the significance of the Threefold Gathering, why it was so remarkable.
"The benefits of achieving something so difficult are beyond words. First, the advantages from the Heavenly Gathering. It deepens your understanding of Heavenly Tribulations."
"Yes. I definitely get how lightning falls now."
"If you later organize your insights on Heavenly Tribulations, you'll gain a lot. Cultivators and tribulations are inseparable. Cultivators defy the heavens. The heavens constantly test them. Heavenly Tribulations are the heavens' most powerful trials."
"That serious?"
It had been intense. The lightning really hurt. But in terms of power scaling, as one's realm rose, there were more ways to protect the body. Something like heavenly lightning should be blockable without much trouble.
"The pure yang energy of Heavenly Tribulations causes qualitative changes as its power increases. For example, if a single bolt feels like a bee sting, two bolts would burn like hot flames. Three bolts rival a full-power strike from a Core Formation cultivator. It could melt hundreds of people in an instant. Each step up doesn't just increase the destructive power by one level—it can jump hundreds of levels."
So, the stages of Heavenly Tribulations rose arithmetically, but the destructive power exponentially?
The weakened Gathering Qi-level tribulation was something Yuk-gyeong could endure with his body, but a Core Formation-level one was beyond what hundreds of him could handle?
Heavenly Tribulations weren't to be taken lightly. He'd have to slowly digest his insights on them later.
Yuk-gyeong admitted it.
"The Heavenly Gathering is pretty helpful, then."
"It's not just helpful. It could completely change your cultivation path going forward. Anyway, that's the Heavenly Gathering. Next, the Earthly Gathering."
"Earthly Gathering just comes from pills, right? Won't it take extra effort to resolve the remaining toxicity?"
That was the common view on Earthly Gathering.
The medicinal potency of Qi Gathering Pills was so strong that remnants often lingered as toxicity even after breakthrough. Thus, Earthly Gatherers had to spend months to years stabilizing their realm afterward.
"Exactly. Earthly Gathering has major drawbacks, but it comes with benefits too. You have to resolve the potent medicine turning toxic, but medicine and poison are two sides of the same coin. Everything left from the Qi Gathering Pill ultimately remains in the body."
"The potency stays in the body?"
"Yes. So Earthly Gatherers spend months to years resolving the potency, but afterward, they can catch up to—and even surpass—Heavenly and Human Gatherers in cultivation speed."
"Earthly Gathering accelerates growth in the Gathering Qi Realm."
By that logic, Yuk-gyeong had skipped the downsides of Earthly Gathering and taken only the upsides.
He had already consumed most of the Qi Gathering Pill's potency. Not enough left to turn toxic. But that consumed potency would still remain in his body and influence him.
Thus, no need to waste time resolving toxicity, yet the potency ensured faster growth. He'd absorbed all the benefits without the drawbacks.
"Right. And the Human Gathering—you know this without me saying. It grants deep insights into the Dao, realms, and spiritual energy, aiding Core Formation later."
"I know."
"And rumor has it that those who achieve the Threefold Gathering gain a special technique. It's legendary since so few succeed."
Oh, a special technique?
From Yuk-gyeong's experience, more techniques were always better. Knowing many gave more options for any situation, aiding survival and combat.
If Threefold Gatherers truly got a special technique, it should surface as he properly reflected on it.
'A new technique is good. The more, the better.'
Afterward, Yuk-gyeong asked about questions, bottlenecks, and upcoming hurdles that had arisen during cultivation.
In some ways, Ryeo-un shared similarities with Yuk-gyeong.
First, their overflowing talent.
Just as Yuk-gyeong had barreled through Response Qi bottlenecks—What bottlenecks? Screw the minor stages, he'd surged ahead—so had Ryeo-un.
Gathering Qi bottlenecks? Pointless. Only mortals feel those. I just powered through. I did it, and as a Single Spiritual Root, you can too.
Ordinary people would find it unrelatable, but geniuses understood each other.
'Is this why people say the annual sermons by the Peak Lords are too hard to understand? The Peak Lords must have been geniuses too.'
Ryeo-un continued sharing advice on cultivation difficulties, hurdles, and future challenges.
Yuk-gyeong gained many insights from her counsel.
Once the talk ended,
Ryeo-un feigned cool detachment and said,
"Don't acknowledge me if you see me from now on. Pretend what happened here was a dream from a summer night."
Yuk-gyeong knew the one saying such things was usually the most reluctant to let go. She was telling him to keep quiet for appearances, but after sharing bodies, how could there be no lingering feelings?
Sure enough, her eyes held a subtle reluctance, hard to notice unless you looked closely.
An elder's status imposed more restrictions than expected. Yuk-gyeong vaguely understood how much she had agonized to cut ties.
"Understood."
At Yuk-gyeong's curt reply, Elder Han pouted her lips. Just for a split second, barely visible.
"Good. It's best for both you and me."
She's pouting. Totally sulking.
Time to cheer her up. My heart's big enough.
After a pause, Yuk-gyeong gazed at her with melancholy eyes and asked,
"May I miss you sometimes?"
"...."
Ryeo-un forgot her words for a moment.
Handsome face, sorrowful eyes, a romantic question about missing her sometimes.
Combined, they created absurd synergy.
What woman could remain unmoved?
Ryeo-un's eyes grew misty too. But she recalled her duties and hardened her heart.
She was an elder of the Radiant Moon Sect. Peak Lord of Jade Maiden Peak. A man in her life, living happily ever after? Impossible.
For the sect's benefit and her own longevity, a partner was only a hindrance.
But... for the sect's benefit, shouldn't she hold onto a Single Spiritual Root like Yuk-gyeong?
But... for longevity, wouldn't dual cultivation help?
Ryeo-un shook her head vigorously. No buts. She saw these as delusions—excuses to cling to this man.
"...Yes."
Miss me.
I'll miss you too.
With those unspoken words and only her fragrance lingering, Ryeo-un vanished.
A Core Formation cultivator's elusive movement left nothing but scent.
Yuk-gyeong watched her go blankly.
Already missing her? No...