The Gift That Came Looking for Him
Jin Somyeong passed the log cabin and headed around to the backyard.
When he reached the spirit field, satisfaction settled over his face. In a vegetable patch of roughly one hundred square feet, rows of immature rice plants stood in tidy order. The soil beneath them was rich with spiritual energy, and for reasons he could not quite name, the place soothed the heart.
So this is spirit rice.
It matured in only a month, and once fully grown, each stalk would tower more than six feet high—a strange and wondrous crop. Rice cooked from it strengthened the constitution and helped cultivation to a respectable degree. Any cultivator with Spirit Stones to spare lived on spirit rice rather than ordinary grain.
It’s about time I changed what I eat, too.
Eating first-grade spirit rice every day would cost three Spirit Stones a month, but he could now afford that much. Jin Somyeong looked over the spirit rice White Ghost, the previous tenant, had left behind and fell into thought.
I don’t feel right eating this. Could I sell it?
He studied the unripe, green shoots carefully. He used his senses as thoroughly as he could, but found nothing suspicious. Still, something about it bothered him.
He had not forgotten the malice on White Ghost’s face. What if the man had secretly sprinkled some poison over the spirit rice?
Forget it. Even if all these shoots mature, they’re worth three Spirit Stones at most. I can earn that in the Simsangbigyeong in a single day.
Jin Somyeong pulled up every shoot in the field. He intended to burn the lot without hesitation.
Whoosh.
He flicked his finger, and a flame appeared in midair. It was no larger than a candle flame, wavering unsteadily as though it might go out at any moment.
Jin Somyeong frowned.
All I’m doing is gathering fire-attributed spiritual energy, and it’s this difficult?
The flow of spiritual energy felt unnatural, as if it kept catching on something. His spiritual root aptitude was poor, but it should not have been this bad.
After sending the flame over and burning the shoots to ash, he concentrated again. The instant he resonated with the water energy filling the air, a low hum sounded.
A single droplet condensed in midair and swam freely through the sky. Compared to controlling flame, this was far smoother.
Jin Somyeong stroked his chin and murmured, “Water certainly feels easier.”
Since he had started, he tested the other elements as well: wood, metal, and earth. Fortunately—or unfortunately—he found no great difficulty with any of them except fire.
Perhaps because he often used the Cloud-Gathering Rain Art while harvesting dew, water felt the most natural to him, while the others were roughly similar.
So I have four spiritual roots: wood, metal, water, and earth. It’s a shame I don’t have a fire root...
He regretted it, since fire techniques were famous for their destructive power.
Lacking a spiritual root of a given attribute did not mean one could not cast techniques of that attribute. It only meant the efficiency was abysmal. Nor was it always better to have more roots, or worse to have fewer. A variety of attributes allowed a cultivator to use all manner of techniques, making them highly versatile, while a single-attribute root displayed tremendous strength when handling its own energy.
Each had its own merits and drawbacks. In the end, what mattered most was simply the quality of the spiritual root.
Could I create a fire-attributed spiritual root with the Boundless Great Ability?
He tried consuming one golden bead as a test, but there was no reaction. It seemed he would need to learn the proper method before attempting it again.
Swallowing his disappointment, Jin Somyeong turned his gaze elsewhere. He stared at the field, now clean and empty where the dense spirit rice had been.
White Ghost... surely that bastard didn’t do anything to the soil itself?
He kicked lightly at the dirt, then smiled bitterly. Being too suspicious was exhausting.
Shaking his head, he headed for the market to obtain spirit crops to plant in the vacant patch.
“Welcome!”
“I’m looking to buy some spirit crop seeds. What are the prices like?”
The shopkeeper, who looked like a guileless farmer, smiled as he answered. “That depends entirely on the type. What sort of spirit crop are you looking for?”
“Hmm... I’d appreciate a recommendation. Something easy to grow and easy to sell.”
“I recommend white jade rice, a low-grade first-grade spirit crop. Once fully ripe, it gives off a fragrant aroma, tastes excellent, and is helpful for cultivation. As long as it receives plenty of spiritual energy, it grows well, so it’s easy to raise.”
When Jin Somyeong asked the price, it was cheaper than expected: only one Spirit Stone for a hundred seeds.
“You said it needs a lot of spiritual energy. If I plant it on a spirit vein, I won’t have to worry about that, correct?”
“Naturally. If it’s a low-quality first-grade spirit vein, you’ll need to infuse it with spiritual energy from time to time, but if it’s mid-quality or above, it will grow well on its own.”
“Not bad. Do you have anything else?”
“Plenty. Red blood rice strengthens the vital blood when eaten consistently, so it’s popular among body refiners. This spirit crop is a little troublesome, though. You must feed it the blood of a first-grade demonic beast every month. As for black lotus fruit...”
Jin Somyeong listened carefully to the explanation that followed. There were many kinds of spirit crops beyond rice.
He considered buying more expensive spirit crops and trying to grow them, but soon had no choice except to shake his head. The higher-grade the spirit crop, the more troublesome it was to raise. If caring for it consumed too much effort, it would interfere with cultivation.
Forget it. Focusing on spirit crops just to earn a few extra Spirit Stones would be a loss.
He did not need to work. Why would he, when he already had a constant source of income? It was enough to focus on cultivation and raise his realm.
In truth, most cultivators could not enjoy such treatment.
The Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation: pill refinement, talisman crafting, and countless others. One had to choose a craft among the hundred arts required for immortal cultivation and devote oneself to it. Cultivators were still people, after all; if they wanted to eat, they had to work.
The privilege of focusing solely on cultivation was a luxury reserved only for geniuses of great immortal sects.
“I’ll take the white jade rice. Give me three Spirit Stones’ worth.”
After some thought, Jin Somyeong settled on the first recommendation. Even with white jade rice, he decided not to spend too much time cultivating it. He would invest only twenty minutes a day, treating it as practice for the Cloud-Gathering Rain Art.
Once he finished his business and was about to leave the shop, a thought occurred to him, and he asked, “Shopkeeper, is there a way to tell whether soil contains poison?”
“That is simple enough. Plant dragon-shape grass.”
“Dragon-shape grass?”
“It’s a high-grade first-grade spirit crop, famous for being difficult to raise. It is extremely sensitive to turbid energy, so even the slightest poison will kill it at once. If dragon-shape grass sprouts, you can consider the soil safe.”
If that was true, it was perfect for his situation.
“Oh? How much is it?”
“Since it is a high-grade spirit crop, it is rather expensive. One seed costs one Spirit Stone. Truthfully, dragon-shape grass must be raised for at least three years before it has any commercial value, so unless you have a special purpose like yours, I would not recommend it.”
“...One. No, give me two.”
It was better to check properly and move on than to keep using soil that left him uneasy.
“Haha. A wise decision! If you have any questions about spirit crops, please feel free to come by anytime.”
Jin Somyeong left the shop with the owner’s warm farewell at his back.
...What is this feeling?
His fingertips twitched. A faint, unpleasant sensation brushed against his senses, like someone’s fingers grazing the fine hairs on the back of his neck.
Someone is watching me.
And it was a filthy gaze, brimming with malice.
Jin Somyeong’s brow furrowed, but soon he acted leisurely. He openly swept his gaze along the crowded street, as naturally as though he were admiring the scenery.
...I can’t find them.
Unfortunately, the result was poor. He could sense that someone was watching him, but he could not pin down the exact location. There were too many people in the street, too many things interfering with his senses.
Still, guessing the culprit was not difficult.
Obvious.
It had to be White Ghost, who had been chased out of the cave abode today. To think he would try to harm him merely because Jin Somyeong had become his successor there—it was absurd.
What a rotten personality.
He could only sigh at this vicious world, where a powerless man could not even move into a new home in peace.
In this world, the weak had no human rights to speak of. One of the reasons he risked his life to grow stronger was the exploitation he had suffered back when he was ordinary.
After standing lost in thought for a moment, Jin Somyeong began walking.
“Welcome! How may I help you?”
He went from shop to shop, purchasing spirit rice and other items needed for cultivation.
No doubt about it. He’s still following me.
The covert gaze clung to him wherever he went. Even after Jin Somyeong became certain of the pursuer’s existence, he did not return to the cave abode.
If he went there, he would be safe for the time being thanks to the formation—but that would be all.
“Shopkeeper, how much is this demonic beast meat?”
With his tenacious shadow in tow, he wandered through the market. He did not hesitate even when entering sparsely populated alleys.
After about half an hour, the farther he moved from the center of the inner city, the more sharply the crowd thinned. As the streets grew quieter, the things interfering with his senses disappeared one by one.
And then—
Found you.
At last, he succeeded in identifying his tail. The man wore a bamboo hat pulled low, hiding his face, but recognizing him was not difficult.
So it was White Ghost after all.
Jin Somyeong could only shake his head inwardly. White Ghost had started following him the moment he left the cave abode. Whether the man had happened to run into him and trailed him, or had been waiting for an opportunity all along, did not matter much.
He had shown malice merely because Jin Somyeong had become his successor in the cave abode. If he died for it, there would be nothing unjust about it.
Now that Jin Somyeong knew his opponent for certain, there was no reason to hesitate.
With a light turn, he changed direction. Leaving the safe inner city behind, he headed beyond the outer city toward the wasteland.
Hoping White Ghost would not disappoint him, he focused his senses behind him. Perhaps because he had identified the man once, White Ghost’s presence now felt vivid even without turning his head.
Once they entered the wasteland, the man became a pale, translucent figure—but for some reason, the concealment looked strangely clumsy.
What is this?
He did not show it outwardly, but suspicion surged within him. This was supposed to be a stealth technique performed by a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, yet it was far too easy to detect.
It was nothing like when he had lured Wang Shin to Jeokyang Mountain and killed him with the dew tree. Back then, Jin Somyeong had needed to spend the Boundless Great Ability just to amplify his senses enough to feel his opponent’s presence.
Is White Ghost simply worse than Wang Shin, who was a spy? Or have I improved that much?
Both were probably partly true, but somehow, he felt that was not the whole reason. A cultivator’s intuition whispered that there was something else at work.
His curiosity rose, but he soon steadied his mind. In battle, one could never afford carelessness.
That man’s realm is higher than mine. If he lands the first strike, I’m in danger.
He had to concentrate. If he died to an ambush after clearly sensing his opponent, he would be too wronged even to close his eyes.
Without lowering his guard for even a moment, he walked at nearly a run toward Jeokyang Mountain.
Before long, he reached the foot of the mountain. The instant he pushed through the dense undergrowth—
Crack.
He consumed the Boundless Great Ability and erased his presence. Seizing the moment when the thick leaves hid his figure, he vanished.
“...!”
He could almost see White Ghost flinch in panic behind him.
Rustle.
Soon came the sound of someone parting the bushes, and White Ghost followed him in. The man narrowed his eyes as he carefully examined the ground.
“Where did he vanish to all of a sudden...? How could a mere early-stage Qi Refining brat do this?”
Standing right beside him, Jin Somyeong held his breath. Slowly, carefully, he lowered his posture without making a sound and concentrated.
The moment White Ghost crouched to inspect the traces left in the dirt—
Shhk.
The razor edge of a first-grade flying sword split the air. Leaving behind only the faintest sound of severing, it passed cleanly through soft skin and neck bone alike.
“I-Impossible... kuh!”
One strike.
It had been so fast that the severed head remained attached for an instant. With that meaningless final word, White Ghost’s head dropped to the ground.
Thud.
The headless corpse collapsed a beat later. It was a pitifully hollow end for a man who had strutted about as a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
The only desperate struggle he managed was to flail at the air as if trying to grasp something.
“Phew.”
Jin Somyeong let out a breath. The situation had ended with a single swing of his sword, but the tension had been so extreme that his shoulders felt stiff.
Nor had it been truly easy. He had poured every ability he had into that one instant.
Not only had he used the Boundless Great Ability for concealment, he had also remembered to enhance the sharpness of the flying sword. That single stroke just now had been a swift sword strike that consumed three golden beads at once.
He was massaging his shoulder when he suddenly came to his senses. This was Jeokyang Mountain, crawling with demonic beasts. If the smell of blood spread, all manner of beasts would be drawn here.
He had to collect his spoils and leave quickly.
I wonder if he has a storage pouch.
In truth, for a low-level cultivator, a spatial pouch was close to a luxury. It was true that it lightened the body and helped in combat, but it was far less useful than a combat artifact. Most cultivators only obtained one comfortably around the late stage of Qi Refining.
However, White Ghost had left empty-handed when he moved out, so there was room to hope.
Jin Somyeong swept his gaze around out of habit, checking for danger. Then he searched White Ghost’s clothes.
A few seconds passed before he confirmed the gift White Ghost had gone to such trouble to personally deliver.
A storage pouch!
The corners of Jin Somyeong’s mouth rose before he could stop them. Taking the risk had been worth it. Even secondhand, a storage pouch was an expensive item worth easily two or three hundred Spirit Stones.
Ah.
He flinched as he laughed. Only belatedly realizing how pleased he looked after killing someone, he frowned—but then brushed it aside.
What can I do?
This was a harsh world where simply surviving was difficult. If he wanted to cultivate here, he had no choice. If he disliked becoming this sort of person, he would have to hide deep in the mountains and spend the rest of his life farming.
No—even then, all sorts of people would inevitably come to torment him. There had never been a way out in the first place.
After taking the storage pouch, Jin Somyeong searched the corpse again, but found nothing else of note.
Crack.
He consumed five beads of the Boundless Great Ability. After purifying the storage pouch of any possible tracking method, he hurriedly left Jeokyang Mountain.
“Now then, let’s see how much there is.”
Back at the cave abode, Jin Somyeong swallowed. The moment of checking his harvest was always pleasant. Anticipation welled up, and before he knew it, he was rubbing his palms together.
He laid out the contents of the storage pouch and began appraising them.
First, eighty-three Spirit Stones alone... and even two Qi Condensation Pills. What the hell? He claimed he didn’t have money for rent, but he was pretty rich.
It was far more plentiful than expected. Since White Ghost had not even paid his rent properly, Jin Somyeong had assumed he was poor, but that was not the case at all. For a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, this was wealth.
“Fine by me.”
A hum slipped out of him. The smile that rose naturally to his lips refused to go away.
He would sell off every spoil he had obtained from White Ghost today. The storage pouch was no exception. He intended to convert everything into Spirit Stones.
And then...
He would invest it all into the Simsangbigyeong. Just imagining how much his daily income would explode made him look forward to it.
“Ten Spirit Stones a day isn’t far off now.”
He offered his thanks to White Ghost, who had helped him so greatly. It was difficult even to calculate how many years the man had saved him.
After observing a brief moment of silence for the fellow who had departed for the underworld in such haste, Jin Somyeong’s eyes gleamed as he thought of his next goal.
Now all that remains is to reach mid-stage Qi Refining.