Bang Il's Advice
With a sweep of Jin Somyeong's hand, the holographic status window scattered into the air.
About time I went out.
It had already been a month since he had last set foot outside his house. His cultivation realm had stabilized, and the food he had stored away was gone. It was time.
Come to think of it, Bang Il, the owner of Spirit Pill Pavilion, told me to visit him once I became a Qi Refining cultivator.
Thanks to Bang Il, he had obtained Spirit Stones and taken his first step onto the path of cultivation. Strictly speaking, it had only been a fair trade, nothing more—but gratitude was gratitude. In this cultivation world stained by violence, where the strong devoured the weak, even a “fair” exchange was not something one could easily come by.
Deciding that he would repay Bang Il's kindness someday if the chance arose, Jin Somyeong left the house.
"Mm."
Standing beneath the bright sun after so long felt strangely moving. As he walked through the streets in broad daylight, countless changes leapt out at him.
The stalls lining the roadside looked different today.
Is that… Three-Colored Grass?
It was an herb he had seen often, yet now it felt unfamiliar. His very senses had changed after becoming a Qi Refining cultivator. Before, he had simply thought of Three-Colored Grass as a colorful medicinal herb, but now he understood why it was called a spirit herb.
The spiritual energy condensed within it was so dense that it felt almost like a Spirit Stone in the shape of grass.
So that's it. With that much spiritual energy, of course it's used as an ingredient for pills.
He welcomed the change in his vision. As his spiritual perception sharpened, he became able to distinguish numinous materials from ordinary objects. He could also tell mortals and cultivators apart.
Those who had entered Qi Refining all possessed a presence that emanated from them like an aura. Naturally, that allowed him to gauge the ratio between mortals and cultivators, and among every ten people, roughly four were cultivators.
Only forty percent are cultivators?
The number was smaller than he had expected—so small he found it hard to believe. Even though Jeokyang Market was a town of cultivators, the proportion of mortals was surprisingly high.
…No. That's not it. I simply can't see through them with my ability. Almost all of them must be cultivators.
Before he drew unnecessary trouble, he quietly shifted his gaze away. Among cultivators, there were many eccentric and violent people. A fight could start for no greater reason than having looked at someone.
After finishing his brief survey, he hurried on.
When he arrived at Spirit Pill Pavilion, the Qi Refining girl on the first floor widened her eyes.
"Huh? You were definitely a mortal. When did you become a Qi Refining cultivator?"
"I was fortunate enough to enter cultivation recently."
The girl stuck out her lip, then gave a small, haughty snort.
"So what? You're only at the first layer of Qi Refining. I'm already at the second layer. Anyway, are you here to sell dew again?"
"No. Senior Bang Il summoned me."
"What? Hold it right there!"
Furrowing her cute little brow as hard as she could, the girl stepped in front of him and blocked his path.
Jin Somyeong naturally came to a stop. At that moment, a blue haze shimmered in her eyes.
Spirit Eye Art!
Jin Somyeong flinched inwardly, but outwardly he remained still, pretending he knew nothing.
The Spirit Eye Art was an ocular technique that strengthened one's sight, allowing the user to pierce through illusions and examine a cultivator's spiritual root aptitude. Of course, peering into another person without permission was undeniably rude, but Jin Somyeong merely sighed to himself.
Being young and weak was a sin.
Still, her talent is impressive. She's only at the second layer of Qi Refining, yet she can use a spell art.
The Spirit Eye Art was a basic ocular technique, but it was not easy for someone in the early stage of Qi Refining to handle. Since it involved the optic nerves, one mistake could damage the user's vision.
For a girl at the second layer of Qi Refining to use an ocular technique meant her talent was excellent.
"What? You're just a mixed spiritual root. Compared to me, you're nothing special, so what does Master keep calling you for? He couldn't be thinking of taking you as a disciple, could he?"
"Who knows?"
"…Hmph. Go on up already. Don't keep Master waiting."
He passed her and climbed to the second floor of Spirit Pill Pavilion.
He had not waited long before someone descended from the third floor. It was Bang Il, the owner of Spirit Pill Pavilion, wearing the smile of a kindly merchant.
"Little brat, you came—no, that won't do. Now that you've entered Qi Refining as well, I suppose I should call you fellow Daoist."
"Not at all. Senior Bang Il may call me little brat if you wish."
"Hm? Truly?"
"Yes."
Bang Il studied Jin Somyeong as though observing him, then nodded with satisfaction. He seemed pleased by Jin Somyeong's respectful attitude.
"Good. With that manner of yours, you won't suffer too greatly wherever you go. There is nothing bad about acting humbly."
"I will keep that in mind."
Jin Somyeong nodded without objection, though his true feelings were somewhat different.
Even in his previous life, he had possessed more than a little rebellious streak. He was by no means an obedient person. His docile behavior now was simply a survival strategy—and also because Bang Il had helped him.
In any case, he had no intention of baring his true thoughts and arguing with Bang Il. It was true that the man had helped him, but Jin Somyeong did not consider him someone he could sincerely trust.
"Mm, mm! Good. I didn't misjudge you."
Bang Il looked pleased, like a benevolent elder, and continued.
"By the way, when you didn't come for a month, I thought you were dead. I assumed you'd ignored my warning and gone up Jeokyang Mountain. He-he."
"I apologize for being late. It took me a full month to stabilize my realm and adjust to it."
"Ah… Well, the poorer one's aptitude, the harder it is to stabilize one's cultivation real—hem, hem! Never mind. If you've stabilized it, that's what matters. In any case, congratulations on entering Qi Refining."
"Thank you. But…"
Something about Bang Il's words bothered him.
After a brief hesitation, Jin Somyeong cautiously opened his mouth. One of the privileges of being a child was being allowed to ask questions.
"Senior, is there a problem with going up Jeokyang Mountain? To tell you the truth, after meeting you, I was thinking of going to the mountain to gather spirit herbs."
Jeokyang Mountain was a mountain he had climbed countless times over the past three years. It was somewhat dangerous, but even as a mortal, he had managed well enough. Now that he had become a Qi Refining cultivator, it should have been safer. So why did Bang Il speak as if climbing Jeokyang Mountain was an act that would get him killed?
"Tsk, tsk! I knew it. You should count yourself fortunate, brat. You happened to meet a kind senior like me."
Putting on airs to his heart's content, Bang Il grinned and said,
"A mortal going up Jeokyang Mountain and a Qi Refining cultivator going up are completely different things. Very different indeed!"
"Pardon?"
"Little brat, over the last three years, you've never once encountered a first-tier demonic beast, have you? Well, if you had, you'd already be dead, so there's no need to ask. At most, you probably ran into ordinary beasts that had failed to become demonic beasts."
"Ah… yes. I've never encountered a first-tier demonic beast. I was lucky."
"Lucky? That's not wrong. But luck isn't the whole story. More importantly, you were a mortal without spiritual energy."
"A mortal?"
"Yes. To a first-tier demonic beast, mortals are neither tasty nor nutritious. They are no different from stones or weeds on the roadside."
Jin Somyeong stared blankly, his mouth slightly open at those ominous words, while Bang Il continued his explanation.
"If you were a tiger, would you go out of your way to search for weeds to eat? Only if you were truly starving would you force yourself to chew them down. He-he! But now the situation has changed."
"…Senior, are you saying that because I've become a Qi Refining cultivator, I'm now a delicious meal to demonic beasts?"
"Exactly! You understand quickly. You are no longer a simple stone, but fragrant food. Hungry demonic beasts will be drawn to you from every direction. If you climb Jeokyang Mountain, that very day may as well be your funeral. He-he-he."
Jin Somyeong's lips parted several times, but he could not figure out what to say.
Jeokyang Mountain was his precious workplace. Yet now he was told that if he climbed it, countless demonic beasts would rush at him. It was difficult to believe.
…Bang Il has no reason to lie to me about this.
He did not want to believe it, but there was a high chance it was true. Seen another way, it was fortunate. If he had not met Bang Il and had gone up Jeokyang Mountain knowing nothing, he might have encountered a first-tier demonic beast and died.
The sudden harshness of reality made his chest feel tight, but for the moment, he stopped thinking about it. He clasped his hands respectfully and bowed.
"Thank you for telling me, Senior."
"Hm? The source of income you've relied on for three years has been cut off. Aren't you disappointed?"
"I am disappointed, but… what can I do? I have to face reality and look for another way."
A flicker of admiration crossed Bang Il's face.
"Indeed. To compose yourself so quickly… For a child, your temperament is not bad at all. If only your aptitude were better… tsk."
The last words were too quiet to hear clearly. Bang Il smacked his lips as if regretting something, then spoke again.
"Well, if you wish to go to Jeokyang Mountain, there isn't no way to do it."
"There is?"
As if deliberately drawing out the moment, Bang Il looked away for a while. Then he grinned and took a talisman from his sleeve.
"This is a Breath-Concealing Talisman, a low-grade first-tier talisman. It conceals the user's presence. Naturally, it works on first-tier demonic beasts as well."
"A Breath-Concealing Talisman! With that, I can climb Jeokyang Mountain?"
"Yes. Spirit Pill Pavilion specializes in selling pills, but we sell talismans too. Naturally, we have Breath-Concealing Talismans in stock."
Jin Somyeong finally understood why Bang Il had given him advice. Like the merchant he was, the man had been trying to make a sale.
If there was no deeper scheme, that was actually reassuring.
"…What is the price?"
"Not especially expensive. Three Breath-Concealing Talismans for one Spirit Stone."
He had suspected as much, and he had been right.
For the impoverished Jin Somyeong, it was a price that made him sigh.
"Unfortunately, that is too expensive for me."
"Ha-ha! Do you think I don't know you're a pauper without a single Spirit Stone? I was merely telling you so you could buy some later when you have Spirit Stones."
"Mm… Senior, since Spirit Stones have come up, may I ask if there are any suitable jobs for first-layer Qi Refining cultivators like me?"
"Jobs? In truth, the best thing would be to get hired at a shop like Spirit Pill Pavilion and work as a clerk. You could earn one or two Spirit Stones a month. However…"
Bang Il looked slightly troubled as he continued.
"It won't be easy to find an opening. Since it's a safe and decent job, competition is fierce. I'm sorry, but I recently accepted a disciple, so I don't have the room to hire you."
"Ah, no. I have no intention of imposing on you to that extent, Senior. I was only asking how ordinary rogue cultivators survive."
Bang Il nodded, then explained with a regretful expression the reality faced by rogue cultivators without any proper backing.
"The first option is to become a demonic beast hunter. You risk your life climbing mountains and fighting demonic beasts. It's dangerous, but the income is high, and you're free."
"Second, you make and sell things useful for cultivation, such as talismans or pills. It isn't dangerous, and the profits are enormous, but I recommend you don't even look in that direction."
Jin Somyeong had intended to listen quietly, but he could not stop himself from asking.
"Senior, I heard that both talisman masters who make talismans and alchemists who refine pills hold very high status in the cultivation world. They must earn plenty of Spirit Stones, so why do you say I shouldn't even look that way?"
"Ho-ho. Little brat, you know one thing but not the next. Why do you think they are respected?"
"That is…"
"Because becoming one is difficult, of course. Without systematic instruction, becoming a talisman master or an alchemist is close to impossible. Do you remember the Breath-Concealing Talisman I showed you earlier?"
"Yes. You said it was a low-grade first-tier talisman."
"The Breath-Concealing Talisman is one of the most basic talismans, but it is not easy to draw. Even someone with genius-level talent must practice more than a hundred times just to barely step through the door. That means you need to prepare enough materials to draw at least a hundred before you can even begin practicing."
"…What happens if one has no talent?"
"Then naturally, even after drawing a thousand or ten thousand, it would be difficult to enter the path. The cost of materials to draw a thousand Breath-Concealing Talismans would be at least a hundred Spirit Stones. Even after investing such an enormous amount of capital into practice, your success rate would obviously be less than ten percent."
As Jin Somyeong listened in a daze, he instinctively began calculating.
With one Spirit Stone, one could buy enough materials for ten Breath-Concealing Talismans. The talisman itself sold at three for one Spirit Stone.
…The production success rate has to exceed at least thirty percent just to break even. Until then, every attempt is a loss.
In other words, to become a talisman master and earn money, one needed initial capital amounting to hundreds, even thousands, of Spirit Stones.
Even practicing a single basic talisman like the Breath-Concealing Talisman was this difficult. Without genius-level talent and support, becoming a talisman master was close to impossible.
"For reference, becoming a talisman master is much easier than becoming an alchemist. To become a first-tier alchemist like me, one needs an extraordinary amount of Spirit Stones and talent. He-he."
"Ah…"
Bang Il's grinning face was filled with pride. As though showing off, he put on an even more arrogant air and continued.
"If you understand, then give up any thoughts of becoming a talisman master. To be honest, even I would not have become an alchemist if I had not received support."
"Senior, then in my case, do I have no choice but to climb Jeokyang Mountain and risk my life fighting demonic beasts?"
"Mm… not necessarily. There is a third method."
Jin Somyeong respectfully clasped his hands. He pricked up his ears in a listening posture, but no explanation followed.
"Senior?"
For some reason, Bang Il hesitated before finally speaking with a look that said he had no choice.
"Haah. The third method is to join the Red Sun Sect. The Red Sun Sect is a sect formed by rogue cultivators like you, and they aren't especially picky about conditions. Anyone who applies is accepted."
Now that he mentioned it, Jin Somyeong remembered hearing of them. They were one of the most powerful forces in Jeokyang Market.
While he was recalling the rumors about the Red Sun Sect, Bang Il continued.
"What's more, once you enter, they teach you basic spell arts, so it would be a great help to you. However…"
"…Is there a problem?"
"To join the Red Sun Sect, you have to sign a contract. The minimum service period is rather long, so you can't work for a year or two and then quit. Of course, depending on how you look at it, that can be considered an advantage."
"A long service period is an advantage?"
"Yes. Other places don't even have such things as service periods in the first place. Traditional sects that place importance on the master-disciple relationship require you to share life and death with them from the moment you enter. If you say you want to leave, they'll treat you as a traitor."
"…So once you enter a sect, there's no going back."
"Naturally. In truth, most sects in the cultivation world are the same in that regard. If you say you want to quit, your cultivation will likely be crippled and the meridians of your limbs cut. Compared to that, the Red Sun Sect is rather civilized."
After leaving Spirit Pill Pavilion, Jin Somyeong set out.
He headed toward the Inner City, the core district of Jeokyang Market.
Moving diligently while recalling Bang Il's explanation, he soon arrived before a towering gate nearly thirty feet high.
It's enormous.
The mysterious design carved into the majestic gate drew his gaze. It took the shape of a mountain range wreathed in flames, and he could feel a scorching heat from it.
Though it was only an image carved into the gate, it seemed vivid, almost alive.
Jin Somyeong nodded, impressed by the dignity befitting an immortal sect. This was the Red Sun Sect.
"Hoo."
He took a light breath and approached the gatekeeper. He intended to confirm whether the information Bang Il had given him was true.