The Divine Ability Grew Stronger!
Once Jin Somyeong had steeled himself, he swallowed the Condensing Qi Pill.
The pill melted the instant it touched his tongue, and the moment it reached his stomach—
Boom!
The dense spiritual energy compressed within it erupted all at once, surging through him in a boiling tide that rushed to the very tips of his limbs.
"Urgh."
With spiritual energy packed tight through his entire body, his breath caught in his throat. The pressure had strengthened too abruptly; even his meridians felt as if they might burst. He hurriedly shut his eyes and circulated the Five Elements Qi Refining Art with all his might, but it was too much.
The spiritual energy rampaged on its own, utterly beyond his control. Instead of settling properly in his dantian, it leaked out through his skin.
His wretched aptitude was holding him back.
Damn it!
More than half the medicinal power escaped through his pores and went to waste. It was so painful a loss that he felt as though he were coughing blood. No matter how desperately he tried to rein in the flow, it was not enough.
No! I saved Spirit Stones for half a year to buy this Condensing Qi Pill!
Just as he was trapped, unable to move forward or retreat, biting his lip in helpless frustration, a sudden idea flashed through his mind.
Wuuung!
He hastily focused his mind. The moment he spent every last remnant of his Boundless Great Ability and made his wish, a mysterious ripple formed and began guiding the flow.
The spiritual energy that had been thrashing like a delinquent changed in an instant. It became so obedient, as if it had turned into a docile lamb, that it was almost absurd.
Huh?
The hardship that had tormented him mere moments ago felt almost like an illusion. Jin Somyeong was so overcome by a strange sense of injustice that he nearly stopped circulating his art altogether, only to jolt in alarm.
Get a grip!
The difficulty had passed; he could not afford to ruin the pill through carelessness now. If he did, he would be so sick with rage he would not sleep properly for days.
He cast aside all distracting thoughts and focused on the Five Elements Qi Refining Art, pouring himself into guiding every last drop of the Condensing Qi Pill's essence—half a year's labor—into his dantian.
The instant he succeeded in perfectly digesting the medicinal effect—
Boom!
The wall blocking his path shattered in one stroke, and a thrilling, exhilarating sensation shot up his spine.
At last, he had broken through. He had reached the second layer of Qi Refining.
It was an evolution on the level of life's very essence. The rapture of transforming into a superior being was something he would not trade for anything.
"Haaah!"
He exhaled a turbid breath and savored the lingering sensation.
The moment one's realm rose truly was the best. He thought he understood why cultivators risked their lives for cultivation.
One Condensing Qi Pill is better than a month of practice.
The pill's effect was remarkable as well. His cultivation progress, which had been crawling along like a snail, had leaped forward in an instant.
It had been worth every bit of the enormous sum of twenty Spirit Stones.
Now he understood, deep in his bones, why cultivators spent the Spirit Stones they had worked so hard to earn on pills.
Nodding in satisfaction, Jin Somyeong focused on his dantian. He intended to check just how much stronger he had become after reaching the second layer of Qi Refining.
"...My spiritual energy has increased by at least fifty percent."
Roughly one and a half times.
The total amount of his spiritual energy had grown, and his stamina and muscle strength had improved as well. Every aspect of him, including his reaction speed, had become superior.
Compared to before his breakthrough, he felt confident he could defeat two versions of his former first-layer self at once.
As he stretched and adjusted to his strengthened body, Jin Somyeong suddenly froze.
"Hm?"
He had felt a change in the divine ability engraved upon his soul—his Boundless Great Ability.
He immediately called out the status window.
After examining the hologram, he let out a cheer.
"Ohhh!"
The Boundless Great Ability's golden beads had increased from ten to fifteen. As his realm had risen, the Boundless Great Ability had strengthened as well.
If only the quantity had increased, it would not have meant much, but no matter how many golden beads there were, they all recovered within a month.
In other words, as the total capacity increased, the recovery speed of his divine ability had increased with it.
"Good!"
Now, if he waited just two days, one bead would recover.
This is huge. I can go to Jeokyang Mountain three times a month now.
He was delighted by the changes brought about by his breakthrough. Little by little, he could feel himself improving, and that felt excellent.
Jin Somyeong had been grinning like a child given a gift when he abruptly stopped.
Wait... no. This isn't right.
All at once, he felt a sense of crisis at the sight of himself rejoicing simply because he could go to Jeokyang Mountain three times. Without realizing it, he had sunk into daily routine and become focused on surviving from one day to the next.
There was nothing wrong with diligence, but he had to keep the desire to improve burning in his heart at all times.
He realized he could not go on cultivating in this slapdash manner.
The Boundless Great Ability was a powerful divine ability, and therefore it had to be used efficiently. He needed to formulate a more proper cultivation plan.
At present, most of the Boundless Great Ability was being spent imitating the Breath-Concealing Art, which was an obvious waste.
In truth, the solution was simple.
He could save Spirit Stones for roughly half a year, purchase the Breath-Concealing Art properly, and learn it. Then he would be able to climb Jeokyang Mountain without relying on the Boundless Great Ability.
When that time came, he could use the Boundless Great Ability for cultivation instead.
He would grow stronger through the divine ability, and as his realm rose, the Boundless Great Ability would grow stronger in turn—a virtuous cycle.
If he wanted to go far, he had to build that kind of structure.
Jin Somyeong sighed and smacked his lips in regret.
I won't even get to look at another Condensing Qi Pill for a while. If I could just take pills consistently, I could increase my cultivation speed two or threefold.
He still felt attached to the idea, but he had to endure.
His cultivation speed would temporarily slow, but in the long run, it would be to his benefit.
Having formed a rough plan, he closed his eyes. He calmed the impatience trying to rise within him and circulated the Five Elements Qi Refining Art, intending to stabilize the instability brought about by his breakthrough.
One month later.
Having completely adjusted to the second layer of Qi Refining, Jin Somyeong left his house.
Perhaps because he had rested well and recovered to his best condition, he felt especially good today.
With a broad-bladed saber at his waist, he followed the familiar road toward Jeokyang Mountain. The wasteland came to an end, and just before the mountain path began in earnest—
Oh?
From the very foot of the mountain, he spotted a large dewdrop clinging to a blade of grass.
He was lucky. It was rare to find dew near the entrance to Jeokyang Mountain, where so many people passed through.
Just before he harvested the dew, he instinctively scanned his surroundings out of habit—and flinched.
...!
His heart dropped at the unexpected situation. His fingertips trembled faintly, but he struggled desperately not to let it show.
A split second passed, too brief to properly perceive.
Then Jin Somyeong moved naturally, as if nothing at all had happened. He even smiled broadly, as though pleased, and harvested the dew.
Shit.
Contrary to his delighted appearance, his insides were burning. All manner of thoughts churned through his head.
While he had been habitually checking his surroundings, he had discovered something suspicious.
A translucent figure, wavering like heat haze, had accidentally entered his sight—and it had unmistakably been shaped like a human.
A single drop of cold sweat rolled down the back of his neck, showing just how tense he was.
Who is it? Since when have they been following me?
In Jeokyang Mountain, which was no different from a lawless zone, there was one existence more dangerous than demonic beasts.
Humans.
...Still, this is fortunate.
Thanks to his habit of always surveying his surroundings, he had discovered the other party first. That was a tremendous stroke of luck.
He had never imagined that a casual habit would return to save him like this. Without it, he would never have noticed the tail and would have been caught unaware.
What do I do? Should I return to the market district?
It was his first time facing such a situation, and he had no idea how to respond.
All sorts of methods surfaced in his mind, jumbled and disordered. After a moment of conflict, Jin Somyeong pressed his lips together.
Outwardly maintaining a calm expression, he massaged his shoulders. As if searching for a path, he looked around naturally while focusing his senses.
Two? No, there's one more. Three in total.
First, he had to determine the number of enemies—
Enemies?
The moment that word brushed through his mind, the thoughts that had gone rigid from panic began turning cold and clear.
Can I do it...? No. I have to.
A plan to deal with the pursuers formed in an instant.
Like a snake shedding its skin, an instinct that had been asleep within him awakened.
Even he was surprised by how coldly his reason had settled, but his actions remained natural. He did not stop for even a moment.
Step.
He slung the gourd containing the dew over his back and started walking deeper into Jeokyang Mountain.
Even though he had noticed his pursuers, he did not turn back.
Even if I shake them off now, it won't mean anything. If they come looking again, it'll be even more dangerous.
With a placid expression, Jin Somyeong climbed the mountain path.
Even knowing he was being followed, he showed no sign of it. Like a man who knew nothing, he slipped into the dense undergrowth.
Just before he entered the outer region of Jeokyang Mountain in earnest—
Swish!
He drew a talisman-like sheet of paper from inside his clothes.
Strange patterns had been drawn on the gray talisman. It was a Breath-Concealing Talisman he had made out of curiosity.
In truth, calling it a Breath-Concealing Talisman was generous. Since he had not wanted to waste the cost of proper materials, he had merely copied the design onto ordinary paper.
Naturally, the creation had failed, and the talisman had no effect whatsoever. It was only a sheet of paper that looked plausible on the outside.
To think I'd end up using it like this.
It was an ineffective talisman, but that did not mean it was useless. In the dim light before dawn, it was enough for deception.
Wuuung!
He gathered spiritual energy at his fingertips and created a faint glow. Then, as though activating the talisman, he shook the paper—
Swish!
And used the Boundless Great Ability to cast the Breath-Concealing Art.
A mysterious ripple spread out and enveloped him. Like a protective membrane, it blocked off the inside and outside of his body, preventing his aura from leaking.
However, the concealment's effect was far weaker than usual. That was only natural; he had deliberately not used his full strength.
They should recognize a Breath-Concealing Art at this level.
Just as he expected, the pursuers continued following him. That meant they had some means of tracking him even after he used the Breath-Concealing Art.
I don't know why they're following me... but it clearly can't be for any good reason.
A chill passed across one corner of his composed expression.
Step, step.
As he walked unhesitatingly deeper into Jeokyang Mountain, he stopped from time to time.
Like a person who knew nothing, he dug up minor spirit herbs or collected dew gathered on leaves.
How much time passed?
Jin Somyeong's steps finally came to a complete stop only after he arrived at his destination—the dew tree.
Looking up at the giant tree, which towered well over twenty meters high, he narrowed his eyes.
Crack.
The moment he willed it, one golden bead containing the Boundless Great Ability disappeared soundlessly.
Under senses amplified by mysterious power, the three pursuers behind him became vividly clear.
Two are at the same early stage of Qi Refining as me, and one is a mid-stage cultivator.
The aura of two of them was similar to Jin Somyeong's, but one was far stronger. That meant the stronger one was at least at the fourth layer of Qi Refining.
His chances of winning in a head-on fight were vanishingly small.
The five senses amplified by the Boundless Great Ability were extraordinary. Everything was laid bare.
Perhaps because they had discovered the dew tree, he could even sense that the pursuers' breathing had grown faintly rougher.
For one fleeting instant, Jin Somyeong hesitated, then pressed his lips shut. He knew precisely what consequences the actions he was about to take would bring.
...Enough. If I don't kill them, I'll be the one who dies.
Very soon now, someone would kill, and someone would be killed. He hardened his weakening heart and drew up the spiritual energy in his dantian.
Shaaaak!
The instant he raised the gourd and activated the Cloud-Gathering Rain Art, dozens—no, hundreds—of streams of water spiraled into the bottle.
And then—
Wiiiiing!
With the sound of wingbeats that sent chills down his spine no matter how many times he heard it behind him, he kicked off the ground with all his strength.
He ran in the direction of the pursuers while casting the Breath-Concealing Art. Unlike before, he devoted every bit of power to hiding his presence.
"Huh?"
In the next instant, the ferocious aura of the poisonous insects swept through the surroundings.
The pursuers' concealment arts shattered at once. Unable to endure for even a moment, their figures were revealed in full.
"W-what the hell!"
The startled men shouted. Perhaps thrown into confusion by the unexpected situation, they froze like stone statues, unable to decide what to do.
Jin Somyeong, however, was different.
Without delaying for even a breath, he widened the distance between himself and the dew tree. He knew exactly how terrifying the swarm of insects beginning to rampage behind him truly was.