Chapter 108
Chapter 108
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Blueprint (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Black Bamboo Sect and Golden Sparrow Sect were in a festive mood.
They had boldly upped the stakes and hit the jackpot.
Seoran, the Triple Spirit Root Holder, had made both sects wealthy.
No need to agonize over how to divide the treasures.
Their financial departments had already merged into one.
The consolidation process was proceeding smoothly.
The joint leadership gathered in the conference hall today as well.
They had just wrapped up discussions on crafting a colossal flying vessel for collective ascension.
The next topic concerned Seoran's spirit roots.
The chair spoke.
"Right, let's begin the discussion on acquiring spirit roots. Anyone with thoughts, please speak freely."
Someone raised a hand and spoke.
"First off, when exactly is the Water Phase Year coming? You said predictions get more precise as it approaches—do we have a final result yet?"
The astronomer stood from his seat to reply.
"No final result yet. But we've narrowed the margin of error considerably. The next Water Phase Year will arrive roughly thirteen to fifteen years from now. Our celestial observers are doing their utmost even today for a more accurate forecast. No need for major concern."
Another person chimed in.
"Then we just need to resolve the Fire Spirit Root. I'd like us to find a Fire Spirit Vein within at least five years. If we do, we could acquire the Water Spirit Root while harmonized at Quadruple Spirit Root."
"That would be the ideal outcome. It could advance our ascension timeline by years. For ascetics with little lifespan left, even a few months' difference can mean life or death."
"We should definitely prioritize securing the Fire Spirit Root first. Personally, I'd love to ascend alongside as many fellow cultivators as possible."
"But how do we find a Fire Spirit Vein? Honestly, it's impossible within the West Continent. There's no vast unexplored territory like the East Continent, and would any spirit vein like that still be unclaimed?"
"Where did Senior Brother Ryu's Metal Spirit Vein come from?"
"Elder Ho obtained it by subjugating a great yokai. Remember that crisis at Seaside Gate decades ago? That great yokai with the 'precious heart' or whatever that rampaged all the way to the coast."
"Oh, yeah, now I remember."
"So even the Metal Spirit Vein flowed in from outside the West Continent. We'll probably have to look to other continents for the Fire Spirit Vein too. The records say the South Continent is scorching hot—doesn't that scream high odds for a Fire Spirit Vein?"
The conversation shifted toward deep-sea voyages.
"But how do we even reach other continents? The safe routes pass through the world's center, and I doubt Poison-Eyed Dragon will just sit idly by. We can't exactly brave the perilous seas either..."
"Even using safe routes, we wouldn't make it back in time. Years to get there, years to return. By then, the Water Phase Year would have passed."
"What about teleportation arrays? The archaeologists have been studying them for nearly a decade—any results?"
"We can't build new ones, but simple repairs are possible now."
"Not much use in our current situation."
Then, someone said casually.
"Why not just sail the dangerous seas? Way faster than detouring via safe routes."
Another raised a sensible counterargument.
"Even if every Origin Realm cultivator from Black Bamboo Sect and Golden Sparrow Sect went together, we couldn't guarantee anyone arriving. You'd need Incarnation Realm level at least. Better to wait decades more."
But common sense lost out once again.
"Wouldn't it be fine with Lady Dragon along?"
"Huh?"
Everyone occasionally forgot: Damcheong was a dragon.
*****
While the West Continent's joint leadership conferred about Damcheong, Seoran was deep in the Great Primeval Forest.
Spring had come—it was time to head home.
She had stayed in the forest, bonding with the Five Elements Treefolk and amassing a ton of spiritual power.
Waiting her turn near the teleportation array, Seoran bumped into archaeologists who had just arrived from the East Continent.
"Oh, hello."
"Greetings, Senior Ryu. Heading back?"
"Yeah, all my business here is done. Oh, here—take this. It's the folklore, history, and cultural records on the Five Elements Treefolk you requested last time. I wrote as much detail as possible, but plenty's probably missing."
The archaeologist took the bundle of papers from Seoran.
"Truly grateful. You've made a monumental contribution to archaeology, Senior Ryu."
"Will even recent stuff like this help archaeology?"
"Five Elements Treefolk live up to ten thousand years. Their society hasn't changed much from millennia ago to now. That's the hallmark of long-lived species."
Seoran nodded briefly, then said.
"Glad it helps."
"It helps immensely. Thank you again. But what's that basket tucked under your arm?"
"Oh, this?"
Seoran opened the basket lid.
A three-eyed rabbit yokai, Three-Eyed Charm, poked its head out and greeted them.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Three-Eyed Charm."
The archaeologists greeted back.
"Oh, nice to meet you."
"The local collaborator from the reports?"
"Did you recruit her to the sect?"
Seoran nodded.
"Yes, spirit eyes are rare in yokai surgeons. Seized the opportunity. Three-Eyed Charm, the West Continent's gotta be better than your homeland with no fruit, right?"
Three-Eyed Charm replied with a serious face.
"Homeland? The Great Primeval Forest depths? Not at all. The moment I swore entry, my only home became Black Bamboo Sect."
Seoran picked up.
"Yeah, that's what she says."
Just then, the teleportation array manager called out.
"Number 132! Number 132, please come forward!"
Seoran's turn.
"Ah, gotta go—it's my slot."
The archaeologists waved.
"Sure, safe travels."
"Thanks for the materials."
Seoran started to jump in as usual.
But she spotted the huge warning sign and stopped.
It said not to leap into the array—too dangerous.
Seoran gingerly stepped onto the teleportation pattern.
*****
Seoran returned home after two years.
No striking changes caught the eye.
Except Jang Seonhwa, who had grown beyond recognition.
Seoran asked.
"Seonhwa, how old are you this year?"
Jang Seonhwa, now towering, replied.
"I'm sixteen now, Teacher!"
"Oh, right..."
Truth be told, Seoran knew—she'd just asked to confirm.
Subtract twenty-five from her own age, and that was Jang Seonhwa's.
She simply couldn't believe it.
How on earth had she outgrown Ho Hye-mun?
She knew it was too late, but the secret nagged at her.
Still, she couldn't show ugliness to her assistant.
Seoran changed the subject by opening the basket.
"Seonhwa, say hi. This is Three-Eyed Charm."
Three-Eyed Charm hopped out of the basket.
Jang Seonhwa's pretty eyes curved into crescents.
Her gaze brimmed with fondness.
The three eyes didn't faze her.
Jang Seonhwa knelt and said.
"Hi, Three-Eyed Charm. I'm Jang Seonhwa."
Three-Eyed Charm rubbed its front paws and replied.
"Hello. Looking forward to working with you, hehe."
Seoran introduced Three-Eyed Charm to the maids too.
Damcheong, out briefly, would meet later.
Three-Eyed Charm naturally settled into Seoran's estate.
Snack time for two people and one rabbit—pure delight.
Jang Seonhwa pulled a tiny flute from her bosom and played.
The signal to summon the human-faced bird.
Humans couldn't hear the frequency, incidentally.
Seoran heard it clearly, though.
Thanks to relentless sensory training, she'd long detected sounds beyond audible range.
Three-Eyed Charm's long ears perked up too.
A human-faced bird flew in from afar.
A cute girl's head on a sparrow's body.
That explained why it hadn't startled at Three-Eyed Charm.
Jang Seonhwa tickled the bird's chin and asked.
"What do you think, Teacher? Isn't it adorable?"
Seoran replied tepidly.
"Yeah, adorable."
Of course, Seoran wasn't a sixteen-year-old girl anymore.
The Earthling who panicked at her first human-faced yokai bird was long dead.
Even the creepy bird now seemed purely cute.
Seoran's worry lay elsewhere.
Jang Seonhwa adored anything fluffy.
What if she ditched puppetry to become a yokai surgeon?
Unlikely, but who knew with the world.
Seoran, as an artist, had a duty to guide her assistant to proper aesthetics.
Fortunately, it wasn't too late yet.
Seoran said.
"Seonhwa, shall we make puppets after so long?"
Jang Seonhwa threw her arms up.
"Yay!"
The puppet workshop door shut tight.
*****
Days later, Yi Agum visiting Seoran gasped in admiration.
"Wow, so cute..."
Seoran beamed smugly.
"Right? Super cute?"
"Yeah. This is White-Head Owl-Eyes, right?"
"Yep."
Yi Agum stared entranced at Owl-Eyes.
Button-black eyes, body cloaked in white feathers.
Seoran's deliberate cuteness packed hypnotic power.
Yi Agum wished her beloved big sister would craft only such puppets forever.
Yi Agum asked.
"Does this one still move?"
Seoran shook her head.
"Nah, this is a scale model."
"Oh? How big's the real thing?"
Yi Agum wasn't too worried.
Probably around five feet (about 150 cm).
The owl puppet had been that size.
Seoran answered brightly.
"Real height's a bit over one li (about 400 m)."
"Sis, what does that even mean..."
Yi Agum turned dead serious despite herself.