Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Footsteps
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The venue for the secret realm ritual was a sea trench far removed from the Merfolk Church headquarters.
Somewhere in the deep ocean trench lay a bioluminescent lake—the true nature of the water-attribute secret realm.
The lake's glowing substance rippled calmly, without mixing in the slightest with the seawater.
Seoran marveled at the secret realm's beauty.
"Wow, what a sight."
Damcheong nodded and said.
"Indeed. Look at that sparkle."
Of course, the bioluminescent lake wasn't the only thing illuminating the dark deep sea.
Damcheong's horns were glowing as always.
From certain angles, they even resembled a glowing Hungry Ghost.
Deung Jinguo also appeared quite intrigued.
"What a unique secret realm. A lake inside the ocean... I wonder what principle keeps the two liquids from mixing."
While the three tourists admired the area near the secret realm, preparations for the ritual proceeded smoothly.
Experts from the Black Bamboo Sect, Golden Forge Sect, and Merfolk Church devoted themselves to inspecting the facilities.
No minor errors could be tolerated.
Finally, preparations for the secret realm ritual were complete.
Seoran stepped out beyond the water-barrier formation.
She mounted the one-horned seahorse and headed for the altar.
The moment Seoran reached the altar's highest point, the secret realm ritual began.
Various formations activated, drawing vast quantities of water spiritual energy into the secret realm.
After about the time it takes to boil a pot of noodles, Seoran obtained her fifth spirit root.
Deung Jinguo, who had been watching the scene, was utterly dumbfounded.
Even school recess periods lasted longer than this.
For someone like Deung Jinguo, who had once been quasi-True Immortal realm, it would undoubtedly take at least a day or two to complete such a ritual.
Deung Jinguo glanced at the reactions of those around him.
They were simply pleased to be one step closer to sect promotion—no one seemed to notice the ritual's absurdly short duration.
Perhaps it was because they had spent so much time with Seoran that their thresholds had risen far too high.
Deung Jinguo spoke to Seoran, who had returned as a Quintuple Spirit Root Holder, in a serious tone.
"Ryu Susa. Do you remember the Five Essentials of Water Path cultivation that I taught you before?"
Seoran, who had slipped back inside the water-barrier formation and was wringing out her wet hair, replied.
"The Five Essentials of Water Path cultivation? Of course I remember."
Deung Jinguo wore an expression that said he'd expected as much.
"There's something related to that I need to discuss. Let's find somewhere quiet. Ah, Dragon Maiden, you too."
As they moved to a new spot, Damcheong muttered to herself.
"What were the Five Essentials of Water Path cultivation again...?"
The name felt familiar, confirming she'd learned it once.
Yet not a single detail came to mind.
She must have forgotten it all long ago.
Deung Jinguo wore that knowing look once more.
"Even if you've forgotten, it's no problem. I can just explain it again."
Damcheong suddenly found herself in remedial lessons.
*****
A nation's three essentials are its people, territory, and sovereignty.
So what are the Five Essentials of Water Path cultivation?
The answer: spirit root, immortal bone, five aptitudes, merit laws, and resources.
But the major sects of the lower world knew only four, excluding immortal bone.
In truth, it was unavoidable.
No one in the lower world could reach Supreme Star Realm, the stage where immortal bone truly mattered.
In the low realms from Qi Circulation to Primordial Infant, spirit root aptitude was undoubtedly paramount.
Merit laws and cultivation resources were environmental factors, after all, and five aptitudes only needed to be sufficient for comprehending merit laws.
That was why lower world major sects endlessly chanted praises of single spirit roots.
Yet inexplicable things occasionally occurred.
Among cultivators with comparable spirit root aptitude, five aptitudes, merit laws learned, and cultivation resources received, baffling gaps in achievement would arise.
Extremely rarely, even dual spirit root holders would reach Primordial Infant Realm.
A full realm's difference couldn't simply be chalked up to personal diligence.
In a word, it meant some factor beyond spirit root, aptitudes, merit laws, and resources was at work.
That factor was immortal bone aptitude.
The usually quiet Damcheong suddenly let out an exclamation.
"Ooh!"
Deung Jinguo brightened and asked.
"Are the old lessons starting to come back to you?"
"No, I still have no clue."
"I see..."
Deung Jinguo continued his explanation with a wry expression.
Once one advances to Primordial Infant Realm and begins five-colored heart cultivation, innate differences in spirit root aptitude gradually lose meaning.
Eventually, everyone becomes a Quintuple Spirit Root Holder.
Thus, from Incarnation Realm onward—in the high realms—immortal bone aptitude's importance becomes even more pronounced.
Damcheong asked.
"Then, Deung Jinguo, were you born with an immortal bone?"
"I lost my memories, so the details escape me, but I must have had one. How else could I have reached quasi-True Immortal without it?"
"That does make sense."
Deung Jinguo turned to gaze at Seoran.
"The reason I brought this up out of nowhere is you, Ryu Susa."
"Me?"
"Yes. You appear to be an immortal bone holder. I've suspected it for some time, but witnessing your secret realm ritual today confirmed it for me."
Seoran asked, startled.
"I'm an immortal bone holder?"
"And an extraordinarily rare kind at that. Even scouring the entire Immortal Realm, you'd find fewer than ten cultivators your age on the cusp of Incarnation Realm. It's heaven-granted talent, plain and simple."
Deung Jinguo went on to heap praise after praise on Seoran's talents.
Once-in-millennia prodigy, quasi-True Immortal trajectory confirmed, collector of envy.
After three years together, Seoran realized Deung Jinguo was surprisingly adept at flattery.
The corners of Seoran's mouth slowly curved upward.
Come to think of it, this level of effusive praise was a rarity these days.
Her raised threshold lately made even her sectmates' compliments feel rather lackluster.
Damcheong muttered to herself with envious eyes.
"An immortal bone holder... how enviable. What do you make of me, Deung Jinguo?"
"How old are you, Dragon Maiden?"
"A little over a thousand years since my birth."
Deung Jinguo pondered briefly before replying.
"Completing an Inner Pellet at just a thousand years means you likely possess an immortal bone as well, with high probability."
"Is that for real?!"
"Yes. Lower world dragons typically take thousands of years to form an Inner Pellet. And even if you aren't an immortal bone holder, don't despair too much. Immortal bones can be supplemented postnatally, much like spirit roots—though only in the Immortal Realm, of course."
A bold proclamation from a former quasi-True Immortal cultivator (Primordial Infant this season), Deung Jinguo.
Seoran and Damcheong's moods soared instantly.
Their fondness for Deung Jinguo skyrocketed as well.
The three entered the Dragon Palace on even warmer terms.
*****
As promised before, Seoran and Damcheong planned to remain in the Dragon Palace for a stretch.
Of course, they had no intention of simply lounging while doted on by the merfolk believers.
Each had their own duties.
Damcheong and Deung Jinguo combed through the previous Dragon God's collection storehouse.
The previous Dragon God had researched co-ascension right up to his disappearance.
The books had long since been taken, but other sorts of clues might remain.
If fortune smiled on them, they might uncover the previous Dragon God's whereabouts—or even perfect the co-ascension technique.
Seoran, naturally, threw herself into cultivation.
She spent most of her time mastering the Black Bamboo Sect's secret water-attribute merit law, "Cascading Waters Heavenly Stone," to build up pure water spiritual power.
The deep sea's abundant water spiritual energy proved a tremendous boon.
Of course, she interspersed this with stamping approvals, writing novels, and playing instruments.
While Seoran, Damcheong, and Deung Jinguo hunkered down in the Dragon Palace, the Black Bamboo Sect and Golden Forge Sect were equally swamped.
They prepared the feathering ritual required for Incarnation Realm, alongside constructing the flying fleet for the Immortal Realm voyage.
In any case, they were incredibly busy.
Elder Wang—who had roamed the entirety of Liang Kingdom in search of spirit root holders—finally returned to sect headquarters after ages.
At his side was a girl of about ten.
A Quadruple Spirit Root Holder discovered in a remote mountain hamlet.
Clutching the old man's sleeve tightly, the girl asked.
"When I grow up, can I fly in the sky too?"
Elder Wang replied in a kindly voice.
"Of course you can. Live righteously, obey the adults, cultivate diligently, get along with the other children, and it'll happen before you know it."
"Are there kids my age? Back in the village, they were all big brothers and sisters—or newborns."
"So many you'll be shocked. You'll make plenty of friends, so look forward to it."
The thrilled girl chattered away nonstop.
The ferry boat bearing the pair cleaved through the clouds and at last reached the interior of the Great Barrier Formation.
Majestic peaks thrust skyward amid the sea of clouds, lined with half-finished ships.
Elder Wang felt an emotion beyond words.
Another three years had slipped by.