Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Temporary Alliance (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Though it might not seem that way, the leadership of the Black Bamboo Sect is incredibly busy.
Ruling over an entire vast mountain range is no small task.
A sprawling territory, densely packed buildings, countless members—all these elements require constant maintenance and management, along with an ever-growing pile of duties.
Every decision ultimately requires approval from the leadership.
What snacks to provide to the scripture hall students? That can be decided by the scripture hall teacher, Ho Hye-mun.
Because it's a trivial matter.
But things like what age children should start attending the scripture hall, up to what age they should continue, and what to teach them—all of that must be decided by the leadership.
Recently, regarding the joint rule of the now leaderless Yu Nation with the Golden Forge Sect: how to divide the spirit root holders and spiritual herbs discovered there.
The political landscape formed between the vertical shaft faction and horizontal shaft faction that split the underground world—what stance to take, and whether to intervene if a situation unfavorable to the Black Bamboo Sect arises.
The expected impact on the power dynamics between our sect and the friendly Golden Forge Sect from the upcoming talent and technology exchange agreement.
No matter how much they handled, the workload was always at full capacity.
On top of that, the leadership had to carve out time for their own cultivation even after marathon policy meetings.
They were superhumans who balanced official duties and personal practice.
Pardoning their profound ignorance of worldly affairs, they were perfect in every other way.
Today's thirteenth agenda item was: "From when should we begin teaching Ryu Seoran the preparations for Core Formation?"
The conference room split into two camps.
One side argued, "The sooner, the better."
The opposing side insisted, "It's still too early."
One Core Formation cultivator spoke up.
"It's such a waste of time. It couldn't be helped until now, but from here on, we need to start her training to reach Core Formation as quickly as possible."
The reason Seoran had been left to live freely until now was simple.
At the time, the Black Bamboo Sect had made zero preparations for producing a new Core Formation cultivator.
She had reached Foundation Establishment at far too young an age.
Creating even one Core Formation cultivator required enormous resources and manpower.
Countless high-grade elixirs, massive earth spirit stones, special formations tailored to attributes, and a spirit vein suitable for installing those formations—the entire sect had to pour its heart into preparations.
That was why they usually began preparations years in advance of the attempt.
Moreover, Single Spirit Root Holder Ryu Seoran was the once-in-millennia prodigy most cherished by the Black Bamboo Sect leadership.
They wanted all conditions—elixirs, spirit stones, formations, spirit veins, manpower, techniques, timing—to be as perfect as possible.
Thanks to heavenly luck, everything had finally fallen into place recently.
The highest-grade elixirs were ready.
They would be refined using the inner pellet of the earth-attribute snake yokai, Black Scale Reverse Flow Blood Snake, along with various supplementary materials.
When it came to pill refinement, the Black Bamboo Sect was unrivaled on the Western Continent.
The large earth spirit stones had been purchased from the Golden Forge Sect.
It was possible because their youngest Single Spirit Root Holder, Geum Yeongyeong, had a metal spirit root.
If it had been earth-attribute, they never would have sold them.
The necessary formations were already in possession.
The geographically ideal spirit vein was in the underground world.
Supporting personnel was sufficient.
They had even acquired a new Core Formation technique.
The sect's existing earth-attribute technique was perfectly usable, but the leadership pursued only the absolute best.
In the end, they inquired with the Golden Forge Sect and traded for a fire-attribute Core Formation technique.
The timing: the year Seoran turned twenty.
It was the most abundant period for heaven-and-earth earth spirit energy in the last few hundred years.
Miss this chance, and the next wouldn't come for at least 150 years.
All preparations were complete.
Only the leadership's decision remained.
This was a pivotal meeting that could shape the Black Bamboo Sect's future for centuries, perhaps eternity.
A proponent of early education spoke.
"We need to start right now. For a young genius like Ryu cultivator to be in our sect at this perfect moment—such an opportunity won't come twice. This is heavenly fortune."
Many others voiced strong agreement.
"Exactly. The deadline is tight, but Ryu cultivator can definitely make it. This time, we might truly produce an Incarnation Realm cultivator."
"It's as if the entire world is aiding us. Honestly, without this level of heavenly fortune, sect ascension is impossible. Has even one sect on the Western Continent ascended to the Immortal Realm in thousands of years?"
Sect ascension required an Incarnation Realm cultivator.
And only Single Spirit Root Holders had even a slim chance of reaching it.
All due to lifespan limits.
Spirit roots activate at age ten.
No matter how quickly one enters cultivation, it's at ten.
A Qi Condensation cultivator's lifespan is around 125 years.
A Single Spirit Root Holder typically succeeds at Foundation Establishment after about ten years of practice.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator lives 250 years.
Age twenty, remaining lifespan 230 years.
Reaching the next realm requires about five times the practice time of the previous stage.
A Single Spirit Root Holder needs another fifty years of practice to become a Core Formation cultivator.
For reference, a Core Formation cultivator's lifespan doubles to 500 years.
Age seventy, remaining lifespan 430 years.
Now, the long-awaited Primordial Spirit Realm.
After 250 years of grueling practice, a Single Spirit Root Holder reaches Primordial Spirit Realm.
A Primordial Spirit Realm cultivator lives 1,000 years.
Age 320, remaining lifespan 680 years.
A Single Spirit Root Holder, bolstered by innate talent and the sect's full support, charges ahead to Primordial Spirit Realm—only to face their first true wall.
By inductive reasoning from prior stages, the estimated practice time needed for Incarnation Realm is about 1,250 years.
But the remaining lifespan falls short of 700 years.
Lifespan was woefully insufficient.
Practice time multiplies fivefold each stage, while lifespan merely doubles.
The wall confronting Primordial Spirit Realm cultivators is lifespan.
The relentless flow of time that drove countless multi-spirit root holders to despair had finally reached even Single Spirit Root Holders.
That was why Primordial Spirit Realm was called the grave of prodigies.
The early education proponents were desperate.
Incarnation Realm was truly a realm bestowed by the heavens.
Only with the still-young Ryu Seoran, and only right now.
Miss this chance, and there would be no next.
The early education opponents had their say too.
"It's far too reckless a plan. Ryu cultivator is simply too young to begin with. Even waiting until the snow melts and spring arrives, she'll be barely nineteen. Core Formation isn't that easy."
The opposition voiced unanimous agreement.
"First, we shouldn't fixate on the timing and decide calmly. Missing this later optimal period doesn't mean Ryu cultivator will fail Core Formation forever. It's just a bit regrettable. She has more than enough talent."
"I agree. Ryu cultivator's breakthrough speed is already unprecedented. We have a high chance of stably reaching Incarnation Realm without risky gambles. If we rush into Core Formation out of impatience and something goes wrong with her, the Black Bamboo Sect is finished."
Proponents and opponents of early education debated fiercely.
The proponents lamented missing heavenly fortune; the opponents feared dangerous gambles. After endless talk without sleep, a conclusion was reached.
The moderator tallied the votes and announced.
"Then, the final decision. We regrettably forfeit the optimal Core Formation period coming later. Both sides made valid arguments, but please accept the results. If a major variable arises, we can revote, so keep that in mind."
The vote was close, but opponents held a slight majority.
The opposition's final point held weight.
There simply wasn't an instructor capable of fully imparting the knowledge needed for Core Formation to Ryu Seoran in a mere year.
Unless they dragged in a dragon with a yeouiju in its mouth, it was impossible.
With the final vote concluded, the Core Formation cultivators rose from their seats one by one.
It was time for personal cultivation.
The conference room doors opened.
Ryu Seoran stood waiting outside.
Soyongnyeo still rode on her shoulders.
The leadership's eyes unanimously fixed on the deer antlers atop Soyongnyeo's head.
Huh, a dragon?
Long-lived Core Formation cultivators knew many things.
They instantly recognized Soyongnyeo's true nature.
And the object in the dragon's mouth as well.
That's... a yeouiju?
Someone stepped forward to ask Seoran.
"Ryu cultivator, why were you waiting here?"
Seoran explained the situation logically.
The yeouiju she had coincidentally picked up.
The arriving Soyongnyeo and the swapped ownership.
The prerequisite for returning the yeouiju.
The conclusion was singular.
"To return the yeouiju, I must first become a Core Formation cultivator. That's why Dragon Maiden has agreed to assist my Core Formation. Since she'll be staying long-term, I waited to inform you in advance."
The questioning cultivator smiled broadly.
"We understand. We'll handle it, so head back."
"Yes, thank you!"
Seoran bowed politely and dashed off into the distance.
The conference room doors closed again.
"A major variable has occurred, so we'll proceed with a revote."
The moderator reconvened the meeting.
Opposition members shuffled to the other side en masse.
No need to see the results.
The Black Bamboo Sect, Ryu Seoran, and Soyongnyeo had formed a temporary alliance for their respective goals.