Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Golden Core Formation (3)
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The chances of Seoran failing her Golden Core Formation were exceedingly low.
Heaven-sent talent, the Dragon Maiden's teachings, the Black Bamboo Sect's boundless support—and perfect timing to boot.
All she needed was to avoid any freak accidents.
So the Black Bamboo Sect made a difficult decision.
The Black Bamboo Sect had a total of four Nascent Soul cultivators.
Half of them had temporarily halted their secluded cultivation.
The sect's headquarters would naturally become vulnerable, but they accepted that risk.
Most of the Golden Core cultivators had joined as well.
They accepted the temporary paralysis of decision-making.
The Black Bamboo Sect had staked its survival on this ritual.
It was a force that could wipe minor small sects off the map in a matter of days.
A massive cavern in the underground world.
At the center of intricate formations embedded with massive earthen spirit stones stood a grand altar.
Seoran sat there, meditating.
On either side of the oval formation sat a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Half the Golden Core cultivators guarded the area near the formation, while the other half monitored every tunnel connected to the cavern.
Their role was to eliminate anything that approached indiscriminately until the core formation ritual ended.
The appointed time arrived before long.
The formation glowed as the spirit stones rapidly melted away.
It drew in all the spiritual energy from the underground world.
The spiritual energy surged like a fierce storm, tearing through the space.
In an instant, the cavern filled with the influx of spiritual energy.
The abnormally concentrated energy soon turned to mist.
It was as thick as if they were submerged underwater.
Soyongnyeo's position was slightly apart from the formation.
On the surface, her role was to provide timely assistance if anything abnormal happened to Seoran.
But in truth, it was no different from assigning her a close seat out of gratitude.
So unlike the others, she had no reason to be tense.
From the perspective of Soyongnyeo, who had taught her personally, Seoran had more than enough ability to handle any sudden variables on her own.
By the time spring came around, there was nothing left to teach.
Even if a great demon popped out, someone destroyed the formation, or an earthquake struck, the core formation would succeed.
Soyongnyeo looked up.
The underground world naturally offered no view of the sky.
The domed ceiling resembled an enormous fishbowl.
It reminded her of the dwelling where she had spent nearly a millennium.
A silent underground chamber surrounded by nothing but darkness.
A tiny cave lake whose only life was insects.
A faint light visible beyond the long vertical shaft.
Why had she lived in such a place for a thousand years?
A carp lived a hundred years to become a spirit carp.
The spirit carp lived three hundred more to become a dragon.
The young dragon stayed another six hundred years in the cramped cave, forging its Yeou Pearl.
Back then, she had never questioned it.
The dragon, consumed by longing for ascension, had been blind.
It had devoted itself solely to completing the Yeou Pearl.
Crouched in the narrow, dark cave, it felt no discomfort.
But after losing the Yeou Pearl, stray thoughts multiplied.
Unformed questions floated through her mind.
It was the first time she had experienced such bitter confusion.
Each time, Soyongnyeo had ignored the cries from within.
But the doubts she forcefully suppressed soon revived.
It was after chasing the Yeou Pearl led her to Seoran.
When Soyongnyeo asked if she would abandon the chance to become a dragon for a small act of kindness, Seoran countered.
‘Why did you begin cultivation, Dragon Maiden?’
Soyongnyeo had answered then.
At first out of instinct, later for ascension.
Thinking back, it was the same answer.
Longing for ascension was ultimately a dragon's instinct.
Soyongnyeo had chosen nothing for herself.
She had merely raced ahead like a beast, following instinct.
In contrast, when asked if she would reject immortality, Seoran replied.
She had begun cultivation to become a noble person.
Soyongnyeo didn't know what nobility meant to Seoran.
But it was something firm enough to forgo eternal life.
No being in the world wished for death.
Longevity was the instinct all life craved.
Seoran had not followed instinct; she had chosen for herself.
While Soyongnyeo raced ahead blindly with eyes shut, Seoran climbed the steps deliberately with eyes open.
The core formation ritual was nearing its end.
Swirling Pure Earth Spiritual Power rushed toward Seoran.
Amid the ferocious flow, Soyongnyeo pondered alone.
Why had I longed for ascension?
Was it merely the fate of being born a dragon?
Or the manifestation of a desire even I didn't know?
Why had I lived in that lonely cave?
Even flying through vast skies, was I still lonely?
Had I chosen the cramped cave for that reason?
Why was flying through the skies with Seoran enjoyable?
Was it mere attachment to what I'd lost?
Or because I flew with someone?
When had I stopped looking up at the sky?
When had I begun walking while looking down at the ground?
When had I grown accustomed to human warmth?
Soyongnyeo found no answers despite her long deliberation.
The core formation ritual had already ended.
Seoran had finally succeeded.
A golden core larger than the Yeou Pearl.
*****
The Black Bamboo Sect buzzed with festive clamor.
Seoran had reached Golden Core Formation at age twenty.
She had even formed a golden core larger than the Yeou Pearl.
There was no one in history to compare her to.
People live on hope.
Because they can look not at the present, but the future.
Cultivators were no different.
The Black Bamboo Sect's supremacy was now assured.
They had depleted their stockpiles, but it didn't matter.
Everyone laughed joyfully, dreaming of a bright future.
A Golden Core cultivator approached Soyongnyeo, who sat alone in the banquet hall.
“Dragon Maiden, have a drink. Thank you so much for teaching Ryu cultivator until now.”
Soyongnyeo nodded and held out her cup.
The cultivator respectfully filled it and withdrew.
Many others came to Soyongnyeo afterward.
Tearful or excited thanks.
The Black Bamboo Sect's vow never to forget this grace.
Earnest requests to visit again anytime.
Suddenly, Soyongnyeo wanted some air.
She slipped out of the banquet hall and headed to a quiet spot.
A grassy field alive with the chirp of crickets.
It was summer, but the breeze was cool.
Then someone called out to Soyongnyeo.
“Dragon Maiden!”
Turning, she saw the voice's owner.
“Is the festival's star absent from the banquet hall?”
Seoran, grinning slyly, replied.
“I still have to keep my promise.”
She pulled the Yeou Pearl from her bosom.
Seoran's spiritual power had already been cleanly removed from it.
The purified Yeou Pearl was transparent once more.
“Here you go.”
Soyongnyeo received the Yeou Pearl.
She infused it with her Unified Spiritual Power.
This time, the Yeou Pearl did not resist.
It floated up of its own accord, spinning, before melting into Soyongnyeo's lower abdomen.
Soon, the still night sky churned.
A whirlwind from the heavens plunged to the ground.
Vast spiritual energy carried by the wind enveloped Soyongnyeo.
The bonds of the earth that drew all things vanished.
It was a blessing only for those who had proven themselves to the heavens.
The dragon bearing the Yeou Pearl took flight.
The person standing on the ground and the dragon in the sky.
For a moment, they gazed at each other in silence.
Soyongnyeo spoke.
“You're truly remarkable. I'm amazed, even though I taught you. To purify the Yeou Pearl so perfectly.”
“Do you like it?”
Soyongnyeo nodded at Seoran's question.
“Of course, but since it was lost once, it'll take a few more decades of cultivation... Easy compared to enduring six hundred years. Thank you so much.”
Even as she expressed her thanks, Soyongnyeo thought other things.
The reason for cultivation.
Why desire ascension.
What is my true wish?
She still had many unresolved questions.
But now there was no time left.
Their master-disciple bond had been temporary from the start.
They were fated to part someday.
Yet why did she hesitate?
What fear made her unable to release the hand she held?
What did this newfound longing in her heart mean?
Soyongnyeo once again forcefully shook off her turmoil.
And offered reluctant farewell.
“Then, it's time to part. With your talent, you'll surely become an immortal, the noble being you desire.”
Soyongnyeo rose higher and higher.
Looking up, she saw the dark night sky.
It no longer felt as beautiful as before.
Then Seoran's voice rang out.
“Dragon Maiden!”
Someone grabbed the ascending Soyongnyeo.
Looking down, it was Seoran again.
For some reason, she clung to Soyongnyeo's ankle.
Brown eyes and pale blue dragon eyes met.
“Stay at the Black Bamboo Sect with me, Dragon Maiden!”
Dragon Maiden.
The name she used for herself.
She had made it up carelessly when getting her visitor's token.
At first, it felt utterly unfamiliar.
A complete dragon needed no name.
Having someone refer to her was too strange for Soyongnyeo.
But now her head turned naturally.
After a brief silence, Soyongnyeo asked.
“Stay together?”
“Yes! You need decades more cultivation anyway—just do it here! Parting like this is too regrettable!”
It was utterly honest.
Seoran seemed aware, her face flushed red.
But she still didn't let go.
Soyongnyeo was silent for a long time.
She merely gazed at Seoran with pale blue dragon eyes.
Dragon eyes could discern truth from lies.
As Seoran grew anxious in the prolonged silence, Soyongnyeo suddenly burst into laughter.
It was clear laughter she'd never heard before.
When the laughter stopped, Soyongnyeo made a proposal.
“Very well, then give me a name.”
Seoran asked with a flustered face.
“Suddenly like this?”
“Yes, I'll count to ten. One, two, three...”
The remaining numbers dwindled quickly.
“Uh, um...”
Seoran's mind half-froze as she stammered.
Tension narrowed her vision sharply.
Only Soyongnyeo's pale blue pupils were visible.
At the count of nine, Seoran shouted.
“D-Damcheong! No, Damcheong!”
She regretted it instantly.
In her haste, she'd blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
It was hardly a fitting name for a dragon.
Soyongnyeo smiled with her eyes, pondering.
“Hm, Damcheong...”
Then she shook her foot sharply.
Seoran, released from the ankle, fell to the grass.
The one looking up and the dragon looking down.
Soyongnyeo dispersed the wind around her and descended.
Standing on two legs, Soyongnyeo looked down at Seoran.
“It's a decent name. I like it.”
With that, Soyongnyeo walked toward the banquet hall.
Walking on two legs had become quite familiar now.
Seoran hurriedly stood and followed.
Soyongnyeo.
No, Damcheong still had much to learn.
Fortunately, there was plenty of time to discover it.
Once, when she lost the Yeou Pearl, Damcheong had even resented the heavens.
But not now.
Instead, she was grateful for being drawn out.
A carp caught in a flood leaves the pond and becomes a dragon.
The dragon that lost its Yeou Pearl also left the cave.
What she would become in the end, only the heavens knew.
But at least she had gained the name Damcheong.