Chapter 53
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53
Three days later.
Inside the Pill Recipe Pavilion of the Inner Alchemy Courtyard, Lee Hyun slowly perused the catalog of inheritances displayed upon the wall.
The Pill Recipe Pavilion was considerably smaller than the Inner Pavilion of the Scripture Pavilion. In return, its catalog was meticulously organized by the ranks and medicinal efficacies of the pills, with the requirements to view each recipe clearly marked alongside them.
His gaze came to a halt upon a wooden plaque.
[Foundation Establishment Pill.
Tier 2 Pill Recipe.
Viewing restricted to Tier 2 Alchemists recognized by the sect or higher.
Contribution Points: 240.
Unauthorized transmission strictly prohibited.]
It really is here.
Lee Hyun stepped forward and presented his identity token to the manager cultivator on duty.
“I would like to view the recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill.”
The manager took the token and placed it upon a formation plate. Three overlapping flame insignias flared to life, casting Lee Hyun’s affiliation and alchemy credentials into the air above.
“Fellow Daoist Lee Dong-sam of Yeonha Peak. You haven’t held your Tier 2 Alchemist credentials for very long, have you?”
“That is correct.”
“There is no problem with viewing it. However, merely reading the recipe is no guarantee that the sect will ever entrust you with the ingredients to refine it.”
“I am aware.”
The manager cultivator deducted the required contribution points from the identity token, then gestured toward a small stone chamber deeper inside.
“Proceed to the Third Inheritance Room.”
Clack.
The heavy stone door slid shut behind him.
Lee Hyun picked up the jade slip resting upon the stone pedestal and pressed it against his forehead.
[Foundation Establishment Pill Recipe (Standard One-Furnace Batch).
All indicated years denote medicinal age.
Spirit-Accumulating Ginseng (250–470 years): 1 root.
Jade-Condensing Grass (230–460 years): 1 plant.
Fireheart Orchid (220–430 years): 1 plant.
Supporting medicinal ingredients: 26 varieties…]
Three primary ingredients, followed by an exhaustive list of twenty-six supporting herbs.
Spirit-Accumulating Ginseng?
Lee Hyun paused at the familiar name.
He immediately turned his attention to the detailed notes concerning it. The Foundation Establishment Pill called for Spirit-Accumulating Ginseng with a medicinal age of at least two hundred and fifty years. While it demanded a root far older than those used in the Barrier-Breaking Pill, the variety itself was identical.
Spirit fields No. 2-1 through No. 2-5 are all planted with Spirit-Accumulating Ginseng!
A flicker of excitement stirred within him as he examined the remaining ingredients one by one.
Though the list of supporting herbs was lengthy, they were all common spirit plants traded freely throughout the market. There was no need to cultivate them himself when he could easily purchase them in bulk.
The real hurdle lay in the three primary ingredients.
First was the Spirit-Accumulating Ginseng, which required the complete, intact root. Fortunately, he already possessed a plentiful supply growing in his hidden spirit fields.
Next was the Jade-Condensing Grass. This particular spirit plant formed a jade-colored bulb beneath the soil. As the years passed, its medicinal potency condensed within this bulb; refining the pill required the entire plant, root and bulb intact.
A single furnace batch devoured an entire root of Spirit-Accumulating Ginseng and a whole Jade-Condensing Grass plant that had grown for hundreds of years. While the Crimson Sky Sect also cultivated Jade-Condensing Grass in its communal fields, waiting for them to reach the required age took far too long.
I should procure some seeds and plant a field of my own.
The Fireheart Orchid, however, presented an entirely different problem.
It was a delicate spirit plant with fine, crimson veins running through its petals, and the specific medicinal essence needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill was concentrated entirely within those veins. The issue was that this essence could only develop by absorbing the unique earth qi found in a specific secret realm.
Though cultivators had occasionally managed to transplant its rootstocks outside and keep them alive, no matter how long they were nurtured, they never produced the distinct medicinal properties found in their native soil. The Crimson Sky Sect met its quota of Foundation Establishment Pills by harvesting mature Fireheart Orchids from a sect-controlled territory known as the Hwacheon Secret Realm, but the overall yield remained painfully low.
This must be what Senior Martial Brother Bang was talking about.
Having committed every detail to memory, Lee Hyun shifted his focus to the refinement method.
Preparation of the ingredients, detoxification, extraction, fusion, pill condensation, and the final stage of furnace nourishing right before retrieval.
The preliminary steps made sense to him. But once the process reached the intermediate stages—where the number of ingredients multiplied and multiple medicinal properties had to be manipulated at once—he realized just how vast the gulf was between theory and practice.
According to the recipe, even while regulating the flames for a single herb, the conditions of the other ingredients were in constant flux. The slightest fluctuation in an earlier step rippled into the distribution of medicinal potency and demanded adjustments in thermal intensity later on.
The difficulty of refining this is leagues above any recipe I’ve ever seen…
Setting aside any stray thoughts, Lee Hyun concentrated on searing the instructions into his memory. Though his mental capacity far exceeded that of a mortal, the sheer depth and volume of the recipe demanded absolute focus.
When he finally emerged from the inheritance room, Lee Hyun did not leave the pavilion immediately. Instead, he browsed the wooden tablets once more, searching for other recipes that utilized spirit plants he was already familiar with.
Ordinarily, one could not know which herbs a recipe required without viewing it, but he had a few clues to work with.
First, his eyes fell upon the recipe for Tier 2 Bone-Tempering Powder. He already knew that Bone-Corroding Flowers—which flourished in his subterranean fields—served as its core ingredient. Viewing it was well worth the cost.
Next, he selected the Tier 2 Poison-Warding Pill, knowing that Purple Poison Orchids, another plant he cultivated, were used in its creation.
Lastly, he searched for the Mind-Calming Pill. Long ago back in Cheongha Valley, Senior Martial Brother No Baek-san had mentioned that Yin Soul Grass was an ingredient for it.
Yet, after scanning the boards, he found no recipe by the name of Mind-Calming Pill anywhere in the pavilion.
While it was entirely possible that Yin Soul Grass was utilized in other formulas, he could not afford to squander his hard-earned contribution points gambling on unknown recipes.
Securing the recipes for Tier 2 Bone-Tempering Powder and the Tier 2 Poison-Warding Pill is more than enough of a harvest for today.
Lee Hyun paid the fees and reviewed the two formulas in succession. Compared to the Foundation Establishment Pill, both recipes required far fewer contribution points, posing little strain on his balance.
* * *
A few days later.
Crimson Sky Immortal City.
Within the sprawling city that served as the commercial heart of the Crimson Sky Sect stood an imposing establishment known as the Spirit Material Hall.
Outside the entrance, flowerpots and wooden planters of every size were arranged in neat rows. Each container bore a small wooden marker inscribed with the plant’s species, medicinal age, and ideal growing conditions.
Lee Hyun strolled through the displays at an unhurried pace. His goal was to acquire seeds or young saplings of the herbs required for the Foundation Establishment Pill and his other newly acquired formulas, provided they were available.
He had no intention of cultivating every single herb himself.
Certain varieties yielded negligible benefits from extended aging once they reached standard maturity; growing such plants in his limited spirit fields provided no practical advantage. Nurturing too many diverse species would only make field management an unnecessary nightmare.
Tracking harvest cycles, replanting, and meticulously harvesting different parts was an exhausting chore. Now that he had an ample supply of spirit stones, there was no reason to burden himself with busywork.
Lee Hyun mentally pruned the list in his mind.
I will only plant the ones that grow significantly more valuable the longer they age.
Making his decision, he approached a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator tending a sales counter inside.
“I am looking to purchase Jade-Condensing Grass seeds.”
“Take a look, Senior.”
The vendor retrieved a slender wooden box and opened it, revealing dozens of seeds nestled neatly inside.
Lee Hyun extended his senses, carefully gauging the vitality within each seed.
“I’ve heard that a Jade-Condensing Grass bulb only commands full value if it matures without blemish. Are there any particular precautions I should take when cultivating it?”
“Cultivating Jade-Condensing Grass isn’t overly difficult, Senior. You simply need to ensure the soil never dries out, while being careful not to let standing water pool around the roots, as that will cause the bulb to rot. Provide ample space for the root system to expand, and once it is in the ground, avoid transplanting it if possible.”
“Would the herb remain useful if cultivated past five hundred years?”
“My apologies, Senior. This humble junior lacks the knowledge to answer that with certainty. However, given the innate nature of Jade-Condensing Grass, a specimen that surpasses five hundred years could very well elevate into a Tier 3 spirit plant.”
As Lee Hyun nodded in contemplation, the clerk added hesitantly, “Senior, you are likely aware, but Jade-Condensing Grass with low medicinal age holds very little value. It is a variety that must be cultivated over generations to yield a worthwhile return.”
“Do not worry. I am purchasing them with full knowledge of what they entail.”
“In that case… the seeds are three low-grade spirit stones apiece.”
“Quite steep for mere seeds.”
“Strangely enough, there is always a steady demand for them.”
Lee Hyun paid ninety low-grade spirit stones and took thirty Jade-Condensing Grass seeds. To him, it was a negligible sum.
* * *
Ten days later.
Tunnel No. 3.
Bzzzzzz—
The moment Lee Hyun stepped through the passage into the cavern, a swarm of golden, fluffy balls descended upon him from all directions.
“Yes, yes. Have you all been behaving?”
Squeak! Squeak-squeak!
A few landed upon his shoulders, while others nestled into the folds of his long robes.
Among them, three bees possessing noticeably denser auras claimed the prime perches atop his head and the backs of his hands. Whenever other Fluffy Bees dared draw close, the three raised their stout forelegs, aggressively shoving their kin aside.
These were the three that had recently broken through to become Tier 2 spirit insects.
Lee Hyun lifted the bee resting on the back of his hand, bringing it level with his gaze.
The spiritual energy coursing through its small frame was far more refined and stable than before. Whereas its power had been erratic right after the breakthrough, that energy now circulated naturally through its delicate wings and stubby legs.
“You’re Tier 2 spirit insects now… What can you actually do besides eating and sleeping?”
Squeak!
The Fluffy Bee’s antennae shot straight up in apparent indignation.
“Don’t take offense. Let’s see what you’re capable of.”
Pointing toward a distant stone pillar across the cavern, Lee Hyun transmitted a simple instruction through the Spirit-Nourishing Seal: fly to the pillar and return.
Whoosh!
The golden light on his hand vanished in the blink of an eye.
Before the faint hum of vibrating wings could even register in his ears, the Fluffy Bee was already circling back from the pillar hundreds of feet away.
“Oh…?”
Before Lee Hyun could raise his hand to receive it, the little creature landed lightly upon his head.
Squeak, squeak!
Spurred by the display, the other two shot into the air at once.
Three golden streaks of light darted across the cavern. Weaving between stone columns and slipping through jagged crevices near the cavern ceiling, they spiraled around Lee Hyun in a fierce contest of speed.
Focusing his divine sense, he tracked their flight paths.
Even when braking instantly from breakneck speeds or pivoting at acute angles, their round bodies barely wobbled.
“A normal Qi Refining cultivator wouldn’t even be able to track their silhouettes.”
The first bee to return touched down on Lee Hyun’s fingertip, vigorously rubbing its front legs together. The other two quickly landed beside it, twitching their antennae in unison.
They puffed out their round chests, looking thoroughly pleased with themselves.
After inspecting the water reservoirs and his existing plots, Lee Hyun scouted an area to establish a new spirit field.
A shaded hollow where the earth retained moisture was ideal for Jade-Condensing Grass. So long as the bulbs were kept clear of stagnant pools, maintaining the crop would be simple once the irrigation channels were set up.
Near spirit field No. 3-1 should be perfect.
Following the familiar stone path, Lee Hyun’s gaze fell upon the wooden plaque mounted to the cavern wall.
[Spirit field No. 3-1]
This was the plot where he had planted the Ringless Divine Tree.
Casting an offhand glance at the dark earth, Lee Hyun suddenly froze mid-stride.
“Wait…”
Something was protruding from the rich, black soil.
A single, deep-blue stem stood upright, frail yet resilient. At its tip, two tiny cotyledons, no larger than fingernails, had unfurled to greet the air.
Lee Hyun hurried forward, dropping to one knee as he circulated the Qi-Observation Technique.
A faint, pure thread of life force flowed from the two tiny leaves down through the stem and into the earth below. At the base of the shoot, the stubborn seed coat that had remained sealed for decades had split neatly down the middle.
“It sprouted…?”
It had truly sprouted.
Retrieving his spirit field ledger from his storage pouch, Lee Hyun traced his finger across the yellowed page where the planting date was recorded.
It has been roughly forty-one years.
Until now, every time he visited Tunnel No. 3, he had only verified whether a spark of vitality remained inside the seed; seeing no outward change year after year, he had long stopped holding his breath.
Yet, after more than four decades, it had finally broken through the earth.
Lee Hyun reached out, intending to test the soil around the shoot, but pulled his hand back mid-motion.
Better not disturb it unnecessarily.
Uncapping his brush, he carefully penned today’s date beneath the old entry in the ledger.
[Germination confirmed.]
He paused for a second, then added another line:
[Two cotyledons.]
“Haha.”
A soft chuckle escaped his lips.
Lee Hyun remained seated on the cavern floor for a long time, quietly admiring the fragile sprout.
Bzzz—
A Fluffy Bee lifted off from his shoulder and drifted toward the fresh leaves.
“You have to guard this one carefully,” Lee Hyun murmured softly. “Make sure none of the insects damage it.”
Squeak!
Satisfied, Lee Hyun turned his attention to the ground adjacent to spirit field No. 3-1, leveling the stone floor to construct spirit field No. 3-2 for the Jade-Condensing Grass.
Relying on the advice he had gathered at the Spirit Material Hall, he tilled the earth deeply, carving shallow irrigation channels along the borders while excavating an auxiliary ditch to handle drainage.
Ensuring ample clearance for the bulbs and roots to spread unhindered, he planted the thirty Jade-Condensing Grass seeds one by one.
Next, he laid bamboo conduits extending from the elevated reservoir, carving moisture-detecting formation inscriptions into the soil alongside Water-Intake formations at the basin above.
I’ll need to experiment to determine the optimal watering cycle…
For now, he synchronized the irrigation schedule with the neighboring plots and logged the details into his ledger. Once he accumulated enough observations over his subsequent visits, he could fine-tune the system.
[Spirit field No. 3-2]
With the wooden plaque firmly driven into the soil, the work was complete.
* * *
One year later.
Word spread throughout Yeonha Peak that Dam Un-saeng would be refining Foundation Establishment Pills in person.
That evening, having heard the news while preparing medicinal herbs in the Communal Alchemy Pavilion, Eldest Martial Brother Do Mun-gyeom came to visit Cheongu Ravine.
“Junior Martial Brother Lee. Have you by any chance viewed the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe?”
“I viewed it last year, Senior Martial Brother.”
“Splendid. Master is currently looking for disciples to assist him.”
Lee Hyun looked up, surprised.
“May I participate?”
“He requires someone to inspect and prepare the herbs. I assured Master that you could easily handle the task. I haven’t mentioned it before, but I’ve observed your work several times in the Communal Alchemy Pavilion. I have never seen a junior martial brother as methodical and steady as you. You carry yourself with the poise of a seasoned alchemist…”
“Haha… Senior Martial Brother flatters me.”
“To be frank, only disciples who have officially viewed the recipe are permitted to enter the chamber to assist and observe the refinement. The sect will verify the records at the Pill Recipe Pavilion tomorrow morning, so be sure to bring your identity token.”
Pill recipes had to be accessed formally through the expenditure of contribution points. The contribution points spent by disciples served as a vital pillar of the sect’s revenue, and those earnings were tied directly to the stipends of the Golden Core Elders. As such, transmitting high-ranking pill recipes under the guise of an apprenticeship without paying the required fee was strictly forbidden.
Of course, techniques and recipes held privately outside the sect’s archives were an exception. For instance, the Fire-Dividing Thread Technique that Dam Un-saeng had previously bestowed upon Lee Hyun was a personal art he had acquired independently, entirely absent from the Crimson Sky Sect’s Scripture Pavilion.
Lee Hyun cupped his hands.
“I will make ready.”
* * *
The following morning.
Deep within an alchemy chamber carved into Yeonha Peak.
When Lee Hyun arrived, several senior martial brothers and sisters, including Do Mun-gyeom, were already hard at work inspecting the medicinal ingredients.
In the center of the chamber stood a massive purple-bronze pill cauldron, taller than an adult man. Inscriptions designed to draw forth earthfire were etched around its three sturdy legs, and clear mountain spring water flowed steadily through a shallow trench cut into the stone floor.
Do Mun-gyeom stepped forward and handed two jade trays to Lee Hyun.
“Junior Martial Brother Lee, take charge of these supporting herbs. Inspect them thoroughly for internal decay or loss of medicinal essence. If they are flawless, trim and measure them precisely according to the marked weights.”
“Understood.”
Lee Hyun channeled the Qi-Observation Technique, sweeping his gaze across the herbs resting on the trays. They were varieties he had handled countless times, and their preservation was immaculate.
Drawing a slender silver blade, his hands moved with practiced precision.
Scrape. Scrape.
He cleanly shaved away the dirt clinging to the outer husks and trimmed away the dead fibrous roots.
As he worked, the other disciples completed their respective assignments. Do Mun-gyeom repeatedly inspected the three core ingredients, while Bang Je-un verified the integrity of the earthfire formation beneath the cauldron.
Before Do Mun-gyeom lay an ancient, thick root of Spirit-Accumulating Ginseng, a Jade-Condensing Grass plant boasting a pristine jade-colored bulb, and a Fireheart Orchid pulsing with vivid crimson veins. As this was the first time Lee Hyun had seen a real Fireheart Orchid in person, his eyes lingered on the blossom for several seconds.
“Is everything in order?”
“Yes, Master.”
Dam Un-saeng walked along the rows of tables, inspecting the prepared ingredients one by one. When he reached the tray of supporting herbs that Lee Hyun had trimmed, his gaze paused. He picked up a translucent, paper-thin slice of herb, examining it against the light with visible intrigue.
“Hm? Our youngest disciple possesses an extraordinary hand for prepping herbs. Quite unexpected.”
Lee Hyun bowed modestly. “Thank you, Master.”
Dam Un-saeng took his seat before the massive cauldron, his expression turning solemn.
“Once the refinement begins, none of you are to extend your divine sense inside the cauldron without my explicit permission. Observing the exterior flow of spiritual energy will suffice.”
“We will obey Master’s instructions.”
Dam Un-saeng raised his sleeve.
Wuuuung—
The formation arrays across the stone floor ignited in sequence.
A torrent of earthfire surged from the subterranean vent, wrapping around the base of the cauldron in a blazing embrace. The fiery crimson glow climbed up the three legs, illuminating the ancient relief carvings etched into the bronze surface.
Clack.
The cauldron lid lifted smoothly, hovering in the air.
With a deft flick of Dam Un-saeng’s fingers, the herbs arranged on the jade trays took flight, diving into the gaping maw of the cauldron in precise, unyielding succession.
It was in that exact moment.
Fwoosh—
The blazing inferno within the cauldron split instantly into dozens of razor-thin threads of flame.
The Fire-Dividing Thread Technique.
It was the very spell Dam Un-saeng had passed down to him.
Of course, the fire threads controlled by Dam Un-saeng were on an entirely different level from Lee Hyun’s. Though he had lived a long life, Lee Hyun had only mastered the Fire-Dividing Thread Technique relatively recently.
Dam Un-saeng’s execution, however, was nothing short of miraculous.
Next to a brightly blazing thread of fire slid another, almost imperceptible one. They crossed so closely they seemed to touch, yet the flames never once merged or even wavered.
Novice alchemists refined pills by heating the bottom of the cauldron, but an expert like Dam Un-saeng could manipulate the flames directly from above, inside the cauldron itself.
Ssshh.
One of the first herbs dissolved instantly.
Impurities were flung against the cauldron’s inner walls, while the refined medicinal essence gathered into a clear liquid in a single spot.
Without a moment’s pause, Dam Un-saeng processed the other herbs one after another. As more ingredients were added, the process grew dizzyingly complex, and his finger movements accelerated until they were just a blur.
Just as medicinal liquids of different natures were about to merge, the turbulent fluid would turn crystal clear in a fraction of a second.
Sssss—
The roiling surface would immediately settle into a perfect calm.
A precision that the term ‘split-second’ can’t even begin to describe…
Even as dozens of ingredients endlessly mixed and separated in complex trajectories, the entire flow never faltered.
This is truly on another level…
Lee Hyun was having a hard time simply keeping track of the sequence written in the pill recipe. He had refined Barrier-Breaking Pills before, but for someone who had only ever crafted simple pills as needed, the realm of alchemy Dam Un-saeng was demonstrating came as a profound shock.
Two shichen later, the medicinal properties of the three main ingredients and all the supporting herbs had finally fused into one.
The medicinal potency gathered inside the cauldron was dense and heavy. Even after coalescing into a single mass, multiple colors continued to shift and swirl beneath its surface.
Dam Un-saeng formed a series of hand seals.
Wuuuung—
The unified medicinal mass split into five streams.
Flames enveloped each stream, spinning them into perfect spheres. As Lee Hyun focused, he noticed that the movements of the five streams of fire were subtly different; Dam Un-saeng was tailoring the flames to match the condensing state of each individual pill.
Once the spinning stabilized, the lid hovering in midair slowly descended.
The cauldron closed.
Though the interior was no longer visible, Dam Un-saeng’s hands didn’t stop moving as the pills continued to simmer and mature. Lee Hyun strained to commit every subtle fluctuation to memory.
An unknown amount of time passed.
Suddenly, the spiritual power within the cauldron began to churn violently.
At that exact moment, Dam Un-saeng flicked his finger. The lid flew open, and—
Flash!
A dazzling radiance erupted from within the cauldron.
The light vanished in an instant, but the fleeting, intense luminescence left Lee Hyun feeling almost dizzy.
Soon, five ivory-hued pills flew out and settled onto a jade tray.
Lee Hyun’s gaze was locked on them.
Blue pill markings were etched across their surfaces. Their medicinal aroma was subtle, but the potency condensed within was anything but weak.
Though he didn’t yet know what realm the pill markings signified, there was no denying that these were flawless Foundation Establishment Pills.
Dam Un-saeng inspected the pills one by one before passing them to Do Mun-gyeom.
“Have them inspected and deliver them to the pill warehouse.”
“Yes, Master.”
While Do Mun-gyeom prepared the seals, Dam Un-saeng turned to the disciples.
“If you have questions, ask now.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lee Hyun and several other disciples began pouring out their questions.
* * *
That night, upon returning to Cheongu Ravine, Lee Hyun did not go to bed. Instead, he sat at his table.
Taking out a blank sheet of paper, he wrote down everything he had witnessed that day, leaving out no detail. Yet the more he organized his notes, the more acutely he realized he had understood less than half of Dam Un-saeng’s techniques.
“Hmm…”
Lee Hyun made several marks on the paper.
I have to ask him during the next lecture!
From then on, whenever there was an opportunity to assist with pill refining, Lee Hyun participated without fail, observing and recording every single one of Dam Un-saeng’s gestures.
Lee Hyun also chose a combat spell from the Inner Pavilion of the Scripture Pavilion.
Vitality-Condensing Grappling Hand.
It was similar to a technique used by one of the two Foundation Establishment Alliance Elders who had fought him on Jeokyo Island. The island was territory belonging to the Azure Tide Merchant Alliance in the southern Ram Kingdom.
The spell manifested a massive hand by condensing the spiritual power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Because it didn’t rely on an external artifact and could be shaped purely from spiritual power, it seemed highly versatile.
Time continued to pass.
The Jade-Condensing Grass in the tunnels sprouted, slowly growing more leaves. A few years later, small corms began to form beneath the soil. It would still be a long time, however, before it accumulated enough medicinal potency to be used in Foundation Establishment Pills.
The Ringless Divine Tree was especially slow.
Even a year later, and the year after that, its growth was so subtle that one could barely notice a change without comparing it to the logbook.
Every time Lee Hyun visited the tunnels, he would check on the spirit field and the Fluffy Bees, refill the water basin, and linger for a moment before the Ringless Divine Tree before returning.
It was the tenth year since he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment.
Inside the cultivation chamber in Cheongu Ravine.
Hummmmm—
Spiritual qi gathered by the Spirit-Gathering Formation seeped into Lee Hyun’s body.
Rumble—
The current of true essence beneath his Qi Sea Acupoint completed a grand rotation.
The liquid true essence filling his lower Dantian grew heavier and denser as his spiritual pressure surged. The barrier blocking his path could not withstand the force and was shattered from within.
Thump.
The hem of Lee Hyun’s long robe fluttered lightly.
After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes.
“It worked!”
He had reached the 2nd layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage.
To be precise, only his lower Dantian had broken through to the 2nd layer. The task of elevating the rest of his body to the same level still remained.
Lee Hyun pulled a wooden plaque from his storage pouch.
【Age: 1,450】
【Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment, 2nd layer (lower dantian)】
【Spiritual Power: 1,377 → 1,397】
Looking at the newly carved characters, Lee Hyun nodded in satisfaction.
“Heh.”
A few days later, a crimson paper crane appeared before the waterfall in Cheongu Ravine.
The paper crane hovered at the edge of the Cloud-Screen Residence-Protection Formation before unfolding into a Sound Transmission Talisman and attaching itself to the barrier.
“Hmm?”
Sensing the fluctuation in the formation, Lee Hyun flicked his wrist, drawing the Sound Transmission Talisman inside. As he unfolded it, the voice of Eldest Martial Brother Do Mun-gyeom flowed out.
[Master has issued a summons. All disciples of his lineage are to gather at Yeonha Peak.]
What happened…?