A Spark of Possibility
Jekyeong often asked him about things other than cultivation, and each time, U Do-baek answered with the utmost sincerity, without showing even a hint of annoyance.
"I must say, deciding to focus on alchemy was a wise choice. Cultivators like us who practice fire arts naturally have an advantage when it comes to manipulating flames, making it easier to show talent in fields like alchemy or artifact refinement. However, those auxiliary arts—especially alchemy—require an immense amount of spirit stones from the very beginning..."
"That is certainly true. Even now, I have only dabbled in a few types of Qi Condensation-grade pills, and I dare not even dream of attempting anything beyond that."
"That is perfectly normal. Other auxiliary arts also require spirit stones to build proficiency, but in my eyes, they are mere drops in the bucket compared to alchemy."
This was why rogue alchemists were so rare. For an alchemist to build their skills, they needed countless hours of practice and failure in addition to their inheritance. Since every single attempt cost spirit stones, rogue cultivators with no backing could never afford such expenses. Naturally, alchemy became a field monopolized by wealthy sects and prominent cultivation clans.
Yet, despite knowing these difficulties, almost every cultivator tried their hand at alchemy at least once. Such was the allure of the craft. There was a reason alchemy was considered the pinnacle of the hundred auxiliary arts of cultivation.
Once a cultivator reached a level where they could proudly call themselves an alchemist, they would never have to worry about a shortage of cultivation resources again. Spiritual herbs for ingredients? Those seeking pills would gather them on their own. Spirit stones? They, too, would be eagerly provided by those desperate for the finished product.
The only real danger was the threat of others coveting their talent and wealth, but even that was not a major issue. A skilled alchemist was treated like royalty; people eager to curry favor would flock to them like clouds from all directions. If they feared assassination or schemes, they could simply choose a powerful friend or a reliable patron from among their suitors to act as their shield.
However, this was only the best-case scenario. In any field, taking the first step was easy, but reaching the peak was incredibly difficult—and this was doubly true for alchemy. To build proficiency in alchemy, one needed not only spirit stones but also innate talent. Lately, Jekyeong had been feeling this harsh reality deep in his bones.
"Controlling the fire is difficult."
It might sound absurd coming from someone who had opened his spiritual pathways using the fiery energy of a fire crystal, but it was the absolute truth. As his understanding of alchemy deepened, Jekyeong found himself struggling more and more to manipulate the flames. Controlling the heat was one thing, but there was an inherent issue with the fire itself.
"In my experience, Yokai Fire seems ill-suited for alchemy."
Yokai Fire was wild and destructive. Since the underlying Monster Power was inherently chaotic, the flames birthed from it naturally carried the same traits. Jekyeong had tried his best to suppress and control this nature, but there was a clear limit. In a delicate field like alchemy, where the slightest variance could completely ruin the outcome, the volatile nature of Yokai Fire was nothing short of poison.
"Hmm. I do not know much about Yokai Fire, but I have heard that cultivators who practice highly destructive cultivation methods often struggle to control their flames as well."
"So it is not a problem unique to me."
Should he consider that a relief? Jekyeong let out a bitter chuckle. He was already struggling this much just refining Qi Condensation-grade pills. If he attempted higher-grade elixirs, he might end up producing nothing but useless dregs and wasted materials. Of course, Jekyeong was willing to endure the heavy losses if it meant he could improve. But what if he couldn't? As Jekyeong sank into a quiet despondency, U Do-baek, who had been silent for a moment, spoke up.
"Take what I am about to say with a grain of salt. But in my opinion... if the fire is the problem, why not simply change the fire?"
"Change the fire? What do you mean by that?"
"Have you ever heard of the Origin Earth Fire?"
"I have not."
"Hmm. Then, have you heard of a Lifebound Dharma Treasure?"
"Yes."
Just as Qi Condensation cultivators used spiritual energy and Foundation Establishment cultivators used Dharma treasures, Core Formation cultivators utilized magical treasures. A Lifebound Dharma Treasure was a magical treasure directly linked to a cultivator's origin. These treasures were far more powerful than ordinary ones, and their strength grew alongside the cultivator's progress. However, if a Lifebound Dharma Treasure was damaged or destroyed, the cultivator's origin would suffer severe backlash, leading to grievous injuries or even death.
"The Origin Earth Fire is similar to a Lifebound Dharma Treasure. However, while a Lifebound Dharma Treasure is merely linked to a cultivator's origin, the Origin Earth Fire becomes one with it."
"Are you suggesting, Senior U, that I should acquire an Origin Earth Fire to alter the nature of my Yokai Fire?"
"It is a possibility. However, I have only heard of the Origin Earth Fire in passing and do not know much about it. I do not know what kind of flame is suitable to become an Origin Earth Fire, nor do I know how to guide such a flame into one's origin even if a suitable one is found. Naturally, I have no idea what kind of side effects or changes it might bring. That is why I told you to take it with a grain of salt."
Though U Do-baek's words were filled with uncertainty, Jekyeong saw a glimmer of hope. At the very least, I now have a reason not to give up. Since he had already dipped his toes into alchemy, Jekyeong wanted to become a proper alchemist. To walk the path of immortality in the future, he needed to master at least one practical trade, and alchemy was undoubtedly the best choice. Unless absolutely forced to, he did not want to abandon it.
An Origin Earth Fire... Since Senior U compared it to a Lifebound Dharma Treasure, does that mean one can only attempt it upon reaching the Core Formation realm? It was possible, but perhaps not. As U Do-baek himself had admitted, he was merely suggesting a possibility based on hearsay. He did not even know what an "origin" truly was.
Core Formation cultivators would surely know... Although not every human Core Formation cultivator possessed a Lifebound Dharma Treasure, those who had reached that realm would undoubtedly understand the concept of one's origin. I should look into this. Just because U Do-baek did not know did not mean other Foundation Establishment cultivators were equally ignorant. In particular, the cultivators of the Yeongbu Merchant Alliance were highly knowledgeable and had access to vast amounts of information, so there was a high probability they understood the concept of the origin. They might even know about the Origin Earth Fire.
Inside the Black Jiao Hall, Jekyeong sat across from Gwak Jeong-sin. After exchanging brief pleasantries, Jekyeong cut straight to the chase.
"Do you know anything about one's 'origin'?"
"The origin?" Gwak Jeong-sin's eyes gleamed with surprise, but he nodded readily. "I do not know the exact details, but I have a general grasp of the concept."
"Would you be willing to enlighten me? I am prepared to pay a price if necessary."
"No, that is quite alright. There is no need to speak of payment between us for something like this."
"Haha." Gwak Jeong-sin chuckled, sipping his tea before frowning slightly. "However, as I mentioned, what I know is merely a rough outline. Please keep that in mind."
Jekyeong straightened his posture and listened intently.
"The three elements that make up a living being are Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Essence represents the physical body, Qi represents energy, and Spirit represents the soul. However, these three are not inherently one. They are closely linked, but they are merely connected. What binds these three elements together and truly anchors them to a cultivator is their origin."
Gwak Jeong-sin's explanation was somewhat long-winded and slightly disorganized. It was likely because, as he had admitted, he only possessed a superficial understanding of the subject. Nevertheless, Jekyeong was able to grasp the general concept of the origin through his words. Simply put, the origin was the core essence of a cultivator's existence. Although Essence, Qi, and Spirit were said to make up a living being, a cultivator could still exist even without all of them. Ghost Cultivators, for instance, lacked a physical body and thus had no Essence, existing solely as Qi and Spirit. From this, it was clear that the requirements of a living being were not necessarily the requirements of a cultivator. But the origin was different. It was the true foundation of a cultivator's existence.
"An Origin Earth Fire... I have heard of it. There are tales of certain cultivators obtaining rare, precious flames and refining them into their Origin Earth Fire." Gwak Jeong-sin had heard of the term, but he did not know the specifics. "I shall look into it for you."
"Thank you." Jekyeong smiled and bowed his head. As expected, Gwak Jeong-sin did not disappoint.
An exchange meeting was held on Heukgyodo, and guests had arrived. While visitors were not unusual, these guests were not humans, but demons. Furthermore, they were not ordinary demons, but Great Demons—and there were four of them.
"Welcome." Having undergone several repairs, expansions, and even complete reconstructions, the Black Cult Palace was now far grander than before. The interior was spacious enough for Jekyeong, who had grown even larger after his recent molting, to move around with ease. Yet, at this moment, the vast hall felt incredibly cramped. It was due to the overwhelming presence and aura radiating from the five Great Demons gathered inside.
Jekyeong swept his gaze over the four Great Demons he had summoned. There was Dae-yeong, a Great Demon shaped like a massive fish. Seon-gu, a Great Demon resembling a bizarre fusion of a crustacean and a cephalopod. Ha Son-seo, a Great Demon who looked like a giant boulder but hid dozens of legs and eyes beneath his rocky shell. And finally, Jang Yeong, a Great Demon whose upper body resembled a giant with rugged features, while his lower half consisted of dozens of writhing tentacles.
These were individuals Jekyeong had selected after careful deliberation. They were not overly ferocious and could be reasoned with; they were intelligent enough to calculate profit and loss; and lastly, their strength was not so overwhelming as to pose a threat to him. Finding candidates who met one or two of these criteria was easy enough, but finding those who satisfied all three was a daunting task. In particular, very few met the second condition.
Those who lacked ferocity were usually cowards, and among them, those clever enough to weigh pros and cons were exceptionally rare. Knowing how to calculate gains and losses meant knowing how to pursue advantages, which in turn meant they possessed greed. For a cultivator, greed was synonymous with a desire to seek the Dao. Thus, they had not gathered here simply because of a few words from Jekyeong, but because their own desires had drawn them to this place.
"Since such distinguished guests have accepted my invitation and traveled all this way, I must first express my gratitude."
"There is no need for that. We all came here because we want something."
"Ah, of course." Dae-yeong's small eyes rolled around. He cautiously looked up at Jekyeong's overwhelming frame and spoke. "Fellow Daoist Jekyeong, let us get straight to the point without dragging things out. After all, we all know why we are gathered here."
Great Demons were generally impatient. One could call it a lack of patience, or perhaps they were simply honest about their desires. They rarely hesitated or beat around the bush. In Jekyeong's eyes, they were, in some ways, far better trading partners than humans. Of course, this was only because he was a demon himself. The ferocious nature of the demon race could only be truly managed by one of their own.
"If that is what you wish, so be it. As I have said, I have the goods."
At those words, the Great Demons flinched. For a split second, it looked as though they might spring forward and snatch the items by force. However, their wild instincts were instantly suppressed by the intimidating figure before them. They were all Great Demons themselves, and even the smallest among them, Jang Yeong, was over ten meters tall. Yet, such a size was nothing more than a child before Jekyeong. Even with his body half-coiled, Jekyeong's head loomed far above them, his gaze looking down on them as if they were mere ants.
Of course, as proud Great Demons, they would not be easily intimidated by sheer size alone. However, Jekyeong's distinctly 'Gyoryong-like' appearance struck an instinctual chord of terror within them. Combined with his colossal frame, which made them look like ordinary beasts, even these creatures—who ruled like kings in their respective territories—had no choice but to behave themselves.
"My goods are guaranteed to be genuine, but I wonder if the same can be said for yours."
"I brought everything I have."
"I, too, have brought plenty of fine items. The gift you sent, Fellow Daoist Jekyeong, proved to be incredibly useful."
One by one, the Great Demons produced storage bags. These were all items Jekyeong had distributed—or rather, gifted—to them through Hyeongu, ensuring they could transport their treasures safely to this meeting. Though it was not a grand gift, the Great Demons were highly pleased with them. Seeing their satisfaction, Jekyeong felt equally pleased. It confirmed once again that these demons had never interacted with human cultivators before. Had they done so, they would never treat low-grade storage bags like priceless treasures.
Purple Queen Herb. Submerged Shadow Quartz. What is that one? Jekyeong carefully examined the items they began pulling out of their storage bags.