A Worthy Investment
The thoughts Jekyeong had harbored for some time now grew even more resolute. But Qi Refining cultivators are too unreliable. Besides, if the distance is too great, I won't be able to control them with the Blood Contract Restriction.
Although he had considered this long ago, the reason he hadn't acted until now was the lack of a suitable candidate. I can't ask that bastard Myeong-ha for help, and Choi Ju-tang is out of the question. In the end, Han Cheongyu is my only option.
If Han Cheongyu could ascend to the Foundation Establishment realm, Jekyeong could place him in charge and dispatch a few subordinates to the Human Territory to establish a foothold. If that happened, he wouldn't have to suffer massive losses every time he tried to procure a single item like he did now, and he would be able to carry out various useful operations.
But is it possible? Jekyeong could not be certain. While Han Cheongyu's talent and character were beyond doubt, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm required far more than just talent and character. If it didn't, why had so many geniuses of the human race collapsed before the barrier of Foundation Establishment over such a long period of time?
A Foundation Establishment Pill is one thing, but it would be ideal if we had a Spiritual Vein. He had no shortage of Foundation Establishment Pills. Though he lacked high-grade ones, he possessed one medium-grade pill and more than five low-grade ones. All of them were spoils of war he had acquired previously, some retrieved from the storage bags of Foundation Establishment cultivators and others from Qi Refining cultivators.
A single medium-grade pill would be more than enough for Han Cheongyu, and even if it fell short, adding one or two low-grade pills would resolve any issues. However, when it came to a Spiritual Vein, even Jekyeong had no solution.
I can't expect perfection in everything. Even among the disciples of great sects, barely half of them could obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, and most of those were low-grade. Those who couldn't obtain a pill had to settle for one or two spiritual items that aided Foundation Establishment as substitutes, or if even that was impossible, they had to test their luck and talent with nothing but their bare bodies. Since this was told to him directly by Yeo Janggyeong, a sect cultivator, it was undoubtedly true.
Looking at it that way, Han Cheongyu, who had access to a medium-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, was already better off than eighty percent of other human cultivators. One could say this was more than enough, but... the problem was that the success rate of human cultivators breaking through the Foundation Establishment barrier was less than ten percent.
If I'm going to invest, I might as well do it properly. Jekyeong made up his mind.
Even before this, Jekyeong had favored Han Cheongyu. Among all his subordinates, both human and demon, Han Cheongyu was the one who had received the most cultivation resources. However, those resources had merely been leftovers. Jekyeong had simply distributed the spoils of war that were awkward to exchange for spirit stones to his subordinates, and Han Cheongyu had merely received the largest share.
But now, having resolved to raise Han Cheongyu into a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Jekyeong intended to support him in earnest. He planned to procure high-quality Meridian-Protecting Pills, as well as any items, cultivation methods, or secret techniques that could aid in breaking through the Foundation Establishment barrier. This matter was too conspicuous, so he could not let Myeong-ha know, nor could he inform Choi Ju-tang.
"Go." Jekyeong dispatched his human subordinates. It was not unusual for Qi Refining cultivators to purchase items for Foundation Establishment. If he had each of them procure just one item, the risk would not be too great.
"Why is the Dragon Lord seeking such items?" Upon receiving their orders and leaving Heukgyodo, the human subordinates gave vent to their suppressed curiosity.
"There's no way someone of his stature would use such things, so he must be planning to bestow them."
"Could it be for us?"
"Perhaps." The quick-witted ones had already guessed to some extent. The one among them most worthy of reaching Foundation Establishment, the one most likely to receive such items, was undoubtedly Han Cheongyu.
The Dragon Lord favors him this much. Some were simply envious, while others were practically driven mad with jealousy. Yet, regardless of their inner feelings, they faithfully carried out their assigned tasks. They toured the market squares, attended auctions big and small, and even poked their heads into minor gatherings of rogue cultivators to search for suitable items.
When nearly three months had passed, eight out of ten who had departed returned to Heukgyodo. Those who failed to return had all met with unfortunate demises. After confirming that those whose Blood Covenants remained intact had all returned, Jekyeong inspected the items they had brought back one by one.
Not bad. Some items overlapped, and the quality of others left something to be desired, but overall, it was a decent haul. Jekyeong rewarded those who had returned from their arduous journey appropriately, then summoned Han Cheongyu.
"Dragon Lord." Han Cheongyu knew his comrades had just returned from their mission, but he did not know what their task had been, nor did he wonder. If he needed to know, he would find out even if he didn't want to; if he didn't need to know, he wouldn't find out even if he wished to. There was no point in troubling his mind over it. This was a small piece of wisdom he had acquired through long experience.
"Take this." Jekyeong handed the filtered items to Han Cheongyu. "Examine them."
Upon Jekyeong's command, Han Cheongyu checked the contents of the storage ring and his eyes widened in shock. "Dragon Lord. This is..."
"You must not fail to break through the Foundation Establishment barrier."
Han Cheongyu's heart burned hot. Joy—an indescribable joy. This joy was that of a subordinate confirming his master's favor, but it was also the joy of a cultivator seeing the path to a higher realm of the immortal path open before him.
Until now, Han Cheongyu could not guarantee his chances of breaking through the Foundation Establishment barrier. But with such resources backing him... even if he attempted the breakthrough right this moment, he had over fifty percent confidence.
"Do not rush." A low word instantly cut through his excitement.
"Calm your emotions. Prepare thoroughly. A Meridian-Protecting Pill cannot completely prevent the aftereffects of a failed breakthrough. Once you fail, the next attempt will only become more difficult, so it is best to succeed on your first try."
"Yes. Your words are wise, Dragon Lord. I will attempt the breakthrough only after completing the absolute maximum preparation I can manage. I will do my utmost not to disappoint your expectations."
Han Cheongyu immediately devoted himself to cultivation. Taking steps in a pitch-black fog where one cannot see an inch ahead is vastly different from marching toward a clearly visible destination. With his anxiety cleared away and backed by the confidence that he could succeed, his cultivation was far more effective than ever before.
My current cultivation level is not lacking. The fact that I can even attempt a breakthrough means my realm has reached maturity. But... I feel like I can still fill myself up even more.
He could feel the cool, heavy spiritual energy contained within his vessel. This power, which he could wield at will at any moment, was the crystallization of the cultivation he had accumulated over decades.
The spiritual energy here is sufficient for ordinary cultivation, but in the end, Heukgyodo is merely a spiritual territory, not a Spiritual Vein. I cannot expect anything more.
This was a point the Dragon Lord himself had pointed out. Therefore, rather than drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, he had to break through by maximizing his accumulated spiritual energy, the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill, and the strength of the auxiliary spiritual items.
Whether it is the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill or the strength of the auxiliary spiritual items, I must ultimately govern and control them. To do that, the more spiritual energy I have, the better. Han Cheongyu reconfirmed the conclusion he had already reached once before. He had to accumulate as much spiritual energy as possible. Until his vessel could hold no more.
Failure is unacceptable. This was the Dragon Lord's warning, and his own solemn resolve.
Half a year passed. The war between the Beast Race and the human race had completely ended, and the demon territory had shrunk to two-thirds of its pre-war size. The majority of humans were unsatisfied, but the decision of the two great Gold Core sects was absolute.
It's strange that the Heumwon clan is still keeping quiet. Jekyeong remained ensconced in the Black Cult Palace, listening to the rumors of the world. He gathered information through various channels and confirmed that the Heumwon clan had still not stepped forward.
They invested in Yojeong. In the end, their investment failed, but it's not as if they recovered nothing. At the very least, Mu-ara had succeeded in breaking through to the Yao King realm to become the Simjeon Demon King, and the Yojeong he established had secured its own foundation. If the Heumwon clan wished to recoup their investment now, they could cover at least a portion of their losses. Of course, Mu-ara wouldn't want that, but what could he do about it?
The Heumwon clan remaining quiet until now means one of two things. Either Mu-ara placated them, or the Heumwon clan is exercising self-restraint on their own. If it was the former, Mu-ara's political skill was outstanding. If it was the latter... it meant the Heumwon clan possessed a more long-term perspective.
For now, either way is fine. Having finished his thoughts, Jekyeong sensed the spiritual energy of Heukgyodo rushing toward the center of the island and raised his head. Is it today? Completing his human transformation in the blink of an eye, he leisurely stepped out of the Black Cult Palace.
Boom! A vortex of spiritual energy whipped up. To be precise, it was a raging vortex to the humans of Heukgyodo, but to Jekyeong, it was merely a slightly stiff breeze.
"Step further back. Do not get swept up in this for no reason."
"Yes!"
Jekyeong looked at Han Cheongyu, who sat peacefully at the center of the swirling spiritual energy. Unlike the chaotic exterior, his posture was perfectly stable. Not only his outward appearance, but his internal spiritual energy was also being controlled without a single tremor.
Good. The breakthrough had already begun. Eighty percent of Heukgyodo's spiritual energy was being drawn toward Han Cheongyu, and he controlled it with remarkable stability. Then, at a certain moment, Han Cheongyu consumed the Foundation Establishment Pill and the auxiliary spiritual items in rapid succession. Instantly, his spiritual energy surged explosively, suppressing and guiding both the medicinal power and the ambient spiritual energy in one fell swoop.
Seeing this, Jekyeong waved a hand, instantly dispersing the dark clouds hanging in the sky and the wild spiritual energy enveloping Heukgyodo. Boom! Han Cheongyu's body shook slightly. The movement was minuscule, but the transformation occurring within him was monumental. Jekyeong could feel that change vividly through his Spiritual Awareness.
His spiritual energy transformed into dharma power, and a sublimation of his very life-state took place. A thin breath trailed out, and when his long-closed eyes finally snapped open, a brilliant light burst from Han Cheongyu's eyes.
"Good." Jekyeong nodded in satisfaction, and Han Cheongyu stood up, bowing respectfully.
With Han Cheongyu ascending to the Foundation Establishment realm, Jekyeong now commanded one Great Demon and one Foundation Establishment cultivator. Consequently, the burden imposed by the Blood Contract Restriction naturally surged. It had been similar when Hyeongu broke through, but this time, the sensation was different. Subjectively, the burden from Han Cheongyu alone was comparable to, or perhaps slightly greater than, ten late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
I must be cautious from now on. It felt as though he was nearing the maximum limit of what he could govern with the Blood Contract Restriction. If he added even one more early-stage Foundation Establishment or early-stage Great Yao cultivator, he truly wouldn't have any capacity left. It was fortunate that the recent casualties among his subordinates had freed up some room; otherwise, his limit would have been filling the remaining spots with just a few more late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.
Actually, this is already more than enough, but my standards have grown too high, making me feel unsatisfied. Jekyeong realized anew just how incredible Myeong-ha's methods were. How on earth did that fellow control so many Lost-Soul Puppets? Jekyeong knew that among the Lost-Soul Puppets Myeong-ha controlled, at least five were Foundation Establishment cultivators. Of course, those puppets had the disadvantage of being unable to think and act on their own, requiring Myeong-ha's direct control, but on the surface, that control didn't seem particularly difficult.
Forget it. Myeong-ha's method was likely an ability granted by his bloodline, or perhaps an innate divine ability. Either way, Jekyeong could neither replicate nor steal it, making it nothing more than pie in the sky.
Do I need a control method superior to the Blood Contract Restriction? If his Blood Contract Restriction was a sheet of paper, it was already so packed with names that there was barely any blank space left. To write more names, short of erasing the ones already written, there was only one way: to make the paper itself larger. In other words, to raise Jekyeong's own cultivation level. If the burden he could bear increased, the number of subjects he could govern with the blood covenant would naturally increase as well. This was the orthodox path, but it was a meaningless solution for Jekyeong right now. His current realm was the late Great Yao stage, so what did it mean to raise his cultivation level to ease the restriction's limits? Was he supposed to form a core and ascend to the Yao King realm?