Embracing the Flame
Although formations are generally considered the heritage of the human race, there is no renowned race in the cultivation world that has not mastered teleportation arrays. As such, while teleportation arrays were widely known in concept, they were not something just anyone could access. Ever since Jekyeong first learned of their existence in Bul-mang-won, he had been intrigued by teleportation arrays and hoped to secure one for himself someday. Now, an unexpected opportunity seemed to have presented itself.
“Fellow Daoist Byeokpa, Fellow Daoist Jekyeong.”
“Hmm?”
As Jekyeong was conversing with Byeokpa, Gong Yo-pung approached them with a smile.
“It seems you two have already introduced yourselves?”
“We had a brief moment to speak before the exchange meeting began,” Byeokpa replied.
Byeokpa and Gong Yo-pung seemed to know each other, and their relationship appeared quite amicable. They exchanged pleasantries, asking about each other's recent doings, and shared brief thoughts on the current exchange meeting.
“I have come up empty-handed time and again,” Gong Yo-pung sighed.
“Haha. A Demon Core is not something traded so easily, after all,” Byeokpa chuckled.
“That is true, but…”
Gong Yo-pung could not hide his disappointment. Jekyeong knew that what Gong Yo-pung needed was a Demon Core, specifically an earth-attribute one. Since only a Demon King could harbor a Demon Core, trading a Demon Core was equivalent to trading the life of a Demon King. Naturally, such items were rarely traded, even within the Manryongjeong. Even more so when a specific attribute was required.
“I heard they have a stockpile of them in the Inner Court, though.”
I'm sure they do. And it wouldn't be just Demon Cores, either, Jekyeong thought.
“I even asked the Welcoming Envoy once, but it seems there is no way,” Gong Yo-pung said.
“They always say the same thing,” Byeokpa scoffed.
Jekyeong listened to their conversation in silence. Just as he had anticipated, the dissatisfaction among the Outer Court members toward the Inner Court was substantial, and they did not even seem to care to hide their feelings.
“The quotas show no sign of decreasing, yet the merits they award grow stingier by the day. I do not know what they expect us to do. At this rate, it will be difficult to accumulate even a single Medium Merit even after hundreds of years.”
“Indeed. I have no idea what the Elders are thinking.”
“Do you truly believe this is the Elders' doing?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“There are rumors that the Elders have not interfered with the internal affairs of the Palace for a very long time.”
“What? If that is the case, then…”
Byeokpa stopped himself there and fell silent. However, his meaningful gaze spoke far more than the words he left unsaid.
This is quite serious.
This was the first time Jekyeong had properly conversed with either Byeokpa or Gong Yo-pung. Yet, they were openly sharing such potentially dangerous thoughts right in front of him. Even though they had set up a sound-isolating barrier, there were plenty of others around. Seeing them speak so boldly suggested that this kind of atmosphere was considered natural here.
So, this level of dissent is tolerated.
Jekyeong was not naive enough to believe they were sharing their innermost thoughts simply because they were fellow Outer Court members. Had he been that naive, he would not have survived to this day. Whether it was the 'Elders' of the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace or those managing the Inner Court in their stead, there was no way they were unaware of this atmosphere. The Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace was not such a sloppy organization.
Yet, if such an atmosphere was allowed to persist... it meant they tolerated it. Most likely, it was a way to let them vent, a small breathing room.
They said the situation of the Outer Court was bad, and it truly is.
This was practically no different from being slaves. They claimed that consistent efforts for the Palace would be rewarded with merit, but according to Byeokpa, even after decades of offering all kinds of resources and providing labor from time to time, it was difficult to earn even a single Medium Merit. And it wasn't as if this Medium Merit was incredibly grand. In the Sacred Heaven Dragon Palace, the merits of the clan members were broadly classified into three tiers: Minor, Medium, and Major, and their values were worlds apart. While a Medium Merit was incomparably more valuable than a Minor Merit, even that was only enough to exchange for a mediocre spiritual beast or item.
It was naturally far from enough to exchange for the Demon Core Gong Yo-pung wanted. Byeokpa had said that to exchange for a Demon Core, one would need at least five Medium Merits. But five Medium Merits? If it took well over fifty years to obtain just one, did that not mean it would take at least two hundred and fifty years to gather five? Furthermore, considering that the tributes demanded by the Dragon Palace were increasing day by day, accumulating merit would only become more difficult.
Tributes.
While Byeokpa and Gong Yo-pung vented their frustrations over the increasingly heavy tributes, Jekyeong merely listened in silence, maintaining a solemn expression. He had no particular sympathy or anything to say regarding this matter. This was because the Dragon Palace had never demanded any tributes from him. It was likely thanks to the reputation of So-byeok-ik-wang, or perhaps the kindness of Song Gwan. In any case, it was a great relief. Although Byeokpa and Gong Yo-pung did not explicitly state the exact amount, judging by their grim complexions, the tributes they had to offer to the Dragon Palace were by no means trivial.
“Sigh. What can we do?”
Jekyeong tactfully blended into the gloomy atmosphere. When they sighed three or four times, he would sigh along once, keeping his dark expression intact. He continued to pass the time in this manner, and as the others began to leave one by one, he quietly stood up to bid them farewell.
“Then, I shall see you next time.”
“Indeed. Take care.”
Returning to Cloud Sea Valley through the teleportation array, Jekyeong briefly commended the Merfolk who showed him utmost reverence before immediately setting off on his journey home. Perhaps because he carried the precious treasure of the Seven-Colored Phoenix's Essence Blood in his breast, his heart felt somewhat more hurried than before. He wanted to return to Yangseo Lake—specifically, to the Black Cult Palace—and refine the Seven-Colored Phoenix's Essence Blood right away.
Jekyeong flew at full speed without rest. As a result, when he arrived at the Black Cult Palace ten days earlier than expected, he was somewhat exhausted, but his mind was exceptionally refreshed.
“I am going into secluded cultivation. I do not know how long it will take, so unless it is an urgent matter that absolutely requires my attention, handle everything yourself.”
“Understood, Master,” Hyeongu replied.
Jekyeong had Hyeongu temporarily install additional formations around the Black Cult Palace before taking out the Seven-Colored Phoenix's Essence Blood. It was but a single drop of blood, yet it was like a living ball of fire. It was not merely a feeling; a phantom image of a flickering flame was visibly dancing within it. He was surprised at first, but upon further thought, it seemed only natural.
Phoenixes were known to be immortal and indestructible beings. When their lives came to an end, they returned to a single spark, and as time passed, they would ignite anew into a brilliant flame to kindle life once more. That was the famous Nirvana Holy Fire, and it was for this very reason that the phoenix was revered as a divine spirit that ruled over fire. Of course, this was all hearsay gathered from various sources, so he could not tell how much of it was true, but it was an undeniable fact that the lineage of the phoenix was exceptionally skilled in fire arts throughout generations. Therefore, it was not strange at all for a mysterious fiery energy to dwell within the Seven-Colored Phoenix's Essence Blood.
Jekyeong observed the Seven-Colored Phoenix's Essence Blood carefully before refining it. Although the Essence Blood was not a Contemplation Painting, it contained a mystery beyond his comprehension. Perhaps through this, he could gain even a slightly deeper understanding of the Dao of Fire.
It overflows with vitality. It shares some similarities with the Sacred Fire of the fire spirits.
Jekyeong thought of the Nirvana Holy Fire. A single spark rising from the ashes. It signified not merely resurrection, but an unbroken, continuous life.
Fire can burn everything to ash, but at the same time, it can bring warmth to nurture life.
What Jekyeong pursued was the former. A fierce, unyielding strength capable of breaking all shackles and constraints. Yet, just because it was not what he pursued did not mean he could deny what undeniably existed. The warmth that heated life was also an aspect of fire, so he had to understand, acknowledge, and accept it.
So, which one are you?
Jekyeong did not know how many days or months had passed. For a very long time, he stared blankly at the Essence Blood enveloped in the phantom flame, until he finally resolved to refine it.
“Phew.”
As he took a light breath, the Essence Blood entered his mouth.
Whoosh!
Instantly, a violent blaze erupted across his entire body. It was partly ignited by his own will, and partly by the single drop of Essence Blood melting into his soul and flesh. The two distinct fires clashed violently once, then merged. However, even after merging, they could not become fully one, fluctuating unnaturally. One side sought to digest, while the other sought to dye.
It is warmth.
Jekyeong's fire was as fierce as his will, whereas the fiery energy within the Seven-Colored Phoenix's Essence Blood was gentle and warm. The flames of diametrically opposed natures attempted to coat each other in their own colors, but neither succeeded, maintaining a tense standoff.
The cultivation of this Seven-Colored Phoenix must have been at least at the mid-Yao King stage during its lifetime.
Even though it was merely a single drop of Essence Blood, it displayed such formidable power. Of course, if Jekyeong willed it, he could forcibly refine the Seven-Colored Phoenix's Essence Blood right away. However, doing so would waste a significant portion of the power contained within the Essence Blood, so he wished to refine it as naturally as possible.
If different waters cannot be contained in a single cup, then one must simply enlarge the vessel.
Whether a fierce fire or a gentle one, in the end, it was all fire. If he could not even handle this, how could he pursue the Dao of Fire, let alone the Path of the Fire Dragon?
Does not ruling mean accepting? Control or suppression are matters to be discussed only after that.
Suddenly, Jekyeong recalled a few lines from the Blazing Fire Investigating Heaven Force that he had pushed far to the back of his mind. He had always thought that combining one's mental imagery and soul to kindle a cultivator's soul into a single flame was somewhat absurd, but at this moment, it felt different.
The key is the mental imagery. What the Immortal Path values most is the cultivator's true heart. If the mind permits it, then is anything truly impossible?
A flame flared up. It was a blaze far greater than before, but unlike earlier, this fire did not burn anything around it. It merely gathered and melted the two clashing fires. His acceptance was not a compromise. It was progress, a pursuit on a grander scale. Just as one cannot possess only one side of a coin, to fully embrace the Dao, one had to understand and digest its countless facets.
Thump! Thump!
His heart pounded violently. His spiritual nature also vibrated fiercely and endlessly. That massive resonance spread even to his soul, a result Jekyeong had continuously guided. At this moment, Jekyeong was reciting the core mnemonic of the Blazing Fire Investigating Heaven Force that had once felt so far-fetched.
"Everything depends on the mind. If you believe it to be true, it is true; if you do not, it is false."
"Possibility and impossibility depend on the mind before ability. Opening the mind is the beginning of possibility."
"A cultivator is one who breaks shackles, and shackles are everything that stands in the way of pursuit."
"Doubt within the heart is also a part of those shackles. A cultivator must naturally shatter it and move forward."
Crash!
A life plagued by fear and hesitation, leaving behind nothing but regret, was enough to experience once. He could not waste his second life, which was like a blessing, in such a manner. Therefore, Jekyeong did not hesitate. Whether it was possible or impossible, he pushed forward with stubborn determination. It was almost reckless.
If this could be called a breakthrough, a breakthrough of this manner might leave behind unbearable aftereffects. Yet, Jekyeong, who usually maintained utmost caution in everything he did, threw himself forward at this moment as recklessly as a fool running blindly ahead. This, too, was his way. All his usual caution was meant for moments like this. To hesitate even when one must risk everything is not caution, but foolishness and indecisiveness.
BOOM!