The Threshold of a Great Yao
For a fleeting moment, it felt as if the gates of the Daedo—the Great Dao—had swung wide open just for him, whispering that it was now or never. In contrast, though his heart stirred now, he lacked that absolute certainty. It was as if he weren't fully prepared.
Hesitating, Jekyeong suddenly let out a hollow chuckle. How ridiculous. I'm acting like a child waiting to be spoon-fed. What did "perfect preparation" even mean? No matter how thoroughly one prepared, there would always be lingering regrets. Would he shake his head and mutter "just a little more" every single time? No. He couldn't just sit idly by, waiting for the gates to open; he had to push them open himself and forge ahead. If he needed a shove just to take a step forward, then he had no right to advance in the first place.
Besides, there's no time. The clash between Sangyo Forest and the Jeyeon Sect had just concluded, and it was highly probable that the Jeyeon Sect had emerged victorious. Since both sides would undoubtedly make their next moves, this quiet land would soon be thrown into chaos one way or another. Would the victorious Jeyeon Sect push their borders all the way here? Or would Sangyo Forest, their pride wounded, launch a massive counteroffensive? Unaware that the conflict between the two factions was a prearranged charade, Jekyeong could only let his imagination run wild.
From his perspective, both the Jeyeon Sect and Sangyo Forest were forces to be avoided at all costs. The Jeyeon Sect would undoubtedly try to skin him alive the moment they spotted a member of the Beast Race, and he had to avoid Sangyo Forest because he had slain one of their Great Demons. Perhaps Sangyo Forest remained ignorant of the fact that he had killed Sagaewan, but perhaps they didn't. In this cultivation world, all sorts of bizarre and unimaginable methods of tracking existed. Jekyeong absolutely refused to gamble his life on mere probability if he could help it.
I can't go on like this. I'm too weak right now. Although his recent molting had given him the confidence to face any ordinary Yo-beast in the world without flinching, that was still only at the level of a Yo-beast. He had struggled endlessly just to deal with a dying Great Yo-beast. If Sagaewan had possessed even a fraction of his original strength, it would have been Jekyeong who died.
I must cross the threshold of a Great Demon. Jekyeong steeled his resolve. Now that his mind was set, his current state was, for all intents and purposes, perfect.
Refining spiritual energy into Dharma Power... But is Dharma Power truly what I must refine? He had established his spiritual nature by using a Fire Crystal as his Spirit Seed. This method differed from both the Human Race's reliance on Spiritual Roots and the Beast Race's reliance on bloodlines. While it might be an exaggeration to say he had created something out of nothing, it was undeniably distinct from the cultivation paths of both humans and beasts. Thus, while Jekyeong would reference their methods, he had no intention of copying them blindly.
The power of my spiritual nature must become something that is neither Dharma Power nor demonic power. Or... perhaps combining the two is also an option. If Jekyeong had to define his identity, he would call himself half-human, half-beast. After all, his body was that of a Yo-beast, but the soul dwelling within was human. Furthermore, he accepted both his beastly and human identities. His path of cultivation was built upon this very foundation. Should the power he wielded not reflect that?
Very well. Jekyeong focused on his spiritual nature. The spiritual landscape, once a barren wasteland, now pulsed with vibrant life. At its center flickered a flame—still small, but significantly larger than before. Jekyeong concentrated on that fire. His consciousness melted into the flame, and with it, his spiritual nature and the very ground of his soul dissolved. When everything that made up Jekyeong was contained within that tiny fire, leaving nothing else to be absorbed, the flame flared up violently.
Now I understand. Only after casting everything into the fire did Jekyeong truly realize. To reach the second realm of cultivation, only one thing was required: resolve. The resolve to throw away everything he had cultivated thus far just to forge a single strand of power. The resolve to take a step forward without fear, knowing that failure meant everything would turn to ash. This resolve was different from mere courage. It was an unwavering desire for self-improvement—the heart of a seeker of the Dao.
Jekyeong's mind was serene. He did not waver in the slightest. His heart had been as steadfast as an ancient boulder since the days he was nothing but a lowly beast. A single strand is enough. For that one strand, he was more than willing to discard all the trivial things he currently possessed. The moment even his tranquil resolve was absorbed into the spiritual fire, the flame, which had grown quite large, shrank back down to a speck of ember. Yet, this ember was incomparably hotter and purer than the fire before it.
Crack! The ember became his spiritual nature, igniting his mind and fueling his life force. Jekyeong's limp, lifeless body was flooded with the warmth of vitality. At the same time, the scales covering his entire body began to crack, shatter, and peel away.
"Huuu..." Even before his consciousness fully returned, Jekyeong gasped for air. With every breath he took, thick black smoke billowed out, instantly vaporizing the medicinal water of the Spiritual Spring. Crack! Snap! His body contorted violently each time he exhaled the dark smoke. Old scales fell away as new ones sprouted, and his bones and muscles repeatedly heated to a searing boil before rapidly cooling down.
As the violent physical transformation gradually subsided, Jekyeong's limp head twitched. The two bumps on the top of his head split open silently, and a small horn emerged from each. It was at that exact moment that Jekyeong opened his eyes.
I succeeded. The Great Yao realm. The second stage of cultivation. Crossing this first major wall, which had brought countless cultivators to their knees, was highly significant. But for Jekyeong, the fact that he had proven his path of cultivation correct was far more important. This success proved that even if he were to face a dead end once more in the future, he would have no reason to despair.
Has a new path unfolded before me once again? Having crossed one small hill, a low mountain now greeted him in the distance. The name of that mountain was Decision.
When Jekyeong finally showed himself, Cheongo shrieked in terror and tumbled backward. The bird was even foaming at the mouth. Jekyeong wondered if his intense reaction was because he hadn't properly concealed his aura as a Great Yo-beast, but fortunately, that wasn't the case.
"Y-You! You!" Cheongo stammered, pushing itself up awkwardly with its wings. Understanding Cheongo's shock, Jekyeong gave the bird plenty of time to calm its surprise and excitement.
"Jekyeong! Jekyeong! Amazing! So amazing!" The clever bird didn't ask about Sagaewan. Instead, after showering Jekyeong with praise, it stared up at him blankly. "What do we do now? What do we do?"
Just as Cheongo stared at him, Jekyeong looked down at the bird. In truth, now that he had reached the Great Yao realm, cooperating with Cheongo was no longer necessary. Having unlocked his Spiritual Consciousness, Cheongo's scouting abilities were optional at best. If anything, Cheongo was highly likely to become a liability in future crises. Even during the recent battle between Sangyo Forest and the Jeyeon Sect, Jekyeong had to constantly worry about Cheongo and Muk-su. Although they hadn't caused him any direct harm, he could have escaped the battlefield much faster and safer without them. Weighing the pros and cons, keeping Cheongo around was more of a loss than a gain.
However, he was not a machine. Though he prioritized efficiency and avoided losses, he did not operate solely on cold calculations. He possessed a heart. Cheongo was weak, but the bird wasn't high-maintenance. While it could be chatterbox-annoying at times, the world would feel terribly quiet and empty without its constant babbling. Above all, this bird was the very first friend he had made since arriving in this strange world. Yes, a friend. Jekyeong considered Cheongo his first true companion in this life.
"We don't know when the forces of Sangyo Forest or the Jeyeon Sect might sweep through here. We are leaving this place."
"Okay! Leaving right now? Right now?"
"Yes."
"Got it! Where are we going then? Where?"
Thanks to Sagaewan, he had learned that this area was a sort of buffer zone sandwiched between Sangyo Forest and the Jeyeon Sect. It was incredibly useful and vital information.
"Do you remember where we came from? Beyond the river where you spotted the humans. The Jeyeon Sect is likely in that direction."
"Yes!"
"Do you remember which direction Sagaewan came from?"
"Yes! That way! It was that way!"
Jekyeong stared in the direction Cheongo pointed with its wing. While Sagaewan might have detoured or changed course along the way, that direction was ruled out regardless. That left only one option...
"We will follow this Spiritual Spring downstream." Jekyeong's gaze drifted toward the lower reaches of the river. He had no idea where the waterway led, but there was no other choice. He would have to grope his way forward like a blind man feeling an elephant.
"Grab the fruit. We move immediately."
"Okay!"
Once Cheongo retrieved the fruit of Muk-su, Jekyeong gently took the bird in his mouth and slipped into the water.
Following the Spiritual Spring downstream, Jekyeong and his companions were greeted by a colossal body of water known as Yangseo Lake. Dozens of spacious islands dotted the surface, and beneath the waves lay resources rich enough for various races to coexist, albeit with occasional friction.
Dozens of islands large enough to host entire nations, and countless smaller ones besides... And they call this a mere lake? Jekyeong was once again left speechless by the sheer scale of this world. If he hadn't overheard a few details about Yangseo Lake from a Great Demon he had crossed paths with, he would have assumed it was an ocean. Though mind-boggling, arriving at this vast lake via the Spiritual Spring was the best possible outcome for Jekyeong's group.
Here, as long as they kept a low profile, they wouldn't have to worry about the Jeyeon Sect or Sangyo Forest. Yangseo Lake was teeming with numerous factions of similar caliber, and some were even far more powerful. Mediocre outside forces like the Jeyeon Sect and Sangyo Forest couldn't even raise their voices here.
I must be careful. While it was a relief not to worry about those two factions, it also meant this place was incredibly perilous. Ordinary human Foundation Establishment cultivators and Great Yao of the Beast Race didn't dare act arrogant here. Furthermore, with various non-human, non-beast exotic tribes residing in the area, it was a veritable melting pot of chaos.
After gathering some basic information about Yangseo Lake, Jekyeong claimed a small, secluded island for himself. The single spiritual bird that ruled the tiny island froze in terror the moment it felt Jekyeong's murderous intent, promptly becoming a hearty meal for Cheongo and the fruit of Muk-su.
"Not bad." At the center of the island stood a small rocky hill containing a cave, which had served as the nest of the island's previous avian owner.
"There's water inside! Water!"
"Water?"
Intrigued by Cheongo's report after it peered inside, Jekyeong began to excavate the cave. Although the bird's nest had been quite large and the cave was of decent size for a normal beast, it was far too cramped for Jekyeong's massive frame. Expansion was mandatory.
Thud! Crash! He didn't even need to exert his full strength. The raw, brutal power of Jekyeong, now a Great Yao, was not something mere natural rock could withstand. Having easily completed the cave expansion, Jekyeong discovered a pool of water inside. At a glance, he could tell it was lake water.
An underground water vein must be connected here. Having assessed the situation, Jekyeong set to work expanding the pool. This task was just as effortless. With every sweep of his tail, the earth cracked and shattered. Whenever he encountered a stubborn layer of bedrock that refused to break easily, he simply breathed fire to melt it entirely.
Whoosh! This was no ordinary flame, but Yokai Fire infused with his demonic power. Had it not required a brief moment to channel, its destructive force would have been perfectly suited for combat; there was no way mere stone could endure it.
Thump! After digging for some time, Jekyeong smiled with satisfaction as he watched the deep basin fill with water. Perfect.