Chapter 20
Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Sect Mission (4)
Although I had seriously damaged the spirit herb growth area, my stipend wasn't reduced. Jo Jeong-deok had stepped forward, defending the destruction by claiming it was unavoidable due to the Wood Fiend Queen, sacrificing his own reputation in the process.
Judging from the way he kept glancing at me on the way back, he must have figured it was worth sacrificing a bit of his reputation to get on good terms with me.
Thanks to that, I collected my full stipend and extra pay from the Essence Root, bought everything I needed, and made it back home.
Once home, I first acquired knowledge on Spirit Liquor Brewing and Spirit Farming Technique, then began creating a Foundation Establishment-grade Spirit Field.
This wasn't a big issue since plenty of spirit energy had already gathered in my spirit roots.
After completing the Spirit Field, I purchased seeds for the spirit crops and spirit herbs I planned to grow, then found matching array devices to create the right environment. Luckily, pre-made ones were available, so I got them cheaply without needing custom orders.
While growing the spirit crops and herbs, I first brewed Nectar Spirit Liquor using orange apples and the Queen Essence Root.
'I looked into cultivation methods while I was at it, but nothing good turned up. Looks like I'll have to grab the three basic methods and train each of my spirit forces separately.'
I still hadn't found a method suited to my Dragon Spiritual Root, so for now, I planned to cultivate the Five Skandhas Enlightenment Art to push my Metal Spiritual Root to the 2nd layer of Foundation Establishment.
I had no way to acquire Wind or Metal Spirit Force yet... but since I planned to cultivate them through Buddhist methods anyway, borrowing the power of the Vast Bounty Gourd Bottle would suffice for the training itself.
Brewing the Fire and Wood Spirit Force Nectar Spirit Liquor was just preparation for when I could finally train my Dragon Spiritual Root later. Letting it age until then would only enhance its effects.
I used the remaining ingredients to brew more Nectar Spirit Liquor infused with Water Spirit Force.
I could just absorb the gourd bottle's water energy directly, but refining spirit energy into spirit force externally first boosted training efficiency.
I spent some time brewing Nectar Spirit Liquor and studying Vessel Completion Pills.
I felt my current spells were sufficient, so I didn't bother seeking new ones. What I needed now wasn't powerful spells—it was spirit force.
'I need more spirit force first and foremost. Because I had so little Fire Spirit Force, deploying Blazing Palm Seal with Self-Merge Art drained my Metal Spiritual Root's spirit force in one go.'
I'd ended up drawing on Meritorious Force to compensate for the lacking Fire Spirit Force, which depleted my Metal Spiritual Root's energy. Then, controlling the Refined Flying Sword used up the rest, leaving me unable to use Self-Merge Art again.
Self-Merge Art was just a shorthand for the solo version of Merge Strike Art. Calling out "solo merge strike" every time felt weird, so I'd named it that.
I'd considered Solo Merge Strike, but if it accidentally leaked out, it might sound too much like "doing merge strikes alone," so Self-Merge Art it was.
With no way to train Dragon Spiritual Root yet, I'd have to slowly build up Metal Spiritual Root instead. No stopping now—keep pushing. I have to get stronger.
This world was far too harsh on the weak.
A small blue dot was flitting about above the clouds.
The dot was a blue lotus flower—a flying law throne. Sitting atop it were two women, both possessing beauty like celestial fairies descended from the heavens.
The soft-featured woman in pink robes had shoulder-length bobbed hair adorned with delicate, pretty hairpins. A flute made of blue bamboo hung at her waist.
Even beneath her thick robes, her figure subtly shone through, and her fresh charm bloomed shyly with every smile, enough to draw every man in a village swarming like bees to flowers if she just walked the streets.
In contrast, her companion exuded a more mature, elegant allure—quiet and refined.
She wore form-fitting blue robes that made no attempt to hide her voluptuous figure. Her deep, clear blue eyes resembled a transplanted ocean, and her half-lidded gaze made her seem like a true heavenly being who contemplated and pierced through all the world's secrets.
The two women were Do Mun-hyang and her master, Geum So-ryeo, who had left several months ago in search of fortuitous encounters.
Geum So-ryeo watched her disciple fidgeting on the lotus throne and spoke.
"Disciple, calm yourself. How will you endure the grueling path of cultivation if your heart sways so easily at every little thing?"
"Ah, sorry, Master. It's just... it's been so long since we returned to High Heaven Sect. I'm excited!"
As Do Mun-hyang grinned and replied, a silver carp draped over her waist flapped its mouth. She gently stroked it.
This carp was the fruit of their journey over the past few months.
"Not the sect you're happy to see your husband again?"
Geum So-ryeo teased her disciple's budding love interest in a way that didn't suit her cold, stern appearance. Do Mun-hyang's face flushed beet red at the direct hit.
"Hah. Isn't it too early to talk about becoming Dao companions and exchanging vows?"
Do Mun-hyang puffed her cheeks slightly, protesting her master's treatment of her like a child.
"I've passed thirty and it's been two years already, Master."
"Merely thirty."
To Geum So-ryeo, who was 2,811 years old this year, her disciple claiming adulthood at thirty was utterly adorable.
As they flew back to High Heaven Sect, the clouds directly below them suddenly surged violently. A bird over a hundred feet long burst through with one wing alone, targeting the pair.
"Whoa."
Do Mun-hyang gasped in awe at the massive bird. A mere sweep of her divine sense—at the 6th layer of Foundation Establishment—couldn't even discern its realm. It was a spirit beast.
The bird flapped its wings, clouds swirling around them as it summoned thunder and lightning. The white clouds blackened in an instant, spewing sharp blue bolts.
Kurrrung! Kurrrrrrung!!
The bird swelled its neck, bellowing a thunderous cry, and gaped its enormous beak to swallow them whole in one bite.
"……."
Geum So-ryeo merely glanced at it, and the giant bird dissolved into a spray of blood mist.
She now floated a small water-formed lotus on her right hand and extended her left, drawing out the inner core from the blood mist.
After cleanly wiping the blood from the core, Geum confirmed it brimmed with pure Lightning Spirit Force and tucked it into her sleeve.
"This'll go to Chun-oh. That child's talent is lacking, so he's probably still struggling to break through to Core Formation. It should help."
At Geum's words, Do Mun-hyang recalled her senior brother, who always griped whenever she advanced her realm.
Han Chun-oh wasn't one for patient meditation; he couldn't stick to training and always goofed off, slowing his progress despite his talent.
Even so, reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection at seventy was impressive. Without slacking, he'd have entered Core Formation long ago.
"I want to reach Nascent Soul soon and learn divine abilities too!"
Do Mun-hyang imagined punching Han Chun-oh's teeth-grinding face and said this to Geum.
"Then train harder."
"Can I learn divine abilities like yours, Master?"
"Unlikely. The Sea Not Yielding Water Thesis Merit left by Founder Geum Yang-pyeong was born from cultivators debating their Dao insights. Thus, the abilities and divine powers manifested differ by practitioner."
"So you can't convert other Five Elements spirit forces to Water like I can?"
Geum nodded at Do Mun-hyang's question.
"That ability you've recently awakened is unique to you among all who've learned the thesis. Cherish it."
"Yes! ...So what's yours, Master?"
"My ability is……."
Now nearing Sea Severing Peak, Geum lowered the lotus's altitude to answer but paused upon noticing something.
"Mun-hyang."
"Yes, Master."
"Return to your spirit roots. I have business to attend."
"?"
Do Mun-hyang obediently headed to her spirit roots, puzzled by her master's sudden errand. After sending her off, Geum gazed at an inn in Sea Severing Peak's market.
The inn had arrays blocking divine sense scans, but they couldn't fully stop even Core Formation senses, let alone hers.
In a room on the second floor, a lone man quietly dined.
He wore near-white pink robes and a black veil over his face. Sipping mountain dew from the inn alongside his own private brew, he read a book.
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, manually turning pages was bizarre. A divine sense sweep would imprint the contents instantly—reading like this was a waste of time.
Better spend it cultivating.
'What an unusual child.'
Typically, disciples catching Geum's eye and receiving a Sound Transmission Jade Token contacted her excitedly upon reaching Foundation Establishment, only to crash in the direct disciple exam.
This one showed no interest; he hadn't contacted her and had quietly reached the 2nd layer alone.
Quite unusual for a typical Sea Severing Peak disciple desperate to impress and become a direct disciple.
Even the jade token at his waist bore no trace of registered divine sense.
'Genius breeds eccentricity.'
Her interest piqued instantly. She dissolved into invisible mist, slipped into the room, and silently appeared before Yong Yoo.
A thick liquor scent wafted from him, making Geum inwardly frown, though she didn't show it.
"……."
Yong Yoo, mid-pour, froze in shock at her sudden appearance. Geum noted the excellent aroma from his liquor and the pleasant water essence rising from it.
She placed an empty cup before her and drew the spilled liquor mid-pour into it.
Yong Yoo snapped to, set down the gourd, and hastily bowed.
"Ah, greetings, Master. What brings you……."
"Shh."
Geum gestured for silence as he fumbled greetings, savored the aroma, then delicately sipped.
The clear liquor slid smoothly down her throat. She was surprised by its far superior taste.
'The flavor and aroma of the spirit liquor are astounding, but so is how densely it holds spirit energy and absorbs so smoothly into the body. It's like drinking a pill as liquor.'
No wonder he reeked of it.
'Premium ingredients? No—same ingredients, but bringing out their best is the brewer's skill... Another talent of his.'
Setting down the cup, Geum regarded Yong Yoo briefly before speaking.
"Fine liquor."
"Th-thank you... Shall I pour you some?"
Geum smiled faintly at his awkward grip on the gourd and extended her empty cup. He carefully poured.
The master and disciple sipped in silence for a while.
After four cups, Geum marveled at the liquor—never tiring, deepening in flavor with each sip.
"You've been at the 2nd layer of Foundation Establishment for quite some time. Why no contact?"
At her question, Yong Yoo's eyes darted, fingers twitching on his cup, unsure how to reply.
He took a sip, then answered.
"I wanted to prioritize myself over matters with you, Master. Sorry."
"Prioritize yourself?"
"I had some insights to fully assimilate. And I achieved results."
"Results greater than becoming my direct disciple?"
"Yes. I'm certain."
Geum looked surprised at Yong Yoo's bold chest-thumping reply.
She'd once said she'd accept him as direct disciple upon Foundation Establishment, but as she'd told Do Mun-hyang, it wasn't sincere.
It was merely to build ties between her talented combat inner disciple and direct disciple, ensuring a reliable fighter when needed—without delay.
In her eyes, Yong Yoo was just one such tool.
But now, her interest surged.
How many could value their own Foundation Establishment insights over the teachings and encounters from a Soul Transformation master's direct discipleship?
"So, have you fully assimilated your insights?"
"Yes."
He answered confidently again, his earlier hesitation forgotten.
Meanwhile, Yong Yoo realized she didn't mind his attitude, so blunt honesty was easiest.
'Nice. She doesn't get offended no matter what I say. Easy to deal with.'
Opponents at Soul Transformation could dust his soul over a wrong breath, so tension was natural... but not her.
"Hmm. Then, shall we proceed to the test for direct discipleship?"
"Ah, yes. I need a decent cultivation method anyway."
Geum couldn't help chuckling at his reply, implying no interest without the method.
"Heh."
"Something wrong?"
"No, nothing. Meet me at Peak Lord's Pavilion in three days."
With that, she dissolved back into mist and vanished.
"……."
Yong Yoo reflexively swept divine sense around but found nothing. He resumed eating and reading.
Outside, Geum pondered deeply.
'What method for a child with Wood, Water, Fire Three Elements Spiritual Root...? My current direct disciples all have Single Element Spiritual Roots, so they don't seek complex ones. Not sure if I have anything suitable.'
Whether he'd pass the test or not was another matter.
Flying to Peak Lord's Pavilion, Geum recalled his veiled face—clear to her eyes—and murmured unwittingly.
"If only his talent matches that face... Hm?"
Startled by her own odd musing, she caught the lingering liquor scent, circulated spirit force, and expelled it all.