Chapter 26
Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Sea Severing Peak Direct Disciple Yong Yoo (5)
Water begets wood, and wood begets fire.
Water nurtures the essence of wood, and wood fuels the power of fire. Before beginning my cultivation, I refined the spiritual energies gathered from the three types of Nectar Spirit Liquor I had drunk into spiritual powers.
Since I already possessed all three types of spiritual power within me, converting spiritual energy into spiritual power was incredibly easy.
Back in the Refining Qi Realm, creating even one type of spiritual power had meant enduring the agony of squeezing every fiber of my body to break through to Foundation Establishment. But now that I had reached Foundation Establishment, refining spiritual power was as natural as breathing.
They say that once you break through to a new realm, things that were impossible before become as easy as eating cold porridge...
Well, good is good.
I began circulating the three spiritual powers according to the incantation of the Triune Primordial Unity Scripture. My water spiritual power flowed into the wood spiritual power, drawing out its strength.
As it absorbed the water spiritual power, the wood spiritual power—which had been a plain green liquid—began to emit a jade-green glow.
This wasn't just about increasing the quantity of wood spiritual power. It was using the energy of water spiritual power to awaken the far greater potential hidden within.
While infusing water spiritual power into wood spiritual power, I drew out the jade-green glow it produced and guided it into the fire spiritual power.
Devouring the jade-green light, the fire spiritual power transformed from a simple red liquid into a brilliant sunset hue brimming with intense radiance. From there, I extracted that sunset glow, condensed it into a single point, and refined it into primordial unity spiritual power.
When the entire process—from water spiritual power to wood, jade light to fire, and sunset glow to primordial unity spiritual power—was complete, I was forty-eight years old, and two more months had passed.
I had devoted that much time solely to mastering the foundation of the art.
Fortunately, once the process was perfected, the refinement speed increased slightly. The water, wood, fire, and primordial unity spiritual powers now settled in my Dragon Spiritual Root connected with one another through energy and light, forming a vortex.
At the vortex's center, the primordial unity spiritual power held twice the strength of the others within me.
If I had possessed this power before becoming a direct disciple, I was certain I could have slain Mun Yoo in a single blow using it alongside the Five Skandhas Enlightenment Art's spiritual power to unleash the Combined Harmony Technique.
Perhaps because it was born from the cycle of water begetting wood begetting fire, my primordial unity spiritual power emphasized fire spiritual power's traits over those of water or wood.
Its orange tint, its illuminating glow, and the hot yang energy it contained all pointed to that. Yet it simultaneously embodied the properties of water and wood spiritual power as well—a truly wondrous thing.
During cultivation, whenever the balance of spiritual energies faltered, I replenished them by drinking the necessary Nectar Spirit Liquor. Even with multiple spiritual roots, subtle differences in aptitude between them are inevitable.
My fire spiritual root excelled, my water spiritual root was solid, but my wood spiritual root was merely adequate. Naturally, while fire and water spiritual energies maintained rough balance in absorption, wood spiritual energy lagged behind.
So I frequently drank wood spiritual energy Nectar Spirit Liquor, occasionally water, and hardly touched the fire variety as I continued cultivating.
My Nectar Spirit Liquor required no meticulous attention like pills, imposed no burden on the body, and drinking it in gulps whenever needed caused no harm—in fact, it briefly accelerated my cultivation speed.
I gradually lost track of time.
How much time had passed?
Two years after entering secluded cultivation, I sensed my Dragon Spiritual Root half-filled with primordial unity spiritual power and opened my eyes.
'Two years of nonstop cultivation for half of the second layer? Factoring in half a year to perfect the creation process... a year and a half.'
The progress was slower than expected. Especially considering that Geum So-ryeo had optimized the eastern wing's environment for cultivation to the utmost.
'The wood spiritual root's inferior aptitude compared to the other two is the issue. It occasionally throws the three energies out of balance, stalling or slowing cultivation.'
Coldly assessing the situation, I gathered the seething spiritual energy around me and rose to my feet.
"You've finally awakened."
"Ah."
As I stood, Wi A-han approached and spoke to me.
Come to think of it, I'd left her unattended for two years since receiving her from Geum So-ryeo.
"Junior Sister A-han, my apologies. I should have paid you more attention, yet I left you like this..."
"No, no. I know how vital cultivation is for a cultivator. I've focused on my own training these past two years, so it's fine."
Wi A-han, who had been awkward around me two years ago, seemed to have grown accustomed to living with me in the eastern wing over that time.
A relaxed smile graced her face, and the tension that once stiffened her body had softened.
"Might I hear if anything happened while I was in seclusion?"
"Yes, Young Master Yong Yoo."
Wi A-han, having apparently settled on a form of address over the two years, greeted me politely and spoke my name.
"The direct disciples of Sea Severing Peak visited to see you, but Elder Geum So-ryeo had already ordered no one to disturb your cultivation. They left without entering the secluded eastern wing."
"Mm. And Hyang-mae?"
"Miss Do Mun-hyang stopped by before departing on an external mission but, like the others, only relayed a message from outside the eastern wing and left."
"An external mission. She still hasn't returned?"
"Yes. She said she'd visit again upon her return, so it seems not."
I nodded, quietly relieved that Hyang-mae hadn't entered the eastern wing.
I couldn't imagine her reaction upon seeing Wi A-han. Wi A-han was merely a spirit slave suddenly assigned by Geum So-ryeo... but to an outsider, it might look like I'd brought home a beautiful, elegant woman to keep at my side.
'Cultivators taking multiple dao companions or many spouses isn't unusual... but Hyang-mae is still too young to understand that.'
Before turning a hundred or so, Hyang-mae was described as jealous of women close to Mun Yoo.
That changed after shocking villainous demonic cultivators appeared—like one who dressed men like beasts and dominated hordes, or a male one who preferred men—traumatizing her mentally.
Compared to them, keeping multiple women seemed downright wholesome.
'Honestly, the cultivators' mindset feels a bit off to me too.'
A slave? To me? I have no idea how to treat her... The fact that her soul is bound to mine only adds to the burden.
So aside from asking for array help when needed, I'd decided to treat Wi A-han as if she weren't there.
"Also, the total overseer commanded that you visit the main peak upon emerging from seclusion."
"Hm? The total overseer? To the main peak—why?"
"I only heard it concerns the Supreme Sanctuary..."
"Supreme Sanctuary... Ah."
Ah. They're really doing that?
I recalled the most useless reward I'd received—one I'd completely forgotten about.
"Mm..."
"Master? Aren't you going?"
"Well, it can wait a bit longer. Something more important comes first."
With that, I took out the jade slip.
The jade slip containing High Heaven Sect's secret techniques.
I immediately sat in place and began cultivating the secret techniques.
Four months later, having finally grasped the secret techniques—which were so profound even taking them in with divine sense was arduous—I tidied my appearance and left the eastern wing with Wi A-han toward the Peak Lord's Pavilion.
As a spirit slave, Wi A-han hadn't learned any spells, but possessing a mutated wind spiritual root allowed her to naturally wield flight arts upon becoming a cultivator.
Thanks to that, instead of carrying her or riding a copper vessel together, we flew separately using our own arts.
"Haa."
"Young Master, are you so disappointed at not mastering spells?"
Hearing my sigh, Wi A-han looked at me curiously and asked.
"Mm. And these are secret techniques, no less."
I'd really wanted to learn them...
"Even secret techniques are just somewhat powerful spells, aren't they?"
"Eh? Ah, you wouldn't know. High Heaven Sect's secret techniques are different from other sects'..."
I began explaining the unique traits of High Heaven Sect's secret techniques compared to other sect branches but fell silent upon arriving at the Peak Lord's Pavilion, entering the grand hall.
"Yong Yoo, you've come."
Fortunately, Geum So-ryeo in the hall welcomed me warmly.
Whether she'd dashed off for another fortuitous encounter during my two-year seclusion, her usually impeccable robe was oddly disheveled.
"Summoning me so suddenly—what's the matter, Master?"
"Yes, Master. Thanks to the art and preparations you provided, cultivation has proceeded smoothly. I've come because I have one favor to ask of you."
"Good, I'm glad to hear cultivation goes well. What requires my permission?"
I promptly explained the situation.
A stele inscribed with my name and cave abode had been discovered in the sect's Supreme Sanctuary, and they planned to erect my statue alongside it. With only the statue left to install, the total overseer had directly ordered me to come.
"I see. So what is your request?"
"Yes. Please revoke the order not to remove the veil in front of others."
"Hm... Very well. I've come to understand your character well, Yong Yoo. Even if women flock to you, you'll choose cultivation over carnal desires. You no longer need the veil."
"Thank you for trusting me, Master."
Hearing Geum So-ryeo's words, I immediately undid the heroic headband and removed the veil. As I did, she silently gazed at my face.
"......"
"......Master?"
Her stare was so intense I couldn't help calling out, and Geum So-ryeo smiled faintly, gesturing for me to go.
"Off with you. With looks like that, when the statue talk comes up, people might complain it's too idealized."
"Hahaha. Surely not. It's just the face of an obscure Foundation Establishment disciple whose name no one knows."
Geum So-ryeo teased lightly about my appearance, and I responded with an awkward laugh. In the original story, she never showed this side.
Ordering the veil because my face would hinder cultivation, and now casually commenting on it—she mentioned my looks more than expected.
"Cultivation of the art seems to progress well... How fares the secret techniques?"
"Ah. Mm, not easy, as expected."
"Indeed. It wouldn't be."
At my words, Geum So-ryeo revealed her pride in the secret techniques' profundity and depth, as if it were only natural.
"Once Supreme Sanctuary matters are settled, come to the grand hall. I'll assist with the secret techniques."
"Thank you, Master!"
I prostrated deeply before Geum So-ryeo, hastily paid respects, and hurried from the Peak Lord's Pavilion. Eager to resolve the statue business and return quickly, my steps were rushed.
"Junior Sister A-han, let's head to the total overseer now... Junior Sister A-han?"
Ascending with Water Escape Art, I turned at the sight of Wi A-han hovering motionless.
"......"
"Junior Sister A-han?"
Wi A-han stared at me blankly, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape.
"Junior Sister A-han, are you alright?"
"Ah, ah, y-yes! I, um..."
Startled back to her senses, Wi A-han hid her flushed face—red to the nape—in her sleeve, murmuring in a voice like ants marching.
"I-I'm fine... Thank you for worrying... Really."
Wi A-han's voice, unlike its prior stiff formality, was soft and pleasant, utterly relaxed.
Seeing my face clearly reflected in her mirror-like silver eyes, I realized what happened and sighed.
Oh dear, this is the first time she's seen my face...