Chapter 28
Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: All the World's Affairs Are Like Illusory Smoke (2)
“Disciple, the statue turned out splendidly.”
“Ah... Did you see it, Master?”
As I entered the main hall, Geum So-ryeo greeted me with a teasing smile.
I responded with an awkward laugh, and she deepened her smile before rising from her chair and approaching me.
“You've come to learn the secret arts, yes?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Yong Yoo, what do you know about the secret arts?”
I was tempted to say I knew all their secrets, but I decided to play dumb.
“I know they divide into the water-element inheritance secret arts personally created by Founding Ancestor Geum Yang-pyeong and the other elemental secret arts developed by the High Heaven Sect over the past nine thousand years.”
“That's right. Which one did you choose?”
“The water-element arts.”
Geum So-ryeo smiled in satisfaction at my answer.
“Good. As a disciple of the High Heaven Sect with a water spiritual root, you ought to cultivate water-element arts. The other elemental secret arts are mere refinements derived from studying the Founder's arts—they can never capture the profound mysteries he left behind.”
Geum So-ryeo spoke animatedly, clearly pleased with my choice.
She produced a massive blue lotus and stepped onto it, then used spiritual power to lift me aboard before flying off into the distance.
“Your temperament is earnest, and your dedication to cultivation is admirable, so I'll tell you in advance. The water-element secret arts are all derived from the divine abilities cultivated by Founding Ancestor Geum Yang-pyeong, transformed into spell forms.”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed. I can't reveal them all, but don't treat the secret arts as mere powerful tools. Contemplate them deeply and gain enlightenment. It will aid you greatly.”
I nodded, saying I understood.
This was what set the High Heaven Sect's secret arts apart from those of other sects.
Before ascending, Geum Yang-pyeong had worried about the sect's future and selected five of his most powerful divine abilities, adapting them into spells.
He lowered their tier from divine abilities to spells while embedding the underlying principles within. With deep contemplation, one could awaken those principles, naturally evolving the spells back into divine abilities.
This arrangement raised the baseline strength of the entire High Heaven Sect.
Disciples could learn powerful spells as early as the Foundation Establishment Realm—a boon. And if they grasped the principles of divinity before reaching Nascent Soul, breaking through to that realm became far smoother.
With disciples growing uniformly stronger, the High Heaven Sect dominated its surroundings, claiming all spirit resources and effortlessly seizing fortuitous encounters or heavenly treasures from afar.
Many sects posed threats, of course, but the sect's elevated baseline naturally lifted its peak power as well, repelling such challenges with ease and proving its status as the supreme sect of the Central Spirit Continent.
However... as time passed and Geum Yang-pyeong was deified after his ascension, the secret arts—once openly taught to any Foundation Establishment disciple—became rewards granted only to those with exceptional achievements or great contributions to the sect, one art per disciple.
What was meant to be learned before Nascent Soul to aid cultivation now required reaching Nascent Soul, becoming a core disciple, and demonstrating outstanding prowess to earn as a core direct disciple.
By Nascent Soul, one could already wield divine abilities directly—yet they wasted time learning spells with hidden principles and contemplating them, ultimately slowing disciples' growth.
For reference, this truth came to light when Do Mun-hyang ascended to the Immortal Realm and met Geum Yang-pyeong.
Overjoyed to encounter a High Heaven Sect disciple in the Immortal Realm, he was so flabbergasted by the story that he flew into a rage.
He even sacrificed his cultivation temporarily to descend briefly and sternly reprimand the sect, reteaching the proper ways.
“This place will do nicely.”
Geum So-ryeo guided me to a deep valley on Sea Severing Peak, protected by layer upon layer of formations.
“This is one of my favorite spots for personal cultivation. I'll teach you how to dismantle the formations, so feel free to use it when needed.”
“Understood, Master.”
As I replied, I gazed at the valley in surprise.
In such a place, echoes should reverberate—yet not only was there no echo, every sound felt muffled, like shouting inside a soundproof barrier.
Even with fierce winds howling, not a whisper reached my ears, sending chills down my spine.
“Master, what is this?”
“Sound-devouring spirit insects live in this valley. Thanks to them, it's always silent and serene—a perfect place to shut out the world and delve deeply into your inner self.”
“......”
“Here, you can focus solely on the secret arts, free from all distractions. Your cultivation speed will quicken.”
I bowed deeply in gratitude for her consideration.
“Thank you, Master. I'll strive to master it as quickly as possible!”
“Mm. Which secret art did you choose?”
I promptly took out the jade slip and offered it to her. She scanned it with divine sense and nodded.
All the World's Affairs Are Like Illusory Smoke. You've chosen a profoundly difficult one—the most challenging among the secret arts. Did you know that when you picked it?”
“Yes! I'm prepared!”
All the World's Affairs Are Like Illusory Smoke was a mighty divine ability that even Do Mun-hyang continued using as her mainstay long after ascending, so I chose it without hesitation.
Geum Yang-pyeong quickly discarded the other four after ascending but steadily employed this one, adapting it into a new divine ability.
No matter how hard it was to learn, why pick the other four that would be abandoned later when this was a "staple" divine ability usable even as an immortal?
Se-sa meant all the affairs of the world.
Do-yeo-yeon meant everything dissipates like smoke.
Finally, piao-xiang was psychologically complex, but here it simply meant "manifestations" or "images."
Thus, All the World's Affairs Are Like Illusory Smoke signified "manifestations illustrating that all worldly affairs vanish like smoke."
“Very well, then. Let me impart the teachings.”
I carefully sat on the lotus pedestal that had carried us here, and Geum So-ryeo sat opposite, sharing her insights into the art.
When I struggled with a concept, she explained it simply and clearly. When I pondered alone to gain enlightenment, she waited patiently, ensuring my full focus.
One month, two months... For a full year, the two of us dwelled quietly at the valley's bottom, exchanging teachings ceaselessly.
Fortunately, my Dao combat aptitude wasn't limited to dual-wielder arts from my two spiritual roots.
Just as I'd perfectly executed Blazing Palm Seal on my first try after skimming it en route to my Dao debate with Mun Yoo.
Just as I'd independently studied and mastered dual-wielder arts, compressing both roles into one as a solo variant.
I had considerable talent for spells.
Thanks to that, I mastered All the World's Affairs Are Like Illusory Smoke in just one year under her guidance.
It might sound long, but even Do Mun-hyang had devoted years solely to it—so mastering it in a mere year was an astonishing feat.
Geum So-ryeo was so shocked her eyes widened round.
“To master this in just one year... Impressive.”
“Without the insights on the sect master's jade slip and your teachings, Master, it would have been impossible.”
It was the truth. No matter my talent, their help was crucial to achieving it in one year.
“Shall we test it? On that wall over there.”
I cast All the World's Affairs Are Like Illusory Smoke as instructed, leaving an unfathomably deep scar on the valley wall.
...What if I combined this with the Vast Bounty Gourd Bottle and dual-wielder arts...?
A shiver ran through me. What kind of power would that unleash?
“Masterful execution and retraction. With your Dao combat talent and this art, you'll return safely even from outer missions.”
“...Master? What do you mean?”
Staring blankly at the scar, I turned to her in surprise at her sudden words.
“I've prepared a fortuitous encounter for you—one to enhance your wood spiritual root aptitude. Shall we go claim it? If you're uneasy, we can delay.”
“No, Master.”
My eyes sparkled at her words.
If my wood root reached fire-root level—or at least water-root parity—the balance in spirit energy absorption would perfect the Three Elements Single Origin Scripture's cultivation speed!
“I'd like to go.”
I stated firmly, and she nodded understandingly before handing me a jade slip.
“It details the location and how to dismantle the formations I've set. However, I discovered it some time ago, so someone might have broken my formations and taken it by now. Fortuitous encounters are heaven-bestowed; they go to the fated. Even if I prepare one for you, it may not end up in your hands.”
She patted my shoulder as she spoke.
“If it's gone when you arrive, don't waste time searching for what isn't there.”
“Understood, Master.”
I carefully stowed the jade slip in my storage pouch and departed for the eastern region, leaving Geum So-ryeo to continue cultivating in the valley.
Upon returning east, I offered the jade slip to Wi A-han, who was cultivating.
“Young master, what's this?”
“A jade slip detailing a fortuitous encounter Master prepared for me. It includes how to dismantle the formations there, so memorize it too, A-han.”
“Are you taking me along?”
“Yes.”
I didn't know what dangers awaited, but with Wi A-han, we could escape any formation traps.
“Shall we leave now?”
“No. Let's prepare first.”
I first redistilled and refined several bottles of Nectar Spirit Liquor I'd set aside for cultivation, maximizing absorption to create restorative spirit wine.
Over the next three days, I studied the wood-element spellbook she'd given me, mastering Ringing Bell Shackles, then practiced it alongside All the World's Affairs Are Like Illusory Smoke while awaiting the wine's completion.
As a precaution, I collected my sect stipend and bought attack talismans, defense talismans, and stealth talismans—one set each for me and Wi A-han, totaling six.
After a month perfecting the wine, to conserve spiritual power, I flew with Wi A-han aboard a bronze vessel artifact toward the encounter site.
“Hold on tight so you don't fall.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Wi A-han wrapped her arms tightly around my waist at my words.
I'd meant to grip the vessel...
A massive earthquake had uplifted the earth, forming sheer cliffs where geological strata revealed what appeared to be ruins of a structure embedded within.
The identity of the buried architecture was the ruins of a spirit cultivation sect from ancient times, its name long lost.
Three cultivators atop a square, shield-shaped flying pedestal gazed at the ruins, conversing.
“Senior Brother, are you certain the Wood Spirit Refining Fruit is really there?”
The man in black robes asked, and the one in red robes nodded.
“Yes. Before attempting Nascent Soul breakthrough, I wish to re-refine my core with the Wood Spirit Refining Fruit and sect secret arts to become a single-element root cultivator. I hope you two will assist me.”
“Hmmm.”
“I see.”
The two juniors—forcibly dragged along—struggled to hide their displeasure.
As the red-robed man's expression darkened at their silence, the woman in black robes hurriedly spoke up.
“A new Nascent Soul cultivator emerging in our Falling Star Sect would be wonderful. Of course we'll help, Senior Brother.”
She shot her companion a glance, and the man in black robes forced a smile.
“Haha, exactly.”
“Hmph. No need to look so reluctant. I'll give you everything we harvest except the Wood Spirit Refining Fruit.”
Noting their obvious reactions, the red-robed man dangled the reward knowingly. Their eyes gleamed with greed.
'All the treasures except the fruit are ours?'
'A sect with a Wood Spirit Refining Fruit must have a few decent treasures.'
Of course, if they found something extraordinary en route, he'd renege and kill them to claim it—but with luck, they'd score big.
“One question, Senior Brother: why leave it and return after confirming the fruit?”
“A guardian spirit beast protected it. I'd also triggered a formation trap in the ruins, locking my storage pouch with the pedestal inside—fleeing was my only option.”
“How unfortunate.”
“Indeed. And furthermore...”
The red-robed man trailed off, swinging his hand to unleash dense wood-element spiritual power at the ruins.
Yet an unknown powerful protective formation blocked his spell effortlessly.
“Something I touched while fleeing activated this when I returned. That's why I called you two with your formation talents. Can you handle it?”
Mistaking Geum So-ryeo's formations for ones from the ruins, he asked, and the pair nodded.
“Yes. We've been observing—it's intricate, but a Foundation Establishment cultivator could dismantle it.”
“Good. Do it quickly.”
Half a day later, they breached the formation and entered the ruins.
“Oh, faster than expected.”
“No, Senior Brother. Someone had already tampered with it—we exploited that to open it swiftly.”
“What? ...Damn it!”
The red-robed man's face twisted savagely at his junior's words. He dissolved into countless leaves, speeding into the ruins.
The black-robed pair hurriedly followed on their pedestal.