Chapter 44
Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Righteous Dao Conference (2)
Yeom Suk, who had finally emerged from seclusion after so long, heard the latest news from his awaiting disciples.
"What about Master?"
The tidbit he was most curious about was, of course, Geum So-ryeo.
"She headed north in search of a fortuitous encounter, they say."
"Hmm... I see. She's not here, then."
Yeom Suk felt a touch glum upon learning Geum So-ryeo was absent from Sea Severing Peak, but he decided to think positively.
'While Master's away, I'll win the Righteous Dao Conference and bring her the good news! She'll surely be delighted.'
Imagining a future where Geum So-ryeo marveled at his victory and showered him with praise, Yeom Suk smiled contentedly as he received reports on the top contenders for the conference championship, their backgrounds, and all the major and minor events that had unfolded on Sea Severing Peak in his absence.
The details on his fellow Core Formation Perfection cultivators piqued his interest considerably, but what truly caught Yeom Suk's attention was the most recent incident on the peak.
"Han, a Core Formation cultivator, lost to Yong, who's only at Foundation Establishment?"
"Yes, that's right."
"But Han isn't that weak."
"From what I heard, Senior Brother Yong won in an utterly overwhelming fashion."
It was the very event where Yong Yoo had decisively crushed Han Chun-oh in front of everyone.
Yeom Suk mulled over the words that a Foundation Establishment cultivator had defeated a Core Formation one, racking his brain to recall what he knew about Yong Yoo.
'Yong Yoo... He's the one who became a direct disciple right at the very end.'
Yeom Suk made a point of checking out anyone who might intrude on Geum So-ryeo's affection for him, so he knew of Yong Yoo at least in passing.
Even while in seclusion during Yong Yoo's direct disciple trial, he had sent an avatar to observe it firsthand.
'I don't like that he's stirring up trouble on Sea Severing Peak, but with talent like that, Master will surely dote on him. Is he trying to steal the attention and love that should be mine...?'
For similar reasons, Yeom Suk already harbored enmity toward Do Mun-hyang, Geum So-ryeo's personal direct disciple. Now, a surge of hostility welled up toward Yong Yoo, who dared to covet Master's precious affection.
"I'd like to meet him myself. Where is Junior Brother Yong?"
After finishing my shopping and returning to my lodgings, it struck me anew that the cultivation world was still a place where people lived and breathed.
"Even the cultivation world can't escape skyrocketing prices."
Thanks to this blasted Righteous Dao Conference, prices on every item in the markets had shot through the roof. With demand far outstripping supply, even the few remaining goods that weren't anything special were fetching auction prices that had gone utterly mad.
"Young master! Need some talismans? I'll give you what I've got!"
"Might you be interested in this pill, by chance? Take a Burst Blood Pill, and you can draw out explosive power from your vital blood in an instant!"
"My shop has some hidden treasures, young master. Why not step inside? Heh heh heh."
Thanks to discounts from various places and scoring some secret stock, I'd managed a decent haul. But those preparing for the conference at the last minute, like me, must have been having a rough time.
'They weren't kidding when they said the day after one Righteous Dao Conference is when prep for the next begins.'
Fifty years was half a lifetime for a mortal, but not for a cultivator.
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, say, it was merely a quarter of one's life spent preparing for the future—much like mortals in my past life grinding from childhood through youth to land a better job.
'I've secured plenty of talismans and healing pills, so let's call it good.'
The talismans would reduce my consumption in battle, and the pills would aid recovery afterward. The goal was to reach the finals in peak condition to face Yeom Suk.
Currently, Sea Severing Peak was abuzz with the news that Yeom Suk had finally emerged from his long seclusion.
A few days prior, Yeom Suk had broken out of seclusion and, while awaiting the conference, holed up in the palace Geum So-ryeo had prepared just for him.
'Probably wrapping up his final preparations for the Righteous Dao Conference.'
Yeom Suk was a character who appeared quite late in the original story.
His name was merely mentioned when Mun Yoo became a direct disciple, then again much later when he returned from a fortuitous encounter as the previous conference champion and entered the Supreme Secret Realm. After that, word only trickled in that he'd become a core disciple and was in training.
His proper debut came when he'd claimed an entire peak of High Heaven Sect as its elder—and by then, the Heavenly Tribulation era had long passed.
In other words, a character hyped from the early days who didn't actually show up until some 3,000 years had passed in-story time. There was no detailed explanation for how he'd surpassed the lifespan limit of Nascent Soul Realm or why he'd lingered there instead of advancing to Soul Transformation, but it was chalked up to some fortuitous encounter.
Having vanished for so long before emerging, Yeom Suk put on an overwhelmingly powerful display from his very first appearance.
'Meaning what I know is post-Nascent Soul Yeom Suk. I don't have precise details on the current one.'
I could only guess that, given his strength at Nascent Soul, he was no pushover even at Core Formation Perfection.
'No descriptions of him transcending major realms, so he's probably at the pinnacle of Core Formation Perfection... the pinnacle of pinnacles, even.'
Perhaps best termed "Grand Perfection of Core Formation"?
His spirit power, spells, and treasures would all be at the absolute peak possible for Core Formation, and his combat prowess would likewise be at its zenith—making him the supreme combat cultivator at the realm.
'The problem is I lack detailed intel beyond these rough estimates... Guess I'll have to gather it by watching the conference.'
While collecting info on the conference, I'd picked up some intriguing tidbits as well.
Pyeong Yu-ran, whom I'd met regarding the Wood Fiend Queen incident, was competing, as was Je Sang-woo—my senior who'd once egged Mun Yoo and me into fighting—and he was even listed among the top contenders.
'A Five Elements Spiritual Root who reached Core Formation Perfection? Impressive.'
I had a Three Elements Spiritual Root and still struggled to advance.
If I'd stuck doggedly to one path without switching cultivation methods midway, could I have formed a core with even a single element?
Amid hearing names of other contenders who weren't quite Core Formation Perfection but still had solid shots at victory, I spotted an unexpected one.
'Hyang Mae's entering the tournament, huh.'
In the original, Do Mun-hyang only left Geum So-ryeo's side for her master's fortuitous encounters; otherwise, she trailed after Mun Yoo.
She grew by latching onto scraps from Geum So-ryeo's opportunities and Mun Yoo's, earning her a poor reputation as a parasitic heroine sucking the protagonist dry.
Not to mention the flak for nagging Mun Yoo to show mercy or do good deeds to build his meritorious force, branded as a "sweet potato heroine" force-feeding frustration—folks even demanded she be killed off.
Perhaps in response, post-victory arc, the author gave Do Mun-hyang her own storyline: a personal fortuitous encounter that toughened her up into a bolder, battle-eager personality. Meanwhile, Mun Yoo suffered immediately after his triumph from over-accumulating karmic force, retroactively justifying her past actions in building his merit.
Still drew complaints for force-feeding more frustration through the protagonist's suffering...
'Anyway, I figured Hyang Mae would lay low until victory, like in the original.'
I sought her out to learn what had happened.
Since Hyang Mae was in the eastern sector, meeting up wasn't hard.
"Hyang Mae!"
"Yoo Lang!"
Hyang Mae welcomed me warmly to the eastern sector and beckoned me to sit across from her. We naturally settled in, sipping spirit liquor and chatting.
"You've reached Core Formation! As expected of you, Hyang Mae."
"And you, Yoo Lang? I heard you qualified for a Tribulation Pill, but you're still at Foundation Establishment Perfection?"
"Ah... I got cut from the Tribulation Pills, so I'm planning to break through after the conference."
"Oh no, that's a shame."
"Can't be helped."
Having long since let go of any attachment to the Tribulation Pill, I brushed it off casually. Soon enough, our conversation turned to Han Chun-oh.
"I never thought you'd thrash Senior Brother Han like that, Yoo Lang."
"Senior Brother Han? He smashed up my eastern sector first. Then he griped to Master about wasting fortuitous encounters on pigs like us."
Hyang Mae's expression darkened at my words.
"You did the right thing! Honestly, he deserved even more of a beating!"
"From the look of it, his Dao heart's completely shattered. Might be the end of him as a cultivator."
Hyang Mae downed a cup of liquor with relish, her face lighting up in satisfaction.
"Heh heh heh. I hated how everyone badmouthed you, Yoo Lang, but after that incident, more and more people have come around to seeing how great you are."
"Really?"
"Yes! Though the problem is they're mostly just praising your looks since you're so handsome!"
Hyang Mae puffed out her cheeks in cute jealousy before explaining why she'd entered the conference.
"As your dao companion and Master's personal direct disciple, I can't just quietly take the bullying and disdain from the sidelines anymore. Losing face for me means losing face for everyone who's believed in and loved me, right?"
Hearing that, I understood why Hyang Mae's personality had shifted.
In the original, since she spent so little time at the sect—mostly following Mun Yoo after the story began—she rarely heard the mockery and abuse firsthand.
Instead, she basked in praise alongside Mun Yoo, who wielded major realm-breaking power.
But in my case, rather than tagging along on external missions with her, I'd chosen to quietly cultivate at the sect. As a result, Hyang Mae had stayed put far longer than in the original, enduring prolonged contempt and bullying that sparked her defiance.
Push anyone, and they'll push back; step on a worm, and it wriggles. Even sweet, good-natured Hyang Mae had her limits, and the abuse had finally made her snap.
"Good for you. Use this chance to shut up all those idiots who badmouthed you."
A bit buzzed and excited, I spoke with enthusiasm, and Hyang Mae—her face flushed red—beamed and shouted back.
"Yeah! I'll knock them all flat!"
After downing another drink, Hyang Mae stared at me intently and said,
"Yoo Lang."
"Yeah?"
"Since things have come to this, there's something I've been wanting to ask."
"Uh, sure. What is it?"
Hyang Mae quietly pointed behind me.
"Who's that woman?"
"Huh?"
I followed her finger and turned to spot Ahan kneeling primly behind me.
Only then did I realize Ahan had silently trailed me from the lodgings all the way here.
"Huh? Who's she? That woman."
Hyang Mae gazed at me with a gentle smile, quietly urging an answer.