Chapter 56
Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Church Appears (4)
Geum So-ryeo had come to see Yong Yoo for several reasons.
First, she wanted to praise him for so brilliantly displaying his talents, and to tell him the location of the fortuitous encounter as well as details about the Ancient Secret Realm.
Next, she had come to impart some insights on the Core Formation Realm in advance, so that he could break through to it a little faster once inside the Ancient Secret Realm and begin cultivating.
Finally, her goal was to check his physical condition and determine how long it would take for him to reach the optimal state for entering the Ancient Secret Realm.
'If he rests for just about two more days, his body should reach peak condition.'
The Main Peak's treatment center was far more effective than others, not only healing injured bodies but also invigorating one's vitality, clearing the mind, and bringing the body to the absolute best state for cultivation.
'His recovery ability is impressive, huh?'
Geum So-ryeo had thought it would take Yong Yoo longer to fully recover to his peak.
Squeezing every last drop of spiritual power in battle placed an enormous burden on a cultivator's body, so recovery was never easy.
Yet Yong Yoo had already recovered enough to spend time with women.
What Geum So-ryeo didn't know was that this was due to the two spiritual roots within Yong Yoo.
Having two spiritual roots meant both were working simultaneously to recover a single body, doubling the speed.
Once the body swiftly returned to normal, spiritual power recovery accelerated as well, resulting in superior physical and spiritual recovery compared to others.
Even Yong Yoo, who hadn't yet fully grasped the benefits of his dual spiritual roots, was unaware of this exceptional recovery ability.
Lost in thoughts of Yong Yoo as she flew, Geum So-ryeo sensed someone attempting a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm on a nameless small peak near Sea Severing Peak.
"Hm? Which Direct Disciple is trying to break through?"
Geum So-ryeo sent her divine sense discreetly to avoid interfering, and saw a woman in red armor challenging the breakthrough.
It was Pyeong Yu-ran.
Pyeong Yu-ran had sought the Central Water Array Division because she could no longer advance her realm through Dao combat alone and needed some other kind of insight or fortuitous encounter.
Paradoxically, while pursuing opportunities beyond Dao combat, she had gained the most profound realization in Dao combat itself.
Watching Yong Yoo repel a Core Formation Realm perfection cultivator with only Foundation Establishment Realm 2nd layer power, and then defeat two Core Formation Realm perfection experts in a row once he reached Foundation Establishment perfection—that sight had enlightened her.
After gaining that insight, Pyeong Yu-ran had seized the chance to attempt a Nascent Soul breakthrough in mere days. She had explained the situation to High Heaven Sect and was now attempting it on this nameless peak.
'Red armor? Ah, that Sansu who fought Mun-hyang and Yoo.'
Recognizing Pyeong Yu-ran's identity, Geum So-ryeo quickly lost interest and continued on her way.
She hadn't seen her disciples while chasing fortuitous encounters, so now she visited them one by one.
"Su-un, are you there?"
"M-Master! Have you returned?"
Geum So-ryeo first visited the quarters of her eldest disciple and noted that his cultivation was stuck at Core Formation Realm 5th layer.
"Your progress has stagnated since last time."
Oh Su-un nodded with a slightly deflated expression at her words.
"Yes... I'm sorry, Master."
"The path of Dual Body and Dual Elements is arduous until mastery, but since it's the path you deeply considered and chose, I won't say a word against it. However, the sect rule of expulsion before reaching Nascent Soul by age 300 remains unchanged."
Geum So-ryeo lectured her disciple while bestowing elixirs and tools helpful for tempering the Cyclic Heavenly Technique.
"I hope your cultivation has advanced by the next time we meet."
After leaving Oh Su-un, Geum So-ryeo met Du Hye, Han Chun-oh, and Wi Ja-seok in turn.
Du Hye and Han Chun-oh were both at Core Formation Realm 2nd layer, and neither had reached 100 years old, so Geum So-ryeo expected them to break through to Nascent Soul within the allotted time.
However, contrary to Geum So-ryeo's expectations, Han Chun-oh's Dao heart had been utterly shattered after his crushing defeat to Yong Yoo.
Having heard of the incident between Yong Yoo and Han Chun-oh before arriving, Geum So-ryeo gazed at him—now a shell of a man, his face wrinkled like an old prune, hair falling out after time had passed with his broken Dao heart.
"Master..."
"Chun-oh, I've heard about what happened between you and Yoo."
"......"
At Geum So-ryeo's words, Han Chun-oh twisted his face and bowed his head in silence.
On Sea Severing Peak, rumors spread that losing to Yong Yoo—a Heavenly Church member who had even defeated Yeom Suk—was no big deal.
But to Han Chun-oh, whose mind had already collapsed, such talk offered no comfort.
If anything, the terror of having made an enemy of such a strong and fearsome cultivator flooded him.
Cultivators could fully memorize even the thickest, most complex manuals or spellbooks with a single scan of divine sense.
Their exceptional memory meant they never forgot minor grudges or conflicts, stacking them layer by layer. No one knew when such accumulated resentments might manifest as heart demons, so they often aggressively repaid grudges and exterminated enemies.
Even cultivators without vicious or cruel personalities showed no mercy to foes.
At least since Han Chun-oh belonged to High Heaven Sect, he wouldn't lose his life to Yong Yoo, but he had no idea what retaliation might come short of death.
Geum So-ryeo looked at the trembling Han Chun-oh and spoke.
"If you can't rebuild your Dao heart within a year and your cultivation falls further, I will expel you."
"......!! M-Master!!"
Han Chun-oh panicked and crawled on all fours to cling to Geum So-ryeo.
"N-No, please! I'm still fine!"
"Even the greatest genius can hit a wall, but one must challenge it and shatter if need be—never retreat. A Dao heart that frail can never walk the harsh path of cultivation."
Ignoring Han Chun-oh's pitiful wails, Geum So-ryeo continued her stern warning.
"If you wish to remain my Direct Disciple, prove you have the talent and a Dao heart strong enough to continue on the path of cultivation."
Geum So-ryeo's feelings toward Han Chun-oh had already cooled by half.
Thus, she coldly said her piece and vanished before him.
After Han Chun-oh, she visited Wi Ja-seok and confirmed he was steadily continuing his cultivation. She offered a few words of guidance, chatted briefly, then departed. Finally, she entered the eastern quarters where Do Mun-hyang awaited.
"Master! You've come!"
Do Mun-hyang prostrated herself in greeting the moment Geum So-ryeo arrived. The scent of Yong Yoo's unique fragrance wafted strongly from her body.
To be frank, Geum So-ryeo had been constantly monitoring Yong Yoo with divine sense since he was moved to the treatment center, worried something might go wrong.
Thus, she knew not just that Yong Yoo and Do Mun-hyang had been intimate, but every intimate detail of how they had enjoyed it.
'Is that how men and women do it during intercourse?'
This was the first time Geum So-ryeo—who had devoted her life solely to cultivation and High Heaven Sect—had witnessed a man and woman making love.
Though it planted some slightly misguided knowledge about physical relations between men and women, Geum So-ryeo had no intention of interfering as long as her disciples cultivated well, so she didn't ask about it and said what she had come to say.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes, Master!"
"You seem ready to advance to the next realm soon."
Do Mun-hyang, not even a few years into Core Formation Realm, already showed signs of reaching the 2nd layer, so Geum So-ryeo praised her outstanding disciple.
"I worried this incident might shake your Dao heart, but it seems firmer than ever. Good."
"Yes. I believe participating in the Vanguard Tournament was necessary to temper my Dao heart."
"Good. Once you reach Core Formation 2nd layer, come find me. I'll teach you a secret technique."
"Pardon? R-Really?"
Do Mun-hyang jumped in surprise at the unexpected words, and Geum So-ryeo smiled playfully.
"Do you think your master lacks the authority to impart a secret technique to her personal disciple?"
"......Ah."
Do Mun-hyang thanked her dazedly and vowed to reach Core Formation 2nd layer as quickly as possible.
After briefly imparting guidance on spells and techniques, Geum So-ryeo held out a storage pouch as a final gift.
"Also, keep this safe."
"What is it?"
"A Black Tortoise egg."
"Black...! Huh? Black Tortoise...! Egg?! A Black Tortoise...! What?!!"
Do Mun-hyang gaped at the revelation inside the storage pouch and alternated stares between it and Geum So-ryeo.
Her head whipped back and forth so fast that Geum So-ryeo worried it might fly off.
"I secretly stole it while sealing the Black Tortoise. If you can tame it, it'll be a great asset."
"Master, did you discover the Black Tortoise this time?!"
"Yes. Just observing its water essence manipulation gave me profound insights, allowing me to break through to Soul Transformation 4th layer."
"Ah! Congratulations on breaking through the Minor Realm, Master!"
"Once you gain enough strength to protect yourself, let's go together to the Ancient Secret Realm where the Black Tortoise is. It'll be a great help to us."
One might now understand why the other Direct Disciples envied and resented Do Mun-hyang.
Geum So-ryeo's favoritism toward her was blatant.
For reference, the reason Geum So-ryeo favored Do Mun-hyang was simply that she possessed a single-element water spiritual root, just like Geum So-ryeo herself and High Heaven Sect's founding ancestor Geum Yang-pyeong.
Over the past few days, Yong Yoo reviewed the Core Formation insights Geum So-ryeo had shared and previewed information on the Ancient Secret Realm.
Once Yong Yoo was in perfect condition, High Heaven Sect summoned him and escorted him to the Ancient Secret Realm.
Escorted by ten Nascent Soul Realm experts who would guard the entrance for the year he spent inside, Yong Yoo headed deep into the Main Peak to the hidden entrance of the Ancient Secret Realm.
"After entering the Ancient Secret Realm, spend a full year there. Someone will come fetch you after one year, so ignore the passage of time and focus solely on cultivation."
"Understood, Elder. This disciple will train diligently."
After receiving final instructions at the entrance, Yong Yoo stepped slowly into the Ancient Secret Realm under everyone's watchful eyes.