Chapter 78
Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Sect Exchange (4)
‘A single minor realm difference in the Core Formation Realm can be bridged, it seems.’
Having first raised the Kang Golden Core to the 5th layer of the Core Formation Realm, I tested the Harmony Fusion Art before preparing to break through with the Yong Golden Core.
Right now, I could use the Harmony Fusion Art even with a few minor realm differences, but as the power gap between realms widened, this restriction would tighten.
Later on, even a single minor realm difference might make it impossible. Above all, perfectly aligning the two golden cores’ realms would maximize the Harmony Fusion Art’s power.
‘The foundation of the Harmony Fusion Art is complete integration above all else. It’s not just about matching spirit power and spells. Intent, will, breathing, thought, goals, desires, purpose…… true complete integration of everything.’
This was possible only because I, as an individual, wielded two spirit roots.
Even if some cultivator manipulated another’s mind to perfectly align everything and used a fusion spell, they couldn’t reach the realm of the Harmony Fusion Art.
The absolute chasm between dominator and dominated would block the way.
‘The Red Thread Harmony Fusion Art tightens the connection between the two golden cores. But if I could forge that tight connection myself, even standard harmony fusion would unleash the Red Thread Harmony Fusion Art’s power.’
Yet an absolute gulf existed between the two golden cores.
First, they stemmed from different souls.
Second, the Kang Golden Core followed the path of No Questions, while the Yong Golden Core trod the Anti-Dragon Path.
These factors created differences and distance between the cores. That was why, this time, I planned to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm simultaneously with both, without advancing one ahead.
‘My biggest worry right now is that if one reaches the Nascent Soul Realm first, the newborn nascent soul might shatter the other core.’
A freshly born nascent soul was said to be like an innocent, unruly child—hard to control, disobedient, and prone to rampaging.
If the nascent soul destroyed the other core before I could rein it in…… The mere thought was horrifying.
To prevent such issues, I had to meticulously align the two cores’ realms for a simultaneous breakthrough. At least then, even if the two nascent souls clashed, neither would unilaterally destroy the other.
‘They’ll probably fight and cause a huge commotion…… but I’ll have to endure it. I’ll have to break through in secret, somewhere deserted.’
It was both frightening and exciting.
Once nascent souls were born from both cores, it would become possible to draw the disparate spirit roots closer and connect them more intimately—something impossible until now.
Then my Harmony Fusion Art would finally be complete. Or rather, considering how far the cultivator’s path stretched…… only upon reaching the Nascent Soul Realm would my Harmony Fusion Art take its first true step.
As I pondered the Nascent Soul Realm and the Harmony Fusion Art, time passed, and the Yong Golden Core solidly reached the 5th layer of the Core Formation Realm.
By now, advancing a single minor realm stirred no excitement. Unlike before, with my current aptitude, it wasn’t particularly difficult.
If I’d abandoned solidifying my foundations for pure cultivation, I’d have reached the 7th or 8th layer long ago.
But that wasn’t what I wanted. I refused to rush down a flimsy, unstable path riddled with gaps.
I wanted to build it step by step, layer upon layer—foundations firm, pillars strong—carving a grand, sturdy great path to walk.
Others might call it foolish, urging me to trust my talent and soar…… but in the end, my way was the truly swift path.
The righteous path was the absolute correct answer and the shortcut for traversing the great path.
Why else would it be both righteous and grand?
People ignored the ready-made, perfectly correct answer sheet and stumbled onto other roads, tripping and tumbling.
Aptitude, lifespan, gaps, defeat, mistakes, frustration, hatred, love, karma…… the myriad obstacles before them clouded their vision, shattered their Dao hearts, and warped their judgment.
‘I’m in no position to lecture others either.’
I hated Ye Ga-seok.
I wanted to kill the bastard who’d spewed such filth at my women.
Resentment and hatred prodded me as heart demons.
To walk the righteous path properly, I just needed to discard such hatred. Forget it, let it flow away.
‘I’m just a foolish mortal, smugly claiming to know the right answer yet unable to follow it properly.’
But…… I loved my women too much to do that.
They were the ones who taught me life’s joys and happiness, giving me reason to live.
I had no intention of forgiving anyone who touched them.
“Yoo Lang.”
As my heart demon stirred again, Hyang Mae sensed it and gently placed her hand over mine.
“…….”
Without a word, I intertwined my fingers with hers.
I recalled the softness, fragrance, and warmth I’d felt embracing her. The emotions shared in our connected communion. The pleasure and happiness from that moment.
I trusted the bond between Hyang Mae and me without doubt.
Stronger and firmer than calling each other Dao companions or by names like Yoo Lang and Hyang Mae.
It was the feeling that we made each other happy simply by existing. As long as that endured, no other proof was needed for our connection.
Realizing my heart demon had subsided, I pulled Hyang Mae close.
She climbed silently onto my lap in meditation and nestled into my arms. I hugged her tightly, pressing my lips to her hair.
“Thank you.”
“No need.”
Holding Hyang Mae, I felt a twinge of unease.
Memories of my previous life’s final year flooded back.
‘It started…… with hospitalization in February, right?’
I knew my elbow was inflamed. But figuring it’d resolve on its own, and hesitant to go to the hospital for something minor, I just iced it and let time pass.
Eventually, it worsened severely, so I went to the clinic. They freaked out, saying they couldn’t handle it, and sent me to a major hospital.
I was admitted immediately. They drilled a hole in my elbow, scraped out everything inside, inserted a tube, and drained the pus and inflammation for two weeks.
It healed forcibly…… but a month later, I was hospitalized again.
I slipped on a rainy road. Tore a knee muscle—first time under general anesthesia for surgery. The hospital gave me a wheelchair, so I experienced wheelchair life for the first time.
Twice hospitalized since New Year’s, I grew depressed. Then, whenever I forgot my umbrella, I’d get soaked in the rain.
Why’s my luck so rotten this year?
Such thoughts arose.
Lost my wallet, broke my smartphone…… someone even scratched my perfectly parked car and fled.
Nothing major. Just petty, trivial misfortunes piling up relentlessly.
Normally, you forget bad luck after time passes, but these recurred in short cycles, layering in my mind without fading—every incident etched deep.
It hit harder than expected.
Everything I touched failed; got scammed by a so-called friend and lost money; the cat I raised died…… and my father showed up at my place, demanding cash because his stock failures left him in debt.
Who’d think he was the lender?
“Repay the money I spent raising you stably—become a civil servant.”
What right did a guy like that have to demand money? Sometimes, worldly people were more shameless than those in immortal tales.
Ah, I don’t want to live.
A thought everyone has now and then.
Back then, it dominated me.
To shake off the gloom, I went overseas…… and died in a plane crash.
‘Ah, recalling it depresses me again.’
To banish the gloom, I hugged Hyang Mae tighter. Watching me, she suddenly spun around to face me.
“Hyang Mae?”
“Here goes.”
“…….”
Hyang Mae abruptly parted her clothes, baring her breasts before me. Overwhelmed by their grandeur filling my vision, my eyes widened.
“My…… sisters said showing this cheers guys up. ……How’s that?”
“…….”
Speechless, I pulled her close and buried my face in them.
“Works great.”
This woman—I must protect her no matter what.
After summoning the righteous sects for a warning, another half-year passed. In that time, our sect announced its stance on the Falling Star Sect and gathered forces for the campaign to eradicate them.
Reflecting on past mistakes, we left the Dharma Protector Hall and Enforcement Hall behind, with half the elders remaining at High Heaven Sect.
The main force consisted of the War Banner Pavilion, which handled external sect disputes, and Elder Geum So-ryeo.
Geum So-ryeo at the 4th layer of the Soul Transformation Realm.
War Banner Leader at the 1st layer of the Soul Transformation Realm.
Deputy Leader at Nascent Soul Realm Completion.
Five War Banner Pavilion disciples at late-to-mid Nascent Soul Realm.
About twenty core disciples at early Nascent Soul Realm.
Five peak elders at Nascent Soul Realm Completion.
Five visiting elders stationed at High Heaven Sect.
And hundreds of volunteered Core Formation Realm disciples from each peak.
This starkly demonstrated High Heaven Sect’s might.
Two Soul Transformation Realm experts—rarer than most sects could boast—and over half their Nascent Soul Realm forces at late to completion stages.
That alone could obliterate most sects, yet add early-to-mid Nascent Soul forces and hundreds of Core Formation cultivators.
This wasn’t merely resolving a sect dispute.
High Heaven Sect intended outright slaughter and annihilation of Falling Star Sect. Even I, who’d planned revenge on Ye Ga-seok mid-campaign, felt taken aback.
‘No…… reacting this intensely?’
Would I even get a shot at revenge on Ye Ga-seok like this?
Harboring such thoughts, I boarded the massive flying carpet unfurled above High Heaven Sect alongside Hyang Mae and Ahan.
Atop it sat Elder Geum So-ryeo first. Usually endlessly cold and composed, even we could see her spirit power seething with fury.
All cultivators joining the Falling Star Sect campaign boarded the carpet, and we soared off to crush them.
“Sect Lord! High Heaven Sect approaches soon! What shall we do?!”
“Fear not, all of you.”
In the depths of Resonant Abyss Gorge.
From a palace built atop a tangle of dozens of flood dragon corpses, the Falling Star Sect Lord quietly addressed his panicked elders.
“Do you think this old man entered Resonant Abyss Gorge merely to flee High Heaven Sect?”
“Sect Lord, then……?”
“For this very moment, I’ve spent 800 years refining this flood dragon corpse into a dharma altar using the gorge’s energies. As you know, Resonant Abyss Gorge’s qi counters ordinary cultivators, and this pile of flood dragon carcasses—offspring of the Dragon King—holds special provenance. Moreover, I’ve mastered a secret art merging the altar with my body. Even three Soul Transformation Realm masters couldn’t overwhelm me.”
The Falling Star Sect Lord grinned confidently.
“I’d hoped to fully complete this altar and topple High Heaven Sect with our power, but they discovered us too soon—a true regret. In just 200 more years, my true name dharma altar would have been perfected.”
As he formed hand seals, the palace emanated gloomy black light, deathly yin qi gradually rising from the flood dragon corpses.
“Let’s vent this rage by crushing the arrogant flies who dared touch our Falling Star Sect. When was High Heaven Sect invincible? How long will we live crushed beneath them?! Great Soul Transformation elders of Falling Star Sect! Fear not!!”