Chapter 8
Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: It's Not Just the Arms (2)
Perhaps it was due to the veiled threat lurking beneath Geum So-ryeo's gentle voice, but a chilling aura permeated the entire Peak Lord's Pavilion of Sea Severing Peak.
Thinking that one wrong move here could get me killed outright, I took a deep breath before casting the only technique I knew.
Just like before, I drew up the energy of the Fire Shadow Qi and the Five Skandhas Enlightenment Art from within my body, merged them into one, and channeled them according to the instructions in the Blazing Palm Seal manual, releasing the power through my palm.
Boom!!
In an instant, the air throughout the grand hall grew scorching hot as intense light and heat burst from my palm, surging forward to engulf Geum So-ryeo.
Since both my meridians had advanced a full level since then, the Blazing Palm Seal erupting from my hand now carried far greater power than before.
"Impressive. It's hard to believe you're only at the fourth layer of the Refining Qi Realm."
Geum So-ryeo spoke with a satisfied smile, and in the next moment, my Blazing Palm Seal vanished without a trace.
"Huh."
The technique disappeared silently, as if I'd never cast it in the first place. Startled, I looked at Geum So-ryeo, who seemed to be appraising something. She nodded slowly.
"Even at the fourth layer of the Refining Qi Realm, your technique's power surpasses that of children at the peak of the realm. No—even those who have just entered the Foundation Establishment Realm and learned their spells crudely can't match you."
...Really? Her words made me realize that the power of my technique was abnormal.
Geum So-ryeo gazed at me with keen interest.
Her eyes seemed to peer straight into the depths of my soul, and I couldn't help but shrink back. She chuckled at my reaction.
"Try it once more. I want to know why this technique wields such might."
"Y-Yes..."
I cast Blazing Palm Seal again, and Geum So-ryeo dispersed it effortlessly before observing me closely.
"You're circulating your spirit energy in two separate streams within your body. One is Fire Shadow Qi... and the other feels like a Buddhist cultivation method? You're deploying the Blazing Palm Seal with both arts simultaneously. Hmm. Why is that?"
"Uh... just... because."
Why? It was simply because I'd added the power of the Five Skandhas Enlightenment Art to the Blazing Palm Seal.
That's when I realized something.
'This master... she hasn't noticed my dual spiritual roots!'
She saw me as being at the fourth layer of the Refining Qi Realm, meaning she'd only detected my dragon spiritual root and missed the steel spiritual root entirely!
And Geum So-ryeo was a Soul Transformation Realm grand cultivator by the story's lore!
In the world of cultivators, the Refining Qi Realm forged the body with spirit energy.
The Foundation Establishment Realm allowed one to refine spirit energy into spirit power.
The Core Formation Realm formed a golden core with one's spiritual root.
The Nascent Soul Realm birthed an origin soul from the golden core.
The Soul Transformation Realm evolved that origin soul into a soul avatar.
In the cultivation world, a single realm's difference was like night and day. Not even a hundred Refining Qi cultivators like me could stand against one Foundation Establishment expert.
The gap between her Soul Transformation Realm and my Refining Qi Realm spanned a full four realms. I couldn't fathom why Geum So-ryeo hadn't detected my steel spiritual root.
"A strange habit. Could that be the secret to your talent?"
Geum So-ryeo murmured as she flicked her finger, sending a stream of water dancing. What technique was that?
"It doesn't seem to make the technique much stronger... but geniuses always have their quirks and secrets."
With a nod, as if deciding to let it slide, she pulled a jade token from her sleeve and handed it to me.
I fumbled to accept it, and the jade slips and pills inside clinked against each other.
"This is the promised reward. And if you reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, I promise to take you as my direct disciple."
"...Th-Thank you, Master!"
Feigning deep emotion, I prostrated myself and lavished her with praise. Geum So-ryeo giggled at the sight.
"Hmm. For a genius, you sure are obedient and cute."
She pointed at my face.
"But that sly, pretty face of yours needs covering. Unless you're cultivating dual cultivation methods, attracting women won't do you any good."
With that, she handed me a hero's band and a black veil.
Hm. Cover my face and live like this...?
"Do the other seniors wear these too?"
"Hm? They don't need to. As long as they don't actively chase them, women won't flock to them."
"Ah, right..."
Yeah. Since I've heard you're good-looking, I'll just take the good with the good.
I wrapped the hero's band around my forehead and tucked the black veil between it and my skin so it draped over my face.
Strangely, even with the veil covering it, my vision remained perfectly clear—not the slightest obstruction. This proved it wasn't ordinary cloth but some kind of dharma treasure or artifact.
"It's a nameless trinket, but it'll protect your head at least."
Reading my reaction, Geum So-ryeo explained before issuing an order to see guests out.
"Our time is up. I spent longer than planned on you given your talent, so be grateful. We'll meet again once you've reached the Foundation Establishment Realm."
With those final words, I left the Peak Lord's Pavilion and headed to my new quarters with Do Mun-hyang.
On the way, we happened to run into Mun Yoo.
"Ah."
"Hm."
"Uh."
Suddenly encountering Mun Yoo, Do Mun-hyang and I froze. This was incredibly awkward timing...
"Hyang-ah? Haven't seen you around the last few days. Everything okay?"
Apparently not recognizing me, Mun Yoo addressed only Do Mun-hyang.
"Ah, I was... carrying out Master's orders..."
Do Mun-hyang, emotionally distancing herself from Mun Yoo, responded a bit ambiguously.
"I see. I was worried since you vanished. Who's this...?"
"Ah, wait! This is the new senior brother joining Sea Severing Peak. Master's hobby, you know?"
Do Mun-hyang invoked Geum So-ryeo to cut off further questions.
Come to think of it, Geum So-ryeo had a habit of snatching up any kid who seemed talented and dragging them back to Sea Severing Peak...
Mun Yoo, aware of her quirk, nodded in understanding.
Sea Severing Peak was a strange place, really.
Geum So-ryeo loved High Heaven Sect so much that as long as you were a sect disciple—even someone like Mun Yoo at the second layer of Refining Qi—you could become an inner disciple here. It had more disciples than any other peak.
But invisible status gaps existed between those who joined of their own accord and those handpicked by Geum So-ryeo or recognized as geniuses. It was far from a cozy or comfortable peak.
A training paradise made for the talented and strong.
That was Sea Severing Peak.
Knowing this, Mun Yoo bowed politely to me, but afraid my voice would give me away, I just nodded curtly in return.
Mun Yoo's eyebrow twitched at what he saw as my arrogance, but sorry, I really had no choice...
An oddly menacing aura radiated fiercely from his entire body. If he realized I was Yong Yoo, I was sure he'd charge and attack me right then and there. It was terrifying.
Do Mun-hyang, anxious about me conversing further with Mun Yoo, wedged herself between us.
"Yoo Senior Brother."
"Yeah, Hyang-ah. What is it?"
"Are you alright? You smell like blood..."
At Do Mun-hyang's words, Mun Yoo glanced down at himself before smirking.
"Don't worry. I'm all healed. This isn't my blood."
"Ah... Then whose?"
"Eh. Don't worry about it."
Mun Yoo cut the conversation short and turned to leave.
After he was well out of sight, I cautiously asked Do Mun-hyang,
"Uh... Is that guy's attitude always like that?"
It didn't seem so in the novel.
Mun Yoo was prickly with others but always gentle with the heroines.
"I... I don't know. Why's he acting like that? Is losing to you senior brother still bothering him that much...?"
"Is that really the issue?"
"But it's weird."
"Weird? How?"
"His aura... It's only been a few days, but he already seems to have reached the sixth layer of the Refining Qi Realm. How?"
Do Mun-hyang spoke in disbelief, but I had a pretty good idea how Mun Yoo had jumped to the sixth layer.
That ferocious aura wafting from his entire body—it was proof he'd accumulated so much karmic force that even his meritorious force couldn't fully conceal it.
What the hell had he done in just a few days to amass that much karmic force? Even after my Five Skandhas Enlightenment Art melted away some of his built-up karma, he'd somehow piled on enough to leap two minor realms? What about his meritorious force?
Feeling a twinge of unease, I returned to my quarters and opened the jade token Master had given me to inspect its contents.
One was a jade slip inscribed with a technique. The other was a pill.
"This pill is a Vessel Completion Pill."
"Vessel Completion Pill?"
"Yes. It aids breakthroughs in the Refining Qi Realm. This one's high quality, so it should give the effect of ten years of cultivation."
"Oh... If I take it, can I jump straight to the fifth layer?"
"Hm. If I help guide the pill's energy for optimal absorption, you might see even greater results. Yoo Senior, I'll assist you right after you swallow it."
"That'd be great! Any precautions?"
"Hm, it'll build up pill toxins. So no other pills for a week after. It could seriously harm you."
"Got it."
Even acetaminophen, which people in my past life stockpiled at home and popped for headaches, was quite toxic and damaged the liver with overuse.
Pills were probably the same—potent effects came with toxins.
With that thought, I popped the pill into my mouth and chewed it down.
I'd worried it might be hard to swallow, but it mashed smoothly and slid down my throat effortlessly.
The moment I swallowed, I assumed a meditative posture. Do Mun-hyang placed her hands on my shoulders and guided the overflowing pill energy through my body.
About half an hour passed like that?
When I opened my eyes again, my dragon spiritual root had reached the fifth layer of the Refining Qi Realm, and my steel spiritual root had hit the limit of the second layer, on the verge of breaking into the third.
"Whoa..."
How many days and nights of nonstop chugging Spirit Liquor would it take me to achieve this?
Even ten months of daily drinking wouldn't cut it... I'd need over a year of nothing but cultivation and Spirit Liquor to match this.
And I'd done it in half an hour...
'No wonder people dismiss Spirit Liquor and rave about pills. If only I'd had talent for pill refining instead of Spirit Liquor brewing.'
A hint of bitterness lingered, but Spirit Liquor had no toxins, so I could drink it endlessly. Good was good.
"Hyang-ah, thanks... Urk!"
As I tried to stand and express my gratitude, pain surged from deep within, forcing me to my knees in shock.
"Ah, rest up a bit. Gaining over ten years of progress in such a short time burdens the body."
"Ugh... yeah... Guess that's the downside of pills."
In the end, I spent the whole day bedridden in my quarters recovering. Do Mun-hyang apologized, saying she had to go train, and left.
After a good rest, my body felt better. Sitting up, I turned my attention to the jade slip Master had given me.
A cultivator with divine sense could press the jade slip to their forehead and scan it to grasp the contents instantly, but without divine sense, I had to unfold it and read line by line.