What Belongs to the Ones Who Cannot Survive (2)
Starting the next morning, Baek Sang-ah’s schedule changed a little.
Instead of practicing Ungyu Sect’s movement arts with Un Susa, she would now be training in the new consciousness method alongside the Qi Condensation Realm disciples. This was an indispensable part of cultivating the Great Void Divine Method devised by Great Immortal.
“Before a Qi Condensation disciple reaches Foundation Establishment, this is the stage where they learn to take in the true qi of the five elements.”
While Un Jangmun instructed the disciples, Baek Sang-ah naturally inserted herself among them.
“So in the early stage of Qi Condensation, you open your eyes to read the principles of the world. In the middle stage, you fully open your consciousness so you can always read the patterns of all things.”
As a result, the eyes of one disciple seated cross-legged right beside Baek Sang-ah began to tremble violently.
To a Qi Condensation disciple who had not yet shed his humanity, Baek Sang-ah’s appearance was little different from a heart demon.
Because her top was so short, her side and stomach were laid bare, down to the straight line of her navel. Her rounded chest bulged against the tiny robe, and a plump tail jutted out from beneath her skirt.
Especially when that swaying tail caused the skirt to ride up, a cultivation trial far more difficult than swordplay began for the disciple’s wandering gaze.
And yet Baek Sang-ah paid no heed to the three or four gazes fixed on her. She listened calmly to Un Susa’s words as if nothing at all were wrong.
“Finally, the disciples who have reached the latter stage of Qi Condensation prepare to truly receive the five elements.”
At Un Jangmun’s cue, the disciples all closed their eyes and began to steady their breathing.
Even so, though they looked composed on the surface, their breaths were plainly shaking because of Baek Sang-ah’s presence.
Watching them in silence, Un Susa’s brows began to twitch.
“To know how to govern your consciousness means you know how to properly control spiritual energy. So through your spiritual root, the principles of the five elements— You fools! Can’t you focus properly?”
Of course, Un Susa had long since noticed Baek Sang-ah’s presence.
From the beginning, her presence was something a cultivator could never hide.
Her consciousness was simply too clear, too vivid; naturally, it got on the nerves of those who always sensed the minds around them.
When Dam So-dam, feeling that faint irritation, turned her head to glance behind her, she could tell that the eyes of all six fellow disciples were fixed on Baek Sang-ah.
These bastards—how dare they look at our unnie…?
Dam So-dam swallowed her fury and closed her eyes.
But instead of focusing, all she could see in her mind was Baek Sang-ah’s tail.
Sway, sway….
The tip of that languid tail.
“Ah.”
Dam So-dam let out a short groan.
In the end, the only one who managed to truly cultivate that day was Baek Sang-ah.
If you want to reach the latter stage of Qi Condensation, you can’t just keep your consciousness open all the time. You have to learn to use it however you want.
“However I want? My consciousness? So I just need to change my thoughts?”
Using it however you want doesn’t mean changing your thoughts. Thoughts are only the outer shell of consciousness. Consciousness is the essence of the awareness you possess.
“I don’t get it.”
Then learn.
Of course, Baek Sang-ah did not join the morning training only once.
In cultivating the Great Void Divine Method, the reactions of other people were absolutely essential.
That was why, from that day on, she joined the training among the Ungyu Sect disciples almost every day.
Great Immortal believed that, unlike other cultivators, the foundation of all cultivation lies in emptying the vessel called oneself.
“I already said I’m empty.”
Thus, the Great Void Divine Method is something vast and empty. The first thing you must learn is how to feel your consciousness while erasing your presence from the awareness of other disciples.
Whenever Baek Sang-ah joined the training, the other disciples’ gazes would once again drift toward her.
It was so obvious that even Un Susa could tell, at a glance, how badly their consciousness was unsettled.
And yet no one could say a word to Baek Sang-ah.
All Un Susa could do was suppress his own frustration and do his best to pull his disciples’ focus back into place.
Controlling your consciousness so that other disciples cannot perceive it is the very first foundation. Now try it.
But then, before long—what was this?
After Baek Sang-ah had been taking part in consciousness training for a couple of months, the Ungyu Sect disciples’ awareness had become sturdier than before by leaps and bounds.
Part of that was surely because they had grown used to Baek Sang-ah’s presence, but that was not all.
The matter was simple.
The disciples had to keep their concentration steady so they wouldn’t be caught by Un Susa, even while Baek Sang-ah kept stealing their attention.
Caught between the urge not to look at Baek Sang-ah and the consciousness that kept slipping free on its own, they struggled to control themselves.
As a result, the intensity of their training naturally increased, and their consciousness was tempered into something far more resilient.
Un Susa, who had initially found Baek Sang-ah’s participation unsettling, finally came to a realization.
Senior really did have a plan for everything!
Then, a few days later, just as he was growing used to Baek Sang-ah’s quiet participation and the overwhelming presence she radiated, another trainee joined them.
It was the tiger monster Baek Sang-ah had brought back two months earlier: Rangi.
That enormous tiger crouched down beside Baek Sang-ah, and the intensity of Ungyu Sect’s training climbed once more.
……
……
……
The disciples were growing at a pace that could only be called explosive, but Un Susa’s heart grew more and more scorched by the day.
The reason was none other than Baek Sang-ah’s presence.
For a cultivation sect so obscure that even its name was barely known, Baek Sang-ah was a burden too heavy to bear.
In the world of cultivation, one’s level of accomplishment was, in the end, no different from one’s status.
So Ungyu Sect, a sect little different from the lowest rung of society, survived by keeping its head down and living in silence.
And now?
They had taken in Baek Sang-ah, who was at the very least suspected to be a Gold Core cultivator, along with a monster beast no weaker than a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
It was only fortunate that no other disciples had noticed yet. If they did, it would instantly draw attention—attention not of the good kind, but the bad.
Above all else, the relationship between human-born cultivators and beastfolk was not exactly amicable.
Ungyu Sect had accepted Baek Sang-ah only because they were in no position to defy the will of a Gold Core cultivator.
Any other cultivation sect would have already treated her presence as a rare pill. Their eyes would have gleamed not with reverence, but greed.
Even so, Un Susa felt grateful to her for it.
But anything beyond that was not something he could simply stand by and ignore as the leader of a sect.
Some might say he was worrying too much, but a sect leader had to think about the days ahead.
At this rate, the disciples of Ungyu Sect might be put in danger.
Un Susa spoke in a deliberately indifferent tone, trying not to reveal the true shape of his concern.
“Has she by any chance given any hint as to how long she intends to remain in Ungyu Sect?”
“Hmm. I don’t think I’ve heard anything like that. She’s not very talkative, so she hardly ever says anything about things like that.”
“I see.”
“Still, I think she’s satisfied with life here at Ungyu Sect.”
Un Jangmun nodded lightly, but the weight in his chest only grew heavier.
I can’t drive her away, and if I just leave her be, I’m worried about what may come later. Yet there’s nothing I can do.
For the first time, he felt keenly the frustration of his own meager cultivation and sealed his lips shut.
There was nothing he could do right now.
The only thing close to it was pushing the disciples’ cultivation forward.
“So-dam.”
“Yes!”
“It’s already been more than twenty years since you became a disciple of Ungyu Sect.”
“Because you saved me from that collapsing temple and risked your life to do it, Jangmun. That’s why I’m here now.”
Un Jangmun quietly closed his eyes.
“Let me ask you this. Do you want to pursue greater accomplishment? If you do, I’ll think of a way.”
“Want to? Of course I do! I want to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator as soon as possible.”
“That’s a fine mindset. You have exceptional talent, so you’ll build your cultivation quickly.”
Looking at Dam So-dam’s clear, bright face, Un Jangmun made a quiet vow to himself.
This was the best preparation he could make.
He had to turn the most talented disciple, Dam So-dam, into a Foundation Establishment cultivator as soon as possible.
“Then come to my room starting half a month from now, when the moon begins to wane. I’ll teach you a special method of cultivation.”
“R-really?”
“Yes. But you’ll have to endure the pain that comes with it.”
When Un Jangmun finished speaking, Dam So-dam slowly rose to her feet. Then she looked at him and said,
“It’s all right. I’ve endured worse before.”
With that, she left Jangmun’s room.
Watching the girl’s retreating back, Un Susa murmured under his breath,
“If only she could stay quiet for a while…”
But most things in this world did not go as one wished.
Half a month later, Hyeongeuk, who had briefly gone outside the sect, came running back toward Un Susa in a panic.
“What is it that has you rushing about like this?”
“I-I found it!”
“Speak properly. How can you call yourself a cultivator when you behave so disgracefully?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
Hyeongeuk drew in a ragged breath and said,
“Baek senior. I mean. We found it. A c-cave!”
“A cave?”
“A cave with spirit stones in it!”
It was an unexpected stroke of providence.