The Shield's Debut and the Pill Immortal's Plea
Baek Cheong's private residence was enveloped in a subtle five-colored glow that ignored night and day. The Ohang-sun, which had started out the size of a palm, gradually expanded its area over time. It covered her forearm and upper body before finally taking the form of completely encasing her small frame. The Ohang-sun—a shield where the five elemental energies intertwined in perfect harmony. It had reached the perfect Minor Completion stage.
"Hoo!"
Baek Cheong wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and caught her ragged breath. Enveloping her entire body in the spell had consumed far more spiritual energy than she imagined. Even with her dantian vastly expanded through the Five Elements Mutual Generation cycle, the limits of Refining Qi 2-star were clear when her spiritual roots hadn't grown enough. She could maintain the Minor Completion stage of the Ohang-sun for barely a dozen breaths.
"This should be enough to stamp an impression on the grandfathers."
Baek Cheong withdrew the Ohang-sun that had wrapped around her body. Extreme fatigue crashed over her as her dantian revealed its depleted bottom, but a satisfied smile played on her lips. It was the reward for resisting the temptation of Moomyeongbang and dedicating herself to ten days of grueling training.
"Tomorrow's finally here."
Tomorrow was the day of the small clan gathering hosted by Grandfather. She was ready for the grand performance that would blow away the grandfathers' minds and rake in spiritual herbs. With a light heart, she lay down on her bed and drifted into sweet sleep.
The next evening, the vast garden at the heart of the Yeonha Baek Family was filled with dazzling lanterns and rare spirit plants. Beneath a jade flowtree hundreds of years old, clan members gathered one after another. In the seat of honor sat Gold Core elder Baek Mu-ae, wearing a benevolent smile. Flanking him were the senior elders responsible for the clan's major and minor affairs, along with Baek Mujin and his wife. Below them sat Baek Cheong's uncles and aunts, as well as the exceptionally talented children who would bear the family's future, all seated cautiously.
The banquet's atmosphere was warm and lively, filled with light banter and words of blessing.
Baek Cheong sat primly beside her parents, rolling her eyes as she scanned the surroundings.
Huh?
Baek Cheong's gaze fixed on one spot. Seated next to Grandfather was an unfamiliar old man. Unlike the clear water-attribute energy unique to the Baek family, he exuded a thick herbal scent that stung the nose, along with a faint hot fire-attribute aura—an utterly alien presence. Moreover, a massive pill cauldron emblem was splendidly embroidered in gold thread on the chest of the robe he wore.
A pill cauldron emblem. A pill refiner?
Baek Cheong stealthily eavesdropped on her parents' conversation.
"I didn't expect Pill Immortal Elder Gok to grace the banquet with his presence."
Mother whispered softly, and Father nodded in response.
"Elder Gok and Father have been sworn friends since their youth, sharing life and death. Father must have specially invited him for this gathering."
Baek Cheong's ears perked up. A grand pill refiner worthy of the title Pill Immortal would handle supreme-grade spiritual pills and heavenly treasures. An enormous bonus target had rolled into what was supposed to be just fleecing the grandfathers' wallets.
Perfect situation to show off.
Baek Cheong clenched her fist inwardly. Pill refiners were inherently proficient in fire-attribute for handling flames and wood-attribute for herbs. Displaying the Ohang-sun would be an alluring and bizarre spectacle sure to catch a pill refiner's eye. Since he was Grandfather's close friend, she might even score extra supreme pills if she played it right.
The banquet had ripened, and cups had passed several rounds, when Grandfather cleared his throat to draw everyone's attention.
"We've gathered like this today because our Baek family has great fortune."
Baek Mu-ae's gaze landed precisely on Baek Cheong. All eyes turned to her in unison.
"My youngest granddaughter, Cheong, has awakened Five Elements Mutual Generation on her own and reached Refining Qi 2-star. This is a feat unseen in the entire cultivation world for centuries—a tremendous blessing for our clan. Today is to celebrate this child's talent and bless our family's future, so everyone, enjoy yourselves to the fullest."
The garden erupted in applause and cheers at the former family head's words. Uncles, aunts, and cousins looked at Baek Cheong with eyes mixed with shock and envy.
Baek Cheong rose from her seat, bowing her head shyly in a demure greeting.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
At that moment, Pill Immortal Elder Gok, seated beside Baek Mu-ae, eyed Baek Cheong with keen interest.
"Hoho, indeed the prodigy you've boasted about endlessly, Mu-ae. Awakening Five Elements Mutual Generation at ten years old. In my lifetime of pill refining, I've never seen a child carrying such pure five-elemental energy."
Elder Gok stroked his goatee, unable to hide his admiration.
"Her dantian vessel is extraordinary too—she'll become a fine cultivator. I'm envious of your fortune, Mu-ae."
Baek Mu-ae chuckled heartily and shrugged.
"Hearing praise from you makes it all the sweeter. Cheong-ah, come here and greet Elder Gok Grandfather."
Baek Cheong approached with light steps and bowed gracefully before Elder Gok.
"This little girl, Baek Cheong, greets Pill Immortal Grandfather."
Elder Gok smiled kindly and pulled a small, round jade box from his bosom. As it opened, a rich pill fragrance spread everywhere, perfuming the garden air.
"Can't come empty-handed for our first meeting. This is the Cheongsim Johwa Pill I refined myself. It'll excellently purify your meridians and smooth the circulation of the five elements."
Baek Cheong instinctively knew it was a supreme-grade pill rivaling the Ice Snow Pill just from the scent. She received the jade box politely with both hands.
"Thank you deeply for this precious gift, Pill Immortal Grandfather."
Instead of returning to her seat, Baek Cheong hesitated. This was the perfect timing to unleash the killer move she'd polished for days.
"Grandfather, Pill Immortal Grandfather."
Baek Cheong called the elders in her clear voice.
"I've been reading the family library lately and learned a spell. It's nothing much, but may I show it to liven up the banquet a little?"
Baek Mu-ae beamed at his bold young granddaughter's proposal.
"Oh ho, so our Cheong has even learned a spell? Yes, show us what you've got."
Baek Mujin's face paled. He intuited what spell his daughter intended to demonstrate. Fearing she might lose control of her energy and become a laughingstock, he hurriedly tried to stop her.
"Ch-Cheong! No need to push yourse—"
But Baek Cheong didn't give her father a chance to intervene. She walked to the center of the garden, closed her eyes, and drew her dantian energy to its limit. Water, wood, fire, earth, metal. The five-colored energies swirled from her dantian and burst forth.
"Ohyeong-hyeonmu-gap!"
With Baek Cheong's resounding cry, the five rays of light fused in an instant, forming a barrier that enveloped her entire body. Even the lantern lights illuminating the garden seemed to lose their glow, overshadowed by the elemental energies.
The Baek clan members in the garden collectively held their breath. Elders' hands froze mid-air with cups in grasp, and the cousins gaped in stunned silence.
A Refining Qi 2-star child had executed a complex spell at perfect Minor Completion.
Baek Mujin gripped his chair's armrest tightly. Just days ago, the palm-sized imperfect Ohang-sun had reached the stage of fully encasing the body. A shiver of awe rose from the depths of his heart at his daughter's overwhelming talent.
But the one most shaken was Pill Immortal Elder Gok. He shot up from his seat and approached Baek Cheong, who had deployed the Ohang-sun. With a pill refiner's sharp senses, he dissected the flow of the five energies comprising it down to the finest detail.
"My word... The energy amplification is perfect, without a single deviation. For the five elements to interlock in such harmony."
Elder Gok's voice trembled faintly. He turned to Baek Mu-ae and shouted in agitation.
"Mu-ae! This child's talent far surpasses mere Five Elements Mutual Generation! That delicate control over energy is the hallmark of a heaven-sent pill refiner! Give her to me as a disciple right now!"
The banquet hall erupted in chaos at Elder Gok's sudden declaration. A renowned grand pill refiner called the Pill Immortal was coveting the youngest daughter of the Yeonha Baek family as his disciple. Following her brilliant aptitude and Five Elements Mutual Generation, now even her innate talent as a pill refiner was acknowledged.
But as Baek Cheong withdrew the Ohang-sun from her body, she panicked inwardly.
Me, a pill refiner!?
She wanted to laze in her room, popping pills for easy training—not become a boring, pedantic pill refiner self-sufficient in pills.
No way!
Unable to hide her flustered expression, she looked to Grandfather. Just then, he met her gaze with an enigmatic smile.
Gr-Grandfather? No, right?
Baek Cheong's eyes wavered with a sense of betrayal. But it was just her imagination.
"I can't let my precious youngest granddaughter stew in a pill room brewing toxic potions. Even a tough one like you barely endured it to reach where you are."
"I promise. I'll treat her like my own granddaughter and teach her preciously."
"In that case, how about this."
Grandfather turned to his old friend with a benevolent smile. Then, as if he'd planned it all along, he opened his mouth with prepared words.
"Think of her as your own granddaughter, stay with the Baek family, and impart even a little teaching to her."