Four Stars Achieved and the Five Elements Pill

Baek Cheong burst out of the training chamber and dashed back to her residence in a daze. Every step sent the stench of sewage wafting from the grime caked all over her body, assaulting her nose. The servants she passed recoiled in shock, stepping back, and her face burned with embarrassment.

"Quick, draw me a bath!"

The moment she reached her quarters, Baek Cheong urgently summoned her maids. Normally, she would have let them sponge her down without protest, but not today. The very thought of anyone seeing her in this hideous state was mortifying.

"I'll wash myself. Everyone, out."

After shooing the maids away, Baek Cheong plunged into the large bathtub. Scrubbing off the hardened filth in the warm water was exhausting but refreshing. As she soaked and loosened her knotted muscles, she suddenly sensed a change in her divine sense.

"Huh?"

Her divine sense, extended absentmindedly, pierced through the walls of her residence and stretched out unimpeded. What had once been limited to 11 jang at Qi Refining 3-star—about 33 meters—had now expanded to a whopping 15 jang, roughly 45 meters, after breaking through the small realm barrier. With focus, she could perceive every detail in the surrounding area as vividly as if holding it in her palm—an overwhelming range.

It's like a real biological radar.

Baek Cheong playfully swept her divine sense around in wonder. But soon, crushing fatigue hit her, and her head throbbed. Maintaining such a vast divine sense indiscriminately was like cramming every unnecessary noise and visual detail from the surroundings straight into her brain. Moreover, prying into others' domains without permission violated the basic etiquette and morals upheld in the cultivation world.

"Ow... my head."

Baek Cheong quickly retracted her divine sense and, out of habit, logged into the Moomyeongbang.

She was bursting to broadcast her breakthrough to the four corners of the forum; otherwise, it felt like thorns were sprouting in her mouth.

Pulling up the chat board, Baek Cheong cleared her throat and scanned the screen. As usual, it was flooded with worthless drivel. But amid the nonsense, bizarrely titled posts caught her eye.

Occasionally, posts marked with symbols indicating attached images popped up on the board. This was the aftermath of the Moomyeongbang cultivators, long suppressed by the terror of the Jinsun curse, unleashing their creativity with image posts starting from Baek Cheong's provocation. They shrugged off responsibility for viewing them onto the individual, shattering the unspoken rule with glee. After all, images of Jinsun forms or fatally contaminated subjects were naturally filtered out in the lower realm Moomyeongbang. Plus, they'd realized that as long as the title's text wasn't illegibly grotesque, there wasn't much real danger.

Is this thanks to me?

Of course, more cautious cultivators who were keenly aware of the risks still avoided image posts, sticking to text only. And the enigmatic "huhu" that Baek Cheong had tossed out casually had spread like wildfire among the Dous, solidifying as a term for lecherous admiration when spotting yao or suspicious entities.

"Still gotta do what I gotta do."

Ignoring the chaotic board, Baek Cheong focused on her goal. With majestic sweeps of her divine sense, she composed a new post.

The moment she posted, Dous who had been stalking her account number swarmed in like bees, leaving replies.

But contrary to Baek Cheong's expectations, the reactions were underwhelming and lukewarm. The initial explosion of shock and disbelief was gone. The cultivators seemed to have pegged Dou(913.14) as some Core Formation-or-higher monster indulging in malicious trolling. No matter how astonishing the boasts, they dismissed it as old monster nonsense and stayed indifferent.

Did I pull too much aggro?

Baek Cheong pouted in dissatisfaction. She had no intention of heading back to the training chamber, popping Chwi-ryeong-dan pills, and forcing another image post just for flames. The aggro-to-effort ratio wasn't worth it anymore.

"Boring."

Irritated, Baek Cheong logged out of the Moomyeongbang. After finishing her bath and toweling off her fresh, fluffy skin, she hurried to dress up. Having safely reached Qi Refining 4-star, it was time to wheedle new spirit herbs from her father.

No way they have something like Shortened Chwi-ryeong-dan, right?

Humming to herself, she headed for the family head's quarters. But upon arrival, a heavy, oppressive air prickled her skin, unlike the usual atmosphere. The number of guards at the entrance had doubled, and a taut tension hung in the air, as if swords might be drawn at any moment.

What's going on?

Baek Cheong hesitated, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wondering if she should turn back. But as if sensing her arrival, the heavy door to the inner hall slid open smoothly. After gauging the situation, she cautiously stepped over the threshold.

Inside, her father and Gok Elder sat facing each other, deep in conversation. Unlike the sharp tension outside, their expressions were fairly bright and relaxed.

"Cheong-ah, perfect timing. Come closer."

Baek Mujin lit up and beckoned his daughter near. As Baek Cheong trotted over, Gok Elder's eyes sharpened. His Gold Core senses instantly detected the subtle shift in the energy emanating from her body.

"Hoho, well now. In the short time since I last saw you, your disposition has completely transformed. Your channels have noticeably expanded, and the purity of your spiritual energy has risen a whole level."

Having expelled the impurities accumulated during her small realm breakthrough, even Baek Cheong's appearance had subtly changed. Her eyes were clearer, and her skin gleamed with the smoothness of fine jade.

Only after hearing Gok Elder did Baek Mujin notice and startle.

"Cheong-ah, don't tell me... you broke through the small realm barrier to 4-star?"

"I consolidated my foundation properly this time and built up my energy with Chwi-ryeong-dan in the eastern region. Sadly, the wall was thick, so I used a Pa-gyeong-dan to break through..."

Baek Cheong put on a dejected expression, feigning pitifulness. Baek Mujin chose his words carefully and asked why.

"Even with your grasp of the five elements' mutual generation, raising your realm as an O-yeong-geun must come with hardships. But you could have taken your time to consolidate before breaking through—why the rush?"

"Well..."

Caught by the sharp question, Baek Cheong couldn't answer lightly. She could hardly say it was to post image dumps on the Moomyeongbang more easily.

"I just wanted to raise my realm as fast as possible to achieve five elements unity..."

"Five elements unity... I understand your impatience so soon after stepping into cultivation, but patience is key in this path. Even consolidated, hastily accumulated energy makes crossing walls a distant prospect."

"Ah..."

She let out a small sigh, finally realizing her oversight. But she didn't regret it. The breakthrough had brought a small enlightenment.

What's that...?

Her gaze suddenly locked onto a small box of white jade at the table's center. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠faint chill emanating from it felt far from ordinary. Noticing her look, Baek Mujin relaxed his worried expression and pointed to it.

"This is a new spirit pill Gok Elder refined after studying our family's Zhu-eun-cho."

Gok Elder stroked his goatee with a pleased voice.

"I drew inspiration from how you refined with the five elements. I incorporated the mutual overcoming cycle to refine the Zhu-eun-cho's properties to their limit."

Gok Elder carefully opened the jade box's lid. Inside lay a single pill, its five-colored patterns forming the five elements shape, shimmering brilliantly. Just inhaling made her dantian roots writhe wildly, crying out in thirst.

"Thus, I named it the Ohaengdan (Five Elements Pill)."

Gok Elder then explained in detail. The Ohaengdan preserved Zhu-eun-cho's potent properties by grinding in centuries-old spirit herbs of water, wood, fire, earth, and metal for perfect five elements harmony. For a cultivator with five elements roots, ingesting it would directly stimulate the roots, unlocking tremendous potential to leap their aptitude a full stage.

"I didn't intend it, but borrowing your five elements refinement method birthed this. It's thanks to you, so this first one is my gift."

Gok Elder slid the jade box with the Ohaengdan toward Baek Cheong. She swallowed hard, unable to tear her eyes from the pill inside. It promised greater effects than any supreme-grade pill she'd consumed before.

"C-Can I really accept something this precious and amazing?"

It felt too valuable to snatch shamelessly. At her hesitant question, Gok Elder laughed heartily.

"Hoho, take it without worry. Your grandfather supplied plenty of Zhu-eun-cho clusters, so materials abound—I can refine more steadily. Besides, you're like a granddaughter to me too. Watching you grow is this old man's great joy, so no need to feel burdened."

Baek Cheong cheered inwardly and cradled the jade box preciously in both hands. She expressed her heartfelt thanks to both Gok Elder and her father.