Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Growth - 1
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Once preparations to leave were complete, Yu Ye-ryeon called me over. It was to take the Rebirth Pill I hadn't consumed yet.
She had me sit in the center of the spacious, ornate room, then held out the box containing the pill and spoke to me with utmost seriousness.
"There are two ways to use spiritual elixirs. The first is accumulation. As you know, it builds up your internal energy."
This was the most basic method of consumption. You ingest the pill and circulate your cultivation art, thereby gathering internal energy in your dantian.
"The second is transformation. This is an investment for the future. It's putting resources into changing your body to become a transcendent master later on."
This was something even I didn't know. It had never appeared in the novel, so I looked at her with eyes full of questions.
"You know what shedding mortality is, right? Those who undergo it are called transformation realm experts. They exist in a superhuman domain beyond ordinary people."
"Like Sword Heaven or Sword Saint?"
"Exactly. All Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces are superhumans who have reached the transformation realm. They've shed their mortal bodies, reshaping them into the perfect vessels for martial arts. Now, this is where the second use of spiritual elixirs comes in. Think you can guess it?"
"Inducing it artificially?"
"Close enough. There are plenty of peak experts who get stuck there without ever shedding mortality. Some say it's because they lack enlightenment, but others believe their bodies become fixed, making the wall to transcendence too high to overcome."
Yu Ye-ryeon's explanation continued.
Bodies that have shed mortality differ vastly from those that haven't.
That's why prestigious clans' masters feed spiritual elixirs to their talented children from a young age and use blood marrow cleansing to artificially transform their bodies closer to that ideal state.
It's all to lower that towering wall just a little when the rare one-in-a-thousand, one-in-ten-thousand chance for shedding mortality finally arrives.
"But compared to building internal energy, many think the efficiency is too low. Body transformation only progresses a little at a time. And the pain is intense."
"I see..."
"Building internal energy is tough enough as it is. Almost no one wastes precious elixirs on body transformation."
"Hmm..."
"Of course, if you want, we can use it for accumulation. That's the one with immediate effects. Transformation is really just for that uncertain future shedding of mortality. It does have benefits, as I said, but they're not as clear-cut as accumulation."
"What are the benefits of transformation?"
"If you gradually transform your body using elixirs as a base through blood marrow cleansing, it becomes easier to learn martial arts. That's why clans with spare elixirs always do it for children with exceptional aptitude."
With Yu Ye-ryeon's detailed explanation finished, all that remained was my decision.
Accumulation or transformation. Faced with choosing one, I looked at Yu Ye-ryeon.
"Why?"
"What do you think?"
"Me? I'd recommend transformation. I don't know if you'll ever shed mortality. But it's not impossible, right? If it's worth challenging, why not go for it?"
And one more thing. Most people use elixirs for accumulation because they're so rare, but my situation was different. After all, I knew every opportunity in this world. Elixirs would come easily to me.
"Then transformation it is."
"Good. Sit down for now."
I sat as Yu Ye-ryeon instructed. I closed my eyes and waited, and after a moment...
"Here. Ahh."
With a beaming smile, she picked up the Rebirth Pill with her fingers and brought it to my lips. Like a baby bird taking food from its mother, I opened my mouth, and the elixir slowly entered.
Mingled with saliva, the pill melted smoothly, turning into liquid that seeped into my body. At that instant, a massive surge of medicinal power boiled up in my dantian, and Yu Ye-ryeon didn't miss it.
"Empty your mind. Empty it completely."
Become void? Easier said than done. But what choice did I have?
So I let go of all thoughts. Nothingness, emptiness. Just as I closed my eyes and tried to think of nothing, a warmth touched my back.
It was Yu Ye-ryeon's hand. She was slowly guiding the ocean-like medicinal power surging in my dantian.
"Don't make a sound. We're starting now."
".....!!"
The agony was as horrific as when I'd first formed my dantian—like my entire body was burning.
Was this body transformation?
Blocked meridians burst open, knotted muscles unraveled. Bones shifted, tendons twisted.
It felt like she was trying to kill me, but I gritted my teeth and endured.
I knew she wouldn't try to kill me. So I bore it, and bore it some more.
"You did well."
How much time had passed in that hell? The pain gradually faded, and a gentle voice reached me.
Only then did I exhale deeply, feeling vitality flood my body that had burned like fire moments ago. The whole ordeal felt like a lie—my body was light as if it could float away.
"...Is it over?"
"Yes. But it's not fully complete, of course. We'll continue bit by bit as you get more elixirs. And sometimes accumulation depending on your condition."
"I see."
"Now go wash up."
She patted my body lightly and spoke calmly.
Even after taking the 500-Year Snow Spirit Herb and Azure Clarity Pill and expelling so much impurities, some still remained.
Wrinkling my nose at the foul smell from the yellowish residue on my clothes, I stood and headed to the room's bathroom.
While I'd been in pain, she'd prepared hot water—the bathroom was filled with steam. Grateful for her thoughtfulness, I washed up and came out to find Yu Ye-ryeon waiting with all our luggage packed.
"Let's go! Hurry!"
I smiled at her cheerful shout.
Yeah. Let's go. Home.
We set off in the late afternoon. After dinner at Flower Heaven Tower, we slipped out of Hapbi Castle before the gates closed, and Yu Ye-ryeon spoke in her usual playful tone.
"You know what I'm gonna say, right?"
"Chase after you again."
"Yep. Your internal energy's grown, and your body's changed a bit, so maybe you can keep up this time?"
"Yes. I'll give it a try."
"Go!"
Yu Ye-ryeon spurred her horse forward, and I chased after her.
Was it thanks to the Azure Clarity Pill boosting my internal energy and the Rebirth Pill transforming my body? Keeping up wasn't so hard.
Our game of chase halted when the low-hanging moon had climbed high in the sky.
"Huff... huff... huff...!!"
To me, gasping for breath, Yu Ye-ryeon offered a waterskin.
She muttered in surprise as I gulped it down.
"Faster than I thought."
"Thanks... huff... ."
"By the next elixir, you should catch me easily. Then I can ride without holding back."
My opponent was a superhuman beyond mortals. For her, using lightness skill was faster than riding. And I had to chase her on foot.
Was this even possible? The thought crossed my mind, but what could I do? If she said chase, I chased.
"Rest up, then midnight snack. What should I make tonight..."
Yu Ye-ryeon trailed off, calmly scanning the surroundings instead. Then she tapped my shoulder leisurely.
"Circulate your energy first."
"Understood."
Had she sensed something? At her serious demeanor, I immediately began meditating.
When the fatigue from running fully dissipated and my depleted internal energy recovered, I opened my eyes to a thick aura of killing intent all around.
"An upper demon beast. Rare for one to come this far out."
Upper demon beast.
Like the human-faced spider, demon fox, or western drought demon I'd hunted before.
Upper demon beasts rarely showed themselves outside deep forests or mountains without good reason. Yet here one was on the main road.
There had to be a cause.
"Blood Cult's doing?"
Yu Ye-ryeon pointed calmly to one side. There stood a massive humanoid monster with long arms.
A necklace of skulls around its neck, claws sharp as blades.
It was the upper demon beast "Evil Ghost."
"Perfect timing. Training opportunity."
"Yes."
I drew my sword and stepped forward. Yu Ye-ryeon issued a firm command.
"No Three Ultimates Sword Art."
Only Taiji Sword then? As puzzlement crossed my face, she grinned and pointed at the Evil Ghost.
"Evil Ghosts are easy prey for Taoist arts. Treat it as Taiji Sword practice. I'll step in if needed."
"Understood."
"Mm. Do well again, and I'll give you a reward. Go on! Earn it!!"
As she shouted, the Evil Ghost's maw opened. Saw-like fangs gleamed as it roared, its body shooting forward like an arrow.
-Ching!!
My sword, forming a defensive field, clashed with its claws. Unable to use Three Ultimates Sword Art, I gritted my teeth and poured strength into my body.
"Hup!!"
With a low shout, I unleashed internal energy through my whole body.
At the same time, I channeled it into my sword colliding with its claws.
It had entered my defensive field, but I wasn't leisurely enough to take down an Evil Ghost.
So what now?
I bit my lip, pondering.
Seek stillness amid motion, unite motion and stillness.
Recalling part of Taiji Sword's oral formula, I circulated Five Elements Circulation Art.
Internal energy and swordsmanship were the same. If I harmonized the circulation with the sword forms, I could find strength in stillness.
-Grind... crack!!
I relaxed my grip on the sword. Taiji Sword was based on intent without force.
Use will, not brute strength.
So I released the tension in my hand and infused will instead.
The will to slice.
The will to fell the enemy in my field.
-Vmmm...!!!
Suddenly, the sword trembled.
The Five Elements Circulation Art flowing through me extended its field to the sword.
-Kakakaka!!
The blade touching the Evil Ghost's claws began severing them.
Panicking, it tried to pull back, but withdrawing a claw already being cut wasn't easy.
But that wasn't the point. It was the manifestation of will.
-Vroooom!!!
The sword's hum intensified, and for a moment, serenity enveloped me.
It sheared off the claws completely, revealing light.
A single thread of sword qi.