Chapter 33
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 33
Inside the box lay a spear.
Or, to be precise, a strange object that defied the simple classification of a spear. Spearheads were attached to both ends, and beneath each, two prongs extended diagonally.
One prong bore the engraved symbol of the Great Martial Dao, while the other displayed the emblem of the Vermilion Bird.
It resembled a weapon known as a Qi Spear, but the dual spearheads and prongs gave it a peculiar aesthetic. The finish on the handle lacked a sense of sturdiness, making it look quite... awkward to wield in actual combat.
As Ise examined the object with a puzzled expression, Hong Mi-hui fanned herself. Her face brimmed with supreme confidence and pride as she explained.
"Twin Sickle Spirit Domain Uprising. That’s the name I gave it myself."
"May I ask what kind of treasure this is?"
"It's a spatial barrier Dharma Artifact modeled after the weapon Senior Great Martial Dao Master favored the most. Of course, its efficacy can't even begin to compare to the original."
"A spatial barrier...!"
Hong Mi-hui added lightly, "Besides, expecting it to match a Divine Object would be a bit greedy, wouldn't it?"
The Great Martial Dao Master. This was a replica of the weapon used by that legendary Great Cultivator of the Soul Transformation Stage, the one said to have ascended to the Upper Realm.
Ise calmed his racing heart and grasped the weapon. The sensation in his hand was extraordinary. Though it appeared roughly finished on the outside, it slotted perfectly into his palm, as if it had been forged specifically for him from the very beginning.
"It's simple to use. Just drive it into the ground, and the barrier will activate. If you inject Spiritual Energy, it seals Spiritual Energy; if you inject Demonic Energy, it seals Demonic Energy."
At first, the explanation was hard to grasp. Ise pondered her words.
Inject Spiritual Energy to seal Spiritual Energy... Ah.
He understood why she had called it a custom-tailored treasure for him. Even if one of his energies was sealed, he could simply fight using the other.
Ise immediately tested it out. Infusing about ten percent of his Spiritual Energy, he drove the Qi Spear into the floor. A barrier instantly unfolded around the weapon.
A translucent film shimmered in the air. The range was roughly three feet—smaller than he had expected.
"The more energy you pour in, the wider the range, though it will gradually shrink over time. The efficiency isn't particularly high, however," Hong Mi-hui noted.
After pulling out the Qi Spear, he infused more Spiritual Energy and struck it down again. The range expanded slightly. Compared to the amount of Spiritual Energy consumed, the area of effect was undeniably disappointing. However...
Its practical utility goes without saying.
When facing Demon Ghosts, he could seal Demonic Energy and fight with Spiritual Energy. When facing cultivators, he could seal Spiritual Energy and fight with Demonic Energy. For Ise, who wielded both powers simultaneously, this was literally an invincible domain.
Whether the range was wide or narrow, any opponent entering it would effectively be disarmed of their primary power. Three feet was more than enough. Considering the close-quarters reach of Ise's Small Axe, it was actually the perfect range.
He finally understood why this had been the Divine Object most favored by the Great Martial Dao Master, and why Hong Mi-hui had so confidently promised a treasure tailored just for him. At the same time, a surge of overwhelming gratitude rose within him.
Hong Mi-hui smiled faintly, as if reading his gaze.
"Looks like you get the gist of it. Of course, it's not without its countermeasures. If the Qi Spear is physically pulled out of the ground, the barrier vanishes. And an enemy at an overwhelmingly higher realm than you will naturally possess the means to shatter a mere spatial barrier."
She fluttered her fan. At that exact moment, the spatial barrier touching her cracked with a sharp snap and shattered into pieces.
"Still, for seizing that single instant to strike a fatal blow, there is no treasure better than this. Before the effects of the original Divine Object became widely known, not a single entity ever survived after being caught in Senior Great Martial Dao Master's spatial barrier."
Ise looked down at the Qi Spear.
The Great Cultivator standing before him was a pillar of the sect. From what he had heard, she played a vital role across most of the Four Great Arts, including Alchemy, Talisman Crafting, and Artifact Crafting.
Yet, such an esteemed figure had spent so much of her precious time crafting this for a mere Initiate Disciple.
Ise held a firm life philosophy: Never forget a grudge. Never forget a favor.
He owed her an immense debt of gratitude.
Ise bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Hall Master. I will surely repay this favor."
"Use it well, child."
With those final words, Hong Mi-hui left as nonchalantly as she had arrived. She didn't add any unnecessary chatter—such as pressuring him to join Vermilion Bird Hall in the future or demanding his obedience. She simply departed. As expected of a Great Cultivator, her magnanimity matched her high realm.
The door to the private training room clicked shut.
Ise looked down at the Qi Spear in his hands once more, then carefully secured it to his back, handling it as gently as one would a precious lover.
* * *
The day after receiving the Twin Sickle Spirit Domain Uprising, Ise began loitering in front of the Management Office. He was there to snatch up every worthwhile mission the second it hit the notice board.
It didn't matter if others tried to compete for the postings. The moment the Management Office opened, not a single Initiate Disciple could outmaneuver Ise's footwork to reach the board before him.
He didn't discriminate, so long as the mission involved hunting Demon Ghosts. Most of these tasks ranged from Grade 9 to Grade 7 in danger level.
The harsher the battle, the better. As long as he could break through the bottleneck of his Minor Realm through actual combat, he had no reason to turn anything down.
He couldn't handle every single mission alone, but at the very least, all the choicest assignments fell into his hands.
Naturally, grievances among the other disciples began to pile up.
"They say the rich are the greediest..."
"Hey, leave some for the rest of us to make a living!"
"If you go out on a mission, at least take a break before coming back! Why are you so damn diligent?!"
Yet no one dared confront Ise directly.
The reason was simple: his mission record was overwhelmingly outstanding.
His results were always flawless. He never grew careless just because an enemy appeared weak. He stuck strictly to thorough analysis and textbook countermeasures, and during joint missions, he had never once let a party member suffer a serious injury.
Furthermore, no matter how much he carried a mission by himself, he always split the spoils equally.
Because of this, the peers who had accompanied him before eagerly awaited the day he would pick them again whenever a party mission arose.
At some point, a new nickname began circulating among the Initiate Disciples:
The Qi Refining Demon Ghost Grinder.
It was a moniker that left one unsure whether it was an insult or a compliment.
Whether Ise knew about the nickname or not, he was currently eyeing two mission slips with greedy eyes, debating which one to undertake.
"Senior, is it possible to take on two missions at the same time?"
U Jeol stared at him. "Taking on two missions in completely opposite directions at once, huh? In that case, I'll split your body down the middle so it's easier for you to do both simultaneously."
"I misspoke. I will take this one."
Ise immediately accepted U Jeol's clear and logical solution and backed down.
* * *
In a quiet corner of the Training Center stood a space that no one used. Originally an empty makeshift storage room, Ise had paid Contribution Points to rent it out.
His peers simply called the place 'the butcher shop.'
Inside, a scene rarely witnessed at the Training Center was currently unfolding.
Thump! Thump!
Struck by a Dharma Artifact spirit-cooking knife, the flesh of a Demonic Beast was being sliced into neat, even portions.
The carcass of a Three-Tailed Fox—now reduced to mere ingredients—had its prime edible portions set aside, while the tougher cuts and bones were plunged into a pot of boiling water.
The inside of the butcher shop reeked of metallic blood. It was a grisly, ominous scene truly fitting of titles like "Demon Ghost Grinder" or "Demon Ghost Butcher"... yet Ise's expression remained entirely serious.
He was earnestly honing his craft in the art of Spirit Food.
His foray into Spirit Food had begun during a recent long-term mission. Stricken by intense hunger, he had dressed and eaten part of a slain Demonic Beast, only to realize a profound truth: a Demonic Beast that had fully absorbed Demonic Energy yielded physical benefits no different from the carcass of a Spirit Beast.
After eating it, his cultivation speed had increased noticeably. From then on, Ise established a new top priority when selecting missions—they had to be Demonic Beast exorcism requests so he could gather fresh ingredients.
Up until now, he had repeatedly practiced to achieve optimal results. Today was his first true test, combining the meat with Spirit Herbs and traditional medicinal ingredients.
Finally, the cooking process came to an end, yielding an impressive result.
Looking down at the completed dishes, Ise gave them fitting names:
Three-Tailed Fox Bulgogi, and Three-Tailed Fox Health Soup.
With a proud face, Ise pushed open the door to the butcher shop.
Outside, a crowd of Initiate Disciples sat on the ground, their expressions deeply uncomfortable. They looked exactly like livestock dragged to a slaughterhouse.
"Loosen up those faces. Anyone watching would think I dragged you all here against your will."
You DID drag us here against our will!
Their thoughts were written plainly across their faces—a group of utterly transparent peers. Of course, Ise didn't care in the slightest. Soon enough, their discontent would transform into profound gratitude.
"I prepared a generous portion with the warm heart of a mother feeding her children."
Though no one dared refute his words aloud, their grimacing expressions said it all.
"He actually went and did it..." someone muttered.
Seol Ryeong, the only one who knew the full context behind his cooking, accepted the bowls handed to her with a look of utter disgust. One held sizzling seasoned meat; the other, a steaming broth.
"The smell is decent enough, I suppose... This isn't poison, right?"
"Today is the only day I'm giving it out for free, so don't be shy. Eat up."
Hae Un-chan was the first to pick up his chopsticks. Pi Ga-ram followed suit. Seeing the two of them take the plunge, the other Initiate Disciples reluctantly began moving their utensils as well.
"Mmm."
Hae Un-chan suddenly stopped mid-chew.
"Hey, this..."
Blinking in disbelief, he looked down at his own hands. His Spiritual Energy was circulating—sharper, thicker, and faster than usual.
"This is Spirit Food!"
"What the—my Spiritual Energy is surging!"
"It has a similar effect to taking a Medicinal Pill..."
At first, there was only shock. Spirit Food was incredibly rare, especially here in the Great Martial Dao.
Then, someone pointed out a glaring issue in utter astonishment: "Wait, did this lunatic slaughter a Spirit Beast and turn it into meat soup right here in the Great Martial Dao?!"
"It's not a Spirit Beast, it's a Demonic Beast," Ise corrected calmly. "Though it did go through a thorough purification process."
Purifying a Demonic Beast into edible food was surprising enough, but what shocked them even more was that it actually tasted delicious.
The meat was tender and packed with a rich, savory flavor. A subtle herbaceous scent completely neutralized any wild gaminess, harmoniously accentuating the natural taste of the ingredients. Somehow, it was a flavor so good it made one want to shout, “You pass!”
Seol Ryeong hesitated before finally picking up a piece of meat. One piece. Then two pieces. Chewing silently, she discreetly reached for another. The wary disgust on her face had vanished without a trace.
Instead, a living hell erupted as everyone scrambled over each other to snag just one more bite.
Cheongsan was flipped completely upside down.
Rumors travel fast. Those who tasted the food brought their acquaintances, who in turn brought theirs. Even a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators residing in Cheongsan were spotted mingling in the crowd.
By the time the sun began to set, a long line of Cheongsan disciples stretched out in front of the butcher shop. Any complaints about being dragged there against their will had long since vanished.
It was then that a disturbance broke the lively atmosphere.
A peer came sprinting toward them from afar, gasping heavily for breath.
"Sorry, but we're completely sold out!" someone called out upon seeing him, assuming the boy was just late for the food.
But without even pausing to catch his breath, the frantic peer frantically scanned the crowd, spotted Ise, and headed straight toward him.
Ise remembered that face. It was the peer who had yielded his turn to choose a Cultivation Manual on their very first day of initiation: Bu Chun.
His face was pale with urgency, as if something terrible had happened.
"Bu Chun. What's wrong?" Ise asked.
Bu Chun paused, briefly surprised that Ise remembered his name. A flicker of emotion crossed his face, but his expression hardened again immediately.
"I just heard the news..."
His grim demeanor caused the surrounding crowd to fall dead silent.
"Yeom Bo, who went out on a mission... is dead."
It was a brief sentence, yet those few words settled heavily over the courtyard, suffocating the entire space.
It was the grim news that the very first casualty among the Initiate Disciples had occurred.