The Weight of Rewards and Lingering Doubts

Though it stung a little, Luminous refused to give the Taiyi Five Elements Dao Scripture such a generous evaluation. Every piece of evidence she presented was entirely reasonable, leaving Han Yujin no choice but to accept it.

The first reason was that without practicing it personally, it was nearly impossible to determine whether it was truly a true immortal cultivation method or not.

Of course, Luminous herself could not cultivate the Taiyi Five Elements Dao Scripture, and teaching it to someone else for verification was hardly a simple matter either. Thus, the references she could draw upon were severely limited.

The second reason was that it would be far too difficult to cultivate in the Galactic Empire, which had relatively barren resources compared to other sanctuaries.

If there were at least a heavenly spiritual treasure like the Five Elements True Spirit Stone to aid in cultivation, it might have been different. But even in a simulated environment, she could not provide an object infused with spiritual energy. Han Yujin had no solution to offer for that problem either.

The third reason was that, due to the previous points, its value to other spiritualists within the Galactic Empire would be significantly diminished.

If the already difficult-to-cultivate Taiyi Five Elements Dao Scripture turned out to be nothing more than a tribulation or fusion cultivation method rather than a true immortal art, its worth would inevitably drop. After all, the Galactic Empire already possessed other cultivation methods of similar caliber.

Beyond that, she piled on every conceivable argument: that the Galactic Empire had not abandoned orthodox cultivation methods for no reason, that the scripture’s unclear origins made it impossible to know what karmic ties or grudges it carried, and countless other points that were difficult to dismiss. She was clearly trying to drive the price down.

Han Yujin argued back as best he could, but in the end, the compensation he received fell short of his expectations.

Still, it was hardly a loss.

In exchange, he obtained three things in total.

The first was the complete version of the extremely rare fate-sensing divine ability, Hyeongjo Hyeoneung-sul. It now allowed him to defend against other beings’ fate-manipulation abilities as well.

Normally, cultivation methods held far greater value than divine abilities, but when rarity was taken into account, her assessment was undeniable.

“Moreover, this will be especially necessary for you. Unless you intend to keep exposing that special fate-law characteristic of yours indefinitely. Therefore, we can calculate this at the minimum value of a fusion cultivation method. Do you agree?”

After several rounds of back-and-forth negotiation, Luminous eventually made a slight concession, and they reached an agreement.

The second item was a sanctuary map of such perfect completeness that it would have been impossible for a Level 4 citizen to even glimpse.

While it lacked a considerable amount of information regarding the Luminous Sanctuary itself, it contained densely packed interdimensional coordinate data for the Immortal, Magic, Primordial, and Divine Demon Sanctuaries. Its value was immeasurable.

The final item was an artifact of specific purpose called Decision for Freedom, which Han Yujin had actively requested. Its origin was the Magic Sanctuary.

It was a treasure capable of detecting wide-ranging binding or restrictive curses placed on a target and resolving them in a rather drastic manner. It was clearly crafted with the post-apocalyptic Earth’s Wonhee in mind.

Once the transaction was complete, Luminous sealed him, and he was brought to this waiting area.

As a side note, she had attempted to recruit him right before applying the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seal. Several sweet offers had been made, but he naturally could not accept them and refused.

Of the rewards received from Luminous, the two items he had to select as harvest rewards were the Decision for Freedom artifact and the data storage device containing the sanctuary map.

Although the sanctuary map was knowledge, its content was so complex and vast that it needed to be stored in a data device like this.

He then began selecting his harvest rewards in order of importance.

The first things that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had to be chosen were naturally his own cultivation results and the seed of divine ability that Mu-yong had obtained.

Next was the True Name Dharma Treasure, which had been his original goal for visiting the Galactic Empire. After that came items related to Brenar.

The spiritual plants he had planted in the spirit field inside the Mountain Sea Pearl could not be overlooked either.

Among them was the seed of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a fruit with Five Elements attributes, similar to the peach he had obtained from the illusion magician. He had named it the Ohaeng Do-gwa and planted it as a high-grade spiritual plant, so he paid it special attention.

He also had to collect the alchemy room, pill furnace room, multi-purpose workshop, training room, and all the internal equipment and spiritual materials within them.

Next were the spoils he had obtained from the demonic path investigator.

Jade slips containing precious knowledge, various materials for alchemy or pill refinement, jade bottles and boxes holding spiritual pills useful in specific situations, and several magical tools including two dharma treasures that could be considered supply-grade spiritual treasures.

He also selected a considerable quantity of mid-grade and high-grade spiritual stones as harvest rewards, thinking they might serve as currency in other worlds later.

Then he turned his attention to the extremely important Three Origin Ninefold Extreme Mystic Flower Pill Furnace.

‘I didn’t realize it had already undergone several modifications.’

Upon selecting it as a harvest reward, he discovered that it had been modified to an exceptionally high standard to suit the demonic path’s alchemical techniques.

However, Han Yujin naturally restored it to its original state before claiming it. As a result, the Three Origin Ninefold Extreme Mystic Flower Pill Furnace in its untouched, pristine condition became his.

Besides that, there were many other items, including various data sticks obtained from the Galactic Empire and the AI rebel warship.

While carefully checking multiple times to ensure he hadn’t missed anything, he suddenly paused in front of one particular object, lost in thought.

It was the so-called Awakening Kit—a syringe composed of special nanorobots, along with the vial and injector that contained it.

It was an extremely expensive and rare item.

Even as a Level 4 citizen, Han Yujin had a purchase limit and could only obtain four sets. That had only been possible because he borrowed the power of the Ebenrak Family. Had he been alone, he would have only managed two sets.

‘It can raise a person with no spiritual roots all the way to a Level 9 spiritualist…’

But he had to keep in mind that it was only a maximum.

Quite a few people who used it had stagnated at Levels 2 or 3 and eventually died. Moreover, the user had to unconditionally learn a specific equipment-type cultivation method, and growth would be permanently halted upon reaching Level 9.

The original reason he had obtained this was for his friend, Park Heewon. But seeing it again now, he found himself hesitating.

‘What if the kid actually becomes a Level 9 spiritualist with this… and then resents me because his growth is blocked?’

Receiving an opportunity that had originally been impossible, only to resent the giver for its limitations, would be truly unreasonable. Yet human emotions were not so easily controlled.

There was another concern as well.

‘Couldn’t I find a better method in the orthodox cultivation world or somewhere similar?’

If he truly found something superior later, he would regret having given this to Park Heewon so hastily.

‘For now, I’ll just select it. Whether I use it or not can be decided later.’

In any case, it was a rare and useful item, so selecting it was not a waste.

After selecting everything, the total karma consumed amounted to a staggering forty percent of his entire stockpile. Considering how enormous his original amount had been, the expenditure was truly monstrous.

Of course, the rewards he had gained from this adventure were equally incredible.

Even this consumption rate was only possible because he had personally obtained several key materials for the True Name Dharma Treasure, had not received the demonic path investigator’s spoils for free, and had purchased many items with credits he had earned through his own efforts.

‘Hmm…’

He let out a soft groan as he reviewed the expenditure once more and shook his head.

The feeling was similar to putting on military gear. Or like looking at a shopping cart after finishing the calculations.

Each individual item had felt light or not particularly expensive, yet the final result was an unbelievably heavy load and a total far exceeding his expectations.

‘For the next adventure, I should at least wait until the knowledge and Awakening Incense supply is complete.’

Otherwise, he might end up having to abandon some of the harvest rewards due to insufficient karma.

In any case, his business here was finished. It was time to return to Earth’s reality.

Yet he did not leave immediately. After hesitating for a moment, he closed his eyes and spent some time quietly reminiscing about his memories with Brenar, sinking into sentimentality.

Only after doing so could he finally leave the waiting area.

After waking up in the safe house.

As he withdrew the Monghwan illusion array he had spread out, he thought he would have no more use for it. After all, he had brought back far superior items from the Galactic Empire.

Upon calmly reflecting, he realized that before departing on the adventure, he had taken care of most important matters and had met with his acquaintances to strengthen their relationships. Thanks to that, there was no problem even if he rested idly for several days.

So he indulged himself shamelessly.

He went for walks whenever he felt like it, bought all kinds of instant ramen and triangle kimbap from convenience stores, and enjoyed dishes like soup with rice and kimchi stew that could not be found in the Galactic Empire. Naturally, Mu-yong accompanied him, hidden from others’ attention through Monghwan Yusim.

He sang his heart out to nostalgic songs at a karaoke bar and went to the movie theater to watch every newly released film.

When he returned to the safe house, he lay in bed watching MyTube videos and burst into laughter. Mu-yong, who probably didn’t understand some of the content, squeaked and laughed along with him.

He downloaded all sorts of games onto his smartphone and played them once each. Of course, he didn’t play for very long.

He spent roughly a week living this indulgent, carefree life.

Thanks to it, he successfully regained a strong sense of his hometown.

Perhaps because of that, thoughts about his future plans began to naturally drift through his mind.

Although he planned to postpone any long adventures until after acquiring more karma, there were several ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠small trips he could take in the meantime.

First, he considered retrieving the Ghost Soul Banner from the Ohaeng Sect ruins.

Since he had even obtained the Decision for Freedom artifact for Wonhee of the post-apocalyptic Earth, he would soon need the Ghost Soul Banner—a heavenly spiritual treasure that could serve as both a means to subjugate her and a home for her.

He also thought about briefly visiting a world specialized in handling ghosts.

He must not forget that Wonhee was a late-stage Nascent Soul ghost and extremely aggressive. Therefore, he needed some means or knowledge that could reduce her aggression while enabling at least minimal communication.

Of course, the most important matter was advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.

After safely advancing in the spiritually rich Primordial Forest, he could deal with the transparent winged horn serpent coiled around that stone pillar and obtain the Honwon Stone.

However, he intended to delay this Nascent Soul advancement a little longer.

‘My mind isn’t completely stable yet.’

The aftereffects of such a long adventure did not subside easily. Only after everything had completely calmed down could he attempt it and avoid any unforeseen dangers.

Advancing to Nascent Soul truly required utmost caution. Regardless of success or failure, from that point onward, the second of the Three Tribulations of Cultivation—the Soul-Splitting Tribulation—could descend upon him.

‘The Soul-Splitting Tribulation…’

The demonic path investigator’s human skin that he had encountered in the underground of the Shadow Demon Cult had said it seemed he had ended up in that state while overcoming the Soul-Splitting Tribulation, due to his “other body.”

The AI Queen Elb had split not into two or three, but fully five personalities, driving her completely insane. In the end, the original body had been killed by the other personalities born from that split.

Just these two cases he had witnessed personally were more than enough to make him feel the difficulty and terror of the Soul-Splitting Tribulation.

That was why he could not recklessly attempt a realm breakthrough while his mind was still this unsettled.

‘But I can’t keep postponing it forever either.’

If he delayed the advancement even after his mind had fully stabilized and there were no other special problems, simply out of fear of the Soul-Splitting Tribulation, that very anxiety could become a new problem in itself.

In short, he needed to be cautious but not hesitant.

‘Maybe I should visit the Great Rift for a bit.’

Since the Great Rift was also part of reality, hunting monsters there might help restore his sense of reality. At the same time, he could meet Park Seryong and hear about the progress of the knowledge and Awakening Incense supply.

Just as he was about to head leisurely toward the Great Rift.

Coincidentally, a message arrived from Park Seryong. It said that all decisions for the full-scale supply had finally been finalized.

“Please take this.”

In front of a lodging located within the defense facilities outside the Great Rift.

After meeting and hearing the full story, Han Yujin handed over the reward he had promised Park Seryong for all his hard work. It was the ‘Complete Korean Translation of Hoe-won Gong’ that he had written in his spare time earlier.

Since it included the Dharma Soul sublimation content that had been intentionally omitted from the supply version, diligent cultivation could potentially allow him to advance to the Dharma Soul stage.

“And please take this as well.”

At the same time, he took out a glass bottle containing a faint golden liquid from his Spacer Ring and handed it over.

“It looks like some extraordinary potion.”

Park Seryong carefully accepted the glass bottle and examined it as he spoke.

“It’s a Level 3 Ether Elixir. You can think of it as a spiritual medicine that greatly assists cultivation.”

“…Thank you.”

It was obvious he had wanted to ask where Han Yujin had obtained such a thing but had barely managed to hold back and only express gratitude.

“Ah, and this too while I’m at it.”

The jade bottle that appeared contained ten Clear Heart Pills. They could prevent the side effects during the Dharma Soul sublimation process.

They were some of the pills he had made as part of the mental training and focus work before advancing to Core Formation in the Primordial Forest.

When Han Yujin explained their efficacy, Park Seryong bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground and repeatedly expressed his thanks. His voice even trembled slightly, making it clear he fully understood just how extraordinary these rewards were.

“I will have many tasks to entrust to you in the future.”

Since he also planned to supply the knowledge obtained from the Galactic Empire, there would indeed be a great deal of work.

“Just leave it all to me.”

“Still, if you focus only on the tasks I assign, you won’t have enough time to cultivate. So make active use of your connections. Communicate frequently with the civil servants I’ve assigned as well.”

After giving this kind of encouragement to ease the burden.

As he entered the Great Rift, he thought briefly.

‘Supply through a training center, huh.’

It seemed the government and several large corporations had decided to create a training center for disseminating knowledge. They would either repurpose existing buildings or construct new ones.

‘To think they’re even planning to cultivate Awakening Incense from the beginning in cooperation with major corporations. For a government agency, that’s quite radical. It must be thanks to Park Seryong’s skillful involvement.’

It had been worthwhile to trust him with the task.

Upon entering the Great Rift, instead of immediately going hunting, he stopped by the lodging at the First Base for a moment. There was no need to unpack or anything, but since it had been a while, he wanted to look around and regain his sense of reality.

However, the moment he arrived at the lodging.

He sensed a small paper card slipped into the door crack, hidden from view.

‘As if it knew I might forget, it reminds me of its existence on its own.’

Thinking that, he pulled it out using his telekinesis. The same message as before was written on it.

‘I’m a bit bored. Should I look into what these guys are really about…?’

After thinking for a moment, he decided he would only do it when he truly felt bored and stepped into the lodging.