Unkak Sect
Ten years had passed since I entered the Unkak Sect on the Seosan Continent.
I'd toiled away at the sect's miscellaneous chores while diligently cultivating, yet I was still stuck at the 3rd star of Qi Refining. My fellow initiates from back then averaged the 6th star, with some even higher. In the cultivation world, strength determined everything—now I had to call them senior brothers or junior sisters. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but there was no helping it. Even a single star's difference meant a world of impact between Qi Refining cultivators.
Today was cleanup day at the Library Pavilion, open to even us Qi Refining disciples, so I'd been sorting the first floor since early morning. I classified dusty old tomes, wiped away layers of grime, and repeated the process endlessly. Tedious work, but it was the price for my monthly stipend of five low-grade spirit stones. Those stones had endless uses—in battle, they replenished qi for spellcasting; artisans forged magic tools with them; formations drew power from them too.
Taking a breather, I sat and surveyed the first floor's immense scale, letting out an involuntary sigh. Shelves taller than a man stretched over a hundred in a row from left to right, dozens of such rows filling the space. Here and there, I spotted the other outer disciples assigned to the task, their faces grim under the workload. Most were Unkak Sect outer disciples hovering between the 3rd and 4th stars of Qi Refining. Time stolen from cultivation for chores like these felt like such a waste.
Then a fragrant scent wafted over as someone approached. "Junior Brother Yuseong, Elder Nae is summoning you."
It was Kang Seolhui, who'd entered alongside me but had already hit the 10th star of Qi Refining, Core Formation within reach. Her sharp eyes gave her a fierce beauty, but her striking features and killer figure made her one of the sect's most popular female disciples. My gaze naturally flicked to her ample chest for a split second before snapping back to her face. Even her robes couldn't hide their size. Just once, I'd love to get my hands on them.
"Junior Sister Kang, what does Elder Nae want?"
She shot me a chilling glare. "Elder Nae was furious—something about you screwing up. You'd better hurry to her residence. And if you look at me like that one more time, I'll gouge your eyes out."
With that savage warning delivered in her haughty tone, she strode off. A surge of rage boiled up from deep in my chest. That bitch—lucky enough to snag a good master and gorge on premium spirit pills, letting her focus solely on cultivation. That's why she's ahead, not because she's some genius!
I tamped down the fury, regaining my composure, and pondered what had pissed off Nae Cheonha. She was prickly and vicious, but as a Nascent Soul elder, no one dared cross her except the sect leader and Supreme Elder. Could it be... some mistake while tending her herb garden? No way—I'd managed it flawlessly for ten years of odd jobs, my most confident task.
Better check it out. I hopped on the basic flying magic tool issued to disciples and headed to her residence. Luckily, it was close to the Library Pavilion, so I arrived quickly.
Nae Cheonha had silver hair shimmering with a blue tint, a heavenly beauty with voluptuous curves like a celestial fairy. Of course, ogling her with lecherous eyes could get your head lopped off, so I kept mine down, face apologetic. "Elder Nae, forgive me. Is there a problem with the herb garden?"
"The Cold Yin Grass—it's ruined. It's sensitive to temperature shifts and needs yin-infused soil, but it was planted in strong yang Iron Yang Earth. If I hadn't caught it soon, the whole batch would've been worthless."
Her tone was calm, but an undercurrent of icy menace chilled my spine. Had I messed up like that? Impossible—I always double-checked with meticulous care before finishing up. So who...?
As I mulled it over, she spoke. "Cat got your tongue? Admitting guilt, are you?"
"No, ma'am. It couldn't have been me—must've been someone else..."
"Who? Yuseong, you've managed that garden for half a year. How could anyone else tamper with it?"
True, a formation protected it—only the array-dispelling token she gave me and her disciples allowed entry.
Wait... one of her disciples?
"It's not like only I can access the garden, right?"
Her expression turned frostier. Shit! Should've just apologized. But how could a real man confess to something he didn't do?
"Are you saying one of my disciples is to blame?"
I had to tread carefully. To her, a 3rd-star Qi Refining scrub like me was barely human. She only bothered talking because we were fellow Unkak Sect members. The cultivation world was ruthless, but she wouldn't kill over ruined Cold Yin Grass—not priceless stuff. Still, insulting her disciple could mean trouble.
I racked my brain desperately, but no answers came. Fine! It wasn't my fault, but no true man bickers with a woman over this. I dropped to my knees. "I'm sorry. I messed up and nearly ruined the Cold Yin Grass. Punish me as you see fit."
Humiliating for a proud man, but survival first. This should get off lightly—the grass wasn't totally destroyed, and it wasn't that rare.
"Then gouge out those eyes that led you astray."
Did I hear right? This bitch wants my eyes? Like master, like disciple—eye collector much?
"Forgive me, but these eyes are a gift from my parents. As their son, I can't harm them. Any other punishment?"
Play the family card. Anyone would show mercy. I clasped my hands, face pitiful and pleading.
"Just kidding. What use would I have for your eyes anyway? Your punishment: no stipend next month. One more slip in that garden, and I won't be so lenient."
Whew, dodged a bullet. Losing five low-grade spirit stones stung, but better than worse. I might be low realm, but my herb knowledge was encyclopedic—no other disciple matched me, which was why she trusted me with it. Heh.
With relief settling in, I stole a glance at her. Nascent Soul elder or not, she looked mid-twenties, drawing plenty of admirers in the sect. I kept my lust hidden, of course. Just once...
"If that's all, you're dismissed."
"Yes, ma'am."
Back on my flying tool, I returned to the Library Pavilion, sorting books and dusting shelves. How long until I hit Qi Refining 10th star, then Core Formation beyond? If only I'd had a proper master! I'd have rocketed ahead instead of floundering.
No backing clan, average body, mediocre spiritual root—just another overlooked outer disciple. Without Core Formation, at twenty years old, I'd have maybe eighty years left. Qi Refining: ~100 years; Core Formation: ~300; Nascent Soul: ~500; Spirit Severing: ~900; Transformation: 1800-2000. That's the known ladder—no one's confirmed higher.
Of course, my low status meant spotty info.
As I sorted, despair hit: I'd die a virgin, cultivation my only companion. Rage erupted—I seized a book and tore at it with both hands.
"What the hell?"
Normal force should've shredded the worn tome into thirds, but it wouldn't budge. No ordinary book.
The title read Yin-Yang Art.
"Yin-Yang Art? A cultivation method using yin and yang qi?"
Curiosity piqued, I opened to the first page.
The path of cultivation begins with Yin-Yang Union