Crimson Tree Pill
The Ecstatic Illusion Soul Enthrallment Technique was a consciousness-manipulating spell that conjured the delightful illusions a target craved. Its success rate spiked when emotions ran high, but plummeted against someone in a crystalline state of clarity, like a mirror-still pond. Every cultivator harbored greed and desires, so if their mind was weaker than the caster's and caught off guard, they had no choice but to succumb.
While diligently practicing the technique, a servant sent by Senior Brother Baek arrived with the repaired silver armor. It had been mended once before after being shattered, so it was undoubtedly weaker than its original state—but better than nothing. Slipping it on eased his mind considerably. Now, preparations to venture deeper into the Gaun Mountains were complete.
The pill formula from Jo Mihyeon was for the Crimson Tree Pill, with crimson tree fruit as the main ingredient. Crimson trees were red-barked behemoths that grew deep within the Gaun Mountains, bearing superior fruit the older they became. Refining the pill required at least century-old crimson tree fruit. Auxiliary ingredients included a root of cold ginseng, black grass over fifty years old, and mystic yin mushroom over thirty years old.
As a Qi Refining pill, both main and auxiliary materials should be available at shops, but the crimson tree fruit was prohibitively expensive—far beyond what his spirit stones could cover. Thus, the goal this time was to gather the main ingredient and auxiliaries from the Gaun Mountains. Even if he failed on the auxiliaries, he had to secure the crimson tree fruit.
As a bonus, he'd hone his Iron Skin Art by clashing flesh-to-flesh with rank-2 upper or rank-3 lower demon beasts. He'd realized this during his fight with that senior apprentice: consistent body refinement training allowed one to fight on pure physical might even after exhausting their spiritual power, proving advantageous in prolonged battles. Had that senior's body been as tough as a blood zombie's, Yuseong would've died right there.
With preparations complete, he set off into the Gaun Mountains' depths. His sect mission was done, freeing him from duties for the time being, so he aimed for uncharted territories. To claim crimson tree fruit, he needed the areas where they thrived—nine thousand li north of Unkak Sect. The problem? It bordered the territory of Hwan Su Sect, the mightiest sect in the range.
Sect gates and clans in the Gaun Mountains united against external invaders, but otherwise competed fiercely. In the vast mountains, encountering a lone Hwan Su disciple could spell disaster. Still, the risk was worth it: the Crimson Tree Pill could propel him to Qi Refining 8th star. In the cultivation world, no reward came without peril.
As he flew farther from Unkak Sect, demon beasts grew more frequent. To evade flying ones, he skimmed low through towering trees. Flying beasts usually traveled in packs, making them tricky foes. Even a higher realm cultivator could fall to hundreds swarming from a skirmish with one or two.
He dispatched any flying beasts that detected his low flight with Waterfall Sword and White Serpent Flying Blade. Tough-skinned ones that deflected blows met mid-sized fireballs from his superior-grade Flame Orb, incinerated on the spot. Out of curiosity, he tried roasted flying beast meat—tasteless and chewy.
En route to the crimson trees, he engaged rank-2 beasts bare-handed to train. Sparring stronger foes should elevate his Iron Skin Art to the 8th stage soon enough. Nine thousand li was a haul, so whenever a suitable rest spot appeared, he circulated qi to replenish spent spiritual power.
With no formation artifact, he couldn't deploy Golden Turtle Formation for safe meditation. Instead, he dug deep burrows before cultivating. Indeed, spiritual energy thickened northward. Cultivating in dense qi versus sparse qi yielded stark speed differences—which was why every cultivator craved rich-vein sites, drawing external forces' covetous eyes to the Gaun Mountains.
Fifteen days from Unkak Sect, he reached crimson tree territory. Towering peaks ten thousand zhang tall pierced the clouds in every direction.
"Finally here. But scouring this vastness for crimson trees..."
He had no precise leads, so blind searching it was. One certainty: crimson trees evaded other cultivators' eyes. Any spotted were uprooted for private spirit herb gardens. Uncertain summit perils kept him starting low. He scanned intently for bonus herbs while hunting crimson trees, wary of rank-3 beasts—and occasional rank-4—that roamed here.
Rank-3 beasts averaged Qi Refining 10th star; rank-4 ranged from Core Formation initial to mid. He could handle rank-3, but rank-4 solo was suicide. Though Fire Dragon Formation might tip odds against one.
A week scouring foothills yielded nothing. Returning empty-handed meant wasted time, so he ascended. Summits brimmed with qi, tempting senior caves or beast lairs—best avoided. He combed grass and trees for spirit herbs and crimson trees alike.
Around six thousand zhang up, he spotted a narrow-mouthed, vast gorge shrouded in thick fog that veiled the bottom—even from his divine sense. No gains so far made the suspicious depths worth probing. Visibility and sense limited, he still descended cautiously via flight artifact, piercing the mist.
Fifty zhang, hundred, two hundred—the bottom eluded him. No backing out now; he pressed on. At a thousand zhang, he touched down. The ground radiated faint warmth—ideal for crimson trees, boosting hopes.
Stowing the flight artifact, he cloaked in Silver Concealment Veil and crept forward. Fog blocked sense beyond ten zhang. A day later, the mist thinned ahead. Racing there revealed a broad plain cradling one crimson tree—and two black ironwoods behind it.
"Finally!"
Joy surged; he hugged the crimson tree. "Huh? Black ironwoods?"
Precious for formations or flight artifacts. Ecstatic, he embraced and kissed them too. "Nice to meet you!"
The crimson tree bore two century-plus fruits amid lesser ones. He stored the prime ones in a jade box, then carefully excavated the root-intact tree with soil into his storage ring. Same for the ironwoods. One crimson tree and two ironwoods... worth the trek. He'd transplant the crimson near his abode; one ironwood for formation, one for flight artifact. If Senior Baek couldn't craft them, Dancheol Fortress later. No auxiliary ingredients, but main plus ironwoods? Buy the rest at Unkak shops.
Buzzing with elation, he exited the gorge and descended. Mid-flight through trees, silver lightning lanced from ahead.
"...!"
Startled, he banked hard, barely dodging the beam.
"Who dares trespass Hwan Su Sect territory so brazenly?"
A black-haired youth glowered arrogantly. Hwan Su Core Formation initial cultivator! Worst-case scenario.
Yuseong flashed his identity token and bowed politely. "Senior, I'm Yuseong of Unkak Sect. I didn't know this was Hwan Su territory."
"It's been under our watch lately. No long talk—empty your storage ring."
Highway robbery! A senior bullying juniors for loot?
"Senior, that's difficult. I just learned it's Hwan Su land now. I won't return, so could you let me go?"
The initial Core Formation youth scowled. "A Qi Refining 7th star worm defying me?"
Killing intent prickled his skin. Hand over the ring, get sent back alive? Fat chance. The youth would kill him instantly after. In these mountains, offing a lone Qi Refiner and erasing traces was trivial.
Yuseong subtly extended sense—no other Hwan Su cultivators. Just this one. Grinning, he said, "Senior, I'll shatter your body and extinguish your nascent soul."