Chapter 24: Nae Simryeo
He spent the time until the formation artifacts were completed meditating in an inn. Just as cultivation was starting to feel tedious, the appointed hour arrived, and he went to meet the Qi Refining artisan he'd commissioned.
"Senior, I'm here to pick up the formation artifacts."
"Right on time. Take a look."
The middle-aged man pulled the formation artifacts from his storage ring. Yuseong received twelve black disk-shaped formation artifacts.
"These twelve form a complete set, enough to deploy basic formations."
"Thank you. As expected, the refining techniques of Dancheol Fortress produce the finest artifacts under heaven."
"Haha, come back anytime you need more."
"Understood. I'll take my leave then, Senior."
"Safe travels."
Now with the formation artifacts, he could protect the cave and Flood Flower Valley with a secure vault formation even when away. Even fellow sect members might snatch the valley outright without precautions—bold ones could even uproot the spirit herbs for their own fields.
With the formation artifacts acquired and the blood light stones sold, it was time to return to the sect. A hundred thousand li west from Black Iron City meant no dawdling; he set off immediately. This time, he plotted a route skirting the gorge infested with Ice Blue Bird flocks, flying low on a ferry boat artifact.
After flying more than a day, spiritual energy fluctuations pulsed from ten li away. He landed his flight artifact and cloaked himself with the Silver Sleep Technique. Creeping closer, he discovered the woman who'd bought the Ice Heaven Art at auction locked in a brutal struggle against over a dozen cultivators.
She was at Core Formation mid-stage, but facing more than ten Core Formation initial foes, mere survival was her limit. Her body was covered in wounds from prolonged combat, blood streaming from her mouth, eyes, and ears. The blood-streaked ferocity on her face stirred an odd allure, tempting him to help.
But jumping into a fight with no gain as a supposed Qi Refining 8th star? Impossible. He'd slain a beast-taming Core Formation initial before, but charging a dozen head-on was suicide. Her foes were battered too—arms severed, half their bodies encased in ice.
As he prepared to withdraw, a particularly strong Core Formation initial among them barked, "Nae Simryeo, the North Wind Palace is gone. Vanish quietly. You dare touch Chu Kingdom's Golden Sword Manor and think you can survive in the cultivation world?"
So her name was Nae Simryeo, a survivor of the North Wind Palace. And Golden Sword Manor from Chu Kingdom? Not just thieves after the Ice Heaven Art, then.
Nae Simryeo spat blood from her mouth, her eyes venomous. "Even if I die, someone else will avenge the North Wind Palace. Sleep easy, you Golden Sword Manor scum—don't dream of peace."
A Golden Sword Manor cultivator sneered. "Hahaha, you think we'll buy that bluff? Kill the bitch!"
They clashed again. Golden swords wove threads of gold to press her, while she countered with ice pillars for defense and hurled ice spears.
He'd planned to leave for the sect, but the intrigue held him. Staring at Nae Simryeo, she reminded him of someone. If her black hair turned silver with a blue tint and her figure filled out more at chest and hips, she'd look just like Nae Cheonha. Could she be Nae Cheonha's sister?
If so, letting her die felt wrong. No real ties, but he secretly harbored feelings for Nae Cheonha. Saving her sister could earn points—and rewards. A true man loved his cultivation partner Moyong Wol and admired Seong Yuhyang and Nae Cheonha without conflict. Heroes chased beauties in the mortal world, didn't they?
Suppressing his presence, he slipped behind her and sent a voice transmission. "If you're related to Nae Cheonha, nod."
Amid the fight, she gave a slight nod.
"Retreat slowly while fighting. When I signal, break free and we'll strike together."
He retreated five li to a forest behind the battle, pulling out fire flame pearls to set up the Fire Dragon Formation. He embedded spirit stones at key array points and nodes, surrounding the perimeter with pearls. Facing strong foes, he used seventy-two low-grade spirit stones—wasteful, but the payoff would match.
The black ironwood formation artifacts were wood-attuned primaries with metal secondaries, useless for Fire Dragon Formation, so pearls it was.
Setup complete, he transmitted to Nae Simryeo: lure them in. She unleashed earth-shaking escape arts, bursting the encirclement and flying toward him. The dozen Golden Sword Manor cultivators pursued desperately, hurling golden swords.
As they entered the Fire Dragon Formation and she escaped, he pinched the incantation, activating it. Spiritual waves erupted, the earth quaked, and the formation ignited.
Over ten zhang of flame walls encircled the Golden Sword Manor cultivators in a semicircle, sealing even the skies.
"Gasp!"
"This is the Fire Dragon Formation?!"
"Don't panic! Rally to me and pool your power!"
Even from afar, blistering heat washed over him; nearby trees ignited, fire spreading across the mountain. Inside? Pure hellfire.
The ten-zhang flame walls advanced slowly on the Golden Sword Manor group. Exhausted from battling Nae Simryeo, they stared in despair at encroaching death.
"Snap out of it! Channel power to me! This isn't true Fire Dragon Formation—just a crude imitation!"
The central cultivator shouted, deploying a blue orb artifact for a barrier. The others snapped to, pouring mana in, layering shields. Mana-short ones swallowed pills, chewed spirit herbs raw, absorbed spirit stones— one even used three mid-grade earth escape talismans from the Harmony Pavilion auction.
A massive earthen wall enveloped the blue barriers.
The formation shifted: flame walls birthed hundreds of fire dragons charging the earth barrier.
BOOM! Earth shattered amid heaven-shaking roars; blue barriers shuddered, flames spraying wildly. The shockwave turned a thirty-zhang radius into a sea of fire, scorching the ground.
Hundreds of dragons smashed through earth into the barriers, shattering layers until all collapsed, dragons dissipating.
Just a tenth of true Fire Dragon Formation's power, yet this devastating? The real thing was unimaginable.
The barely-surviving Golden Sword Manor cultivators were ashen, mana depleted.
"No!"
"Gaaah."
"Cough…"
Yuseong swooped in, smashing skulls with fists, recovering pearls, and hurling fire orbs everywhere. Core Formation initials without mana or body arts died easily. He blocked incoming golden swords with barriers, snapped necks, and shattered dantians.
In moments, most bodies were pulverized; nascent souls finished with pearls. As he targeted the last, Nae Simryeo said, "Leave the final nascent soul to me. I'll handle it."
She seized the fleeing soul, applying soul extraction arts. While she worked, he looted all their storage rings.
The soul screamed endlessly, twisting under extraction. "Aaaagh! Aren't you afraid of Golden Sword Manor?!"
Nae Simryeo ignored it, focusing. Soon, she extracted the info, froze the soul, and crushed it.
Exhausted, she asked, "Who are you to know my sister?"
Indeed, Nae Cheonha's sister. Had Nae Cheonha, also North Wind Palace, sought refuge in Unkak Sect after the destruction?
"I'm Yuseong of Unkak Sect. Close with Elder Nae Cheonha."
He flashed his sect identity plaque. The "close" part was a lie—her icy demeanor kept everyone at arm's length.
"I see. I'll repay this debt. But I'm in no state—may I ask you to stand guard?"
"Of course. Let's move first. And this is Wood Life Powder; apply it to heal external wounds."
He handed her the salve and relocated far from the site, standing watch. Rewards were non-negotiable—he'd claim from Nae Cheonha too.
A day later, somewhat recovered, he asked, "Was the Ice Heaven Art auction a Golden Sword Manor trap?"
"Yes. After North Wind Palace fell, its famed arts scattered. As a disciple, I had to reclaim Ice Heaven Art. Didn't expect their trap."
To get Nae Cheonha's reward, lure her to Unkak Sect… hoping no family rift?
"They might send more pursuers. What if you come to Unkak Sect with me? Elder Nae would welcome you."
He watched her expression closely during talk, but it remained unreadable.
"My sister? Unlikely. Thanks for the save, but I'll repay the favor later."
No! Repay now! How else to collect on seventy-two spirit stones? No stones? Pay with your body.
As she moved to leave, he blurted desperately, "Wait—at least teach me cultivation before you go."
"Cultivation guidance? What do you seek?"
"Qi Refining stars bring blue stars on the dantian. How to reach Core Formation at 10th star?"
"Colors vary by root. At 10th star, ten qi points form. At peak, compress them into a seed in the dantian."
"That's it? Seems too simple."
"Experience it yourself. I have business—farewell. We'll meet again; stay alive till then."
She vanished over the mountain in an instant.
What rift kept Nae Simryeo and Nae Cheonha distant? His plan to save her and claim rewards from both crumbled.
Still, he gained Core Formation insights, looted rings, and tested Fire Dragon Formation in real combat. Its debut power exceeded expectations. At full strength, they'd have blocked it unscathed.
With Nae Simryeo gone, he boarded his flight artifact and departed.