Chapter 28. Dispatch
He rose early in the morning and started his day with a session of qi circulation meditation. Once the brief meditation ended, he stepped out of the cave and headed to the spirit herb field. While checking on the growth of the Red Dew and Radiant Mulberry Wood, a majestic bell toll reverberated across the entirety of Unkak Sect. It rang exactly three times.
Three tolls signified a grave matter had arisen in the sect, compelling every disciple of Unkak Sect to drop what they were doing and assemble immediately at the vast plain to the north. Ten tolls would mean the sect faced the brink of annihilation.
With anxiety churning in his gut, he mounted his flying artifact and sped toward the northern plain. From every corner of Unkak Sect, hundreds of streaks of light shot into the sky, converging northward. What the hell is going on? he wondered. Is it an invasion from outside forces? Has the Chu Kingdom, which wiped out North Wind Palace, marched into the Gaun Mountains to crush the other sects? A whirlwind of questions left his mind reeling.
I'll find out when I get there.
Unkak Sect's northern plain was vast enough to accommodate thousands without crowding, so the arriving disciples claimed spots at a respectful distance from one another and sat, awaiting the Sect Leader. Upon arrival, Yuseong scanned for a seat and locked eyes with Moyong Wol, making his way to her side.
"Wol, any idea what's happening?"
"No clue. Guess we wait for the Sect Leader."
Sitting beside Moyong Wol, he observed the crowd—everyone barely concealing their unease, murmuring to those around them. After about an hour, thousands had gathered. As Unkak Sect's Sect Leader ascended the central platform, silence fell. Behind him stood Nascent Soul experts with solemn expressions.
The Sect Leader was at the Nascent Soul late-stage, the sole disciple of Unkak Sect's one and only Spirit Severing Supreme Elder. He delegated the sect's operations to his own disciples, spending his time in cultivation. Rumor had it he'd only emerge if the sect teetered on extinction.
"I've called you all here to select personnel for a dispatch to defend the western coast of the Gaun Mountains."
The western coast of the Gaun Mountains...? Overseas cultivators invading?
"Fortunately, it's not all the island cultivators uniting against us—only a portion. Goma Island, Myeong Island, and Samsin Island have allied and launched an assault. Blood Shadow Sect, Black Dark Sect, and Yeonghae Sect are fighting desperately, and they've requested reinforcements. If we let our neighboring sects on the west fall—what the histories call 'the lips perish, the teeth grow cold'—we'll be next. Whenever outside forces invade the Gaun Mountains, we've always banded together to repel them from past to present."
News of overseas cultivators storming the western coast and the need for dispatch darkened the faces of most low-realm disciples.
"Not everyone will go. Neighboring nations like Great Yan Kingdom, Chu Kingdom, and Beomcheon Kingdom still eye the Gaun Mountains hungrily. For the first dispatch: 1,000 from Qi Refining 5th star and above, 100 from Core Formation, and 10 from Nascent Soul."
Qi Refining 5th star and up—thankfully, Medical Hall's So Mu at 4th star was spared.
"The selected personnel and plans will be announced by Martial Affairs Hall Lord."
The Sect Leader stepped back, and Martial Affairs Hall Lord Kyung Jo advanced.
"Each unit consists of 1 Nascent Soul, 10 Core Formation, and 100 Qi Refining—totaling ten units for the first dispatch. All dispatched personnel will receive Life-Extending Pills and internal injury healing elixirs. You'll also choose one between a magic artifact or a cultivation-boosting pill. Return alive, and further rewards await."
Unit 1: [Names]
Unit 2: [Names]
Unit 3 Qi Refining: Yuseong
[And so on for other units]
"Haa...."
"Oh no...."
Sighs of despair and relief rippled through the crowd. Despair for those named, relief for the spared.
Am I on there? Please, no. Heart pounding, he stared at the scroll, searching desperately.
Unit 3 Qi Refining: Yuseong.
His heart plummeted, vision blurring.
"Yuseong...."
Moyong Wol gazed at him, on the verge of tears.
"Wol, you?"
"I'm not selected."
Scanning the names, most were disciples without masters or those deemed unimportant by the sect. Nae Cheonha's disciples—Hwang Danha, Jo Mihyeon, Kang Seolhui—were absent. All with Nascent Soul masters were exempt! Overt favoritism, but he couldn't blame them.
Truth be told, he preferred going. Battling overseas cultivators would build real combat experience; surviving near-death trials would propel his realm forward. Tribulations were essential for becoming a towering figure. At least Unit 1 was led by the late-stage Nascent Soul Sect Leader himself, so their faces weren't as grim. The Spirit Severing Supreme Elder seemed uninvolved—perhaps guarding the sect in the Leader's absence, already fighting on the coast, or wandering other nations.
Glancing over other units, he scrutinized Unit 3: Byeok Soseol was there, and the leader was Yeop Inyeong! Library Pavilion Lord Yeop Inyeong, a mid-stage Nascent Soul puppet master, would wield immense power in mass battles. With spirit stone support, she could command hordes of puppets.
Other unit leaders included Medical Hall Lord Seong Yuhyang, Elder Nae Cheonha, Martial Affairs Hall Lord Kyung Jo, and Guest Elders.
After some time, Martial Affairs Hall Lord spoke.
"Departure in three days. Prepare thoroughly and reassemble here to move out."
The Sect Leader and Nascent Soul experts departed the platform, and the crowd dispersed to their quarters.
"You have to come back alive, okay?" Moyong Wol grasped his hand.
"If it gets dicey, I'll just run. 'Couldn't handle it with my skills'—that excuse should fly, right?"
"Yeah, then run."
After a brief chat with Moyong Wol, he returned to his cave. He had three days to maximize his realm. He'd planned to take the Mulberry Longevity Pill at Qi Refining 10th star, but to boost survival odds, he'd consume it now. Effective even for body arts, it'd advance his Iron Skin Art too.
Retrieving the pill from Twilight Hall, he swallowed it immediately. The insect-derived origin hit like a vile punch. Fiery energy erupted, rampaging through his body. He swiftly circulated the Yin-Yang Art, taming the energy and guiding it to his dantian.
After an hour absorbing it, nine azure qi points filled his abdomen—Qi Refining 9th star—and Iron Skin Art reached 8th stage.
Ordinary cultivators couldn't breakthrough so swiftly. The supreme Yin-Yang Art maximized pill efficacy, purified his mana, and elevated his realm with fewer resources than others.
With remaining time, he used Three-Eyed White Tiger blood to craft protective and lightning talismans, then stabilized his realm. He reclaimed the formation artifact, dismantling the vault formation. No one'll mess with the herb field while I'm gone, right?
He collected his issued item: a bead-shaped magic artifact, chosen over pills. Inferior to Jo Mihyeon's, but better than nothing.
The final night before departing west arrived. Restless, he exited the cave, lay on a rock, and stared at the sky. Can I survive and return this time? Pondering tomorrow's march and battle tactics against overseas foes, his eyes grew heavy gazing at the moon—until footsteps approached.
"Yuseong...."
Moyong Wol was there. Words unnecessary, their eyes met, they embraced, and spent a night hotter than any before.
Morning came; opening his eyes, he found Moyong Wol had left a jade plaque artifact. Infusing mana yielded an orange protective barrier. A defensive tool—mid-grade, at least. Feeling her sentiments, he kissed the plaque, stored it in Twilight Hall, and stepped out, bellowing bravado for show.
"You bastards! Unkak Sect's Yuseong is coming for you!"
Laughing heartily to mask his fear, he flew to the northern plain.
"Hahaha!"
Nearly a thousand cultivators stood in orderly units. "Yuseong pays respects to Hall Lord," he bowed formally to Unit 3's leader, Yeop Inyeong.
Unlike her usual intellectual poise, she laughed booming, clapping his shoulder. "Hahaha, Yuseong. Don't die."
"Understood."
Her words hit hard—this dispatch brushed death closely. Gulping, he joined Unit 3, eyeing the others. Most low-realm disciples looked grim or forced cheer to conquer inner terror.
Once all units assembled, Unit 1's leader—Unkak Sect Leader Wiyeon—boomed.
"Don't cower imagining foes already! You're proud Unkak Sect disciples, and I'll protect you with all I have! If crisis strikes, I'll stake my life to save you—chest out, heads high! Now... depart!"
"Waaaaah!"
Disciples roared, mounting flying artifacts and soaring skyward. To conserve mana, they crammed onto available spots. Yuseong shouted along, boarding. A thousand cultivators flying en masse was a spectacle. His chest burned hot, battle lust igniting. Fear vanished; he yearned to crush the enemy.
I'll make them regret invading Gaun Mountains. Not even your souls will return to your islands.