Chapter 136: A Talent Bestowed by Heaven, A Genius

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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Jin So-myeong…no, the clone Baek Dan-il…moved diligently.

He headed toward the lowest grade among the commercial zones inside the flying vessel, a market where Qi Condensation cultivators mainly gathered.

The moment he entered a circular plaza with a cruciform avenue.

“It’s a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator!”

“What?”

“Greetings, Senior!”

The Qi Condensation cultivators who discovered Baek Dan-il were startled and shouted, then backed away in a rush, creating a large empty space.

“…”

The noisy market fell quiet with just the appearance of Baek Dan-il, but he did not have any change in expression.

At his aloof momentum that did not leak a single emotion, several Qi Condensation cultivators sent looks of admiration. They said it was indeed a dignity worthy of a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator.

Within the gazes that sharply focused on him.

Baek Dan-il, who took large strides, went to an empty spot on one side of the avenue and stuck down a signpost.

[Qi Condensing Pills. 10 spirit stones per pill.]

Writing down a cheap price that was only half of the market rate, he poured out hundreds of Qi Condensing Pills and piled them up in front. Just like clearance items…

*Thump!*

Then, without even soliciting customers, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

He had begun cultivating.

The Qi Condensation cultivators who watched blankly were flustered. To think he would cultivate in a noisy and bustling market? Did he not even worry about suffering internal injuries?

And are those Qi Condensing Pills really for sale? They are extremely cheap, but could it be a problematic product?

He seems to be in the middle of cultivation, but is it alright to disturb him?

All kinds of questions flashed past.

Ten minutes later.

Among those who were hesitating and watching the mood, a young man cautiously approached.

“Excuse me, Senior. May I ask why these Qi Condensing Pills are so cheap?”

Baek Dan-il, who was concentrating on cultivation, slowly opened his two eyes.

The reason it was cheap?

Honestly speaking, it was because he did not miss a spirit stone or two. In the first place, his reason for selling the pills was similar to the psychology of choosing to share food he had made with effort rather than throwing it away.

However, there was no need to explain the inner story in detail.

Glancing at the Qi Condensation young man who questioned politely with his hands gathered at his navel, he spoke.

“Because there was no cost price.”

“Yes?”

“These pills were all made with spiritual herbs obtained by killing enemies. Not a single bit of ingredient cost went into them.”

“…Hahaha. That is a funny joke, Senior.”

“I don’t make such things as jokes.”

At the cold and firm reply, the young man’s smile became awkward.

“…I see. But by any chance, would any problems arise from buying these pills? I worry that someone might come looking to return what is theirs.”

“No such thing will happen. The owners of the goods are already all dead.”

The young man’s smile collapsed completely. His fingertips trembled violently.

After making a conflicted expression while swallowing his dry saliva several times, he quietly whispered.

“I will buy them. Please give me just five Qi Condensing Pills.”

As the young man who safely completed the transaction left as if fleeing, those who were only watching the mood from afar began to approach one by one.

“Senior. I will also buy some.”

Had about five minutes passed? The Qi Condensation cultivators in the vicinity swarmed over and swept away all the pills.

‘Doing business is easy.’

Sold out. Dusting off his seat and standing up, Baek Dan-il began to walk around the market to buy ingredients for Qi Condensing Pills.

Just as he was about to leave after finishing his errands.

“By the time we arrive in the Southern Province, the war will also be over, right?”

“Of course! Since they are in the midst of armistice negotiations, the results will come out soon.”

“Whew, I hope it goes well. If one grasps the opportunity well in such times, they might be able to enter a Golden Core-grade righteous sect as a disciple.”

“Would it just be a disciple? If luck only follows, even a Foundation Establishment Pill is possible!”

“Even a Foundation Establishment Pill?”

“Since countless cultivators died in the war, wouldn’t a lot of manpower be needed? The Foundation Establishment Pills that the Golden Core-grade righteous sects held tightly will be released.”

“Ooh.”

Just as Baek Dan-il, who had stopped for a moment, was about to move his steps again.

-Wait, look into the news about the Southern Province as much as possible.

The command of the main body, Jin So-myeong, dropped, and Baek Dan-il approached the Qi Condensation cultivators.

“Are there no other rumors?”

“Yes?”

“The Southern Province. Especially rumors about the Damun Kingdom. I will give spirit stones to anyone who tells a useful story.”

Among the hesitating Qi Condensation cultivators, one courageous person stepped forward.

“They say the war between righteous and demonic sects that started in the Damun Kingdom has grown, so even Nascent Soul-grade sects have participated.”

“Hmm.”

“From what I heard, the Medicine King Sect and the Black Night Palace. Those two Nascent Soul-grade sects clashed, and currently, they are in armistice negotiations…”

The Qi Condensation cultivator’s voice grew increasingly smaller.

This was because Baek Dan-il’s expression was identical from beginning to end. No matter how one looked at it, it was not an expression of interest.

Just as the dejected Qi Condensation cultivator was about to quietly withdraw.

Baek Dan-il flicked his finger. He tossed one of the spirit stones rolling around in his sub-space.

“Heek! A m-mid-grade spirit stone!”

In fact, although it was information Jin So-myeong already knew because he had also done a lot of research in his own way, he rewarded him to draw out responses.

As expected,

All kinds of people swarmed over and began to shout, even straining the veins in their necks.

“I heard the Damun Kingdom is a country ruled by seven Golden Core-grade sects!”

“No! The Joyous Gate was destroyed during the war, so it became the six great sects!”

“I heard a rumor that the Thousand Corpses Sect offered its entire sect to drag the Black Night Palace, a Nascent Soul-grade demonic sect, into the war!”

Listening quietly, he tossed a spirit stone whenever he thought it was decent information.

Just as people with bloodshot eyes were shouting at the top of their lungs.

“Into the Medicine King Sect! An incredible beauty has entered!!”

At the roar that sounded almost like a bomb exploding, gazes sharply focused, and a middle-aged man with a resounding voice grinned.

“Rumors are widespread that she is the most beautiful woman in the Southern Province! Hehe.”

“Ah! I should have said that!”

“Argh, what a waste.”

Other people struck the ground as if resentful, and the middle-aged man resembling a bandit held out his palm with a triumphant expression.

Acted like a person who had provided tremendous information, as if it was natural that he should receive a spirit stone.

-Sigh… just give him one.

Baek Dan-il, who was expressionless from beginning to end, flicked his finger at the instruction of Jin So-myeong echoing in his head.

Around this time.

Not only Qi Condensation but also Foundation Establishment cultivators appeared one by one. Sneaking over with expressions of curiosity about what the clamor was, they tossed out words one by one.

“The peerless beauty who appeared in the Medicine King Sect? Ah, do you mean that woman who is said to be a talent bestowed by heaven?”

“A genius?”

“They say she reached the 9th layer of Foundation Establishment at a young age of not even sixty.”

“No way, what nonsense.”

“It’s true! I heard she is a real genius, not just some common genius.”

“Even so, the 9th layer of Foundation Establishment at not even sixty is a bit… I think that’s going too far.”

“And why shouldn’t it be possible! The Medicine King Sect, a Nascent Soul-grade sect, must have raised her with all their heart! On top of being raised with all kinds of precious spiritual medicines poured into her, she was even born with talent, so it is fully possible!”

“…If it is true, a genuine figure has been born in the Southern Province. It is worthy for the rumors to spread all the way to the Eastern Province.”

Baek Dan-il, who was listening quietly, opened his mouth.

“Does no one know about the Thousand Corpses Sect?”

“Uh… I heard their Young Master fell ill with some strange disease and faced difficulties in his cultivation, but because I just overheard it by chance, I am not sure if it is true.”

***

The Medicine King Sect.

One of the countless mountain peaks located there.

On a certain hill filled with flowers fluttering in the wind, as many as eight Golden Core elders gathered and wore pleased expressions.

“Hwa-ran. Are you fully prepared in mind to ascend to the Golden Core stage?”

Their gazes were focused on a woman in her early twenties who possessed a slender figure and outstanding beauty, and she, who had a pure atmosphere like a pure white lotus, replied politely.

“Yes. I am truly sorry to put the elders to trouble.”

“Uh-huh! Why say such disappointing words. Hwa-ran, you are the future of our Medicine King Sect. This level of treatment is only natural.”

When Cheong Hwa-ran, who slightly bit her lips, bowed her head as if overwhelmed with gratitude, the smiles formed around the mouths of the Golden Core elders grew even thicker.

“Yes. Since you are ready, enter seclusion and concentrate on breaking through to the Golden Core stage. We will stand guard as your protectors, so do not have useless worries.”

“Yes.”

Within the gazes filled with goodwill, Cheong Hwa-ran, who let out a sigh without showing it, entered the seclusion chamber.

If Jin So-myeong had seen this scene, he would have been surprised.

This was because the Cheong Hwa-ran he knew was a strong woman who gathered orphans to form a gang and survived even in the harsh Red Yang Market.

Yet now, she overflowed with elegance, looking like an imperial princess born to a noble status.

In any case,

As Cheong Hwa-ran entered the training room to break through to the Golden Core stage, the remaining eight Golden Core elders wore complex expressions.

“Before long, we’ll have to call Hwa-ran ‘Fellow Daoist’.”

“Would it just be ‘Fellow Daoist’? In a few hundred years, we will have to call her ‘Senior’.”

“Haha. It feels like only yesterday when Hwa-ran, having just established her foundation, entered our Medicine King Sect…”

“To think she is challenging the Golden Core stage at only sixty-seven. Honestly, her talent is so dazzling that it even makes me jealous.”

“Jealousy? Hmm. Honestly speaking, I am the same. Since she was born with a Spirit Body, her future will be brilliant…”

“Uh-huh! The fact that Hwa-ran was born with a Spirit Body is a secret, so do not mention it even when we are among ourselves.”

“Ahem. I am sorry. In any case, how fortunate it is that a genius like Hwa-ran entered our Medicine King Sect. It is a blessing of three lifetimes.”

One of the Golden Core elders who was nodding his head in agreement suddenly frowned.

“But you see. I heard that a cheeky fellow from the Thousand Corpses Sect recently dared to propose to our Hwa-ran?”

“Does he not know his place? How dare a mere Golden Core-grade sect!”

“Unless his liver has swollen outside his belly. How could he do such a thing.”

“Did they say we should make the marriage a token to stop the war… It seems they’ve lost their minds after constantly touching corpses.”

“That dog-like fellow, he’s the Young Master of the Thousand Corpses Sect, right? If I meet him, I should pull out his soul and throw it into a pit of fire!”

The Golden Core elders, who had behaved somewhat gently, instantly turned into street thugs and poured out curses.

After the explosive atmosphere passed,

“No matter how I look at it, I don’t think those fellows from the Thousand Corpses Sect would have such guts. Could they perhaps be instigated by the Black Night Palace?”

“The Black Night Palace…? That might be so. Could they have recognized the Spirit Body…no, the talent…our Hwa-ran possesses?”

“Let us watch for now. Hwa-ran possesses the aptitude to definitely reach the Nascent Soul stage if only given time. If she truly becomes a Nascent Soul expert, our Medicine King Sect will be able to maintain its prosperity for another thousand years.”

“Mhm!”

The expressions of the Golden Core elders staring at one another grew resolute, and they each moved their positions.

Tightening their defense around the eight directions of the training room Cheong Hwa-ran had entered, they maintained a strict state of vigilance…

***

Meanwhile.

Jin So-myeong, who was aboard the flying vessel crossing the Dead Soul Wilderness, was pouring all his devotion into cultivation.

Taking the accumulation of spiritual power to raise his realm as a major pillar,

He steadily polished his sword art, body tempering, and elixir refining.

On top of this, one more thing.

There was a place where he had poured his Supreme Great Ability since a year ago, which was raising his senses to a realm one level higher.

Whenever he finished his daily cultivation, he headed to the spiritual herb field of the Secret Realm of the Mind.

He sat cross-legged in front of the Void Shadow True Blossom Herb, a mysterious Nascent Soul-grade spiritual object whose petal colors constantly changed from exquisite purple to blue.

With eyes harboring lightning, he contemplated the Void Shadow True Blossom Herb.

That was while casting the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye divine ability, which was said to pierce and see through all possibilities in the universe.

‘Space…’

To reach the Nascent Soul stage, he had observed this spiritual herb countless times since obtaining the Void Shadow True Blossom Herb in the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda.

Had there been any results?

If asked so, he could only reply not yet.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

There is a saying, constant dripping wears away the stone.

It means that even insignificant drops of water, when gathered, can pierce through a rock.

It did not matter if results did not appear immediately. He believed that as long as he was steady, he would reach it someday.

Was it thanks to believing so and silently accumulating time?

From a certain moment, when looking at the Void Shadow True Blossom Herb, he got the feeling of looking at a bowl filled to the brim right before overflowing, almost touching it yet not quite.

In that way,

One day as time flowed.

The shape of the Void Shadow True Blossom Herb blurred, and an infinitely spread sea was visible.

With the petals constantly changing colors as the center, space was infinitely overlapping.

Since there was another space inside a space, he realized that if he could only squeeze into the gaps between them, the distinction between what was far and what was near would become meaningless.

“…”

Jin So-myeong, who stared intently at the Void Shadow True Blossom Herb, quietly closed his eyes. He groped for the inspiration that had faintly flashed past.

He felt like he knew something, but in reality, nothing had changed.

Far from distorting space, he still could not even feel it properly.

Even so.

Until the water filled to the brim in the bowl overflowed. He repeated dropping a single drop of water.

Jin So-myeong, 57 years old.

Toward the vaguely visible Nascent Soul, he took a step forward, one by one.

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