Chapter 163: The Hatching of Geum-cheong
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Translated by Frog in the Well
Read more at Nineheavens.org
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***
Deep within the Mok Clan.
The eyelids of Mok Ra-yu, a beautiful lady who revealed a subtle elegance despite wearing a simple light dress with almost no ornaments and was called the family head of the Mok Clan by the world, trembled slightly.
“Mok Ryu-jin. Did you say that child died?”
“Here is the jade slip containing the detailed circumstances.”
Closing her two eyes and calming her breathing, she snatched the jade slip.
After reading the jade slip, which was densely packed with Mok Ryu-jin’s recent tracks and information on related figures, she fell silent for a long time.
With an expression so cold it could cause frost to fall, she dismissed all the servants.
She visited the clan’s forbidden area sealed with a formation, where an old man so withered that he resembled a corpse was sitting cross-legged.
If a well-informed person had seen this old man, they would have been astonished, for he was Mok Sa-heon, the former family head who was known to have died after his lifespan ended two hundred years ago.
“Father. My grandson has died.”
The old man, who resembled a dead tree, slowly opened his eyes and asked back with an emotionless face.
“Did he die in an accident?”
“No. To some scoundrel…”
“Then it is a good opportunity.”
“Pardon?”
She wondered if she had misheard, but she had not. She had heard correctly.
“Did you not covet the Rank 4 high-grade spiritual vein possessed by the Nebula Sect? Take it, using this matter as a pretext. If you put forward the pretext of revenge, even the Sacred City will not find fault with it.”
“…”
“We must also fill the depleted number of Nascent Soul cultivators. Select those among the direct line who have reached the late Golden Core stage, hold an examination, and bestow the Soul Condensing Pills.”
Though his blood relative had died, his response was far too cold. It did not seem human at all, showing not even a fragment of anger, let alone sadness.
“…I understand.”
The family head, unable to find her words, barely replied as if clearing her blocked throat, and Mok Sa-heon spoke in a flat voice.
“Reason must always be above emotion. If you obsess over trivial matters, your vision is bound to blur. The important thing is to lead the clan in the right direction.”
“You do not have to worry. I always keep Father’s teachings in mind.”
“Yes. Which fellow touched a direct descendant of our Mok Clan?”
Nodding his head as if that was enough, only then did Mok Sa-heon ask who the culprit was.
“It is not certain since there are many who would target my grandson, but looking at recent tracks, the most likely one is Jin So-myeong.”
The family head handed over the jade slip containing information on Jin So-myeong, and Mok Sa-heon’s eyebrows twitched as he read the jade slip with a blank expression.
His expression, which had remained calm even at the news of his blood relative’s death, changed for the first time—specifically, to admiration.
“An extraordinary figure. It is a waste to make him an enemy.”
“…But this fellow has already pointed his blade at us.”
“Is there a way to reconcile?”
“It is not easy.”
As the old man who brought to mind a dry tree stared silently with profound eyes, the family head hastily added more words.
“I am not saying this because of my grandson’s death. As a result of investigating Jin So-myeong, he is judged to have a very upright personality. Even if we wish to reconcile, he will not accept it.”
“Hmm… If we use this fellow well, it seems it will be helpful when I ascend to the Soul Formation stage.”
Startled by the word ‘Soul Formation stage,’ the family head reflexively scanned her surroundings, as if it would be disastrous if someone overheard.
“Do not worry. There is no one within a ten-li radius.”
While the family head felt relieved at the assurance of the old man who had reached the 9th layer of the Nascent Soul stage Great Circle, the old man continued to speak in a slow tone.
“Jin So-myeong. A fellow like this cannot naturally endure oppression. He will probably clash with the Sacred City before long. However, since the disparity in power is absolute, he will be hollowly trampled and perish.”
“Father’s words mean…?”
“If we can only handle this fellow according to our will, we can blur the eyes of the Sacred City; if we exploit that gap well, the probability of me reaching the Soul Formation stage will also rise.”
“Ah.”
“I say it again, do not obsess over trivial matters. If only I ascend to the Soul Formation stage, even the Sacred City that oppressed our clan will not be able to act recklessly. It will be enough to repay minor grudges when the time comes.”
Imagining the brilliant future that would unfold when a Soul Formation cultivator was born in the clan, the family head took on a resolute expression and nodded.
“I understand. Then, I will devise a way to control Jin So-myeong so we can use him when needed.”
***
At the same time, Jin So-myeong, who was focusing on the movements of the Mok Clan, could not help but frown.
[The Sect Master of the Nebula Sect killed Mok Ryu-jin. We will give you a chance to explain, so come to the Mok Clan immediately and prove your innocence.]
This was because the Mok Clan had made an absurd claim.
‘They must have found out that I killed Mok Ryu-jin, so I don’t know what they are thinking.’
After pondering for a moment, he released his clones throughout Cloud Dragon Immortal City to listen to the rumors going around.
“Is it true that the Nebula Sect killed Mok Ryu-jin?”
“No way.”
Although the people of the world were bewildered, they gossiped that the Mok Clan was acting with obvious intentions.
Their logic was: how could the Nebula Sect, a small-to-medium-sized sect led by just a single Nascent Soul cultivator, dare touch a direct descendant of the Mok Clan?
This was especially so because the Nebula Sect happened to possess a fairly wide Rank 4 high-grade spiritual vein, which had marked them as prey for several giant forces.
“Will the Sect Master of the Nebula Sect visit the Mok Clan? They said that if he stands on the Heart-Questioning Platform and proves his innocence, they won’t harm him in any way.”
“Do you believe that? The moment he visits the Mok Clan, he will be tag-teamed and killed, won’t he? Why on earth would he go there?”
“True, the Nebula Sect has usually been on bad terms with the Mok Clan.”
“From what I see, this incident occurred because the Nebula Sect’s greed was excessive.”
“Hmm? What does that mean?”
“Did not the Nebula Sect’s strength drop significantly after their former Sect Master died when his lifespan ended? Yet, they are still holding on to the Rank 4 high-grade spiritual vein, which means they have come to possess a spiritual vein that does not match their status.”
“Do you mean that even if it wasn’t the Mok Clan, trouble would have eventually occurred?”
“Indeed.”
“…It is a valid point, but how could they easily abandon the home they have settled in for a long time? They would try to hold out somehow.”
“Did they hide a honey jar in the spiritual vein? If death is certain, they should give up. Tsk tsk.”
A few days passed. A shocking rumor struck the Middle Province.
It was said that the Mok Clan had sent over three thousand puppet soldiers to exterminate the Nebula Sect. Under the bombardment of spells poured out by thousands of soldiers, the Nebula Sect was erased without leaving even a trace…
The moment the news spread, people’s attitudes changed completely.
Those who had been cursing the Mok Clan just a while ago all shut their mouths. On the contrary, some even praised the strength of the puppet army.
Several competing forces criticized it as an unprincipled act, but that was all.
‘Dreadful bastards.’
To Jin So-myeong, who had been preparing for any possible surprise attack, it was absurd.
To expand their power using the excuse of a direct descendant’s death?
He seemed to vaguely understand how those who had established giant forces survived in the Middle Province, where fierce competition was daily life.
Frowning, Jin So-myeong went to the Secret Realm of the Mind first.
This was because the egg of the demonic beast, which had absorbed the feather of the Dark-Thunder Azure-Heaven Beast, seemed about to hatch soon.
Just as he was sitting near the egg and waiting quietly,
‘Hmm?’
the lightning shimmering on the surface of the egg condensed and began to take a concrete shape, which looked like letters no matter how he viewed it.
However, even when he inspected it with his Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, he could not understand the meaning.
Out of curiosity, he tried to record it in a jade slip, but it was impossible. When he copied the letters to the jade slip, intense lightning arose and shattered the jade slip itself.
‘For now, I must memorize it as much as possible.’
The letters floating on the surface of the egg grew increasingly numerous and turned into something like a cloud. At the brief moment when the mist became so thick that the egg was invisible,
*Crackle!*
intense lightning wrapped around the egg. Although the dazzling light blocked his vision, he focused his eyesight and observed closely.
Cracks spread across the eggshell, and with a cracking sound of rupture, it collapsed.
Just as he was watching with a somewhat nervous heart,
Under the collapsed ruins of the egg, a chirping bird sound was heard. He was about to hastily clear away the debris, but there was no need.
*Rumble!*
This was because the broken egg fragments melted on their own and turned into lightning, which was absorbed by the bird born from the egg.
‘…It is really small.’
It was unbelievably small for something born from a human-sized egg. A creature smaller than a fist fluttered its wings without even being able to open its eyes.
He carefully observed the appearance of the fellow, who was chirping while sagging as if exhausted.
Surprisingly, although it was newborn, it was densely covered in yellow downy feathers. When he carefully observed the tips of the wing feathers, they were composed of translucent lightning crystals, which was very mysterious.
Due to its soft yellow down, it brought to mind a chick, but perhaps because blue lightning was shimmering all over its body, the sacred feeling was greater than its cuteness.
*Chirp!*
A cry as if whining for something was heard.
Thanks to the Lightning Insight Spell-Breaking Eye, he seemed to know what he should do.
“Are you hungry?”
*Chirp!*
Operating the Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art, he gathered lightning Qi on his fingertips. When he offered the Five Elements Divine Thunder, which he made as weak as possible, it devoured it eagerly.
‘Eating lightning since birth…’
From its extraordinary appearance to its appetite, it was unusual. Could it have inherited the blood of a sacred entity called a True Spirit?
According to legend, a True Spirit is born on its own from the heavens and earth without parents. They were god-like beings who possessed a lifespan of over hundreds of thousands of years from birth and exerted powerful strength.
‘Among the True Spirits born from lightning, if it is in a bird form… a Thunderbird?’
Of course, it did not mean this chick fellow was the legendary Thunderbird. It was just to the point of suspecting if it had inherited the blood of a True Spirit.
*Chirp! Chirp!*
Because he stopped giving lightning Qi due to being deep in thought, the chick, which had opened its black eyes that looked like black beans, pecked at his fingertips.
Looking at the yellow chick whining for food, laughter naturally came out.
“Alright. Your name is Geum-cheong.”
It meant that she was born with golden feathers and blue lightning.
He gave her a name, but there was no particular response. He could not tell whether she liked it or disliked it. The newborn fellow’s interest lay solely in food.
*
While guarding against the highly suspicious movements of the Mok Clan,
a month quickly passed as he gathered information about the Nascent Soul-grade exchange meeting to be held in five years.
In the meantime, there was something he naturally came to know while raising Geum-cheong.
‘This fellow is a bit prickly.’
When Geum-cheong ate her fill of lightning Qi, her belly became plump like a balloon, and that appearance was very cute.
When he could not bear it any longer and tried to poke her belly…
*Slap!*
she swung a wing the size of a thumb and slapped his hand away.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp!*
She even cried fiercely as if she were angry.
Watching her get angry while flapping her wings, he suddenly wondered what she was saying.
‘Ah, that’s right. I had a spiritual herb that makes a demonic beast speak…’
Searching through the sub-space, the Speech-Opening Herb came out. It was originally a spiritual herb that had the effect of making a Rank 2 demonic beast speak if consumed.
‘Is it okay to feed her?’
Testing it, he waved the Speech-Opening Herb in front of her, and Geum-cheong’s eyes widened.
*Chirp! Chirp!*
She followed the Speech-Opening Herb closely as if telling him to give it quickly.
Seeing that, he felt relieved. Geum-cheong was clever from birth, so she distinguished well what she could eat and what she could not.
Feeding her a very small piece, there was no particular issue.
Rather, intelligence began to be felt in her eyes. As expected of a spiritual creature anticipated to have been born with the True Spirit lineage, she had mysterious aspects.
“Here.”
The moment he fed her all the remaining Speech-Opening Herb,
a youthful voice burst out from Geum-cheong’s mouth as she shuddered all over.
“This lady is still hungry, so bring food quickly.”
“Huh?”
“Your lightning Qi is palatable, so give me that.”
“……”
“Are you unable to understand words, or are your actions sluggish? Because you are a wingless half-wit, you are truly slow. How frustrating. How frustrating.”
Jin So-myeong’s expression became blank. What is this fellow, barely the size of a newborn baby’s fist, saying?
Who would have thought that such atrocious behavior was contained within those chirps that were cute beyond measure.
Had he known it would be like this, he would not have fed her the Speech-Opening Herb. Jin So-myeong, who had been swept by shock, spoke up late.
“Your name… from now on is Dol-soe.”
***
“Chirrrrrp!!”
Teasing the chick who ran wild as if having a fit every time he called her Dol-soe,
time flowed quickly as he devoted himself to training.
One day, two months later, Myriad Treasures Tower finally kept its promise.
Lightning Torrent Thunder Magnetite.
Du Geum-bo, the chief administrator of Myriad Treasures Tower, came to visit carrying a Rank 4 medium-grade lightning-attribute spiritual object.
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