WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: DereKimchi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Carefree Tale of Cultivation ◈

Chapter 15: Disciple Assembly (1)

──────

The Disciple Assembly of Blue Willow Sect was a regularly held event.

Besides honing the combat abilities of Qi Refining stage disciples, it also strengthened the sect's overall power by giving ample rewards to those with outstanding talent.

But beyond such practical purposes, it was also entertaining.

As Jin Hyeon entered the vast stadium, its lively atmosphere made him realize that.

The stadium had been carved out of an entire mountain. Even with thousands of people inside, there was still plenty of room.

Qi Refining stage disciples gathered along its outer edge, talking among themselves about the assembly. Foundation Establishment stage martial uncles had also taken their seats in an area apart from the Qi Refining disciples.

For cultivators whose usual lives consisted only of cultivation and odd jobs, an event like this was one of their few diversions. Especially for untalented disciples who spent most of their lives cultivating, simply watching those better than themselves would provide a measure of vicarious satisfaction.

Jin Hyeon slowly lowered the Silver Swallow Board and looked around the stadium through the gathering crowd.

Within the gently sloping stands was a circular space far larger than any soccer stadium from his previous life.

Yellow stone structures rose throughout the space. There were dozens of these flat structures, which appeared to be dueling platforms where disciples would fight directly.

The platforms were far larger than those Jin Hyeon had seen in the martial world with his uncle. They seemed suited to cultivators, who moved quickly and frequently used wide-ranging attacks.

As Jin Hyeon marveled at the tremendous scale, he noticed a peak standing at one side of the stadium.

Located at the stadium's edge, it was extremely steep. A small building had been constructed atop it, making it seem like a viewing area reserved for important figures.

‘Even the Foundation Establishment martial uncles are watching with the Qi Refining disciples. If someone sits there...’

Core Formation stage sect elders.

Myeong Seokho had mentioned that Core Formation stage elders might observe this assembly, so Jin Hyeon was certain of it.

Core Formation stage cultivators. Their lifespans exceeded five hundred years, and their power made them truly worthy of being called Immortals.

There would be nothing worth watching from their perspective, so why would they bother attending an event like this?

His curiosity lasted only a moment. Jin Hyeon soon spotted a familiar face below and guided the Silver Swallow Board toward the stands.

“Oh, Brother!”

Won Hyu welcomed Jin Hyeon warmly.

Not long ago, Jin Hyeon had repaid the spirit stones he had borrowed from Won Hyu, interest included. He had also purchased many items from Hundred Treasures Pavilion, improving Won Hyu's sales record. Won Hyu was fond of this talented brother of his. Of course, it would have been even better if Jin Hyeon had repaid the debt later and let more interest accumulate.

“What’s all this?”

Jin Hyeon put away the Silver Swallow Board and looked behind Won Hyu.

Disciples dressed in the white uniforms of Hundred Treasures Pavilion had built a modest wooden structure, and other disciples surrounded them.

Won Hyu smiled as though the answer were obvious.

“It’s a cheering booth! Disciples use spirit stones to support the many Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers competing in the assembly. If they win, everyone shares in the joy.”

So it was a gambling den.

Jin Hyeon wore an odd expression, but soon decided there was nothing particularly strange about it.

For most disciples, the Disciple Assembly was not an opportunity to participate and win rewards. It was simply a form of entertainment.

Besides, wherever there was a competition, there was gambling.

“There are especially many disciples here to watch this time, so a great many people are taking part in the cheering. Is there anyone you would like to support, Brother?”

“Especially many disciples came to watch? Wasn’t this assembly held in a hurry by a Foundation Establishment martial uncle?”

Jin Hyeon had already confirmed through Myeong Seokho that this assembly had indeed been hastened by Ha Seung, as he had expected.

He did not know why Ha Seung had suddenly arranged the assembly, but unlike other Disciple Assemblies, most disciples had barely been given time to prepare.

Then why were there more participants than usual?

“Was the high-grade magical artifact really that big of a draw?”

Giving a high-grade magical artifact to a late Qi Refining disciple was already a considerable reward. Yet this assembly even offered high-grade magical artifacts as prizes to lower-level disciples in the middle and early stages of Qi Refining.

It was only natural that many low-level disciples would enter with the thought, What if I can win too?

“Ah, that is part of it, but word has spread that two elders will be attending this time. That has drawn even more Senior Brothers.”

Won Hyu cautiously pointed toward the peak at the end of the stadium that Jin Hyeon had noticed earlier.

“Working at Hundred Treasures Pavilion, I hear all sorts of news. Usually, Core Formation stage elders do not attend events like this. Disciples normally just try to distinguish themselves in the assembly and catch the eye of a Foundation Establishment martial uncle, hoping to become their disciple, but...”

Jin Hyeon nodded.

There were fewer than ten elders in this vast sect, while there were thousands of disciples. The chance of catching an elder's eye was practically nonexistent.

But if they could use an occasion like this to have a Core Formation stage elder recognize their talent, they might enter that elder's lineage. Such a hope was more than enough to stir up the Qi Refining disciples.

A disciple of a Core Formation stage elder. Even if they became only a nominal disciple with their name recorded under an elder, that elder's casually bestowed resources might produce a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It would be a meteoric rise in both status and cultivation, incomparable to receiving a high-grade magical artifact.

And as Jin Hyeon had heard from Myeong Seokho, it seemed that disciples who had been in the sect for a long time had learned of this through their own connections.

Of course, Jin Hyeon did not expect anything from it.

His cultivation had indeed advanced faster than that of ordinary disciples, but he only possessed a triple spirit root.

Thanks to the black stone's ability, he would likely be able to reach Foundation Establishment, perhaps even continue cultivating steadily beyond it without encountering bottlenecks.

But to a Core Formation stage elder, he was merely a disciple who had grown a little quickly at the Qi Refining stage. With a triple spirit root, even reaching Foundation Establishment was uncertain, and it was unclear whether he could advance any farther along the path to immortality.

“Haah... If I had spent just a little more time learning spell techniques, I might have entered the assembly myself. But it would be impossible with my skills. I’m more comfortable staying still and earning spirit stones. In that case, Brother Jin, is there a Senior Brother you would like to support? You cannot wager on rankings, only on the winner of each event.”

Jin Hyeon gave a dry laugh.

“Then I’ll bet on Senior Brother Myeong Seokho. Just five spirit stones.”

A brief look of disappointment crossed Won Hyu's face as he accepted the spirit stones Jin Hyeon handed over.

“You could bet a little more boldly. Isn’t Senior Brother Myeong a candidate to win the assembly?”

With the strength of the twelfth layer of Qi Refining and even some command of a spirit artifact, Myeong Seokho certainly had a high chance of winning.

However, Jin Hyeon did not particularly enjoy betting on uncertain possibilities.

Seeing him merely smile, Won Hyu eventually gave up and infused a wooden board beside the Hundred Treasures Pavilion disciples with spiritual power.

A brief flash appeared. Won Hyu caught the wooden token that emerged from the board and handed it to Jin Hyeon.

“Keep this with you, then bring it to Hundred Treasures Pavilion, or to me, if Senior Brother Myeong wins. I’ll be cheering for you to achieve good results in this assembly as well.”

“Really? Did you bet spirit stones on me?”

Won Hyu did not answer. It seemed he had learned information about someone at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, whose strength was close to the ninth layer, and had wagered on them.

Jin Hyeon snickered and rode the Silver Swallow Board closer to the center of the stadium.

By the time he found a place, the number of disciples still arriving from around the sect had dwindled. There was still plenty of room in the stadium, but it had become far more crowded than before.

Then, from the viewing platform built atop the peak, a Foundation Establishment cultivator flew toward the center of the stadium.

Jin Hyeon recognized Ha Seung. Though he was far away, Jin Hyeon saw Ha Seung nearly every day and knew that figure well.

Jin Hyeon watched Ha Seung fly with envy in his eyes.

He could fly using a magical artifact as well, but Foundation Establishment cultivators could truly fly using their own power alone.

“Everyone!”

Feeling the crowd's gaze, Ha Seung raised a voice.

He had simply amplified it with spiritual power rather than using a separate spell technique, yet his voice echoed loudly through the entire stadium.

“I offer my deepest thanks to the martial nephews, Senior Brothers, Junior Brothers, and esteemed elders who have attended today’s assembly!”

In a solemn voice, he recited an opening speech about the spirit of Blue Willow Sect disciples and inheriting the indomitable spirit of Immortal Cheongyu.

Fortunately, Jin Hyeon was relieved to find that Ha Seung did not drag out the speech like the many principals and professors he had met in his previous life.

“Then, the Blue Willow Sect Disciple Assembly shall begin now!”

There were no grand fireworks or ringing gongs.

But at his words, referees appeared across the dozens of dueling platforms.

Veteran disciples at the twelfth layer of Qi Refining, with extremely aged appearances, as well as Foundation Establishment martial uncles with relatively lower cultivation, stood outside the platforms to oversee the matches.

They immediately placed a small stele beside each platform and loudly called out the names according to the match brackets recorded on them.

At the same time, a large bracket appeared in the air at the far end of the stadium, opposite the peak where the elders appeared to be staying, allowing every disciple to check their order.

‘My match is still a long way off... I should go watch.’

Seeing that he still had plenty of time, Jin Hyeon decided to watch the other disciples fight.

Studying ordinary disciples' fighting styles and methods would be useful. Though he had recently experienced an unexpected real battle, seeing the various means used by other disciples would still help him.

By chance, both competitors had arrived at the platform directly in front of him, and their match was beginning.

Both were middle Qi Refining disciples like him, at the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

When the two disciples stepped onto the platform, the Foundation Establishment martial uncle beside it nodded.

“The match ends immediately if either of you admits defeat, is judged unable to fight, or leaves the platform. Exchange salutes, then begin at once.”

The two disciples nodded and performed fist-and-palm salutes toward each other.

One was a man who appeared to be in his twenties, while the other was a woman who looked slightly younger.

As soon as they lowered their hands, they warily watched each other, their nerves taut.

The female disciple attacked first.

She lightly slapped her waist, summoning a fan-shaped magical artifact and a spirit beast resembling a hawk.

In response, the male disciple immediately used a spell technique.

In an instant, he created a circular shield of water before himself. Then he sprayed water from one hand, hardened it into a spear, and fired it toward the hawk.

The hawk spirit beast avoided the spear, but its wing was injured.

However, the wound did not seem fatal. It flew above the man and watched him with sharp eyes.

The female disciple did not simply watch as the hawk was attacked.

She swung her fan widely, creating a fire cloud some six meters wide and sending it at the male disciple. He blocked it with the water shield he had summoned in advance.

“A disciple who mainly uses a fire-aspected cultivation method against one who mainly uses a water-aspected cultivation method? The man has the advantage...”

Jin Hyeon wondered how the battle between the two equally matched cultivators would turn out.

The female disciple had summoned a spirit beast, but it did not seem to be a particularly powerful kind. Jin Hyeon thought the male disciple, who held the elemental advantage, would probably win.

The battle unfolded much as Jin Hyeon had expected.

The hawk circling in the sky occasionally looked for an opening to attack the male disciple, but he responded quickly and blocked it. The female disciple's attacks consumed his water shield, but could not break through his defense as he continually replenished it.

In contrast, the water orbs thrown by the male disciple, as well as the water spears fired from the spear-shaped magical artifact he took out midway through the match, easily pierced the female disciple's attacks and defensive measures, including walls of flame, leaving wounds on her.

But as the match continued, the female disciple suddenly charged at him.

Frowning at her approach, which differed from before, the male disciple reflexively tried to retreat.

However, the hawk spirit beast circling above him swiftly descended and took a position behind him.

It beat both wings, sending wind blades flying. The male disciple was cut in several places, but he immediately fired a water spear from his magical artifact and blasted the hawk away.

Yet during that brief exchange, the female disciple had reached the space directly before him.

For some reason, she threw the fan artifact she had been using directly at him. Uneasy, the male disciple enveloped the fan in his water shield and flung it far away.

Then he immediately thrust at the woman with his spear in hand.

But he missed.

The female disciple had stopped approaching him the moment he removed the water shield. Instead, she had thrown a talisman at him.

The instant the male disciple realized his attack had failed, the talisman shone brightly and exploded.

Knocked back by the force and heat of the blast, he dropped his magical artifact and rolled away. The female disciple's successive spell techniques, the fan artifact freed as his concentration broke, and the hawk spirit beast's continued attacks disrupting his focus all followed. In the end, he admitted defeat.

Jin Hyeon found the outcome very interesting.

The female disciple's gamble had paid off, and unlike the male disciple, she had used talismans and a spirit beast as well. As expected, in the world of cultivation, strategy mattered more than elemental compatibility in battle.

Of course, strategy and predicting one's opponent were just as important for mortals. But cultivators had far too many methods at their disposal, and they exchanged them at an extremely rapid pace.

‘This world isn’t Pokéxmon. Thinking that someone will only use one kind of spell because they favor it is stupid. It is nearly impossible to predict every trick an opponent has anyway. In the end, whoever prepares for as many possibilities as they can and thinks faster wins.’

Of course, that was pointless when there was a difference in cultivation.

Jin Hyeon watched several more matches, seeing various magical artifacts, spell techniques, and talismans.

Just as he considered whether to go watch elsewhere, familiar names reached his ears.

“Disciple Myeong Seokho! Disciple Yang Woo-hyeon!”

Footnotes:

“Pokéxmon” preserves the source's partially censored reference to Pokémon, used to joke about elemental type-matchup logic.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried