WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: DereKimchi
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◈ Carefree Tale of Cultivation ◈
Chapter 34: Exchange Gathering (2)
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Jegal Yeong looked around the banquet hall with a bright smile.
Jin Hyeon found himself staring at the dramatic changes in her expression, something he had rarely seen within the sect.
Perhaps because of her beautiful appearance and distinctive air, Jegal Yeong possessed an indescribable charm that drew the eye.
Apparently, Jin Hyeon was not alone in thinking so. Several other cultivators flushed slightly before her smile.
At her declaration, the cultivators scattered throughout the hall turned toward the center and sat facing it.
“Before we begin our discussion in earnest, I will introduce those who have newly joined this exchange gathering.”
Jegal Yeong acknowledged with a glance the guard who had left her side and approached the Foundation Establishment independent cultivator in the corner.
Then she faced the other Qi Refining cultivators and extended one hand to the side.
She first indicated two of the independent cultivators and introduced them by name.
Naturally, the hall was filled not with applause or welcoming greetings, but appraising looks that seemed to sweep over them.
Jegal Yeong had no intention of commenting on that reaction and soon introduced the bamboo-hatted cultivator among the Heavenly Ghost Palace group.
“This time, someone new from Heavenly Ghost Palace has joined our exchange gathering. I imagine everyone has heard the name Fellow Daoist Sagong Ryeong.”
The cultivators, who had been regarding the bamboo-hatted Qi Refining, Level 8 cultivator with faintly hostile looks, quickly corrected their expressions.
Jin Hyeon raised an eyebrow when even the Blue Willow Sect disciples seated with him showed surprise at the name.
He had never heard it before, but Sagong Ryeong apparently was well known among those who had spent a long time in the cultivation world.
Noticing his expression, Jo Yeongdo whispered to him.
“Sagong Ryeong of Heavenly Ghost Palace is skilled enough that rumors say they can create not only high-grade magical artifacts, but even spirit artifacts. Their cultivation may only be in middle Qi Refining, but I hear they are advanced in years and have devoted well over fifty years to artifact refinement alone.”
Jin Hyeon regarded Sagong Ryeong anew at that explanation.
Even Myeong Seokho, a genius rare in the entire Blue Willow Sect, had only barely succeeded in creating a spirit artifact.
Furthermore, Myeong Seokho could not handle it properly, and its power was somewhat inferior to that of a true spirit artifact. Considering that, the claim that Sagong Ryeong could make spirit artifacts was truly shocking.
‘Of course, they might be a case similar to Senior Brother Myeong...’
Even an incomplete spirit artifact was still a spirit artifact if it surpassed a high-grade magical artifact.
In any event, simply being able to forge such a precious object with the limited spiritual perception and spiritual power of middle Qi Refining was remarkable.
Admiring Sagong Ryeong's artifact-refinement skill, Jin Hyeon came to somewhat understand why they had tried to track down those brothers last time.
No matter how much outstanding knowledge of artifact refinement one possessed, if one could not advance to Foundation Establishment, one was ultimately destined to become dust.
Normal Foundation Establishment was likely impossible at an age approaching one hundred, but those who possessed much often clung all the more tightly to even the slightest hope.
With no attendees from Great Fate Temple and not many people at the exchange gathering to begin with, Jegal Yeong turned from Sagong Ryeong, who greeted everyone with a slight tilt of their bamboo hat, directly to Jin Hyeon.
“And from my Blue Willow Sect, a Junior Brother of exceptional talent has newly joined this exchange gathering. He is the disciple of our Martial Uncle Gwang, and despite his young age, he has reached late Qi Refining. This is Junior Brother Jin Hyeon.”
The cultivators' gazes converged on Jin Hyeon.
He could read many emotions in those numerous stares.
The strongest was, ‘What could some green kid know about artifact refinement?’
From their perspective, that was only natural.
Jin Hyeon looked extremely young at a glance, and the faint vitality emanating from him made that all the more apparent.
Even if they granted that his cultivation level came from exceptional talent, he could have spent, at most, a year or two involved with artifact refinement. It was hard to believe he possessed any useful experience or knowledge.
Still, no one voiced dissatisfaction.
It seemed Jegal Yeong had brought along a close junior from her sect to grant him some benefits, and that was easy enough to overlook.
With the introductions over, the exchange gathering began in earnest.
Jegal Yeong opened the discussion first.
She spoke of problems and experiences she had recently encountered during artifact refinement, offering her own thoughts on them.
Other cultivators then shared their experiences and solutions in similar circumstances, exchanging a variety of opinions.
The topics ranged widely, from the characteristics of artifact-refinement environments to preventing deterioration when combining particular materials and useful methods during refining and forging.
Whenever several people became absorbed in a particular topic, they naturally left the main gathering and held focused discussions among themselves.
At first, exchanges had been lively only between the Blue Willow Sect and Divine Flame Sect. But Sagong Ryeong began resolving others’ questions with sharp, clear answers, encouraging not only Heavenly Ghost Palace cultivators but also independent cultivators to join in.
Jin Hyeon thought Jegal Yeong had excellent judgment. At first, the various factions seemed wary of one another, but the barriers between them gradually faded as artifact refinement and forging, their shared interest, remained at the center of discussion.
After all, she must have selected people from various factions who would not merely snarl at one another.
Of course, the information they were exchanging now contained nothing that could truly be called a secret art or secret technique.
It felt as though they were simply trading basic information that the other party could learn with a little time and effort.
‘Important or core information must be traded separately.’
Jin Hyeon remembered what Jo Yeongdo had said while discussing the refining of Black Iron Sand with an independent cultivator.
Jegal Yeong seemed to have forgotten to tell him about it, but Jin Hyeon did not mind.
It was not as though he had nothing to trade, and there was not yet any information he wanted badly enough to give something in return.
Rather than dwell on that, he headed toward a group discussing a topic that suited his interests.
Three cultivators had gathered around a small table for some time now. They were Sagong Ryeong and two cultivators from the Divine Flame Sect.
One of the Divine Flame Sect cultivators was Seomun Hyeok, a Qi Refining, Level 12 cultivator dressed in white robes.
The discussion between the one who had practiced artifact refinement the longest and the one with the highest cultivation level concerned repairing magical artifacts. Jin Hyeon approached with a light clasp of his hands.
“Greetings, Fellow Daoists. I have also recently become interested in repairing magical artifacts, so I would like to join the discussion.”
Had Seomun Hyeok belonged to the same sect, Jin Hyeon would have called him Senior Brother. But as Seomun Hyeok was from another sect and also in late Qi Refining, Jin Hyeon chose the form of address Fellow Daoist for all three, including Sagong Ryeong.
The three did not seem particularly pleased by Jin Hyeon's participation, but after briefly exchanging glances, they nodded.
“Hmm?”
Sagong Ryeong made a short sound beneath their bamboo hat upon seeing Jin Hyeon's face up close.
But they soon fiddled with the hat as if it were nothing and spoke.
“Ahem. Then, to continue with Fellow Daoist Seomun's method...”
Sagong Ryeong continued the interrupted conversation.
To outsiders, it might have seemed strange for Sagong Ryeong to call Seomun Hyeok, who was in late Qi Refining, Fellow Daoist, but those involved treated it as natural.
‘Well, someone capable of creating spirit artifacts would be treated almost like a late Qi Refining cultivator.’
For some time, Jin Hyeon quietly listened to the discussion led primarily by the other two.
“Hmm... I have not made any progress with that matter recently either, so I cannot give you a definite answer. I am not withholding it to demand payment. I truly do not know.”
Sagong Ryeong looked troubled in response to a concern Seomun Hyeok raised.
“Truly? If I were to commission that information at the trading session later...”
Seomun Hyeok furrowed his thick brows, looking regretful.
“As I said, the magical artifact you described is also tied to puppet constructs. With my experience focused solely on artifact refinement, I do not think I can judge the solution.”
Sagong Ryeong shook their head as though there was no helping it.
They truly did not know, rather than trying to squeeze a treasure from Seomun Hyeok later.
Seomun Hyeok possessed a high-grade magical artifact shaped like a qilin, but it had become half-damaged.
It was not merely shaped like a qilin. It moved independently and breathed fire, with many techniques used in puppet construction applied to it. Seomun Hyeok had been unable to repair it and sought help with the parts causing difficulty.
Sagong Ryeong had spent many years immersed in artifact refinement, but in other fields, they were nearly a complete outsider.
That was only natural.
Saying that someone skilled at artifact refinement should also be skilled at puppet construction simply because both involved making things was no different from saying that someone good at farming crops from the earth should also be good at mining coal from beneath it.
Though all cultivation arts had similarities, each required deep understanding and time.
That was why those who pursued many paths were rare, at least among artifact-refining cultivators.
Seomun Hyeok received a negative answer and frowned despite having expected it to some extent.
Just as he picked up a cup to wet his throat, Jin Hyeon spoke while looking at him.
“Is fire lead added to the puppet construct's core material?”
“Fire lead?”
“Yes. If it is, I believe I can offer some advice.”
At Jin Hyeon's calm response, the cultivator seated beside Seomun Hyeok snapped in irritation.
“I don't know where your confidence comes from, Fellow Daoist, but do not disturb Senior Brother's thoughts with shallow words. It should be enough that, for Fellow Daoist Jegal's sake, you were allowed to join us, offer no opinions, and greedily swallow up information...”
“Shut your mouth. Do you think this is the sect?”
But Seomun Hyeok slammed his cup down on the table and growled in a low voice, causing the cultivator to hurriedly close his mouth.
Jin Hyeon, who had likewise been about to retort in annoyance, swallowed the words he had prepared.
Seomun Hyeok answered with an attitude that did not seem to expect much from Jin Hyeon.
“I do not know whether fire lead was added, but it does possess properties similar to it. And...”
Jin Hyeon listened through Seomun Hyeok's explanation, then nodded lightly.
It was not a particularly difficult problem.
Over the past six months, he had not focused solely on artifact refinement. From time to time, he had also studied the puppet-construction methods Yeok-il had given him.
Perhaps thanks to his talent in artifact refinement, he had made some progress in constructing puppet constructs themselves. However, he could not understand the spell techniques related to controlling them at all.
Still, that much knowledge was enough.
The obstacle to repairing Seomun Hyeok's magical artifact seemed to lie in the puppet construct's structure itself.
“Then first, at the point where the core connects to the puppet construct's control mechanism...”
Despite his still-incomplete knowledge of puppet constructs, Jin Hyeon drew on his frightening understanding of artifact refinement and proposed no fewer than three ways to repair Seomun Hyeok's magical artifact.
He had simply thought of as many methods as possible because he was not fully certain, but those listening could only stare with their mouths agape.
Sagong Ryeong nodded repeatedly as they listened to Jin Hyeon's answers.
They did not know much about puppet constructs, but even from the artifact-refinement methods involved, they were certain the proposed solutions had a high chance of success.
The wrinkles around their eyes twitched beneath the bamboo hat as they looked at Jin Hyeon with envy-filled eyes.
Not only had he reached a high cultivation level at a young age, but he also possessed extraordinary talent in artifact refinement and no small understanding of puppet constructs.
‘If I had been blessed with such talent, I would have become a Foundation Establishment cultivator long ago and lived grandly...’
Unlike Sagong Ryeong, who sighed inwardly, Seomun Hyeok felt only admiration.
“Remarkable.”
Seomun Hyeok believed that Jin Hyeon's first solution alone would certainly allow him to repair the magical artifact.
“Junior Brother, apologize to Fellow Daoist Jin.”
He therefore instructed his foolish Junior Brother, who stood beside him with a blank expression.
“What? No, that is not necessary...”
Jin Hyeon waved his hands in surprise, but the Divine Flame Sect cultivator knew Senior Brother Seomun's temperament well.
Seomun Hyeok was only speaking gently now. If the cultivator refused, Senior Brother might force their head down.
Thus, the cultivator suffered the humiliation of bowing their head to a child far younger than them.
“I apologize, Fellow Daoist Jin. With my rash words, I have shown you disrespect.”
Seomun Hyeok nodded.
“Good. One must clearly acknowledge a mistake. My Junior Brother misspoke briefly because he cares for his Senior Brother. I hope Fellow Daoist Jin will not take it too much to heart.”
After sternly speaking as though disciplining his Junior Brother, Seomun Hyeok emptied the cup in his hand in one gulp, apparently pleased to have found an answer.
Then, holding the cup, he poured everyone a drink and stroked his beard with a broad smile.
There had been a brief disagreement, but afterward they continued exchanging knowledge of artifact refinement.
Jin Hyeon felt somewhat uncomfortable with the unfriendly gaze of Seomun Hyeok's Junior Brother, but the other two did not seem to care about such things.
As the atmosphere grew lighter and others joined from time to time, they continued their exchanges for five days.
When Jin Hyeon took out the spirit wine he had purchased in advance to make a good impression, Seomun Hyeok beamed.
Jin Hyeon was also pleased to have met a drinker and put the spirit wine to good use.
Listening to all manner of knowledge and opinions day and night, Jin Hyeon felt fulfilled.
If he shut himself in the refining chamber at Azure Forge Pavilion now, he might be able to whip up a mid-grade magical artifact without difficulty.
As time continued to pass, Jegal Yeong rang a bell at the center of the banquet hall.
The clear tone filling the surroundings drew everyone's attention.
“At this exchange gathering as well, it is truly beautiful to see so many of you helping one another improve for the sake of artifact refinement. But teachings are not lightly passed on, so we will now begin the trading session to encourage more active exchanges.”
At her words, many began rummaging through their storage pouches.
Then Seomun Hyeok, still drinking beside Jin Hyeon with no trace of intoxication on his face, called to him.
“Ah, I had forgotten. I originally intended to offer this in exchange for an answer regarding the repair of my magical artifact. But Fellow Daoist Jin has already given me the answer, so this belongs to you.”
Then he took a bright red stone from his storage pouch and handed it to Jin Hyeon.
‘Is this... a spirit stone?’
Jin Hyeon blinked at the unfamiliar stone.
But Sagong Ryeong, who had seen it from beside them, widened their eyes in surprise.
“No, is this not a Fire Spirit Stone?”
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