WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: WeTried Translations
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◈ Ophidian of the Immortal World ◈
Chapter 68: Cheongo’s Dream
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Jegyeong immediately noticed that something was wrong with Cheongo.
For one thing, they had begun sleeping far more often.
Even when awake, Cheongo kept their eyes closed in the nest, as though trying to force themself to fall asleep.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Jegyeong asked. Cheongo answered in a dazed voice.
“I’m trying to sleep.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to sleep to dream...”
“A dream? What dream?”
“The Immortal’s dream.”
Jegyeong narrowed his eyes as Cheongo continued saying increasingly incomprehensible things.
Cheongo could be strange at times, but they were not the sort to spout nonsense.
He could not simply dismiss words that sounded like sleep-talking.
Besides...
‘That Immortal again.’
According to Cheongo’s rambling explanation, every time they slept, they dreamed, and the dream was always the same.
A dream of that Immortal and the ungrateful beasts.
‘Is a memory repeating itself? But why now? Because of Muk-su Fruit? What does the purification of Spiritual Essence have to do with dreams like this?’
While Jegyeong was lost in thought, Cheongo finally fell asleep again.
Once more, a scene from that same memory unfolded in their dream.
The old man spoke softly while the beasts sat quietly and listened to his voice.
They could not understand the Human Race’s language, but that did not matter.
Language was merely a form. The meaning within it reached their hearts.
As more meaning seeped into their hearts, the beasts’ clouded eyes gradually cleared.
And as their eyes became clearer, the eyes of the old man seated in meditation grew dimmer.
“...Thus, cultivation is a journey in search of the Dao, while transcendence means freedom without constraint.”
The old man’s voice faded.
His lips moved as if he wished to say more, but no voice came out.
The light in his eyes had already vanished completely.
“Ha ha.”
The old man threw back his head and laughed.
“I pursued the Dao my entire life, yet all that remains now is regret.”
Though he spoke of regret, all Cheongo could feel from him was the relief of someone setting down a heavy burden.
“I received much in my life. Before I go, it is only right that I return it.”
The old man looked toward the beasts sitting around him.
He met the gaze of each clear-eyed beast, smiling and nodding each time.
Then he met the gaze of a crow whose eyes differed from all the others, and he paused.
This crow was unlike the rest.
Dew-like tears had gathered in their eyes, and sorrow filled their gaze as they looked at him.
“...”
The old man silently watched Cheongo.
When the tears in Cheongo’s eyes finally fell, he quietly closed his eyes and sighed.
“Are you weeping for me? Or are you weeping in my place?”
After a brief silence, the old man opened his eyes and smiled at Cheongo once more.
“You have given me tears, so I will give you a gift in return. May a Good karmic bond follow you.”
Those faintly echoing words were the last thing Cheongo heard before waking.
Their eyes were filled with tears.
* * *
Jegyeong sensed that Cheongo’s Aura had grown much stronger after they awoke, and he rose in surprise.
“You...”
What had happened?
Could an Aura really change so drastically in an instant?
He carefully examined Cheongo, but they were still a Demon Beast.
Of course they were.
Strange things happened from time to time in the vast Cultivation World, and cultivators occasionally gained enlightenment in an instant and broke through to a higher realm... but surely no one could break through while asleep and drooling.
“Jegyeong.”
Cheongo wiped their tears with a wing and spoke gloomily.
“The Immortal is gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yeah. I won’t see him again.”
“How do you know that?”
“I don’t know. I just do.”
Jegyeong had nothing to say.
He could only accept it as one of the mysteries of the Cultivation World.
‘Well, it must be a good thing.’
A stronger Aura was certainly good.
Perhaps this would increase Cheongo’s chances of reaching the Great Demon Realm.
‘The Great Demon Realm...’
As he looked at Cheongo, Jegyeong also thought of Muk-su.
In this cold and cruel Cultivation World, beings one could trust with one’s back were as rare and precious as spiritual treasures.
Jegyeong had not personally experienced the Cultivation World’s heartless ways, but he had heard enough.
He valued and looked after Cheongo and Muk-su because he considered them trustworthy companions.
They had shared life-and-death experiences, and Cheongo in particular had once saved his life when he had been on the verge of death.
That was why Jegyeong hoped Cheongo and Muk-su could reach the Great Demon Realm.
Only after they reached that realm and stood alongside him could they continue traveling together.
‘But without a Bloodline, reaching the Great Demon Realm is a distant prospect.’
Without a Bloodline, they would need to plant a Spiritual Seed and develop their Spiritual Essence as he had.
That method was like walking on a blade. It was not something he could force upon them.
Nor did Jegyeong intend to force his own path on Cheongo and Muk-su.
Cultivation was something one did for oneself, not because another pushed them into it.
Jegyeong glanced at Cheongo, who kept sighing deeply, then lay down again.
* * *
Han Cheongyu’s group returned.
There were four fewer people than when they had departed, but fortunately, they had not run away. They had met with unfortunate accidents.
The experience had clearly affected them deeply, and the group was somewhat downcast, but Jegyeong did not care.
What mattered to him was not their numbers, but the things they had obtained.
Various cultivation methods and cultivation arts.
Han Cheongyu’s group had carried out his orders more diligently than expected.
Holding a Jade Slip that recorded basic alchemical methods, Jegyeong nodded in satisfaction.
“You did well.”
Jegyeong examined everything Han Cheongyu’s group had brought.
After reaching the Great Demon Realm, his Spiritual Intelligence had ascended to an entirely different level.
He rarely forgot anything he had seen, and if he decided to remember something, he could remember it all.
“Take them back.”
The cultivation methods and cultivation arts Han Cheongyu’s group had brought were already firmly engraved in his mind.
He did not even need to make an effort to recall them. Whenever he thought of them, everything naturally came back to him.
“Yes.”
After Han Cheongyu’s group left, Jegyeong began reviewing the cultivation arts engraved in his mind one by one.
He had obtained three this time: Alchemy Art, Artifact Refining Art, and Spirit Planting Art.
All three covered simple introductory knowledge, equivalent to basic cultivation methods. They suited Jegyeong perfectly, since he had no knowledge in those fields.
‘Artifact Refining Art... I don’t need it right now. I doubt I’ll need it later either.’
Artifact Refining Art was the art of forging Spirit Artifacts and Dharma Artifacts. It was of little use to Jegyeong as a member of the Demon Race.
Ordinary Dharma Artifacts could not be used by him, and even if they could, his strongest weapon was his powerful body. Most Dharma Artifacts would be nothing more than expensive decorations to him.
Of course, Artifact Refining Art was not limited to creating combat artifacts, but Jegyeong had little interest in it for now.
Alchemy Art and Spirit Planting Art were different.
Jegyeong was very interested in both cultivation arts.
Alchemy Art could aid cultivation, and Spirit Planting Art was essential for growing spirit rice and spirit herbs. He needed to learn them.
‘It’s a shame there wasn’t a Formation Array.’
Jegyeong did not want anything grand.
He would have been satisfied if he could simply set up a basic Spirit-Gathering Formation.
A Spirit-Gathering Formation was a common cultivation Formation Array that consumed Spirit Stones to raise the density of Spiritual Energy within it.
It truly turned “Spirit Stones into cultivation.” From what he had heard, it was not very efficient, so only those with deep pockets used a Spirit-Gathering Formation to cultivate.
‘Buying a Spirit-Gathering Formation separately wouldn’t be a bad idea, but...’
Jegyeong considered it briefly, then gave up on the thought.
He intended to keep sending out errand runners anyway. Before long, he would be able to set up a Spirit-Gathering Formation himself.
Buying a Formation Array was not simple.
They were expensive to begin with, and each Formation Array had a clear purpose. Buying one would reveal some information about the buyer.
For example, if he bought a Spirit-Gathering Formation, he would indirectly reveal that he was wealthy enough to cultivate using one.
If Jegyeong sent errand runners to buy a Spirit-Gathering Formation, the danger they faced would be far greater than what they had encountered this time.
He did not want to take such a risk just to get something he could obtain soon a little earlier.
Han Cheongyu and the other errand runners would be useful in the future, so he needed to handle them carefully.
‘Alchemy Art is much as I expected, but Spirit Planting Art is quite different.’
Of the two, Spirit Planting Art interested Jegyeong more.
This cultivation art, which had an even longer history than Alchemy Art, was far more complicated than he had expected.
There was a lot to consider.
Seeds and terrain were basic matters. One also had to consider the nature and density of the Spiritual Energy affecting the cultivation site, even its Aura. Jegyeong could not tell whether that was truly necessary or if it had been written to make the art sound more sophisticated.
‘Land crops and aquatic crops... spirit herbs and poisonous herbs...’
Even a rough look through the material made his head spin.
The basic cultivation of spirit rice recorded at the beginning was simple, but once he reached the conceptual sections, his head began to hurt.
Jegyeong soon returned to the beginning and examined several crops that could be grown easily.
‘For now... should I try growing spirit rice?’
The conditions and methods for growing spirit rice were simple.
As long as there was land containing suitable Spiritual Energy and spirit rice seeds, cultivation could begin. If it was tended from time to time with the Spirit Rain Technique, it would grow quickly on its own.
Spirit rice was a staple food for Qi Refining Stage cultivators who could not yet fast, and Foundation Establishment cultivators also consumed it at times to support their cultivation. It was one of the Human Race’s primary foods.
Once he grew it, he would have no trouble selling it.
Black Shark Island happened to have plenty of unused land, making it perfect for growing spirit rice.
The Spirit Rain Technique was the only potential issue, but he could have a few suitable members of the Human Race cast it.
‘Hm. I can have Han Cheongyu and the others do it.’
The cultivation methods they practiced would likely be water-aspect methods anyway, so casting the Spirit Rain Technique would not be a problem.
Letting outsiders onto the island bothered him a little, but they were only a few early Qi Refining Stage cultivators. There should be no issue.
* * *
Gulp.
Han Cheongyu swallowed dryly as he looked over the gray land spread before him.
He was nervous, but he also felt overwhelmed.
From now on, he had to turn this vast stretch of land into soil suitable for planting spirit rice.
“It’s truly enormous.”
One of his companions said in awe.
Those who remained silent wore similar expressions.
They knew the gray color covering this land was connected to the destruction of the Black Sect Hall not long ago.
Flame clouds had covered the sky that day and rained down fire. This gray land was the trace left behind.
“Let’s begin.”
After letting out long sighs, they each found a place and cast the Spirit Rain Technique.
Rain filled with Spiritual Energy began gradually washing the gray-stained earth clean.
“...”
Cheongo, watching from afar, tilted their head.
Footnotes:
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