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◈ Ophidian of the Immortal World ◈

Chapter 86: Bhikkhu

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After fully completing the Sohwa of the Vermilion Radiant Toad, Jegyeong felt his Spiritual Essence grow even deeper.

'Not much longer now.'

From what he had heard and experienced himself, cultivation was generally like climbing a mountain. Yet at certain points, the mountain became a towering staircase.

In that regard, he had to give the Human Race credit.

The major and minor realms into which they had divided cultivation were those very steps. Though some were higher than others, they were all thresholds and gates that were difficult to cross through diligence alone.

That was why one needed a special opportunity to cross such a threshold or gate.

It could be a moment of enlightenment, assistance from an external object, or something else entirely.

Of course, this applied only to the Human Race, but Jegyeong understood it to some extent.

After all, his cultivation was fundamentally based on Human Race methods.

Now that he was nearing the middle stage of the Great Demon Realm, he could sense an obstructive step appearing before him.

Still, unlike Human Race cultivators, he had no intention of stopping before it and waiting for an opportunity.

It was not because he lacked patience. There was simply no need.

He might have imitated Human Race cultivation methods, but he was not a member of the Human Race in the end.

Even among the Human Race, those blessed with talent charged forward as though bottlenecks did not exist, at least until they reached the limits of that talent.

Jegyeong, a member of the Demon Race, had even less reason to worry.

He had an instinct approaching certainty that he could crush the small step before him and continue onward.

That confidence likely came from what he possessed.

A body incomparably stronger than that of the Human Race, along with a Bloodline that even he had yet to fully understand.

'It won't be long. I'll find out whether my instinct is right.'

After gauging his noticeably increased demon power and the vague step he could sense, Jegyeong calmed his mind and began circulating his cultivation method.

He had only just finished the Vermilion Radiant Toad's Sohwa, but Sohwa was Sohwa, and cultivation was cultivation.

* * *

Ten years was not a particularly long time for cultivators.

Yet many changes had taken place on Black Shark Island during those short ten years.

The greatest was the increase in residents.

The number of Human Race residents, once fewer than ten, had more than doubled.

They were no longer simple workers who did nothing but use the Spirit Rain Technique.

Jegyeong had them cultivate cultivation methods and bestowed Medicinal Pills upon them.

Those pills had been by-products of his efforts to learn the Alchemy Art, but he had invested in them regardless.

The investment itself was not substantial, but a mouthful of water given to the thirsty could sometimes shine brighter than Spirit Stones.

They had suffered under the Black Sect Hall's oppression, slaves if one put it kindly and livestock if one did not.

Jegyeong had given them freedom and opened the Immortal Path before them. To the Human Race of the Black Jiao Waters, he was a savior.

Even if he was a fierce and terrifying Great Demon Beast.

Han Cheongyu also served as an example, taking the lead and guiding them by example. The Human Race members who came to Black Shark Island and received Jegyeong's “grace” grew increasingly loyal to their new master.

“Cheongyu, do you know when the next expedition will be?”

After using the Spirit Rain Technique on the Spirit Rice and several spirit medicines, the Human Race residents rested and chatted among themselves.

“I don't know. But it's been nearly a year since the last expedition, so shouldn't we be going out soon?”

Unlike before, Han Cheongyu was treated as the leader among the Human Race residents of Black Shark Island.

His cultivation played a part, but Jegyeong had also shown trust in him on several occasions.

Han Cheongyu was the only Human Race member to receive words of praise from Jegyeong, and whenever an expedition was sent to the outer region, he was appointed its leader.

Whether they liked it or not, the Human Race residents of Black Shark Island had no choice but to acknowledge Han Cheongyu as their leader.

At first, Han Cheongyu had felt considerable pressure from his fellow humans' attitude. Before long, though, he more or less adapted. Eventually, he even seemed to enjoy some of the respect and admiration they showed him.

Now, watching his fellow humans thirst for another expedition, Han Cheongyu smiled bitterly to himself.

'They're so naive.'

They seemed to think of going to the outer region as a light outing, nothing more than a chance to get some fresh air.

He could understand it, though.

Other than tending the Spirit Rice and spirit plants, they had to remain confined to their narrow living area. It was only natural that they would feel stifled.

But an expedition was a mission, and a mission had to be completed.

Every time they set out, they rejoiced like innocent children. Han Cheongyu, on the other hand, had to bear immense pressure.

The outer region he saw was not a lively, entertaining place. It was a dangerous land crawling with vicious, despicable wolves.

He had realized that on his first expedition.

'If I could reach late-stage Qi Refining, I could finally relax a little.'

Late-stage Qi Refining was not a realm high enough to be treated as an expert. Still, as long as he did not encounter Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was enough to give him a basic ability to protect himself.

He also had the Spiritual Artifact bestowed upon him by the Dragon Lord. If he acted as carefully as possible, he would have a little more confidence in carrying out his missions.

'It feels close, yet I can't seem to reach it.'

After talking with his companions, Han Cheongyu headed home.

Unlike his companions, who carefully built and decorated their homes in various ways, Han Cheongyu's home remained shabby.

His companions who had visited always made a comment or two about it, but he did not care.

He only used the house briefly when he slept for a few hours. There was no need to put effort into building it.

A spacious, cozy home? It would only slow the accumulation of Spiritual Power.

'Don't be impatient. If it's a realm I can reach, then as long as I don't stop, I'll reach it someday.'

Han Cheongyu was not yet thirty years old. As a cultivator, it would not be an exaggeration to call him a novice.

Yet even a novice had their own experiences and thoughts.

If Han Cheongyu had learned anything from his cultivation so far, it was that laziness was forbidden, but impatience was just as dangerous.

Years ago, when he had forgotten food and sleep in his single-minded pursuit of cultivation, the Dragon Lord had casually offered him a few words.

They had been nothing special, spoken as though they meant little. Yet those insignificant words had struck Han Cheongyu deeply.

Since then, he had treasured that advice as though it were gold and jade, making it a principle of his cultivation.

“Caw!”

Han Cheongyu was about to begin cultivating before sleep when he heard a crow's cry above him. He raised his head with a bitter smile.

A giant crow was flapping its wings above him. Cheongo had appeared without making the slightest sound.

“Elder Cheongo.”

“Caw!”

Something fell with a thud. When Han Cheongyu looked down, he saw a fruit the size of a fist.

“Jegyeong said to give it to you.”

“The Dragon Lord did? To me?”

“Yeah. Eat it. It's good.”

Cheongo descended onto Han Cheongyu's head.

Cheongo tried to land with both feet, but only then realized that Han Cheongyu's head was too small and Cheongo's feet were too large. Cheongo barely managed to place one foot on his head.

Cheongo wobbled unsteadily, but fortunately, no one was there to see it.

“Eat it now. I was told to make sure you eat it before I go.”

“Ah, yes.”

Han Cheongyu could not have imagined that the fruit he had received was a Spirit Fruit borne by the Wood Demon.

He only thought it must be something extraordinary.

Crunch!

The instant he took a bite, he understood.

'A spiritual treasure!'

He had never seen a spiritual treasure, but he had heard plenty of stories.

Stories of cultivators obtaining one mysterious spiritual treasure and standing at the peak of the Immortal Path overnight were common among cultivators.

The moment the fruit he had bitten into sent a deep resonance through his mind and Spiritual Essence, Han Cheongyu became certain that it was a Spirit Fruit.

He immediately stuffed the fruit into his mouth, closed his eyes, and began circulating his cultivation method.

The bottleneck that had stood in his way like an enormous mountain for months now seemed no higher than a gentle hill.

'I'll break through in one go.'

The Spirit Fruit's mysterious effect continuously filled him with inspiration and confidence.

A short while later, Han Cheongyu broke through the bottleneck that had tormented him for so long and reached late-stage Qi Refining.

* * *

“I searched every corner, but...”

Jegyeong sighed inwardly as he watched Hyeon-gwi report in a weak voice.

“Fine. It can't be helped.”

Jegyeong had to admit that his expectations had been somewhat unrealistic.

Come to think of it, if such valuable Water Demons lived in the Black Jiao Waters, the Black Sect Hall would never have left them alone.

They would have caught them all by any means necessary, even if they had to dive into the depths.

Hyeon-gwi had tried.

Just looking at how noticeably haggard and disheveled Hyeon-gwi had become compared to two months ago showed how much effort had gone into the search.

“You did well.”

Jegyeong felt a measure of satisfaction as he watched Hyeon-gwi lower his head as though he had committed a crime deserving death.

No one disliked a subordinate loyal to them.

Especially not one who was useful.

“Do you need rest?”

“No. Do you have an order for me?”

Hyeon-gwi's eyes burned with motivation.

“I need you to run an errand. Find the Great Demon Beasts I name and deliver my message to them.”

Hyeon-gwi's eyes widened at the order to seek out Great Demon Beasts, but he did not speak.

He simply memorized the instructions, then voiced his concerns. Most of those concerns involved the danger.

Once he left these waters, all sorts of creatures would bare their fangs at him. The Great Demon Beasts in particular might devour him before he could even speak.

“Don't worry.”

After transforming into human form, Jegyeong wounded his hand.

Unlike before, however, tearing his flesh with his nails did not come easily. His body had grown even tougher after several Moltings.

His transformed body was not as powerful as his true body, but it had still inherited some of that strength.

He was not certain, but his transformed body's strength felt like roughly one-tenth that of his true body, perhaps a little less.

Even so, it was stronger than most Human Race Body Cultivators.

Its durability was especially impressive.

To injure his body, one would likely need at least a high-grade Spiritual Artifact.

“Go.”

Jegyeong squeezed out several drops of blood with some effort and flicked them onto Hyeon-gwi.

Hyeon-gwi shuddered upon sensing the Aura contained within those drops of blood, then bowed deeply.

“I shall obey the Dragon Lord's command.”

Hyeon-gwi immediately departed from Black Shark Island.

He swam powerfully, with a turtle much larger than him following behind.

“Father, Father. I'm hungry. Can't we eat something before we go?”

“Didn't you eat your fill while I was meeting the Dragon Lord?”

The large turtle, Fat Turtle, widened his tiny eyes.

“How did you know?”

“Hmph! Do you think I don't know you?”

“But I'm hungry.”

Fat Turtle muttered gloomily and flapped his webbed feet.

“Father, look at my body. I'm much bigger than you, so I need to eat much more.”

“No, you're fat. Of course you are! You eat and sleep every day, so how could you not get fat?”

“But I'm still growing.”

“Growing, my foot!”

Hyeon-gwi grew angry and told him not to say such nonsense. Deep down, though, Hyeon-gwi wondered whether this foolish child's words might actually be true.

'His Bloodline is different from mine.'

Hyeon-gwi was a Demon Beast with a Bloodline, and Fat Turtle was the same.

Among Hyeon-gwi's dozens of children, Fat Turtle was the only one with a Bloodline. Yet Fat Turtle's Bloodline differed from Hyeon-gwi's own.

In truth, this was normal.

Turtle Demon Beasts could be considered a great clan among Demon Beasts. Their ancestors included all kinds of Great Demon Beasts and Demon Kings, even Demon Emperors.

Countless descendants had branched out from those countless ancestors. Which Bloodline one awakened depended entirely on the will of heaven.

That was why Hyeon-gwi did not know whether this foolish child had become a lazy glutton because of his own nature or because of his Bloodline.

“Father, Father. I'm too hungry to move.”

Fat Turtle, who had been slowly following behind, finally groaned and rolled onto his back.

Hyeon-gwi's breathing grew rough at the sight, but Fat Turtle even closed his eyes as though Hyeon-gwi could kill him or spare him as he pleased.

Hyeon-gwi struck him with webbed feet, headbutted him, and even bit him, but Fat Turtle did not budge.

Hyeon-gwi fumed, but that was all.

Fat Turtle was lazy, fat, and dull, but he was strong and sturdy in return.

When Fat Turtle was younger, Hyeon-gwi could still control him to some extent. As Fat Turtle had grown larger, though, physical discipline like this had stopped working.

At least Fat Turtle had a gentle temperament and only resisted when he was hungry.

Otherwise, Hyeon-gwi would have had no choice but to give up on this foolish son long ago.

“Fine, I understand.”

After venting his anger for a while, Hyeon-gwi ultimately gave in as always.

Footnotes:

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