The Tale of Cultivation and Demon Extermination - Chapter 39

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Chapter 39: Episode 6: Heaven-Demon Dual-Meridian Physique (2)

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“Was he badly hurt?”

“I heard he won’t be able to move around for a while. Don’t worry too much. Demonic arts usually leave lingering effects.”

Ise clenched his jaw.

Gwak Chan had fought the demonic cultivator simply to carry out his mission, but he had also saved Ise and his companions.

Otherwise, Gwak Chan would have continued hunting in that hunting ground, in his own way.

Ise owed him a debt.

He etched that fact into his heart as he recalled the face of the demonic cultivator who had escaped.

That expressionless face, firing thunderbolts down from the cliff.

The bastard was alive.

‘If we ever meet again... I’ll repay that debt then.’

“Relax your face. Why do you look so scary?”

Park Gangseo lightly tapped Ise’s shoulder. Ise immediately returned to his usual polite expression, as though apologizing for the lapse.

“There’s good news too.”

“Good news?”

“Hall Master Haeil of Azure Dragon Hall has returned to headquarters.”

Ise stopped walking alongside Park Gangseo.

Then he moved closer.

“Really?”

“That’s what I heard. It’s been a long time since the Hall Master returned, so headquarters is in an uproar.”

At last...

The one-on-one instruction from a Hall Master, the privilege he had earned as the top scorer in the entrance exam.

Hope gleamed in Ise’s eyes. Perhaps he would finally uncover the secret of his physique.

The opportunity that had been postponed indefinitely was finally within reach.

“But headquarters feels a little unsettled. The Hall Masters seem to be summoned often, and people say Hall Master Haeil didn’t look well despite returning.”

“Do you think something happened?”

“Who knows. Maybe it’s because of Cheoryang Thunder Gate. Anyway, if you want instruction, now is your chance... Don’t get your hopes up too much, though. That person’s always busy. A few people have asked for lessons before, but there’s a famous story about how the Hall Master just said, ‘Are you asking me to wipe the asses of infants?’ and disappeared.”

“...”

“W-Well, you’re an exceptionally promising talent, so things might be different. Even if Hall Master Haeil refuses, Hall Master Kang I-tae will come examine you personally, so don’t be too disappointed. To nobodies like us, the Nascent Soul Realm and the Core Formation Realm are both lofty realms, aren’t they?”

Ise was caught between hope and anxiety. Still, his heart was already pounding with excitement.

There was something Park Gangseo did not know. Ise had the same physique as the Great Exorcist Order Lord. And from what he had heard, Hall Master Haeil followed in the Great Exorcist Order Lord’s footsteps.

If nothing else, curiosity would surely make Haeil agree to meet him.

‘Cultivate.’

Ise had no intention of idling around while he waited for Haeil’s summons.

It was a chance that would come only once. He wanted to meet the Hall Master at the highest realm he could reach.

* * *

He shut himself inside a private training room and took out a single-use talisman. It was an elemental talisman he had looted from Kim Siwon’s cave abode.

When he poured spiritual energy into it, the talisman burned red and flames sprang from his fingertips.

The instant the spell sealed within the talisman activated, he watched how the spiritual energy he had poured in changed into fire energy. Then he followed that sensation and tried to manifest the spiritual energy within his body in the same way.

He failed.

Even after repeating the same failure several times, Ise did not despair. He simply took out another talisman.

He could clearly sense the process through which an element manifested. He could follow it by instinct, but reproducing it was impossible.

Only after using all three fire-element talismans did Ise sit down and begin gathering spiritual energy within his body.

After continuing that sluggish cultivation, he headed to the butcher shop.

Along with feeling his way toward the wall of the fifth star, he steadily refined his skill in making immortal cuisine.

He learned theory, made small test portions to find ingredients that suited one another, then developed his own patterns and system through practice.

At least where immortal cuisine was concerned, he had studied hard enough to believe he would not fall behind most experts.

He took out the Flesh-Virtue Hawk carcass, which had been smoked whole and stored in a refrigerator kept cold by an ice-element talisman.

He removed the bones and carefully separated the meat.

Neck meat, rib meat, tenderloin, wing meat, leg meat.

After dividing it into five cuts, he brushed them with oil rendered from meat trimmings. He tucked freshly acquired Ten-Year Herb into the meat, then sprinkled spices made from ground spiritual herbs to remove the gamey smell.

Flames burned beneath the Flesh-Virtue Hawk meat skewered on a pitchfork. Fat dripped down as the meat sizzled over the fire.

Once it had turned slowly and cooked evenly, it was done.

The raptor meat roasted as a rich fragrance spread through the air.

The finished dish was a whole roast Flesh-Virtue Hawk. A roast chicken, basically, but with Ten-Year Herb on the side.

This was nothing like the immortal cuisine he had made last time, when he had simply thrown together ingredients that seemed compatible and stir-fried or boiled them. It was a convincing result that captured both flavor and effect.

“It’s done.”

Seolryeong, Pi Garam, and Hong Wonseo were already waiting outside the butcher shop.

Ise set aside half a geun each of the tender leg meat and placed it on their plates.

The three carefully tore off pieces and put them into their mouths, their faces full of anticipation.

Astonishment soon spread across their faces.

Only after seeing their reactions did Ise tear off a piece and taste it himself.

“Wow...”

Seolryeong was the first to react.

“I can feel the effect after only one bite... What’s the multiplier on this food?”

“If you eat the whole half geun, your cultivation speed will be a little over three times faster for a week. Eating more won’t increase the effect.”

Seolryeong let out another amazed “Wow.”

Immortal cuisine differed from medicinal pellets.

A medicinal pellet could add months or even years of cultivation in one go. Immortal cuisine increased cultivation speed for a certain period after it was eaten.

Sometimes by only a little, sometimes by several times.

It did not have the same effect as medicinal pellets, but it was easier to make and more accessible.

“I’ve eaten immortal cuisine a few times at home, but I’ve never had anything this effective. Usually, it only removes some turbid qi.”

“Most immortal cuisine sold in the market is eaten raw because cooking it weakens the effect. Or people cook spirit rice. Unless someone has peculiar tastes, who would cook a spirit beast? Materials for pill refining are scarce enough already.”

As Seolryeong continued marveling, Hong Wonseo calmly analyzed the matter.

“I wonder what kind of uproar this would cause if people found out. It’s frightening too...”

“Only Ise can make demon beast meat have the same effect as spirit beast meat.”

“If I were a high-ranking cultivator, I think I’d come find him immediately, kidnap him, and lock him up.”

Seolryeong, Pi Garam, and Hong Wonseo each added a comment.

Through it all, Ise only kept tearing at the meat with a serious expression.

“Why? Are you getting worried after hearing all that?”

Ise shook his head at Seolryeong’s question.

“No.”

Then he added firmly, “It lacks flavor.”

“...?”

They doubted their ears.

Faced with this revolutionary, monumental breakthrough, what was he talking about...

“Immortal cuisine is food. Its effect is important, of course, but it can only be called complete food when the main ingredient’s own taste and aroma blend beautifully together.”

“Is he seriously crazy?”

Seolryeong blurted it out without thinking as Ise earnestly argued his point.

“No matter how good the effect is.”

Seolryeong flinched.

“If it lacks flavor, it cannot be called complete food.”

Seolryeong tilted their head at Ise’s words.

“Is it really that serious...? Isn’t this delicious enough?”

“It would be hard to make whole roasted chicken taste bad in the first place.”

“It’s not chicken. You should call it Flesh-Virtue Hawk meat.”

As Pi Garam and Hong Wonseo began heading off on another tangent, Seolryeong waved both hands.

“That’s not the important part! Anyway, the immortal cuisine he cooks is attractive enough to make cultivators drool. Spirit beasts are rare, while demon beasts are everywhere. Maybe... Great Exorcist Order will mobilize just for you.”

“You mean I don’t even have enough food for myself, but all kinds of cultivators will want to stick their spoons into my meals and mix their saliva in?”

“...Put crudely, yes.”

“There’s no reason to worry already. There’s no guarantee it will have the same effect on high-ranking cultivators. Still, it wouldn’t be good to make this too conspicuous. Thanks for the advice.”

He had already understood the danger to some degree. The world of immortal cultivation was, quite literally, a world of madmen obsessed with cultivation.

Even if Great Exorcist Order wanted to, mass production would be impossible.

The limits were clear.

First, he, the Heaven-Demon Dual-Meridian Physique, had to hunt and purify the demon beasts himself. He had confirmed that demon beasts hunted by others had no effect.

Second, the ingredients had to be fresh. The effect decreased noticeably over time. No matter how cold they were stored, it was useless. There was no point in stockpiling them.

Third, he could obtain demon beast meat, the main ingredient, while out on missions. But supplemental ingredients such as spiritual herbs, spiritual grains, and spiritual vegetables remained difficult to obtain and expensive.

In the end, it was a problem of resources. The amount Ise could produce alone was limited, and the ingredient costs were no joke.

He also had to go on missions and could not neglect cultivation, so only a few people, including Ise himself, would be able to enjoy the effects in the end.

‘First, I’ll sell it.’

He would secure enough food for himself first, then sell the surplus to the entry disciples. With the Spiritual Stones he earned for more supplemental ingredients, he could keep cultivating while maintaining the effect of the immortal cuisine.

“Ise!”

Just as they were nearly finished with the portions of immortal cuisine, Buchun came running from afar.

Buchun was the fellow disciple who had yielded his place in line to read the cultivation manual on their first day. Buchun had also been the first to tell Ise about Yeombo’s death.

“I got the Jahung herb powder you asked for.”

With talent bordering on dull, Buchun was still stuck at the first star of the Qi Condensation Realm. Strangely enough, Buchun was friendly and got along with everyone.

“Call me Senior, First Star.”

“...S-Senior.”

“I’m joking.”

Perhaps because Buchun knew so many people, Buchun occasionally obtained supplemental spiritual materials that Ise had been unable to find.

Just like now.

“How much was it?”

“Five Spiritual Stones. I got it cheap.”

“You really did. You’re capable, Buchun. Thanks. Have a plate before you go.”

Ise scooped out a plate of whole roasted Flesh-Virtue Hawk from the butcher shop and held it out along with the ingredient cost.

“Wow. Really?”

How disappointed Buchun had been to miss Ise’s immortal cuisine during the Three-Tailed Fox restorative soup last time.

After that day, Buchun had watched several entry disciples advance to the second star, feeling endlessly jealous.

As Buchun wolfed down the immortal cuisine, Ise added, “Your cultivation speed will increase about threefold for a week. I think this will make around fifteen portions. What would be a fair price?”

“You’re selling this?”

“If people will pay for it. I need to earn back the ingredient costs, at least.”

Buchun thought for a moment, then asked, “Want me to help?”

“Oh, I’d appreciate that.”

“Good. Leave it to me.”

Buchun left those words behind, licked the plate clean, then headed off somewhere.

Buchun returned before even half a day had passed.

Behind Buchun stood a line of entry disciples holding pouches of Spiritual Stones.

“I made meal tickets and put them up for a group auction. If I’d had more time, I could’ve raised the price to seven Spiritual Stones, but since it’s fresh food...”

Buchun had set the price at six Spiritual Stones per person and quickly found fifteen buyers.

Soon, ninety Spiritual Stones piled up before Ise as though they had been poured out. His actual profit would be cut in half after ingredient costs, but even so, this was a great deal.

Buchun even helped distribute the food with capable hands.

“The others were already waiting to see if there would be another chance. Getting medicinal pellets is like plucking stars from the sky.”

Six Spiritual Stones for immortal cuisine that increased cultivation speed threefold for one week. Cultivators were clearly willing to pay that much.

What if he could make it four times faster, or more?

Ise’s mind filled with heaps of Spiritual Stones. It was a happy thought.

He looked at the customers with a moved expression. Then he counted out fifteen Spiritual Stones, one per person, and held them out to Buchun.

“You, work with me.”

“Gladly.”

A few days later, a respectable temporary canopy stood before the butcher shop.

Four tables, sixteen chairs, and even a partition dividing the cooking space from the seating area.

Buchun had traveled around to obtain lumber, then put up a wooden sign.

Ise stood with his arms folded and stared at the completed sign.