Nano-engineering Immortal Cultivation Chronicle

Chapter 36

Episode 36: Off to the Archipelago Sea for Herb Gathering

Vroooooom.

Jang So-cheon and the members of Herb Gathering Hall’s One Group soared through the sky aboard their flying magic device. At So-cheon’s suggestion, they decided to take a break and landed on a small ridge. Fortunately, there was a large cave right where the flying magic device touched down.

"Jang Saje! Why exactly are we stopping for a break? And what’s this about elixirs?"

"Haha! I’ve prepared a small gift to thank you all for your help. Back at Geumryeon Mountain, I couldn’t give it to you because I was worried about drawing attention, but now that we’re out here, I wanted to hand it over as soon as possible."

"A gift? Didn’t you already give us one after we got back from the Demon Clan’s territory? Everyone advanced their realm after taking the Qi Spirit Pill you gave us."

"This is even more precious than that. It’s a Jade Spirit Pill, a gift from Princess Eun Dan-bi. I heard they call it a Sacred Pill where she’s from."

"A Sacred Pill? Why would she give you something so valuable?"

"Because I found a spirit herb the princess needed. But there are only three of them."

So-cheon handed a wooden talisman to the group leader, the deputy leader, and Han Sa-jeo.

"What about me, So-cheon?"

"You’ll get something else. Just wait a moment."

Makjang’s cultivation was too low to take the Jade Spirit Pill, so So-cheon had decided to give him something different.

A Supreme Grade Spirit Stone.

It was the only one he had.

Sanggwan Cheonse, after opening the wooden talisman, asked So-cheon,

"Saje! If this is really as miraculous as they say, why aren’t you taking it yourself? Isn’t it a bit much to give it away, even between brothers?"

‘Good grief!’

So-cheon looked at Sanggwan Cheonse as if to say, ‘You’re one to talk.’ After all, he’d once handed So-cheon a priceless magic manual as if it were nothing.

"Brother, there are many people in this world, but the only ones I can truly trust with my back are all here—and Master, of course. That’s why we all need to grow stronger together."

"...Thank you."

"No need for thanks. Don’t think about anything else right now—just take the Sacred Pill and advance your realm."

The pills So-cheon handed out were top-grade elixirs made from herbs harvested after the World Tree sprouted. He had plenty of Jade Spirit Pills with slightly weaker effects in his Heaven and Earth Pouch, but he couldn’t bring himself to give those to his brothers.

If he was going to give something, it had to be the best.

"You mean we should take it right here?"

"Don’t we have a rule in our group? If you save something for too long, it turns to waste."

Makjang chimed in, "There’s a saying: Even a ghost that dies after eating well looks better than one that starved."

"Makjang’s right. Wasn’t it you, Leader, who said if we don’t get stronger today, we might die tomorrow? I’ll stand guard."

With So-cheon’s gentle pressure, the group members had no choice but to begin their Qi Circulation Meditation.

Once the seniors and Han Sa-jeo started meditating, So-cheon pulled Makjang aside.

He pressed the Supreme Grade Spirit Stone into Makjang’s hand.

"What’s this?"

[Shh! Supreme Grade Spirit Stone. It’s free.]

[What? This is a Supreme Grade Spirit Stone?]

[Yep. You probably know why I disappeared for a while. I killed some Demon Clan members who were exploring the Extreme Heaven Sect, and I got this from their Heaven and Earth Pouch.]

Makjang stared at the spirit stone in his hand, eyes trembling.

Supreme Grade Spirit Stones were so valuable, he’d never even seen one up close.

And yet So-cheon was just handing it over for free...

Makjang looked at So-cheon with eyes full of emotion.

[So-cheon! I heard you can directly absorb the spiritual energy inside a Supreme Grade Spirit Stone... Is that true?]

[Of course. The real reason my realm advanced recently was thanks to a Supreme Grade Spirit Stone. For someone at your level, even one should let you jump up a realm or two.]

[Really?]

[Why do you think Supreme Grade Spirit Stones are so expensive? I heard the Extreme Heaven Sect only got four when they raided the Demon-Suppressing Cave.]

[I heard that too. They sold one to buy materials for a magic device, and the other three were given to the Supreme Elders.]

So-cheon gave a wry smile at Makjang’s words.

Just yesterday, when he’d gone to see the Wuji Perfected One to say he was heading out for herb gathering, his master had given him a Supreme Grade Spirit Stone. The sect had distributed the stones, and his master had handed one to his disciple. So-cheon had told Makjang he’d gotten one by chance and absorbed its energy, but he’d actually refused the one from his master.

Unable to change So-cheon’s mind, his master had just laughed and said he was a lucky kid.

Thinking of his master for a moment, So-cheon sent Makjang another message.

[Makjang! Hurry up and absorb the energy from the Supreme Grade Spirit Stone. Once you reach the Six-Star Qi Refining Stage, you can use the Qi Spirit Pill I gave you to advance again.]

[That’s what I was planning. Thanks again, really.]

[No need to thank me... If it weren’t for the talismans you gave me, I wouldn’t have gotten the Supreme Grade Spirit Stone in the first place. You deserve it.]

[Really?]

Makjang’s face immediately brightened.

Hearing that his talismans had helped So-cheon eased his mind.

Makjang was currently at the Late Four-Star Qi Stage.

Watching the others meditate after taking the Jade Spirit Pill, Makjang gripped the Supreme Grade Spirit Stone and began his own Qi Circulation Meditation.

"......."

Just as So-cheon had said, Makjang, whose cultivation was still low, felt the full effect of the Supreme Grade Spirit Stone.

His realm, which hadn’t budged since taking the Yellow Essence Pill, suddenly shot up to the Five-Star level, then advanced again, finally reaching the Mid Five-Star Qi Stage.

Makjang was overjoyed, though a bit disappointed—if he’d reached the Six-Star level, he could have taken the Qi Spirit Pill.

Still, for someone with a Two-Yin Muscle Body Type to reach the Mid Five-Star Qi Stage was nothing short of a miracle.

He thought this would let him unleash even greater power with the Thunder Strike Talisman, and tried to calm his surging excitement.

So-cheon, who had been standing guard, also looked a bit regretful when Makjang stopped at the Mid Five-Star Qi Stage.

He thought to himself how lucky he was to have reincarnated and escaped the Two-Yin Muscle Body Type. If he still had it, no matter how many opportunities he got, he could never have reached his current level.

Among the rest of the group, Han Sa-jeo, who had the Four-Yin Muscle Body Type, benefited the most.

She jumped from the late Eight-Star stage straight to the Mid Ten-Star Stage in one leap.

Sanggwan Cheonse reached the Early Ten-Star Stage, and even the group leader, Gwak Mu-jin, advanced to the Early Twelve-Star Stage. The effect of the Jade Spirit Pill was truly astonishing.

When the group members awoke from their meditation, they all looked dazed at their sudden advancement.

So-cheon suggested they stabilize their realms with additional Qi Circulation Meditation...

It was only half a day later that they finally got up, one by one.

Han Yeo-ok was the first to approach So-cheon.

"Jang Saje! Thank you."

"It’s nothing."

"But I keep getting things from you and have nothing to give in return..."

"What are you talking about? You took care of me and played with me when I was little. You’re more than just a Sajeo to me."

"Then what am I?"

"You’re like a big sister. I’m just repaying a bit of that kindness now."

"Thank you for saying that."

While the two were talking, Sanggwan Cheonse woke up next.

He checked Han Yeo-ok’s realm and was shocked.

For the first time, she had surpassed him.

So-cheon smiled and tried to comfort his senior.

"Deputy Leader! What can you do? Heaven must have favored Han Sajeo, letting her be born with the Four-Yin Muscle Body Type. I guess you’ll just have to get used to it."

"I suppose so."

Heh.

Even though his realm was now lower than Han Sajeo’s, Sanggwan Cheonse couldn’t help but smile.

He thanked So-cheon.

The last to get up was Gwak Mu-jin, who still seemed in disbelief at his advancement. He stared blankly at the cave ceiling, then strode over and hugged So-cheon, rubbing his face against him.

"Ugh! Leader, that hurts!"

"Haha! Just bear with it a little."

Rub, rub.

After letting go, Gwak Mu-jin asked,

"You said it was a Sacred Pill, but I didn’t believe it would be this effective. I never imagined such a miraculous elixir existed... You didn’t end up in debt to the Demon Clan’s princess over this, did you?"

"Nothing like that, so don’t worry. And if anyone questions your advancement, just say we all ate some strange seaweed deep under the ocean and suddenly got stronger..."

It sounded ridiculous, but Gwak Mu-jin just grinned.

It was exactly the answer he wanted.

"You all heard that, right? We’ve never even seen a Jade Spirit Pill. The reason we advanced this time is because of some weird seaweed we ate underwater..."

Everyone nodded, and Gwak Mu-jin said no more.

He simply chose to believe.

>

The flying magic device took off again, carrying the group smoothly through the sky. Inside, So-cheon fell into thought.

Recently, he’d gained some insight from the physician’s advice to temper both body and mind. It was thanks to the Nameless Manual of Intent. Deep contemplation and reflection had brought him peace of mind, and observing how his body worked helped him lay the foundation for physical cultivation. As a result, his body felt lighter, and his mind clearer than ever.

Shing.

Feeling uplifted, So-cheon half-drew the Primordial Divine Sword and stared intently at the blade.

Of all the opportunities he’d encountered, he considered the Primordial Divine Sword and the Dragon Flying Peak Martial Art to be the greatest.

The Primordial Divine Sword, in particular, was shrouded in mystery.

It radiated an energy that was the polar opposite of anything evil or demonic.

It was so sharp that it could cut through anything, even without infusing spiritual energy.

And that wasn’t all.

Curious about its true nature, So-cheon tried to probe it with Divine Sight, but something misty blocked his vision from entering the blade.

Even stranger, the sword felt incredibly familiar to him.

Almost as if their souls were connected...

There were times it felt like an extension of his own body.

Clack!

Sheathing the Primordial Divine Sword, So-cheon thought of the Dragon Flying Peak Martial Art his Patriarch had given him.

He’d been told that to unleash its true power, his Primordial Spirit would need to manifest Divine Power.

But his realm wasn’t there yet.

He had recently accumulated a great deal of Divine Power, but had no idea when Divine Power would actually manifest. Still, he hoped that day wasn’t too far off, and absentmindedly gazed at the clouds ahead.

"Wait!"

Suddenly, So-cheon shot to his feet.

A massive water spirit monster was lurking inside the clouds.

"Leader! There’s a water spirit monster hiding in the clouds ahead. We need to change course!"

"A water spirit monster?"

Even though So-cheon’s realm was lower, Gwak Mu-jin didn’t doubt him for a second. So-cheon’s abilities were just too unpredictable.

"It’s a very powerful one. I think it’s targeting our ship."

"Understood. Everyone, battle stations!"

Drawing the Wuji Blade of the Crimson Heaven, Gwak Mu-jin’s voice rang out across the sky. With his realm now higher, he seemed fearless.