Chapter 138
The Righteous-Demonic Debate showed no signs of cooling down even after three days.
Now, even without Baek-Cheong chipping in, the Dao Friends were busy tearing at each other.
It was hard to even count the number of spin-off posts branching out from the original thread.
『Dao Friend (338.21): You can’t even reason with those demonic path bastards in the first place.』
『Dao Friend (17.1): Wasn’t the righteous path a step above treating people like they aren’t human?』
Still, whenever the embers showed signs of dying down, Baek-Cheong unfailingly threw in more firewood.
『Dao Friend (913.14): Blood sacrifices are an everyday thing in the demonic path, aren’t they?』
[They use everyone as sacrifices, not distinguishing between Mortals and Cultivators.]
[Dao Friend (45.88): Squeezing out the souls of living people with the Soul Extraction Art is something even worse those so-called Prestigious Clans do.]
[Dao Friend (32.248): The righteous path taking in a Mortal’s child is for the sake of the Great Dao. It is fundamentally different from the demonic path, which sacrifices even Immortals just to gain a bit of power.]
[Dao Friend (733.19): The ones nitpicking the righteous path always turn out to be demonic path bastards.]
A single piece of firewood brought a shower of hundreds of replies.
At this point, who had thrown the bait was long forgotten, leaving only the fighting behind.
Thanks to this, the items listed in the Marketplace received no one’s attention.
“As expected, a debate is the best way to divert attention.”
As she spent her time stirring up the Nameless Forum like that, three days passed in the blink of an eye.
When the promised day dawned, Baek-Cheong visited Yeon-gi Peak again with her uncle.
This time, without even needing to send word, the Butler guided them straight inside.
The Peak Lord was waiting with his smoking pipe in his mouth.
“You’re here.”
As the Peak Lord gestured, the jade box placed beside him floated up and flew over to Baek-Cheong.
The lid opened, revealing a Milky-white Orb.
On the outside, it looked no different from the usual Baekju.
However, a milky aura was slowly swirling like a cloud inside the orb.
Receiving it with both hands, I found the weight was the same, but somehow its depth could no longer be fathomed.
“Whoa…”
Even when she tried to flow spiritual energy into it as a test, the orb remained completely still.
The Peak Lord pointed at Baekju with the end of his smoking pipe.
“Now that it has been reborn as a Dharma Treasure, you cannot even awaken it with the spiritual energy of the Qi Condensation Stage. Wield it when you reach Foundation Establishment.”
Following that, a jade slip the size of a finger joint flew over.
“I have included the Method of Refinement for after you reach Foundation Establishment, as well as the core principles for making it your Natal Dharma Treasure. When the time comes, just follow what is written.”
“Thank you, Peak Lord.”
“No need for thanks. I merely fulfilled the terms of the Refining voucher.”
The Peak Lord took a drag from his smoking pipe and exhaled a long stream of smoke.
“This Old Man got to enjoy the feeling of working with his hands for the first time in a while, so you may go now.”
Baek-Cheong tucked Baekju and the jade slip deep into her Storage Platform and stepped out of the Peak Lord’s Hall.
Baekju, which had been a Dharma artifact, was now reborn as a proper Dharma Treasure.
She wouldn’t be able to take it out and use it until she reached Foundation Establishment, but her regret did not last long.
Since she had elevated her 1st-Tier Magic Art to a certain level, its uses related to Training had long since fulfilled their purpose.
Once she reached Foundation Establishment and simply went through the process to Refine it, she would gain a Natal Dharma Treasure, so it was actually a highly profitable trade.
‘It’s like I’ve prepared a Natal Dharma Treasure in advance.’
As if it were a double blessing, a jade box sent by the Biun Sect had arrived at the Guest Quarters.
It was said to be a separate reward prepared by the Sect, since the Young Prodigies who advanced to the main tournament couldn’t fully enjoy the Secret Realm.
When she opened it with her uncle, they found a small jade bottle and a note inside.
Inside the jade bottle was a single pill, hazy and white like a cloud.
At the very top of the note, the name Dust Cleansing Pill (Dust Cleansing Pill) was written.
It was stated that it was a pill concocted from the Cloud Spirit Fruit found in the Cloud Sea Secret Realm, and it had the effect of washing away the pill toxicity accumulated in the Dantian and qi meridians.
It also added that although it was of low grade, its medicinal power was mild and deep, making it suitable for the Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment stages.
Baek Mu-Yeong let out an exclamation while reading the note.
“A pill that washes away pill toxicity. As expected, a Great Sect is truly generous.”
Standing beside him, Baek-Cheong couldn’t even chime in in agreement.
“Washes away… pill toxicity?”
A piece of common sense came crashing down in her mind.
When it came to pill toxicity, the established theory even in the Nameless Forum was that there was no cure.
Even when Dao Friends who were known to consume quite a few pills asked time and time again, the answer that came back was always the same.
The only way was to prevent pill toxicity from accumulating in the first place, and once it built up, there was nothing that could be done.
It was to the point that the very reason an Inscribed Pill was called a Priceless Treasure was that it was free from pill toxicity.
And yet, a pill that washed away accumulated pill toxicity was sitting right in front of her eyes.
If pill toxicity could be erased, it would mean there would be no hesitation in chugging down pills.
At this point, it was no different from another Heaven-Defying Pill.
“How can something like this exist?”
Just as she was shaking her head, thinking it made no sense, a phrase in the note caught her eye anew.
It was the part mentioning that the Cloud Spirit Fruit was among the ingredients used in the Dust Cleansing Pill.
“Oh no!”
Baek-Cheong felt a chill run straight down her spine.
She remembered the three Cloud Spirit Fruits she had listed in the Nameless Forum Marketplace.
Until now, her mind had been entirely preoccupied with the Cloud Spirit Pearl.
She had only considered the Cloud Spirit Fruit as a side item, assuming it was just a valuable medicinal herb.
But if it was an ingredient for a pill that washed away pill toxicity, the story changed completely.
It meant it was a treasure no less precious than the Cloud Spirit Pearl.
She finally understood why the Biun Sect had offered to exchange Cloud Spirit Fruits for contribution points if they were brought back.
She thought it was a favor granted out of consolation, but in truth, it was a scheme to gather ingredients for the Dust Cleansing Pill.
“Even though I raised the price like crazy, it might not be enough.”
The price she had set in the Marketplace was definitely an insane price.
It was a price born from the thought that it was just a common medicinal herb.
If someone knew it had the effect of washing away pill toxicity like the Dust Cleansing Pill, it might look like a bargain.
If she had had her way, she would have wanted to retrieve them immediately.
But this was still within the Biun Sect.
If she put a spirit pearl like the Cloud Spirit Pearl into her Storage Platform right under the noses of the Great Cultivators and gave off even a hint of its presence, it would be the end.
The Export Limit was two, so if she was caught with items from the Secret Realm pouring out one after another, there would be no way to even make an excuse.
‘It’ll be even more awkward if I get caught retrieving them…’
Unable to do this or that, she could only stamp her feet in anxiety.
“Please, let no one buy them. Please.”
* * *
Completely oblivious to the person whose insides were burning with anxiety, the adults were nothing but relaxed.
Before leaving, her uncle shared drinks with Inner Sect Elder Pung Jin-Hae, catching up on all the things they hadn’t been able to talk about.
Thanks to the demonic path disturbance being settled, the Sect’s atmosphere had also softened considerably.
Eldest Brother, the Sect Master’s True Disciple, along with Mong-Yo and Jin-Wi, was also freed from their daily duties for the first time in a while.
Thanks to this, a grand Farewell Banquet was held, and Baek-Cheong was helplessly stuck in her Seat.
“Sending our Cheong-Yi off like this, Older Sister is already so sad she could die.”
Mong-Yo went as far as sitting Baek-Cheong on her lap and squishing her soft cheeks.
“Older Sister should have stuck right by your side, especially after you went through such a disturbance in the Secret Realm.”
“I-I was fine…”
“Young Lady Baek. I am truly sorry for causing you concern in Our Sect’s Secret Realm.”
Jin-Wi sat stiffly in the Seat next to her, repeating words that could have been either an apology or a send-off.
Eldest Brother smiled warmly and placed a spirit fruit on her empty plate.
“Cheong-A, taste this too. Our Sect’s spirit fruits are hard to find outside.”
“Here, say ahh.”
A piece of spirit fruit peeled by Mong-Yo was thrust right up to her mouth.
She had no choice but to silently accept and eat it.
As the three people poured their affection on her, Baek-Cheong’s soul slowly drained away.
Her body was sitting at the banquet Seat, but her mind was entirely on the Nameless Forum Marketplace.
Right now, someone might be picking up a Cloud Spirit Fruit and paying the price.
Even though she wanted to connect to the Nameless Forum right away and check, she couldn’t find an opening.
With Mong-Yo endlessly squishing her cheeks and talking to her, she had no time to gather her Divine Sense.
It was long past time to throw firewood into the Righteous-Demonic Debate, and she was worried sick that the embers might have died down.
“Cheong-Yi, your complexion doesn’t look good. Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
“I’m not uncomfortable at all…”
“Oh my, look at how she answers. Isn’t she just too cute?”
The answers just rolled out of her mouth automatically.
Half out of her mind, Baek-Cheong prayed and prayed for the banquet to end.
Finally, the banquet ended, and it was time to return home.
At the Flying Immortal Platform, the Gadan-gi Law Enforcer and the Clan’s Family members had finished their preparations to leave early.
The pure white hull of the Baek Yeon-Ju floated gently, brimming with spiritual energy.
Eldest Brother stroked her hair and offered some parting advice.
“When you reach home, make sure to give your greetings to our parents. Training is good, but make sure to eat your meals first. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Eldest Brother. Please stay healthy too, Eldest Brother.”
“You have to come visit again! Older Sister will be waiting!”
Mong-Yo waved both her hands vigorously, and Jin-Wi also offered a polite bow beside her.
Baek-Cheong put on a calm front and waved back at those who had come to see her off.
The Baek Yeon-Ju-Ju slowly rose and glided away, leaving Cloud Mountain behind.
She practically hung over the edge of the ship, staring at Cloud Mountain.
The towering Cloud Mountain was gradually growing distant.
“Not yet. Not yet…”
Since she didn’t know how far the Great Cultivators of the Biun Sect could observe, the further away they got, the better.
Watching from beside her, her uncle chuckled.
“You little rascal, did you grow attached in that short time? You haven’t been able to take your eyes off it since we left. Well, Baek Gyu is there, and Baek Gyu’s Senior and Junior Disciples adored you so much, so it makes sense. This uncle is quite proud. If there’s ever a reason to come again…”
Her uncle’s words didn’t even register in her ears.
Baek-Cheong kept her eyes fixed only on the receding Cloud Mountain.
Eventually, it was around the time when even Cloud Mountain became so distant that its shape could no longer be recognized.
“This should be far enough.”
“Uncle, I’m going to go in and rest first!”
“Alright. Get some good rest. Hmm? Are you already gone?”
Baek-Cheong dashed to the Guest Room before her uncle could even finish his sentence.
As soon as she closed the Guest Room door, she plopped down on the bed and connected to the Nameless Forum.
She immediately checked the Marketplace first.
Six Cloud Root Herbs, three Cloud Spirit Fruits, and one orb - all ten items were still sitting there intact.
‘They didn’t sell…!’
Her tension broke, and all the strength drained from her body.
Her little heart, which had been anxious all day, finally relaxed.
Without a moment’s delay, she retrieved the items.
The six Cloud Root Herbs returned to her Storage Platform one by one.
When retrieving the Cloud Spirit Pearl, she held her breath first.
Only after the spirit pearl settled into the Storage Platform did she finally feel secure.
『Dao Friend (238.19): ??? Did you guys see that 10,000-point orb just get taken down?』
『Dao Friend (48.21): It was bait after all lol Dragged that joke out for a long time.』
It didn’t matter what the Dao Friends were babbling about.
Finally, the three Cloud Spirit Fruits returned to the Storage Platform.
She took out one Cloud Spirit Fruit from the Storage Platform and examined it.
It felt as if a mystical energy was faintly flowing over the cloud-like flesh of the fruit.
“The Cloud Spirit Pearl is great and all, but this was the real jackpot.”
It was worth sweeping them up every time she saw them in the Secret Realm.
She hugged the Cloud Spirit Fruit to her chest and grinned widely.
“If the Dao Friends in the Nameless Forum knew about this, how sick to their stomachs would they be?”
Baek-Cheong lay down on the bed, giggling happily.
And as she connected to the Nameless Forum, watching the Dao Friends who were still burning up over the Righteous-Demonic Debate…
“Foolish Dao Friends.”
She simply savored the leisure of a victor, a secret known to no one but Baek-Cheong herself.