Chapter 59
All official schedules, from the lengthy New Year’s Banquet to the small-scale social gatherings, had come to an end.
Most of the guests had left the Yeonha Baek Clan, and for the first time in a while, it regained its former tranquility.
Baek-Cheong slept in late, woke up, and rolled around on her bed, savoring the sweet rest.
Thinking about how her energy had been drained over the past few days from walking on eggshells around the adults, forcing fake smiles, and being pestered by the children, this time spent holed up alone in the corner of her room was no different from heaven.
“Finally, some time to myself…!”
Humming a tune, Baek-Cheong moved her Divine Sense and initiated a Nameless Forum Connection.
Her lips twitched into a smile at the thought of checking the accumulated juicy threads, having been unable to properly enjoy forum surfing for the past few days.
However, that modest happiness did not last long.
A polite yet familiar voice rang out from outside the door.
“Cheong-A, are you inside? It’s your Older Brother.”
Baek-Cheong hastily severed her Nameless Forum Connection, kicking her blankets in frustration before tidying up her appearance.
It was a rare, perfect time for forum surfing, so she felt disappointed by Baek Gyu’s visit right at the crack of dawn, but she managed her expression and spoke.
“Yes, Orabeoni! Please come in.”
Baek Gyu, who opened the door and entered, wore a pleased smile.
As soon as he took a Seat opposite his younger sister, he brought up the main point.
“I apologize for visiting so early in the morning. It’s just that I heard from Eldest Sister Mong-Yo last night. You promised to visit the Biun Sect?”
Baek-Cheong’s face instantly stiffened at the forgotten topic.
It was just an empty remark thrown out to escape the situation, but it seemed that meddlesome Eldest Sister had ultimately run straight to her Orabeoni to brag about it.
“Ah, about that. It’s not like I’m going right away. Later, if there’s an opportunity…”
“It doesn’t matter even if you don’t formally join the Sect. Our Biun Sect has mountains of wondrous things you haven’t seen in the Main Family. Just trust this Older Brother and come feel free to visit anytime.”
Baek Gyu lightly brushed past her excuses, seemingly just happy that his sister was showing interest in the Sect, and nailed down a firm confirmation.
Feeling like she would be helplessly dragged off on a field trip to the Biun Sect right this instant if things continued like this, Baek-Cheong urgently changed the subject.
“Oh, by the way, Eldest Brother, all of your Senior Martial Brothers came to the Main Family as a Delegation this time. They all seem like very high-ranking people in the Sect, so how did they all make time to come at once?”
Having all the Sect Master’s True Disciples participate as a Delegation did feel excessively extravagant.
At the question that hit the nail on the head, Baek Gyu paused for a moment and kept silent.
“Hmm…”
Baek Gyu glanced around once, then let out a light sigh and spoke.
“It’s news that will spread openly throughout the entire region in a few days anyway, so it should be fine to tell you in advance.”
Baek Gyu’s voice became much more serious.
“It’s just that an exchange meeting where all the Great Sects will gather is soon to be held in the Central Continent. My Senior and Junior Disciples and I are on our way to attend the exchange meeting as representatives of the Biun Sect under the Sect Master’s orders. We stopped by the Main Family because we had business to handle with the Clan along the way.”
Baek Gyu did not specifically mention what that business was.
However, Baek-Cheong tactfully figured out the true nature of that business in an instant.
“The Five Elements Pill…”
It could be called a Heaven-Defying Pill that elevated the aptitude of a Five Elements Spirit Root, transforming it into anything from a Four Elements Spirit Root to a Heaven Spirit Root depending on one’s caliber.
It was also what the Biun Sect had been trying to obtain even while promising exceptional treatment to the Baek Clan.
“A Great Sect taking an interest in a Five Elements Spirit Root, huh.”
Originally, if the Biun Sect set its mind to it, it could take its pick of Heaven Spirit Roots and Earth Spirit Roots.
At the very least, they were overflowing with Three Elements Spirit Root Disciples, so there was no need to take in a Five Elements Spirit Root Holder and put in the effort of feeding the holder a Five Elements Pill.
‘There’s definitely something going on.’
Baek-Cheong smelled something fishy, but that was it.
Whether they used the Five Elements Pill or resold it, it was a matter for the Sect and the Clan, not a problem she needed to care about.
“Since it has nothing to do with me.”
Baek-Cheong hid her subtle inner thoughts and quickly managed her expression.
She feigned deep interest in the grand event known as the Great Sect exchange meeting, her eyes sparkling.
“Wow, a Great Sect exchange meeting! That sounds incredibly cool. Do you guys do things like sparring there?”
Seeing Baek-Cheong’s reaction, Baek Gyu excitedly continued his explanation.
“Haha, the Young Prodigies don’t spar with each other. It’s closer to a grand gathering where Young Prodigies from all over the region gather to share their enlightenment. In particular, this exchange meeting can be considered an exploration of a Secret Realm from the Ancient Era located deep within the Central Continent. The Prodigies representing each Sect will enter the Secret Realm and compete for rare spirit herbs and Ancient Dharma Treasures. Jin-Wi, my Youngest Junior Disciple, also has high expectations for this Secret Realm Exploration.”
Baek Gyu earnestly laid out an explanation about the fierce competition among the Young Prodigies and the mysteries of the Secret Realm.
However, to Baek-Cheong, dangerous tales of heroism or battles of pride between Sects were just stories far less interesting than forum surfing.
“So, if our Biun Sect gains the upper hand in this exchange meeting…”
As Baek Gyu’s explanation dragged on, Baek-Cheong slowly lost focus.
Random, irrelevant thoughts floated around in her head, like “Ah, there was a fun thread going around on the Nameless Forum,” and “Tae-Jeong-Tae-Se-Mun-Dan-Se.”
“Ah, right. I got so caught up in the exchange meeting story that I forgot the most important thing.”
Baek Gyu took out a Storage Platform from his robes, and with careful hands, pulled out a uniquely shaped object and placed it on the table.
“What is this?”
Baek-Cheong stared at the object on the table with curious eyes.
It was a thick, vermilion metal bracelet-shaped object, its surface crudely engraved with complex, geometric patterns.
Even when she subtly scanned it with the Qi Observation Technique, it didn’t emit any particularly strong spiritual energy; it was an object that looked quite heavy and dull.
“This is a Cultivation Dharma Tool said to have been used in the Ancient Era by Five Elements Spirit Root Holders to harmoniously control Five Elements Qi and temper their qi meridians.”
Although the Five Elements Spirit Root is currently dismissed as a useless, trash aptitude in the Cultivation World, there was a time in the Ancient Era when its possessors were revered as omnipotent Prodigies who wielded all Five Elements.
“I scoured the Sect’s Library Pavilion with a fine-tooth comb and barely managed to find the historical records. Based on the restored blueprints from those records, I earnestly pleaded with the Sect’s Venerable 4th-Tier Alchemist to have this specially made.”
In the Cultivation World, an Artificer who had reached the 4th-Tier was of such a noble status that even Nascent Soul Great Cultivators could not treat him or her carelessly when commissioning items.
To thrust a blueprint at such an Artificer and ask them to craft a Training Dharma Tool for a Five Elements Spirit Root Holder - there was no way the process had been smooth.
Baek-Cheong looked at Baek Gyu with a worried expression.
“Orabeoni… To make a request of a 4th-Tier Alchemist, don’t you need contribution points earned by making massive contributions to the Sect? Those are precious things that can’t even be bought with spirit stones.”
The Sect’s contribution points were like medals that Cultivators could only earn by risking their lives to complete missions or by offering up rare fortuitous encounters.
Her small heart ached at the fact that he had used such precious contribution points to make a Training Dharma Tool for her.
At this, Baek Gyu smiled at his sister’s worried expression as if it were nothing.
“Haha, it’s to help my beautiful sister’s Training, so what do a few measly contribution points matter? The whole reason this Older Brother works so hard outside is for the sake of the Clan.”
Baek Gyu lifted the crude bracelet and handed it to Baek-Cheong.
And Baek-Cheong, as if to repay the gift, put on the bracelet right then and there.
“Its shape is so crude and ugly, I don’t know if you’ll like it. But the Formation engraved inside is intricate, allowing you to perceive the flow of even the most minute energies. Since you’re also handling the Multi-layered Technique right now, it will be a great help in meticulously controlling your energy.”
As she listened to his explanation and carefully moved her energy, the Training Dharma Tool resonated.
At the same time, she could feel the Five Elements Qi circulating through her qi meridians in complete detail, as if she were looking at them with her own eyes.
‘It’s at a level where I don’t even need the assistance of my Divine Sense.’
Even without managing the energy with her Divine Sense, it became possible to precisely control the energy of only the desired attribute.
It would be useful if she solidified her qi meridians through the Training Dharma Tool, but…
“With this…”
Baek-Cheong saw another opportunity in the Training Dharma Tool.
If things went well, it seemed like it would be of great help in high-level Pill Refining too.
‘I could forum surf while making Top-grade Medicinal Pills, couldn’t I?’
As her thoughts reached this point, she finally saw hope of escaping Pill Refining Hell.
And, genuinely delighted, she spoke.
“No, Orabeoni. What does the appearance matter?”
Baek-Cheong tightly hugged the Training Dharma Tool wrapped around her wrist to her chest and smiled brightly.
Usually, amidst the excessive attention and misunderstandings of the Clan Elders, she would only offer appropriate, superficial pleasantries, but…
“Do you really mean it?”
“I really love it. I’ll use it well and treasure it, Eldest Brother!”
This time, at least, it was mixed with genuine sincerity welling up from deep within her small heart.