Chapter 82
The Pacheon Sword Saint his satisfied expression faded and rose from his chair.
Then, he rummaged inside his sleeve and took out two jade bottles.
“The path of a Physical Cultivator begins with solidifying the muscles, bones, and qi and blood.”
The Pacheon Sword Saint said as he placed the two jade bottles neatly on the table.
“These are top-grade Bone Forging Pills and Blood Strengthening Pills. They are the very first medicinal pills taken when entering as a Physical Cultivator. For the harmony of muscles, bones, and qi and blood, they must be taken at the same time.”
Baek-Cheong looked at the jade bottles on the table.
“Bone Forging Pill and Blood Strengthening Pill.”
The Bone Forging Pill was a medicinal pill that strengthened bones and muscles, while the Blood Strengthening Pill made qi and blood vigorous.
They were the most basic medicinal pills that a Physical Cultivator initiate would first take.
“It is a pill recipe I know, too.”
She had incidentally heard the pill recipes for the Bone Forging Pill and Blood Strengthening Pill during Yak-seon’s teachings.
Since they were Physical Cultivator lineage medicinal pills, she hadn’t delved deeply into them, but they were 1st-Grade Mid-Tier medicinal pills, and the ingredients were not difficult to obtain.
‘Wouldn’t it be much better if I made them as Inscribed Pills?’
It was a thought that naturally came to mind upon hearing they were top-grade.
If she Inscribed Pill patterns using the Five Elements Taiji Pill Refining Method, top-grade would not even compare.
However, she could not reveal this fact.
‘Because he won’t be able to see through something like this.’
The Five Elements Taiji Pill Refining Method was a Heaven-Defying Pill Refining Method that created Inscribed Pills.
The moment it was revealed that she, who was merely in the Qi Condensation realm, could freely use such a Pill Refining Method, an unmanageable situation would surely unfold.
So, keeping the secret to herself, she bowed her head and expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you.”
The Pacheon Sword Saint nodded and continued speaking.
“Since they are medicinal pills for entering as a Physical Cultivator, they are not very dangerous, but the body’s reaction can be intense.”
“Intense?”
Baek-Cheong slightly raised her head and looked up.
The Pacheon Sword Saint added with his usual dry expression.
“When the muscles and bones change and the qi and blood open up, turbid qi will pour out from the body. It will become a sight difficult to behold, so it would be best to do so quietly alone.”
“Ah.”
In short, it meant not showing her dirty state to others.
“I will return to my Abode and take them.”
“Do so.”
* * *
Returning to her Abode, Baek-Cheong closed the door and placed the two jade bottles on the table.
Opening the lids and looking inside, she saw that the Bone Forging Pill was a round, light green medicinal pill, and the Blood Strengthening Pill was a medicinal pill tinged with red.
“They are top-grade among the top-grade, but…”
The surfaces of the medicinal pills had a luster, and the medicinal fragrance was clear.
Anyone could see they were well-crafted, the highest-quality items.
However, it was different in Baek-Cheong’s eyes.
“With this level of medicinal qi penetration, the efficiency will only be thirty percent.”
To one looking with eyes accustomed to the Five Elements Taiji Pill Refining Method, the limits were visible, no matter how top-grade they were.
The energy of the spirit herbs was not fully contained, and more than half scattered into the air before solidifying.
Compared to an Inscribed Pill, the difference was like heaven and Earth.
“And the minute pill toxins cannot be ignored either.”
However, she couldn’t just not eat what the Pacheon Sword Saint had bestowed upon her.
After pondering for a moment, Baek-Cheong shoved the two jade bottles into her Storage Platform.
Then, she left her Abode and headed to her Personal Pill Refining Room.
“They are medicinal pills whose recipes I know anyway.”
The ingredients for the Bone Forging Pill and Blood Strengthening Pill were stocked in the Pill Refining Room.
As she opened the door to the Pill Refining Room, the familiar medicinal fragrance and the residual heat of the pill furnace welcomed her.
Baek-Cheong selected and arranged the ingredients without any hesitation.
“Bone Forging Pill first.”
She lit the fire in the pill furnace and drew up the Five Elements Qi.
During the extraction of the essence of the spirit herbs with the Fire Element, the Wood Element wrapped around it in layers, and the remaining energies circulated above, following the movements of Taiji.
She confined the life force of the spirit herbs so that not a single inch could leak out.
Not long after, a brilliant light bloomed from within the pill furnace.
A pill inscription was clearly engraved on the surface of the light green medicinal pill.
Soon after, she crafted the Blood Strengthening Pill in the same manner.
An exquisite pill inscription was also engraved on the red medicinal pill.
Baek-Cheong placed the two completed medicinal pills on her palm.
A luster that could not even be compared to the top-grade.
The medicinal fragrance was also so thick that the top-grade ones seemed faint in comparison.
“This is what a medicinal pill should be.”
Feeling satisfied, she placed the medicinal pills into jade bottles and returned to her Abode.
She locked the door and sat up on the bed.
Having taken her posture, she put the Bone Forging Pill into her mouth first.
The pill melted as soon as it touched her tongue.
“Oh.”
As expected of an Inscribed Pill, absorption occurred at a rapid pace.
The feeling of the medicinal qi spreading along her qi meridians was much smoother.
Soon after, following the Pacheon Sword Saint’s advice, she also took the Blood Strengthening Pill.
And a moment later.
‘It’s hot…?’
Heat began to fill her entire body.
At first, it was just warm, but it instantly quickly became scorching hot.
It felt like the blood inside her blood vessels was boiling.
“Wait, why is it like this?”
Before there was even a moment to panic, the second medicinal effect rushed in.
As if every joint in her body were being ground by a massive millstone, the process of bones shattering and reattaching beneath her skin was simultaneously happening all over.
She gritted her teeth, but she could not hide the trembling caused by the pain.
‘Don’t tell me taking them at the same time was only based on the top-grade standard…!’
If she had taken the top-grade ones, the pain would likely have been weaker than this.
The Inscribed Pills had their medicinal qi efficiency maximized, digging into every nook and cranny of her body without a single inch of waste.
High efficiency meant that the shock the body had to endure was just as great.
“At this rate…”
She was about to faint from the immense pain.
Amidst her entire body being a ball of fire, as the medicinal qi poured even into her intestines, an unbearable pressure surged in.
Feeling the signal, Baek-Cheong turned pale.
“No! This is absolutely not!”
She could never allow this, of all things.
Even though she was eleven years old, she had her pride.
No matter how painful it was, it was a matter of human dignity.
“I will hold it in no matter what.”
Holding onto her consciousness, she focused on controlling her lower abdomen.
She mobilized all her nerves to soothe her intestines, just like managing her qi.
This was almost more agonizing than the pain of her bones being ground.
.
.
.
She couldn’t tell how time was passing.
Whether One Shichen had passed, or two.
Even as something indistinguishable from sweat and blood streamed down her entire body, Baek-Cheong did not let go of the control over her lower abdomen.
And at some point, the pain receded.
A sense of relief washed over her entire body, and her hazy mind flashed awake.
“Is it over?”
Baek-Cheong opened her closed eyes.
And the very first thing she checked was.
“Thank goodness.”
The bed was in a disastrous state with all sorts of impurities, but the area she had worried about was safe.
A deep sigh of relief burst out.
“I survived.”
The relief of this was greater than the pain in her bones.
Only then did she have the leeway to look around.
Impurities were thickly caked all over the bed and her entire body.
It was on a different level from what came out during her usual Expelling Turbid Qi.
Dark red blood had dried and stained the bedsheets, and something like dull black grease was stuck to her skin in places like a crust.
“Ugh.”
Baek-Cheong’s nose wrinkled at the foul stench.
But even amidst that, her body felt strangely light.
A solid energy flowed through every joint, and the blood circulated through the vessels throughout her body as smoothly as a stream.
It was a refreshing feeling on a completely different level than before.
‘First, let’s clean this up.’
Baek-Cheong got down from the bed and took out a Cleansing Talisman from the Storage Platform she had placed on the table.
When she infused it with spiritual energy and activated the talisman, the impurities and bloodstains were cleanly swept away.
Once she swept over the bed, the floor, and her body, the earlier disaster vanished like a lie.
“Good.”
She changed her clothes and roughly smoothed her hair.
The face reflected in the mirror was much clearer than before.
And her skin.
“Huh?”
It was shining transparently, as if a layer had been peeled off.
It wasn’t quite Rejuvenation of Appearance, but it was along similar lines.
It had changed almost as much as if she had broken through a realm.
“This is going to stand out a bit.”
Worry filled her, but it wasn’t something she could undo.
There was no way to reverse what she had already eaten.
She let out a sigh and left her Abode.
She directed her steps toward the Guest of Honor Pavilion where the Pacheon Sword Saint was staying.
Arriving in front of the door to the Guest of Honor Pavilion, she carefully announced her presence.
“Master.”
“Come in.”
The Pacheon Sword Saint’s voice could be heard from inside.
She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The Pacheon Sword Saint was sitting on a chair, drinking tea.
Setting down his teacup, he turned his head and looked at Baek-Cheong.
For a moment, he paused and his eyebrows twitched.
“…Come here.”
In his voice was a tone different from usual.
Baek-Cheong approached carefully, feeling bewildered.
The Pacheon Sword Saint stood up from his chair and scanned Baek-Cheong from top to bottom.
Then, he reached out and lightly grabbed Baek-Cheong’s wrist.
She felt the sensation of energy seeping in through her wrist.
“Is he checking my pulse?”
Wondering at his unusual behavior, she stood still.
On the other hand, the Pacheon Sword Saint’s eyes grew wider and wider.
A crack formed in his usually dry expression.
It was clearly bewilderment.
“This is…”
The Pacheon Sword Saint withdrew his hand and took a step back.
And he examined Baek-Cheong from beginning to end once again.
“What happened?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you not merely take the Bone Forging Pill and the Blood Strengthening Pill?”
“Ah, yes. That is correct…”
Baek-Cheong answered, mumbling.
The Pacheon Sword Saint’s reaction was unusual.
If it was enough to cause a crack in his dry face, something had gone wrong.
“Did I make and eat Inscribed Pills for nothing?”
Anxiety surged from deep within her small chest.
The Pacheon Sword Saint stroked his beard and muttered.
“No matter how top-grade the medicinal pills are, it is impossible for the muscles, bones, and qi and blood to reach this extent in one go.”
“Ah, as expected.”
Baek-Cheong barely swallowed the regret rising inside her.
Since the effects of the Inscribed Pills were on a different level from top-grade, the results were bound to be on a different level as well.
The Pacheon Sword Saint sat back down on his chair and examined Baek-Cheong with deep eyes.
Eventually, a voice mixed with Admiration and certainty came out.
“It is definitely the Jade Lotus Physique.”
“Pardon?”
Baek-Cheong was bewildered by the word she was hearing for the first time.
“It is a constitution where the body absorbs medicinal pills beneficial for a Physical Cultivator tenfold, achieving in one dose what others would take ten doses to achieve.”
His voice was steeped in unconcealable excitement.
“To think you not only have outstanding comprehension but also possess the aptitude of a Physical Cultivator!”
‘I don’t!’
Baek-Cheong felt a sense of alarm at the uncontrollable misunderstanding.
She absolutely did not have anything like a Heavenly Bone Physique.
The efficiency of the Inscribed Pills was simply on a different level from top-grade.
However, to reveal the truth, she would have to expose the existence of the Five Elements Taiji Pill Refining Method.
She couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth.
“You are a promising Sword Cultivator as well, with this much.”
The Pacheon Sword Saint was stroking his beard and nodding.
A pleased smile filled with sincerity was etched on his usually dry face.
“I am really, really, really doomed.”
At the repeated praise, Baek-Cheong’s complexion turned pale.
However, the Pacheon Sword Saint was intoxicated with joy and did not notice.
“Originally, you would have to take the Bone Forging Pill and Blood Strengthening Pill a few more times to solidify your foundation. But if your muscles, bones, and qi and blood have settled this much, there is no need to wait any longer.”
“No need to wait any longer?”
She instinctively realized what those words meant.
The Pacheon Sword Saint nodded and made his conclusion.
“Let us begin your Training today.”
Baek-Cheong’s vision went dark at the despairing words.
She never imagined that the Inscribed Pills she crafted would come back to bite her like this.
“Oh, pill toxins!!!”
She thought she would rather have eaten the top-grade medicinal pills, even if pill toxins accumulated.
Furthermore, the Pacheon Sword Saint’s gleaming eyes were the same kind of look she had experienced from Yak-seon.
At this rate, she was on the verge of becoming an Inheritor Disciple rather than a Named Disciple.
“Why do I not have Infinite Regression!!!”
But it was spilt milk, too late for regrets.
Inwardly crying tears of blood, she followed the Pacheon Sword Saint.