Chapter 29
Baek-Cheong firmed her resolve and planned out the post she would write in the Nameless Forum.
The ruthless provocations and trolling she had used so far had to be completely excluded.
It was the first step in a long-term plan to shed the stigma of being an Old Monster of the Qi Condensation Stage and build an image of an innocent 4th-Stage Qi Condensation Prodigy.
“What would be good?”
She racked her brain over what topic would be suitable for laundering her image.
Content that showed off or belittled others would only backfire.
She needed a topic that could draw sympathy from cultivators while subtly appealing to her young age and outstanding Talent.
“Ah!”
A wicked smile spread across Baek-Cheong’s lips.
It was an emotional appeal strategy that fully utilized her current situation.
It was a clever trick to simultaneously evoke sympathy and Admiration by plainly writing down the hardships of her grueling Pill Refining classes and Training in a diary format.
『Dao Friend (913.14): [Cultivation Journal Day 1] Pill Refining is too hard.』
[I got caught by grandfather Yak-seon again today and guarded the Pill Furnace all day. I was Refining a Blood-Stopping Pill and almost got a poop color because my Fire Control slipped, but I forcefully shoved Wood Elemental Energy in and barely managed to produce a high-grade one. Anyway, I’m at 4th-Stage Qi Condensation, but my Dantian is too wide. It makes no sense.]
It was a diary written in a dry tone, completely devoid of bluffing and provocation.
When she registered the post, the red notifications didn’t ring like crazy as usual, but a few curious Dao Friends poked around and left replies.
[Dao Friend (11.23): Old Monster, have you changed this to your diary now? I’m leaving a laugh at the part where you produced a high-grade Blood-Stopping Pill.]
[Dao Friend (88.4): The tearful Qi Condensation setup of an Old Monster of Qi Condensation Stage.]
[Dao Friend (201.9): I spat out my drink at the poop-colored medicinal pill. I’ll acknowledge it if you keep up the act consistently.]
The Dao Friends' reactions were still predominantly cynical and mocking in tone.
However, Baek-Cheong did not waver.
The essence of a consistent post lies in the perseverance to silently build up one’s records without being swayed by the reactions.
Like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, the “sincere” diary posted at the exact same time every day would eventually tear down their solid doubts and embed itself deeply in their minds.
* * *
The next morning, Baek-Cheong opened her eyes feeling refreshed.
Today was the day she had to commute back to the hellish Pill Room.
“Cheong-A, I heard you had a pleasant time yesterday.”
Yak-seon welcomed Baek-Cheong with a benevolent smile while adjusting the fire in front of the Pill Furnace.
Baek-Cheong bowed politely and greeted him.
“Yes, grandfather Yak-seon! Elder brother even taught me how to draw talismans.”
“Hoho, the Talisman Crafting Art, you say. The Knack for handling energy has a point of Consistency with Pill Refining. However, you must not be distracted by the shallow tricks of the Talisman Crafting Art and should devote yourself to Pill Refining.”
Yak-seon gave a subtle warning and brought out new spirit herbs onto the table.
The red-tinted Red Yang Grass and the faintly blue-tinted Cold Moon Flower.
They were spirit herbs with polar opposite properties.
“Today, we will try Refining the Water-Fire Pill, a 1st-Grade Mid-Tier medicinal pill. The key is to fuse the fire energy of the Red Yang Grass and the water energy of the Cold Moon Flower without collision. It will be a good opportunity to test your sense of the Five Elements Mutual Generation.”
It was a difficult pill recipe that forcefully bound Conflicting Energies together.
Ordinary Alchemists would be busy trying to prevent the Qi Collision of the two energies by controlling the Pill Furnace’s temperature with extreme precision, but for Baek-Cheong, it was no different from a playground where she could fully display her specialty.
“I’ll give it a try.”
Baek-Cheong confidently sat down in front of the Pill Furnace.
She pushed her massive 15-Layered Divine Sense into the Pill Furnace and threw in the Red Yang Grass and Cold Moon Flower at the same time.
The red fire energy and blue water energy clashed powerfully, causing the Pill Furnace to begin shaking.
Baek-Cheong gently closed her eyes and activated the Cycle of Five Elements Mutual Generation.
She drew up Earth Qi from her Dantian to wrap around the fire energy of the Red Yang Grass, and suppressed the water energy of the Cold Moon Flower with Wood Qi.
It was a delicate tuning that built a sturdy bridge between the two Conflicting Energies to prevent a collision.
“Oho.”
A deep exclamation of Admiration flowed from Yak-seon, who was watching from the side.
Perhaps because she had mastered the Knack of drawing out energy in a consistent thickness through the Talisman Crafting Art, Baek-Cheong’s Qi Control had become much smoother and more precise than before.
The unstable vibrations inside the Pill Furnace subsided in an instant, and a clear pill fragrance wafted up.
The lid of the Pill Furnace opened all at once, and a single Water-Fire Pill popped up into the air.
“My goodness… To produce a high-grade 1st-Grade Mid-Tier medicinal pill!”
Yak-seon approached the Pill Furnace and carefully examined the completed Water-Fire Pill.
His eyes held a look that went beyond surprise, bordering on awe.
“Cheong-A, you truly are… I have never seen such a prodigy in my entire life. To think your skills have improved by leaps and bounds even after taking a day off yesterday.”
Unable to contain his joy, Yak-seon took out a jade bottle from his robes and handed it to Baek-Cheong.
“This is a top-grade Blue Jade Pill. It will be of great help in washing your Qi meridians more clearly and filling your Dantian.”
Baek-Cheong received the jade bottle with both hands and smiled brightly.
“Thank you, grandfather Yak-seon!”
It was a thrilling reward that blew away the fatigue of manual labor in an instant.
Baek-Cheong’s steps as she left the Pill Room were as light as a feather.
Returning to her Abode, Baek-Cheong finished her bath, sat on her bed, and swallowed the top-grade Blue Jade Pill without delay.
A clear and pure energy flowed down her esophagus and joined the Cycle of Five Elements Mutual Generation.
The empty space of her vast, ocean-like Dantian began to fill up little by little, accompanied by a pleasant sensation.
The spirit root deep within her Dantian was also absorbing the medicinal properties, continuing to grow, however faintly.
Having gathered her energy, Baek-Cheong connected to the Nameless Forum to wrap up her daily routine.
Today, it was time to write her regular post, without fail.
『Dao Friend (913.14): [Cultivation Journal Day 2] Produced a high-grade 1st-Grade Mid-Tier medicinal pill.』
[Grandfather Yak-seon told me to try Refining a Water-Fire Pill, so I did. I used the Knack for drawing talismans I learned a few days ago, and Fire Control became super easy. I produced a high-grade Water-Fire Pill on my first try, got praised, and received a top-grade Blue Jade Pill. Also, when am I ever going to fill my Dantian? Sigh.]
She posted the text and observed the reactions for a moment.
Mocking comments were still being posted, but the atmosphere was subtly different from yesterday.
[Dao Friend (11.23): You produced a high-grade Water-Fire Pill on the first try? Old Monster, isn’t your setup a bit too excessive?]
[Dao Friend (88.4): Applying the Knack for drawing talismans to Pill Refining? Is that even a possible method?]
[Dao Friend (553.24): Applying the principle of the Talisman Crafting Art, which captures energy in strokes, to the fire energy control of Pill Refining… This is an unimaginable idea. Dao Friend’s Cultivation Journal provides new inspiration.]
Dao Friend (553.24), the passionate Pill Refining researcher of the Nameless Forum, once again found meaning in Baek-Cheong’s nonsense post and reacted seriously.
Starting with that reply, there were signs that other Dao Friends were also gradually beginning to perceive Baek-Cheong’s posts not as roleplaying, but as a window of information where they could gain ingenious ideas.
“It’s proceeding smoothly according to plan.”
Baek-Cheong smiled in satisfaction and withdrew her Divine Sense from the Nameless Forum.
Like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, the public opinion in the Nameless Forum was slowly flowing according to her intentions.
* * *
In the mornings, she wrestled with Fire Control in the Pill Room and learned new pill recipes, and in the afternoons, she returned to her Abode to digest Top-grade Medicinal Pills and fill her Dantian with spiritual energy.
The efficiency of absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy through Meditation also noticeably improved.
Her spirit root, which had grown due to the effects of the Five Elements Pill, sucked in the Qi of Heaven and Earth at a terrifying speed.
The fulfilling sensation of her completely empty 4th-Stage Qi Condensation Dantian filling up little by little every day circulated throughout her entire body.
And at the end of the day.
Baek-Cheong unfailingly connected to the Nameless Forum and wrote her Cultivation Journal.
『Dao Friend (913.14): [Cultivation Journal Day 3] Filling the Dantian is tough.』
[Today I experimented with my Qi Absorption amount through Meditation, and maybe because my spirit root grew, the spiritual energy is pouring right in. But I’m at 4th-Stage Qi Condensation. Is this ocean-like Dantian Size for real?]
『Dao Friend (913.14): [Cultivation Journal Day 9] I’m also learning the Talisman Crafting Art whenever I’m bored.』
[Since I’m not at the Foundation Establishment stage yet, I’m only learning 1st-Tier Pill Refining, so I’m bored. I’ve learned the Talisman Crafting Art in my spare time, and now I can even make high-grade 1st-Grade Low-Tier Talismans.]
『Dao Friend (913.14): [Cultivation Journal Day 21] Yak-seon’s assignment difficulty is insane.』
[Today he told me to Refine a Foundation Establishment Pill, but if my Fire Control slips even a little, it turns to ash. I used all of my 15-Layered Divine Sense to concentrate, but I still failed. Instead, I received a top-grade Illusion Spirit Pill for my hard work. My Dantian seems to be about thirty percent full now.]
Baek-Cheong’s Cultivation Journal, posted at the exact same time every night, began to establish itself as a new specialty of the Nameless Forum’s Chat Board.
Even the Dao Friends who initially scoffed at it as an Old Monster’s lies gradually became engrossed in the increasingly specific and vivid descriptions and unconventional Training tips as the days went by.
[Dao Friend (294.22): How can a Qi Condensation Dantian be like an ocean?]
[Dao Friend (11.23): Old Monster, you’ve really gotten a taste for writing a diary. But a 15-Layered Divine Sense isn’t a size that a Qi Condensation cultivator can possess.]
[Dao Friend (88.4): A Qi Condensation cultivator tried Refining a Foundation Establishment Pill? I’m a 2nd-Tier Alchemist, but I haven’t even been able to make a Foundation Establishment Pill yet because I don’t have spirit stones. Just how privileged are you?]
[Dao Friend (553.24): You have an aptitude for Talisman Crafting following Pill Refining. Can the Hundred Arts of Cultivation also not escape the cycle where All Paths Lead to the Same Goal? Or is Dao Friend’s comprehension so outstanding that it breaks free from that cycle?]
The atmosphere of the comments had distinctly changed.
Criticism and mockery faded, and instead, astonishment, curiosity, and a subtle sense of anticipation filled their place.
“This is the taste of writing consistent posts.”
Baek-Cheong rolled around on her bed while reading the Dao Friends' comments.
She hadn’t been able to completely erase the suspicion of being an Old Monster of Qi Condensation Stage, but she had at least succeeded in revamping her image into a Dao Friend who spouted entertaining and informative nonsense.
“I’ll get a good night’s sleep for the first time in a while.”
Amidst the dry daily routine of filling her Dantian, the Nameless Forum was the sole Source of vitality that brought Baek-Cheong endless dopamine and a sense of accomplishment.
Therefore, she wanted to escape as soon as possible the unfair false charge of being an Old Monster of the Qi Condensation Stage, act as a troublemaker to her heart’s content, and enjoy the reactions.
Basking in her small achievement, she pulled up her blanket and slowly fell asleep.