Chapter 72
A full fifteen days passed before Baek Mu-Jin managed to gather his exhausted mind and body and fully recover.
The gruesome scars left by the three waves of lightning tribulation, which carried the wrath of the Heavenly Dao, had healed cleanly thanks to the outstanding recovery power of the Golden Core stage, a realm that had reached the level of a half-immortal.
After Baek Mu-Jin stepped outside, having ended his long Secluded Cultivation, his aura had become so profound and deep that it could not even be compared to his days in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Just the passing of his light breath was enough to make the surrounding spiritual energy resonate and subtly ripple.
And the Yeonha Baek Clan began preparations for a grand banquet to widely announce the birth of a new Golden Core Cultivator.
As the news spread in all directions that the Clan had produced its second Golden Core Cultivator following the Supreme Clan Head, congratulatory letters poured in from all over the Southern Region of the Continent, and many factions announced their visits to deliver gifts in person.
As a result, the Clan was incredibly busy preparing for the banquet, and the Golden Core Banquet was now right around the corner.
“Ah, another banquet… This is so annoying.”
Forcing herself into the flashy, multi-layered ceremonial dress, Baek-Cheong swallowed a groan inwardly.
She didn’t dislike the banquet itself, where she could eat delicious Delicacies and be treated as an honored guest.
However, at such an important event involving the Clan’s major affairs, it was difficult to connect to the Nameless Forum and focus on her Forum Browsing Urge.
If she connected secretly using only her Divine Sense, it wouldn’t be noticeable on the outside, making her look as if she were deep in Meditation.
But if she got too absorbed in the Dao Friends' debates or interesting bait and accidentally spaced out, her uncle would often notice and interrupt her.
‘Haa, it’ll be one or Two Shichen at most, so let’s endure it.’
The incredibly vast Plaza located in front of the Family Head’s Hall was dazzlingly decorated with red silk and rare spiritual lanterns.
New Year’s Banquet held at the beginning of the year had been quite grand, but it was shabby this time compared to the Clan Head’s Golden Core Breakthrough Celebration.
The number of solid wood tables to welcome the guests had nearly doubled, and the quality of the top-grade spiritual tea and refreshments placed prominently at the Seat of Honor, as well as the return gifts given to the guests, had noticeably increased in class.
Above all, the faces of the guests visiting the Baek Clan were different from before.
Not only the clans and sects within the nearby Yeonha Baek Clan’s Territory, but even factions with considerable history from distant regions outside the Immortal City vied to send congratulatory envoys bearing precious gifts.
The vast Plaza was packed so tightly with guests flocking from all over the country that there wasn’t even room to step.
‘That’s…’
Sitting modestly beside her father, Baek-Cheong observed the endless procession of guests pouring in.
Among the massive crowd, there was a peculiar group that particularly caught her eye.
Without proudly displaying the banners of their affiliated Sect or Clan, there were those who took seats alone in the corners of the Banquet Hall, dressed in shabby Daoist robes.
“Are they Rogue Cultivators?”
They were those who wandered and focused on their Training without belonging to any Sect.
Baek-Cheong had once seen a pathetic post while on the Nameless Forum that read, [Rogue Cultivators survive miserably for a week on half a fasting pill].
So she had assumed that most Rogue Cultivators would be extremely destitute and pitiful.
However, the Rogue Cultivators who appeared at the Yeonha Baek Clan’s banquet today were far, far from being pitiful.
“Their auras are unusual, too.”
The Rogue Cultivators were all from the Mid Golden Core Stage to the late stage.
They were figures who had made names for themselves throughout the Southern Continent with their own unique Arts, yet usually lived in seclusion, staying indoors and rarely showing themselves to the world.
“…Do you understand?”
At some point, her uncle approached and subtly whispered this information to her.
It seemed he was taking preventative measures just in case she caused trouble should she think they were mere Rogue Cultivators.
“What, this many secluded Golden Core Rogue Cultivators came?”
Baek-Cheong nodded demurely on the outside, but inwardly, she couldn’t hide her surprise.
The status and weight of the Yeonha Baek Clan had clearly changed so much that even the Golden Core Rogue Cultivators, who usually stayed secluded and acted arrogantly, came on their own two feet to bow their heads.
“Our standing must have changed that much.”
In truth, under the protection of a Great Sect, they had created a Heaven-Defying Pill called the Five Elements Pill through Yak-seon; the Supreme Clan Head had the possibility of reaching the Nascent Soul stage; the Clan Head himself was at a promising age, making his Nascent Soul Talent certain, not to mention he had achieved a Three Tribulation Golden Core; and even the Eldest Son was called a Nascent Soul Talent in the Biun Sect and had become the Sect Master’s True Disciple. With all this, the Clan’s standing couldn’t help but change.
“Being privileged really is the best.”
Baek-Cheong took a sip of the bitter spiritual tea and leisurely looked around the bustling Banquet Hall.
The banquet matured and the atmosphere rushed toward its Peak.
One of the Rogue Cultivators sitting near the front of the Seat of Honor raised a jade cup high and walked toward Baek Mu-Jin.
He was a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard and made a dignified, profound impression.
“I am Han Gyeong-Do. I sincerely congratulate Clan Head Baek on your safe Golden Core Breakthrough.”
He was a Rogue Cultivator at the Mid Golden Core Stage, highly renowned in the Southern Continent for a rare Art called Divination Arts.
He was someone who possessed the bizarre Talent of arbitrarily twisting and manipulating the boundaries of space to carve out an independent domain cut off from the outside.
Han Gyeong-Do politely offered a toast, then took another step closer to Baek Mu-Jin and secretly lowered his voice.
Even so, with the attention of the Banquet Hall focused on them, there were very few who couldn’t hear him.
“Though I am but a lowly Rogue Cultivator… if it is for the Yeonha Baek Clan, I will dedicate my body to create and offer a Secret Realm.”
It was blatant flattery with an obvious ulterior motive, no matter who heard it.
A Secret Realm referred to an independent heritage site or subspace left behind by the Great Powers of the Ancient Era for future generations, so it was by no means a space that a single Golden Core Cultivator could whip up in an instant.
Still, by borrowing Han Gyeong-Do’s Divination Arts, it would certainly be possible to craft a miniature Special Training Space that perfectly blocked outside interference.
From the perspective of a Clan that needed to nurture vast resources and talents, it was a very tempting and not-so-bad proposal.
“Haha, I am truly grateful. Since you have spoken with good intentions, let us set up a separate meeting later to discuss this in detail.”
Baek Mu-Jin saw right through his intentions but raised his glass with a gentle smile.
He didn’t readily accept Han Gyeong-Do’s proposal, skillfully delaying the decision.
It was to secure favorable conditions in an advantageous setting while being mindful of the attention focused on him as the Clan Head.
‘I’m already bored.’
However, as Baek-Cheong watched the adults exchange boring, predictable flattery and engage in a Struggle for Interests, his concentration began to slip.
The Forum Browsing Urge she had been firmly suppressing since earlier was creeping up on her.
‘Haa, uncle is watching, so just a little bit… Let’s just check the Nameless Forum once and come right back.’
She was just about to carefully extend her Divine Sense to bring up the Nameless Forum and check the latest bait.
“Excuse me, may I offer a small gift to the Young Lady?”
A very low and calm voice was heard from close by.
Startled, she withdrew her Divine Sense and whipped her head around to see a skinny middle-aged man with a gloomy impression bowing at the waist, having approached without a sound.
“Senior is…”
Since he was interrupting her forum browsing, Baek-Cheong intended to just casually accept the gift and send him away.
“Ah, I am called Yuk-Muk.”
He was a secluded Rogue Cultivator at the Mid Golden Core Stage who had made a name for himself in the Southern Continent with the heretical Art of Puppetry.
It was an obvious tactic to win Baek Mu-Jin’s favor instantly by handing over a rare toy to his most cherished Youngest daughter as a bribe.
“Huh? Wait, the Golem Master Yuk-Muk?”
However, Baek-Cheong’s ears perked up as she recalled the information she had heard from her uncle.
She had once seen a post introducing the Art related to Puppetry during the Cultivation Hundred Arts Debate that had taken place on the Nameless Forum.
It was an Art with an atrociously high Barrier to entry, requiring both Divine Sense Division and a vast amount of Divine Sense at the same time.
At the same time, due to the side effects of connecting one’s Divine Sense with an object, ominous rumors circulated that it twisted one’s mind, causing the practice to be treated as heresy in the Cultivation World.
Because of this, even if someone wanted to learn it, it was a situation where it was difficult to find a proper Master or even an Introductory Cultivation Method.
“What a windfall.”
Finding an unexpectedly interesting toy (a Golem Master) while she was bored brought a wave of delight to Baek-Cheong’s heart.
“You have a gift for me?”
“Ha, ha. That is correct.”
“If you’re really giving it to me, I’ll gratefully accept it!”
Baek-Cheong replied in a bright voice, her eyes sparkling, and thrust out both hands.
Yuk-Muk carefully took something out from the Spatial Treasure tucked in his robes and placed it on Baek-Cheong’s small palm.
It was a puppet in the shape of a small Young Girl, delicately carved from hard and tough spiritual wood and dressed in flashy, light silk clothes.
Barely visible blue spiritual threads were densely threaded through every joint of the puppet, and right in the center of its smooth forehead, a Forehead Gem that accepted Divine Sense was embedded.
“It is a Plaything Puppet crafted for the amusement of young children. If you flow just a tiny bit of Divine Sense into the Forehead Gem, it will move according to your will.”
Yuk-Muk maintained his low posture and added the instructions in a calm tone.
Without an inch of hesitation, Baek-Cheong immediately drew out a thin strand of Divine Sense and lightly flowed it toward the puppet’s Forehead Gem.
The gem immediately reacted to the Divine Sense, emitting a faint blue light.
Then, the loose spiritual threads threaded through its joints pulled taut one by one like marionette strings, and the puppet smoothly raised its body to stand.
Like that, on Baek-Cheong’s palm, the puppet in the shape of a small Young Girl wearing silk clothes spread its arms wide to the sides and stretched with lifelike vitality.
“Wow!”
Handling the puppet herself, Baek-Cheong marveled and poured out exclamations of Admiration.
It was enough to make her forget about the Nameless Forum, if only for a moment.