Chapter 63
Baek-Cheong breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the Biun Sect Delegation depart on a cloud-shaped Flying Dharma Treasure.
She could finally escape the persistent goodwill of Mong-Yo and the burdensome, staring gaze of Jin-Wi.
Now that the tedious official events were over, all that was left was to return to her Abode and enjoy some rest and forum surfing.
“Is it really over now…?”
Just as Baek-Cheong turned to head to her Abode,
“Cheong-A, won’t you chat with your uncle for a moment?”
Baek-Cheong’s shoulders flinched at her uncle’s voice coming from behind.
Turning around, she saw her uncle standing there with a benevolent smile, his eyes sunken from overworking for the past few days.
“Pardon? Ah, yes. Uncle.”
With a resigned expression, Baek-Cheong followed Baek Mu-Yeong to the office in the Inner Hall.
As soon as they entered the office, Baek Mu-Yeong patted his Niece’s shoulder and spoke.
“I don’t even know how to praise you!”
Deep Admiration was evident in Baek Mu-Yeong’s voice.
“Thanks to the information you tipped me off about during the banquet, our Merchant Guild has gained a tremendous advantage, allowing us to control the commercial rights of the Southern Region. To think those arrogant sects, the Changmyeong Sect and Cheolsa Sect, were sweating as they signed the agreements! Hahaha!”
Baek Mu-Yeong burst into hearty laughter, commending his Niece’s contributions.
“On top of that, the Five Elements Pill you refined yourself! Thanks to that, we were able to confidently push our conditions through in the negotiations with the Biun Sect without losing out. You are truly the Lucky Charm of the Yeonha Baek Clan, a shining prodigy of the Upper Realm!”
At her uncle’s endless stream of praise, Baek-Cheong smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Ah, haha… I didn’t do much. It’s all thanks to uncle negotiating so well.”
Feeling burdened by the pouring compliments, Baek-Cheong played along appropriately while looking for a chance to slip away.
However, her uncle’s lengthy speech lasted for a good Half Shichen, and she had to endure the boredom in a situation where her ears felt like they were going to bleed.
“Then get some good rest. I must return to my official duties.”
Barely freed from Baek Mu-Yeong’s office, Baek-Cheong directed her steps toward her Abode with hollow eyes.
But Baek-Cheong’s hardships did not end there.
“Cheong-A, come here.”
This time, it was a summons from her grandfather, who was preparing for seclusion deep within the Supreme Clan Head’s Hall.
Baek-Cheong was so startled her legs nearly gave out, but she couldn’t disobey her grandfather’s order.
Dragging her heavy feet, she headed to the Supreme Clan Head’s Hall.
Baek Mu-Ae had dropped his usual benevolent expression and welcomed Baek-Cheong with a very solemn and serious face.
“I called you because I have something I must urge you to keep in mind before I soon enter my long seclusion.”
Baek Mu-Ae examined the area of Baek-Cheong’s Dantian with a sharp gaze.
“It is true that your Qi Absorption capacity has increased exponentially since you consumed the Inscribed Five Elements Pill. However, the size of your Dantian has not only exceeded the bounds of a normal Qi Condensation Stage cultivator, but it is also wider than even a Heavenly Spirit Root’s. Yet, there is no need to feel impatient by comparing yourself to a Heavenly Spirit Root and cultivating against the natural order. It is enough to steadily solidify your realm as you have done so far and fill your Dantian solely through natural Qi Absorption.”
A deep concern was laced in her grandfather’s voice.
“Therefore, hastily trying to deeply comprehend the profound mysteries of Five Elements Unification is a highly dangerous act that could cause your qi meridians to collapse and your spirit roots to tear apart. Even if you suddenly gain enlightenment in Five Elements Unification, you must know how to control that enlightenment.”
Having overcome a crisis while facing the Blue Giant Star in her mindscape, Baek-Cheong knew better than anyone just how bone-chillingly accurate her grandfather’s warning was.
“Yes, grandfather. I will keep it in mind.”
When Baek-Cheong obediently nodded, Baek Mu-Ae finally relaxed and stroked his Granddaughter’s head with a generous expression.
And Baek-Cheong left the Supreme Clan Head’s Hall, thinking it was finally over.
“Where do you think you’re going? You must receive your Master’s teachings before you leave.”
Yak-seon abruptly dragged Baek-Cheong into the Pill Refining Room.
“I am about to enter seclusion soon to further polish the Five Elements Taiji Pill Refining Method. Since you might be Refining pills alone during that time, I will thoroughly teach you everything from the brazier’s Fire Control to the spirit herb Storage Method, and even the Knack for Formation Deployment in preparation for a potential pill explosion.”
Wanting to teach her meticulously, Yak-seon drew pictures with his qi as he instructed her on the important precautions in Pill Refining.
Clinging to her frayed sanity, Baek-Cheong had to force herself to nod and cram Yak-seon’s nagging into her head.
* * *
All the summons and errands from the adults had ended.
When she barely made it back to her Abode, the sun was already setting.
“Ah… I’m dying…”
Without even washing up, Baek-Cheong threw herself onto the bed.
Her mind was in a daze from having her energy drained by the adults' overwhelming attention and nagging, more than from physical fatigue.
She was about to close her eyes and fall asleep.
“Ah, right. What happened to the auction I put up?”
Her obsession with forum surfing overcame the persistent drowsiness.
Forcing her heavy eyelids open, she moved her Divine Sense and connected to the Nameless Forum.
The moment she connected, multiple auction notifications poured in.
Her sleepiness vanished in an instant, and her eyes snapped wide open.
“What is this? Why is it like this?”
She closed the notifications and navigated to the auction post she had written on the Marketplace Board.
Then, her jaw dropped at the unbelievable sight unfolding before her eyes.
The bid, which had initially started at one High-Grade Spirit Stone, had skyrocketed at an insane speed.
The current Highest Bid Price had reached a whopping 15 high-grade spirit stones.
“Fifteen high-grade spirit stones?! That’s one hundred fifty thousand low-grade spirit stones!”
Doubting her own eyes, Baek-Cheong examined the bidders' interface numbers.
Dao Friend (466.73), Dao Friend (77.21), Dao Friend (382.11)… and even the Five Elements Spirit Root Test Subject, Dao Friend (237.309), were all mixed in, leaving clear traces of a Bidding War.
Currently, the bid updates seem to have hit a wall at 15 high-grade spirit stones and entered a temporary stalemate.
No matter how much of a tycoon cultivator they were, with spirit stones rotting away, it seemed they were hesitant to pour so many high-grade spirit stones into a pill of unclear authenticity.
Feeling dazed, Baek-Cheong backed out of the auction post and skimmed through the Chat Board.
The Nameless Forum was completely taken over by the Five Elements Pill topic.
“Dao Friend (55.19): Dao Friend (913.14) definitely called themselves a Qi Condensation cultivator.”
[How do they have a Heaven-Defying Pill like the Five Elements Pill in their hands?]
└Dao Friend (11.23): Looking at the way they talk, they seem like a cultivator from a massively privileged Clan, don’t they?
└Dao Friend (88.4): If you look at past posts like their [Cultivation Journal], an entity called Yak-seon is mentioned.
The Dao Friends were frantically digging through Baek-Cheong’s past posts, bloodshot-eyed in their attempt to uncover her identity.
“Dao Friend (733.19): Perhaps Dao Friend (913.14)'s interface is from a resource-rich Lower Realm.”
[No matter how deep-rooted and privileged they are, a Qi Condensation youngster selling a Heaven-Defying Pill on the Marketplace can’t be explained just by their fortuitous encounters. It must definitely be a realm where spirit herbs are rotting in abundance and Soul Formation stage great cultivators are a dime a dozen.]
Baek-Cheong giggled, delighted by the countless amount of attention pouring onto her.
There was a lot of absurd nonsense, but there were also spot-on speculations that made it seem as if they were watching her.
However, the twitching corners of her mouth were starting to hurt from the endlessly pouring reactions of the Dao Friends.
“This is the taste of forum surfing.”
But it wasn’t just positive reactions.
Negative public opinion from Dao Friends whose stomachs were twisting in jealousy over the skyrocketing bids was also frequently seen.
“Dao Friend (33.8): 15 high-grade spirit stones are way too excessive.”
[Honestly, it’s just a pill that slightly raises the trash aptitude of a Five Elements Spirit Root.]
“Dao Friend (877.1): Everyone who bid just certified themselves as a sucker.”
[It’d be more profitable to just buy a hundred Realm-Breaking Pills, toss them in your mouth, and break through.]
Whether negative opinions rained down or not, Baek-Cheong suffered no damage.
Since she was about to obtain an Astronomical Sum of 15 high-grade spirit stones from a Low-grade Five Elements Pill containing impurities, which she had put up for auction with nothing to lose, she was in a near-invincible state.
Even unfamiliar Dao Friends who usually paid her no attention joined in on the topic, so she only felt good.
“If you’re mad, try making a Five Elements Pill yourself.”
However, a Desire to Stir Trouble that couldn’t be satisfied just by earning spirit stones squirmed within her.
Moving her Divine Sense, she boldly began writing a new post.
“Dao Friend (913.14): I ate the Five Elements Pill and became a Five Elements Heavenly Spirit Root.”
[When compared, it was about the same level as a Mid-Grade Heavenly Spirit Root.]
It was a promotional trolling attempt to subtly encourage bidding while scratching the nerves of the Heavenly Spirit Root Dao Friends.
However, contrary to her intentions, the Dao Friends' reactions went in a different direction.
[Dao Friend (11.23): 5000 Spiritual Roots, damn.]
[Dao Friend (88.4): Must be nice having 5000 Spiritual Roots.]
[Dao Friend (201.9): Yes, yes, Mr. 5000 Spiritual Roots. It’s past time for you to take your medicine.]
The term “1000 Spiritual Roots” that she had written in the past to draw aggro had returned as karma.
And merciless, mocking replies from other Dao Friends were also raining down.
“Ah, this is why you have to manage your reputation well on a regular basis.”
At these reactions, Baek-Cheong clutched her head and let out a deep sigh.