Chapter 13
Baek-Cheong’s Abode was enveloped in a faint Five-Colored light, day and night.
The Five Elements Shield, which had only been the size of a palm, gradually expanded its area as time passed.
It covered her forearms, then her upper body, until it finally took a form that completely enveloped Baek-Cheong’s small frame.
The Five Elements Shield, where the energies of the five attributes interlocked and circulated harmoniously.
It had reached the stage of minor completion perfectly.
“Phew!”
Baek-Cheong wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and gasped for breath.
Wrapping the Technique/Spell around her entire body swallowed up a massive Amount of Spiritual Energy, far beyond her imagination.
No matter how massive her Dantian had become due to the Mutual Generation of Five Elements, the limits of 2nd-Stage Qi Condensation were clear when her spirit root had not sufficiently grown.
The time she could maintain the minor completion stage of the Five Elements Shield was only a little over ten breaths.
“This is enough to catch the grandfathers' eyes.”
Baek-Cheong withdrew the Five Elements Shield that enveloped her entire body.
Extreme fatigue washed over her as the remaining spiritual energy in her Dantian hit rock bottom, but a proud smile hung on her lips.
It was the reward for resisting the temptation of the Nameless Forum and devoting herself to ten days of arduous Training.
“It’s finally tomorrow.”
Tomorrow is the day of the small banquet hosted by her grandfather for the Clan Members.
She was ready to put on a grand Talent show that would completely mesmerize the grandfathers and let her rake in spirit medicines.
With a light heart, she lay down on her bed and fell into a sweet slumber.
* * *
The next evening.
The massive garden located at the center of the Yeonha Baek Clan was filled with brilliant lanterns and rare spirit foods.
Beneath the centuries-old jade willow tree, the Clan Members of the Baek Clan gathered one after another.
At the Seat of Honor, the Core Formation stage Old Ancestor Baek Mu-Ae held his place with a benevolent smile.
To Baek Mu-Ae’s left and right sat the senior Elders responsible for the Clan’s affairs, along with Baek Mu-Jin and his wife.
Below them, Baek-Cheong’s paternal uncles, as well as the exceptionally talented children who would shoulder the Clan’s future, sat carefully.
The atmosphere of the banquet was filled with light jokes and well-wishes, filling the garden with a harmonious air.
Baek-Cheong sat quietly beside her parents, glancing around to observe her surroundings.
“Huh?”
Baek-Cheong’s gaze paused in one spot.
An old man with an unfamiliar face she was seeing for the first time sat beside her grandfather.
Instead of the clear Water Element energy unique to the Baek Clan, he was a heterogeneous being, exuding a faint, hot Fire Element energy along with a thick scent of medicinal herbs that pierced the tip of the nose.
Furthermore, a massive medicine cauldron pattern was splendidly embroidered on the chest of the old man’s robe in gold thread.
“This is a pill cauldron pattern. Is he an Alchemist?”
Baek-Cheong gauged the mood and eavesdropped on her parents' conversation.
“I didn’t expect Yak-seon Gok Jang-Ro to personally attend the banquet.”
As her mother whispered softly, her father nodded and replied.
“Gok Jang-Ro is an intimate friend who has shared life and death with the Old Ancestor since their youth. It seems the Old Ancestor specially invited him to this banquet.”
Baek-Cheong’s ears perked up.
An Alchemist Grandmaster worthy of being called Yak-seon would handle Top-grade Spirit Medicines and Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasures to create medicinal pills.
It was as if a massive bonus target had rolled right into her plan of only emptying her grandfathers' wallets.
“This is the perfect situation to show off my Talent.”
Baek-Cheong clenched her fists inwardly.
Alchemists were fundamentally well-versed in the Fire Element to handle flames and the Wood Element to handle medicinal herbs.
Demonstrating the Five Elements Shield would be an attractive and bizarre Talent that would surely catch an Alchemist’s eye.
Since he was her grandfather’s intimate friend, if she did well, she could additionally obtain a Top-grade Medicinal Pill.
It was after the banquet had warmed up and wine glasses had been exchanged a few times.
Her grandfather cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.
“The reason we have gathered here today is that there is a great occasion to celebrate in our Baek Clan.”
Baek Mu-Ae’s gaze turned directly toward Baek-Cheong.
Everyone’s gazes focused simultaneously on Baek-Cheong.
“My Youngest Granddaughter, Cheong-Yi, has awakened the Mutual Generation of Five Elements on her own and reached 2nd-Stage Qi Condensation. This is a splendid achievement unseen in the entire Cultivation World for hundreds of years, and a great blessing for our Clan. Today is a gathering to praise this child’s Talent and bless the future of our Clan, so everyone, please enjoy yourselves to your hearts' content.”
At the Supreme Clan Head’s words, the garden was filled with applause and cheers.
Her uncles and cousins looked at Baek-Cheong with gazes mixed with astonishment and envy.
Baek-Cheong stood up from her Seat, bowing her head shyly as she offered a demure greeting.
“Thank you, grandfather.”
At this time, Yak-seon Gok Jang-Ro, who was sitting beside Baek Mu-Ae, observed Baek-Cheong with an intrigued look.
“Hoho, she is indeed a prodigy worthy of your boasting until your mouth runs dry, Mu-ae. To awaken the Mutual Generation of Five Elements at the age of ten. I have practiced Pill Refining my entire life, but this is the first time I’ve seen a child harboring such pure Five Elements Qi.”
Gok Jang-Ro stroked his beard, unable to hold back his Admiration.
“The vessel of her Dantian is also extraordinary, so she will become an excellent cultivator in the future. I envy your fortune, Mu-ae.”
Baek Mu-Ae laughed heartily and shrugged his shoulders.
“Hearing praise from you makes me feel even better. Cheong-A, come here and greet grandfather Gok.”
Baek-Cheong approached with quick, small steps and bowed gracefully before Gok Jang-Ro.
“Young Girl Baek-Cheong greets grandfather Yak-seon.”
Gok Jang-Ro smiled benevolently and took out a small, round jade box from his robes.
As the jade box opened, a thick pill fragrance spread in all directions, filling the air of the garden with fragrance.
“I couldn’t possibly come empty-handed for our first meeting. This is a Clear Heart Creation Pill that This Old Man personally refined. It will have an excellent effect in purifying your meridians and aiding the Circulation of Five Elements smoothly.”
From the scent alone, Baek-Cheong intuited that it was a Top-grade Medicinal Pill on par with the Ice Snow Pill she had eaten before.
She politely received the jade box with both hands.
“I am deeply grateful for this precious gift, grandfather Yak-seon.”
Having received the gift, Baek-Cheong hesitated instead of returning to her Seat.
Now was the perfect time to pull out the Ultimate Skill she had polished over the past few days.
“Grandfather, grandfather Yak-seon.”
Baek-Cheong called out to the elders in a clear voice.
“I recently read the Clan’s jade slip and learned a Technique/Spell. It’s nothing much, but could I show it to you just to add a little excitement to the banquet?”
At his young Granddaughter’s bold proposal for a Talent show, Baek Mu-Ae beamed with a wide smile.
“Oho, our Cheong-Yi has even learned a Technique/Spell? Alright, let’s see you show it off.”
At that, Baek Mu-Jin’s complexion turned pale.
It was because he intuited what Technique/Spell Baek-Cheong was trying to show.
Fearing that his daughter might fail to control her energy and become a laughingstock, he urgently tried to stop her.
“Ch-Cheong-A! There’s no need to overdo…”
But Baek-Cheong didn’t even give her father a chance to stop her.
Walking out to the center of the garden, Baek-Cheong closed her eyes and drew up the energy in her Dantian to its absolute limit.
Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal.
The Five-Colored energies of the five attributes swirled and erupted from Baek-Cheong’s Dantian.
“Five Spirits Black Tortoise Armor!”
Along with Baek-Cheong’s ringing shout, the five halos of light instantly fused together, forming a Barrier that enveloped her entire body.
Even the light of the lanterns illuminating the garden seemed to lose its luster, buried by the Five Elements Qi.
The Clan Members of the Baek Clan gathered in the garden held their breath in unison.
The hands of the Elders holding their wine glasses froze in midair, and the cousin children stared blankly with their mouths hanging wide open.
A young child at 2nd-Stage Qi Condensation had deployed a Compound Spell at the perfect stage of minor completion.
Moreover, Baek Mu-Jin gripped the armrests of his chair tightly.
Just a few days ago, the incomplete Five Elements Shield had only been the size of a palm, but it had already grown to envelop her entire body.
A thrill rose from deep within his chest at his daughter’s overwhelming Talent.
However, the one who was most greatly shaken was Yak-seon Gok Jang-Ro.
He leaped up from his Seat and approached Baek-Cheong, who had deployed the Five Elements Shield.
With the sharp senses of an Alchemist, he examined the Flow of Qi of the five attributes making up the Five Elements Shield as if dissecting them one by one.
“My goodness… The ratio of the energies is perfect without a single inch of error. To think the five elements could interlock and circulate so harmoniously.”
Gok Jang-Ro’s voice was trembling slightly.
He looked back at Baek Mu-Ae and shouted in an impassioned voice.
“Mu-ae! This child’s Talent far surpasses the level of the Mutual Generation of Five Elements! That delicate control in handling energy is the innate aptitude of an Alchemist! Give this child to me as a Disciple right now!”
The Banquet Hall was turned upside down by Gok Jang-Ro’s sudden outburst.
A renowned Alchemist Grandmaster, famous enough to be called Yak-seon, was coveting the Youngest daughter of the Yeonha Baek Clan as his Disciple.
It was the moment she was acknowledged not only for her outstanding comprehension and the Mutual Generation of Five Elements, but also for her Innate Talent as an Alchemist.
However, Baek-Cheong withdrew the Five Elements Shield wrapped around her body, panicking inwardly.
“He wants me to become an Alchemist?!”
She just wanted to eat medicinal pills comfortably in the corner of her room and coast through her Training; she didn’t want to become a boring, pedantic Alchemist and have to be self-sufficient with her pills.
“No way!”
Therefore, unable to hide her flustered expression, she looked at her grandfather.
Just then, her grandfather was also looking at Baek-Cheong with an inscrutable smile.
‘G-grandfather? You wouldn’t, right?’
Baek-Cheong’s eyes wavered as she felt a sense of betrayal.
But perhaps it was merely a groundless fear.
“I can’t possibly have my precious Youngest Granddaughter Refining potent pills in a Pharmacy. Especially when even a stubborn mule like you struggled so much to reach your current level.”
“I promise you, I will treat her like my own Granddaughter and teach her preciously.”
“If so, how about this?”
Her grandfather looked at his close friend and showed a benevolent smile.
And as if he had been aiming for this, he opened his mouth to speak the words he had prepared.
“Consider her your Granddaughter, stay in the Baek Clan, and pass down even a little bit of your teachings to her.”