Chapter 55
“What a disgrace!”
“I did not raise you to act like this…”
The adults, completely oblivious to the full story behind the children’s sudden collective wailing, broke into a cold sweat as they dragged them away.
“How does Cheong-Yi know the rotten ecology of the Sects so well?”
Baek Mu-Ae, who was leisurely tilting his wine glass while sitting in the Seat of Honor, had accurately grasped the full story of the commotion.
It was because he had been focusing his attention on Baek-Cheong the entire time.
“There is no way my son would have shown Cheong-Yi such terrible things.”
The only time his Granddaughter had even left the Main Family was for a short outing to Yeonha Immortal City.
Even then, measures had been taken to ensure she wouldn’t see anything unsavory, so there was no way to explain how she had gained such insight into the cold reality of the Cultivation World.
“It must be thanks to her outstanding comprehension.”
Baek Mu-Ae deduced the reason and deeply admired her in his heart.
Her innate intuition to awaken to the principles of the world on her own, despite having neither heard nor seen them, made him feel a sense of fear that went beyond mere pride.
“Furthermore, with the body of a 5th-Stage Qi Condensation cultivator, she is a Prodigy among Prodigies who has gained the enlightenment of Five Elements Unification and crossed the threshold of the Mental World.”
He had seen it clearly while acting as her Protector when his Granddaughter consumed the Inscribed Five Elements Pill last time.
She was a child far more outstanding than he had thought, possessing tremendous potential.
“If there is a single flaw…”
Baek Mu-Ae’s brow furrowed the more he thought about it.
“It is her abnormally vast Dantian.”
After swallowing the Inscribed Five Elements Pill, Baek-Cheong’s spirit root had also grown, and her Qi Absorption rate was certainly extraordinary.
However, the Dantian that Baek Mu-Ae had examined was like a vast ocean, to the point where it was impossible to believe it belonged to someone in the Qi Condensation Stage.
No matter how excellent her Qi Absorption was, naturally filling such a vast Dantian with spiritual energy to advance to the next stage was a distant prospect.
“Even the Heavenly Dao must fear her.”
Since he was not a Five Elements Spirit Root Holder and had no way of knowing the detailed inner workings, Baek Mu-Ae simply considered it the cruel fate of the Heavenly Dao.
Meanwhile, Baek-Cheong was savoring the leisure she had won by fending off the annoying brats.
And taking advantage of the adults being distracted by soothing the children.
She was enjoying the Delicacies while moving her Divine Sense to enjoy the Nameless Forum.
However, her completely motionless figure looked to Baek Mu-Ae as if she were lost in deep contemplation.
“Has she entered into contemplation already?”
Watching his Granddaughter like that, Baek Mu-Ae fell into the swamp of misunderstanding once again.
The sight of his Granddaughter lost in deep contemplation, maintaining her composure without wavering even amidst the bustle of the banquet, was truly admirable.
“Since she contemplates without resting for even a moment, it is only natural that she awakens to the principles of the world.”
Baek Mu-Ae stroked his beard with a pleased expression.
Although she had the painful flaw of a vast Dantian, her comprehension was so outstanding and her attitude toward enlightenment so earnest that he couldn’t even fathom what she might achieve in the future.
“Even though Mu-Yeong lacks Talent in cultivation, he has a Knack for grasping the situation and conducting himself. Just as he confidently declared, as long as she enters the protection of the Biun Sect, there will be no need to worry about the evil clutches that Great Cultivators might extend.”
However, the Cultivation World operated on the Law of the Jungle, so he could not let his guard down.
If he held a complacent mindset, someone might ignore the Biun Sect’s protection and reach out toward his Granddaughter.
Therefore, it was better to establish a surefire countermeasure.
“…I should take this opportunity to establish a connection with the Heavenly Sword Sect as well.”
Baek Mu-Ae made his decision and emptied his wine glass.
If even the Heavenly Sword Sect protected her, he could definitely ensure that Great Cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage or higher wouldn’t even be able to step forward.
Above all, the grudges and favors of Sword Cultivators were so fierce that they reached a sickening level, which would make even an insane cultivator hesitate thoroughly before stepping forward.
‘Since Cheong-Yi is said to have a connection with the Pacheon Sword Saint, it shouldn’t be unreasonable.’
Baek Mu-Ae began to devise a plan to invite the Pacheon Sword Saint to the Yeonha Baek Clan.
Completely unaware of such inner thoughts, Baek-Cheong was simply holding back her leaking laughter and giggling inwardly while enjoying the Nameless Forum.
* * *
The Yeonha Baek Clan’s New Year’s Banquet reached its Peak as it continued for several days.
After the first day’s banquet, which solidified the Clan’s internal bonds, concluded, various external Dignitaries from all over the Cultivation World who interacted with the Baek Clan began to arrive at the Banquet Hall one after another from the second day onward.
From the Clan Heads of neighboring Clans to the Delegations of prestigious Clans and Sects from other Continents, the lineup was splendid and diverse.
“I pray for the infinite development of the Yeonha Baek Clan!”
“I wish for the Old Ancestor’s robust health in the new year as well!”
The Banquet Hall was bustling with well-wishes and greetings whenever new guests arrived.
And as a Direct Lineage Bloodline and the Clan Head’s Youngest daughter, Baek-Cheong did not have the authority to skip such major external events as she pleased.
She had to quietly keep her Seat while letting the adults' boring talk about the Cultivation World’s political situation and various Struggles for Interests go in one ear and out the other.
“Ah, Training would be more fun than this.”
While she was constantly yawning on the inside, she did not lose her modest smile on the outside.
Fortunately, unlike previous years, the existence of a refuge called the Nameless Forum made it less boring.
There was nothing quite like secretly extending her Divine Sense to browse the posts of Dao Friends while avoiding the eyes of the adults to soothe her boredom.
However, her peaceful forum browsing did not last long.
“Cheong-A, your friends are here. Since you are of similar age, mingle together and unwind.”
Turning her head at her mother’s call, she saw the young Prodigies who had followed the Delegations of each Clan and Sect forming a group and approaching Baek-Cheong’s Seat.
Most of them were young Cultivators in their early teens, lingering between 2nd-stage and 4th-Stage Qi Condensation.
It was a typical custom for the children to build their own networks while the adults engaged in political exchanges.
“The kid hell is starting again.”
Baek-Cheong clicked her tongue inwardly and equipped a forced smile.
The children surrounded her with innocent faces, each busy boasting about the prestige of their own Clan and Sect.
“I am a Young Prodigy of the Cheong Un Valley! Our Valley Master is an Expert at the Mid Golden Core Stage.”
“Hmph, compared to the Techniques/Spells of our Cheolsa Sect, the Cheong Un Valley’s Techniques/Spells are no different from playing house!”
A boasting contest unfolded, no better than comparing acorns, as they brought up the names and stages of their mediocre Sects.
Even so, the children’s bluffs were nothing more than a childish Talent show, making it incredibly boring.
“How did I endure this last year?”
Baek-Cheong merely fiddled with her teacup with an apathetic expression, letting it go in one ear and out the other.
However, such an indifferent and detached attitude ended up bizarrely stimulating the children’s competitive spirit.
“Go away!”
“Young Lady Baek isn’t interested!”
Above all, even among the children, Baek-Cheong’s unrivaled appearance and elegance strongly drew the gazes of her peers.
Regardless of whether they were boys or girls, they pressed close to Baek-Cheong’s side, anxious to attract her attention somehow.
“Young Lady Baek, this is a spirit fruit from our Clan’s Secret Art, would you like to taste it?”
“Look at my Flying Sword decoration! Isn’t it super cool?”
With the children chattering on both sides to the point her ears might bleed, Baek-Cheong didn’t even have the energy to enjoy the Nameless Forum even if she secretly connected to it.
Just as she was racking her brain over how to navigate this newly arrived predicament.
“Tch, trying to catch Young Lady Baek’s attention with things like spirit fruits or decorations is so childish.”
A boy who had briefly introduced himself as a Prodigy of the Changmyeong Sect stepped forward with a snort.
Putting on a great deal of airs, he stealthily lowered his voice.
“Young Lady Baek, shall I tell you a massive secret that only the Elders of Our Sect know? Actually, a hidden Secret Realm where a Demon King from a thousand years ago is buried was discovered in the Back Mountain of our Changmyeong Sect. The Elders are secretly excavating the Secret Realm without other Sects knowing.”
In an instant, silence fell over the noisy group of children.
No matter how quietly he spoke, the distance was so close that they couldn’t help but hear it.
And their bodies stiffened at the fact that he had carelessly blurted out a crucial Sect secret just to draw attention.
The gravity of the matter was far too massive to assume he was telling a lie.
“This might actually be a bit interesting.”
Baek-Cheong’s eyes sparkled at the important information that went beyond the level of mere boasting.
Thus, showing her interest, she leaned her body slightly forward.
“Really?”
When Baek-Cheong showed a lively reaction for the first time, the boy who had leaked the secret puffed out his chest, his ego soaring to the sky.
“O-Of course! I secretly heard that there’s a Formation laid out at the entrance of the Secret Realm…”
As the boy excitedly spilled the secret, jealousy and impatience flared up in the eyes of the other children watching from the surroundings.
The competitive spirit of wanting to monopolize Baek-Cheong’s sparkling gaze and attention paralyzed their reason.
“Hey, what kind of secret is that! Our Clan’s secret is way more amazing! In our Clan…”
Not to be outdone, a Young Girl next to him threw her hand up and shouted.
“Our Clan Head pretends to be upright on the outside, but he’s actually secretly trading with a Demonic Sect in the Southern Region! I saw the ledger clearly with my own eyes!”
“There’s a rumor that Our Sect’s Eldest Senior Disciple Brother is the Sect Master’s illegitimate child! I even have proof…”
In an instant, the group of children turned into a scene of an exposure war, each revealing the shameful flaws, secret corruption, and hidden fortuitous encounter information of their respective Clans and Sects.
They raised their voices and spat as they tried to unleash more provocative and massive secrets than the others.
They could even be seen verifying some of the more absurd stories among themselves.
“This is why you have to watch your mouth in front of kids.”