Nano-engineering Immortal Cultivation Chronicle

Episode 4: Realm Advancement

The moment Makjang laid eyes on the Spirit Land Ginseng, his gaze glimmered with greed.

He knew exactly what it was.

Spirit Land Ginseng was non-toxic, so it could be eaten raw.

And with a root that size, advancing to the next level was no longer just a dream...

Gulp!

Someone audibly swallowed.

"It was Han Sa-jeo who first discovered this ginseng. But the vicious beast, the Poison Horn Iron Bull, was guarding it, so she called me and the vice-leader for help. While the two of us lured the beast away and fought it, Sa-jeo harvested the Spirit Land Ginseng. You all saw what happened after that..."

"......"

No one said a word.

Instead, all eyes turned to their leader, Gwak Mu-jin, filled with a sense of pressure.

"In short, we risked our lives to get this. So let's not hand it over—let's eat it ourselves!"

"Yeah!"

Makjang threw both hands in the air, as if he'd been waiting desperately for those words.

But Gwak Mu-jin wasn't finished.

"There's one thing that worries me. Because we were busy digging up the Spirit Land Ginseng, we didn't gather any other herbs. If we eat all of this, our group will end up in last place this month."

"Leader! Even if we pick a few more herbs, there's no way we can beat the Seven-colored Swallow Orchid. Let's just accept last place this month."

"Exactly. We can't be first every time. Honestly, even with a couple of Spirit Land Ginseng roots, we can't beat Group Three. How are we supposed to compete with a Seven-colored Swallow Orchid that's 170 years old?"

As Sanggwan Cheonse and Han Yeo-ok spoke up in succession, Gwak Mu-jin nodded in understanding.

Just then, Jang So-cheon, who had been at the back, suddenly joined the conversation.

"No, we can win. Our group will be first again this month."

"What did you say?"

All four of them turned to stare at Jang So-cheon, as if asking what he was talking about.

Jang So-cheon grinned and pulled a wooden box from his Heaven and Earth Pouch.

"What is it?"

Makjang, standing nearby, asked.

"I told you, didn't I? I had an amazing dream last night... I guess my luck has reached the heavens."

Jang So-cheon's voice was a little smug.

And indeed, today his luck had been sky-high.

He'd obtained a mysterious flask, gained the ability to see where herbs and treasures were hidden, and even found a priceless Wood Spirit Pill...

It felt like all the luck of his life had gathered into this one day.

"So, what is it?"

Han Yeo-ok pulled the box closer and opened the lid.

She froze, stunned.

"Han Sa-jeo! What's in there to make you look like that?"

Gwak Mu-jin, who peeked inside, widened his eyes in shock as well.

"Nine-leaf Immortal Herb! And it's over eight hundred years old!"

"Eight hundred years?!"

While the leader and Han Yeo-ok were still reeling, Jang So-cheon muttered inwardly,

'Not eight hundred—it's exactly nine hundred and thirty years old.'

After the peerless beauty painted on the Mystic Flask had washed his eyes with Spirit Fluid, Jang So-cheon had gained the ability to appraise treasures.

Whenever he looked at a Spirit Herb, he could instantly see its age and properties.

"With this, even without the Spirit Land Ginseng, first place is ours."

"This is enough to earn us Contribution Points. This is the best Spirit Herb I've seen since joining the Herb Gathering Hall. Even Master will be thrilled."

Contribution Points were awarded for great service to the sect and could be used to purchase secret manuals or items.

Some manuals could only be bought with Contribution Points, making them even more valuable than Spirit Stones.

"Maybe Master will even tell us to take a few days off for our hard work."

"So-cheon, you're a real lucky charm! So-cheon, how did you even find something like this?"

"Can we talk after we've eaten? I'm suddenly starving..."

"Fair enough."

Gwak Mu-jin picked the largest Spirit Land Ginseng and handed it to Jang So-cheon.

Next was Han Yeo-ok.

After that, he distributed the roots by rank, tossing one to each member.

Even the one Makjang received wasn't small.

Only the one given to Jang So-cheon was larger—the rest were about the same size.

"Let's eat."

As soon as the leader finished speaking, Jang So-cheon brushed the dirt off his ginseng.

But someone was already chewing and swallowing theirs.

It was Makjang.

Even if it wasn't quite as valuable as the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb, the Spirit Land Ginseng was still a priceless treasure.

It was the first time Jang So-cheon had ever eaten such a rare herb.

Whoosh.

Barely half a quarter-hour after eating the Spirit Land Ginseng, a wave of heat surged from his belly, flooding through his entire body.

He felt his body and mind growing healthier.

In fact, the amount of Spiritual Energy entering his lower dantian suddenly increased dramatically.

Not wanting to waste a single drop, Jang So-cheon focused on Qi Circulation Meditation.

Soon, he entered a state of total immersion.

The Spirit Land Ginseng truly lived up to its reputation.

After finishing his meditation, Makjang realized his realm had advanced to the Third Star Level of the Qi Refining Stage.

He had broken through to the next level.

Han Yeo-ok, who had been at the late Fifth Star, reached the Sixth Star, and Sanggwan Cheonse, who had been at the early Seventh Star, advanced to mid-Seventh Star.

Only Gwak Mu-jin remained at mid-Twelfth Star.

The higher your realm, the less effect the herb had.

He glanced at Jang So-cheon, who was still deep in meditation.

But something seemed off—he looked as if he were in a trance.

Sensing that something unusual was happening, the group quietly moved away so as not to disturb him.

Half a shichen later, Jang So-cheon rejoined the group—now at the early Third Star Level of the Qi Refining Stage.

"W-what? Did you eat all the herbs yourself?"

"I did get the biggest one. And my cultivation level was the lowest..."

"Wow!"

Makjang looked surprised, but didn't make a fuss.

Gwak Mu-jin hadn't advanced, after all.

But Gwak Mu-jin was still delighted.

"Hahaha! Our So-cheon has finally reached the Third Star Level of the Qi Refining Stage. Congratulations!"

"Thank you. But what do we do now that only our group's cultivation has improved?"

"What do you mean? That's a good thing!"

"A good thing?"

"Of course. If I had advanced too, the other groups would accuse us of secretly eating the herbs ourselves. Since I didn't, they'll just gossip. Besides, we still have the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb, right? Once we get Contribution Points, I can buy an Elixir Pill and advance."

"That's right. As long as you get stronger, we can focus on gathering herbs without worry."

"Don't worry about me. Let's head back to Present Ghost Peak. But before we go, everyone hand over your herbs."

It was customary to hand all gathered herbs to the leader at the end of the day.

The leader would then store them in the Heaven and Earth Pouch and submit them all at once to the Herb Gathering Hall.

But the amount of herbs Jang So-cheon produced seemed endless.

Even without the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb, they wouldn't come in last place.

"Is there more?"

"That's the last of it."

"How did you gather so much? There are even ten Buddha's Fragrance Herbs..."

"I think my parents in heaven are helping me, telling me to live a long life..."

"Maybe so. Good work."

"You too, Leader."

Night had fallen.

Riding their Flying Magic Device through the sky, the members of the Herb Gathering Hall's First Group each gazed into the night, lost in thought.

Their situations and cultivation levels were all different, but they shared a single dream:

To raise their cultivation and become immortals.

Jang So-cheon was no different.

His dream was immortality.

And to achieve it, he had to raise his cultivation and become an immortal.

*

It was late at night when the group arrived at Present Ghost Peak.

No matter how late it was, they still had to report their return, so Gwak Mu-jin went to see the Herbal Hall Master Chae.

The rest headed to the dormitory, but before half a quarter-hour had passed, a Message Talisman arrived.

It summoned everyone to the meeting room in Wuji Hall.

With a note to hurry, the group rushed over.

To enter Wuji Hall, they had to pass through the Golden Restriction Formation.

But since every member carried a Jade Token, they entered without any trouble.

Upon entering the meeting room, the group respectfully greeted their Master, who was already present.

They then greeted the Sect Leader and gave a simple bow to the leaders of Groups Two and Three, who sat across the table.

Though the name "Herb Gathering Hall" sounded grand and was organized into three groups, everyone here was a disciple of the Wuji Perfected One.

And all were members of the Extreme Heaven Sect.

The Wuji Perfected One first praised his disciples for their achievements.

"Come in, all of you. It's late, but your accomplishments are so great that I couldn't help but call you. Well done, everyone. Please, take your seats."

"Yes, Master."

As the group sat beside Gwak Mu-jin, the other group leaders' eyes sparkled.

Especially Ho Do Kwang, the leader of Group Three, who openly used Divine Sight to scan the group's cultivation levels.

He'd noticed their realm advancements.

"Sect Leader! Please open the box."

"Yes, Master."

At the Wuji Perfected One's command, Herbal Hall Master Chae opened the Jade Box in front of him.

Jang So-cheon had originally stored the herbs in a wooden box, but at some point, it had been replaced with a luxurious Jade Box.

Click.

As the lid opened, the two group leaders craned their necks to peer inside.

They were curious what kind of herb could have prompted a meeting so late at night.

But the moment they saw the Spirit Herb inside, all their doubts vanished.

"Isn't this the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb? It looks over seven hundred years old!"

"It's nine hundred years."

The Wuji Perfected One corrected Group Three's leader.

He was a cultivator at the late Spirit Refining Stage and also held the rank of first-class middle-grade Pill Alchemist.

There was no way he could be mistaken.

"Master! Are you saying Group One harvested this?"

"Why else would I have called you all here at this hour? I wanted to broaden your perspectives."

"I see."

Though all disciples, the group leaders regarded each other warily.

Their status and the rewards bestowed by Master depended on their results.

"Gwak, Group Leader!"

"Yes, Master!"

"You found this at Black Dragon Gorge?"

"Yes. That disciple sitting over there, Jang, risked his life to climb down a thousand-foot cliff and retrieve it."

"I see. So-cheon!"

"Yes, Master."

"I've been worried about your slow progress, but you've reached Third Star Level already. For your age, that's not slow at all. Keep working hard and cultivate virtue."

"Thank you for your concern, Master."

"Tell us in detail how you found the herb. How did you spot it on the cliff?"

"I think I was lucky today. After harvesting a patch of herbs, I wandered around looking for more and caught a strange scent. Thinking it might be a rare herb, I followed the trail, which led me to the cliff."

"So you climbed down that dangerous cliff?"

"Any disciple of the Herb Gathering Hall would have done the same."

"You're right, but... Well done. Hall Master Chae!"

"Yes, Master."

"By tomorrow morning, prepare a plan for how many Contribution Points each member of Group One should receive. Distribute them according to rank and contribution, and give So-cheon special consideration."

"Understood."

After giving instructions to the Herbal Hall Master, the Wuji Perfected One turned his gaze to the group.

"In addition to Contribution Points, I'll also reward you with Spirit Stones. The leader, vice-leader, and Jang So-cheon will each receive twenty, and the other two will get ten each. Continue to fulfill your duties."

"Thank you!"

All the members of Group One, led by Gwak Mu-jin, stood and bowed in gratitude.

They knew how tight Present Ghost Peak's finances were lately, so this reward was truly generous.

It was proof of just how valuable the harvested Spirit Herb was.

They were told to rest for half a month without going out to gather herbs, and the group couldn't help but grin from ear to ear.

As the members of Group One collected their Spirit Stones and left Wuji Hall, Ho Do Kwang, the leader of Group Three, picked a fight with Gwak Mu-jin.

Ho Do Kwang was at the Twelfth Star Level of the Qi Refining Stage, skilled in combat and breaking formations.

But he was also aggressive and prone to jealousy.

"Gwak, Group Leader! I see you're the only one whose cultivation hasn't changed. Did your members sneak some Elixir Pills behind your back?"

"Maybe so. But now that we have plenty of Spirit Stones, we don't need to sneak anything. Oh! Group Three must be so poor, you'll have to keep picking up leftovers. Should I lend you a few Spirit Stones?"

"How arrogant. Do you really think your group will keep coming in first?"

Ho Do Kwang glared fiercely, but Gwak Mu-jin didn't flinch.

He chuckled and replied loudly,

"No matter what, we'll always be better than Group Three. Isn't that right, everyone?"

"That's right!"

The members of Group One answered in unison.

Jang So-cheon's voice was the loudest of all.

In high spirits, the group returned to the dormitory, but no one seemed eager to go to their rooms.

Even though the rooms were right next door, no one wanted the night to end just yet.

This was when the vice-leader's decisiveness was needed.

"Leader! Since we're all in a good mood, how about a drink? We don't have to go herb gathering for a while, after all."

"Do we have any wine?"

"Didn't we bury some three years ago? It should be perfectly aged by now."

"You're right."

"Of course. We'll take care of the drinks and snacks, so you just sit back and relax. The way you put Group Three's leader in his place tonight... That was so satisfying."

"Will it be okay?"

"Of course. With us behind you, you never have to hold back. Honestly, what do we have to envy about Group Three?"

"You're right. We're Group One, and they're just Group Three. Maybe I overreacted. Ho Do Kwang's cultivation is a bit worrying, but... I'll catch up to him one day."

"In the cultivation world, rank is determined by cultivation, not by when you joined. That's not just our sect's custom, but a long-standing tradition. If we support you, it won't be long before you catch up to Ho Do Kwang."

"Haha! Hearing that makes me really want a drink. Vice-leader, go fetch the wine!"

"Yes, sir!"

Sanggwan Cheonse called out assignments to the group.

Han Yeo-ok and Jang So-cheon prepared the table, while Makjang was sent to the kitchen for snacks.

He himself dug up the wine they'd buried, but when he set it on the table, there was an unfamiliar bottle of wine there.

"Oh! What's this wine?"

"Han Sa-jeo brought some fruit wine. It smells amazing."

"Of course. Our Sa-jeo isn't just pretty—she makes great wine too. I can't wait to try it..."

At Sanggwan Cheonse's words, Han Yeo-ok turned her face away, not wanting him to see her blushing.