Nano-engineering Immortal Cultivation Chronicle

Episode 5: Blessing and Prosperity (복록)

"Cheers!"

The team leader clinked his glass and glanced at Jang So-cheon, tilting his head in curiosity.

It seemed like Jang So-cheon's alcohol tolerance had improved.

"So-cheon! Are you alright?"

"I'm just going to finish this last glass."

"Oh, alright…"

Since he insisted, there was no way to take the glass away from him.

Gulp.

Jang So-cheon downed the drink in one go, then stared at the empty glass in disbelief.

Before his reincarnation, he could drink like a fish, but this body was terribly weak to alcohol.

He'd only had five drinks, and already he felt tipsy.

He made a mental note to put this body through some special training, then set his glass down on the table.

The topic that dominated the conversation as the team drank was, unsurprisingly, the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb.

Next came speculation about how many Contribution Points their Master would reward them with…

Then, suddenly, the discussion shifted to Realm Advancement.

The miraculous events of the day still felt unreal to everyone.

Makjang, listening to the seniors, turned to Gwak Mu-jin with a question.

"Team leader! There's something I'd like to ask."

"What are you curious about?"

"Isn't it true that it takes Lower Realm Martial Artists decades, even centuries, to advance a single realm?"

"That's right."

"So, when did our Master reach the late stage of the Spirit Refining Stage?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I just felt a bit sorry for Master today. Other elders' peaks have Heaven and Earth Treasures hidden away, rare ores, spirit beasts, even Spirit Stones buried in the ground. But here at Present Ghost Peak, it feels like there's nothing."

"But Master refines Elixir Pills, doesn't he? We disciples gather herbs and prepare medicinal ingredients for him."

"That's exactly the problem. Master's the only one here who can make Elixir Pills."

"And what's wrong with that?"

"Once he refines the pills and offers them to the sect, there can't be much left over. He has to use that to feed, clothe, and train all his disciples… Of course money's tight. So even when a rare Spirit Herb like this comes along, Master can't even think about using it to advance his own realm, right?"

"Now that you mention it, you're right. But pill refining isn't as easy as it sounds. If someone without talent tries, they might not succeed even one out of ten times. How could we afford that kind of expense with our tight budget? That's why Master does it alone…"

"But then there's no progress, ever. I think, even if it's costly, we should train a disciple who can refine pills."

"Why? Are you interested in pill refining?"

"No, I don't think I have any talent for that."

"I see. As far as I know, Master reached the Spirit Refining Stage ninety-three years ago. Fortunately, he's only two hundred and ninety years old. Since the average lifespan at Spirit Refining is five hundred years, he should be able to reach the Void Refining Stage before then."

"And Void Refining Stage means an average lifespan of a thousand years. That would be a dream come true."

"Exactly. But forming the Original Shadow is no easy feat. Even in our Extreme Heaven Sect, there are twelve late-stage Spirit Refining experts, but only two at the Void Refining Stage."

"I wish a Primordial Spirit Pill would just fall from the sky. Or maybe one of the disciples will become skilled enough to make one…"

"I wish for that too."

Jang So-cheon, listening with sleepy eyes, asked, "Primordial Spirit Pill? If you have one, can you immediately advance to the Void Refining Stage?"

"Hey! There's no such pill in this world. It just increases your chances."

"What if you take two?"

"Two? Well, that's different. If you had three, you'd definitely advance…"

"Wow! Who can make those? Could the Heavenly Medicine Hall Lord at Golden Lotus Peak do it?"

"If that were possible, he would've reached the Void Refining Stage long ago. As far as I know, only a Pill Alchemist at Upper Grade Level 2 can make a Primordial Spirit Pill."

"Upper Grade Level 2? What's the Heavenly Medicine Hall Lord's rank?"

"Middle Grade Level 2. Once you reach Level 3, you hit the wall of the Demonic Barrier at Upper Grade Level 1, and you have to break through again to reach Upper Grade Level 2. So, don't even dream about the Primordial Spirit Pill."

"I see. But do we have any Upper Grade Level 2 Pill Alchemists in Taehyeon Kingdom?"

"No, none."

"Really?"

"Yes. Since the death of the Medical Sage from the Ancient Sect a hundred years ago, there hasn't been a single martial artist who could make a Primordial Spirit Pill."

"Ah, I see. Makjang! Are you busy tomorrow?"

Jang So-cheon yawned as he spoke, clearly sleepy.

"No."

"Then come to the market with me."

"Is there something you want to buy?"

"Just want to look around…"

"Now that you mention it, I remembered something I want to buy too. You look tired, so go ahead and get some rest. I'll see you at the dormitory in the morning."

"No way, I'll wait and go in with you. Gotta have some loyalty. How could the youngest just go off to bed drunk by himself?"

Having lived as Park Ki-hyun for thirty years, Jang So-cheon wasn't about to listen to Makjang's suggestion to go ahead.

Even as he nodded off, he waited until the drinking party ended, and then everyone headed to their respective quarters together.

The next morning.

Jang So-cheon dressed neatly and went to the dormitory.

But only Sanggwan Cheonse was there.

"Heading out somewhere?"

"Just going to check out the market."

"By yourself?"

"With Makjang. Where's the team leader?"

Last night, the team leader drank like a whale.

Then he said he’d sleep in the dormitory instead of going back to his quarters.

But he was nowhere to be seen, so Jang So-cheon asked.

"Master called him early this morning to go to Wuji Hall. Looks like he's attending the Elders' Council."

"The Elders' Council?"

"Word spread overnight that we harvested a Nine-leaf Immortal Herb over nine hundred years old. The whole Extreme Heaven Sect was buzzing. Of course, they'll want to hear how it was found."

"That makes sense."

Just then, Makjang walked into the dormitory.

He'd washed up and changed into clean clothes, but standing next to Jang So-cheon, it looked like a big black crow next to a white heron.

A very large crow.

Makjang bowed to Sanggwan Cheonse.

"Have fun at the market. Mak Sa-je, is there something you want to buy?"

"I'm planning to buy a few protective talismans."

"Talismans?"

"When that Poison Horn Iron Bull charged at me yesterday, it was terrifying. If I want to live long, I have to protect myself."

"That's wise. Raising your cultivation is important, but you should train your martial arts diligently too. You never know what might happen in life."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Not wanting to hear more nagging, the two quickly left the dormitory.

Then, using their movement techniques, they dashed off toward the market.

*

Riding his Master’s Flying Magic Device through the sky, Gwak Mu-jin couldn't hide his discomfort.

It was his first time attending the Elders' Council.

He knew that the council included Elder Jang Mun, the heads of the nine peaks, the Heavenly Medicine Hall Lord, the Golden Sword Commander who led the sect’s martial force, and the military commander who guarded the border fortress with the Nine Ancient Kingdoms where the Tamrang Tribe resided.

But when he arrived at Cheongheo Hall, where the council was held, he was surprised to see an unexpected figure seated at the place of honor.

It was Patriarch Gwang-eum, the Supreme Elder.

Sitting beside his master, Wuji Perfected One, Gwak Mu-jin felt a suffocating pressure, but forced himself to straighten his shoulders.

He suddenly remembered what his teammates had said last night—not to lose confidence no matter where he went.

The meeting was presided over by Elder Jang Mun, who first asked the military commander about the current situation at the border fortress.

The commander reported that the situation with the Tamrang Tribe was troubling.

"A remarkable hero has emerged in the Nine Ancient Kingdoms. He’s from the Tamrang Tribe—ambitious and aggressive, attacking neighboring tribes and rapidly expanding his influence."

"Are you saying they might cross the Thousand-mile Gorge?"

"We’ve sent spies, but there’s no sign of that yet. Still, we’re staying vigilant and monitoring their movements closely."

"Good work. The Tamrang Tribe unifying the Nine Ancient Kingdoms is a problem, but if they lose a tribal war and cross into Yao Fortress, that would be a disaster. Increase the number of spies if necessary."

"I will do so."

"The next item concerns the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb harvested by Wuji Perfected One at Present Ghost Peak. First, let’s see the herb."

Everyone had heard the rumors about the over nine-hundred-year-old Nine-leaf Immortal Herb found at Present Ghost Peak.

Hundreds of Message Talismans had flown back and forth all night.

Still, when the Jade Box was opened and the herb revealed, everyone stared at it in awe.

"Oh! So this is the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb. I’ve never seen one in my life."

"I last saw one a hundred and fifty years ago, and that was only three hundred years old… Nine hundred years? Unbelievable."

"It looks truly miraculous."

Everyone chimed in, but Elder Jang Mun soon quieted the room.

He looked at Gwak Mu-jin, who stood up and explained how the herb had been harvested—just as Jang So-cheon had described.

When Gwak Mu-jin finished, Elder Jang Mun stood and addressed the assembly.

"The reason I called this council today is because of the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb harvested at Present Ghost Peak. As you’ve heard, our sect’s external situation is precarious. Therefore, we intend to use this herb to refine Elixir Pills for our two Supreme Elders."

It would be foolish to use such a rare herb to make pills for Lower Realm Martial Artists.

If war broke out with the Tamrang Tribe, a single high-realm expert would be more valuable than a thousand low-realm martial artists.

If they had even one late-stage Void Refining expert, the sect’s status would skyrocket.

They wouldn’t have to worry about the Tamrang Tribe invading, either…

Elder Jang Mun continued.

"Fortunately, a pill recipe for advancing the cultivation of Void Refining experts has been passed down in the Heavenly Medicine Sect. The other required herbs and ingredients can be gathered with some effort… The problem is the pill refining."

"Does the Heavenly Medicine Hall Lord lack confidence in refining the Elixir Pill?"

One of the elders, the Perfected One of Palhwang at Cheonggye Peak, asked the Hall Lord.

"Perfected One Palhwang, surely you know that only a Pill Alchemist of Upper Grade Level 1 can refine an Elixir Pill for Void Refining experts? I am only Middle Grade Level 2."

"But with the recipe, surely it’s possible?"

"The failure rate is extremely high. Nine out of ten attempts will fail. Will you take responsibility for the consequences, Perfected One Palhwang?"

"Heh! I never said I would. So what do you propose?"

Palhwang’s gaze shifted to Elder Jang Mun.

Elder Jang Mun, looking troubled, turned to Patriarch Gwang-eum at the head of the table.

Gwang-eum, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, opened them, and a sharp light flashed.

"Elder Jang Mun, are you confident you can gather the remaining ingredients?"

"There’s no problem. The ingredients for refining the Horyeong Pill are all rare and expensive, but with the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb as the main ingredient, the rest can be obtained."

"Where will you refine the Horyeong Pill?"

"In Taehyeon Kingdom, only the Ancient Sect currently has the facilities to refine it."

"If you commission them, they’ll demand a high price, won’t they?"

"Even so, we can’t give up. Even if we have to gather every Spirit Stone left in the sect, we must make the Horyeong Pill for our two Supreme Elders."

"What do you think the success rate will be if you commission them?"

"I can’t say for sure. Before the meeting, I asked the Heavenly Medicine Hall Lord, and he said we could hope for about thirty percent."

"Thirty percent?"

"That’s a generous estimate. If the Medical Sage who died a hundred years ago were still alive, we might have hoped for fifty percent."

"So we might end up with nothing?"

"Fortunately, the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb is large and robust, so we can attempt the refinement several times."

"In the end, we’ll have to leave it to fate. Very well, proceed as planned. And Wuji Perfected One!"

"Yes, Patriarch!"

"I heard your disciples harvested the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb. Did you reward them properly?"

"I rewarded the disciples who gathered the herb with Contribution Points and Spirit Stones. But our finances at Present Ghost Peak are tight, so I couldn’t give much."

"How much did you give?"

When Patriarch Gwang-eum asked, Wuji Perfected One reported the Contribution Points and Spirit Stones he had given and planned to give.

"Is that enough? I’ll grant additional Contribution Points—distribute them among the team members who harvested the herb. Give a special bonus to the disciple who actually gathered it."

"Thank you for your generosity, Patriarch."

"Why thank me? No, that won’t do. After the meeting, come with me."

"Pardon?"

Wuji Perfected One’s eyes widened.

Since he had taken over Present Ghost Peak, Patriarch Gwang-eum had never visited even once.

If he came now, it would be the first visit.

An honor?

It felt more like a burden.

When the council ended, Patriarch Gwang-eum really did follow Wuji Perfected One.

When Wuji Perfected One tried to politely refuse, Gwang-eum glared at him.

"Elder Mun! Are you hiding something at Present Ghost Peak that I shouldn’t see?"

Wuji Perfected One’s real name was Mun Geuk-hyeon.

Sometimes, Patriarch Gwang-eum called him Elder Mun.

"Of… of course not!"

"Then? You’re not planning to pocket the Contribution Points I gave your disciples, are you?"

"Th… sigh! Understood. I’ll escort you to Present Ghost Peak."

"Heh! Don’t be so nervous. I just want to see the disciple who harvested the Nine-leaf Immortal Herb. I want to see what kind of Blessing and Prosperity he possesses to have found such a rare Spirit Herb…"

"You think that child will find another one?"

"There’s no such thing as coincidence in this world. Only inevitability disguised as chance… I doubt it will end with just one."

"I hope you’re right. Team Leader Gwak! As soon as we arrive at Present Ghost Peak, summon Jang So-cheon to Wuji Hall."

"Understood."

*

As soon as the Flying Magic Device carrying Patriarch Gwang-eum landed at Wuji Hall, Gwak Mu-jin rushed to the dormitory.

But Jang So-cheon was nowhere to be found—not in his quarters, not in the dormitory.

The vice team leader told him Jang So-cheon had gone to the market, so Gwak Mu-jin immediately took out a Flying Magic Device and sped to the market.

And there—

To his shock, Jang So-cheon was in the middle of a fight in the market square.

His opponent: Takbi, a 4-Star Qi Refiner from White Herb Pavilion of the Heavenly Medicine Sect.

Clang! Clang!

Dangerously, the two were fighting with real swords.

Nearby, Makjang was being beaten up one-sidedly by another disciple from White Herb Pavilion.

At least that fight was with fists, not weapons.

"So-cheon! Get back, it’s dangerous!"

Jumping down from the Flying Magic Device, Gwak Mu-jin tried to break up the fight.

Jang So-cheon had just reached Third Star Level of the Qi Refining Stage—there was no way he could handle Takbi.

He had to stop the fight somehow.

Thud!

But a group blocked his path.

It was Gogak, the vice team leader of One Group from White Herb Pavilion, and his teammates.

"What do you think you’re doing? Stop the fight right now! If So-cheon gets hurt, will you take responsibility, Senior Go?"

"Responsibility? Why should I be responsible if a Lower Realm Martial Artist gets hurt in a fight?"

"You’re blocking my way right now!"

"Do you have proof? I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"What?!"

Frustrated, Gwak Mu-jin leapt into the air, but Gogak also jumped up to block him.

From above, he could see the whole fight at a glance.

Surprisingly, Jang So-cheon was holding his own.

He was using the sect’s basic sword technique, the Carefree Sword Technique.

Yet, even against Takbi, a 4-Star Qi Refiner, he wasn’t backing down a single step.