TBISF 10

Chapter: 10

Mid Qi Condensation Stage

“Are you saying there was such a blessed land underground?”

At Ganghyeon’s story, Hyeongak’s eyes widened.

“Yes. But—”

“But?”

“There were many dangerous parts for us to move around.”

“That’s right. We survived because we were lucky. Otherwise, we might not have come back.”

“I see. And now that the Human-Faced Blue Crane has been subjugated, more children going that way will be another problem.”

Hyeongak was worried that the underground cavern discovered by Ganghyeon and Indeok would become known to other children.

Even to his eyes, the cultivation resources they brought back were extraordinary.

If the Heavenly Thunder Sect could monopolize such things in the future, the gains from this Grand Gathering would increase greatly.

“Go rest in your quarters for now. I need to report this to your grand-uncle and discuss it. And you must not contact anyone. Do you understand?”

Hyeongak judged that this was not something he could decide on his own.

After making them promise, he hurried to find Yanggwang.

Not long after, while Ganghyeon and Indeok were cultivating in their respective quarters, Yanggwang summoned them.

Hearing the message mid-training, they immediately went to Hyeongak’s residence.

“I’ve heard the story, but I need to know more details. Answer my questions.”

“Yes, sir.”

Ganghyeon bowed.

He had thought Yanggwang was at the Foundation Establishment stage, but according to Hyeongak, he was actually at Great Perfection, standing on the verge of a breakthrough.

Those who oversaw the Grand Gathering among the Twelve Sects were said to be cultivators of the Decision Stage, but none had ever appeared.

Ganghyeon guessed that such cultivators did not stay in this mystic realm, but remained within their sects.

In any case, Yanggwang held real authority over the Grand Gathering for the Heavenly Thunder Sect.

There was no reason for Ganghyeon not to be respectful.

“You said you sensed many energies stronger than yourselves underground?”

“Yes. If I may compare, there were at least three energies as strong as when we first saw the Human-Faced Blue Crane.”

“And was that all?”

“No. Indeok and I didn’t dare probe any deeper than that.”

“Then if you had to compare the area you gauged and the area you couldn’t?”

“What we examined was only the tip of the iceberg.”

“So you can’t even estimate the full size of the underground cavern?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s correct.”

“Hm. This is larger than expected. Then what should we do?”

Yanggwang’s expression hardened.

At that, Hyeongak, who was standing nearby, spoke carefully.

“Grand-uncle, why not give those children a response formation and have them install it down there? That way, we won’t need to go back and forth, and no one will notice the comings and goings.”

“So you want to have children collect resources from the underground cavern?”

“Yes.”

“You foolish fellow!”

“Pardon?”

“Those children are only at early Qi Condensation. How much profit do you think they can gain there? At best, only a tiny fraction.”

“That is true, but—”

“Compared to that, if we make this public, designate the underground cavern as separate from the Grand Gathering, and act directly, how much profit would we gain?”

“But then we would have to share the profits evenly among the Twelve Sects.”

“Tsk. We discovered it, so naturally we should take more than the others. That much negotiation is possible.”

“Then…”

“But even that may be a hasty decision. This seems like something we must ask Master about.”

Ganghyeon felt anxious as he listened.

If the underground cavern was excluded from the Grand Gathering, then the benefits for him and Indeok would disappear.

Still, when Yanggwang said he would consult his master, a bit of hope appeared.

“You’re really showing your displeasure, aren’t you?”

Yanggwang smiled as if he could see straight through Ganghyeon’s thoughts and lightly scolded him.

Ganghyeon blushed and lowered his head.

“You don’t need to worry so much. Do you think our Heavenly Thunder Sect is shameless enough to steal the share of children like you and then wipe our mouths clean?”

“I don’t believe so.”

“Then why were you so anxious?”

“I’m sorry.”

“If a situation arises where you can’t go to the underground blessed land, you will be properly compensated. You discovered it—how could we ignore that merit?”

“Thank you.”

“But don’t expect too much. Considering your realm, even if we let you monopolize it, the gains wouldn’t be that great.”

“……”

“Hahaha. Of course, that’s by our sect’s standards. From your perspective, the gains would be enormous.”

“Then…”

“Yes. That much I can guarantee. From the sect’s view it’s trivial, but I promise rewards more than enough for you. So don’t let this distract you from cultivation.”

Yanggwang spoke to reassure them.

Ganghyeon smiled brightly.

No matter how things turned out now, neither he nor Indeok would lose out.

If the sects themselves developed the underground cavern, the compensation would be far greater than anything the two of them could gain alone.

And since Yanggwang promised it, he would keep his word for the sake of his standing.

‘For our level, guaranteed rewards from the sect may be far greater than what we could gain by risking our lives.’

With that thought, Ganghyeon felt more anticipation than regret.

“A few days later, Hyeongak conveyed the decision about the underground cavern to Ganghyeon and Indeok.”

The result was unexpected again.

The underground cavern would be open to all trainees.

Naturally, disciples of the Twelve Sects overseeing the Grand Gathering could also enter freely.

“There’s nothing strange about it. This was the obvious decision.”

“If it’s obvious, that means the place is that large and dangerous, right?”

“That’s right. Even Grand-uncle couldn’t confirm its end. And there are many terrifying monsters there.”

“How terrifying?”

“He said there are demon beasts and monsters he himself must avoid.”

“What? Then…”

“At least several are already known to be at the Decision Stage or higher. And that might not be all.”

“Then…”

“It means you must be careful too. Of course, beasts of Foundation Establishment or higher won’t pay much attention to early Qi Condensation cultivators, but…”

“In short, it’s full of monsters, and one mistake could be fatal.”

“Exactly. I really don’t know how such a vast world could exist beneath such a small mystic realm. Mystic realms truly are mysterious.”

Hyeongak muttered in awe.

“Then avoiding the underground cavern for a while might be the wiser choice.”

“So while everyone else goes underground, you plan to gain small profits on the surface?”

If Ganghyeon chose that path, Indeok would naturally follow, so Hyeongak addressed them together.

“That’s one option, isn’t it? And if things turn out that way, we’ll naturally receive separate compensation.”

“Hahaha. You even considered that?”

“Even with just compensation, we can focus on cultivation for a while. So until the situation underground becomes clearer, I think it’s best to stay in our quarters and raise our realm.”

“Well thought. A cultivator must take risks to grow, but if resources are already sufficient, raising one’s realm safely comes first. Well done.”

Hyeongak strongly supported Ganghyeon’s thinking.

Not long after, generous compensation for discovering the underground cavern was delivered.

There were enough resources for both of them to focus on cultivation until breaking through Qi Condensation and challenging Foundation Establishment.

Ganghyeon was shocked, but Hyeongak laughed, saying this was nothing compared to what the Heavenly Thunder Sect had secured from other sects.

Following his original plan, Ganghyeon devoted himself to cultivation.

“Let’s reach at least mid Qi Condensation before moving again. And we should spar often for real combat practice.”

Before entering seclusion, Ganghyeon reminded Indeok of this.

So the two frequently met during training and never neglected sparring.

During that time, the second and third cycles of the Grand Gathering passed.

“Congratulations.”

“Hahaha. Thank you. But I’m not the only one who deserves congratulations. You’ve already reached mid Qi Condensation. At this rate, you might surpass me soon.”

“How could we dare catch up to a senior who’s already at Great Perfection?”

“No need to be so modest. You’ve been cultivating less than four years and you’re already at the fourth level of Qi Condensation. At that speed, you might even aim for Great Perfection before the Grand Gathering ends.”

“You flatter us. Cultivation only gets harder as realms rise.”

“Haha. We’ll see. You’re truly promising juniors.”

“Thank you, Senior.”

“Alright, enough praise. You’re planning to go out again now, aren’t you?”

Hyeongak guessed why they had come.

“Without real combat, just training spiritual energy and sparring feels insufficient.”

“Yes. If you live under protection, focusing only on training is a blessing. But otherwise, a flower grown in a greenhouse is fragile.”

Hyeongak nodded, looking at Ganghyeon with renewed interest.

“Do your best. But always be careful.”

“Of course. We’ll keep it firmly in mind.”

“Haha. Naturally. And now that you can pass through the hundred-li barrier, there will be no trainees to watch out for. That’s a great advantage.”

“That alone is reason enough for us to stay on the surface rather than go underground. It will take at least two more years for others to reach mid Qi Condensation and break through the barrier.”

“Exactly. That area is beyond even our sect members. You two can move freely there.”

Hyeongak admired the decision again.

Soon after, Ganghyeon and Indeok began using the tower’s teleportation formation to travel beyond the hundred-li barrier.

Pajijijik! Pajik! Kwajajak!

Kueeek! Kueeeek!

Indeok swung the Wind-Cloud Golden Halberd wrapped in lightning, carving a long wound into the neck of a boar demon beast.

“Hahahaha! How is it? Isn’t it amazing?”

“Indeok, you’re the best! That was awesome!”

As the beast fell, Ganghyeon gave him a thumbs-up.

Indeok’s chest puffed out proudly.

He checked the fallen boar demon beast, then finished it with another swing.

Puuk!

Kueeeek!

With its final cry, the demon beast’s energy dispersed.

Indeok split open its belly and took its inner core.

“Why take the demon core?” Ganghyeon asked.

“Some kids are collecting them.”

“Demon cores?”

“They say they use them as pill ingredients.”

“Looks like you found something you want to trade for.”

“Yeah. They’ll give thirty Lightning Accumulation Pills. The kids from the Pill Sect.”

“If it’s Lightning Accumulation Pills from the Pill Sect, that’s not bad.”

Ganghyeon nodded with a smile.

He then summoned the Treant beside the boar demon beast’s corpse.

The hide and tusks had some value, but not enough to bother with, so he planned to feed it to the Treant.

Seeing the Treant summoned, Indeok reduced the Wind-Cloud Golden Halberd and slipped it into his sleeve.

Ooooung—ooooung!

The Treant immediately wrapped the boar demon beast with its roots and began absorbing it.

Outside the hundred-li barrier, there was no need to hide this.

No trainees could cross the barrier yet, and the Twelve Sects’ cultivators were barred by the Grand Gathering rules.

With no one to see, there was no need to be strict about using the Treant.

Kudududuk! Kududududuk!

As the boar demon beast rapidly lost form, vitality surged through the Treant’s trunk and branches.

A flower bud formed on one of its middle branches.

“Oh! The tree monster is blooming? What attribute is it this time?”

Indeok asked excitedly.

“Since it bloomed after absorbing a boar demon beast…”

Ganghyeon smiled faintly, looking at Indeok with a teasing expression.