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Chapter: 06
Entering Yeongi
Ganghyeon and Indeok returned to the tower and reported to Hyeongak about encountering Taeho and his gang.
However, Ganghyeon had discussed with Indeok and decided not to mention the Trant, instead stating that they had overcome the crisis using talismans and magical tools.
Hyeongak expressed that he would formally protest Hyeonhaegung for failing to control the misbehavior of their trainees.
Regarding the deaths of Taeho and the other children, he instructed that no one—including Ganghyeon and Indeok—should know the details. There was no reason to reveal who had killed them and cause more problems.
The focus of the protest would only be that Hyeonhaegung’s trainees’ misconduct could potentially disrupt the Daedongje ceremony, independent of Taeho’s actions.
“Even so, if those children go missing, they will search for them, and might investigate any involvement you had.”
Hyeongak considered that children would be sloppy in handling matters. But when Ganghyeon and Indeok expressed concern, he waved them off.
“There’s no need to worry too much. If those children started the trouble first, the sequence favors us. There’s no need to identify the responsible parties in detail.”
“Thank you.”
Ganghyeon understood that Hyeongak would protect him and Indeok from exposure and bowed.
However, this decision led to unexpected results. Hyeongak suggested that instructors intervene when trainees fought outside the tower—but the outcome was the opposite.
“So you’re saying they allow trainees to extort others by using their strength?”
“How can that be allowed?”
Ganghyeon and Indeok protested, shocked by Hyeongak’s report.
Hyeongak’s stern expression made clear the reasoning:
“Unexpected as it is, over half of the twelve clans agreed with this, so there’s nothing we can do.”
“So now you’re saying that if someone is strong, they can kill at will?”
Ganghyeon asked sharply.
In truth, Ganghyeon didn’t entirely see such a survival-of-the-fittest system as negative. With the Trant, there would be no current trainee he could not defeat, making the rules advantageous to him.
“The policy is like that, but we’ve set minimum standards.”
“Standards?”
Ganghyeon asked.
“Within ten ri of the tower, trainees who haven’t entered Yeongi may operate. Beyond ten, a hundred, and five hundred ri, activity is restricted based on beginner, intermediate, and advanced Yeongi levels.”
“So the restrictions prevent massacres due to large gaps in cultivation levels?”
Ganghyeon understood easily.
“Exactly. And if someone violates these restrictions and causes problems…”
Hyeongak left the sentence unfinished, but his cold gaze made the implication clear. Ganghyeon and Indeok shivered slightly.
“So we must be fully prepared before leaving the tower?”
Indeok couldn’t hide her worry.
“Hmph. Soon you’ll enter Yeongi, and I will supply all the tools, talismans, and elixirs. What’s there to worry about?”
Hyeongak scolded her in a slightly exasperated tone.
“But…”
“We have decided not to intervene outside the tower unless there’s a special situation. If instructors intervene, it requires approval through a full meeting. It won’t be too strict, but you cannot freely roam outside.”
“Then how are violations of cultivation-level zones supervised?”
Ganghyeon asked, curious.
“That… is related to upcoming trials, so I can’t explain yet. But you are special, so I will tell you.”
“R-Really? Thank you!”
“Thank you, Hyeongak sunbae.”
Both expressed gratitude, bowing slightly. Hyeongak waved his hand and continued.
“Only you two may know this. Understood?”
“Yes, sunbae.”
“Don’t worry, I have no one else close except Ganghyeon.”
“Is that something to brag about?! Tch.”
Hyeongak clicked his tongue, then continued.
“During the Daedongje, the tower was built with barriers to raise the difficulty of trials.”
“Barriers?”
“There are barriers ten, a hundred, and five hundred ri from the tower, preventing free passage in and out.”
“Oh, so the activity zones for different cultivation levels are based on these barriers?”
“Exactly. They can be passed using the tower’s teleportation arrays, or directly with a pass at the barrier.”
“So once our cultivation level increases, we’ll need to use teleportation arrays to move outside the tower?”
“Yes. From intermediate Yeongi onward, you cannot leave the tower directly. The arrays lead to random destinations.”
“Dangerous, then.”
“Luck is essential for a Yeongi disciple. Otherwise, you need great skill… or…”
Hyeongak then handed two pouches to Ganghyeon and Indeok.
“Is this a Jeomuldae?”
“Wow… you’re giving us Jeomuldae?”
Both immediately recognized the pouches: spatial items that could store vast amounts of objects, called pouches, rings, bracelets, belts, or collectively Jeomuldae.
“These are difficult to use without proper Yeongi training, but your sensitivity is exceptional, so you’ll manage. Having them will also boost your motivation to enter Yeongi.”
“Thank you!”
“Truly grateful, Hyeongak sunbae.”
They accepted the Jeomuldae eagerly. The slight storage expansion in their training robes was far inferior to these pouches, so they had no reason to act modestly.
Swish!
“Huh? Something’s inside…”
Ganghyeon projected his mind and detected contents inside the Jeomuldae.
“Strange elixirs, talismans, magical tools… and jade slips? Jade slips too?”
Indeok similarly examined her pouch, excitement written all over her face.
“Everything else can be used immediately, but the jade slips must only be used after entering Yeongi.”
Jade slips (옥간) were tiny storage media, each holding hundreds of volumes’ worth of information. Originally, they weren’t designed for storage but to convey complex cultivation techniques in a three-dimensional way.
“Cultivation techniques?”
“Yes. I gave you, Ganghyeon, the Mok attribute techniques, and Indeok, the Cheonroeum vision.”
“So training is only possible after entering Yeongi?”
“The jade slip can only be assimilated after Yeongi entry. Trying before that is fatal—or leaves you an idiot. Normally, one shouldn’t activate it without Yeongi, but your sensitivity is extraordinary, so I warn you.”
Reading the jade slips imposed a heavy mental burden. One must expand consciousness and strengthen spirit via Yeongi to endure it.
“Understood.”
“We won’t take them out before entry.”
Ganghyeon and Indeok promised and secured the Jeomuldae.
“Now, let’s review what you’ve learned and study advanced content.”
Hyeongak began his usual tutoring session.
I never expected it to be like this…
Ganghyeon reflected in his private training room. Born with memories of his past life, he had been exceptional even as a child. Orphaned by a plague, he survived by staying in the village, naturally becoming a leader among local children.
Yet he had one regret: he did not inherit his awakened powers. His memories remained, but his body was that of an ordinary child.
The Daedongje was his chance to grow spiritually, and much changed after he began cultivating Yeongi.
I never thought my Yeonggeun would be the Trant.
The Trant had been his summoning in his previous life as a hunter, a moving tree.
Though I was supposed to be a farmer, I was forced into battle.
Even with Trant, Ganghyeon’s original awakening was farming-oriented, mostly aiding plant growth. But monsters were everywhere, so he was forced into combat. His last life ended in lonely death in a massive dungeon gate.
Now, reborn in Daechun World with past memories but without hunter abilities, much had changed after entering the Daedongje.
Receiving spiritual energy awakened Trant, and I can now use skills without a status window.
He could even summon plants and trigger basic skills.
Most important is Trant—both my Yeonggeun and summoning entity.
Summoning Trant doesn’t erase the Yeonggeun. The Yeonggeun remains, while the summoned Trant acts in the world.
And whatever Trant consumes nourishes the Yeonggeun.
The children Taeho and his companions had become fertilizer for the Yeonggeun.
Entering Yeongi means aligning my consciousness with Yeonggeun, fully recognizing it as part of me. I delayed entry because I refused to separate Trant as both my summoning and part of me.
This perception shift was difficult, preventing entry into Yeongi until now.
Summon Trant as a separate entity, and treat Yeonggeun Trant as part of me. Now I can do it.
A simple shift, yet it provided the path to Yeongi entry.
Let’s begin.
Ganghyeon seated himself, focused inward, and easily accessed the consciousness space through repeated experience.
A mental space where the Yeonggeun resides.
Recognizing Yeonggeun and concretely manifesting its space is the minimal requirement to challenge Yeongi entry. Ganghyeon had surpassed this stage.
Now he had to align his consciousness, his soul, with the Yeonggeun, opening a path to communicate with the laws of heaven and earth.
Trant Yeonggeun.
He recognized the massive Trant in his mental space. It was still a tree, without leaves, only branches, trunk, and roots, movable at will.
The children have already become fertilizer.
Ganghyeon recalled the children absorbed by Trant and focused solely on Yeonggeun.
He summoned a second Trant as a summoned entity, creating a clear distinction between Yeonggeun and the summon. The Yeonggeun Trant was now easily recognized as part of him.
This Trant Yeonggeun is a part of me, a natural gift from heaven. I will use it as the foundation of the Great Way.
Ganghyeon carefully merged his consciousness with Yeonggeun. Eventually, he realized he had fully unified with it.
The path to the laws of heaven and earth is open!
A surge of unprecedented ecstasy overwhelmed him—Law Joy (Beop-yeol).
