🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter: 08
The First Anniversary of Daedongje and the Cry of the Crane
“Is it today?”
“Yeah.”
Ganghyeon and Indeok stepped outside the tower, looking at the sky.
All the other students were outside as well.
Today marked the first anniversary of the Daedongje, and a special event was set to occur in the mystical realm where the festival took place.
“Watch closely. See where it falls.”
“Got it. Don’t worry. I’ll take this side, you take that side, Ganghyeon.”
“Okay.”
The twelve sects announced that every year, on the anniversary, they would scatter treasures randomly throughout the mystical realm.
Treasures would fall not just within the ten-ri boundary, but also within the hundred-ri or five-hundred-ri protective barriers. Whoever crossed a barrier first could monopolize the treasures.
“Inside the hundred-ri barrier, there should be about three hundred people, right?”
“Yeah, roughly the number of students who have entered the Training Art.”
The ten-ri barrier could be crossed once a student entered the Training Art stage.
Currently, about three hundred students had reached that level. Others had not yet succeeded.
“Even though it’s three hundred, the hundred-ri radius is still wide. And there are still plenty of spiritual beasts we can’t handle yet.”
Spiritual beasts—animals containing spiritual energy—are called Yeonggisu, including yokai, demonic beasts, and monsters. Those tamed by students are called Yeongsu.
The mystical realm was largely unexplored, with many native creatures, some of which were dangerous even to skilled students.
“Eh, with the two of us, nothing in the hundred-ri area can scare us.”
“Want to try that Unicus Python we saw before?”
“Heh, yeah. Let’s try. Together, we can handle it now.”
“That only works if your Thunder skill lands properly. Otherwise, no guarantees.”
“Really?”
“There are a few more too. And the Human-Faced Azure Crane isn’t even considered.”
“Human-Faced Azure Crane! You can’t beat that without breaking the hundred-ri barrier first. Maybe even then it’s hard.”
“Who knows? We just saw it once and it hasn’t appeared since.”
The Human-Faced Azure Crane was a bizarre bird they had spotted before.
With a human face, a crane’s body and beak, wings spanning ten or more jang, and a body six jang from head to tail, it was terrifying.
“If we had met it back then, we might not have survived.”
They avoided the northern giant mountains as a precaution.
“Eventually, we’ll catch it, right?”
“Of course. Its core and feathers would make excellent magical materials.”
“And it could be a sacrifice for your yokai tree too?”
“Tsk!”
“Sorry.”
Indeok had broken their rule of avoiding talk about Trant but quickly apologized. Ganghyeon let it slide and turned back to scanning the sky.
Soon, the golden spiritual energy atop the tower signaled that the treasures were ready to be released.
“It’s out!”
“Wow, it’s like fireworks. There are so many, do we even need to remember them?”
“Idiot. We must note the ones with strong energy.”
“Most look the same… Ah! That one! That one’s special!”
“The better ones seem to fall later. Stay sharp!”
Ganghyeon focused, gauging the treasures’ fall points.
After the twelve sects scattered treasures across the mystical realm, participants became highly alert.
Groups formed to push others aside and search for treasures.
The competition among the top students who had reached the Training Art stage was fierce.
“Ganghyeon, what about Sochul?”
Indeok asked seriously after teleporting beyond the ten-ri barrier using the tower’s transmission array.
“What’s the problem?”
“Sochul is gathering students from the Cheonroe sect. Are you okay?”
“And what can Sochul really do?”
“As more students enter the Training Art, his influence will grow. Aren’t you worried?”
“Why worry?”
“He can’t do much in front of us. Once we reach mid-level Training Art, we’ll surpass the hundred-ri barrier, and Sochul won’t bother us for a while.”
Indeok huffed but nodded reluctantly.
“Why? Worried Sochul’s gang might interfere?”
“Yeah, they already suggested avoiding the south. How dare they decide first?”
“Foolish. The transmission array moves randomly; south or north doesn’t matter.”
“Random? What do you mean?”
“It’s random. See? We’re in the north. We won’t end up in the south.”
Indeok suddenly realized their position on a high mountain ridge and turned pale.
“Ganghyeon, isn’t this… North Geosan?”
“Judging by the terrain, yes. North Geosan.”
“Then we can’t stay here. If the Human-Faced Azure Crane appears, we’re done.”
“Exactly. That’s why I’m staying still.”
“Why?”
“The teleportation array has safety measures that hide spiritual energy upon arrival.”
“So we’re safe because of that?”
“Yes, but if we move recklessly, the crane might sense us and attack.”
“Then we’d be in serious trouble.”
“If needed, we can use the Return Talisman.”
“Should we prepare it?”
The Return Talisman would immediately teleport them to the tower’s mansion if activated. Both had one each.
“Kkirurururuk! Kkirurururuk!”
“Ah! The crane’s cry!”
“Such strong spiritual energy… it chills the blood.”
“You feel that too? That must be the Human-Faced Azure Crane.”
“Probably.”
“Then should we use the Talisman?”
“Just prepare it. The energy concealment is still active, but I don’t know why it’s acting like this.”
Indeok nodded, clutching the crimson talisman etched with golden lines.
“Kkirururuk! Kkirururuk!”
“There! That’s the crane! Looks like it has a nest there.”
From a hidden ridge, they saw the crane take flight.
“Duck!”
Ganghyeon pressed Indeok’s head down, and they hid behind a tree.
The crane wasn’t coming their way, thankfully.
But it wasn’t flying far either.
“Someone must be there. Other students must have triggered it as soon as they arrived via the transmission array.”
Ganghyeon noticed the crane seemed weaker than before.
“This isn’t normal. It’s never been this weak.”
Indeok confirmed, watching the crane struggle against seven or so students using fireballs, water spears, and wind blades, yet unable to pierce its feathers.
The crane countered with sharp beak and talon attacks. Students survived thanks to protective talismans and magical tools.
“Let’s go.”
Ganghyeon got Indeok moving.
“The crane is busy fighting. That area should be clear. We can grab the treasure there.”
“Then…?”
“I saw strong treasure energy flying in that direction before. If it landed near the crane’s nest, we must hurry.”
“Hehe, okay!”
Indeok, excited, followed Ganghyeon, running along the ridge while conserving spiritual energy toward the crane’s nest.
“So that’s why. The crane’s weakened because of this.”
They arrived at the Human-Faced Azure Crane’s nest.
Perched atop a rocky pillar hundreds of jang high, the nest contained small branches lined with soft, blue-tinted feathers infused with spiritual energy.
“It used its own feathers for the nest, filling them with energy.”
“That explains its weakened state… plus the eggs must be draining it further.”
Ganghyeon pointed to five small eggs, each about the size of their fists, glowing with deep blue pulses of energy.
“Five of them… not many for a spiritual bird like this. That’s why it’s weaker.”
“Then what now?”
“First, gather the treasure. Later, we can sneak off two or three eggs.”
“Eggs?”
“With that energy, they could be used for cultivation, or hatched and raised as Yeongsu.”
“Flying Yeongsu… would be incredible transportation.”
“Flying Yeongsu often inherit special travel abilities. We could use them or sell them for spiritual stones.”
“And get contribution points too.”
“Exactly. So what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
Indeok, eager, dashed ahead, prompting Ganghyeon to follow.
