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Chapter: 19
Receiving a Request from Elder Eungnyeong of the Azure Wood Garden
“So that’s how it is. I should thank you first, but let’s take care of the urgent matter before anything else.”
After saying that, Elder Eungnyeong flicked his sleeve, sending small branches flying into the surrounding trees.
The branches immediately took root and began to grow. Seeing this, Kanghyun asked,
“Could that be Yin Spirit Wood?”
“Oh? You’re quite sharp. How did you know? It’s not something common.”
“I was born with a Wood Spirit Root, so I’ve been training in that direction.”
“Is that so? Hmm. I’m not in perfect condition, so I failed to notice even with such talent right in front of me. You’re both born with Heavenly Spirit Roots.”
Only then did Eungnyeong realize that the two young cultivators before him were rare geniuses.
Among them, Kanghyun was an even rarer talent—a single Wood Spirit Root, something not found even in the Azure Wood Garden.
Naturally, desire crept into his heart.
“Since you recognized Yin Spirit Wood, can you also read the change happening now?”
As if teaching a disciple, Eungnyeong posed a question to Kanghyun.
Kanghyun examined the Yin Spirit Wood taking root and growing among the surrounding trees, trying to grasp its true intent.
“Transformation, assimilation, concealment. It’s resonating with an already-set formation to amplify its effects, while at the same time expanding the area and making it feel natural. I’m not sure if I read it correctly.”
“Originally, Yin Spirit Wood holds powerful yin-attribute spiritual energy, making it excellent for driving away or guarding against ghosts. However, it cannot generate Wood Spirit energy on its own, so it must always live as a parasite. Because of that, if it’s allowed to grow freely, both the forest and the Yin Spirit Wood will end up destroyed together. That’s why spirit planters like us must always be careful when handling it.”
A Spirit Planter was a cultivator who grew plants and herbs. Eungnyeong had introduced himself as one.
“Thank you for the teaching.”
“What I did with the Yin Spirit Wood has more effects than what you discovered, but they’re beyond what you can see at your current level. In any case, thanks to this, we no longer need to worry about pursuers—as long as we don’t leave this place.”
“So you really were being chased?”
“Yes. My situation was truly dire. But thanks to your help, I managed to survive and can now look forward to tomorrow. The debt of saving my life is immeasurable.”
After finishing the urgent task, Eungnyeong stood up and bowed deeply to Kanghyun and Indeok, cupping his hands.
“What are you doing? This isn’t proper conduct in the cultivation world. How can a senior make juniors like us so flustered?”
Kanghyun waved his hands in shock, while Indeok hastily hid behind a nearby tree.
Eungnyeong’s cultivation was far beyond anything Kanghyun or Indeok could measure—at the very least, he was at the Core Formation realm.
For someone so powerful to bow like this was overwhelming. Any Qi Condensation cultivator would find such a scene impossible to handle.
“It’s just a greeting for saving my life, so don’t be so surprised. I know this goes against the order of the cultivation world, but if we look at it not as the Dao, but as human conduct, it’s only natural. And since this greeting as a human is now finished, don’t be afraid—come forward and sit.”
After that, Eungnyeong called them closer and looked at them carefully before asking,
“You both have a sect, don’t you?”
He asked as if it were obvious.
Kanghyun answered,
“We are registered under the Heavenly Thunder Sect of the Hyeopju Continent.”
“I see. But from what I can tell, you haven’t gone through the initiation ceremony.”
“We registered our names first, and planned to go through the initiation later.”
“You say ‘planned’?”
“We don’t know when we’ll be able to return to the Hyeopju Continent, so there’s no promise for that day.”
“I see. Then that means there’s still a chance for you to become disciples of our Azure Wood Garden. Hahaha.”
Eungnyeong couldn’t hide his pleased laughter.
“Are you saying you want to take us as disciples of your Dao?”
Kanghyun asked, eyes wide in shock.
“With talents like yours, if you haven’t gone through an initiation yet, it’s only natural to feel greedy.”
“But we—”
Kanghyun was about to refuse, thinking of his ties to the Heavenly Thunder Sect, when—
“Registering your name isn’t that important. What truly matters is the Soul-Engraving ritual.”
“Soul-Engraving?”
“?”
Both Kanghyun and Indeok looked at Eungnyeong in confusion, having never heard the term before.
“It’s something everyone knows, yet no one speaks of openly. Only those permitted to lead the Soul-Engraving may mention it.”
“May we ask for your guidance?”
“It’s not difficult. It just needs some background explanation.”
“We’re listening.”
“The cultivation world is a place where blood flows at every step. Everyone seeks longevity beyond the lifespan set by heaven and earth, and beyond that, immortality. They are all defiers of heaven.”
“……”
“At the root of a cultivator’s desire is one thing—fear of death. That’s why killing others to avoid one’s own death becomes natural in the logic of the cultivation world. You, too, have taken countless lives to cultivate, haven’t you?”
“Yes… regrettably, that’s true.”
Kanghyun understood that Eungnyeong wasn’t speaking only about cultivators.
All living things survive by killing other living things and using them as stepping stones for life.
Cultivators were simply far more extreme.
“Exactly. With such a world, how could it not become desolate? Yet many sects still thrive without collapsing. Why do you think that is?”
“You mean cultivation sects?”
“Sects, organizations, groups—any gathering of a certain size. Do they commonly kill each other within the group?”
“In Hyeopju, there are countless cultivation sects. Among them, I know twelve major ones, and I’ve never heard of disciples killing fellow disciples within those sects.”
“That’s a good example. Why don’t they fight each other? Even among fellow disciples, if someone has something desirable, they could secretly kill them and take it.”
“Then… is that prevented by the power of Soul-Engraving?”
“Tsk. You’re quick to jump ahead. You’re ruining the fun of explaining.”
“My apologies.”
Kanghyun bowed deeply.
“No, it’s fine. Watching a clever child is enjoyable in its own way. Yes, as you guessed, because of Soul-Engraving, slaughter among fellow disciples has nearly disappeared from the cultivation world.”
“So it’s a kind of restriction…?”
“You could see it that way. But the Soul-Engraving performed during initiation causes no harm to the person. It doesn’t affect cultivation in the slightest.”
“Then…?”
“It simply prevents one from consciously harming fellow disciples, while also fostering familiarity and goodwill. That’s its main effect.”
“But not all Soul-Engravings are the same, right? The cultivation world is vast, so there must be many kinds.”
“That’s true. However, the main lineage of Soul-Engraving descends from the High Heavens through the Great Unity Platform, so at the root, they’re all the same.”
“The Great Unity Platform…”
“What? Have you been there before?”
“No, Elder. Our Great Unity Token isn’t complete yet…”
“Hm? You’re about to reach Foundation Establishment, yet you’ve never been to the Great Unity Platform? How strange.”
“Our circumstances aren’t ordinary.”
“I see. You have your own complications. I won’t ask for now. Let’s continue. We were talking about Soul-Engraving and initiation, right?”
“Yes, Elder.”
“The most important part of the initiation ceremony is Soul-Engraving. Since you haven’t received the Heavenly Thunder Sect’s Soul-Engraving, you can’t be considered official disciples. So if you enter our Azure Wood Garden and receive Soul-Engraving, you’ll become family of our sect. Even the Heavenly Thunder Sect wouldn’t be able to object.”
“But the Heavenly Thunder Sect—”
“Of course, once you receive our Soul-Engraving, your disciple bond with the Heavenly Thunder Sect will be severed.”
“I see.”
Kanghyun couldn’t hide his hesitation.
“Hahaha. That doesn’t mean I’m forcing you to become our disciples right now. In my view, it would be a good way to repay the debt of saving my life, but you might feel differently. Let’s take our time.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
“Call me Elder Eungnyeong. I’m used to that title.”
“Yes, Elder Eungnyeong.”
“Yes, Elder.”
Kanghyun and Indeok greeted him again.
“By the way, you said your name was Kanghyun?”
Suddenly, Eungnyeong called Kanghyun with a serious expression.
“Yes, Elder.”
Kanghyun replied nervously.
“Looking at you closely now, it’s truly dreadful.”
“Pardon? Dreadful?”
“How could you have built such a flimsy foundation? Hah… this is unbelievable.”
“What do you mean by a flimsy foundation?”
Kanghyun couldn’t understand and asked again.
“You know you’re a Heavenly Spirit Root talent born with a single Wood Spirit Root, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then look at the cultivation method you’re practicing, and the techniques attached to it. If spirit roots are the roots of a tree, what you’ve learned doesn’t even qualify as weeds.”
“Are you saying the methods and techniques I learned are that worthless?”
“Hmph. Why even ask? That Indeok over there built a solid base and a decent foundation, but you—how did it end up like this?”
“Haha. Is it really that bad? The Heavenly Thunder Sect focuses on lightning-attribute energy, so they said they lacked proper methods for Wood Spirit Roots.”
“Even so, there are limits. But still, reaching your current level with such things is impressive. Your stability and solidity are almost unbelievable.”
“I’m embarrassed.”
Kanghyun blushed and lowered his head.
“Hm. Very well. I suppose I can do this much. You saved my life—surely your sect can understand this. Take this.”
Eungnyeong muttered deliberately aloud, then reached into his robes and pulled out a bundle, handing it to Kanghyun.
Kanghyun flinched at the sudden sight of the large bundle.
It was nearly the size of an adult’s upper body. Anyone would be shocked to see something like that pulled from a sleeve.
“This is…”
“Throw away everything you have now and rebuild from this. Tsk. My eyes keep frowning just looking at it.”
Kanghyun released his divine sense to examine the bundle. Inside were dozens of books, six jade slips, and many kinds of saplings and seeds.
“This will serve as a guide at least until late Foundation Establishment or even Great Completion. Especially the core method, Azure Wood True Scripture. If you complete all five stages, you can reach Great Completion of the Nascent Transformation realm, qualifying for ascension to the spirit world. Of course, what I’ve given you now only goes up to the third stage, Wood Spirit Body.”
“How could you give me something like this…”
“Even if you don’t become a disciple of the Azure Wood Garden, this is the best I can manage. If you do become one, I won’t hesitate to give you the complete version.”
“So you expect that while cultivating the Azure Wood True Scripture, I’ll eventually desire the fourth and fifth stages and choose to become your disciple?”
Kanghyun smiled faintly as he asked.
“Hmph. I said I wouldn’t force you. And I take full responsibility for what I’ve given you.”
“Yes, I understand. You’re treating a mere Qi Condensation junior with such generosity—I don’t know where to put myself. Normally, such an excessive reward should be returned, but I can’t overcome my own desire, so I’ll accept it with gratitude.”
“Kwaaahahaha! Yes, yes, that’s good. If you’d stubbornly refused until the end, I would’ve been quite angry. Hahaha!”
“Ugh…”
As Eungnyeong laughed loudly, Indeok shuddered.
Just the thought of Eungnyeong being angry terrified him.
“Oh, right. I should give you a reward too. Let’s see.”
Eungnyeong turned to Indeok, then began rummaging through his sleeve with a troubled expression.
“N-no, it’s fine. Kanghyun and I are as one. What he received is more than enough. I truly don’t want anything more. Elder Eungnyeong, really.”
“What a remarkable friendship. Still, whether I give something or not is my decision, so wait.”
Indeok had no choice but to fall silent.
After rummaging for a while, Eungnyeong finally pulled something out.
It was a wooden box about the length of an arm, clearly meant for sealing something.
“It’s been a long time since I opened this.”
Muttering to himself, Eungnyeong sat beneath a nearby tree, placed the box on his thigh, and opened the lid.
Click! Bzzzzzt!
“Just as expected!”
In that instant, red lightning energy burst violently from the box.
But Eungnyeong had anticipated it. With a wave of his hand, silver grass sprouted from the ground around him, blocking the lightning so it couldn’t pass.
“Look at this. It’s a branch of Purple Thunder Wood.”
He took out a branch from the box. As its name suggested, it was red in color.
“The lightning energy is incredible!”
Indeok shouted excitedly.
Without thinking deeply, he could already guess that this item was meant for him.
“Hahaha. Exactly. It suits you perfectly.”
Eungnyeong placed the branch back into the box, closed the lid, and tossed it to Indeok.
Whoosh!
“Ah!”
Startled, Indeok instinctively caught the box.
“It’s yours. How you use it is up to you. Of course, if you become a disciple of the Azure Wood Garden, you’ll receive proper guidance on how to use it. Hahaha!”
Eungnyeong continued laughing cheerfully for a long while.
