Chapter 43 – New Function of the Status Window

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The massive energy of life originating from the pure white flame was injected endlessly.

It was literally just before his body would explode and die.

Jin So-myeong focused desperately.

Amidst the extreme situation where he could not even make proper judgments, he poured out what he had normally wished for in a disorganized manner.

‘Aptitude improvement, I hope there will be a way to gather the Supreme Great Ability and make a powerful wish. I need a system that makes it easy to master cultivation methods and evolves them beyond their limits. Also…’

He could not even see ahead due to his swollen eyelids.

‘Ah! No!’

Just as he wondered if it was already too late.

The vitality that was rushing in like a tsunami abruptly cut off.

That was not all.

The vital energy that was leading him to death began to vanish silently.

It was swept away so cleanly that it felt truly gratifying. It felt as if a black hole had formed somewhere inside his body.

“…Is it over?”

All the energy that had been running wild like crazy vanished without a trace.

Flop!

Drained of all strength, he sat on the spot and rested.

His head was dazed. Was it because he had experienced too many emotional ups and downs in a short time?

He felt he would have no other wishes if he could just take a deep sleep.

‘…I can’t do that.’

He shook his head. After checking if there was any other danger nearby.

He forced himself up and stretched. It was to drive away the sleepiness that was creeping in.

The expression of Jin So-myeong, who was jumping up and down in place, gradually turned peculiar.

Even though he had only rested for about ten seconds, his fatigue had completely vanished before he knew it. His mind also grew clearer and clearer, as if he had just woken up from a deep sleep.

‘Is it because of the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art?’

He had not been able to perceive it properly due to the chaos, but he had definitely opened four of the five viscera using the dense vital energy.

Upon opening his lungs , he obtained the ability to absorb a small amount of spiritual Qi every time he breathed.

Through his kidneys , he achieved agelessness .

In his liver , he achieved immunity to a hundred poisons.

Now Jin So-myeong would not age until the day his lifespan ended, and he came to possess a powerful resistance to all kinds of poisons.

‘Once I open the last organ, the heart… the five viscera will achieve harmony.’

The Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art stated that when one opened all five viscera, a true evolution would occur at the level of the essence of life.

The effects obtained by opening the existing organs would also become several times stronger.

Grip!

Measuring the strength gathered in his fist, Jin So-myeong closed his eyes.

Of course, he was glad about the Five Viscera Hundred Tempering Art, but what was truly important was the result of the wish made through the Supreme Great Ability.

Measuring the divine ability engraved upon his soul, he flinched.

‘How much lifespan do I have left?’

Just before death, because the situation was too urgent, his memory was not clear.

He worried that his lifespan might have become shorter.

【Jin So-myeong】

【Lifespan】: 18 / 73

【Realm】: Qi Condensation 8th Layer

【Supreme Great Ability】: 39 / 190

【Divine Ability】:

【Cultivation Method】: –

【Spell】: –

Upon checking his lifespan in a hurry, a sigh of relief escaped him naturally.

Fortunately, it had not decreased. Though slightly, it had actually increased.

Scanning the status window all the way down, he paused.

This was because items he had not seen before had appeared.

‘Cultivation Method and Spell?’

However, he was puzzled because it was completely empty. Even just the spells he had learned amounted to several.

Only after rapidly scanning the information that floated into his mind did he realize what had happened.

‘Only spells or cultivation methods that I register myself will be displayed here.’

Registration was not free.

Though it differed depending on the level of the cultivation method, Supreme Great Ability was consumed.

“Hmm.”

Stroking his chin, he consumed five spheres. As a test, he registered his primary cultivation method, the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art.

Flash!

【Cultivation Method】

Five Elements Qi Condensation Art (Initiation 995/1000)

Reading the hologram, Jin So-myeong tilted his head.

‘Are those displayed at the back the realm and proficiency? But the realm of my Five Elements Qi Condensation Art is only initiation?’

To think it was only initiation after hard training for several years? Honestly, it was hard to accept.

This was because he had believed he understood all of the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art scriptures circulating in the market.

‘…Let’s first raise the proficiency.’

The method to raise proficiency was not difficult. He could either train directly or invest Supreme Great Ability.

‘Is it 1 proficiency per sphere?’

The moment he consumed five spheres of Supreme Great Ability.

Boom!

Thousands of scriptures whirled through his mind.

Characters that suddenly surfaced began to explain the cycle of the Five Elements, and…

The existing Five Elements Qi Condensation Art collapsed completely, while simultaneously being newly established.

“Ah!”

He shuddered at the feast of enlightenment.

He realized how crude the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art he had practiced until now had been.

The Five Elements Qi Condensation Art was not simply a cultivation method to accumulate spiritual Qi.

It was a cultivation method containing the principles of heaven, utilizing mutual generation and overcoming to fill what was lacking with what overflowed.

If one mastered the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art properly, they could handle all Five Elements even with only a single spiritual root.

Even.

He could even create the Fire Spiritual Root that he lacked.

‘This is the real Five Elements Qi Condensation Art.’

Was the cultivation method circulating in the market fake? That was not the case.

It was just that because it had been lost little by little over a long period, the true secret transmission had been damaged.

The moment the new Five Elements Qi Condensation Art, which could well be described as having evolved to a higher level, was engraved.

The vortex structure rotating inside his dantian fluctuated.

The whirlwind naturally divided into five, each representing a Five Elements attribute.

Earth , Metal , Water , Wood , Fire .

Each whirlwind influenced the other. Pushing away or drawing each other, they communicated incessantly.

Did they not call it Wood generates Fire ?

The fire attribute, in which Jin So-myeong was weakest, had a small whirlwind scale, but grew little by little with the aid of the wood Qi .

Over time, the Five Elements would achieve complete balance.

‘By then, I should be able to create a Fire Spiritual Root.’

He was amazed by the sophisticated structure formed in his dantian.

The Five Elements Qi Condensation Art was incredibly outstanding, unlike a basic cultivation method. He grew curious to what form the original prototype had been.

‘Good.’

Jin So-myeong nodded his head.

The effect of the newly obtained system was satisfying.

It was something he had just realized, but the direction in which the proficiency system improved a cultivation method was not toward restoring the original.

The ideal aimed at by the cultivation method was more important than its original form.

For example.

It meant that if he registered a spell to move mountains and filled the proficiency to the maximum, the spell itself would evolve to actually accomplish it.

Suddenly, a single sentence came to Jin So-myeong’s mind.

‘Control the wind to free the physical form. If truly mastered, one will be able to fly ten thousand li with a single gust of wind.’

This oral formula of the Wind Control Art was the ideal aimed at by the spell.

It meant that if he registered the Wind Control Art in the proficiency system and achieved grand mastery, he could actually fly ten thousand li with a single gust of wind!

‘This is a jackpot.’

Standing blankly, Jin So-myeong realized another fact.

The fact that proficiency could be filled with the Supreme Great Ability meant…

That a way to gather golden spheres and use them all at once had been created.

How long would it take to fill 1,000 proficiency?

At Jin So-myeong’s current level, roughly five to six months would be consumed.

To say this conversely…

It meant he had become able to make cultivation method improvements that were originally possible only by consuming half a year’s worth of Supreme Great Ability at once.

This was a matter of exceeding the limits of the existing Supreme Great Ability.

“Haha.”

A hollow laugh escaped him.

Just how much lifespan did he have to consume to create such a system?

Thanks to the vital energy that had almost killed him, he had obtained a tremendous gain for free!

‘No. It wasn’t free. I obtained it because I took risks and tried.’

Without the Supreme Great Ability, he might have been crushed to death by the vital energy.

Reflecting inwardly, he paused.

‘But I’m sure I also wished for aptitude improvement…’

Slowly recalling the memory of that time, it was certain. He had definitely wished for aptitude improvement.

Perhaps…

The proficiency system might have more hidden effects.

Just as he was pondering in what manner his aptitude would improve.

He felt the presence of someone approaching outside the door of the Elixir Refining Room.

‘…What is it?’

It was not that he harbored doubt because someone had come.

Since he had caused all kinds of commotion due to the pillar of light and had even pierced a hole in the array, it was possible for someone to follow him in.

The reason he was surprised was that his senses themselves were different from usual.

Having realized only now because too many things had happened suddenly, something was different.

Everything within five meters was vivid. Even the rear that was out of his field of vision was clearly visible.

It was the same for beyond the door, which had not been detected before.

It felt as if a third eye had opened, allowing him to examine all directions simultaneously.

‘Could it be that Divine Sense has formed in me?’

Divine Sense referred to the divine soul breaking through the threshold and evolving into a sensory organ.

It was a sensation normally obtainable only after breaking through to Foundation Establishment, yet he, who was in the late Qi Condensation stage, had already awakened Divine Sense…

Although it was extremely joyful news, he forgot it from his mind for now.

Slide.

Jin So-myeong, who habitually tried to conceal his presence, was flustered.

Perhaps because he had just broken through the realm, his spiritual Qi fluctuated, making it absolutely impossible to hide.

Clang!

While he had no choice but to draw the Limitless Divine Sword and guard the direction of the door, at that moment.

Creak…

The door of the Elixir Refining Room opened.

His eyes met with a woman wearing black martial robes, and without needing to say who went first, they guarded against each other.

The woman, who was examining Jin So-myeong intently, narrowed her eyes.

“It was you. The person who forced their way through the array.”

At the voice that felt familiar for some reason, he searched his memory.

‘Who was it… Ah! Cheong Hwa-ran!’

It was definitely the woman whose identity had been revealed by Duan Sa-ryang at the entrance of the secret realm.

Her delicate features were admirable. Her pure white skin without a single blemish and her dark eyes were impressive.

It was a perfect beauty where not a single flaw could be found.

She was concealing her appearance with a spell, but it was clearly visible.

‘Is it thanks to having obtained Divine Sense?’

Whether it was an ill fate or a good connection, it was unexpected to meet Cheong Hwa-ran, with whom he had some connection, in this place.

In any case, this was a secret realm.

When meeting a competitor, it was normal to think of battle first.

‘9th layer Qi Condensation. The very edge of the late stage.’

It was not easy. The opponent was in a realm where she could challenge Foundation Establishment at any moment if she only had a Foundation Establishment Pill.

He aimed at the opponent with the tip of his slowly raised sword.

Just as a suffocating tension descended upon the Elixir Refining Room.

“Wait a minute. Is there any reason for us to fight?”

“…Hmm?”

“I do not know how you entered this place, but in fact, it is not important either.”

He paused at Cheong Hwa-ran’s calm attitude. After thinking for a moment, he took a step back.

When he motioned with his chin to hear what she had to say, she continued.

“I only need to obtain the jade slip behind you, Daoist Friend. I have no interest in the rest.”

“The jade slip?”

Glancing back, he saw a jade slip lying on a worn-out desk.

“It is a part of some cultivation method. Since it is just knowledge that can be copied, let us both share it.”

“…”

“Is there any need for us to waste time fighting each other? Although I have done something to the array, it is still unstable. We do not know when other cultivators will enter.”

Jin So-myeong’s eyebrows twitched.

That she knew details unknown even to him, who had arrived at the Elixir Refining Room first, meant she had definitely come to this place with some information.

However, she seemed completely unaware of the pure white flame he had absorbed.

Had she known, she would not have opened the door so defenselessly like that.

Could someone of her level handle the flame? Honestly, even with any preparation, it would have been impossible.

‘If by any chance she had known, she would have been angry upon seeing that the flame had vanished.’

Watching Cheong Hwa-ran’s calm attitude closely, he picked up the jade slip and took a few more steps back.

As he placed it to his forehead while maintaining his vigilance, numerous oral formulas floated into his mind.

‘Taiyi Medicine King Scripture ?’

As could be seen from the name alone, it was a cultivation method related to elixir refining.

It was a high-grade cultivation method written from Qi Condensation to Golden Core. At a glance, it looked considerably precious, but…

‘Of all things, an elixir refining cultivation method.’

For Jin So-myeong, who valued combat power, it was not a particularly coveted path.

Scanning the contents of the Taiyi Medicine King Scripture, he made a decision.

“Very well. But how will you copy it? Surely you are not intending to transcribe it with a brush?”

Although one could copy it in an instant using a jade slip, engraving information onto a jade slip required a Foundation Establishment-level mental strength.

Although it was possible for Jin So-myeong because he had awakened Divine Sense, he did not show it off.

“I will take care of that myself. If you give me the jade slip, I will return it to you after copying it.”

After pondering for a moment, Jin So-myeong tossed the jade slip.

Attaching a talisman to her forehead, she pulled out a new jade slip and closed her eyes.

After a moment.

Cheong Hwa-ran, whose expression had brightened further, smiled faintly.

“Thank you. You are a reasonable person, Daoist Friend.”

“…I wonder.”

He had simply returned it because the opponent showed no hostility.

Retrieving the jade slip, Jin So-myeong checked it meticulously just in case.

‘She didn’t play any tricks.’

He was relieved because the Taiyi Medicine King Scripture had no parts changed from when he first checked it.

Observing her consistent attitude intently, Jin So-myeong fell into thought.

Suddenly, the quality of the pills sold by the Blue Flood Dragon Gang came to his mind.

‘Every single one of them was high quality. This means her elixir refining skill is outstanding.’

Clank!

Having finished his thoughts, he sheathed his sword and said.

“Seeing that you want the Taiyi Medicine King Scripture, you seem to be an elixir master, is that correct?”

“…Yes.”

“Then, do you by any chance accept commissions for elixir refining?”

Since he had met a skilled elixir master, he intended to request her to make a Rank 1 Longevity-Extending Pill with the Red Capture Fruit.