Chapter 8 – The Divine Ability Has Strengthened!

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Having completed his mental preparation, Jin So-myeong consumed the Qi Condensing Pill.

The moment the pill, which melted as soon as it was placed in his mouth, entered his stomach.

Boom!

The thick spiritual Qi condensed in the pill burst out explosively.

The churning energy spread to the extremities of his four limbs.

“Ugh.”

His breath hitched at the spiritual Qi that tightly filled his entire body. Even his meridians felt as if they would burst due to the rapidly intensified pressure.

He hurriedly closed both eyes.

He circulated the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art with all his might, but it was overwhelming.

The spiritual Qi that raged at will was out of control. It could not accumulate properly in his dantian and leaked out through his skin.

His humble talent had held him back.

‘Oh no!’

Most of the pill’s efficacy leaked out through his pores and was wasted. It was too regrettable. It felt like vomiting blood.

Even as he tried desperately to control the flow, it was not enough.

‘No! I gathered spirit stones for half a year just to buy this Qi Condensing Pill!’

Just as he was biting his lips, at a loss for what to do. A good idea suddenly occurred to him.

Hum!

He hurriedly focused his mind. The moment he made a wish by consuming all his remaining Supreme Great Ability.

A mysterious ripple arose and began to guide the flow.

The spiritual Qi that had been raging like a rogue suddenly transformed. It was absurd how it suddenly became as submissive as a gentle lamb.

‘Huh?’

The difficulty that had tormented him until just now felt like an illusion.

Jin So-myeong, who almost stopped his cultivation method out of an inexplicable sense of injustice, was startled.

‘Get a grip!’

The difficulty had all passed, but he could not waste the pill due to carelessness. If he did, he would get sick with anger and would not even be able to sleep properly.

Brushing aside distracting thoughts, he focused on the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art. He absorbed himself in guiding all the essence of the Qi Condensing Pill, which contained half a year’s effort, into his dantian.

The moment he succeeded in perfectly digesting the pill’s efficacy.

Boom!

The wall blocking his way shattered in an instant, and a gratifying and thrilling sensation surged up his spine.

He had finally broken through the realm to become Qi Condensation stage 2nd layer!

An evolution that took place on the level of the essence of life. The ecstatic feeling of transforming into a superior being was irreplaceable by anything.

“Haah!”

Exhaling a turbid breath, he savored the aftertaste.

The moment a realm rose was truly the best. He seemed to understand why cultivators risked their lives for cultivation.

‘One Qi Condensing Pill is better than a month of cultivation.’

The effect of the pill was also amazing. The cultivation progress, which had been slow like a snail, jumped in a single instant.

The fortune of twenty spirit stones was not a waste at all.

He felt skin-deep why cultivators purchased pills with the spirit stones they earned with difficulty.

Jin So-myeong, who nodded in satisfaction, focused on his dantian.

He intended to check how much stronger he had become upon reaching Qi Condensation stage 2nd layer.

“…Spiritual Qi has increased by at least fifty percent.”

Roughly 1.5 times.

The total amount of spiritual Qi increased, and his physical strength and muscle strength also grew stronger. He became superior in all aspects, including reaction speed.

He felt that he could win even if he fought two of his former selves at Qi Condensation stage 1st layer before the breakthrough.

Adapting to his strengthened body while stretching, Jin So-myeong paused.

“Huh?”

This was because he felt that a change had occurred in the Supreme Great Ability, the divine ability engraved in his soul.

He immediately called out for the status window.

【Jin So-myeong】

【Lifespan】 : 15/ 118

【Realm】 : Qi Condensation Stage 2nd Layer

【Supreme Great Ability】 : 5/15

Examining the hologram, he cheered.

“Oh-oh!”

The Supreme Great Ability beads increased from ten to fifteen! As his realm rose, the Supreme Great Ability had also strengthened.

If it were only the quantity that increased, it would not have much meaning, but no matter how many golden beads there were, they recovered completely in a month.

This meant that as the total amount increased, the recovery speed of the divine ability also became faster.

“Nice!”

Now, waiting exactly two days would recover one bead.

‘This is huge! I can go to Mount Red Yang even three times a month.’

The changes that came with the rising realm were pleasing. The feeling of progressing, even if little by little, was very good.

Smiling sillily like a child who received a gift, Jin So-myeong paused.

‘Wait a minute… this isn’t right.’

Suddenly, he felt a sense of crisis in his own self, who was happy just with the fact that he could go to Mount Red Yang three times.

This was because, before he knew it, he was immersed in daily life, focusing on earning a living day by day.

Being diligent was good, but he always had to cherish a desire to improve in his heart!

He felt that he should not cultivate in such a haphazard manner.

Since the Supreme Great Ability was a powerful divine ability, he had to use it efficiently. He needed to establish a more proper cultivation plan.

Currently, the Supreme Great Ability was mostly being consumed on mimicking the Breath Concealing Art, which was a clear waste.

He just needed to gather spirit stones for about half a year, purchase the Breath Concealing Art officially, and learn it. Then, he could climb Mount Red Yang without relying on the Supreme Great Ability.

When that time came, he would also be able to use the Supreme Great Ability for cultivation.

Becoming strong through the divine ability, and the Supreme Great Ability strengthening as the realm rose—a virtuous cycle!

To go far, he had to form such a structure.

Letting out a sigh, Jin So-myeong smacked his lips in regret.

‘I won’t even catch a glimpse of the Qi Condensing Pill for the time being. If I could just consume pills consistently, I would be able to increase my cultivation speed by two to three times.’

Regrets lingered, but he had to endure.

Although the cultivation speed would temporarily slow down, it was beneficial in the long term.

Having established a rough plan, he closed both eyes.

Controlling his mind that was trying to grow impatient, he circulated the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art. This was to manage the instability that arose from his rising realm.

*

A month later.

Having perfectly adapted to Qi Condensation stage 2nd layer, Jin So-myeong left his house.

Perhaps because he had recovered his peak condition while resting well, his mood was particularly good today.

Carrying a broadsword on his waist, he headed toward Mount Red Yang along the familiar path. Just before the wasteland ended and the mountain path began in earnest.

‘Oh?’

Right from the entrance of the mountain, he discovered large dew droplets formed on grass blades.

He was lucky. Finding dew at the entrance of Mount Red Yang, where many people came and went, was a rare occurrence.

Just before gathering the dew.

He flinched as he was simply checking the surroundings out of habit.

‘…!’

His heart sank due to the unexpected situation. His fingertips trembled minutely, but he desperately tried not to show it.

A split second.

A time so short that it was even hard to perceive passed.

Jin So-myeong acted naturally like someone who was unaffected. He even gathered the dew while smiling brightly as if pleased.

‘Dammit.’

Contrary to his pleased exterior, his inside was burning. All sorts of thoughts raged in his head.

This was because he had just discovered something suspicious while checking his surroundings out of habit.

A translucent shape wavering like a haze accidentally caught his eye, and it was clearly a human form.

Trickle…

A drop of cold sweat trickling down the back of his neck showed how tense he was.

‘Who is it? Just since when have they been following me?’

If there was a being more dangerous than demonic beasts on Mount Red Yang, which was no different from a lawless zone, it was human.

‘…Fortunately, though.’

Thanks to his habit of always observing his surroundings, he had spotted the opponent first. This was a great stroke of luck.

He did not know that an action he had done without much thought would return like this. Without this habit, he would have been ambushed without even noticing the tail.

‘What should I do? Should I return to the market?’

He did not know how to cope with the situation, which he was experiencing for the first time.

All sorts of methods came to mind in a disorganized way. Wandering in conflict, Jin So-myeong shut his mouth tightly.

Maintaining a calm expression outwardly, he massaged his shoulders. Naturally looking around as if searching for a path, he concentrated his senses.

‘Two? No, there is one more. There are three in total.’

First, he had to grasp the number of enemies…

Enemy?

The moment that word flashed in his head, his thoughts, which had stiffened due to panic, began to run coolheadedly.

‘Is it possible…? No, I must do it!’

A plan to deal with the tails was formulated in an instant.

As if shedding a skin, his sleeping instincts awakened.

He was surprised at his own cold, settled reason, but his actions were natural. He did not stop for even a single moment.

Step!

Carrying the gourd flask containing the dew on his back, he moved his steps toward the depths of Mount Red Yang.

Even though he noticed the tails, he did not turn back!

‘Even if I shake them off now, it has no meaning. It will be more dangerous if they search for me again.’

Jin So-myeong climbed the mountain path with a calm expression.

Although he knew he was being pursued, he did not show it. Like someone who knew nothing, he slipped into the dense thickets.

Just before entering the entrance section of Mount Red Yang in earnest.

Swish!

He pulled out a piece of paper that looked like a talisman from his chest.

A bizarre pattern was drawn on the gray talisman, which was a Breath Concealing Talisman he had made out of curiosity.

Actually, it was hard to even call it a Breath Concealing Talisman. Since the material costs were a waste, he had just drawn along on ordinary paper.

Naturally, the production failed, and this talisman had no effect. It was merely a piece of paper that looked plausible on the outside.

‘To think I would use this like this.’

Although it was an ineffective talisman, it was not useless. It was sufficient to deceive eyes in the dark dawn.

Hum!

Gathering spiritual Qi at his fingertips, he created a faint light. Simultaneously with waving the paper as if activating the talisman.

Swish!

Using the Supreme Great Ability, he performed the Breath Concealing Art.

A mysterious ripple spread out and enveloped him. Like a protective shield, it blocked his body inside and out to prevent energy from leaking.

However, the effect of the concealment art was much weaker than usual. This was natural since he had deliberately not put in his full effort.

‘They should be able to see through this level of the Breath Concealing Art.’

Sure enough, it was as expected.

The tails continued to chase him. It meant they had a means to track him who used the Breath Concealing Art.

‘I don’t know why they are chasing me… but it certainly isn’t with good intentions.’

A chilly aura brushed past a corner of his calm expression.

Step, step.

Heading toward the depths of Mount Red Yang without hesitation, he occasionally stopped.

Like someone who knew nothing, he dug up minor spiritual herbs or gathered the dew formed on leaves.

How much time passed?

Jin So-myeong’s steps only came to a complete halt when he arrived at his destination, the Dew Tree.

Looking up at the giant tree that was well over twenty meters, he narrowed his eyes.

Crack!

The moment he exerted his will, a golden bead containing the Supreme Great Ability disappeared soundlessly.

Under his senses amplified by the mysterious energy, the three pursuers behind his back were clearly felt.

‘Two early Qi Condensation stage cultivators like me, and one mid-stage cultivator.’

The energy of the two was similar to Jin So-myeong’s, but one was much stronger. It meant they were at least Qi Condensation stage 4th layer.

The possibility of winning in a frontal battle was extremely microscopic!

His five senses amplified by the Supreme Great Ability were extraordinary. Everything was plainly visible.

Perhaps because they discovered the Dew Tree, he could also feel that the pursuers’ breathing grew minutely rough.

A split second.

Jin So-myeong, who hesitated about something, shut his mouth tightly. This was because it was clear what consequences the action he was about to take would bring.

‘…It’s fine. If I can’t kill them, I will be the one who suffers.’

Soon, someone would kill and be killed. Bracing his mind that was trying to grow weak, he drew up the spiritual Qi in his dantian.

Swoosh!

The moment he raised the gourd flask and activated the Cloud and Rain Summoning Art, dozens, hundreds of water streams were sucked into the bottle in spirals!

And.

Buzz!

Leaving behind the buzzing sound of wings that gave him goosebumps no matter how many times he heard it, he kicked off the ground with all his might.

Running in the direction where the pursuers were, he performed the Breath Concealing Art. Unlike before, he put all his strength into hiding his presence!

“Huh?”

Instantly, the rabid momentum of the venomous insects swept in all directions.

The concealment art of the tails broke in an instant. Without enduring even a moment, their figures were plainly revealed.

“W-What is this!”

The astounded bastards shouted. Perhaps panicked by the unexpected situation, they stiffened like stone statues and were at a loss for what to do.

However, Jin So-myeong was different.

Without delaying for even a single second, he widened the distance from the Dew Tree. This was because he properly knew the dread of the swarm of insects that had begun to run wild behind.