The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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3. We Are Special

“Follow me.”

It was only after considerable time had passed since Kang Hyeon and In Deok arrived before Hyeon Gak that he finally began to move.

Kang Hyeon put In Deok in front and followed Hyeon Gak while making various speculations as he observed the hundred or so children following behind Hyeon Gak.

‘There must have been some kind of hypnosis, bewilderment, or brainwashing technique involved. Otherwise, there’s no way children could move this easily.’

Kang Hyeon thought this as he recalled his past life memories and the village children of his current life.

It was hard to imagine that children could move like they were doing now.

Especially not with a mix of children ranging from six to under ten years old.

So there must be a proper reason for such disciplined movement.

“Kang Hyeon.”

“I’m here. I’m following right behind you, so don’t worry and watch where you’re walking.”

As Hyeon Gak tried to lead the children into the Twelve-Faced Stone Pagoda, In Deok looked back at Kang Hyeon with frightened eyes.

‘This must be bigger than the gates of Daeseong?’

Coming closer, he saw there was a gate too massive to call it merely the entrance to a stone pagoda.

The gates opened on both sides, each one about the size of a ten-story apartment building.

So it was like two ten-story apartment buildings spread apart left and right, with the interior of the stone pagoda beyond them.

But the interior view visible from outside was strange.

There was a wide space without pillars, where several houses were scattered sparsely here and there.

“You children go over there.”

After entering the stone pagoda entrance, Hyeon Gak dispersed the children he had brought.

Without even telling them specifically where to go, the children scattered to find different monks.

What remained after that were Kang Hyeon and In Deok.

“Let’s go.”

With only the two remaining, Hyeon Gak’s tone and expression became much gentler.

He walked ahead, occasionally looking back at Kang Hyeon and In Deok who followed behind.

“In Deok, was it?”

At one point, Hyeon Gak spoke to In Deok without turning around.

“Yes? Yes. I’m Hwang In Deok.”

In Deok answered with a start.

“I heard you wanted to give up the Great Unity Festival and go home?”

Hyeon Gak asked while still walking and looking ahead.

“I, I just want to live with my mom, dad, and siblings…”

“I see. That’s understandable. Since you don’t know the supreme nature of cultivation, it’s natural.”

“Then can I, can I go home?”

Perhaps thinking that he was taking his side?

In Deok asked Hyeon Gak with a hopeful voice.

“That would be difficult. Originally, children with lowly spiritual roots don’t matter much whether they’re here or not, so there are cases where they’re sent back before the Great Unity Festival begins in earnest. No, I should say there are sects that do that. But our Cheonroemun has no such precedent.”

“Ah, sob!”

At Hyeon Gak’s words, In Deok burst into tears.

“Yes. It would be better to cry instead. After crying your heart out, your resentment will also be relieved.”

Even with In Deok’s crying, Hyeon Gak’s steps remained steady, and he never looked back.

Perhaps because of that.

In Deok’s crying didn’t last long.

“Then…”

“Do you have something to say?”

“If I, if I do well as I’m told… then can I go home?”

“Hmm? Of course. If you become a disciple of Cheonroemun, what reason would there be to prevent you from meeting your family after that?”

“I just need to become a disciple of Cheonroemun? Then I want to become a disciple right now.”

“Hahaha. Yes, that would be good. But until the Great Unity Festival ends, participants cannot leave the testing ground, nor can they become disciples of any sect.”

“What? Until the Great Unity Festival ends?”

“That’s right. But if you achieve good results during the Great Unity Festival, you’ll be able to go home and come back as soon as it ends.”

“…”

At Hyeon Gak’s words, In Deok closed his mouth.

He finally realized he had to accept that he couldn’t go home for a long time.

Kang Hyeon stayed close to In Deok, rubbing his back as they walked together.

***

Hyeon Gak led Kang Hyeon and In Deok to the outskirts of the village.

There was a small manor there, and following Hyeon Gak inside, it was quiet and deserted.

“You will be staying here from now on.”

Only after bringing Kang Hyeon and In Deok to the inner courtyard of the manor did Hyeon Gak turn around to face them.

“Here, you mean?”

Kang Hyeon asked.

“That’s right. I’ll use the main building here, and you can use the annex building on the right. Besides that, there are various auxiliary facilities attached to the manor, and I’ll teach you about them one by one.”

“Understood. But…”

“What is it?”

When Kang Hyeon carefully trailed off his words, Hyeon Gak asked.

“Even if we stay in the Annex Building, what about clothing and food?”

Kang Hyeon immediately asked Hyeon Gak about what seemed most urgent.

Then Hyeon Gak smiled leisurely as if there was nothing to worry about and said.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Though you’ll be staying here, group education must be done together with the other children. Naturally, meals will also be shared at the Dining Hall in the center of the Testing Ground. Also, when you gather at the Training Ground tomorrow, Standardized Clothing will be provided, so wear that, and if it gets dirty or torn, just take care of it yourselves.”

“Then is staying here the only special thing about us?”

Yang Gwang’s tone carried disappointment that there wasn’t much special about being entrusted to Hyeon Gak compared to just him and In Deok.

Then, as if seeing through Kang Hyeon’s thoughts, Hyeon Gak laughed heartily and said.

“Hahaha. How could that be?”

“Then…”

“You’ll find out in time. What kind of help I can be to you.”

Hyeon Gak didn’t seem inclined to tell them anything right now, saying that and pointing to the Annex Building.

“For now, go and rest. I’ll have tonight’s dinner brought to your room, so keep that in mind.”

“Then there’s nothing special until tomorrow morning?”

“That’s right. So don’t worry and rest comfortably.”

“Understood. Then we’ll withdraw.”

“Yes. The test will begin in earnest from dawn tomorrow, so wake up early.”

“Yes, elder.”

“No. ‘Elder’ is used when there’s a great difference in cultivation realm, otherwise calling me senior is sufficient. If you had entered the sect, you’d call me senior brother, but since that’s not the case either, as I’m merely at the Spiritual Energy realm, senior would be appropriate.”

“Understood. Senior Hyeon Gak.”

“Good. That’s fine. Now go and rest. You’ll be busy from tomorrow.”

“Understood. Then.”

“I’ll, I’ll be going.”

When Kang Hyeon bowed and headed to the Annex Building, In Deok also hurriedly greeted Hyeon Gak and frantically followed behind Kang Hyeon.

Hyeon Gak watched the retreating Kang Hyeon and In Deok, trying to gauge their relationship.

‘In Deok shows deep dependence on Kang Hyeon, and Kang Hyeon takes the lead in most matters. So I should pay a bit more attention to Kang Hyeon rather than In Deok, but in reality, In Deok is more important to our Cheonroemun than Kang Hyeon, so determining priorities won’t be easy.’

Getting In Deok to enter Cheonroemun had become the top priority of this Great Unity Festival.

This was what Yang Gwang had publicly declared, so Hyeon Gak couldn’t dare think otherwise.

Since Yang Gwang had said so, making things work out somehow was Hyeon Gak’s mission.

***

“You’re back?”

“Yes, senior.”

“I’m back too.”

Hyeon Gak welcomed Kang Hyeon and In Deok who had returned to the Manor after finishing group education.

“Good. In Deok, did you receive the education well too?”

“…”

“Seeing no answer, it must have been difficult today as well?”

Hyeon Gak looked at In Deok and smiled gently.

Though he looked dejected because training wasn’t going as intended, In Deok’s actual achievement was definitely not bad.

Among the many children Cheonroemun was in charge of, In Deok was the first to achieve Spiritual Energy Resonance, and also the fastest to move spiritual energy with his will.

And through the teachings of Spiritual Energy Circulation Method, he had grasped both his spiritual root and mental space, leaving only the unity of spiritual root and soul.

Of course, passing that barrier wouldn’t be easy, but he was clearly in the lead among the test takers, yet he had so little confidence.

“We did Spiritual Energy Circulation Method today too, but I still haven’t achieved Spiritual Root Awakening.”

As expected, In Deok brought up the anticipated problem, muttering with a disappointed expression.

“Oh my, so how far do you think you’ve gotten?”

“Now my spiritual root barely twitches.”

In Deok answered that way and glanced at Kang Hyeon beside him.

Hyeon Gak’s gaze turned to Kang Hyeon.

“How about you?”

“I think I still need to build more foundation.”

Kang Hyeon answered Hyeon Gak’s question that way.

Hyeon Gak frowned slightly at this.

“It looks sufficient to me though? You’ve already clearly recognized your spiritual root and mental space, so you just need to unite that spiritual root with yourself, but I don’t understand why you’ve been hesitating for several days already.”

Though Hyeon Gak had said In Deok was fastest among the children, he actually suspected that Kang Hyeon had been faster but was hiding it and revealed it later.

But he didn’t particularly make an issue of it.

Not revealing oneself and staying hidden was certainly also one of the survival tactics for living in the cultivation world.

“As you said, I clearly recognized my spiritual root, but strangely, the spiritual root is pushing away my will. So becoming one with the spiritual root isn’t easy.”

Kang Hyeon reported his problem to Hyeon Gak.

“So you’re saying you tried?”

Since this included content about attempting to enter the Spiritual Energy realm, Hyeon Gak asked back with a surprised expression.

“Actually, I tried immediately after recognizing my spiritual root, and several times after that…”

“But you failed? And the reason was that your spiritual root rejected you?”

“It seems that way.”

Kang Hyeon spoke as if it was just a guess, seeming uncertain.

“Hmm. How strange that a spiritual root would possess its own will. Your spiritual root is part of you, so originally it shouldn’t have separate will. Such a case could occur when one has learned special Cultivation Methods to grow the spiritual root, but that doesn’t apply to you who hasn’t even entered the Path of Cultivation yet…”

Hyeon Gak seemed to find Kang Hyeon’s words hard to believe, stroking his chin and falling into thought.

And after a while.

“If there truly is such a problem with your Spiritual Root, that would be your special uniqueness. So try to solve the problem yourself. When the time comes that you feel it won’t work despite your efforts, I’ll speak to Master Yang Gwang about it.”

“I understand. I will devote myself to training.”

“Good. And remember this. Although I teach you two specially, that doesn’t mean I can cultivate in your place. Developing the ability to stand up on your own is also part of cultivation. Don’t feel disappointed.”

“How could I harbor such feelings? That will never happen.”

“Good. That’s settled then. But now most of the children have succeeded in Spiritual Energy Resonance, right?”

“That’s what I heard. So they said the real tests will begin in earnest.”

Kang Hyeon told him about what had happened at the Group Training Hall.

Then Hyeon Gak stroked his chin and looked at In Deok.

In Deok’s eyes wavered with an expression wondering what was going on under Hyeon Gak’s gaze.

“As you both know by now, This Place where the Great Unity Festival is held is a Mystic Realm.”

“Yes, I learned that too.”

In Deok answered with a bright smile.

“Right, as you know, Mystic Realms are spaces separated from the Mortal World, each with different sizes and environments. Among them, This Place where this Great Unity Festival is being held is a small Mystic Realm about three thousand li in radius.”

“Three thousand li… a small place.”

Kang Hyeon muttered quietly with an expression questioning whether that could be called small.

But Hyeon Gak didn’t scold Kang Hyeon for this and continued speaking.

“The problem is that This Place is a completely undeveloped, new Mystic Realm.”

“It hasn’t been developed?”

Kang Hyeon sensed something ominous and asked back with a stern expression.

“This Place was discovered while searching for a Mystic Realm to hold this Great Unity Festival. After that, the Twelve Sects joined forces to build the Tower, but that means almost no exploration of This Place was done. It’s what we call a Virgin Mystic Realm.”

“I’m hearing the term Virgin Mystic Realm for the first time, but anyway, doesn’t that mean we can’t know what dangers might exist here?”

“Dangerous?”

In Deok, who had been listening, looked at Kang Hyeon with a startled expression.

Although he was under Hyeon Gak’s care, In Deok was someone who would look to Kang Hyeon first rather than Hyeon Gak in urgent situations.

“Haha. In Deok and Kang Hyeon don’t need to worry. I will protect you both.”

Hyeon Gak tried to ease In Deok’s worries with a bright laugh.

“Wouldn’t that break the fairness of the test?”

Kang Hyeon asked Hyeon Gak.

Then Hyeon Gak answered with a snort.

“Heh, where in the world is there anything fair? How could talented individuals with Heavenly Spiritual Roots like you be the same as those worthless ones with Four or Five Spiritual Roots?”

“Ah…!”

At Hyeon Gak’s words, Kang Hyeon nodded, recalling that he and In Deok were already receiving special treatment.

“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that you’ll often have occasions to leave the Tower and explore the Mystic Realm from now on, and since we don’t know what might happen in the Mystic Realm, you need to prepare in advance.”

“What kind of preparations can we make?”

“First, you need to prepare for self-protection. Let me see…”

Hyeon Gak said this and took out a Pouch from his sleeve, then closed his eyes and concentrated his consciousness.

At Hyeon Gak’s appearance, Kang Hyeon and In Deok watched with curious eyes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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