The Chaotic Immortal Wood Sect: Immortal Cultivation War - Chapter 6

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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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6. Introduction to Spiritual Energy Technique

Kang Hyeon and In Deok returned to the Tower and told Hyeon Gak about their encounter with Lee Tae Ho’s gang.

However, Kang Hyeon had discussed with In Deok not to mention Trent, and as a result, they reported that they overcame the crisis using magical instruments and talismans.

In response, Hyeon Gak said he would protest Hyeonhae Palace for not controlling the misconduct of the trainees they were responsible for.

He also suggested they should act as if Kang Hyeon and In Deok knew nothing about the deaths of Lee Tae Ho and the children.

There was no reason to create problems by revealing who killed them.

Naturally, they decided to protest about the misconduct of Hyeonhae Palace trainees on the grounds that it could interfere with the progress of the Great Unity Festival, regardless of Lee Tae Ho.

“Even so, if those children went missing, they would naturally search for them, and there’s a possibility they might uncover your involvement with them.”

Hyeon Gak said this, keeping in mind that the children’s cleanup might not be thorough.

But when In Deok and Kang Hyeon worried about this, he waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s not something to worry about too much. Since those children were the ones who started trouble first, even if they investigate the sequence of events, our side would be at an advantage, so there won’t be any need to reveal the involved parties in detail.”

“Thank you.”

Kang Hyeon understood that Hyeon Gak meant he would somehow prevent him and In Deok from being exposed, and bowed his head.

However, that incident brought unexpected results.

When Hyeon Gak suggested that they should stop trainees from fighting each other outside the Tower, the opposite result came out instead.

“So you’re saying they’re tolerating trainees using force to extort others?”

“No, how can that be possible?”

Kang Hyeon and In Deok asked protestingly after hearing the news Hyeon Gak brought.

Then Hyeon Gak made a stern expression and said:

“Though it was an unexpected result, more than half of the Twelve Sects agreed with that side, so there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Then from now on, if you have power, you can kill as you please?”

Kang Hyeon asked with a cold look, as if confirming.

Actually, for Kang Hyeon, such survival wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

If he used Trent, he believed there would be no opponent among the current trainees he couldn’t defeat.

Then wouldn’t this actually become favorable conditions for him?

“That’s the policy for now. But they set minimum standards.”

“Standards?”

Kang Hyeon asked.

“Within ten li of the Tower, trainees who haven’t reached the Smoke Realm will be active, and they decided to set activity restrictions at the boundaries of another ten li, hundred li, and five hundred li for early, middle, and late stages of the Smoke Realm respectively.”

“So you’re saying they only prevented massacres from happening due to large differences in cultivation levels?”

Kang Hyeon easily understood the reason for such restrictions.

“That’s right. And if anyone violates those restrictions and causes problems…”

Though Hyeon Gak didn’t finish his sentence, his cold gaze alone was enough to guess what came next.

Kang Hyeon and In Deok trembled slightly at Hyeon Gak’s killing intent.

“Then from now on, we’ll need to be fully prepared before going outside the Tower?”

In Deok couldn’t hide his worried expression.

“Hmph, you’ll soon enter the Smoke Realm, and I’ll support you with all kinds of magical instruments, talismans, and pills, so what is there to worry about?”

Hyeon Gak spoke to In Deok as if scolding him for being frustrating.

“But…”

“We decided not to intervene outside the Tower unless it’s a special matter. From now on, for us instructors to step in, we need to hold a full meeting and get permission. Of course, it won’t be that strict, but it means we can’t freely roam outside the Tower anymore.”

“Then how do you supervise violations of the cultivation level restrictions based on distance?”

There must be some method, but Kang Hyeon was curious about it and asked.

“That is…”

At Kang Hyeon’s question, Hyeon Gak hesitated for a moment, then chuckled and said:

“This is related to the upcoming trials, so it’s difficult to say in advance, but since you two are special, I’ll tell you.”

“Yes? Th-thank you.”

“Thank you, Senior Hyeon Gak.”

Since it was unexpected news, Kang Hyeon expressed his gratitude in surprise, and In Deok also greeted him while reading the situation.

Then Hyeon Gak waved his hand and continued:

“Let me say in advance that this is content only you two should know. Understood?”

“Yes, Senior.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t have any other close friends besides Kang Hyeon.”

“Is that something to be proud of?! Tsk.”

Hyeon Gak clicked his tongue and soon continued:

“Originally, there’s a barrier that was created when the Tower was built to raise the level of trials during the Great Unity Festival period.”

“A barrier?”

“There are barriers at distances of ten li, hundred li, and five hundred li from the Tower that prevent free passage between inside and outside.”

“Ah, so they used that as the standard to set activity zones according to cultivation levels this time?”

“That’s right. And those barriers can be passed through using the teleportation arrays installed in the Tower. Of course, there’s also a method of going directly to the barrier and using a transit pass.”

“So you’re saying when our cultivation level increases, we need to move using teleportation arrays from the Tower?”

“That’s right. Exactly that. From the middle stage of Spiritual Energy Technique, you can’t just go outside the Tower and must use the teleportation array that goes beyond hundred li. And the destination is random too.”

“That would be dangerous?”

“Cultivation necessarily requires luck. Or outstanding ability. Or…”

Hyeon Gak said this and took out two fortune pouches from his sleeve, offering them to Kang Hyeon and In Deok.

“Is this a storage pouch?”

“Wow, you’re giving us storage pouches?”

Kang Hyeon and In Deok immediately recognized what those Fortune Pouches were.

Spatial Artifacts that could store tremendous amounts of items in a small pouch.

Their forms varied – pouches, rings, bracelets, belts, and so on, with names subdivided accordingly into Spatial Bags, Storage Rings, Storage Pouches, etc., though they were also collectively called Storage Pouches.

“They’re difficult to use without properly entering Spiritual Energy Technique, but since your Spiritual Energy Sensitivity is special, you should be able to use them even if it takes some effort. And having these should greatly increase your motivation for entering Spiritual Energy Foundation Entry.”

“Thank you.”

“Senior Hyeon Gak, thank you so much. Ehehehehe.”

Kang Hyeon received the Storage Pouch without any thought of declining, and In Deok did the same.

Ever since they learned of the existence of Storage Pouches, they had always thought it would be great to have one.

The training robes Hyeon Gak had given them did have some space expansion function inside the sleeves, but that was far inferior even to the lowest-grade Storage Pouch.

But now that an opportunity to obtain a Storage Pouch had arisen, what was the point of being modest?

Swoosh!

“Huh? There’s something inside?”

Kang Hyeon, holding the Storage Pouch, projected his Mental Intent and discovered there were contents inside.

“There are Healing Pills, Talismans, Magical Instruments, and Jade Slips? There are Jade Slips too?”

Beside him, In Deok was also identifying the items in his Storage Pouch and looked at Hyeon Gak with an excited expression.

“The other things you can use right away, but the Jade Slips must only be studied after entering Spiritual Energy Technique.”

Jade Slips were storage media the size of a finger that contained tremendous amounts of information.

In terms of books, hundreds of volumes could be stored in a single Jade Slip, though storing information wasn’t originally their intended purpose.

They could be said to be media for three-dimensionally transmitting cultivation secrets that were difficult to explain through writing and speech.

“Cultivation Methods?”

Kang Hyeon asked.

“I gave you a Wood Attribute Cultivation Method, and to In Deok I gave Cheonroemun’s secret techniques.”

“You mean cultivation is only possible after entering Spiritual Energy Technique?”

“The most basic condition for accepting the contents of Jade Slips is having entered Spiritual Energy Technique or higher. If you’re greedy before then, it’s difficult to survive. Even if you do survive by chance, you’ll only become an idiot. Remember this well. Originally, you shouldn’t be able to activate Jade Slips without entering Spiritual Energy Technique, but since you two have such exceptional Spiritual Energy Sensitivity, I’m warning you just in case.”

This meant that reading Jade Slips placed that much burden on the mind.

Without ascending to Spiritual Energy Technique to expand consciousness and increase Mental Power, one couldn’t endure it.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“I won’t even take them out of the Storage Pouch before entry. Yes.”

Kang Hyeon and In Deok made that promise to Hyeon Gak and put away their Storage Pouches in their sleeves.

“Now then, let’s briefly review what you’ve learned so far and study the advanced content.”

Then Hyeon Gak began his usual tutoring session with Kang Hyeon and In Deok.

***

‘Well now, I never thought things would turn out like this.’

Kang Hyeon was organizing his thoughts in the Training Room of his quarters.

Since he was born with his previous life’s memories intact, he had no choice but to be outstanding compared to his peers from a young age.

That’s why even when he became an orphan due to the epidemic, he was able to survive by staying with the Village.

Also, just like In Deok, he had easily created a situation where most of the Village children followed him as their leader.

But throughout all that, there was one thing Kang Hyeon had regretted – not inheriting his previous life’s Awakening Ability.

He had the memories, but had become an ordinary child’s body.

Having to live in this harsh world with such limitations, he had naturally looked forward to the Great Unity Festival, which seemed like it could satisfy his desire for improvement.

But when he actually came to the Great Unity Festival and began Spiritual Energy Cultivation, many things changed.

‘I never thought my Spiritual Root would be Trent.’

Trent was the summoned creature Kang Hyeon had commanded with his Awakening Ability in his previous life.

True to its name, it was a moving tree, sometimes called an Ent.

Kang Hyeon had lived the life of a Hunter, traveling between Gates and Dungeons with this Trent.

‘I was clearly a production class, but instead of being protected, I was driven to the battlefield.’

Though he had the summoned creature Trent, Kang Hyeon’s original Awakening Ability was closer to that of a farmer.

To be precise, he was an Awakened One whose skills mostly helped plant growth.

But with the world overflowing with monsters, combat personnel were urgently needed, and Kang Hyeon had to wander battlefields half-willingly, half-unwillingly.

Eventually meeting a lonely death deep within a massive Gate was the end of his previous life.

He had been reincarnated in this Daecheon World while maintaining his previous life’s memories, but without his Hunter abilities.

However, many things had changed since coming to the Great Unity Festival.

‘As I accepted Spiritual Energy, Trent awakened, and though there’s no status window, I can now use skill abilities.’

Using Spiritual Energy, he could activate several basic skills that helped with growing plants.

‘The most special thing is Trent. It serves as both a Spiritual Root and a summoned creature.’

Even when summoning Trent, the Trent in his Mental Space didn’t disappear.

Trent as a Spiritual Root remained as it was, while summoned Trent appeared in the world.

‘And whatever that Trent devours becomes fertilizer that directly grows the Spiritual Root.’

Lee Tae Ho and those three scumbags he had absorbed last time had disappeared that way.

‘Spiritual Energy Foundation Entry is completed by recognizing my Spiritual Root and aligning my soul with the Spiritual Root. The reason my entry was delayed was because I had strong preconceptions about separating Trent from myself.’

The cognitive shift of viewing Trent, which he had originally used as a summoned creature, as another part of himself wasn’t easy.

That’s why he hadn’t been able to enter Spiritual Energy Technique until now.

But now that was over too – Kang Hyeon had finally found the method.

‘I just need to view the summoned creature as a summoned creature, and think of Spiritual Root Trent as something separate. Since I experienced that Spiritual Root Trent remained even while Trent was summoned, I can now accept the Spiritual Root and summoned Trent as separate entities.’

It was a simple change in thinking, but with this, Kang Hyeon had found a way to enter Spiritual Energy Technique.

‘Let’s begin.’

Kang Hyeon steeled his resolve and concentrated his consciousness inward while sitting in lotus position.

And based on his multiple experiences, he was able to reach the Mental Space without much difficulty.

In his mind, the space of consciousness where the Spiritual Root existed.

Originally, recognizing the Spiritual Root and simultaneously materializing the space where that Spiritual Root exists through consciousness is the minimum qualification to attempt entering the Spiritual Energy Technique.

Kang Hyeon had already surpassed that stage.

Now, if he could unify the Spiritual Root existing in this Mental Space with his own consciousness, or more precisely his soul, a pathway to communicate with the Heaven and Earth Laws would open and he could enter the Spiritual Energy Technique.

‘Trent Spiritual Root.’

Kang Hyeon recognized the Trent that was heavily positioned in his Mental Space.

Kang Hyeon’s Trent was a tree, but it had no leaves.

It was composed only of branches, trunk, and roots, and was a summoned creature that could freely move its roots and branches.

Right now, that Trent was standing in the Mental Space exactly as it had appeared before.

‘The children have already become fertilizer and disappeared.’

Kang Hyeon briefly searched for the children that Trent had brought before, then shook his head.

Those children had originally been beneath Trent’s roots, but as time passed, they were naturally absorbed by Trent and disappeared.

‘Now is the time to focus on the Spiritual Root.’

Kang Hyeon dismissed the memories of the children as distracting thoughts and focused on Trent.

And he recognized it as part of himself and summoned the will to become one with it.

‘Whenever this happened, I always failed to become one because I thought of Trent as a different entity, a summoned creature. But now it’s different.’

Kang Hyeon summoned Trent to one side of the Mental Space.

That Trent was a summoned being, not a Spiritual Root.

As two Trents came into being this way, a natural distinction arose between the summoned being and the non-summoned one, and the obstacle to identifying the non-summoned Trent—that is, the Spiritual Root Trent—as part of himself became smaller.

‘This Trent Spiritual Root is part of me, something I was naturally born with, different from summoned beings. Therefore, there is no reason to reject this heavenly blessing bestowed upon me. Now I shall use this Spiritual Root as the cornerstone of the Great Way.’

Kang Hyeon steeled his resolve in this way and gradually took control of the Spiritual Root with his consciousness.

And at some moment when he could no longer perceive how much time had passed, Kang Hyeon realized that he had completely become one with the Spiritual Root.

‘The path connecting to the Heaven and Earth Laws has opened!’

Kang Hyeon instantly felt his consciousness being sucked into that pathway as tremendous pleasure surged up.

An incredible pleasure he had never experienced before.

It was Dharma Bliss.

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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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