Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 41: Auction

The identity of the monster.

It was a fierce beast known as the ‘Devourer Beast’, which was said to enjoy consuming humans with pure bodies like monks or cultivators. It was one of the most notorious beasts in the cultivation world.

It was noteworthy that a beast at the Foundation Establishment stage, especially one lacking human-level intelligence, was able to use an formation. This was as astonishing as a beast speaking.

Someone capable of teaching a formation to a Foundation Establishment stage beast.

According to Elder Geum, only Elder Jang Su-gi could do that.

Elder Jang Su-gi was famous among the elders for raising all sorts of peculiar beasts and monsters.

When disciples first started disappearing, it was naturally Elder Jang Su-gi who was suspected, which was the source of the rumors about monsters roaming within the sect.

However, Elder Jang Su-gi vehemently denied that it was his beasts or monsters causing trouble.

In fact, he regularly reported the beasts and monsters he raised to the Sect, and the numbers matched perfectly, allowing him to clear himself of suspicion.

But who would have known?

That there was one beast and monster he hadn’t reported.

It was precisely this Devourer Beast.

“Devourer Beasts are inherently violent and have a strong appetite, making it a forbidden beast to raise, yet it’s being raised within the Sect?”

Elder Geum realized that the Devourer Beast belonged to Jang Su-gi because of his mark.

Like livestock, Jang Su-gi’s mark was to hang a ring on their ears.

This Devourer Beast also had a ring hanging without exception.

“I will not let this matter slide. Disciple Lee Yuk-gyeong, your contribution is significant. A Devourer Beast using a stealth formation. I never imagined it. If it weren’t for you, the damage would have been much greater.”

Under Elder Geum’s praise, Yuk-gyeong bowed politely.

Elder Geum looked at Yuk-gyeong with satisfaction and took something out of his sleeve.

“Take this. It’s a reward for disciple Lee Yuk-gyeong who has rendered great service.”

Yuk-gyeong was bewildered as he accepted what Elder Geum offered.

He thought he would just be given some contribution points, but to receive something directly?

Moreover…

This is a magical tool!

Yuk-gyeong held the bamboo flute in his hand.

The Spiritual Qi contained in the flute was so abundant that it seemed to flow out just by holding it. This was no ordinary magical tool.

As expected of Elder Geum! How generous to give out such a magical tool!

“That is a magical tool I used from when I was in the Qi Condensation stage to the Foundation Establishment stage, called ‘Flame Demon Summoning Flute’. It allows you to summon a fire-attribute demon to fight alongside you, so it should be quite useful.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

“Your progress is impressive. Keep advancing, and I will come for you. Disband!”

After saying that meaningfully, Elder Geum flew off into the sky.

Giving a magical tool and leaving so coolly! If that’s not the demeanor of a master, what is?

As Yuk-gyeong embraced the magical tool, he felt a surge of respect for Elder Geum.

But why did he say he’d come for me?

Yuk-gyeong brushed off Elder Geum’s last words. Once he reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he might become an inner disciple and have the chance to be a named disciple of the Elder, so he thought it might be referring to when that time comes.

Elder Geum, I should seriously consider it. With such a generous elder, it might be worth joining under him.

If I become his disciple, who knows, he might even give me some extra treasures.

The exploration team disciples couldn’t disband for quite a while.

It was because Yuk-gyeong had a knack for finding elusive beasts. They were buzzing about Yuk-gyeong, who caught the beast that even Core Formation elders couldn’t find in one go.

“How did he find the fiend that even the Core Formation elders couldn’t?”

“Maybe the Single Spiritual Root owner had his own unique method?”

“I heard that Single Spiritual Root owners are like mystic beasts, so they can easily find beasts.”

What does it mean to be like a mystic beast?

Leaving behind the disciples spreading rumors, Yuk-gyeong returned to the Medicine Hall.

Anyway, these cultivators. They’re so insensitive to safety. Raising a beast that eats people in secret?

What punishment will the elder who raised a beast that eats people receive?

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A few more days passed.

I heard that the Elder’s personal deviation ended with a disciplinary action.

But since he was a Core Formation elder, he won’t receive a fatal punishment. They can’t just oust a Core Formation elder, who is essentially the Sect’s combat power, just because a few disciples were lost.

Indeed, in the cultivation world, power and cultivation are supreme.

Only the disciples who died to the Foundation Establishment beast ended up pitiful.

The cultivation world is ruthless. Human life wasn’t as precious as it is in modern times.

Dying while training, dying on the road, dying in a quarrel. Death was a daily occurrence here. Perhaps the deaths of a few disciples will be forgotten by tomorrow. Only those who were particularly close will remember.

Feeling the heartlessness of the cultivation world once again, Yuk-gyeong prayed for the repose of those who died to the beast.

Nonetheless, what encouraged Yuk-gyeong was that the prestige of the Jang family had significantly diminished since that incident. I heard that the elders from the Jang family were called to the Sect Leader Hall and were scolded loudly?

Yuk-gyeong was pleased that the Jang family had quieted down. Later, when I grow a bit more, I’ll definitely crush the Jang family. I won’t feel satisfied until I do it myself. Yuk-gyeong vowed to himself.

And then….

I heard that the Servant Hall Deacon, Yeong Sun-il, was expelled and is now serving as an external deacon in the mundane world.

Even though he’s from the Servant Hall, having to serve outside the Sect after being expelled must be miserable, right? It’s not enough…it’s just not enough. There will come a day when we meet again.

Yuk-gyeong mulled over this as he continued his training in the practice room. The training space prepared exclusively for Qi Condensation disciples is said to be excellent for achieving enlightenment, but I’m not sure.

Yuk-gyeong further solidified his Qi Condensation Great Perfection stage.

Yuk-gyeong’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit were completely stabilized, and he was ready to leap forward as soon as he gained even a hint of enlightenment.

Yuk-gyeong’s daily routine was simple.

He trained, and for a change of pace, he would drop by the Medicine Hall to chat with Elder Bu or assist in his alchemy. Then Elder Bu would toss him pills, saying they were to clear his mind and aid in enlightenment.

Yuk-gyeong trained continuously, attacking the Foundation Establishment stage.

Yet, enlightenment corresponding to the Foundation Establishment stage rarely came.

Yuk-gyeong felt frustrated, but he knew that enlightenment doesn’t come just because one is frustrated, so he tried not to rush.

Taking a walk and meeting people to refresh the atmosphere can improve efficiency.

That’s why Yuk-gyeong didn’t just stay cooped up cultivating but occasionally went around to get some fresh air.

Today was one of those days.

The kind of day when just cultivating makes your chest and head feel stuffy, so you need to go out for a walk to get some air.

How can one close themselves off and gain enlightenment without even a clue to guide them? There’s no joy in training like this.

Yuk-gyeong took a stroll through the Sect, enjoying the gentle breeze.

Without realizing it, he found himself in the inner sect area, but Yuk-gyeong didn’t mind. A typical outer sect disciple would be startled and leave immediately, but Yuk-gyeong had come here occasionally since his days in the Servant Hall.

The place he was allowed to train in the Servant Hall was located in the inner sect area. So it was a familiar place for Yuk-gyeong.

The inner sect area seemed cleaner and quieter than the outer sect. That’s just how it felt.

Yuk-gyeong took a deep breath in the inner sect area and walked with vigor.

Just as one must train vigorously, one must also walk energetically. Just as you work hard when working, you must also rest diligently when resting.

At that moment, he heard the sound of two people, who seemed to be inner sect disciples, chatting in the distance. Out of curiosity, Yuk-gyeong stealthily approached to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“You know the auction being held at Manho? They say this time the core ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, the Warm Yang Grass, is going to be there…”

“Shh! Someone might hear. Do you want rumors spreading that a proud disciple of the Great Dark Moon Sect is using the black market? Lower your voice.”

An auction at Manho?

Did they say an ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill will be available?

Yuk-gyeong listened more intently to their conversation.

The two inner sect disciples glanced around and continued talking. Yuk-gyeong remained hidden by the bushes, so he wasn’t discovered.

“Who would be listening anyway? In any case, I plan to attend this auction. Who knows? I might be able to obtain the Warm Yang Grass.”

“Oh, you have big dreams. Do you know how many people are after the Warm Yang Grass? The price will probably soar to hundreds of mid-grade Spirit Stones. Would you even be able to bid on it?”

“Still, you never know. Maybe on that day, not many people will want the Warm Yang Grass…”

“Come on, you should be realistic. That being said, how do you plan on attending the auction?”

“I’ll go in disguise of course. It would be a disaster if anyone recognized me as a disciple of the Dark Moon Sect.”

“LIke anybody would recognize you…”

“Believe it or not, there are quite a few people who know my face. Don’t I look decent enough?”

“Yeah, right. Even if you went with your bare face, no one would recognize you. But just in case, make sure to disguise yourself well.”

The two gradually moved away.

Yuk-gyeong stroked his chin, pondering.

The Warm Yang Grass is an essential ingredient for the Foundation Establishment pill, and with it, I can combine the supplementary ingredients to make the pill.

If I plead with Elder Bu, he might make it for me.

A few hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones… Yuk-gyeong had enough Spirit Stones saved up. He even had more than the inner sect disciples, thanks to the special privileges of being a Single Spiritual Root owner.

It seems affordable?

Since it’s an auction, even if the price rises a bit, it would still be manageable. As long as it doesn’t skyrocket too much.

I have the money ready,

the issue is the dark auction.

I can’t go as a proud disciple of the Dark Moon Sect, can I?

In that case, I’ll go using the identity I found from the storage pouch I got from the sex-to-the-death duel with the demoness.

The ‘Jade-Faced Scholar’ makes his appearance.