Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 60: Elder Han Ryeo-un (4)

Ryeo-un realized that Yuk-gyeong had only recently reached the Foundation Establishment stage and wanted to assist in his cultivation. Though they had been intimate, she was a Core Formation stage elder of the Dark Moon Sect, while Yuk-gyeong was just a disciple.

Yet, Ryeo-un found it odd that Yuk-gyeong had already progressed to the early stage of Foundation Establishment and asked him how.

Then, she heard an astonishing story.

“What? You’ve achieved the Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Path Threefold Foundation Establishment?”

“Yes.”

“How, how did you do it?”

“It just happened. I guess the timing was right.”

The Heavenly Path Foundation was taken from someone, the Earthly Path Foundation was given by the Sect, and the Mortal Path Foundation was realized right before death.

It all seemed to happen because the timing was right.

It wasn’t because explaining it in detail was too bothersome.

Wouldn’t that Perfected Dao disciple who was preparing for the Heavenly Path Foundation spit blood if he heard this story? Probably. But what about it?

The Heavenly Path Foundation is already mine.

“Simply because the timing was right? The Threefold Foundation…isn’t something anyone can easily achieve. In fact, even geniuses find it difficult. As you said, the timing must be right, and personal talent is also crucial.”

The success of the Threefold Foundation was astonishing news even for Ryeo-un, who was often called a genius. Despite being hailed a genius, she had not achieved the Threefold Foundation.

She had only achieved the Mortal Path Foundation.

Yuk-gyeong, seeing Ryeo-un’s surprise, nodded in astonishment. Was the Threefold Foundation really that amazing? It seemed impressive, but enough to surprise even an elder?

“I see.”

“Above all, the Threefold Foundation is difficult because you must achieve everything at the moment you reach the Foundation Establishment stage.”

“It seems so. If you had taken the Foundation Pill to reach Foundation Establishment first, you wouldn’t have had this opportunity.”

Ryeo-un began to slowly explain to Yuk-gyeong, who seemed to have no understanding of the situation, why the Threefold Foundation was so significant.

“The benefits of achieving the difficult Threefold Foundation are beyond words. First, the advantage from Heavenly Path Foundation. Your understanding of Heavenly Tribulations increases.”

“Yes. I certainly understand how lightning strikes now.”

“When you later organize your understanding of Heavenly Tribulations, you’ll gain a lot. Cultivators and Heavenly Tribulations are inseparable. Cultivators defy the Heavens. The Heavens constantly test them. Heavenly Tribulations are the most powerful tests sent by the Heavens.”

“Is it that intense?”

It was tough. Lightning really did hurt. But as the power level increases, there are more means to protect oneself, so it seems like it wouldn’t be too difficult to block lightning from the Heavens.

“The pure Yang Qi of Heavenly Tribulations causes qualitative changes as its power increases. For example, if one bolt of lightning felt like a bee sting, two bolts would feel like being exposed to hot fire. Three bolts are comparable to lightning unleashed at full power by a Core Formation stage cultivator. It’s a force that can melt hundreds of people in an instant. With each level, the destructive power doesn’t just increase by one step, it can increase by hundreds.”

So, the stages of Heavenly Tribulations increase arithmetically, but their destructive power increases exponentially?

A weakened Foundation Establishment level Heavenly Tribulation could be withstood by Yuk-gyeong, but a Core Formation level Heavenly Tribulation is at a level that hundreds of Yuk-gyeongs couldn’t withstand?

It seems that Heavenly Tribulations isn’t something to take lightly. I’ll have to slowly digest and understand the insights it brought me…

Yuk-gyeong acknowledged it.

“The Heavenly Path Foundation is quite helpful.”

“It’s more than helpful. It could completely change the way you live as a cultivator. Anyway, let’s stop there for the Heavenly Path Foundation, and move on to the Earthly Path Foundation.”

“You just need to take medicine for the Earthly Path Foundation, right? It seems like more effort would go into purging the leftover toxins from the pills.”

This was the general view on the Earthly Path Foundation.

The medicinal potency of Foundation Pills was often so strong that even after reaching Foundation Establishment, the lingering effects couldn’t be fully neutralized, leaving behind residual toxins. That’s why, even after completing the Earthly Path Foundation, it often took months or even years to stabilize one’s Foundation Establishment stage.

“Right. While the Earthly Path Foundation has a major drawback, it does come with benefits as well. It’s said that the Pill’s powerful medicinal properties turn into toxins that must be parched, but medicine and poison are originally one. Whatever’s left behind by the Foundation pill ultimately stays in the body.”

“The medicinal properties stay in the body?”

“Yes. That’s why the Earthly Path Foundation requires months or even years to purge the medicinal toxins. But after that, you can catch up with those who followed the Heavenly or Mortal Path Foundation. In fact, when it comes to cultivation speed, it can even be faster.”

“So the Earthly Path Foundation quickens the progress one has through the Foundation Establishment stage.”

In that sense, Yuk-gyeong had skipped the downsides of the Earthly Path Foundation Establishment and only gained the benefits.

Yuk-gyeong had already used up much of the medicinal properties of the Foundation Pill. There wasn’t enough left to become toxins. However, even the spent medicinal properties would inevitably linger in his body and continue to affect him.

So, Yuk-gyeong didn’t need to spend time resolving the medicinal properties, as it absorbed only the advantages without the drawbacks, ensuring rapid growth.

“That’s right. And the Mortal Path Foundation. You probably know this without me saying, right? The Mortal Path Foundation greatly aids in understanding the Dao, stages, and Spiritual Qi, which helps in future Core Formation.”

“I am aware of that.”

“And, according to legend, those who achieve the Threefold Foundation Establishment gain a special technique. It’s a saying that has been passed down like a legend because those who achieve the Threefold Foundation Establishment are extremely rare.”

Oh, a special technique?

To Yuk-gyeong, the more techniques one knew, the better. Knowing many techniques meant having more cards to handle various situations, which was advantageous for survival and combat.

If indeed a special technique is granted to those who achieve the Threefold Foundation Establishment, it would be worth mastering it well.

“Having more techniques is good. The more techniques, the better.”

Yuk-gyeong then asked about the questions, challenges, and bottlenecks that arose during training.

In some ways, Ryeo-un shared similarities with Yuk-gyeong.

Firstly, in being exceptionally talented.

Yuk-gyeong’s bottleneck during the Qi Condensation stage? What bottleneck? Just like how he brushed past the stages without care, Ryeo-un was the same.

Foundation Establishment bottleneck? Such things are only felt by ordinary people. I just breezed through. I did it, so you, with your innate talent, can do it too.

It was a story that would not resonate with ordinary people, but geniuses had a way of understanding each other.

‘Is this why every year people say the sermons by the Peak Masters are too difficult to understand? The Peak Masters must have been geniuses themselves.’

Ryeo-un continued to talk about the difficulties, obstacles, and future challenges in cultivation.

Yuk-gyeong gained a lot of insight from Ryeo-un’s advice.

After the conversation ended.

Ryeo-un spoke with feigned coldness.

“Don’t act like you know me when you see me from now on. Think of what happened here as a midsummer night’s dream.”

Yuk-gyeong knew that those who said such things were often the ones who were most attached. It was for appearances’ sake, but after sharing bodies, emotional attachment was inevitable.

As expected, Ryeo-un’s eyes held a lingering attachment that was hard to notice unless looked at closely.

The status of an elder imposed more restrictions than expected. Yuk-gyeong vaguely understood how much Ryeo-un was struggling to sever ties.

“I will.”

At Yuk-gyeong’s simple answer, Elder Han pouted. Just for a moment. Almost imperceptibly.

“Yes. That will be good for both you and me.”

Pouting, she’s totally pouting.

Then I should make it up. Since I’m a man with a big heart.

After a brief pause, Yuk-gyeong looked at her with wistful eyes and asked,

“Is it okay if I miss you sometimes?”

“……”

Ryeo-un was momentarily speechless.

A handsome face, wistful eyes, and a romantic question about missing her sometimes.

When these three things came together, it created an unbelievable synergy.

What woman could remain unaffected by this?

Ryeo-un’s eyes also became moist. But she soon remembered her responsibilities and obligations and steeled her heart.

She was an elder of the Dark Moon Sect. Moreover, the master of Jade Maiden Peak. Meeting a man and living happily ever after was not possible in her life.

For the benefit of the Sect and her own longevity, a partner was nothing but an obstacle.

But… Wouldn’t it be right to keep Yuk-gyeong, the Single Spiritual Root owner, for the benefit of the Sect?

But… Wouldn’t Dual Cultivation be helpful for longevity?

Ryeo-un shook her head vigorously. But what ‘but’? Ryeo-un considered such thoughts as distractions. Mere excuses to hold onto this man.

“…Alright.”

‘It’s okay to long for me.

‘I’ll long for you too.’

Ryeo-un said this and left, leaving only her fragrance behind.

The elusive movement technique of the Core Formation stage left nothing but a scent.

Yuk-gyeong watched her leave in a daze.

Because he already missed her? No…