Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 63: Foundation Establishment Techniques

Yuk-gyeong examined the Foundation Establishment techniques, searching for something.

‘Is there another one with Taiyi Grandmaster’s annotations?’

Now that his Comprehension was at its peak, he could understand everything without annotations, but having them made a difference.

Let’s see….

There is!

The Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture!

A Yin-Yang technique boasting rapid training speed! And it has Taiyi Grandmaster’s annotations. Yuk-gyeong was greatly drawn to this technique.

I’m quite the Yin-Yang enthusiast. I love the union of Yin and Yang. Without hesitation, Yuk-gyeong picked up the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture with Grandmaster Taiyi’s annotations.

Though the technique had flaws, it was a Foundation Establishment technique practiced only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Such flaws were usually resolved upon reaching the Core Formation stage. Alternatively, the foundation could be supplemented in other ways.

And the fact that its origin was unknown didn’t matter much. It was a technique guaranteed by the Dark Moon Sect, so there couldn’t be any issues.

“I’ll go with this one!”

The Scripture Pavilion caretaker nodded slowly and said,

“Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture? It’s indeed a good technique for fast training and understanding Yin and Yang. However, as a Single Spiritual Root owner, the Dark Moon Sect technique Great Concord Scripture would also be a good choice.”

“This one appeals to this disciple.”

“Alright, the fast training speed is indeed a great advantage. Just be aware that it might pose significant challenges at the decision bottleneck compared to other techniques.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Surely, the missing parts exist somewhere in the world. If found, it would become a technique with both fast training speed and a solid foundation… But even the Sect doesn’t know where it is. If it’s a paired technique, it must be extraordinary. It might be buried in some ancient ruins of the cultivation world.”

In any case, the bottleneck encountered when ascending to the decision-making stage with the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture was ultimately due to a lack of fundamentals, making it essential to supplement the basics.

Even after supplementing the basics, the path to the decision-making stage was long and arduous. It was evident that many geniuses were hindered at this stage. Yuk-gyeong was quite fond of the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture, which acted like a high-pass to at least reach that bottleneck.

“Thank you for letting me know!”

The Scripture Pavilion caretaker nodded and handed the book titled Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture to Yuk-gyeong.

Yuk-gyeong accepted it politely and left the Scripture Pavilion. Yuk-gyeong’s steps were light as he exited the Scripture Pavilion.

Having chosen his Foundation Establishment technique, Yuk-gyeong decided to skim through the technique before meeting his master again.

Since his master would surely explain and educate him about the technique, he thought it best to conduct some preliminary study.

He was also curious about how efficient it would be to practice with his Supreme Comprehension without relying on a master.

“Let’s see, let’s take a look.”

Flip!

There were annotations by Taiyi Grandmaster scattered throughout.

With his Supreme Comprehension, Yuk-gyeong could see how these annotations by Taiyi Grandmaster pierced through the core and were well summarized and organized.

‘This Taiyi Grandmaster must have possessed remarkable comprehension too. At least, he surely had Supreme Comprehension.’

As the annotations by Taiyi Grandmaster met Yuk-gyeong’s Comprehension, he began to master the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture like a fish in water.

After practicing the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture extensively, Yuk-gyeong instinctively realized that there was a flaw in this technique. Something was definitely missing.

The more he operated the technique, the more he felt this way.

For ordinary people, such flaws would be compensated with other means to strengthen the foundation and move on to the next level.

But you see… Yuk-gyeong couldn’t stop thinking about this flaw.

At the Scripture Pavilion, he had picked what seemed good from seeing that it had Taiyi Grandmaster’s annotations, but once you pick one rice cake, others always appear bigger.

Even though it was said that flaws were fine, upon deeper reflection, he found that he didn’t like this flaw.

Foundation Establishment was a stage for solidifying the basics, and training with such a flaw could certainly cause problems when advancing further.

Hadn’t he read in novels about those who couldn’t advance to the next stage due to lack of a foundation?

Especially, wasn’t the Core Formation a hurdle that even most clever prodigies couldn’t overcome?

The flaw in the establishment of one’s foundation would surely be a significant obstacle in forming one’s core.

How should I compensate for this flaw?

I want to compensate more perfectly….

Yuk-gyeong pondered. Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture… Yin-Yang… Ying-Yang means male and female… Ah!

Male and female? The training method I know about men and women is Bed Chamber Arts?

Could Bed Chamber Arts be the pair for this technique?

At that moment!

What Yuk-gyeong felt was like finding the perfect puzzle piece when you couldn’t find any that fit.

While absentmindedly matching what he had achieved with Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture, he discovered what paired with it!

It was the Dual Cultivation Technique obtained from the ruins!

The teachings from that Dual Cultivation Technique and the teachings of the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture that Yuk-gyeong had, began to overlap subtly, creating a perfect synergy as if they were a matching pair.

When he operated the techniques recorded in the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture, they naturally began to resonate with the teachings of the Bed Chamber Arts, the Dual Cultivation Technique obtained from the ruins.

The Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture and the Bed Chamber Arts discovered in the ruins were a pair of complementary techniques!

Yuk-gyeong had coincidentally perfected the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture technique.

“This is….”

Is this really possible?

Amazing.

Yuk-gyeong was at a loss for words, faced with the unbelievable situation of achieving something he never thought possible.

Calm down, calm down. All I did was fill the gaps in the Foundation Establishment technique to perfect it.

I am someone who will go beyond Core Formation, even beyond Nascent Soul.

Phew.

Finally, he managed to calm down a little.

Yuk-gyeong was able to think more clearly and rationally.

‘The Dark Moon Sect kept saying it was a flawed technique, but thinking that I managed to improve it has got me a little excited.’

In truth, it was indeed a remarkable achievement.

For a mere disciple to perfect the Foundation Establishment technique, which Dark Moon Sect, with its long history, had left flawed, was no small feat.

Such instances would be rare even in the history of Dark Moon Sect.

In his heart, he wanted to offer the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture and its paired Bed Chamber Arts to the Sect to earn some contribution points, but the problem was that it was a bed chamber art.

Would a traditional sect like the Dark Moon Sect welcome bed chamber arts? Would they persecute it as a heretical practice?

In fact, if you trace the origins of Bed Chamber Arts, it was also one of the secrets of longevity.

The union of Yin and Yang and the training of the body are closely related.

However, as the sects evolved, Bed Chamber Arts became associated with lustful affairs and were downgraded to heretical practices by the pure sects that valued purity and detachment.

Hmph, yet they still seek the way of Yin and Yang. The way of Yin and Yang is precisely about the union of Yin and Yang, where bed chamber arts fit perfectly.

‘Honestly, they’re not efficient. Just one act of sex and you’d understand the harmony of Yin and Yang instantly.’

Yuk-gyeong lamented the stagnant state of the cultivation world.

Should I start reading the scripture in earnest? After quickly getting introduced to the Dual Cultivation section, his eyes turned to the scripture that formed the foundation of Dual Cultivation.

Hmm,

Yin and Yang are differentiated from Taiyi, dividing into Yin and Yang. The path of Yin and Yang… In a deep and secretive room, when one thinks by oneself, there exists a mind. That mind differentiates into Yin and Yang. When the Yin and Yang, differentiated from the mind, extend their branches in pairs…

They sure have made it long-winded and incomprehensible. Still, thanks to my Comprehension, I was connecting it to Dual Cultivation in my head, but the wording seems like…just frustrating gibberish.

Let’s see how our Taiyi Grandmaster interpreted this.

Indeed, Taiyi Grandmaster had annotated the bottom of the long description of the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture with small, note-like writing. Very kindly.

Yin-Yang = intertwined energies like the sun and moon, day and night. Mind = heart, the Dao heart, and the Yin-Yang Scripture views this as the union of Yin and Yang.

Aha.

So the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture is ultimately a scripture viewing the Dao and the Dao heart from the perspective of Yin and Yang!

Our Taiyi Grandmaster never disappoints. Even the incomprehensible words are explained so well that they sink right into my mind.

Yuk-gyeong also saw the lamenting words of the Taiyi Grandmaster written afterward.

– If only I could find the Dual Cultivation that pairs with the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture, the foundation would be solid. Those who can complement this will be able to grasp the true meaning of the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture. Regrettably, I have no choice but to complement it in another way…

Even our self-proclaimed Taiyi Grandmaster had such worries.

What to do, I’ve found the Dual Cultivation that pairs with it.

Since I received great help from the annotations, I want to pass on this Dual Cultivation Technique to the person known as the Taiyi Grandmaster. As a token of gratitude. But since I can’t meet him, oh well.

Besides, even if I did meet him, they long would it have been since he surpassed the Foundation Establishment stage, so it might be pointless?

Yuk-gyeong, holding the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture, hurried towards his master’s eastern cave.

“Master.”

Elder Geum nodded as he looked at the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture that Yuk-gyeong had selected.

“The Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture? You’ve chosen a technique with flaws. It’s alright. I have a way to fill in the gaps….”

As he rummaged through his belongings, it seemed like he was about to pull something out… But there was no need to fill the gaps in the Foundation Establishment technique.

Yuk-gyeong hastily stopped his master.

“Uh, Master. I’ve already filled in those gaps.”

“What? You’ve filled in those gaps?”

The master, who had paused his search, looked up at Yuk-gyeong.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator filling the gaps in a Foundation Establishment technique? This was something no genius in the world had ever attempted.

And if it hadn’t been done, there was a reason for it.

“How? How did you fill the gaps in the Foundation Establishment technique? You didn’t just arbitrarily fill in the empty parts of the text, did you?”

Arbitrarily filling in the text was practically another way of saying you wanted to die.

The text wasn’t created in such a manner.

Creating a technique was akin to constructing a building. Everything is built according to plan, starting from the foundation. It means a building constructed with meticulous planning from bottom to top.

But what if the third to the top floor was missing?

And then you arbitrarily add to the building?

It was a foregone conclusion that it would collapse completely.

When a building called Dual Cultivation collapses, the body of the person who practices it also collapses.

Therefore, in the cultivation world, touching Dual Cultivation was considered taboo.

Yuk-gyeong waved his hand and shook his head.

“No, Master. How could I? I know how dangerous that is. The Dual Cultivation Technique I found in the ruins was a Dual Cultivation paired with the Yin-Yang Prodigy Scripture.”

“Ha, I thought you were just talented because of your Single Spirit Root, but you’re lucky too.”

The master sighed and praised Yuk-gyeong’s talent and luck. Hearing praise from Elder Geum was as rare as the sun rising from the west, but what could be done about Yuk-gyeong’s talent and luck reaching the heavens?

Yuk-gyeong asked cautiously.

“Master, would it be better to offer this Dual Cultivation Technique to the Sect?”

“You can offer it, or not. Anyway, there won’t be many who will choose a Dual Cultivation technique.”

“Right, since in the Orthodox sects, Dual Cultivation techniques are considered heretical.”

“It’s not that Dual Cultivation techniques are heretical… It’s an incomplete Dual Cultivation that can’t be practiced alone and one needs to prevent themselves from falling into the physical temptations of the opposite sex… Never mind. Anyway, Dual Cultivation Techniques aren’t favored, so you can offer it or not. But if you do, there are contribution points.”

“Oh, contribution points?”

“Since it fills the gaps in the Foundation Establishment Dual Cultivation, you could be awarded a large number of contribution points… Or you might gain a magical art from the Sect.”

A magical art? If it’s a magical art from the Sect… It’s certain there won’t be a Dual Cultivation magical art. Still, a magical art is good. Should I offer it?

Yuk-gyeong then reported on his recent achievements.

“Come to think of it, Master, I have achieved the Threefold Foundation Establishment and learned a spell imbued with the energy of the heavens.”

“What? Threefold Foundation Establishment? A spell that contains the energy of the heavens is said to be a Threefold Foundation Establishment magical art?”

“Yes, that’s correct. They say it’s a Threefold Foundation Establishment spell.”

“A Threefold Foundation Establishment spell! I’ve only heard of it in legends, but to see it actually exist! And on top of that, Threefold Foundation Establishment… I never thought you would achieve it….”

Elder Geum was as shocked as when he first learned that Yuk-gyeong possessed the Single Spiritual Root. It was inevitable that astonishment would appear on his face.

The Threefold Foundation Establishment was indeed something worthy of his amazement.

Threefold Foundation Establishment.

Wasn’t it a stage only mentioned in legends? The Single Spiritual Root from legends and the Threefold Foundation Establishment from legends! What kind of heavenly harmony is this?

Yuk-gyeong bowed respectfully.

“Master, I was lucky.”

“Ha, when luck piles upon luck, how can it be called lucky? This is destiny and your skill.”

“Thank you, Master.”

Yuk-gyeong felt a subtle pride in his master’s acknowledgment. His shoulders lifted slightly. To think he could stir his usually stoic and cold master like this.

“And, you say you have a Threefold Foundation Establishment spell?”

“Yes. I will show it to you specially, Master. Please tell me what you think after seeing it.”

“Alright. Show me then.”

Heaven Severing Finger!

A strange Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth gathered at Yuk-gyeong’s fingertips, and as he chanted the incantation, it formed into the shape of a finger and descended from the sky.

At Yuk-gyeong’s Foundation Establishment level, it was as if a giant’s finger was striking down.

Like a seal falling, it descended toward the ground.

Boom!

But even at that size, it was enough to shake the eastern region.

On the eastern ground, a deep indentation in the shape of a finger appeared.

The aftermath was powerful enough to pierce through rocks and subtly resonate throughout the east. Of course, its true power lay in its ability to strike karma and fate.

The master watched it and was impressed.

“Heaven Severing Finger! What a fine technique. A technique that attacks the fortune, karma, and fate of the heavens. This is… Remarkable.”

If even Elder Geum considered it remarkable, it truly had to be extraordinary.

Heaven Severing Finger, could it be an even better technique than I thought?