Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 23: Martial Arts Tournament

This Spiritual Qi was sharp and biting, and if accepted incorrectly, it could bring a taste of blood to the throat. This pointed and aggressive Spiritual Qi was very difficult to handle.

Yuk-gyeong’s Spiritual Root was,

a ‘Metal Spiritual Root!’

Metal generates water and overcomes wood. Elder Bu regretted this point upon hearing about Yuk-gyeong’s Spiritual Root. Usually, those talented in alchemy had more Wood Spiritual Roots.

Wood Spiritual Roots could help the growth of spiritual herbs, harmonize, and enhance the properties of the herbs.

However, Metal Spiritual Roots countered Wood, causing spiritual herbs to wither and their properties to weaken.

Thus, when handling spiritual herbs for alchemy, it was a spiritual root that only posed disadvantages.

However, Elder Bu said that the attributes of the spiritual root and alchemy skills were secondary, and truly understanding the properties of the spiritual herbs and combining them was what mattered. Therefore, study was essential.

For Yuk-gyeong, the tedious days of study continued, but through this process, he was able to acquire a lot of knowledge about spiritual herbs and alchemy.

After several months, Yuk-gyeong, who absorbed knowledge like a sponge, could introduce himself as an alchemist.

“Alright. That’s enough for today, you should head back. You’re at the Qi Condensation stage, so shouldn’t you participate in the martial arts tournament held within the sect?”

“Yes. I should give it a try.”

Yuk-gyeong had become quite comfortable with Elder Bu over time.

Although Elder Bu was quite a dignified person and found it difficult to make friends, once you got to know him, he had a warm side.

“Yes. If only there weren’t a prohibition on using magical items in this tournament, I would have lent you one of mine. Hurry back after the tournament and help me with alchemy.”

It’s a bit rude to say this to an elder, but he’s like a pill-crazed madman, obsessed with making pills.

In the Dark Moon Sect, there were regularly held events.

Among them, this event targeting Qi Condensation cultivators was a small-scale competition to select the strongest among them. It aimed to foster improvement through competition and identify cultivators with combat potential.

It was named the Dark Moon Sect Iron Star Peak Master Cup Qi Condensation Strongest Competition.

Of course, the name was given in Yuk-gyeong’s style. In reality, it was merely an unnamed minor martial arts competition event.

Anyway, the essence was captured in the Yuk-gyeong style name.

The Iron Star Peak Master Cup, that is, a martial arts competition presided over by Elder Myo, the master of Iron Star Peak, to select the strongest Qi Condensation cultivator.

The prize for this competition was a pile of spirit stones, a certain amount of merit points, and a piece of magical tool.

This was a valuable resource for a Qi Condensation cultivator’s training, so many Qi Condensation disciples aimed to win this martial arts competition.

Moreover, a set of magical tools was included.

Since Qi Condensation disciples found it difficult to properly wield magical arts, the necessity for magical tools was undeniable. Whenever magical tools was at stake, Qi Condensation disciples were thrilled.

The Qi Condensation outer disciples of the Dark Moon Sect gathered at the open field at the foot of Iron Star Peak, where the martial arts competition was held.

Many Qi Condensation outer disciples were already gathered there, and in the center stood a large martial arts stage carved from rock.

The martial arts stage, carved from rock, was 1.5 meters high, and normally anyone who wished to use it could climb up.

However, since the martial arts competition was being held, the use of the stage was restricted.

Around the martial arts stage, there were stands resembling spectator seats, filled with people who had come to watch the match.

The martial arts matches of Qi Condensation stage cultivators were quite popular. It was said that the most entertaining fights are the ones between the weakest. Although there were no flashy technique battles like those of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and above, the matches using simple techniques through the flow of Spiritual i had a certain raw charm.

Betting tables were already being set up among the spectators.

“This time, the Qi Condensation stage cultivators are of very high caliber.”

“That’s right, there’s the swordsmanship genius Geum Mook, who held a sword at the age of three, and the fire cultivator Man Sa-yeong, who could use techniques from Qi Condensation 3-Star. There are many strong contenders for the championship.”

“Don’t forget about Lightning Spiritual Root holder Deung Sa-jin. He’s also a strong contender for the championship.”

Indeed, the odds for individuals like Geum Mook, Man Sa-yeong, and Deung Sa-jin, who were frequently mentioned by people, were particularly low. This was because so many were betting on their victory.

As the atmosphere around the martial arts stage was heating up,

someone suddenly flew down from the sky.

Everyone looked up to watch the flying sword. Then someone with keen eyes spotted the figure in the sky and shouted.

“It’s Senior Sister Ah-yeong!”

“Where, where?”

“Up there! She’s riding a flying sword!”

Inner disciple Yu Ah-yeong. Age thirty-five. A prodigy who reached the Foundation Establishment stage in her mid-thirties.

And the older sister of Yu Yeong-yeong.

Since Yeong-yeong is just twenty, that’s a fifteen-year age difference? Quite a late child. Truly a late child.

It was said that Ah-yeong and Yeong-yeong’s parents were from Sansu and were Qi Condensation stage cultivators. Typically, the lifespan of a Qi Condensation stage cultivator is between 120 and 150 years. The age gap between Yeong-yeong and Ah-yeong wasn’t entirely inexplicable.

Anyway, she was one of the named disciples of the Elder of the Iron Star Peak and one of the supervisors of this tournament.

Ah-yeong flew on her flying sword, looking down at the cheering disciples below.

They were all drawn to her beauty and skill.

Ah-yeong’s eyes looked down at the masses indifferently. It wasn’t because she disliked them. Ah-yeong neither disliked nor liked them.

Ah-yeong didn’t pay much attention to others. The noise, the gazes, the admiration. She thought the glances and desires that found her beautiful and strong were meaningless.

What was meaningful to her was cultivation and longevity.

Everything else was fleeting. Gazes, attention, and everything else were transient and easily vanished, not eternal. The only things absolutely immutable and eternal were cultivation and longevity.

“Junior Sister Ah-yeong! We’re supervising the martial arts tournament together today, right? Let’s do our best. Junior Sister Ah-yeong…you’re beautiful today as always.”

The disciple who came beside Ah-yeong on a flying magical artifact was her senior brother, also a named disciple of the same elder.

The man with bumpy, pockmarked skin had a face slightly squished like an ugly potato. The short, dark-skinned young man’s name was Jang Hyun-nam.

Hyun-nam, seemingly fond of Ah-yeong, kept glancing at her while controlling his flying magical artifact.

Ah-yeong pretended not to notice his gaze.

She had told him to stop last time, but since Hyun-nam didn’t listen, she figured it was pointless to keep saying it.

The reason Ah-yeong disliked Hyun-nam wasn’t because he was unattractive. To Ah-yeong, beauty and ugliness were just superficial and didn’t make her heart flutter.

The reason she disliked Hyun-nam was because he was a hindrance to her cultivation and longevity. He hovered around, bringing things and constantly talking. Ah-yeong found it uncomfortable.

“Senior Brother Jang, could you please step back a bit?”

“Uh, sure.”

Hyun-nam’s flying artifact awkwardly moved aside, reflecting its owner’s embarrassed state of mind.

With Hyun-nam distanced, Ah-yeong looked down again.

“Junior Sister Ah-yeong, who do you think will win this time? I bet the Qi Condensation stage disciples don’t catch your eye, right? Since you’re at the Foundation Establishment stage, the Qi Condensation techniques must seem crude. What kind of man do you like? I guess someone too handsome like that disciple Geum or disciple Deung over there would be overwhelming, right? By the way, Junior Sister Ah-yeong, our family recently acquired a spiritual pill that greatly benefits Foundation Establishment cultivators. If you want, I could arrange…”

“Senior Brother Jang, please be quiet. It’s about to start.”

“Oh, oh?”

It was about time.

For the person who would announce the start of the martial arts tournament

…has arrived.

Whoosh-!

Someone flew gracefully and landed in the center of the martial arts stage.

A man with a slightly yellowish face, a square jaw, a large nose, and slanted eyes confidently stepped onto the stage and surveyed the crowd. Around him, waves of Spiritual Qi spread out as naturally as breathing. The Qi Condensation stage audience felt a pressing weight on their shoulders.

When the man smiled and dispersed the waves of Spiritual Qi, the Qi Condensation cultivators felt relieved of the pressure and could breathe easier.

Just by breathing, he could overwhelm the crowd. He was Hwangbo Kyung, the renowned disciple of Iron Star Peak’s Peak Master, and the chief overseer of the martial arts tournament.

With a bright smile, Hwangbo Kyung clapped his hands and shouted loudly.

“Everyone, silence! From now on, the martial arts competition begins!”

Waaaah-!

Finally, the curtain rose on the martial arts competition.

“With the elders watching, I hope everyone adheres to the rules and focuses on mutual growth during the matches!”

Yuk-gyeong was caught up in the cheering crowd, barely paying attention to the words of the chief overseer, Senior Brother Hwangbo, who was overseeing the martial arts competition.

Since he was told to wait in the audience after signing up for the competition, Yuk-gyeong was suffering among the throngs of people.

Next to him, the chatter about the martial arts competition was loud.

“Did you apply to participate in this martial arts competition?”

“No. This time, only those at Qi Condensation 8-Star or higher could apply.”

“Only Qi Condensation 8-star or higher? Well, the Qi Condensation stage competition allows disciples to freely use their magical arts, so it can be considered a festival for the 9-Star disciples.”

“Still, it’s too much. The Qi Condensation stage disciples’ desire for techniques is immense. Even if they haven’t reached 9-Star, they would want to at least try participating.”

The martial arts competition was a festival for those at Qi Condensation 9-Star.

It was a battle of magical arts among Qi Condensation 9-Star disciples.

For ordinary people, it was a spectacle of dazzling techniques, for Foundation Establishment cultivators, nostalgia, and for the elders, a delightful show from the Qi Condensation stage disciples.

Yuk-gyeong lacked confidence.

Confidence in losing.