Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 47: Magic Arts Competition

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the arena, two chatterboxes were discussing the magic arts competition.

“Senior Brother Geum, Senior Brother Deung, and Senior Brother Man have all reached Qi Condensation Great Perfection. I knew it. They are Qi Condensation 9-Star. They were always the ones who would reach Qi Condensation Great Perfection. They’re going to be the ones who will obtain the Foundation Establishment pills at the Foundation Establishment Festival, right?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. They are outstanding, but they’re nothing in the Foundation Establishment Festival.”

Geum Mook! Deung Sa-jin! Man Sa-young!

They were the strongest in the Qi Condensation martial arts competition, but in the Foundation Establishment Festival, they were second in terms of presence.

While they may have made their name known on their way up to Qi Condensation 9-Star, upon reaching Qi Condensation Great Perfection, they were just newcomers.

Qi Condensation Great Perfection, specters of the Qi Condensation stage, wandering at the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

During the Foundation Establishment Festival, those very specters would emerge, each one vying to claim their chance to ascend.

“Then who do you think will obtain the Foundation Establishment pills?”

“The ones with the highest chance of obtaining the Foundation Establishment pills at this festival are most likely going to be those two…”

Two specters who had been devoted to training for the Foundation Establishment emerged from seclusion.

The previous Qi Condensation martial arts competition winner, the Heavenly Spirit Noble Jang Su-wi!

Born with the Dao-blessed Heavenly Spirit Body specialized for using magic arts, Jang Su-wi was famous for using powerful magic arts capable of impacting even Foundation Establishment cultivators.

He proudly won the previous Qi Condensation martial arts competition and had long stayed at the Qi Condensation Great Perfection stage.

Next,

known as the one closest at stepping into Foundation Establishment was Noble Seok Chun-sam.

He was a specter of the Qi Condensation stage who had reached Great Perfection long ago, and according to some, he was just one step away from the Foundation Establishment.

However, lacking just one crucial step, he wandered outside the Sect seeking enlightenment but failed, and now aims to achieve Foundation Establishment with the aid of the Foundation Establishment pill at this festival.

Having lingered long at Qi Condensation Great Perfection, he is said to possess a profound understanding of it, able to wield its power with great skill.

It is said that ever since he was at the Qi Condensation stage, he had caught the eye of an elder and would be accepted as a named disciple upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

These two were evaluated as the ones who would most likely stand out at the Foundation Establishment Festival.

Although the promising participants of the recent martial arts competition, who were at Qi Condensation 9-Star, drew significant attention, could they compare to those specters at the Qi Condensation Great Perfection stage?

“Do you think those two are the most promising?”

“There must be many outstanding talents in the other three major sects. But our Dark Moon Sect’s two proud Qi Condensation stage cultivators are not to be underestimated!”

A braggart swinging his fist at the air. Another braggart, stammering as if to refute, asked,

“Well, you know. There’s also the winner of this Qi Condensation martial arts competition. The Single Spiritual Root owner, Yuk-gyeong! What about him? Doesn’t he have a chance? Didn’t the elder say he was Half a Step into Foundation Establishment?”

“Him, at the Foundation Establishment Festival? He was at Qi Condensation 8-Star back then, and even if he reached Qi Condensation Great Perfection, it would be difficult for him at the festival. The strength at Qi Condensation Great Perfection is determined solely by time. Only those who have lingered long at Great Perfection possess great power. No matter how close to Foundation Establishment he is, Qi Condensation Great Perfection is still Qi Condensation Great Perfection.”

“What if this Qi Condensation Great Perfection stage senior is a genius? Isn’t he a Single Spiritual Root owner? If so, couldn’t he overcome the time gap?”

“If he’s a genius capable of transcending the gap of time, maybe. But no matter how exceptional the Single Spiritual Root is, can it truly surpass time? I don’t think so. Of course, reaching Qi Condensation Great Perfection in such a short time is impressive. It’s a talent that will be remembered in the history of the Dark Moon Sect. But that’s only up to the late Qi Condensation stage. After Qi Condensation Great Perfection, it’s a completely different story.”

“Is that so? Even if he’s a Single Spiritual Root holder, he can’t defy the passage of time, right?”

No one is a match for time.

People recalled this adage and showed little interest in the outer sect disciple Lee Yuk-gyeong.

Although reaching Qi Condensation Great Perfection in a short period is remarkable, would he be able to stand out amongst those disciples who had long achieved the Qi Condensation Great Perfection in this magical arts competition?

Most were skeptical that he could.

The magical arts competition.

It was a contest similar in spirit to a martial arts tournament for the disciples who had achieved Qi Condensation Great Perfection.

However, the magical arts competition was more static and traditional than a martial arts tournament. Two participants would step forward and stand at opposite ends of the stage. They would then use their magical arts against each other to determine whose magical arts were stronger.

The first match

was coincidentally, a match between Yuk-gyeong and someone else.

“Disciple Lee Yuk-gyeong and Disciple Jin Wi-an! Step onto the stage!”

Disciple Jin Wi-an.

He confidently stepped onto the stage. His manner of ascending the stage seemed quite arrogant.

It was understandable, as he had been at the Qi Condensation Great Perfection stage for quite some time, so he was a veteran of the Qi Condensation Great Perfection stage.

Yuk-gyeong stood opposite him and gave a light fist salute.

Jin Wi-an nodded his head. It was a somewhat presumptuous gesture.

“Lee Yuk-gyeong? I am Jin Wi-an. I look forward to it.”

“I too look forward to it.”

A vortex of Spiritual Qi swirled between the two as they exchanged greetings.

The calm before the storm.

It was as if the two had become reefs in an ocean of Spiritual Qi, creating a massive flow of Qi between them.

This was evidence of how powerful their interference with the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth was.

The formal magical arts competition had begun!

The bottleneck of the Qi Condensation stage wasn’t just adversity for Yuk-gyeong.

Sure, the Qi Condensation bottleneck prevented Yuk-gyeong from advancing further, but it also made him look back.

What is Qi Condensation?

Qi Condensation, also known as Qi Refining, is the stage where one trains their Spiritual Qi. It is the stage of making the body accustomed to Spiritual Qi and creating a foundation for the body to communicate with Spiritual Qi.

Upon reaching Qi Condensation Great Perfection, Yuk-gyeong’s body theoretically became able to communicate with Spiritual Qi.

Although he hadn’t yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage to accumulate Spiritual Qi within his body, he had reached a state where the handling of Spiritual Qi freely, and the Spiritual Qi inside and outside his body wasn’t significantly different.

What does that mean?

That means that when the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth brushes past the body and lingers momentarily, using magical arts at that moment means they can be used with control akin to that of someone in the Foundation Establishment stage.

Foundation Establishment cultivators accumulate Spiritual Qi in their bodies to create what is known as inner strength, but those at Qi Condensation Great Perfection can mimic that inner strength.

So, unlike lower-level Qi Condensation cultivators, there’s little chance that a simple Spiritual Qi interference will break their spells.

In simple terms, Yuk-gyeong can now use magic arts proficiently!

‘Though it’s not as strong as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but this is what proper magic arts are. Magic arts before reaching Great Perfection were too incomplete. Let’s start with the Flame Serpent spell.’

Yuk-gyeong formed a seal with one hand and muttered an incantation under his breath. Then, a thin stream of fire appeared in the air, rushing towards the opponent.

Yuk-gyeong attacked first.

Sizzle!

Whoosh!

“Trying to confront me with a simple Flame Serpent spell!”

The Qi Condensation Great Perfection opponent, confidently formed a seal.

Water overcomes Fire! The Water Flow spell, countering the Flame Serpent spell, surged like a waterfall.

At the moment Yuk-gyeong’s Flame Serpent spell was about to be swallowed by the opponent’s Water Flow spell,

just as the thin Flame Serpent spell was about to be extinguished by the Water Flow spell,

Yuk-gyeong’s exceptional control over Spiritual Qi made even the same Flame Serpent spell stronger and more refined. This was why Yuk-gyeong’s fire technique was particularly thin.

Moreover, the Flame Demon Summoning Flute Yuk-gyeong used allowed him to become attuned with Fire-attributed Spiritual Qi, while also training him to skillfully control primitive summoning arts like the Flame Serpent spell.

In other words, Yuk-gyeong’s Flame Serpent spell was as powerful as those used by cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage!

Crackle!

The Water Flow spell clashed with Yuk-gyeong’s Flame Serpent spell, boiling violently and starting to evaporate.

Water overcomes Fire? In the face of overwhelming power, the elements can be reversed.

Before Yuk-gyeong’s scorching Flame Serpent spell, the opponent’s Water Flow spell became like water in a teacup. It boiled rapidly and turned into steam, dissipating instantly.

“How, how! How can a Fire-attributed spell not be devoured by a Water-attributed spell, but instead devour it!”

The opponent exclaimed in shock, forming a seal again to gather the evaporated steam into a wall of water.

Clearly, the opponent wasn’t someone to be underestimated, given their ability to utilize the surroundings effectively.

Originally, spells like the Flame Serpent spell or Water Flow spell, which create something from nothing, are difficult to produce, but creating a barrier by using existing water vapor was much easier.

Therefore, the opponent, despite being flustered, was able to successfully erect a wall of Water.

However,

sizzle!

“No, it can’t be!”

The opponent overlooked the fact that Yuk-gyeong’s Flame Serpent spell was powerful enough to evaporate the Water Flow spell and still maintain its momentum, even evaporating the Water wall.

Whoosh!

Yuk-gyeong’s Flame Serpent spell exploded in front of the opponent, shooting into the air.

Yuk-gyeong intentionally detonated the Flame Serpent spell right in front of the opponent’s eyes.

“I, I lost…”

“The winner is Lee Yuk-gyeong!”

The first match was easily won with just one Flame Serpent spell.

The Qi Condensation cultivators, who had little knowledge of Yuk-gyeong’s powerful Flame Serpent spell, didn’t fully understand how profound the technique was, but they were certain that the victor, Yuk-gyeong, was extraordinary.

Cheers erupted among the people for the genius Singular Spiritual Root owner, Yuk-gyeong.

“Lee Yuk-gyeong! Senior Brother Yuk-gyeong!”

“Single Spiritual Root owner, you’re the best! Truly fitting for someone who quickly achieved Qi Condensation Great Perfection!”

“Lee Yuk-gyeong! Lee Yuk-gyeong! Junior Brother Lee, give it your best!”