Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 49: The Jang Family

The Jang family’s residence was located between Grass Dragon Peak and Severed Will Peak, nestled in a relatively spacious mountain valley.

The low-profile house, with its tranquil scenery and antique charm, matched the mountainous surroundings perfectly.

Despite its long history, the Jang family’s residence was not large in scale.

With only a minimal number of servants and the direct family living modestly, there was no reason to expand its size unnecessarily. Moreover, as they were living on the sect’s land, they couldn’t occupy a large area.

Still, the fact that the Jang family’s residence was within the Dark Moon Sect indicated the special treatment they received from the Sect.

In the spacious main hall, a few servants moved around, and in the largest room among the various divided chambers, a man in martial attire exuding a celestial aura sat in the seat of honor, maintaining his dignity.

The man with the celestial aura sat in the seat of honor, and below him, men of various ages were seated, all of whom were elders of the Dark Moon Sect.

The one reporting to the family head and elders of the Jang family was the youngest elder and the lowest-ranked person here.

He was Elder Jang Su-gi, who had been disciplined for the Devourer Beast incident last time. He had a large bruise on his eye, as if he had been hit somewhere.

Elder Jang Su-gi reported respectfully.

“Family Head, the rumors about the Single Spiritual Root owner within the Sect are uncontrollable. There are many talks about how he reached Qi Condensation 8-Star in an instant and even won the martial arts competition… Many are questioning why the Single Spiritual Root owner is not given more importance.”

Elder Jang Su-gi continued to speak.

“In the recent Foundation Establishment Festival, he even achieved Half-Step Foundation Establishment. How long has it been since he reached Qi Condensation 8-Star, and now he’s at Half-Step Foundation Establishment? What should we do about this, Family Head?”

“You just need to report to the Family Head, why add unnecessary comments? Do you want to get hit again?”

As one of the elders and son-in-law of the Jang family, Elder Na scolded Elder Jang Su-gi. Elder Jang Su-gi glared at Elder Na but couldn’t retort as he was at fault.

The family head of the Jang family, who had been listening quietly, opened his eyes.

He was the head of the Discipline Hall of the Dark Moon Sect and the great elder of Dark Moon Sect.

The Sound Gentleman Jang Ga-wol.

Stroking his elegantly grown beard, he presented the image of a refined middle-aged man. Indeed, he was a man with a noble demeanor, befitting his title of gentleman.

“……”

Around the silent family head were elders of high status who followed the Jang family.

Elder Jang Su-gi was one of them, and five or six others who were somehow connected to the Jang family and under its protection boasted a presence no less impressive than the elders gathered at the Elder Hall.

A toad-faced elder with a crumpled expression shouted loudly.

“Family Head, didn’t I say we should have pressured him more! We should have kicked him out when he was in the Servant Hall. What was the deacon of the Servant Hall doing? He couldn’t even kick out a newly entered disciple! Useless.”

Novice disciples who did not receive proper technique manuals could leave the Sect on their own. Of course, even if they left, they would have to remain tied to the sect as secular deacons.

Now that he had officially entered the Sect and cultivated the first part of the Taiyi Celestial Whisper Scripture, he couldn’t leave and return to the secular world on his own.

Single Spiritual Root, Single Spiritual Root!

Of all times, he had entered the Sect at such a crucial moment.

The Jang family was currently staking their life on this. They were so focused that they couldn’t even see the benefits of the Sect or the Single Spiritual Root.

The appearance of the legendary Single Spiritual Root owner was naturally something the entire Sect would welcome.

If the Jang family were in a normal state, they would have made every effort to accept him as a disciple. They might even have married him to a daughter of the direct family to forge familial ties.

However, the situation was different now.

To the Jang family, the Single Spiritual Root owner was nothing more than a hindrance.

“We tried to expel him from the Servant Hall and control the rumors within the Sect to slander the Single Spiritual Root owner… But even that is not working well anymore. What should we do, Family Head?”

The head of the Jang family, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. His deep voice filled the room with authority.

“The Sect Leader is displeased with the actions of our family.”

“The Sect Leader…? Then the official stance of the Sect is…?”

The mention of the Sect Leader’s stance stirred the atmosphere among the gathered elders.

No matter how closely they were tied to the Jang family, they remained elders of the Dark Moon Sect.

The head of the Jang family looked at them coldly. How loyal were they to the Jang family? Probably not enough to abandon the Sect in favor of the Jang family.

Even so, their current loyalty to the Jang family was due to the tangible benefits the family provided them.

The interests of the Jang family and the Sect did not conflict. Until now, that was.

But during this crucial period for the Jang family, conflicts of interest could arise. As was the case with the Single Spiritual Root owner.

Initially, three out of six were in favor of recruiting the Single Spiritual Root owner. Even when he expressed his intention to reject him, their reaction was not particularly welcoming.

If things went that way, there would certainly be elders who would oppose.

Managing that is the job of the family head. Once the Ancestor breaks seclusion, everything will be resolved on its own. Until then, it was a matter of soothing things so no problems arise.

Family Head Ga-wol calmly gave the order.

“First, halt all actions regarding the Single Spiritual Root owner. Let’s observe how the Sect Leader responds before making any moves.”

At the family head’s words, all the elders bowed their heads.

Since the family head had commanded, discussions about the Single Spiritual Root owner were halted. Although the fact that the issue of the Single Spiritual Root owner was becoming a sensitive topic within the Sect was not particularly welcome news.

The family head, not wanting to discuss past topics any further, moved on to the next issue.

“What about the Ancestor?”

“The Ancestor seems to have quieted down again. But who knows when it might happen again… As soon as Yeong-ok is ready, urgently….”

The family head firmly reassured the elder who was dragging out his words.

“There’s no need to be hasty. The Ancestor has lived for a hundred years, so there should still be some time.”

“Indeed. Once the Ancestor completes the great technique and emerges from seclusion… It’s just that the cycle has sped up….”

“We’ll need Foundation Establishment pills. The ones being made this time, the family must secure as many as possible.”

The elder replied with difficulty.

“The Single Spiritual Root owner is also on the verge of Foundation Establishment, and Mok Jin-gwang from the Medicine Hall is notoriously stubborn… I’m not sure if securing the pills will be possible.”

The family head’s brows furrowed.

Elder Mok Jin-gwang of the Medicine Hall was known for being inflexible even within the Sect. Such a person was unlikely to heed anything the family said.

“I’ll go see him myself. What about the Foundation Establishment prisoners?”

“The Foundation Establishment prisoners… The speed at which the Ancestor consumes them is faster than expected…”

“Prepare as much as possible.”

The Medicine Hall Poison Master, Elder Bu Bi-woon’s refining room.

Elder Bu valued absolute silence as an important virtue during pill-refining, so for decades, the only noise in his refining room was the sound of concocting herbs.

However, an unwelcome guest had been repeatedly disrupting the tranquility of Elder Bu’s refining room in recent days.

“Elder Bu, I mean, I definitely won twice and should be on the list for the Foundation Establishment Festival, so why am I not on it? Seriously, this is strange, isn’t it? Elder, Elder. Does this make any sense?”

The unwelcome guest, Yuk-gyeong, was clinging to Elder Bu’s sleeve, throwing a tantrum.

Almost lying down, he looked just like a child whining to his parents. Elder Bu was the highest person Yuk-gyeong knew who could help him.

It doesn’t make sense. I clearly won twice, so why am I not on the Foundation Establishment Festival list, why?

Yuk-gyeong was eager for the Foundation Establishment pills. He wanted to participate in the Foundation Establishment Festival as soon as possible to gather all the ingredients and transform them into pills.

Earthly Path Foundation Establishment, Earthly Path Foundation Establishment!

Yuk-gyeong knew that the Mortal Path Foundation Establishment was right in front of him, but the Earthly Path was one of the shortcuts, so he wanted to at least secure the pills.

Elder Bu shook his sleeve in annoyance and focused on the alchemy furnace.

“The Sect must have its reasons. Why are you whining like this?”

“No, that’s not it. This can’t happen in a righteous sect. It’s a matter of fairness!”

“Fairness, my foot. Go and cultivate. Stop being noisy next to this Elder. I have to refine pills, so keep it quiet.”

“Ah, Elder. Please, Elder, lodge a complaint for me. I can’t just barge into the Elder Hall.”

At Yuk-gyeong’s whining, Elder Bu, unable to focus on the cauldron, shouted in frustration. With the kid clinging on like this, how could he concentrate?

“You insolent brat! Why should I lodge a complaint? Just go and cultivate quietly until you achieve the Mortal Path Foundation Establishment!”

Elder Bu was frustrated in his own way. He couldn’t tell him that a Foundation Establishment pill was prepared for him. The Elder Hall had firmly instructed not to say anything that might cause Yuk-gyeong to have any other thoughts since he might achieve the Mortal Path Foundation Establishment.

If only he could say it, he’d have kicked him and told him not to think about participating in the Foundation Establishment Festival and just go cultivate since he had a Foundation Establishment pill.

Such a bothersome kid.

“I know that Mortal Path Foundation Establishment is good, of course. But Elder, there are other paths too, aren’t there? It’s difficult to grasp the clue for Mortal Path Foundation Establishment, so I want to try taking a Foundation Establishment pill.”

Yuk-gyeong pouted at Elder Bu’s scolding and grumbled. Besides wanting to achieve Foundation Establishment, he felt it was unfair. He won the magic arts competition, so why can’t he participate in the Foundation Establishment Festival?

Elder Bu tried to reason with Yuk-gyeong.

“Do you think the clue for Mortal Path Foundation Establishment will appear just by saying so? It will appear if you seclude yourself. If you don’t cultivate and just wander outside, the clue won’t come to you. Go cultivate. Focus!”

“I’ll cultivate, sure. I will. But the Foundation Establishment pill, give me a Foundation Establishment pill, and I’ll cultivate. Without it, I can’t! I won’t!”

“Isn’t there anyone around! Drag this kid out! It’s too noisy, seriously!”