Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 51: The Treasure Map (2)

After the meeting at Elder Hall.

An elder, who could be considered a close aide to the Sect Leader, came to report the remaining issues to him.

“The Jang family has requested Foundation Establishment Pills from the Medicine Hall. Great Elder Han personally went to request them…”

“Hmph, Foundation Establishment Pills for the Jang family?”

“You know what the Medicine Hall’s Elder Mok is like. There were several loud arguments there. Elder Mok refused to give the Pills according to the sect rules, and Elder Han returned empty-handed.”

Elder Jang Su-gi had ruined more than expected.

Not only did he secretly smuggle monsters against the Sect’s rules, but he also let them slip away, resulting in the death of disciples.

This became the starting point of tarnishing the entire Jang family’s prestige.

Nevertheless, the Jang family has always been respected for their significant contributions to the Sect.

“Elder Mok is trustworthy. So, what about the Foundation Establishment Pills for Yuk-gyeong?”

“They are also prepared according to the Sect rules. Once the ingredients have matured enough, it’ll be made and given to him. Elder Mok cherishes Elder Bu a lot. Since Yuk-gyeong is a beloved disciple of Elder Bu, Elder Mok seems to care as well.”

Elder Mok Jin-gwang, head of the Medicine Hall, greatly cherished Elder Bu Bi-woon, who was skilled in pill-refining at the Foundation Establishment stage. Since Elder Mok personally selected Elder Bu, his affection for him was special.

When Elder Mok first proposed the elder position for Bu Bi-woon, everyone whispered that Bu Bi-woon might be Elder Mok’s son. Of course, those rumors vanished upon witnessing Elder Bu’s exceptional pill-refining skills.

Anyway, Elder Mok cherished Elder Bu that much.

Thus, he couldn’t help but view Yuk-gyeong, whom Elder Bu cherished, favorably.

“When will the Foundation Establishment Pill for that child be ready?”

“Well, it seems that disciple Lee Yuk-gyeong will also have to assist in the excavation of the ancient ruins. It appears that the Pill will be readied while the child is out on the excavation.”

“Are we really that short on people? Though, nothing should happen at the ruins, so there’s nothing to worry about…”

“Can a disciple grow into a pillar of the Sect if they are overly protected? They need to gain experience even in safe environments to grow without going astray. Allowing the child to go out is for that reason, isn’t it?”

“I’m just concerned.”

The Sect Leader shook his head.

In his heart, he wanted to lock him in the cultivation hall and have him cultivate, but that’s not how people work. You can’t just force someone to sit and cultivate and expect their progress to soar.

You have to watch over them so they can grow on their own.

“A little more to the left!”

“Dig a bit more that way! Everyone, keep it up!”

“We can see the outline! That’s good enough!”

Under Elder Han’s guidance at Jade Maiden Peak, the excavation of the ruins was lively.

The excavation site, resembling a construction zone, was heated with the labor and sweat of the disciples.

Something undoubtedly exists beneath the ground.

The disciples, digging and inserting probes, shared this thought. There was something beneath the ground. As cultivators, they all felt a great thrill at the hidden opportunity.

The reason they could endure the laborious work was because of the opportunity and contribution points.

In the midst of this,

“Elder, we are ready. If you give the signal, the formation will be activated.”

An inner disciple, flying on a sword, whispered to Elder Han.

Elder Han, still wearing a mask and overseeing the excavation from the air, looked like a celestial maiden with her flowing robes.

The void seemed to support her, as if an invisible platform was holding her aloft.

Elder Han, at the Core Formation stage, could rest her body in the air without a flying sword or magical tool.

Elder Han gestured with her hand.

Then, her inner disciple cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted loudly.

“She says that’s enough!”

At the inner disciple’s command, the outer disciples withdrew from the ruins. Seeing the disciples who hadn’t yet retreated, the inner disciple waved his hand and shouted.

“All disciples, withdraw from the ruins! All disciples, withdraw! The Elder is about to use a spell!”

In the air, Elder Han raised one arm. Her billowing sleeve fluttered in the wind, and simultaneously, the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth stirred.

Swoosh-!

The wind swirled around Elder Han.

Then,

Rumble-!

The ground shook. It felt as if the entire earth was trembling. It was as if the land was shrieking.

A tremendous vibration, like a giant stomping its foot, continued, and those on the ground felt a shock as if the earth and sky were turning upside down.

All the disciples clung desperately to nearby trees or grass to avoid falling.

And this wasn’t even an attack spell.

“Ahhh!”

“Hold on tight, everyone! It’s dangerous if you get swept away!”

“This is the spell of a Core Formation stage…!”

Structures emerged as if the ruins were rising from the ground.

In reality, the surrounding ground was sinking, revealing the ruins.

A miracle that sunk the entire area!

Even for a Core Formation stage elder, this was a miracle difficult to achieve without prior preparation.

Elder Han sank the ground with a single gesture and then vanished into the air as if weary.

“Since the Elder used a spell, let’s start working again!”

“Probes go this way! Shovels go that way!”

In an instant, the site was half-excavated.

The grand structure buried in the earth revealed its top.

The structure appeared to be a roof.

The triangular roof showed traces of what must have been intricate carvings in the past and was made of an unknown gray-white material, still looking solid.

It was unclear how much of the structure was buried.

The Dark Moon Sect intended to clear the entrance first to check the contents inside rather than excavating the entire structure.

Thus, around the massive structure, disciples were poking the ground with probes and digging here and there.

The excavation seemed to be going smoothly.

Until others appeared….

That day, like any other, the Dark Moon Sect members were peacefully excavating the site.

The excavation, which spanned several days, wasn’t a task that would be completed in a day or two, so the disciples began to accept it as part of their routine.

“I wonder how much ground we can dig up today.”

“Oh, who knows? I might as well practice my spells. I need to see if I can move a shovel with my external manipulation spell.”

“How great would it be if I could sink the ground with a spell like Elder Han? Even digging a handful of earth with a spell is difficult.”

The disciples, chatting about this and that, gathered around the site with shovels, pickaxes, and talismans or spirit stones for spell use.

It would have been just another day of work.

If not for that moment.

A disciple of the Dark Moon Sect, who was briefly looking at the sky, pointed up and asked.

“Huh? What’s that?”

Indeed, there was something strange in the direction he pointed.

At first, it was a single wisp of cloud.

The cloud, coming from afar, soon reached over the heads of the Dark Moon Sect disciples, casting a shadow.

The brilliant five-colored cloud covered the sky, and from somewhere, the long cry of a crane was heard.

From within the cloud descended an old man with a long beard, appearing like an immortal.

“Elder Han, it’s been a while.”

Elder Han, who had been half-excavating the ruins and had not shown herself, appeared with a veil covering her face.

She had already appeared suddenly before the cloud’s arrival, ready to greet him.

She wore flowing clothes as she greeted the old man. Her appearance didn’t seem particularly welcoming.

“Elder So. What brings you from the Perfected Dao Sect to the boundary of our Dark Moon Sect?”

Elder So Han-pyeong of the Perfected Dao Sect. He was a renowned old monster at the Core Formation stage within the Perfected Dao Sect.

The Cloud-Gathering Master, So Han-pyeong, was known for his mastery of cloud-manipulating techniques, and the tale of him once covering a mountain with mist to subdue all enemies during his younger, fiery days was still often recounted.

Having remained at the Core Formation stage for a long time, it was rare for him to leave the Sect, making his appearance here quite unexpected.

The Perfected Dao Sect, like the Dark Moon Sect, was one of the three major cultivation sects which followed a righteous path, unlike the Deathblood Sect.

However, there cannot be two suns under the same sky. Even though both sects followed the righteous path, the Dark Moon Sect and the Perfected Dao Sect were in a competitive relationship.

Outwardly, they pretended to get along well as fellow righteous sects, but in reality, they were competitors fighting over profits.

The reason why the Perfected Dao Sect sent So Han-pyeong here?

It was obvious without even looking.

“Heh heh, how could this be solely the boundary of the Dark Moon Sect? This is also the boundary of our Perfected Dao Sect, isn’t it? Our Perfected Dao Sect’s boundary is right there. Are you saying I’ve come to a place I shouldn’t be? Hmm? What’s that, Elder Han? Could it be an ancient relic?”

Elder So of the Perfected Dao Sect feigned excessive surprise.

That means he knew about it beforehand. At least he’s pretending to give some face to the Dark Moon Sect.

How despicable.

How on earth did he find out?

The excavation of the relic was known only to the excavators and the leaders of the Dark Moon Sect. It was hard for information to leak among them.

Moreover, the noise and vibrations from the excavation were also being contained by a formation.

There was no way for this to be known outside.

Then?

The initial informants. The tomb raiders who brought the map.

They must have leaked the information.

They had looked untrustworthy.

They were the sort who would abandon important things for money.

Elder Han gritted her teeth inwardly.

“This is the property of Dark Moon Sect. There’s no need for the Perfected Dao Sect to be concerned.”

“Heh heh, the property of Dark Moon Sect? Something not yet unearthed? Elder Han, come here. Let’s talk more about our relic….”