Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Cultivation Through Copulation.

Episode 55: Foundation Establishment

If there was one misfortune for Mo-yong Jeong of the Perfected Dao Sect, who was preparing for the Heavenly Path Foundation, it was the existence of a person named Yuk-gyeong.

How can an existence be a misfortune…?

When Mo-yong Jeong was in the middle of adjusting the formation and couldn’t move due to the delicate work,

that was when he appeared.

“Who are you!”

“Oh, hello?”

Yuk-gyeong waved his hand in greeting towards Mo-yong Jeong.

Mo-yong Jeong recognized Yuk-gyeong’s attire as that of a disciple of the Dark Moon Sect. At least he’s not a disciple of the Deathblood Sect.

“Dark Moon Sect? Get lost! This is not a place for you!”

Yuk-gyeong could also tell that Mo-yong Jeong was a disciple of the Perfected Dao Sect.

Moreover, he noticed that Mo-yong Jeong couldn’t move because he was in the middle of something.

Indeed, Mo-yong Jeong couldn’t move.

The current adjustment of the formation was such a precise task that it was impossible to stop for a break. If interrupted, everything done so far would be in vain.

So the only thing Mo-yong Jeong could do was intimidate the Dark Moon Sect disciple to make him retreat.

Yuk-gyeong had no intention of attacking the immobilized Perfected Dao Sect disciple.

After all, the Perfected Dao Sect is a decent sect. If he encounters a Deathblood Sect disciple later, he might need to cooperate with him, so he planned to just leave him be.

So Yuk-gyeong politely asked for understanding and crossed the cave.

“I’ll just pass through here….”

“Ah, no!”

What a jerk.

Should I kill him? No, let’s hold back. He looks like a beggar. Killing him would be a waste of talismans or Spirit Stones.

However, feeling annoyed, Yuk-gyeong wanted to disrupt whatever the Perfected Dao Sect disciple was doing, so he walked over the formation and deliberately scraped and rubbed his shoes on the ground.

Ptooey, whatever formation this is, I hope it fails.

As Yuk-gyeong slowly walked and stepped into the eye of the formation,

Crackle!

‘This?’

Yuk-gyeong instinctively knew. It was the instinct of a cultivator. The instinct of a cultivator deeply in tune with the Qi of Heaven and Earth.

Here, lightning strikes.

A majestic Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered here, fixing Yuk-gyeong in place. The formation ensnared Yuk-gyeong’s feet.

Yuk-gyeong couldn’t escape.

‘What the hell, damn it! I was just trying to pass by!’

Rumble!

Outside the ruins, the sky suddenly filled with dark clouds, crackling with the energy of thunder.

The disciples standing guard outside the ruins shouted in surprise as they saw the sight.

“What’s this? The clouds suddenly…”

“Heavenly Tribulation! It’s a Heavenly Tribulation!”

“Suddenly? What could it be descending upon? Did someone perhaps achieve a remarkable level?”

Mo-yong Jeong, who had just finished adjusting the formation, was about to go mad.

‘My Celestial Foundation Establishment!’

Even after deploying all the artifacts to weaken the Heavenly Tribulation!

Mo-yong Jeong tried to rush into the formation, but it was already activated.

The veil of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi did not allow Mo-yong Jeong to interfere with the formation.

“The Heavenly Path Foundation was meant for me!”

While the disciple of the Perfected Dao Sect cried out in anguish, Yuk-gyeong prepared to face the Heavenly Tribulation at the eye of the formation, where a hole opened toward the sky.

There was no choice. Lightning was striking, and there was no time to evade considering its immense speed.

Boom!

“Haaap!”

Yuk-gyeong formed a seal with his hands, confronting the descending lightning.

Damn it! If this Heavenly Path Foundation was meant for you, then you take this lightning! Why am I the one getting hit, damn it!

I’ve already laid the groundwork for the Earthly Path Foundation, so why the hell do I have to face this Heavenly Tribulation for the Heavenly Path?

Crackling!

A bolt of lightning struck Yuk-gyeong’s body, and he felt a power beyond tingling, as if he might explode from the might of the Heavenly Tribulation.

Heavenly Tribulation is the wrath of the heavens. It’s a terrifying lightning bolt that mere humans cannot withstand.

The lightning from the heavens is different from lightning in the mortal world, being pure and powerful. It is the pure Yang energy that annihilates everything it touches.

The lightning is pure and permits nothing. It is the fire of the heavens and a spear that will annihilate everything.

Still, isn’t it worth trying to resist, even just a little?

Yuk-gyeong employed every means available to him.

Flame Demon Summoning Flute!

Whistle—!

As Yuk-gyeong quickly played the flute, a serpent of flames appeared in the air. The serpent coiled around Yuk-gyeong’s body to protect its master from the approaching Heavenly Tribulation.

Crackle!

But could the flame serpent withstand the Heavenly Tribulation? It endured for just a moment before disappearing entirely.

Chaos Convergence Spell!

A droplet of water shot from Yuk-gyeong’s fingertips toward the Heavenly Tribulation. It evaporated as if vanishing before the massive lightning.

He couldn’t use the numerous talismans he had in his spatial pouch. The Heavenly Tribulation disrupted the Qi of Heaven and Earth, and paper material couldn’t withstand the environment, disappearing the moment they were taken out.

The Soul Seizing Bell was useless against the Heavenly Tribulation. As for the Iron Eater…if it had any use, he would have used it already.

Crackle!

His body began to burn. His skin suffered blackened burns, and Yuk-gyeong felt the pain of burning all over his body.

I thought I could withstand it for a bit! How can none of my techniques work?

I can’t hold on any longer!

Yuk-gyeong took out the Foundation Pills from his pocket and popped them into his mouth. He swallowed five at once. There was no time to take them one by one.

Gulp!

The energy of the Foundation Pills surged rapidly through Yuk-gyeong’s body.

What tremendous medicinal power!

Yuk-gyeong felt the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi rushing into his body as if it would explode. However, it was only enough to protect him, worn down by the Heavenly Tribulation.

The medicinal power was sufficient. The swirling medicinal power within Yuk-gyeong provided him with endless Spiritual Qi.

Yuk-gyeong used the storm-like Spiritual Qi to protect his body.

Yet, the Heavenly Tribulation still chipped away at Yuk-gyeong’s Spiritual Qi, continuing to strike his physical body.

So, what that Perfected Dao Sect disciple was doing was for this Heavenly Tribulation! It seemed like he was trying to weaken the Heavenly Tribulation by diligently adjusting the formation and setting up the magical tools!

‘Is this, Heavenly Tribulation? And a weakened one at that? It’s this strong?’

Grrr-!

Yuk-gyeong involuntarily let out a scream.

He felt like his mind was gradually becoming blurred.

But Yuk-gyeong’s steadfast spirit, along with his obsession with cultivation, managed to keep his mental thread intact.

That thin thread.

It led Yuk-gyeong into a new state.

A state of selflessness.

Yuk-gyeong felt the chaotic Heavenly Energy inside his body and the Heavenly Tribulation outside, entering a state of unity.

The lightning tempered Yuk-gyeong’s physical body. His body, forged by the lightning, gleamed like steel.

Through this process, Yuk-gyeong was able to embody the power and meaning of the Heavenly Tribulation. Thus, Yuk-gyeong gained a very slight resistance to the Heavenly Tribulation.

The Heavenly Tribulation created a large crack in Yuk-gyeong’s wall of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Bang!

Heavenly Path Foundation!

And at that moment!

Yuk-gyeong realized. An epiphany, a sudden enlightenment like a bolt of lightning!

It was an understanding of Heaven and Earth.

Lightning, clouds, rain, air, mountains, and forests, what are all the things of Heaven and Earth? They are expressions and reflections of the Dao. Everything is the Dao, yet not the Dao.

What is the Dao? What is the Dao?

I still do not know what the Dao is.

The realization of ignorance propelled Yuk-gyeong to the Foundation Establishment stage in one leap.

The half-completed Foundation Establishment from the Heavenly Tribulations was completed through enlightenment!

The wall of Yuk-gyeong’s Foundation Establishment was nearly shattered.

Boom!

Mortal Path Foundation!

Achieving the Mortal Path Foundation, Yuk-gyeong’s body synthesized the medicinal properties of the Foundation Pill and transformed his skeleton, reaching the Earthly Path Foundation.

The remaining medicinal properties completely broke through his wall of Foundation Establishment, piercing through like a victorious general.

Boom!

Earthly Path Foundation!

Heaven, Earth, and Mortal, he had achieved all three Establishment Foundations simultaneously!

Pa-pa-pa-pa-!

Strange waves burst around Yuk-gyeong, scattering the remaining power of the Heavenly Tribulations completely.

Pa-s-s-s-s-!

Reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, he calmed the turbulent surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, scattering the weakened Heavenly Tribulation, revealing Yuk-gyeong’s wretched state.

His clothes had already burned away, and blood still stained various parts of his body.

However, his body was like iron, solid and smooth.

Yuk-gyeong sat down in place, assuming a lotus position to stabilize his realm.

He was now someone who achieved the Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Path Foundations simultaneously.

Through the Heavenly Path Foundation, Yuk-gyeong gained an understanding of the Heavenly Tribulations, and through the Mortal Path Foundation, he realized insights into the epiphany and the heart of the Dao. The medicinal properties of the Earthly Path Foundation were rapidly advancing Yuk-gyeong’s Foundation Establishment stage.

Yuk-gyeong’s body, seated in the lotus position, naturally floated into the air.

Buuuuung!

The air vibrated with a sound, and a certain wave emanated from within Yuk-gyeong’s body. If a Qi Condensation cultivator were to witness this, they might have gained some insight into Foundation Establishment.

Yuk-gyeong realized. If the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi flowed through his Qi Condensation body like wind, then in his Foundation Establishment body, it pooled like water.

The realm where Heaven and Earth Qi pools like water, Foundation Establishment!

In Foundation Establishment, one accumulates and converts Heaven and Earth Qi into internal power.

Yuk-gyeong’s internal power filled up rapidly.

“Whew, they say you must slowly accumulate internal power upon reaching Foundation Establishment. Completing Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Foundation Establishment fills you up completely.”

Yuk-gyeong could tell he had instantly reached the early stage of Foundation Establishment upon completing Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Foundation Establishment. Having surpassed the introductory stage to reach the early stage, it was fair to say the Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal Foundation Establishment had laid the foundation for Foundation Establishment.

With this, I can even aim for the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

It’s a blessing in disguise.

He thought he would die from the Heavenly Tribulation, but overcoming it turned out to be a blessing.

At that moment,

“My Heavenly Path Foundation, my Heavenly Path Foundation!”

Mo-yong Jeong, the strongest Qi Condensation cultivator of the Perfected Dao Sect, Half-Step into Foundation Establishment, charged at Yuk-gyeong with eyes turned upside down.

Instinctively, like a beast, he used his magic.

Whoosh! Crackle! Rumble!

Three types of magic manifested simultaneously, surging towards Yuk-gyeong.

The fire flickered as if to burn Yuk-gyeong, lightning shot like arrows, and water, honed like a sharp blade, descended as if to cleave Yuk-gyeong.

It was a situation that would surprise anyone.

Using three different elemental spells at once was a feat only possible with extraordinary talent in magic arts.

It was, quite literally, the maximum attack a Qi Condensation cultivator could unleash.

No cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage could demonstrate such destructive power in spellcasting.

Yuk-gyeong, who was within the trajectory of that tremendous attack, simply watched it calmly.

And then,

Whoosh!

Yuk-gyeong merely raised his hand and flipped his palm over.

At that moment, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi around Mo-yong Jeong flipped, shattering all of Mo-yong Jeong’s spells and sending him flying.

Bang! Crash!

“Aaaargh!”

Mo-yong Jeong let out a wretched scream as he was sent flying.