Chapter 85: Deathbed (3)

Chapter 85: Deathbed (3)/translatingnovice

Qi Building Method.

Among cultivators, the basic Qi Refining Method is easily accessible if one has enough spirit stones, but the difficulty of obtaining a Qi Building Method, which is typically mastered by elders of a cultivator clan, is significantly higher.

Not to mention the more advanced Core Formation Methods, which is beyond the Qi Building Method.

For instance, in the case of the Qi Refining basic method, I know of the five methods recorded in the Five Surpassing Paths to Cultivation and a sixth from the Earth Dwelling Method of the Cheongmun Clan.

Its even possible for other cultivators to purchase additional Qi Refining basic methods.

However, the only Qi Building Method I currently know is a wood attribute method that my master had imparted to me as knowledge.

Wood attribute method, Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea.

In theory, this method could advance one from Qi Building through Core Formation to the Nascent Soul stage.

Naturally, it's focused on Understanding before Breakthrough and is difficult to master and understand, making it a rare method in the Cheongmun Clan, with no one other than my master having practiced it.

'Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea is excellent, but to have any method I desire...'

Especially since Black Ghost Valley has a long history and is said to lack no attribute methods.

'First, it wouldn't hurt to gather as many Qi Building Methods as possible. Plus, I can prepare methods for Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages in advance...'

Its an appealing offer.

However,

"How can I trust that the methods you provide will be genuine?"

Having been tricked by Seo Hweol into using Summoning Wind, Dragon Transformation, I can't help but be skeptical about his offer of freely giving methods.

[How dare you, questioning me, an elder of the great Azure Ghost Valley?]

"Elder or not, you're just a ghost now, but I have too much at stake."

[Hmph, insolent... Fine, I'll make a vow.]

He places his hand on the wall of the Nether Crossing Ship and begins to speak.

[Here in front of the Nether Crossing Ship, I, Song Jin, once an elder of the Azure Ghost Valley, swear by the honor of the Azure Ghost Valley's name not to lie about the cultivation methods.]

The wall of the Nether Crossing Ship vibrates faintly, and a mystical connection seems to form between the ghost spirit, Song Jin, and the ship.

I peer into his heart essence and intent to judge the truth.

Sure enough, he has some ulterior motives, but at least he intends not to play tricks with the cultivation methods.

'Well, a small ulterior motive is fine...'

Kim Yeong-hoon also reads his heart essence and sends me heart message asking if its okay.

I send back a heart message affirming its fine.

"Alright, then let's hear your request. If it's unreasonable, I won't grant it."

[It's nothing unreasonable. I'll teach you how to operate the Nether Crossing Ship, so take it to the sea.]

"Just that?"

[Just that.]

Seo Ran asks with a puzzled look.

"Isn't the Nether Crossing Ship no longer able to move?"

[Hmph, it's lost most of its main functions and power source, but there's still enough residual soul power for a few more voyages. It's broken, but one more trip is no big deal.]

Song Jin caresss the Nether Crossing Ship with a bittersweet expression.

[The Nether Crossing Ship... can still sail.]

Reading Song Jin's heart essence, it seems he wants to meet his end with the ship.

'Wanting to meet your end at the desired place, at the desired time...'

Feeling a strange empathy for him, I look around.

"I'm willing to fulfill this ghost's request. What about you, Kim Hyung?"

"Do as you please. But I can't operate the Nether Crossing Ship or anything like that."

"What about you, Daoist Seo?"

"I..."

Seo Ran hesitates for a moment, then looks at Song Jin and speaks.

"I would like the elder of the Black Ghost Valley to help me find something left by my mother."

At Seo Ran's words, Song Jin frowns deeply.

[I've been bothered by you since earlier. So its you, the disgrace of the valley, a half-blooded demi-human. Hmph, I heard you were of demi-human lineage but too deeply rooted in the demon race to use the Seven Stars Ritual and was shunned in your clan.]

Song Jin glares at Seo Ran.

[Your mother was a promising disciple of the Black Ghost Valley. If only she hadn't given birth to you, she could have received enough support to become a Nascent Soul elder.

A blemish like you appeared, leading to the cut-off of support, and you committed the disgrace of siding with the Sea Dragon Tribe, demoting her status to that of an ordinary disciple!

How dare you now ask me to find your mother's heirloom?]

"......"

Song Jin looks at Seo Ran with great displeasure and continues,

[If you want to find it, search for it yourself. I will not help with such things.]

I think about pressuring Song Jin to help Seo Ran, but seeing his obstinate heart essence, I give up.

No matter the pressure, he seems unwilling to compromise on this matter, directly linked to the honor of Black Ghost Valley.

"Daoist Seo, I will assist you in your search. Together, we can find it faster. That aside... is it really just about taking the Nether Crossing Ship out to sea?"

[Yes, that's all I need. I will teach you how to operate the Nether Crossing Ship, so follow me.]

I follow Song Jin to the upper deck of the Nether Crossing Ship.

[The Nether Crossing Ship originally moves using the soul and spiritual energy stored within the ship itself. Before the Mad Lord took its power source, the soul and spiritual energy was almost boundless, but now it may run out after a few uses.]

He teaches me how to operate the Nether Crossing Ship.

I instruct Seo Ran to search the lower decks of the Nether Crossing Ship while I will search the upper decks.

In my past life, I had already searched the upper decks of the Nether Crossing Ship and found nothing, so this is a gesture to save his time.

For several days, I learn how to operate the Nether Crossing Ship from Song Jin, while Seo Ran thoroughly searches its lower decks.

Kim Young-hoon practices the Surpassing Radiant Saber.

About a fortnight passes.

[You seem to have gotten the hang of it.]

Song Jin observes as I attach my consciousness to various parts of the Nether Crossing Ship, controlling it.

Originally, its said that tens of people were needed to operate this impossibly large space-compressed ship, but it seems that I alone am enough to clumsily operate this ruined ship.

In fact, for cultivators, its possible for one person's consciousness to do the work of dozens, so clumsily operating it isn't too difficult.

Around this time...

Seo Ran's search in the lower decks is nearing its end.

"Only three more rooms to search. Hopefully, one of them contains my mother's heirloom."

Seo Ran speaks with a trembling voice.

Song Jin looks at Seo Ran with a complex expression.

Two days later, Seo Ran finds his mother's heirloom.

"Did you find it?"

"Yes, senior. Thanks to you, I was able to find my mother's heirloom."

In Seo Ran's hand is a jade slip.

"Have you read it?"

"Not yet. I plan to go back to my quarters, prepare myself mentally, and then read it."

"I see."

Then, Song Jin, who is watching us, speaks.

[Now that you seem to have finished your business on the Nether Crossing Ship, it might be time to fulfill my request.]

"Well, let's do that. I'll operate the Nether Crossing Ship and set out."

I ascend to the top deck of the Nether Crossing Ship where the steering wheel is located.

I breathe consciousness into the steering wheel.

The structure and system of the Nether Crossing Ship is completely different from ordinary ships.

Fwoosh!

[Now send your consciousness to various auxiliary power parts of the Nether Crossing Ship.]

Seo Ran hesitates for a moment, then brings over the jade slip.

Song Jin moves behind Seo Ran and reads the contents of the slip together with him.

After a while,

Tears flow from Seo Ran's eyes.

"...Mother, Father..."

Song Jin, who is reading the jade slip with Seo Ran, closes his eyes with a complicated expression.

[...Had I been at full strength, I would not have forgiven you, the disgrace of our valley]

Song Jin speaks to Seo Ran.

[Your mother, that child. I saw her born on the Nether Crossing Ship, babbling, learning to speak, and growing up.

She wasn't my disciple or kin, but she often came to me, the keeper of the archives, asking many questions about cultivation. She was a commendable child.]

Song Jin continues while looking at the jade slip.

[I hated that Sea Dragon who ruined the life of our valley's disciple, and you, the disgrace of our valley.

But to your mother, it seems you were her proud child.]

Song Jin turns his back to Seo Ran and walks towards me again.

[...Are you infusing consciousness into the Nether Crossing Ship's third auxiliary power source?]

"That's right."

[Stop infusing it. If the third auxiliary power source is stimulated too much, the Nether Crossing Ship is set to self-destruct.]

"What...!"

I quickly stop infusing my consciousness and glare at him.

Song Jin grins and says,

[I originally planned to take all of you with me as companions. I wanted to meet my end with the Nether Crossing Ship, and as a dead body, I have nothing to lose.

You all should be grateful for the mercy of our valley's disciple. She wanted her son to live... That's why I changed my mind to go alone.]

"..."

I almost got caught up in the self-destruction of the Nether Crossing Ship.

I glare at this wretched ghost.

[Don't worry. There are no more tricks or secrets now. Tell me the cultivation method you want. I plan to give it to you before I attain Nirvana, so speak quickly.]

"...Sigh."

I hold back the irritation rising in me while looking at Song Jin.

I need to acquire a cultivation method, regardless.

"Firstly, I want a Qi Building cultivation method. Not a devilish art. Based on the principle of Understanding before Breakthrough. Something that doesn't require precious materials, elixirs, or special spiritual root qualities."

[Oh, why are you so picky? Requesting a non-devilish cultivation method from our devil path sect? Based on the principle of Understanding before Breakthrough? Who even practices such an outdated principle? And a technique that doesn't require precious materials or special spiritual root qualities?]

His face scrunches up in annoyance.

[Such demanding requests you make. If it's not a devilish method, does that mean it shouldn't use devil energy, evil energy, or ghostly energy?]

I shake my head.

"Please exclude any cultivation methods that require the sacrifice of others."

[That's a broad range. Damn...]

He seems annoyed and ponders before speaking to me.

[There are three cultivation methods that meet your demanding criteria: Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll, and Silica Earth Great Wall Practice. Which one will you choose?]

"...The names of two of them sound like devilish cultivation methods."

Yin Soul and Devil Legion.

They sound inherently evil, don't they?

Song Jin explains the cultivation methods.

[Heh, you'd think that, but no.

Yin Soul Ghost Incantation is a method where the practitioner understands their own pain and resentment. It's not about cultivating evil energy, and as you understand your pain, the faster your cultivation progresses. It's not of the devil path but rather the essence of Understanding before Breakthrough.

Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll, despite its name, is best for cultivators who possess a dharma treasure. The more you understand the nature of the dharma treasure, the more it's integrated into your practice, speeding up your cultivation.

Silica Earth Great Wall Practice speeds up cultivation the more you understand the dragon veins of the earth. The longer you stay in one place, understanding the earth, the faster your cultivation progresses.]

After explaining the cultivation methods, Song Jin looks at me.

[To be honest, I recommend the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation the most.]

"Why is that?"

[Isn't it obvious? Have you forgotten that I peeked into your heart essence? How many understand 'pain' as well as you do? If you practice Yin Soul Ghost Incantation, you'll be able to cultivate at an incredibly fast rate.]

"Hmm..."

Pain.

I ponder internally.

'The Devil Legion Terracotta Scroll isnt suitable for me as I lack even a magic artifact, let alone a dharma treasure. The Silica Earth Great Wall Practice is useless unless I stay in one place, and there's no guarantee I can do that...'

But still, the Silica Earth Great Wall Practice is tempting.

However, if Yin Soul Ghost Incantation indeed speeds up with understanding of pain, it seems like a good choice too.

Of course, it seems the most dangerous just by the name.

'Well, there's always the next life...'

"Give me the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation ."

If I'll eventually get my hands on all three, I might as well start with the most dangerous one and choose better next time.

[A good choice. With your state of mind, you'll achieve great mastery quickly.]

After speaking, Song Jin engraves his consciousness into the remnants of the Nether Crossing Ship nearby.

Intricate patterns form densely over the debris.

[I didn't play tricks with the name Azure Ghost Valley. Cultivate it to your heart's content...]

After speaking, he turns around.

He heads towards the prow of the Nether Crossing Ship.

[Over sixty percent of Azure Ghost Valley's practitioners are both born and meet their end on the Nether Crossing Ship. Similarly, my own birth and demise occurred while safeguarding this very ship.]

His figure gradually becomes more transparent.

[Listen well, half-dragon. You are indeed a 'blemish' of our valley, but you're still 'our' blemish. So grow and survive in a way that you won't become a disgrace to your mother and our valley anymore.]

Fssshhh-

[Half of your blood is from a disciple of Azure Ghost Valley. It may only be half, but as a senior of the sect, I cannot leave without giving something to my disciple's child.]

Pfft!

New characters are added to the jade slip in Seo Ran's hand.

[You'll understand its value. I don't like you. But as a senior of the sect, it's my last duty for our disciple who loved you enough to bear disgrace. Be thankful to your mother and live well!]

Song Jin climbs onto the prow of the Nether Crossing Ship, looking back at the blue sea gliding under the ship.

He slowly turns back to us, giving Seo Ran one last look.

It seems like hes overlapping someone else's image through Seo Ran.

[...And, thank you for witnessing my last moments.]

With those words, Song Jin scatters into the sea breeze.

Seo Ran, with a complex expression, looks at where he had been and bows.

I, too, briefly pray for the peace of the deceased, regardless of the circumstances.

After witnessing Song Jin's final moments,

I turn the steering wheel, setting a course towards Seo Ran's dwelling.

Seo Ran begins to interpret what Song Jin left him, while I sit down and start comparing and reading the techniques from the Thousand Lustrous Forest Sea given by my master and the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation bestowed by Song Jin.

With all the ties that needed resolution now settled, its time to properly learn the Qi Building cultivation method.

"The cultivation method of Yin Soul Ghost Incantation is..."

Knowledge about the Yin Soul Ghost Incantation begins to enter my mind.

Translator Notes: A strangely peaceful chapter. Extra donated chapter by S4Spartan1, Augustus63, and Fugman. Thanks for the support!

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