Chapter 99: Cultivation

"Explain in detail."

At the old man's serious tone, Karlstein began to make up a story.

"Hmm. It was someone wearing golden armor. I couldn't see clearly because of the halo. It was too dazzling."

He acted out a slight fear with trembling eyes.

"Armor? I see.... The halo makes sense too. Indeed, an ordinary person wouldn't be able to look directly at them."

Huh? Yes....

Let's just say that's correct.

"They said they would come back when the time is right and left a lot of things."

"...They said they would come back?"

He set up this excuse in advance since he wouldn't be receiving item transfers just this once.

Ma Yucheol fell into deep thought at this.

This Metal Spiritual Mountain isn't a place just anyone can enter.

The restrictions placed on Metal Spiritual Mountain were set up in ancient times, even before the Flame Metal Sect was created. Even the Flame Metal Sect, which had researched the restrictions for a long time, couldn't enter without a special wooden plaque.

If it's someone who can infiltrate without anyone knowing....

They must be someone the Flame Metal Sect couldn’t handle.

But it is difficult to think this child, Gahwi, is lying...

A shape he had never seen before.

Materials he couldn’t even guess the origin of.

Smooth and glossy metal processing.

Uniform and perfect craftsmanship.

How could a child without Spiritual Power obtain such things?

Even a passing dog wouldn't believe it.

Greed flashed momentarily in Ma Yucheol's eyes. Befitting someone belonging to the Qi Refining Pavilion, he could tell at a glance these were no ordinary items.

However, the greed in his pupils disappeared in an instant.

These were items given by an unknown person of elden times. Rash greed could cost him his life. His cautious nature was a big reason he had survived to this age.

"Hoo...."

"Junior Brother! Did you perhaps hear their honored name?"

"...I did not hear it."

Ma Yucheol scanned the items with his Spiritual Power.

"Was there nothing else they said? About our Flame Metal Sect, perhaps..."

Ma Yucheol's eyes sparkled with expectation.

Karlstein felt a pang of conscience but brazenly continued.

"They might have said something, but I can't remember. Especially after entering the Awakening Spring."

"I see...."

Karlstein had an utterly serious expression. As such, no one thought it was a lie.

But lies become exposed when they drag on. So this story had to end here.

"That's all I have to say."

"When they come back, tell them I would very much like to meet them."

"Yes. I understand."

Meanwhile, Zhang Yihong showed a complicated expression behind Ma Yucheol.

Envy? Jealousy? Emptiness? A sense of deprivation?

Hmm....

No, what? It was just an excuse I made up. Is it that shocking?

Unlike Zhang Yihong who kept her mouth shut, Ma Yucheol seemed to have many more questions.

"Have you ever met an Immortal before?"

"No."

"Or have one of your ancestors perhaps become an Immortal?"

"I'm not sure."

"Hmm...."

After that, Ma Yucheol asked about his past in detail, but of course, there was no harvest.

"At any rate, it seems to be a fortuitous encounter, so cherish it."

Yet Ma Yucheol's eyes showed inner regret.

There's risk in forcibly taking them, and there are eyes watching.

But just giving up here is regrettable, as there are many things I’m curious about.

Would be what he feels right now, yeah?

Should I show some generosity?

"Haha. Since I received them, I should be able to decide how to use them, right?"

"Hut!"

"Junior Brother!"

The two were startled.

"Of course, considering the feelings of the person who gifted them, I should restrain myself."

"..."

"Th-That's right."

One kè1, one shíchén2, two shíchén.

Time passed.

Karlstein, who had fallen into a state of No-Self, forgot the flow of time.

Only the verses of the Grand Void Cultivation Sutra floated in his mind. When he squeezed out his concentration to the limit of limits like that...

Woong-

The circulating Spiritual Power suddenly sank into somewhere around his solar plexus and jolted.

"Hmm."

He had stopped here last time. Trying to proceed further consumed too much mental and physical energy.

But now, after doping, it was different.

Under Karlstein's terrifying concentration, Spiritual Power pushed towards his solar plexus and collided again.

Thud-

Drip-

Although he had injected enhancers, he couldn't stop the blood flowing from his mouth due to internal injuries.

I'll end it this time.

He didn't want to drag it out.

Again.

Thud-

Heave-

Ugh.

I’ll do it until it works.

Once, twice.

Five times, ten times.

Wait, isn't a Heavenly Spiritual Root supposed to be amazing talent? Why is it so difficult?

Surely Ma Yucheol wouldn't have lied? And he himself couldn't lack intelligence, right?

Enraged, Karlstein crudely pushed Spiritual Power into his solar plexus.

Just break through already!

Then at one moment.

Boom-

A massive explosion occurred as if a Big Bang had occurred inside his head.

Gulp-

Ugh.

Hot blood rose in his throat.

But he smiled.

"So this is it..."

His solar plexus opening without obstruction. The feeling of meridians opening up one after another and circuits being engraved in his body in an instant. And Spiritual Power beginning to circulate much faster through there!

Haah.

A sense of refreshment and thrill enveloped his entire body.

It's certain. This feeling.

Strength overflowed throughout his body.

Ah, perhaps?

Karlstein began to draw more Spiritual Power from the spring water and circulate it in his body.

More. More. More.

Just a little more.

His greed raced without end.

Once more with this feeling!

Boom- Boom-

Consecutive explosions occurred in the universe expanded by the Big Bang.

An endlessly expanding universe.

An infinitely expanding Grand Void.

Spiritual Power in his body surged in like a flood.

Ah....

Boom- Bang- Boom- Bang-

How many explosions occurred?

Golden light flowed from Karlstein's pupils as he opened his eyes.

"Huh? 17 times?"

I heard the Qi Refining Stage only goes up to 17 Stars, though?

Is this not it?

I thought I went up 1 Star with each explosion....

Did something go wrong?

However, it didn’t seem like something went wrong. After all, Spiritual Power akin to a great river was flowing in his body.

Huh?

What exactly happened?

1. 15 minutes2. 2 hours