NoveLight ™
“Explain in detail.”
At the serious tone of the old man, Kalstein began to weave his story.
“Hmm. He was wearing golden armor. The halo around him was blinding, so I couldn’t see clearly.”
He made his eyes tremble, acting a slight bit of fear.
“Armor? I see... The halo makes sense, then. A mere mortal wouldn’t be able to gaze upon him.”
“Y-yes…”
Well, just go along with it.
“He said he would return when the time was right and left me a lot of things.”
“He said he would return...?”
The item transfer wasn’t something he would receive just once, so Kalstein had already laid the groundwork for this.
Mayucheol sank into deep thought.
‘This place, Golden Mountain, is not a place anyone can enter.’
The seal installed on Golden Mountain, dating back to ancient times, had existed long before the creation of the Fire Gold Sect. Even the Fire Gold Sect, after researching it for a long time, could not enter without a special pendant.
‘If someone could enter unnoticed...’
At the very least, it couldn’t be someone the Fire Gold Sect could handle.
But Kalstein, the one in front of him, hadn’t lied, it seemed...
It was a sight Mayucheol had never seen before.
The materials were unrecognizable, with no idea what the original materials were. The smooth, shiny metallic work was flawless, with perfectly uniform craftsmanship.
Could someone without any spiritual energy really obtain such items?
Not even a passing dog would believe that.
For a moment, greed flashed in Mayucheol’s eyes. Being part of the Acting Hall, he immediately recognized the rarity of the items.
But the greed in his eyes vanished in an instant.
These were items given by an unknown deceased. Reckless greed could cost him his life. The reason he had survived so long was his careful nature.
“Huff…”
“Master! Didn’t you hear the sacred name?”
“…I didn’t hear it.”
Mayucheol scanned the items with his spiritual energy.
“Did he say anything else? About our Fire Gold Sect, perhaps…”
Mayucheol’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Kalstein’s conscience twinged, but he boldly pushed forward.
“I think he said something, but I can’t remember. Especially after I entered the Awakening Spring.”
“Hoh…”
Kalstein’s serious expression. No one would suspect it was a lie.
However, when a lie drags on too long, flaws start to show. So, this part of the story should end here.
“That’s all I have to say.”
“If he comes again, tell him I’ll be happy to meet him.”
“Yes, understood.”
Meanwhile, Jeong Ilhong was behind Mayucheol, his expression complicated.
Jealousy? Envy? Despair? Frustration?
Hmm…
No, it was just an excuse, but was it really that shocking?
Unlike the silent Jeong Ilhong, it seemed Mayucheol still had many questions.
“Have you ever met an immortal before?”
“No.”
“Or perhaps, someone among your ancestors who became an immortal?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Hmmm…”
Mayucheol continued asking about Kalstein’s past, but naturally, there were no revelations.
“Anyway, it seems like a stroke of fate, so cherish it.”
Still, there was a hint of regret in Mayucheol’s eyes.
Stealing it would have too many risks, and there were others watching.
Giving up felt regretful, but he couldn’t shake the curiosity.
Could he show some kindness?
“Haha. Since I received it, I suppose I can decide where to use it.”
“Ugh!”
“Master!”
The two of them were shocked.
“Of course, considering the giver’s feelings, I should refrain, though.”
“...”
“That’s right.”
The two of them became downcast.
‘That’s easy to figure out.’
Kalstein cleared his throat and said subtly.
“Still, if it’s only a few, I’m sure the giver would understand, right?”
“!!”
“Ugh!”
Both of them looked surprised and happy.
Haha, this is fun.
Right, the sect would never fail to recognize the greatness of civilization!
Before leaving, Mayucheol threw a small pouch at Kalstein. It was an Aetherless Pouch called ‘Zhumdae,’ a spatial pocket that he hadn’t given before, claiming it couldn’t be used without spiritual energy.
Guess there’s a saying that to receive, one must first give?
***
Kalstein's training progressed rapidly.
Three months had passed.
The preparatory learning that he thought would take at least a year for someone like Cheon Yeong-geun had nearly finished.
If he hadn’t had to log out now and then, it would have been completed many times faster.
Compared to others who, even with the talent of Cheon Yeong-geun, spent over ten years doing menial tasks to awaken their spiritual energy, Kalstein’s speed was outrageous.
“Hahhh.”
“Let’s stop for now. It’s a bit much for my mind.”
“Cough, ahem!”
Jeong Saseo, in a deeply relaxed pose on the massage chair, had her face thoroughly melted into comfort.
Crack—
The strong taste of a specially made cookie wrapped around her tongue.
It felt like just yesterday when she was lecturing on the importance of being disciplined, controlling one’s appetite, and avoiding indulgence in luxury foods.
“Ughhh…”
Gone was the strict woman with FM tendencies; now she was just a lazy sloth.
Of course, Kalstein had contributed a lot to this change.
The studying was nearly done, and now, only a small amount of spiritual energy was beginning to accumulate.
I told you not to indulge, right? To cleanse your body and mind, you need to reduce your food intake!
But it tastes really good.
How is it that you're already showing signs of spiritual energy?
Doesn't the result matter? Soon, you'll be calling me Saseo, not just Sajeo.
Wh-what?!
Even when absorbed into his body, the spiritual energy, which had previously scattered, was starting to stay longer, with its rate of dissipation slowing down.
Jeong Saseo, who had been astounded by Kalstein’s frightening growth, gradually ran out of words.
Now...
“This is the Peach Blossom Spring... Hahh. I really don’t need to be obsessed with immortality and abandon the present...”
“Saseo, you should go.”
“C-just a little longer.”
“Today is an important training day. Come back tomorrow.”
“Hiii.”
Gone was the innocent face that once marveled at the wonders of civilization, replaced by a Jeong Saseo who now only had one thought: staying close.
For the record, the recorder Kalstein had initially given to Jeong Saseo was taken by Mayucheol. Not exactly stolen, but exchanged for training resources.
In any case, it was hard to refuse Mayucheol’s recommendations.
Mayucheol had taken the night vision goggles and the recorder and entered his secluded training.
He claimed to have had an inspiration or something.
In the end, Kalstein sent the reluctant Jeong Saseo away.
While it was amusing to see her fallen to the comforts of modern civilization, there was still work to be done today.
Kalstein swallowed a variety of pills he had obtained from the Galactic Empire and injected himself with various substances.
With that done, he headed for the spring in the backyard.
“Hah…”
The drug’s effect began to kick in. His senses sharpened, and energy flowed through him.
It was the result of various doping potions, sensory enhancers, and ether reaction-enhancing agents.
“Today, I will break through properly.”
The minimum threshold to become a formal cultivator.
He was on the verge of reaching the first star in his Acting Hall cultivation.
Kalstein stepped into the spring and began cultivating the Tai He Yuan Jing that he had studied with Aria.
Shaa—
The text had been frustratingly abstract and conceptual, so Kalstein had worked with Aria to research it further, resulting in a slightly revised version of the Tai He Yuan Jing.
Shaa—
Energy began circulating through his body along the blood vessels.
One shi jin (time measure), two shi jin...
Time passed.
Lost in his trance, Kalstein forgot the passage of time.
Only the formula of the Tai He Yuan Jing swirled in his mind. When his concentration reached its peak...
Humm—
The energy circulating through him suddenly shifted, causing a jolt in his chest.
“Hmm.”
This was where he had stopped last time. Continuing beyond this point had caused too much mental and physical exhaustion.
But now, after doping himself, it was different.
With his terrifying focus, Kalstein pushed the energy down his chest once more, clashing with it.
Boom—
Drip—
Despite the enhancement agents, the internal injuries were so severe that blood started trickling from his mouth.
‘This time, I’m going all the way.’
He didn’t want to drag things on any longer.
Once more.
Boom—
Shake—
‘Ugh.’
I’m going until it works.
Once, twice.
Five times, ten times.
Wait, was Cheon Yeong-geun really that talented? Why isn’t this working?
Surely Mayucheol wasn’t lying, and there was no way he lacked the Five Elements energy, right?
Angrily, Kalstein forced the energy into his chest again.
Break through, already!
Then, in an instant...
Boom—
A massive explosion like the Big Bang rang out in his mind.
Gurgle—
‘Ugh.’
Hot blood surged up from his throat.
But he smiled.
“This is it…”
The obstruction in his chest was gone. Blood vessels opened up one after another, and Kalstein felt the circuits inside his body form. And the energy, now circulating much faster, surged through his body!
Hahh.
With a rush of exhilaration, a shiver ran through his body.
This is it. This feeling.
His body was overflowing with power.
Ah, could it be?
Kalstein began drawing more energy from the spring and circulated it through his body.
More. More. More.
Just a little more.
His greed surged on without limits.
This feeling… let’s go one more time!
Boom— Boom—
The universe, expanding like the Big Bang, exploded once more.
The ever-expanding universe.
The Tai He (Great Void) that expanded infinitely.
As the energy inside his body surged like a tidal wave.
Ah….
Boom— Bang— Boom— Boom—
How many explosions had happened?
Kalstein opened his eyes, and golden light leaked from his pupils.
“Huh? 17 stars?”
I heard that the Acting Hall only goes up to 13 stars?
Is this not it?
I thought every explosion would increase one star...
Was something wrong?
Yet, the energy flowing through his body felt as vast as a great river.
Huh?
What just happened?