NoveLight ™
To cut to the chase, it was a bit of a misstep.
sigh, I thought I could take the easy route.
“Tsk. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.”
“W-what the hell!”
Jeong Saseo looked at him as if she were staring at a monster.
“How… How did you reach the sixth star of the Acting Stage in one go?”
“Eh? Only six stars?”
“Are you crazy? Was it a fluke?”
Meanwhile, Jeong Ilhong was also beside himself with disbelief.
She had spent over 20 years training just to reach the eighth star, the lowest stage for immortals.
Although the Acting Stage was the lowest among the immortal stages, even getting into it in the first place was like trying to thread a needle for someone without the potential of an immortal.
“Only six stars?”
Jeong Ilhong wanted to slap Kalstein across the face.
Someone who had spent 20 years struggling and working to reach their goal, and this lazy bastard had finished it in just three months. And now he was acting like it was nothing?
And yet…
‘What is this spiritual energy…’
It wasn’t without reason that she was staring at him like some kind of monster.
“You’re crazy…”
Looking at the density of his spiritual energy, it was definitely at the sixth star of the Acting Stage, two steps below hers.
But the amount of energy she felt wasn’t at that level.
What is this? Why does it feel like when Master Mayucheol shows his full strength...?
No, it must be an illusion.
Master Mayucheol had never shown his full strength in front of her.
She steadied herself and began calmly measuring the energy of her disciple.
Something’s off.
It was like reaching the edge of a vessel, but there was no end in sight. It felt like she was groping in the dark, unsure of what was ahead.
It was confusing.
Could it really be six stars?
Anyway, she had never heard of someone jumping straight to six stars upon awakening their energy.
It was truly an unbelievable event.
Was this even possible?
In general, to ascend in rank, one had to continuously practice the proper cultivation methods, consume spiritual potions, and immerse themselves in various resources for years. Realization and enlightenment were essential in the process.
Just because someone’s spiritual energy increased rapidly didn’t mean their rank would jump as well.
“…”
Could it be that the deceased he met previously had something to do with this?
If someone could sneak through the Golden Seal of Golden Mountain unnoticed, they must have been an extraordinary person, someone far beyond her imagination. If that person personally intervened...
It wasn’t entirely impossible, right?
“Sigh…”
What happened here?
Watching Kalstein smile as he casually bit into a piece of fruit was somehow irritating.
He’s handsome, too...
But she supposed she should still congratulate him.
“Congratulations, Master. Cheon Yeong-geun truly is remarkable... Reaching six stars so quickly.”
“Sigh... I’m rather disappointed.”
What?
Snap!
Veins bulged on her forehead.
Hahhh. Calm down. He probably didn’t mean to say that maliciously.
There were many strong cultivators in the world of cultivation, people far beyond her imagination. She must not let her guard down, and perhaps this was just his way of not getting cocky.
“Training takes more time than I thought. I worked really hard.”
What? What’s this about time?
Is he messing with me?
“Anyway, I understand. I’ll make sure to do it right. I’ll spare no effort...”
“…”
The serious look on Kalstein’s face.
It must mean that he wasn’t being arrogant and was truly working hard, right? Surely?
“Hm. It’s a shame, but I could have called you Jeong Saseo.”
Eek!
“No way! I won’t just sit idly by either. I’ve been slacking off recently, but…”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Anyway, come with me. Once you awaken your energy, Master Mayucheol said he would visit.”
“Ugh, how bothersome…”
Kalstein displayed the typical traits of someone dismissive of others.
She desperately wanted to give him a smack on the head, but restrained herself.
What was it with his potential, anyway?
Sigh.
It seemed like the relationship between the Saseo and the disciple might not last much longer.
***
Kalstein rode the Skyboard, casually following her and sinking into thought.
Hmm. I was definitely sure of the feeling.
Sixth star of the Acting Stage.
It was clear that, as Jeong Saseo said, his growth was incredibly fast.
Still, would it really be enough to impress the Emperor of the Galactic Empire?
“Hmm.”
He had some pride.
The reason he was troubled by this was that the 17 explosions he felt in his mind weren’t something trivial, and he had a strong gut feeling about it.
It was almost a certainty. He could tell that much.
But the result was only the sixth star of the Acting Stage.
He was extremely disappointed.
Hmm.
While Jeong Saseo might see Kalstein as a monster of talent, he also knew that self-learning wouldn’t allow him to grasp the true essence of the Tai He Yuan Jing.
His thinking process was more aligned with the scientific mind, valuing efficiency and correctness, which didn’t mesh well with the abstract and esoteric nature of the technique.
The Tai He Yuan Jing required creating a miniature universe within the mind and gradually expanding it through cultivation.
To understand and create a universe, boundless imagination was needed.
No one had yet understood Kalstein’s state, where he had created 17 Tai He (Great Void) from the start.
Yeah, as Saseo said, it might not be such a big deal after all. In that case…
The result of only reaching the sixth star lit a fiery determination within Kalstein.
I can’t give up the easy way.
Staying cooped up in a cave, training mindlessly, didn’t suit his temperament.
He increased the speed of the Skyboard and closed the distance, following her closely.
He would consult with Aria.
Maybe he could make an automatic training macro? Or perhaps try crafting some of the legendary elixirs.
Whoosh—
“Hurry up!”
“Yes, I’m coming!”
For now, though, he needed to see Master Mayucheol first.
***
Kalstein arrived at Mayucheol’s training hall following Jeong Saseo, but he didn’t meet him.
Hmm. I had some questions about the Tai He Yuan Jing...
There was a stubborn young man standing in front of her and blocking their way.
“Master has entered seclusion. No one is allowed to enter.”
The young man, standing firmly like a piece of equipment from the Jangpanpa sect, blocked the entrance to the training hall.
“I’m here to take care of the task that Saseo assigned to me.”
“Are you telling me that Master gave an order to you, someone who’s not even a formal disciple, without telling me?”
“…Huh?”
“Are you saying that some nominal disciple, like you, is closer to Master than I am, a formal disciple?”
Kalstein tilted his head, confused by the young man’s sudden outburst.
What’s his problem?
A nominal disciple.
A disciple whose name was only used as a formality.
Unlike a formal disciple, a nominal disciple would do odd jobs, just have their name on the list, and enjoy the perks of being a disciple without much work or authority.
Naturally, compared to a formal disciple like the young man in front of him, a nominal disciple like Jeong Saseo was almost like an outsider.
She hadn’t even been granted permission to call him Master.
“Stop babbling and leave. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t mind, but Master is currently working on an important study. So, come back another time. Tch.”
The young man dismissed her and then glanced at Kalstein behind her.
Is this guy really that talented?
As a formal disciple, the young man was furious.
Naturally, Master’s attention was limited, and the more talented individuals who entered, the more he, with his adequate talent, would be overlooked.
In a way, it was almost like territorialism.
Only six stars… And it’s still quite unstable.
Thinking of Kalstein as someone below him only fueled the young man’s displeasure. He would have been fine if Kalstein’s rank were higher; he might have given up altogether.
“Anyway, leave now.”
The two were unceremoniously shown the door.
Jeong Saseo couldn’t say anything after being dismissed.
On the way back, she wore a visibly gloomy expression.
Kalstein, puzzled, asked, “What’s going on? Weren’t you close with Mayucheol?”
“…Master. Even so, calling Saseo’s name so casually…”
Normally, Jeong Saseo would have scolded him fiercely, but today she merely gave a mild rebuke, as if she didn’t have the energy to argue.
“Hm? Is there something really going on?”
She had been ignored by the young man and couldn’t respond properly, despite the fact that their levels seemed similar.
A disciple with an 8th star acting so territorial over a 6th star.
Kalstein wondered if he was just a nuisance to the young man.
Still, was it really that big a deal? Whether nominal or formal, they were still disciples. Was the gap between them really that huge?
The level of disdain the young man showed her as he dismissed her was not insignificant.
Jeong Saseo remained silent, her head lowered, and just listened.
In contrast, the young man had nothing else to say to Kalstein, except for looks of envy.
“Saseo. Did you maybe cause trouble before or have some hidden background?”
“…No.”
Jeong Saseo closed her mouth.
When they returned to the cabin, Kalstein handed her a special chocolate frappé as a form of consolation before retreating to his room.
Usually, she would have smiled, looking silly and carefree, but there was no sign of improvement in her mood.
“Hmmm.”
In any case, Kalstein had work to do, so he began chanting the magic for his narcolepsy.
“Logout.”
Pshhh—
He couldn’t be satisfied with just six stars.
Considering her story, 8 stars didn’t seem like much either.
He needed a breakthrough.
“Aria!”
[Did you return?]
“Yep! Let’s make a macro!”
[What do you mean?]
Aria sounded confused.
“I’ve definitely felt the effects of the training. If we do it right, it might work even on those martial arts armies.”
[Is that so?]
“Yeah. So, let’s make a macro!”
[...].
What did Beinbujeon? Ijinjeonseung? Gisamyeoljo?
None of that mattered to Kalstein.