The first Spirit Beast Hunt has successfully concluded.
The two halves of the Black Armored Dragon were considered completely dead. Considering that this fellow was a worm-like entity, it was naive to simply declare it dead because its body was severed.
The wounds on the dragon weren’t just simple cuts.
The astonishing force, swept like a storm along with strong Qi, had torn through the innards of the dragon, leaving even the strongest of life forces helpless.
“Now, let’s find the Black Half Heaven Stone.”
“Oh, right!”
“Quickly, hurry up!”
The practitioners, who had been glancing around nervously in case the Black Armored Dragon would move again, immediately dispersed in various directions, snapping back to attention, some gazing in awe at the dragon they had slain.
“There’s a passageway over here!”
“It’s not just one passage! Mark the ones that have been searched!”
Suddenly filled with enthusiasm, the practitioners began searching actively. Relying on the remaining Nightlight, they quickly paired up and vanished into the passages.
It was as if they moved with the eagerness of finding a jar of honey at the end of the tunnel.
They had definitely been exhausted, but why the sudden burst of energy?
“Aren’t you going to start searching, Honorable Person?”
“Hmm?”
“You mentioned that where the Black Half Heaven Stone is, there might be the Gungcheong Stone Oil.”
“Ah…”
So that’s why the practitioners’ eyes turned wild?
I scratched my head and said, “Well… I didn’t say there was Gungcheong Stone Oil, just that it might be a preservative environment if we found it…”
“Haha, that’s true! But it’s better to explore with enthusiasm, isn’t it?”
What’s Gungcheong Stone Oil? It’s the number one spiritual medicine in the vast Central Plains Martial World, renowned for its stability, outshining even all the qi and herbs and entities that come from there.
How could such a spiritual medicine be easily found?
In the first place, in the martial world of the game, the Black Half Heaven Stone was just bait. The thought was that if one had the Black Half Heaven Stone, they might obtain Gungcheong Stone Oil through Spirit Beast hunting. And if we hunted Spirit Beasts hard enough, ta-da! We found the vessel but no substance inside!
Well… the babies of Spirit Beast hunting grow strong by eagerly biting onto such bait.
Although the Black Armored Dragon wasn’t really an entity that harbored inner dan, those teeth still held significant value, and the leather had many uses. More importantly, the Black Half Heaven Stone wrapped around the dragon was a zero-tier material for sect construction.
While it was too heavy for equipment-making and hard to process, if we crushed that stone into small pieces to create armor and built walls? We could create a training space to freely use our powerful energy.
While it might not satisfy the inflated fantasies of the practitioners to the fullest, there was certainly enough profit to justify hunting the spirit beasts despite the risks.
“I found it!! It’s the Gungcheong Stone Oil!!”
“Oh my heavens!”
“Where! Where is it?!”
One practitioner was making a fuss about finding the Gungcheong Stone Oil.
“This is just water.”
“No, no, it’s definitely…”
“It’s water.”
To be honest, I was a little excited, but it was really just water. On a whim, I carelessly tossed the cave water I had quietly set aside onto the ground, and fierce glares converged on the practitioner who had been making a fuss.
“Hey, hey! I knew that brat would do this!”
“Ugh! You fool! Just search!”
Anyway, thanks to that commotion, the practitioners who had let go of their greed for Gungcheong Stone Oil properly found an actual chunk of Black Half Heaven Stone.
A chunk that was about the size of two or three fists. Considering that the Black Half Heaven Stones they had found embedded on the joint surface were only about pebble-sized at best, it could truly be called a chunk.
“Is this size good enough?”
“Of course! Just this one will suffice.”
As the Peak Experts rushed in and hammered the rock, the common rock but not the Black Half Heaven Stone was rapidly caved in, making the extraction process for the Black Half Heaven Stone finish in an instant.
While there was still the task of retrieving the dragon’s teeth, skin, or rock, and cleaning up the chains and blades used, I’m sure the follow-up squad from Podalap Palace will take care of that.
Hugging the chunk of Black Half Heaven Stone in my arms, I said, “Let’s head back.”
It was time to create the true cure for Sara.
* *
With the colossal corpse of the beast laid out on the Bicheongmacha, and after marching the entire Rasa, the practitioners arrived at Podalap Palace, their shoulders sagging while also receiving awestruck gazes, thinking they would become heroes.
Normally, when hunting spirit beasts, it’s customary to have a grand parade showcasing the might of the slain spirit beast’s body, but this time the situation was a bit special.
Well, no matter how much they bragged about slaying over ten beasts, if there was no evidence, it wouldn’t mean anything.
When the corpse of the Black Armored Dragon arrives at Podalap Palace later, perhaps then they might feel proud.
Of course, I wasn’t sure if they would be able to pull out the whole body of the Black Armored Dragon through that narrow crack.
Nevertheless, while the bragging rights of the practitioners were important, the main focus was Sara’s treatment.
“This is…”
The Lord of the Palace couldn’t take her eyes off the Black Half Heaven Stone. The key and final ingredient for Sara’s treatment.
I looked at the three people in front of me. Rano Jingbu, Chai-rang, and Sara, holding her parents’ hands in between them.
The chunk of Black Half Heaven Stone that had once been a mass was now perfectly crafted into a vessel by Tang So-yeol. The three of them couldn’t take their eyes off the Black Half Heaven Stone ball that was a bit larger than a ping pong ball.
“Let me explain the treatment method once more.”
Even though the three already knew the treatment method, I slowly and clearly explained it again.
This was a sort of ritual.
It was a process to strengthen their determination, familiarize themselves with what would happen next, and accept the outcome that would unfold.
After finishing my explanation, I looked at Sara.
“Many things will change.”
Sara’s big eyes gazed into mine. The eyes that used to sparkle whenever the magic performances were held at Podalap Palace now bore a strong light today.
…Well.
There wasn’t really a need to elaborate on Sara’s five senses that were born with the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse. While she seemed like a carefree child recently zipping around Podalap Palace and Rasa with a lightened body, she was indeed an incredibly mature child.
That’s why I asked.
“Do you really want to cure the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse?”
For the sake of meeting her parents’ expectations. For the sake of the practitioners in Podalap Palace who worry about her, did she resolve to escape the curse of the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse for her own life?
“Yes.”
Sara answered decisively, as if she had already come to this conclusion.
“I heard about Nangyang from Black Cat Sister. She said that there are thousands and thousands of red lanterns hanging, lighting up the night like day. Miss Yeo Il-ye told me about Sacheon City. There are dozens of matches there, and thousands of martial artists compete there every single day.”
“I see.”
“The magic from Senior Ho Cheon-an is so fascinating. I want to see it every day, but the magician is too busy, and it was hard to bear. I want to keep watching the magic of Senior Ho Cheon-an.”
“I see.”
“I also want to weave fabrics with my mother, learn martial arts from my father, and practice Array Formation with the practitioners! And I want to play with my peers in Rasa!”
I must have been mistaken.
What sparkled in Sara’s eyes was not a steeled resolution.
But anticipation.
Anticipation for the future was etched all over her face.
“Then let’s begin.”
* *
The physicians summoned to Podalap Palace began to move busily.
Though they were all seasoned practitioners, each of them was drenched in sweat and pouring their entire effort into the work with tense faces.
Even seasoned physicians couldn’t afford to relax when handling such rare materials.
Dragon’s tendons, hundreds-of-years-old ginseng, clear water elixir, blood-replenishing elixir, and heavenly countless aches…
Every piece was treasure, with values worth a fortune, as they carefully cut and crushed them to extract their potent essences. Most could barely fit into a few drops of liquid!
What should have evaporated in an instant was being contained within the Black Half Heaven Stone vessel, maintaining that fascinating aura.
“Truly amazing…”
“I never thought such a thing would actually be possible…! It’s a notion fit for a celestial being!”
“With such a concentrated mixture, we might really be able to improve the constitution of the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse!”
“Focus! If we fail, it would be irreversible!”
The lead physician’s shout snapped the physicians, lost in marvel, back to attention and focus on their roles.
“There’s just one more left!”
All eyes concentrated on the final physician. The last one picked up tongs and opened the sealed chest containing the most critical ingredient.
Whoosh!!
Just opening the sealed chest unleashed a heatwave that rushed out like forging iron.
The flower wheel flower that contains the sun’s ring in its seven petals!
In an instant, the air felt parched, and the lead physician hurriedly moved his hands.
Thud.
The tip of the tongs touching the petals glowed red with heat. The physician carefully and speedily placed each petal into the Black Half Heaven Stone ball. The seven petals of the flower wheel were singular in their essence. The design the petals drew was the source of their heat. The medicinal energy began to bloom, petal by petal, in the liquid trapped.
Then at the precise moment the seventh petal was appropriately placed, a tremendous heat began to erupt. It was as if the assorted medicinal energies were doubling the life force of the flower wheel flower, creating an effect like pouring oil on fire.
“Close it!”
A physician that had been waiting immediately covered the Black Half Heaven Stone vessel and sealed it.
“Whew…!”
“Unbelievable!”
The physicians gasped in amazement. The extreme energy surged forth as the positioning of the flower wheel flower petals was completed, filling the room with an overwhelming heatwave, making it unbearably hot to breathe.
“Wrap it up.”
Finally, the physician melted the wax created by the golden phoenix and sealed the entire Black Half Heaven Stone.
“Finally… it’s complete.”
More than ten physicians gazed at the sphere with passionate eyes. Would they be able to cure the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse? The thought of achieving something that had never been done, to treat the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse, stirred their hearts, but most of the physicians here had seen Sara for years and cared genuinely for her well-being.
“Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”
At a distance, Ho Cheon-an’s voice roused the physicians from their reverie.
“Although I’ve devoted my life to medicine, I never imagined I would partake in such a splendid formulation. Thank you for allowing me this experience.”
“It was I who was thankful for perfectly executing such a rare formulation.”
“I understand lacking decorum, but may I inquire the name of the one who conceived this treatment method?”
Ho Cheon-an hesitated at the unexpected question. Reading the admiration in the physicians’ eyes, along with their longing to know who inspired the admiration, Ho Cheon-an reluctantly spoke.
“They are a group. The official chatroom of the Martial World.”
“Official chatroom? It seems there are many factions there! The chatroom…! It’s the chatroom, isn’t it! I’ll remember it.”
Well, this much should be okay. Ho Cheon-an thought, savoring the moment.
The cure for the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse was developed through the combined research of the members of the chatroom. Since the treatment was now at hand, it felt appropriate to mention at least its name.
After all, it was just a matter of pretending it was a fortuitous discovery. It was merely that the invented name of a non-existent treatment method became the name of the chatroom.
While Ho Cheon-an was nodding understandingly, the physician carefully handed over the treatment.
“Here, take it! This is the completed Gu Ryung Yeok Cheon Yang Mil Yeom Geuk Dan (Nine Ridge Reverse Heaven Sun Honey Flame Extreme Dan) as you prescribed!”
It was the final completion of the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse treatment, Gu Ryung Yeok Cheon Yang Mil Yeom Geuk Dan, extended as the contributors from the chatroom claimed their piece by adding characters bit by bit.
Ho Cheon-an placed the Gu Ryung Yeok Cheon Yang Mil Yeom Geuk Dan into a box cushioned with cotton and made his way to Sara’s room.
* *
“Hahaha!”
“Hohoho.”
“Fufufuf!”
Laughing sounds echoed from Sara, Rano Jingbu, and Chai-rang. It seemed they were enjoying their last joyful moments.
As I entered, the smiles faded from Chai-rang and Rano Jingbu’s faces.
Well… that was expected.
I was confident in the treatment, but could Chai-rang and Rano Jingbu feel the same? As the final moment approached, it was apparent they could hardly mask their tension.
It was natural to feel anxious to gamble their daughter’s life on an unknown treatment.
“It’s going to be okay.”
Sara took their hands and smiled brightly. Their eyes widened at her smile.
“When I saw the performance of Senior Ho Cheon-an, do you know why I jumped out of the window to meet Black Cat Sister?”
The two shook their heads.
“I felt a strong pull when I saw Black Cat Sister. And as a result, she treated me. Thanks to her efforts every day, here I am, healthy and well.”
Sara looked at me as she spoke.
“I feel the same way about Senior Ho Cheon-an. After taking the Gu Ryung Yeok Cheon Yang Mil Yeom Geuk Dan, I really feel like I can get better.”
“…Is that so?”
Rano Jingbu nodded.
“Sara, mommy loves you.”
“I love you too, father.”
“So do I.”
Sara laughed as she embraced the two. After gently patting her back one last time, they stepped back.
Sara looked at me with the expression of a child asking for candy.
Yeah. This child had already made her resolve. There was no more need for inquiry.
The Gu Ryung Yeok Cheon Yang Mil Yeom Geuk Dan rested on Sara’s palm.
“It smells sweet.”
“It might taste sweet going down. It’s the wax from those who made the delicious honey.”
After exchanging some final jokes, Sara swallowed the Gu Ryung Yeok Cheon Yang Mil Yeom Geuk Dan. The motion of her throat indicated it was going down into her body.
Sara’s eyes gently closed.
The wax melted inside Sara, and the effects of the Gu Ryung Yeok Cheon Yang Mil Yeom Geuk Dan spread slowly through the tiny holes the Tang So-yeol had created in the Black Half Heaven Stone.
Bit by bit, the potent energy comparable to the Nine Yin Absolute Pulse would neutralize and rejuvenate the nine congested major channels.
As the energy of the Gu Ryung Yeok Cheon Yang Mil Yeom Geuk Dan melted through Sara’s major channels and brought balance, Sara would surely be able to awaken.
I captured a final image of Sara in my mind. Her expression appeared truly peaceful as if she had just fallen asleep.
Grasping her door, I mused that this room seemed to have transformed into Sara’s cocoon. When the door opened next, Sara would probably emerge as a butterfly, having overcome her Nine Yin Absolute Pulse trouble.
Wishing with that thought, I closed the door.
Sara’s transformation had begun.
