Chapter 709: Eight Heavens (2)
The next day, Ji-ryeon finally emerged from dual cultivation seclusion and came to see me.
She said she had learned all the fundamentals from the Three Immortals.
She had returned after perfectly completing the introductory stage of the Classic of the Three Maidens, created jointly by the Plain Maiden, Dark Maiden, and Rainbow Maiden.
The Classic of the Three Maidens was nothing like the inferior pirated copies of the Classic of the Plain Maiden that were scattered across the lower realm like pebbles along a riverbank.
This was what the authors themselves had separately written down—a so-called special introductory edition.
Only the very essence of the original text had been carefully selected and compiled into it—in other words, the definitive edition among definitive editions.
Ji-ryeon, who had learned it, wore an utterly triumphant smile across her face.
It was very similar to the expression Hwa-eun had worn while looking at me on our first night.
That relaxed, confident smile that seemed to say, 'Big sister will take care of everything, so don’t worry.'
The kind of overflowing confidence that only someone who had prepared something thoroughly from within could have was etched across her entire face.
“Look forward to it, So-ryong. I learned a great many things.”
“Various? Don’t tell me... the stuff that used to be in my woodpecker folder back in my previous previous life...”
All sorts of things I had once hidden deep inside the woodpecker folder on my computer in my life two lifetimes ago flashed through my mind.
My anticipation swelled naturally—and very quickly.
It seemed even the So-ryong Sword had sensed that anticipation, because it had long since risen in fiery excitement.
Ji-ryeon had even appeared wearing something like a mesh, provocative fairy-maiden outfit from who knew where, so my anticipation was nearly at the point of explosion.
But then Ji-ryeon, in that very state, began explaining something like a lecturer.
The atmosphere started drifting in a strange direction.
“Listen carefully, So-ryong. From now on, I will explain the Seven Losses and Eight Benefits.”
“We’re not starting right away?”
“Of course not. You need to understand the theory as well, so listen first.”
At her sudden professor stance, the momentum that had been surging through me instantly cooled.
Then what exactly was that mesh fairy outfit for?
Wasn’t it a prop to set the mood?
Don’t tell me it was merely attire to draw the audience’s gaze, and this was theory rather than practice.
The heart that had been expecting to experience all sorts of things instantly cooled by half.
“Anyway, Seven Losses and Eight Benefits?”
“The seven possible harms and eight possible benefits obtained through dual cultivation.”
“T-there’s something like that?”
“Of course.”
Sex—no, dual cultivation was just dual cultivation, so what benefits and harms could there possibly be?
'...Well, maybe there are? I lose protein and gain pleasure?'
While I tilted my head in disappointment, her explanation continued.
“First I’ll explain the Seven Losses. They are Exhausted Qi, Overflowing Essence, Seized Vessels, Leaking Qi, Impaired Mechanism, Hundred Obstructions, and Blood Withering.
Exhausted Qi refers to symptoms arising from forced dual cultivation when the heart is unwilling—cold sweat, dizziness, and the like.
Overflowing Essence refers to symptoms from hurried dual cultivation driven by desire—thirst, shortness of breath, and so on.
Seized Vessels occurs when So-ryong engages in dual cultivation without sufficient preparation—vital essence becomes depleted. Weakness appears.”
When Ji-ryeon suddenly took on a lecturer’s posture, I had honestly been greatly disappointed at first.
Theory rather than practice.
I had expected to experience various things.
But as I listened, I gradually began nodding on my own.
As expected, the dual cultivation masters of the Central Plains were on another level.
Whenever I engaged in dual cultivation with my wives while not fully willing, or without sufficient preparation, cold sweat and dizziness always appeared without fail.
The heavy weakness like sandbags tied to the body also never failed to arrive.
These were things no one who hadn’t experienced them directly could ever know.
It felt exactly like sitting before a fortune-teller for the first time, only for him to narrow his eyes and say with pinpoint accuracy, “Your face is full of woman trouble!”
I listened intently.
Because it felt as if something would soon appear that would properly care for me—or make me great.
'Make the head of the household great again. Nice.'
I asked eagerly.
“Then what about Leaking Qi?”
“My, my. You’ve been listening very diligently, haven’t you?”
“Of course. The way Ji-ryeon explains it makes everything very ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) easy to understand.”
“I’ll give you your reward later. Then shall I continue?
Leaking Qi refers to dual cultivation performed with a fatigued body. The lips dry and heat gathers in the abdomen.
Impaired Mechanism occurs when done with a body that has chronic illness—skin disorders and circulation problems arise.
Hundred Obstructions is the issue caused by excessive dual cultivation—thirst and difficulty urinating appear.
Finally, Blood Withering refers to dual cultivation after strenuous labor—vital essence dries up and blood-tinged urine appears.”
'So that’s why my lips dried when I was tired. And the thirst when I overdid it was also illness.'
It felt like everything I had experienced until now was being arranged one by one into named syndromes.
I had merely lived without knowing it, but I had already suffered a wide array of ailments.
With an expression like I had narrowly avoided disaster, I said,
“Whoa... that’s scary.”
Especially the part about Blood Withering—blood-tinged urine—sent a chill down my spine.
At that moment, Ji-ryeon gently stroked my head and smiled as if telling me not to worry.
“But there’s no need to worry now. I’ve learned the Eight Benefits.”
A soft, pleasant touch.
Curious about both the reward Ji-ryeon mentioned and the Eight Benefits, I asked,
“What are the Eight Benefits?”
“They are Firming Essence, Stabilizing Qi, Benefiting Organs, Strengthening Bones, Harmonizing Vessels, Storing Blood, Enriching Fluids, and Dao Body.
Firming Essence strengthens a man’s essence.
Stabilizing Qi steadies a man’s qi.
Benefiting Organs benefits a man’s organs.
Strengthening Bones strengthens a man’s bones.
Harmonizing Vessels harmonizes a man’s blood vessels.
Storing Blood accumulates a man’s blood.
Enriching Fluids reinforces a man’s bodily fluids.
Dao Body harmonizes the entire man’s body.”
Listening to the explanation, it felt like I would become a superhero just by doing dual cultivation properly.
If the qi and blood of the whole body were ordered and even bones and organs strengthened, wasn’t that no different from consuming miraculous elixirs?
When the explanation seemed finished, Ji-ryeon laid me down on the bed and said,
“Then shall we feel the Eight Benefits now?”
“Yesss.”
Like a well-behaved child, I obediently lay down on the bed guided by Ji-ryeon’s hands.
Expectation for what kind of experience would unfold ahead filled my entire body.
Firming Essence, Strengthening Bones, Dao Body.
Just repeating the names silently already made me feel as if my body were improving.
Thus, half anticipation and half excitement, I began dual cultivation to experience what exactly the Eight Benefits were.
But as we continued, something felt strange.
It felt no different from usual.
Only the postures changed slightly; fundamentally, it did not stray far from the familiar range of dual cultivation.
I had expected something wondrous and special to occur, but once it began, it was subtly different from what I’d expected. 'Is this the Eight Benefits?' The question began circling in my mind.
To make matters worse, normally it would be more than enough to finish after three rounds, yet Ji-ryeon had already entered the fourth.
At some point, my throat began to feel parched.
Hundred Obstructions—the syndrome I had just learned, thirst from excessive dual cultivation—was beginning inside my body.
As dual cultivation continued with a fatigued body, perhaps Leaking Qi symptoms were also appearing—my lips slowly began to dry.
The very symptoms I had just learned in theory were manifesting in my body one by one in real time.
Suppressing my growing anxiety, I asked Ji-ryeon cautiously,
“J-Ji-ryeon... shouldn’t we be careful about Leaking Qi and H-Hundred Obstructions? Ji-ryeon should also beware of Overflowing Essence from being swallowed by desire and hurrying...”
At my question, Ji-ryeon made a fond expression and said,
“Don’t worry, So-ryong. What I’m doing right now is precisely the treatment posture for Hundred Obstructions. And controlling the tempo treats Leaking Qi.”
“T-this is?”
“Yes.”
I had wondered why she was riding me in reverse, and there had been a reason.
But no matter how I thought about it, it strongly felt like administering poison and medicine at the same time.
Because it meant conducting excessive dual cultivation enough to enter Hundred Obstructions while simultaneously treating it.
Wasn’t that no different from throwing oneself into flames and regenerating at the same time?
It strongly felt as if the direction of treatment itself was fundamentally wrong.
Perhaps noticing my expression, Ji-ryeon smiled brightly and said,
“Now any of the Seven Losses from dual cultivation can be treated with the Eight Benefits, so it’s fine to do as much as we like. Don’t worry, So-ryong.”
Ah.
What I had thought was that Ji-ryeon had learned a dual cultivation method that would please me—or make me a gigantic So-ryong.
But that wasn’t it.
What Ji-ryeon had learned was a method to squeeze me infinitely.
A method to turn me into an infinite So-ryong.
Resentment toward the three ladies—the Plain Maiden, Dark Maiden, and Rainbow Maiden—began slowly rising from deep within my chest.
If they intended to teach something, wasn’t it proper for masters to confirm what realization the disciple had gained, and whether the teaching had been conveyed in the correct direction?
If the disciple’s realization flowed in a strange direction, it was the master’s role to correct it.
The content the three had taught was surely a method to bolster my yang energy and gain benefit—but Ji-ryeon had digested it into a completely different direction and returned.
She was using the sword the masters had given for an entirely different purpose.
A scream burst from inside me.
“Gyaaaah!”
***
Strange.
I had truly been squeezed that thoroughly, yet there was no mental fatigue.
After entering the Life-and-Death Realm, I no longer had to worry about depletion of vital essence, but mental fatigue could not be avoided.
Because this was fatigue felt purely in the mind, treated separately from vital essence.
But perhaps due to Ji-ryeon’s treatment after learning the Classic of the Three Maidens, though I had been squeezed until dawn, my mind was perfectly fine.
'Good heavens.'
It really felt as if I had become an infinite So-ryong.
Ji-ryeon lay in my arms after a long time, wearing a very happy expression.
It was just when I was beginning to worry about So-ryong’s future life.
The primordial infant, which had been heading to the Eight Heavens in my place, informed me that it had reached our destination.
Looking outside through the primordial infant’s eyes, the exterior was a gigantic waterfall.
The primordial infant had arrived atop a large rock beneath the falls.
As the primordial infant surveyed the surroundings, people suddenly appeared.
'What, is this spawn-kill here too?'
I wondered if there were bastards here trying to spawn-kill like when I first arrived in the Immortal Realm.
The sort who slice down newbies the moment they arrive and pocket the experience.
I quickly got up and reached toward the clothes I had set aside.
They flew toward me and dressed themselves automatically.
It was a feat possible now that I could handle qi like my own limbs.
“So-ryong, what is it?”
“It seems we’ve arrived, but it looks like there are people outside trying to jump us again.”
“Let’s go out together!”
“If you’re coming out, change into different clothes and wait. I’ll call you.”
If we were going to fight, I told Ji-ryeon to change into other clothes before coming out, then hurried outside.
I couldn’t let others see that mesh outfit.
When I arrived outside, those who had been watching my primordial infant were staring at it in shock.
But something felt odd—just a moment ago there had only been humans, yet now there were also spirit creatures and even demon races known for aggressiveness.
“Oh ho, a spirit being!”
“Let’s see—Heaven-Earth Five-Element Body!?”
“Heaven-Earth Five-Element Body!?”
They seemed astonished upon seeing my primordial infant.
Fortunately, there was no attack.
When I appeared, they were even more shocked.
“P-Primordial Infant Stage!?”
It seemed they could tell that my primordial infant and I were one.
I released my aura and cupped my fists, asking,
“I am So-ryong. May I ask the purpose of those gathered here?”
People shrank back under my immense presence.
One among them returned the salute with trembling hands and said,
“Please calm yourself, senior. You have ascended from the Nine Heavens, so it may be difficult to understand, but here, unlike the Nine Heavens, we do not act in mutual hostility.”
“Then?”
“This Eight Heavens Ascension Platform is a place where factions gather to recruit capable cultivators or take them as disciples, and cultivators are obtained openly.”
'Oh?'
I had been worried when people suddenly crowded in, but from what I heard, this place seemed to be a kind of public recruitment ground.