After talking with the deacons and coming to an agreement, Ji-Yoon went inside the pavilion and started to write down all the techniques and arts he knew, and even his insights. He didn't hesitate at all, for he know that those things are just as valuable as gold in the cultivation world. His only vantage is that there are very few Life and Death Realm Martial Artists in this world, raising his price a lot.
Deacon Li, being a martial artist himself, was then in charge of checking everything. Of course, it was his suggestion and it was completely unnecessary. His eyes almost burst because of his focus.
The other deacon, surnamed You, was in charge of the formalities and applying for the evaluation of the secret manuals. He received a few "gifts" from Deacon Li and was very happy.
An outer sect elder was needed to check and approve Ji-Yoon's gift. And it wouldn't take a long time since most cultivators don't sleep at night. An outer sect elder would pass by the trial sect from time to time on their patrol duties.
Deacon Li was a very generous person and immediately prepared more gifts. After all, being on the good side of the people is never a bad thing.
"Elder Yang, after painstaking efforts I managed to convince Senior Yun to offer his unique, rare, and valuable techniques and arts for the sect. You should know that Life and Death Realm martial artists are incredibly rare, more than Mahayana Realm cultivators. Moreover, being a martial artist myself, I offer my services to give my remaining lifespan to check those manuals."
"Well, Deacon Li, I have always seen your great efforts in the Trial Sect. I shall allow it for the sake of your great loyalty!" Elder Yang laughed happily, his storage bag now heavier. In any case, it wasn't that big of a deal to accept a trial disciple.
Ji-Yoon wondered if all people of this so-called Sacred Land are so shameless. Aren't they supposed to be more like ascetics?
Nearly ascending from happiness, Deacon Li praised Elder Yang's unparalleled wisdom and courage.
Ji-Yoon sighed in marvel, the old fart was already ignoring him since he already got what he wanted.
Ji-Yoon was then said to go to the Trial Pavilion and wait there with the other martial artists. They will have to undergo another assessment tomorrow to be taken in as trial disciples, aka servants.
There he saw the burly man and the others sitting in cushions, all meditating with closed eyes on the great hall.
He found a cushion for himself and also entered meditation. For a master like him, it was already unnecessary to sleep, his internal energy was much more invigorating. Even someone at the Profound Realm only needs to sleep once a week.
He decided to use his time to ponder the difference between martial arts and cultivation, between internal energy and True Qi.
Although he learned a lot of things from the Sage's memories and the system, he still needs to think a lot about it to breakthrough his understanding to another level. It involves his future after all.
[Ding! Dong! The host entered a state of deep meditation, do you want to use the IQ booster?]
Black lines appeared on Ji-Yoon's forehead and he massaged his temples in frustration
'You know I entered a deep state, and you still interrupt me?'
As for the "IQ booster", it is one of the system's features. It requires him to use cultivation resources in exchange for an increase in his comprehension capabilities for a limited amount of time, the amount of time and quality of the boost depends on the amount and quality of resources.
Unfortunately, even with the daily check-in feature, he was still very poor in cultivation resources. With the Qi Refining pills being his most precious resource at that moment. It wouldn't be of much use even if he used the 'IQ booster.' He had to wait for the time to daily check-in and rely on his luck to get good things.
Time quickly passed for him, and the sun dawned on the horizon before he could even get anything out of his meditation.
'Alas, this kind of thing is really difficult,' he thought and looked around.
Everyone was eagerly waiting for the assessment, not being able to remain in meditation.
The burly man from before had already noticed Ji-Yoon's presence, but just awkwardly smiled at him.
Soon, the same disciple from before appeared. His gaze was indifferent toward the martial artists, even though he was just at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"The content of the assessment is simple. You will receive a manual to form your mystical root, do I need to say the rest? You all have twelve hours to do it. The faster you succeed, the greater the benefits you will receive."
He waved his hand and several manuals suddenly appeared on the floor. His attitude was very easy to enrage others, but he didn't care about the opinion of mere mortals.
Ji-Yoon frowned deeply but said nothing. He wondered if the disciple's attitude was also a kind of test.
Nonchalantly, the disciple walked out of the hall, heading towards his room, leaving some words, "Those who fail purposely and just came for the manuals will surely regret it later. One way or another."
Seemingly not surprised by the disciple's words, everyone got each a manual and started studying it calmly.
[Ding! Dong! Detected a new manual in the host's possession, do you wish to memorize its content? Please put it in the system's storage for a moment if so.]
Ji-Yoon was extremely surprised by this newly discovered feature. The system was getting more and more ridiculous. Alas, it's too useful for him to criticize it.
[Ding! Dong! Host, you still need to comprehend the manual by yourself. The system can only help you memorize it.]
'No matter, this already saves a lot of time.'
Ji-Yoon put the manual in the storage for a moment after being sure no one was looking. And took it out immediately after, with a dumbfounded expression.
'I... really remember everything!'
He quickly controlled his emotions and pretended to read the manual regardless. Inwardly, he was in a small struggle. The reason was that he didn't see this coming. He originally wanted to enter the sect as purely a martial artist and focus on martial arts for some time before becoming a cultivator, at least just after he settled the matter regarding the Untitled Sage's dream.
The possible untitled Realm above the Life and Death Realm was the Sage's late dream. He spent his last days contemplating if he achieved the peak of martial arts. He didn't want to become a cultivator, since he judged them as depraved beings. He wanted to go further and spent his last breath in unwillingness.
Ji-Yoon willingly inherited part of the Sage's dream. The reason was that he fell in love with martial arts, at first sight, when he sensed the beautiful power flowing inside him. He wanted to forge a new path and arrogantly thought that it might possible since he was a transmigrator.
'System, can't you think of a way to breakthrough into the next realm of martial arts?'
[Ding! Dong! The system is unable to answer for now. But you can always rely on luck, host.]
'Bullshit,' he sneered and ignored the system. Luck is indeed awesome, but no one has enough of it to solve all problems. He decided to continue trying to find a way within six hours, and form a mystic root regardless afterward. It's not like he would be abandoning his martial arts anyway, it would just be an insult to the dead Sage.
'I would have done my best, this is what truly matters.'
After a few hours, the system pop-up appeared in his mind again.
[Ding! Dong! It's been twenty-four hours since the last check-in.]
"Already? Time sure flies," he muttered.
'Check-in!'
[Ding! Dong! Congratulations, host! You received a special prize: A luck-never-fails pill.]
'...What? Really? Aren't you messing with me?'
[Ding! Dong! You are really lucky, host.]
Suddenly, Ji-Yoon doubted his life.
In the system's storage was a rainbow-colored pill, the size of a soybean. Ji-Yoon received the info about the pill from the system.
'What kind of ridiculous thing is this? Can luck even be amplified?'
[Ding! Dong! Luck is all about cause and effect. The pill's power lies in manipulating cause and effect for a limited period. It can be considered a Myth-graded item.]
'This is even more ridiculous, cause and effect can also be manipulated!?'
[Ding! Dong! Host, calm down! Your expression will attract others' attention this way.]
Quickly, Ji-Yoon composed himself. He was making an expression similar to a country pumpkin seeing the imperial capital for the first time.
Sincerely, Ji-Yoon felt that using the pill at that moment was a waste. He could wait until he gets his hands on another premium lottery ticket and become immortal in a single step.
However, he was very curious about the limits of luck. Can something so ethereal truly help him in pioneering a new Martial Arts Realm?
[Ding! Dong! Host, see the name of the pill again! Luck never fails! Don't believe in yourself, believe in your luck! Look at this, this is the first time you won an item above mortal-grade from the daily check-in, and it's directly a Myth-grade.]
'Don't talk as if I'm incompetent, I'm just without time to slowly figure it out.'
[Ding! Dong! Host, no one in this world has been able to discover a new Realm of Mortal Martial arts for ages, do you think you can do it easily? Only a strong destiny might turn it possible.]
'Destiny? It's more like a cheat!'
After pondering for a long time, Ji-Yoon clenched his fists and decided to risk it.
'Alright. I'm a transmigrator, I can do it!'
After swallowing the pill with a stoic expression, Ji-Yoon immediately regretted it.
'Damn it, I should have waited for getting a premium lottery ticket. I'm shit for not being able to resist the temptation.'
Regret has no medicine, and now he could only try his luck.
"Bang!" Suddenly, a loud noise came from a martial artist at the corner of the hall, attracting everyone's attention, it was a woman wearing black armor. She seemed to be in her early thirties but was already at the Profound Realm, truly impressive. No wonder she could be the first to form her mystical root.
A small vortex was formed around her, it was the mystical energy reacting to the new mystical root. It would calm down only after a few minutes.
After sighing in relief, the woman nodded to the others and started to verify the changes in her body. Everyone also focused again, except Ji-Yoon.
At the moment of the woman's mystical opening, he suddenly understood the truth about the forming of the mystical root and its relation with the human body and will. All his knowledge about human physiology and martial arts sublimated and he gained partial comprehension of the Mortal Dao, which is the only Dao a mortal can try to comprehend.
He came to understand the martial artist's obsessions and the worldly settings that bind them.
He also directly deducted... there's no Realm above the Life and Death Realm. It's no wonder no one has managed to pioneer a new Martial Arts Realm.
But it doesn't mean that martial artists at the Life and Death Realm can't evolve further. It's all about how the people of this world are always so obsessive with Realms and Levels. They can't see further.
The Life and Death Realm is the peak and at the same time the turning point to the ultimate sublimation. After taking this step out of the box, the martial artist will no longer be bound to such concepts as realms and whatever. Self-belief is all that remains. From the beginning, martial arts has always been about 'self' rather than 'Realm' or 'strength'.
Ji-Yoon instantly felt like the invisible chains around him shattered. His mind was much brighter and more relaxed than before. Even though there's no change to his body and internal energy and his strength hasn't increased much, he evolved. He is no longer a martial artist bound by worldly settings, but just himself.
'Fuck, I got enlightenment just like this!? Even I am starting to think heaven has no eyes for permitting such a ridiculous thing!'
'If anything, the peak of Mortal Martial Arts is about self-belief and gratitude, rather than martial strength. Martial Arts without the Martial part, hahaha.'
Ji-Yoon grinned and thought about the Untitled Sage, 'He spent his last days in such a miserable way... It's a pity he couldn't overcome his obsession, just like many others.'