"Junior Yun greets Elder Nie. I'm here to report my breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm."
Elder Nie was a Core Elder, someone of a higher status than Elder Yang. As someone in charge of the Outer Sect Human Dao Pavilion, he was naturally an expert, but for some reason liked to do small things such as receiving reports from disciples.
"Hmm... Judging by your age and surname, are you Yun Ji-Yoon?" Elder Nie as he scrutinized Ji-Yoon with his deep gray eyes while his right hand massaged his long black beard. He fully exuded the bearing of a senior powerhouse.
"Yes," Ji-Yoon answered calmly, but a bit nervous inwardly.
"I read some reports about you, about the potential you showed while at the Trial Sect," Elder Nie said nonchalantly, "You are indeed unusual, I can't see through you completely with simple means. Are you cultivating some special technique?"
"Yes. For the reason of my cultivation way, my cultivation base is difficult to be sensed by ordinary means, if possible at all," Ji-Yoon answered, still with a humble stance.
"Hm, not bad indeed," Elder Nie laughed softly, "Go get a Dao Art for yourself, be careful with the Cultivation Technique you pick, and be sure it is compatible with the foundation you already built."
"I will listen to Elder Nie's advice, please excuse me," Ji-Yoon said then went to the library of the pavilion, wondering the kind of Dao Art he should pick.
He already had a Dao Art meant to be his battle technique, and a Dao Art meant to be his footwork. Although both were of a lower level compared to those he could get now that he reached the Golden Core Realm and was an inner disciple, it wasn't really a problem since he began to tread a path that relies almost exclusively on the Flow to fight.
Moreover, the higher his Realm, the higher his standing. He could slowly deduce things to adapt and strengthen his old Dao Arts to be compatible with his Realm and overall strength. Moreover, he had a higher Dao-IQ than others in his realm, which eases the job.
(Author's note: For those who still don't get it. Both the 'IQ booster' and Ji-Yoon's Dao Mind Refining Technique increase his IQ, but more specifically the Dao-Oriented IQ. In other words, his intelligence and sensibility to anything related to the Dao. Although they also increase his general IQ, it's not as much.)
While walking through the various bookshelves, all of which exuded different auras and even scents, Ji-Yoon spotted a familiar figure reading a scroll in front of a conspicuously big bookshelf, which exuded an oppressive yet calm aura.
'It has been quite a while since I saw Mu Lin,' Ji-Yoon thought and simply ignored her, continuing to search for his Dao Art, since he could sense some guys spying on her, probably her admirers.
'Even if they are young, don't they feel ashamed of acting like this?,' he mocked in his heart, 'I am truly right to avoid that kind of sperm-heads magnet, it would be a problem if some spoiled young master decides to pick a nonsensical fight against me.
'I don't want to end up having to exterminate a clan or sect or being killed by them,'
After searching for a while, he found a Dao Art named 'Myriad Thoughts.' It was a technique that allowed a practitioner to speed up his thoughts, or slow down the world in his perspective, during a fight, increasing his reaction speed tremendously. Giving him time to make better decisions.
It was something with an incredibly high synergy with Ji-Yoon, who thanked his supposedly high luck for finding something so useful.
'System, scan it for me,' Ji-Yoon ordered silently after being sure no one was around, after all, he had to put the manual in the storage ring.
After an instant, the whole technique was imprinted within his mind. He put the manual back on the bookshelf nonchalantly and continued to search for a Dao Art suitable to him.
This was the first time he was doing something like this, and he was taking quite a big risk. After all, if he was discovered, he would be severely punished, or even killed since he has no background in the Sect.
'Well, I guess I changed a bit after all the things I went through...' Ji-Yoon thought with a melancholic feeling in his heart, 'I would never have taken such a risk a few months ago, I guess my own life lost a bit of its value for me?' He almost laughed as he thought about it.
'No, instead...' Ji-Yoon shook his head, 'I'm just adapting.'
After a while, he found another Dao Art, named 'Azure Dragon Senses,' which supposedly allowed the practitioner to develop all of his senses, including the Ethereal Mind, to reach the level of those of an Azure Dragon, a mystical creature famous for its high battle power, ability to control nature and sensibility to danger and fortuitous encounters.
However, it was an 'active skill,' like most of the Dao Arts, not a 'passive' one. So it didn't bring a permanent boost, though it could still be extremely useful during battles. It had the drawback of extreme consumption of mental energy.
He silently put the scroll of the technique in the storage ring for a scan and then put it back on the bookshelf.
After another while, he found another extremely useful Dao Art, named 'Calamity Enduring Body Reinforcement.' It allowed the practitioner to use his True Qi to reinforce and protect his whole body, augmenting its durability. It didn't boost his strength, though. It was also an 'active skill.'
If cultivated to perfection, the practitioner would supposedly be able to directly bear a simple attack of someone a whole Major Realm higher than him. Of course, it was only possible in an optimistic situation.
The drawback of the technique would be the extreme consumption of vitality and stamina. Still, it was acceptable.
To avoid being excessively greedy and perhaps exposed, Ji-Yoon decided to stop with his 'illegal' acts and genuinely pick a Dao Art, this time named 'Crimson Lightning Battle Cry.'
It allows the practitioner to directly use the power of lightning during battle, to cover his body and fists or even his weapon. He could even conjure lightning bolts to attack the enemy from distance.
It was definitely suitable for Ji-Yoon, who lacked an ultimate damage dealer technique.
After deciding to take this technique from the pavilion, Ji-Yoo then started to search for a cultivation technique.
Although he already had a cultivation technique suitable for him, he decided to pick one either way, to avoid suspicion or simply curiosity from the sect.
Moreover, he could gain insights just by studying a complete cultivation technique.
After he had chosen the two manuals, which he had to show Elder Nie to make a register, he walked out of the pavilion and went directly to the Alchemy Pavilion.
"Greetings Elder, I'm here to apply for a mission," Ji-Yoon said as he showed his Inner Disciple token, proof he was exempt from compulsory missions and could choose by himself.
"Hmm... Go to the mural over there and see if you find something suitable for you..." the elder responsible for the Mission Hall said as he lazily stretched himself.
On the mural, there were missions of all kinds, but the majority of them are in some way related to alchemy.
Ji-Yoon, who was in deep need of contribution points, scanned the giant mural carefully in search of something suitable for him.
Task: Find or buy ten stalks of Purple Essence Grass and give them to Deacon Kun, a member of the Alchemy Way, who resides at the tenth Deacons' Peak of the Outer Sect. Reward: Ten Contribution Points or Ten Energy Crystals.
Task: Refine yourself a pill with a pill core, explain the whole process, and give it to Inner Elder Jin, who is in charge of the twelfth pill chamber of the Outer Alchemy Pavilion. Reward: Anything within his power, as long as it doesn't infringe the sect's laws.
"Pill core..." Ji-Yoon muttered with a frown, "Does it even exist?"
Task: Kill any youngling mystical creature and bring its kidney...
Task: Go to the Deep Hatred Mountain Range and find a perfect Extreme Yin Goodness Flower...
Task: Kill a Nascent Soul Flood Dragon and give its Essence Core, still fresh, to Outer Elder Yang, who is in charge of the ninth pill chamber of the Outer Alchemy Pavilion. Reward: Ten thousand energy crystals or Ten thousand Contribution Points.
"Hmm?" Ji-Yoon was a bit surprised when he saw that task, gently raising his eyebrow, 'Elder Yang wants an Essence Core? Is he refining a special pill?
'Nascent Soul Flood Dragon... It is quite a troublesome foe, regardless of its Realm... What a pity, I'm still at the Golden Core Realm...' he thought then proceeded to look at another mission.
Task: Kill a Golden Core Flood Dragon and give its Essence Core, still fresh, to Outer Elder Yang, who is in charge of the ninth pill chamber of the Outer Alchemy Pavilion. Reward: Two thousand energy crystals or Two thousand Contribution Points.
"..." Ji-Yoon twitched his lips for a moment before deciding to apply for it.
"There already are some disciples running for this. But only the first to give the Essence Core will be rewarded," the elder said as he flipped the page of a book and wrote something, "There are very few Flood Dragons on this mountain range, beware of powerful ones, the sect won't care if a mere inner disciple in trial disappears."
Ji-Yoon then received some basic information about the places where Flood Dragons tend to appear more often. After thanking the Elder, he went to the 'Treasure Pavilion' and claimed a pair of black bracelets called 'Mystical Ghostly Shadow Bracelets.' He also had to return the gauntlets he got before back to the sect.
Those pair of bracelets gave him the ability to, when in battle, cover his hands and forearm with a layer of greenish energy called ghostly shadow, it was much stronger than ordinary Qi Layers and could allow him to block stronger attacks and even fight head-on against blades and other weapons.
After that, he directly left the Outer Sect. Although the Sect has "closed it's gates," it only means no one was allowed to go out of the sect's territory, the Stellar Mountain Range.
There was a special giant formation covering the entire mountain range that could immediately detect any person trying to run away and even kill this person as long as he/she is below the Dao Enlightenment Realm. Even if it's unable to kill, it could teleport elders to the place the fugitive person was.
Within the Stellar Mountain Range, there are many mysterious places, such as deep underground rivers with tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of miles of extension and several dozen to hundreds of miles beneath the ground.
Those are the most preferred habitats for the Flood Dragons since the Water, Earth, and Gold Elements are always in perfect harmony there, which helps their growth enormously.
The only way for Ji-Yoon to reach those underground rives was to, or directly dig an enormous hole, or find a cave that naturally or artificially leads to them.
Ji-Yoon received info about two caves, both naturally created, which increases his odds of finding Flood Dragons, which are innately afraid of humans and avoid places with signs of human activity.
Looking at the majestic yet distant scenery, Ji-Yoon took his Dao Brush, which he already made his own. Suddenly, it began to transform into something like a broom and began to levitate.
He sat laterally on the broom and in a blink took off to the bright sky, enjoying the aggressive yet fresh wind on his face, his eyes contemplating the wonderful scenery.
Strong rivers, sea-like lakes, evergreen forests, gaping cliffs... Any new element brought him a sense of satisfaction he only felt when cultivating in seclusion.
He then leisurely took a mouthful of his lucky Mi Baijiu. The fresh taste of rice, though it wasn't made from it, brought Ji-Yoon a sense of unrestrainedness.
The Dao Brush began to accelerate more and more at his command, quickly breaking the sound barrier. Still, Ji-Yoon used his True Qi to keep his clothes in one piece and avoid any kind of discomfort.
After a few hours, he reached one of the caves. It's the enormous entrance, at the side of a mountain, was like an entrance to the deep, little could be seen beyond, except the glimmer of strange insects.
Ji-Yoon descended from the sky and landed at the branch of a tree close by, his Dao Brush quickly returned to its original form and landed on his hand.
He frowned slightly after sensing the presence of two cultivators, both women, both at the Golden Core Realm, seemingly to be journeying together.
"Sister Zhu, we have company," one of them said as she looked at an approaching figure surging from the trees, the sound of footsteps were too obvious.
"Identify yourself!" she shouted, putting one hand above the handle of her cane sword, ready to draw and kill.
"Who else would dare to roam this Mountain Range?" Ji-Yoon said calmly as he reached them, "I, like you, am a inner disciple of the Stellar Origin Sect."
"Are you here for the Flood Dragon's mission?" the other one of them asked, she was a young girl with bright blue eyes and black hair, she had a red plum blossom marking on her forehead (huadian).
"Yes. Since we are already here, what about journeying together?" Ji-Yoon asked with a calm smile and sincere expression.
Both women looked at each other and comunicated by secret voice transmission but then refused politely. "I'm sorry, but we are not interested in teaming up with other people."
"I see, I'm going first then!" Ji-Yoon smiled and entered the cave with a burst of ridiculous speed. Taking the girls by surprise.
"Oh no!" both women ran after him just after, but their speed was clearly vastly inferior.