Nano-engineering Immortal Cultivation Chronicle

Episode 2: Obtaining the Mysterious Mystic Flask

Thwack!

Jang So-cheon closed the book just as dawn was breaking.

He couldn’t quite believe he’d finished reading such a thick tome, so he flipped through it again.

And then, he was shocked.

Every bit of the book’s contents was perfectly etched in his mind.

‘How is this possible? Was my memory always this good?’

Still in disbelief, Jang So-cheon opened the hefty herb manual to a random page.

His eyes widened.

He knew every word.

Overjoyed, he nearly rolled around on his bed, but remembering his injured leg, he restrained himself.

Instead, he drummed his hands excitedly on the mattress.

After a while, Jang So-cheon set the book by his pillow, stretched, and lay back down.

That’s when he realized he hadn’t slept a wink all night.

Wide awake.

But sleep wouldn’t come.

Suddenly, he sat up and opened the herb manual again.

As expected, every detail was still crystal clear in his memory.

A grin crept onto his lips. Jang So-cheon set the book aside and, lying down, began his Qi Circulation Meditation.

It was time for his daily practice.

Spirit Gathering Mountain was famous for its abundant Heavenly Origin Energy.

Practicing Qi Circulation Meditation here allowed one to absorb a great deal of Spiritual Energy at once.

Huuup!

As Jang So-cheon inhaled, Heavenly Origin Energy from the air flowed into his abdomen—

and then, all at once, he exhaled it.

Calming his breath, he drew the Heavenly Origin Energy through his nose, following the Qi Circulation Breathing Method’s formula.

No rushing, just steady, continuous flow…

He guided the Heavenly Origin Energy into his chest, then pressed it downward, willing the Spiritual Energy that matched his Spirit Root Attribute to settle in his lower dantian.

Jang So-cheon’s Spirit Root Attribute was Wood-Fire.

Normally, out of the five energies within Heavenly Origin Energy, only the two matching his attribute would enter his dantian, while the other three and any excess would be expelled with his breath.

That was how it was supposed to work…

“Huh?”

In the middle of his meditation, Jang So-cheon suddenly stopped breathing.

Something felt off.

Phew!

He exhaled deeply to calm himself, then tried the Qi Circulation Breathing Method again.

He could feel the Heavenly Origin Energy entering through his nose.

He pressed it down toward his dantian, focusing his intent—

Astonishingly, four energies—Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—all surged into his dantian.

Four-Yin Muscle Body Type.

He’d gone to sleep and woken up with a different Spirit Root Attribute.

Jang So-cheon lay there, stunned, even forgetting to breathe.

Could a Spirit Root Attribute really change?

No, that was supposed to be impossible.

Unless, of course, your soul had been swapped like his…

Whew!

It seemed this was another side effect of his soul being switched.

Jang So-cheon’s original attribute was Wood-Fire, the Two-Yin Muscle Body Type.

But if Park Ki-hyun’s soul, now inhabiting his body, had Water and Earth attributes, then perhaps such a miracle was possible.

“……”

His chest swelled with excitement, but there was nothing he could do about it right now.

His body trembled with exhilaration.

Becoming a Four-Yin Muscle Body Type was no small matter.

If this were discovered, the Extreme Heaven Sect would be thrown into chaos.

All disciples joining the Extreme Heaven Sect were required to have their Spirit Root Attribute tested.

The process was simple: place your hand on the Spiritual Sensation Pearl, and the corresponding color among five would light up.

This, along with the cultivator’s name, was recorded in the sect’s registry.

In the thousands of years since the sect’s founding, there had never been a single correction.

But if it came out that Jang So-cheon had become a Four-Yin Muscle Body Type…

If a less-than-kind elder found out, they might kidnap him for interrogation or even dissect his brain to find the cause.

A chill ran down his spine. Jang So-cheon resolved to keep his Four-Yin Muscle Body Type a secret.

Watch your mouth.

No bragging.

Humility, humility, humility.

Firm in his resolve, Jang So-cheon continued his Qi Circulation Meditation while lying down.

As Squad Leader Gwak Mu-jin had said, increasing his Law Power might help his leg heal faster.

*

Early morning.

Jang So-cheon sat up in bed and unwrapped the cloth binding his injured leg.

He carefully set his foot on the floor and tested his weight—his leg was in better shape than expected.

He stepped outside the infirmary and tried walking a bit faster.

Then he broke into a light jog—still no problems.

Boing!

He leapt into the air and landed, a smile spreading across his face.

He felt well enough to join the herb gathering.

Returning to the infirmary, Jang So-cheon tidied his bed and tucked the borrowed book under his arm.

Then he headed for the dormitory.

Jang So-cheon was one of about thirty disciples under Wuji Perfected One, who resided at Present Ghost Peak.

More specifically, he was the youngest in the first group of three under the Herb Gathering Hall.

The group’s quarters were clustered together, with the dormitory at the center.

Creak!

Jang So-cheon entered the dormitory and went straight to the squad leader to return the book.

“Did you get a good look at it?”

Gwak Mu-jin tossed the herb manual onto his own shelf.

Returning it after the herb gathering was fine.

“Thanks to you, Squad Leader, I wasn’t bored these past two days. When do we leave?”

“In two quarters of an hour. Will you be alright?”

“Absolutely.”

Jang So-cheon bounced on his feet as he answered.

“That’s good enough. Get ready.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jang So-cheon walked over to his own shelf and sat on a bench, checking the contents of his Heaven and Earth Pouch.

The Heaven and Earth Pouch was a small bag used by cultivators, capable of storing an incredible amount of items.

Even the smallest was half a palm in size; the largest were said to hold heaven and earth themselves—hence the name.

He checked his Blue Silver Sword, Wall Valley Pill, his Herb Gathering Net, a trowel, and a wooden case for storing precious herbs. Satisfied, he closed the pouch.

Makjang, sitting nearby, asked,

“How’s your leg?”

“It’s almost too good, that’s the problem. Makjang, how’s our quota for this month?”

“It’s looking rough. If we’re not careful, our group might come in last.”

“Guess we’ll have to gather a lot of herbs today.”

“Don’t just grab anything. The third group hit the jackpot a few days ago. Rumor is they found the Seven-colored Swallow Orchid the Supreme Elder wanted.”

“Seven-colored Swallow Orchid! That’s a Spirit Herb, isn’t it?”

Thanks to memorizing the thick herb manual, Jang So-cheon’s knowledge had improved dramatically.

The moment he heard the name, its appearance, properties, effects, and value all came to mind.

“Yeah, it’s a Spirit Herb.”

“Did you hear how old it was?”

“I heard it wasn’t that old. Still, it’s the best find in recent memory.”

“I bet the third group’s leader is strutting around.”

“You have no idea. His head’s been in the clouds for days. When will we ever find a Spirit Herb like that…?”

“Don’t worry. We’ll find one today.”

“Who, you?”

“Who else in our group is as lucky as me? Do you know what I dreamed last night? You’d be shocked if I told you.”

“I couldn’t care less about your dreams. Looks like it’s almost time to go.”

Makjang glanced toward the door as Han Yeo-ok entered the dormitory.

It took more than three days to travel from Present Ghost Peak, where Herb Gathering Hall was located, to Black Dragon Gorge.

But Squad Leader Gwak Mu-jin had a secret weapon to save time: a Flying Magic Device.

The device, shaped like a turtle, was called the Ink Ghost Ship.

Once all five members, including Jang So-cheon, climbed aboard, the Ink Ghost Ship slowly lifted off the ground.

Powered by Spirit Stones, it began flying toward Black Dragon Gorge.

The ship was piloted by the vice-squad leader, Sanggwan Cheonse.

At first, the Flying Magic Device moved slowly, but it picked up speed, soon soaring so high it nearly touched the clouds.

After about two hours, a flock of enormous birds—each the size of a full-grown man—appeared ahead.

Worried about a collision, the squad leader leapt to the prow of the Ink Ghost Ship.

He drew a long saber from his Heaven and Earth Pouch, shaped like a Blue Dragon Crescent Moon Saber, and swung it left and right.

The birds, startled by the blue Spiritual Energy swirling around the blade, scattered in all directions.

They seemed to know how dangerous Sword Energy could be.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Throwing his head back, Gwak Mu-jin laughed heartily and returned to his seat.

After another half hour, the Ink Ghost Ship gradually descended.

As they neared the ground and slowed, Jang So-cheon began to recognize the terrain.

He’d been here before.

The place where a white fox had vanished into a rock…

Where he’d tried to uncover its secret, only to have the cliff collapse and injure his leg—this was Black Dragon Gorge.

Thud!

Once the Ink Ghost Ship landed, the group disembarked.

Whirrrr.

Gwak Mu-jin shrank the ship with Law Power and stowed it in his Heaven and Earth Pouch, then looked around at his team.

“We meet back here in three hours. Any questions?”

“No, sir.”

“Then let’s begin gathering herbs. Good luck, everyone. Go!”

At his command, the group scattered in all directions, each hoping to collect as many herbs as possible without overlapping territories.

Jang So-cheon pulled out his Herb Gathering Net from the Heaven and Earth Pouch, slung it over his shoulder, and ran straight toward the spot where he’d seen the strange rock.

It was quite a distance away, but he found the exact spot where he’d been injured as if guided by instinct—his sharpened mind helping him.

“Huh? This is definitely the place…”

He confirmed the location and found traces of the collapsed cliff, but the rock he was looking for was nowhere to be seen.

Disappointed, Jang So-cheon used his Blue Silver Sword, infused with Spiritual Energy, to dig through the soil.

Maybe the rock was buried.

But it wasn’t easy.

If he’d reached the Third Star Level of the Qi Refining Stage, he could have overturned the earth with a single sword strike, but he was only at the Second Star Level.

With no other choice, Jang So-cheon stabbed his sword into the ground, probing for the rock.

Stab. Stab!

He tried every likely spot, but found nothing.

Frustrated, he poured more Spiritual Energy into his sword and slashed at the ground repeatedly.

Suddenly—

Squeeeal!

A pig’s death cry rang out as a massive, black Earth Boar burst from the soil.

A subterranean beast known for living deep underground.

As the giant Earth Boar erupted from the ground, Jang So-cheon leapt into the air, scanning for danger.

Fortunately, there was only one.

Was it just unlucky?

The Earth Boar’s head was split open, blood gushing from the wound—courtesy of Jang So-cheon’s frustrated sword strikes.

Normally, a wound like that would send a beast fleeing or collapsing.

But the Earth Boar, snorting hot breath, charged at Jang So-cheon in a frenzy.

It had recognized the sword—and the one who’d hurt it.

Hiss!

Swish!

Jang So-cheon calmly unleashed the Carefree Sword Technique.

The Earth Boar was just a beast, not a monster.

No matter how fierce, it was no match for the Extreme Heaven Sect’s profound swordsmanship.

As time passed, the boar’s wounds multiplied…

Thud!

Losing too much blood, the Earth Boar finally collapsed, its front legs buckling beneath it.

It rolled onto its side, gazing up at Jang So-cheon with pleading eyes.

But Jang So-cheon showed no mercy.

Thrust!

He drove the Blue Silver Sword deep into the boar’s heart and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Squeal!

Even with a sword through its heart, the Earth Boar didn’t die immediately.

It thrashed about, digging up a man’s length of earth before finally going still.

Peeking into the hole, Jang So-cheon spotted a black rock.

He jumped down, sword in hand, and began digging.

Half an hour later.

Sweating profusely, Jang So-cheon finally unearthed the rock and began chipping away at it with his sword, channeling Spiritual Energy.

Scrape, scrape!

Clink!

Then, that strange sound again.

When his sword hit something solid, Jang So-cheon pulled it out and focused on that spot.

After some careful work…

He uncovered a small jade flask inside the rock.

A jade flask hidden within a rock—

It defied common sense.

But in the world of cultivators, strange things happened all the time, so Jang So-cheon wasn’t too surprised.

He slid the flask out of the rock and examined the carvings on its surface, frowning.

The flask was adorned with the image of a beautiful woman, like a celestial maiden, holding a medicine bottle.

Beside her sat a white fox, looking demure—it was unmistakably the same fox from before.

Flash!

The fox’s eyes seemed to open and meet Jang So-cheon’s gaze.

It wagged its nine tails, and when the maiden stroked its head, it closed its eyes contentedly.

The flask had no stopper.

Still, there might be something inside, so Jang So-cheon gave it a gentle shake.

Slosh, slosh.

Hearing liquid inside, he tipped the flask over his palm.

But nothing came out.

Tap, tap.

He tapped the opening against his palm—still nothing.

Feeling ridiculous, Jang So-cheon held the flask up and peered inside.

At that moment—

The celestial maiden on the flask tilted her medicine bottle toward him.

Drip, drip, drip…

Two drops of golden Spirit Fluid rolled out of the flask and into Jang So-cheon’s eyes.

He had no time to dodge.

As the golden liquid entered his eyes, Jang So-cheon blinked in shock.

He chastised himself for being careless as his vision blurred and everything became hazy.

Was he about to go blind? He worried, but after a while, his sight returned to normal.

“Wait!”

It wasn’t normal—

It was better than ever.

And—

He began to see things he couldn’t before.

Far off in the distance, a green energy shimmered like a mirage.

To his right, a faint blue aura was visible.

He’d never seen anything like this.

He rubbed his eyes with his sleeve, but it wasn’t a fleeting illusion.

“What is that?”

Curiosity bubbled up, but there was something he needed to do first.

Scrape, scrape!

Jang So-cheon swung his Blue Silver Sword, erasing all traces of the flask from the rock.

He glanced once more at the celestial maiden—

and for a moment, it seemed as if she was smiling at him.