The Lone SF Transmigrator in the Otherworld Forum
Chapter 97: Ma Yucheol

Jiangshi? What did I just hear?

Fortunately, Karlstein wouldn't become a Jiangshi while still alive.

"Hmm. It seems he has regained consciousness."

"Oh! That's fortunate. We can forget about the Jiangshi then."

"It is a shame, but that would be for the best."

"Are you coming to your senses?"

Karlstein opened his eyes as he sat up.

The old man welcomed him with a gentle smile.

A peaceful face that showed no sign of having just considered turning him into a Jiangshi.

"I am glad you woke up."

He spoke with such nonchalance, as if Karlstein wouldn't care even if he had heard.

What a tough worldview this is. Of course, if we're talking about that, my world isn't any less so.

At any rate, it's not like he could confront them about it.

"How long was I lying down?"

The old man's pupils sparkled at Karlstein's calm question.

"Quite a long time. If we had not intervened, your life might have been lost."

"...Is that so?"

"You do not seem very surprised. Are you used to this?"

"I am just accepting and adapting to it."

"Is that so? Still, the symptoms are much more serious than expected. Could it not be dangerous?"

"..."

You lot look more dangerous to me.

"It's fine since it's always been like this."

Anyway, Xianxia was a world that dealt with energy presumed to be Ether.

He needed to survive as much as possible, if only to gain information.

Aria said she would try to track the coordinates of this place.

Grin-

It's good that there won't be any boring moments.

There was plenty of time until the second tracking of the Kaiju,m Prohiden. It was because it would take time to create a proper Avatar, as he couldn't catch it with a shabby one.

Plus, there's the time ratio too.

Until then, let's finish adapting here.

"I think I'll be fine for a while. I'll let you know right away if I see any signs."

"Haha. Alright. Let me know anytime if you think there might be a problem."

"Yes, I understand."

"Then let me introduce myself formally again. I am Elder Ma Yucheol of the Qi Refining Pavilion of the Flame Metal Sect."

"I look forward to your guidance, Elder."

"Your admission to our sect is as good as confirmed anyway, so call me Master Ma."

"Thank you. Please speak comfortably."

"Let's do that."

The old man who introduced himself as Ma Yucheol said farewell to the middle-aged doctor and took Karlstein out.

"The children who came with you will stop by another place for additional screening."

There were six in total: the calm girl, the bald middle-aged man, three boys, and Karlstein.

Come to think of it, didn't the old man highly praise the girl's talent too?

"You are scheduled to be assigned directly to the Qi Refining Pavilion, so there's no need for additional screening. I have already confirmed it."

"Thank you."

The old man put him on a leaf and flew through the sky.

A scenery of numerous pavilions built in deep mountains.

It was in harmony with nature without destroying it.

Is this the place called the Flame Metal Sect?

"This is the central area in charge of managing the main sect, and the Qi Refining Pavilion is a bit further."

Even with the old man's flying leaf, it took another hour to reach a rocky mountain where smoke was rising here and there.

"This is the Qi Refining Pavilion. Until you properly awaken your Spiritual Power, you will not be assigned any separate tasks."

Just focus on cultivation properly, is that it?

It seemed to be because he was considered a talent that they expected much from.

The place they arrived at was a neat hut at the foot of the mountain, slightly away from the rocky mountain where the Qi Refining Pavilion was located.

"I shall have someone bring up what you need for living, so go in for now."

"Yes."

The old man entered the hut, taught him the method to cultivate Spiritual Power, and then took out dozens of books from his sleeve.

Is it some magic pocket or something?

"Do you know how to read?"

"...I'm not sure."

"Well, there are quite a few children like you."

The old man then took out a black wooden tablet.

"I have injected Spiritual Power, so for now, learn this first. It contains not only general characters but also enchantment characters."

"If you put this wooden tablet to your forehead and concentrate, the contents will flow into your mind."

"Of course, if you do not put in effort, it will just pass by, so learn it sincerely."

"Thank you, Master Ma."

"Good. I have high expectations for you. Then I will drop by later. I will assign someone to look after you soon."

He made a fuss about his talent being outstanding, but he's not going to oversee him directly? Well... to be fair, it's more comfortable to be alone.

The old man left those words and quickly departed on his leaf.

"Phew...."

He's finally gone.

Since opening his eyes, things had been hectic. Karlstein slowly looked around the hut.

Old but sturdy walls. A hut built inside the walls.

And there was a small spring in the backyard.

I have to soak my body here for a day and a half?

It was said to be for awakening Spiritual Power.

With the talent of a Heavenly Spiritual Root, he should feel it soon, or so they said.

Hmm.

Karlstein went to the backyard and scooped up some spring water to examine with his eyes.

It seemed to sparkle faintly.

At any rate.

To awaken Spiritual Power, he was told to soak his body here and repeatedly recite the verses of the 'Grand Void Cultivation Sutra'.

Of course, learning the characters came first.

"Hmm...."

The wooden tablet was interesting too.

A long wooden piece connected by strings.

When Karlstein put it to his forehead and concentrated, the contents recorded on the wooden tablet quickly flashed through his mind.

"Oho...."

The Galactic Empire has similar equipment. However, it put a lot of strain on the brain, so caution was needed when using it. But this wooden tablet didn't seem to cause such strain.

"It would be good to introduce this with some proper adaptation."

Nod.

Anyway, the amount of books to memorize was vast, but there was no problem. After all, even if it was an Avatar, enhancements like memory were set as default.

The old man said it would take at least a year even if he learned quickly, but from Karlstein's perspective, it seemed like it would take a month at most.

More than that, the faintly sparkling spring water in the backyard was bothering him.

"He said not to drink it, right?"

Lick-

A bland taste with no particular flavor. However, there was a strange sensation of warmth and coolness at the same time.

Is it just my imagination that it feels similar to the silver spring water in 'World'?

Turning his head from the spring and looking beyond the walls, a lush mountain covered in light fog greeted him.

He was told not to go far beyond the walls. If he entered the forbidden area with Formations and boundary stones, he would face trouble.

The mountain where the hut was located was one of the areas strictly managed by the Flame Metal Sect, and originally a place where he couldn't stay, he was told. However, the old man had specially obtained permission to awaken his Spiritual Power as quickly as possible.

He also said that permission was granted because he couldn't go to the forbidden area even if he wanted to.

But I don't think I was affected by Formations or boundary stones during the selection ceremony?

Grin-

Wasn’t it natural to want to go somewhere more when told not to?

Karlstein rubbed his palms together.

I wonder what's there.

Of course, that's for later.

For now, learning the characters, absorbing the books, and awakening Spiritual Power came first.

Ether....

Ether was definitely felt from the old man. It must be related to what the old man called Spiritual Power.

Matters related to Ether were the Galactic Empire's top priority.

Let's look around the forbidden area after mastering Spiritual Power first, when there's time.

Whatever it was, Karlstein had absolutely no intention of not going.

***"To permit that place without even going through the formal admission procedure."

"Hoho. Wasn't Elder Ma too hasty?"

"Even if he is a Heavenly Spiritual Root, isn't this going too far?"

"And to say he's assigned to the Qi Refining Pavilion?"

"Didn't we agree to decide on his assignment after treating his poor physical condition?"

"If you have a mouth, speak up."

"Sect Leader, please say something too!"

Elder Ma Yucheol was snorting with a picky and stubborn face he had never shown to Karlstein.

At that, the elderly Sect Leader opened his mouth.

"Junior Brother Ma. This is different from what you told me."

Ma Yucheol couldn't be too aggressive towards the Sect Leader.

"Senior Brother. Haven't you been having headaches recently because of Daohong Valley? With that level of Metal Energy, it is more than enough to turn this situation around."

"Still, there are procedures, aren't there?"

"Ahem."

Ma Yucheol cleared his throat unnecessarily.

He knew that he had proceeded recklessly.

"He is a child with such outstanding talent. And he is especially a talent needed in the Qi Refining Pavilion."

"That is a hasty judgment. Especially on the path of cultivation, is there anything that can be guaranteed?"

"Seventh Senior Brother also diagnosed that boy. Even Seventh Senior Brother, who is excellent at judging talent, was amazed."

Seventh Senior Brother referred to the doctor who had tried to treat Karlstein's narcolepsy.

"...Why are you being so stubborn about this?"

"Ahem."

Ma Yucheol had something to say, but it wasn't something to be said in this place.

"I will speak to you privately later."

"How arrogant!"

"A private audience? Are you saying we should not hear it?"

"The prosperity of the Qi Refining Pavilion is a thing of the past."

"Sect Leader. Please consider fairness and justice. His speech is truly disrespectful!"

"Tsk tsk."

The other elders shouted as if they would eat Ma Yucheol alive.

Ma Yucheol frowned at this but didn't open his mouth.

Where people gathered, there were highs and lows, and not everyone could be of one mind.

"Since Junior Brother Ma says so, I'll listen first. However, understand that I may disclose it to the Elders here after confirming the matter."

"Yes, I will do so."

Ma Yucheol answered confidently.

Perhaps the Sect Leader would understand too. Exactly why he wasn't telling others.

A secret technique that no one has mastered.

A legend that almost no one remembers now.

The highest-grade Cultivation Technique that the founder of the Flame Metal Sect supposedly stole from the Upper Realm.

A treasure that must never be discovered by other Immortal Sects.

He intended to have him learn the Supreme Void Metal Thunder Treasure Scripture.

It wasn't for nothing that he taught him the Grand Void Cultivation Sutra.