Chapter 16. The Candidate for Goryeong

Jung Min's expression contorted in amazement and disgust.

Why did it have to be this, he couldn't help but think. The smell of the hexagonal net alone was enough to make his mouth rot and his head spin, and now he was supposed to stand next to it with grass and insects.

However, once he learned of its tremendous efficacy, he couldn't just discard it. He had to try it out. If it could shorten the time needed to recover his realm, then the stench was a minor issue. The only concern was whether he could obtain the other two ingredients.

He immediately called for Yun.

Yun, who had fled, entered with a sullen face as if he had been dragged from hell. Hou Gong handed him the shell of the hexagonal net.

Yun recoiled in shock.

"Brother, have I done something terribly wrong?"

"No."

"Then why are you making me throw this away?"

The unspoken words were clear: "Why not call Song Hua?"

It was impossible to do this without a deep sense of resentment. The stench of the hexagonal net, which had died from blood loss, was even worse than in the morning, and the smell was strongest here. Asking him to throw away the stench-filled shell was almost an act of vengeance.

"What are you talking about! Why would I throw away this precious thing!"

"Excuse me?"

"Carefully dry this shell of the hexagonal net in the sun for four days and in the shade for seven days. After that, divide it into dozens of small pieces and store it in a cool place. According to ancient texts, there is no better remedy for a cold or when one's energy is depleted than this. It can quickly restore the energy of a martial artist who has temporarily lost it. It can also neutralize toxins when taken after being poisoned, and when the shell is ground into a paste and applied to wounds, they heal quickly and leave no scars. How could it not be precious?"

"…Yes."

All of this was stored in Fan Xiang's memory. Truly, he had researched and explored everything, and his knowledge of the hexagonal net was extensive.

Yun's face was one of misery.

If it had such great efficacy, why did it have to be dried?

As Yun sealed the shell in a black sack with a sullen face, Hou Gong continued.

"Also, when you visit the storage, bring me a five-day supply of Biquedan."

"What will you use the Biquedan for?"

"According to ancient texts, to maximize the effects of the hexagonal net, one must limit food intake to a minimum and enhance the medicinal effects. I won't see anyone for at least five days, so keep that in mind."

"Understood."

That last part was a fabrication.

Hou Gong simply wanted to focus on his cultivation to ensure the hexagonal net's blood was well absorbed.

After Yun left, he called for Song Hua.

Song Hua, with his nose and mouth covered by layers of cloth, entered. Hou Gong told him to avoid contact for five days and gave him an additional instruction.

"My body's stench is severe, so please inform Grandfather for me. And what did I ask you to obtain?"

"Lingyao grass and Duyang insect."

"Very well, tell Grandfather that, and he will understand. You may go now."

The head of the family would also know the records in the ancient texts.

As soon as Song Hua's response was heard, Hou Gong's hair fluttered. Song Hua had vanished in a gust of wind.

"…."

Everyone is too fast.

***

On the fifth day in the residence.

Snap.

Hou Gong, who had been sitting in meditation, opened his eyes, and a divine light flashed from them.

'I've reached the Second Rank.'

It was worth enduring the stench. Thanks to the hexagonal net, he had achieved in one go what had taken him over four years in the past. Of course, this was possible because he had already walked the path and had a deep understanding of martial arts and profound consciousness.

He used his enhanced vision to look at the wall. The intricate patterns embroidered on the wall expanded, revealing every detail, and he could even see the shape of the dust in the cracks.

His hearing had also improved, and he could clearly hear the conversation outside.

Yun and Bu Meng were talking a short distance from the hall.

"Brother, I'm so hungry my stomach is sticking to my back. Can't I eat something?"

"Bu Meng, who told you not to eat?"

"Well, since Elder Brother is only taking Biquedan, I can't eat alone, can I?"

"Just hold on a bit longer. It's the fifth day today."

"Haha, what foolish fellows."

Hou Gong couldn't help but laugh inwardly. He had eaten the hexagonal net, but why were these two only taking Biquedan?

His younger brothers, born in his later years, were increasingly endearing and amusing.

After gathering the divine light in his eyes, he looked at himself in the mirror. The first thing he saw was his white clothes, now stained black.

For five days, black liquid had flowed from every pore, staining his white clothes black. This was due to the toxins and waste in his blood vessels and internal organs being expelled, thanks to the memory transfer and the integration of essence, energy, and spirit.

His physical condition was now immaculate. His body felt lighter, his mind clearer, and his skin more radiant.

'Amazing, isn't it?'

The reflection in the mirror was that of a young man in his twenties.

He was tall and had a decent appearance.

Though it had seemed strange at first, he was now getting used to this appearance.

Of course, he wasn't entirely satisfied. He was still too thin.

Despite eating well every day, starting from a skeletal state, it would take time to gain weight. Some might envy his lean physique, but Hou Gong was far from pleased.

His hands lacked plumpness. Smoothness alone was not enough.

How charming it would be if his hands were plump when he exerted force…

"Cough."

It would be nice to have someone to test it on, but he quickly dismissed the thought. Everyone would be amazed but also suspicious. It wasn't a big deal, but explaining it would be a hassle.

There was a way to test it, though.

Nothing was better for confirming his achievement than 'Goryeong.'

He immediately recited the Goryeong mantra and began to practice.

'Let's start with my right arm.'

Crack.

The joints popped, and his right arm twisted and shrank.

Crack, crack.

The bones bent, the skin folded and contracted, and the arm's length was reduced to about two-thirds of its original size. His smooth hands also shriveled, becoming as small and grotesque as a child's.

There was no pain.

Shrinking bones, or 'Shuzugong,' was a measure of how much control one had over their body. It required a comprehensive understanding of bones, blood vessels, meridians, and skin restoration.

Goryeong, a type of Shuzugong, was originally useful for entering small rock crevices or tight spaces, but he had never used it for that purpose.

If a space was too narrow, he would simply break it open. Why would he contort his body to fit?

In reality, Goryeong's true value lay in its application to others.

Crack, snap.

His right arm slowly returned to its original state, the process slow and deliberate, befitting a Second Rank practitioner.

'How is he doing, I wonder?'

Thinking of the person who had practiced Shuzugong, Hou Gong smiled.

An elderly man who remained childishly innocent.

The Vajra Bone Master of the Esoteric Sect.

When it came to eccentricity, was there any place in the world like the Esoteric Sect?

About seven years ago.

At the time, the Vajra Bone Master was researching a new spell. When asked what kind of spell, the answer was surprising. It was a magical technique that could turn the body into smoke to slip through small gaps in windows or doors.

- Sect Leader, this is different from Shuzugong. It's comparable to the spells of immortals.

If it worked, one could escape from any confinement, and the Vajra Bone Master's eyes sparkled with innocent excitement.

When he proudly asked, "What do you think, Sect Leader?" Hou Gong was taken aback.

When asked why he found it strange, Hou Gong replied with a puzzled look.

- Master, must you be confined? Why not kill everyone before you are trapped?

The Vajra Bone Master stared blankly, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but he closed his mouth and became dejected. Despite being given an easy solution, the Vajra Bone Master was probably still researching it. The countless masters of the Esoteric Sect pursued similar goals.

***

Two days later.

The head of the Tianhua Library's guard, Tian Gui, called for Song Hua.

Tian Gui, known as the Thunder Hand, was one of the chief administrators.

Song Hua approached and bowed respectfully.

"Head, you called me?"

"You've done well."

"Not at all."

"I called you because I have concerns. Although the Young Master has shown a different side recently, I am worried about the suddenness of the change."

Song Hua's eyes widened in surprise.

"Head, are you still concerned about the Young Master?"

"I hope not, but this might be the most dangerous time, when everyone is letting their guard down. Our guard must not be lax."

"Understood."

Song Hua suddenly felt uneasy, his heart racing.

He had been overly relaxed recently, checking on the Young Master only once or twice while he meditated on Biquedan.

"There was a moment when I let my guard down. I will strengthen the guard and remain vigilant."

Song Hua bowed and retreated.

As Song Hua's presence faded, Tian Gui's eyes narrowed, taking on a sinister gleam.

"Hmm, I don't know what's real... If the Young Master is just acting, what grand plan is he plotting?"

Physical training was nothing compared to recent events. It was surprising that he could go out so casually, interact with the children of prominent families in Anhui, and even consume the blood of the hexagonal net.

If the Young Master were to commit suicide at a time when the head of the family was pleased and everyone was hopeful, what would the shock and impact be?

"The destruction of the Tianhua Library."

The conversation with the chief administrator came to mind.

- The Young Master's ruthlessness is indescribable. Haha, even if the world changes, the Young Master remains the same. And I support the Young Master.

- Are you saying that even the current changes are an act?

- Of course. The Young Master is that kind of person.

'Maybe it's not an act. But does it matter?'

The chief administrator's arrival was imminent.

It had to be resolved before then.

A smile crept onto Tian Gui's lips.