Episode 22: Mysterious Heavenly Blessed Land
After finishing his training and returning to his quarters, Jang So-cheon called for Soso and said he wanted to see Eun Dan-bi.
"Understood. By the way, it seems your cultivation has advanced. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Jang So-cheon offered a brief salute with fist and palm before sitting down and sipping the tea Soso brought him.
A short while later, Eun Dan-bi entered his room, and the space seemed to brighten instantly—her beauty outshone even the lamplight. But she wasn’t alone.
On her shoulder sat a fairy, no bigger than a human palm, holding a tiny staff.
"Master Jang! I feel like I’ve neglected you lately with all that’s been going on. As your host, I must apologize."
"Not at all. Has your younger sibling’s illness improved?"
"Thanks to you, I was able to obtain the Soul-Returning Herb and successfully concoct the Elixir Pill. She took it just this morning, so we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see the results. But there does seem to be some improvement."
"I’m glad to hear that."
At that moment, the fairy perched on Eun Dan-bi’s shoulder fluttered into the air. Her flowing garments and two pairs of transparent wings gave her an ethereal presence, yet she somehow radiated authority.
"Sister! Is this the human you told me about? The one who found Silver Essence and gave it to you…?"
"That’s right. Master Jang! Let me introduce you. This is Princess Thumb, of the Soyo Tribe. You may call her Princess Thumb."
"So you’re Princess Thumb. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Jang So-cheon, a disciple of the Extreme Heaven Sect."
Jang So-cheon greeted Princess Thumb with utmost respect. Though small in stature, her cultivation was far higher than his—likely on par with Eun Dan-bi.
"I’m pleased to meet you too! I thought humans would look strange, but you’re rather handsome."
"You are also very beautiful, Princess Thumb."
"Hehe! Thank you. But how did you discover a treasure as rare as Silver Essence? Do you have a secret for finding such things?"
Princess Thumb’s question made Jang So-cheon flinch inside, but he kept his composure and replied humbly.
"I suppose I’m just very lucky. Meeting a beautiful princess like you today must be another stroke of good fortune."
"Hehe! You’re quite the charmer. If you find another treasure like that, let’s trade next time. The Soyo Tribe has plenty of treasures as well."
"I’ll be sure to remember that."
"Sister, are you done here? I have something to discuss with Master Jang in private…"
"Aww, but I want to stay too… Master Jang, can I come visit you here sometime?"
"Why would you?" Eun Dan-bi asked, a hint of jealousy in her voice. Princess Thumb just grinned.
"I want to meet Master Jang privately too… and maybe gossip about you."
"Do as you wish."
"You said it—I have your permission, right?"
"Yes."
"Alright, then I’ll take my leave. Master Jang, see you next time!"
"Of course. You’re welcome anytime."
After asking Soso to escort Princess Thumb, Eun Dan-bi turned to Jang So-cheon and apologized.
"Sorry for bringing a friend without asking. We’ve been close since childhood, so she takes a keen interest in my affairs."
"It’s no trouble at all. She seems very kind."
"Hehe! She’s terrifying when she’s angry, though. Anyway, I see your cultivation has advanced since I last saw you. Congratulations."
"It’s thanks to your support. In fact, that’s why I wanted to see you today."
"Is it about Divine Power?"
"Yes. I’d like to learn the secret to converting Spiritual Energy into Divine Power."
"So you’re confident in sharing your Spiritual Energy now. Let’s head to the training hall."
Once there, Eun Dan-bi tested Jang So-cheon’s abilities and nodded silently in approval. She then spent a long time teaching him the secret method for converting Spiritual Energy into Divine Power—this was the most crucial step.
"You must never rush. Follow the method, but don’t get too hung up on the results. No one is perfect from the start. With practice, you’ll improve little by little…"
Jang So-cheon found her words odd. When he followed her instructions, the conversion from Spiritual Energy to Divine Power went far too smoothly. Contrary to her warning, the conversion rate was extremely high—almost alarmingly so.
Still, he didn’t want to interrupt or reveal this, so he continued converting Spiritual Energy into Divine Power.
"The Divine Power you create will accumulate behind the head of your Primordial Spirit in the form of a halo. Once enough Divine Power has gathered, your Primordial Spirit can manifest Divine Power and perform Divine Miracles, so don’t neglect your training, even if progress seems slow."
Silently acknowledging her advice, Jang So-cheon began circulating the Mystic Heaven Wuji Heart Method, converting more and more Spiritual Energy into Divine Power. As a result, the amount turning into Law Power decreased, but that was a concern for another time.
Having learned the secret of creating Divine Power from Eun Dan-bi, Jang So-cheon devoted himself to cultivation from that day forward.
Nearly three months passed. He became so absorbed in cultivating Divine Power that he even forgot to eat and sleep. Gradually, his conversion rate increased, until eventually, he succeeded in converting all the Spiritual Energy entering his Spirit Realm into Divine Power.
Using Divine Sight, Jang So-cheon gazed inward and was surprised by what he saw. As his cultivation in the Qi Refining Stage advanced, his Primordial Spirit grew larger and more human-like, with fully formed limbs and even facial features—though not yet perfect, it looked almost like a real person from a distance.
Behind the head of his Primordial Spirit, a faint halo glowed—the very halo Eun Dan-bi had described. At last, he had accumulated enough Divine Power to give it form.
Now, Jang So-cheon decided to try using Divine Power. He tapped the Heaven and Earth Pouch and took out the Bronze Mirror—the one he’d acquired from the Heaven and Earth Pouch of the Black Phoenix Tribe’s assassin. The back of the mirror was engraved with a phoenix spreading its wings and soaring into the sky.
His heart pounded with anticipation as he prepared to use Divine Power for the first time.
He took a deep breath, then, following Eun Dan-bi’s instructions, infused the mirror with Divine Power.
Immediately, the mirror—which had never reacted to Spiritual Energy or Law Power—began to hum softly. Then it emitted a bronze light and shyly revealed its inner space to Jang So-cheon.
Just as Eun Dan-bi had said, the Bronze Mirror was indeed a Spatial Treasure. Its internal space was vast—dozens of times larger than the Heaven and Earth Pouch Patriarch Gwang-eum had given him.
But that was all. There were a few Spirit Stones and cultivation materials inside, but no secret technique manual for manipulating space—the very thing he’d hoped to find.
Well, it’s not like such a manual would be lying around…
Letting go of his disappointment, Jang So-cheon put the Bronze Mirror back into the Heaven and Earth Pouch. Then he took out a square black stone he’d bought by chance at the market in Tai He Valley. His Special Ability had identified it as a treasure, but he’d never figured out its use. Now, he decided to try infusing it with Divine Power.
As soon as Divine Power entered the black stone, it began to hum as well. Its reaction confirmed it was an Innate Treasure.
Recently, Jang So-cheon had learned that not only Spatial Treasures could be operated with Divine Power. Time, space, prophecy—these were the three supreme secret arts of the cultivation world. Among these arts and Heaven and Earth Treasures, those that gained self-awareness and mysterious powers were called Innate Treasures.
Innate Treasures could only be operated with Divine Power. Eun Dan-bi’s claim that all mysteries in the world stemmed from them wasn’t an exaggeration.
Crack!
As Divine Power surged in, the black stone radiated a dark light and revealed its true nature. As he’d suspected, it was another Spatial Treasure—but unlike the Bronze Mirror, it wasn’t a small stone chamber.
It was a vast land. An entire Star-Containing Heaven and Earth, stretching for dozens of li, hidden within a tiny stone.
And this stone possessed a strange Special Ability.
Whoosh.
With a thought, Jang So-cheon’s body was instantly transported into the Spatial Treasure. Inside, he was like a god—he could move anywhere in an instant, simply by willing it.
The only downside was the complete lack of life within the space. No mountains, rivers, or plants—nothing living at all.
Still, the wind blew, and Heavenly Origin Energy drifted lazily across the sky.
"Hmm."
As he wandered the space, Jang So-cheon finally detected a trace of life. In the exact center stood a single tree, about three times his height, though it appeared withered and dead. It had no leaves, but its trunk and branches still retained the shape of a tree.
When he approached, his Special Ability flashed with insight, revealing information about the tree.
[Age: 1,200,000 years.]
[Effect: Grants Spiritual Energy to all things and enhances their spiritual nature.]
The information was brief, but its implications were profound. Until now, his Special Ability had only provided information about living herbs or Spirit Herbs. That meant this shriveled tree before him was still alive, despite appearances.
To have survived for 1.2 million years and still not be dead…
It was hard to believe, but he trusted his Special Ability.
Still, something changed. Realizing the tree might be alive, a surge of compassion—and, admittedly, a bit of greed—rose within him. If he could revive a tree that granted Spiritual Energy and enhanced spiritual nature, it would be an incredible boon.
Perhaps that’s why, as he turned to leave, he found himself hesitating again and again.
Finally, with a soft sigh, Jang So-cheon took out a Wood Spirit Pill from the Heaven and Earth Pouch and buried it at the base of the tree. One of the Wood Spirit Pill’s effects was to infuse nearby trees and Spirit Herbs with the primordial energy of life.
He fervently hoped it would be enough to revive the dying tree, then turned and walked toward the exit.
Suddenly, he stopped and bent down—the soil beneath the tree was anything but ordinary.
Kunyak Soil.
This rare earth was used for planting precious trees or Spirit Herbs, and couldn’t be bought even with money. Any Spirit Herb planted here would grow faster and have much greater medicinal potency.
Jang So-cheon’s face brightened. He’d thought the Spatial Treasure was of limited use, but with this, he could create an unparalleled herb garden.
The area covered in Kunyak Soil wasn’t huge—about ten paces square—but that was enough to plant thousands of herbs.
Feeling pleased, Jang So-cheon exited the Spatial Treasure. After some thought, he decided to name the black stone Mysterious Heavenly Blessed Land. The tree would be called the World Tree, and the Bronze Mirror, the Ancient Mirror.
* * *
Having discovered the Mysterious Heavenly Blessed Land, Jang So-cheon asked Soso to bring him the herbs needed to make a Yellow Essence Pill. He planted them in the Kunyak Soil, and the herbs grew at an astonishing rate—multiplying and thriving day by day.
Once the herb garden was flourishing, Jang So-cheon called for Soso and asked her to show him around the palace.
"I was wondering when you’d ask. You must have been bored, right?"
"I still trained diligently. How is the princess’s younger sibling?"
"She’s fully recovered. She’s as healthy and energetic as ever."
"That’s wonderful. Is Princess Eun Dan-bi still busy?"
"Of course. Right now, she’s with Princess Thumb at the Soyo Tribe. They used Silver Essence to create a truly extraordinary Spiritual Energy Weapon."
"What kind of weapon?"
"I’m not sure myself, but I’ve heard it’s a tremendously powerful War Machine."
The thought of the tiny Soyo Tribe wielding massive War Machines made Jang So-cheon chuckle inwardly. It was hard to imagine such small beings swinging heavy weapons.
"So that’s why she’s been hard to find. The palace is truly beautiful."
"I hear that a lot. Our Red Fox Tribe has the best artistic sense in the Nine Ancient Kingdoms."
"I believe it. By the way, where’s the market?"
"All the markets are outside the palace. Why? Do you want to visit?"
"Since I’m here, I’d like to see the market and learn about the Red Fox Tribe’s culture."
"You’re absolutely right, Young Master Jang. You can visit the market, but you’ll need to bring a bodyguard with you. It’s a bit dangerous outside the palace."
"I can accept that inconvenience. When can we go?"
"You must be eager! How about tomorrow?"
"That sounds perfect."
Jang So-cheon replied with a hearty laugh.