Jaekyung tried to enter the Garden of Remembrance whenever he had a spare moment, but he failed every time. His spiritual awareness could feel the gate to the Garden of Remembrance floating in the sky, but he could not make contact with it. In some ways, it was similar to sensing spiritual energy.
The feeling of reaching for a target in plain sight, but never being able to touch it. He would be unable to enter the Garden of Remembrance for the time being, but he was not disappointed. Yoo Jung-gyeom had said he would have to extend his divine sense to the gate.
That meant that the ability to handle divine sense, in other words, cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage, was the minimum qualification to enter the Garden of Remembrance.
Of course, he had also told him to try opening his spiritual awareness and giving it a shot, but his tone suggested he didn't have high hopes, more like he was just telling him to try once.
He had held out a sliver of hope, but at this rate, it seemed like it would be a very long time before he could enter the Garden of Remembrance again. Perhaps he would only be able to go back to the Garden of Remembrance after he truly became a Great Spirit Beast and obtained divine sense.
Confirming another fruitless day, Jaekyung licked his lips and closed his eyes. In the comics and novels of his past life, the protagonists would have special abilities that allowed them to perform beyond their level, but it seemed that story did not apply to him. Well, he still wasn't too disappointed.
He might not be like those protagonists soaring on their own stages, but he too had something special about him. The fact that he, a spirit beast with a human soul, was maintaining a stable state. He did not know why that was so remarkable, but judging by Yoo Jung-gyeom’s reaction, it seemed to be a considerably rare case.
Jaekyung guessed that the kindness Yoo Jung-gyeom had shown him was not just because of his role as a guide, but that his own special nature had played a significant part. 'He did say that it is not easy for a human cultivator to find a stable member of the demon races to interact with.
Maybe what Yoo Jung-gyeom wants from me is related to that? But would someone of his level need an exchange partner like me?' Unlike the world of his past life where the concept of everyone being equal was universal, in this Azure Abyss Realm, the differences between people were clearly defined.
That difference could be as subtle as a single sheet of paper, or as vast as the distance between the heavens and the earth. He did not know what Yoo Jung-gyeom’s level of cultivation was, but it was certain that he was on a level incomparably higher than his current self.
Would such a man pay any mind to a lowly snake? 'Probably not for now. Perhaps he was just sowing seeds without much thought.'
He himself was attaching great meaning to it and having all sorts of thoughts, but Yoo Jung-gyeom might not have been thinking much about it at all. Since he was a guide, he must have met quite a few other reincarnators, and he might have shown them the same kindness out of a sense of kinship.
Hoping that someday in the distant future, he could form a good bond with at least one or two of his kin who had enjoyed his kindness.
'Ah.
I think too much.' This was all because his body had become too comfortable. Ever since he started sleeping in the pond, his condition had been improving without end.
Whenever he thought it couldn't get any better, the next day his condition would improve even more, as if mocking that thought. By now, it felt as though his body weight had been reduced to about a tenth of what it was. To exaggerate a little, he felt as if he could fly through the sky.
The effect of his improved condition also showed in his hunting. For the past few days, hunting had become much easier than before. It wasn't that his physical abilities like strength or speed had greatly improved, but his ability to control his body had become noticeably better.
He was using the same amount of strength more efficiently, so the beasts that moved only on instinct were no match for him.
“Guoooook!”
A monster that looked like a sheep charged forward, its long horns leading the way. Though it resembled a sheep, it was a monster with nine tails, four ears, and two strange eyes on its spine. Its momentum was quite ferocious, so Jaekyung had no thought of meeting it head-on.
He did not think he would be pushed back even if they clashed strength against strength, but there was no need to choose the difficult path when an easy one was available.
"Shweek-!"
As the monster's horns drew near, Jaekyung twisted his long body to dodge them and simultaneously bit the monster's jaw. His large, long body coiled like a rope thrown by a skilled cowboy, wrapping around the monster's neck and torso. And that was the end of it.
Kwaduk!
He constricted the monster's airway to sap its strength, and when its rock-hard muscles loosened, he applied a burst of force at once to break its bones. Even after its bones were broken, it staggered for a few steps, but eventually, the monster collapsed with a sound like air escaping.
Jaekyung skillfully constricted the monster's neck to break the bone, and as if that wasn't enough, he bit down repeatedly a few more times.
“You’re too vicious!”
As soon as the hunt was over, Cheong-o flew over as if he had been waiting. Looking at Jaekyung's blood-soaked face, he said something that could have been admiration or a scolding.
“I’m just being thorough.”
“I know, but… isn’t that thing still alive?”
“Huh?”
Cheong-o, who had landed on a branch, pointed toward the monster’s back with his wing.
“Those eyes are still blinking.”
“What?”
Jaekyung turned in surprise. Just as Cheong-o had said, the two eyes on the monster's back were blinking, bloodshot red.
“What is this.”
Flustered, Jaekyung lashed out with his tail, striking and bursting each of the two eyes. His already messy body became a little messier, but he paid it no mind. 'There are some strange ones from time to time.'
At some point, he had started to notice creatures that could not be called ordinary beasts. It wouldn't matter if they were just peculiar in appearance, but among them were some that occasionally possessed strange abilities. Blinking its eyes after its breathing had stopped was strange, but it was still on the tamer side.
A beast resembling a leopard that he had tried to hunt a few days ago had an acceleration ability. The kind of ability where its movements suddenly became several times faster, something one would only see in the comics of his past life.
He had somehow managed to corner the nimble creature in a place with many large trees, making it difficult for it to move. Just when he thought, ‘this is the end,’ the cornered creature suddenly sped up as if it had turned on a fast-forward mode, and escaped. Jaekyung could only stare blankly at the creature's rapidly retreating back.
Seriously, if it had such an ability, why not use it to fight? Why save it until it was time to run away? 'That one must have had a special bloodline.
It probably didn't inherit spiritual wisdom, only managing to get that one ability.' That was Jaekyung's first failed hunt since he began his partnership with Cheong-o. Fortunately, Cheong-o found another prey right away, so the day wasn't a total loss, but Jaekyung carved the lesson from that leopard-like beast into his very bones.
That he must never let his guard down until he had completely snuffed out his prey's life. It would be a blessing if it ended with just losing the prey. If a creature he thought was an easy target suddenly turned the tables and delivered a fatal blow, his life could be in danger.
He could lose his life in a hunt he thought would be easy. 'There is no such thing as an easy fight.' Especially in a battle of life and death, one must assume that anything can happen.
He already knew this, but he had momentarily forgotten due to his continued success and peace. He had to carve this renewed sense of caution not into his mind, but into his very instincts, so that he would never forget it again.
“Huh?”
Cheong-o looked at Jaekyung, who was lost in thought while chewing his meat, with a puzzled expression. The yellow snake’s eyes were fierce like a beast’s, but at the same time, as cold as a human’s. The strange combination exuded an unfamiliar and dangerous atmosphere.
If not for the trust they had built while hunting together, Cheong-o would have spread his wings and fled immediately.
“Jaekyung.”
“Yes?”
“What are you thinking about right now?”
Jaekyung swallowed a large piece of meat in one gulp and said.
“About how I can become a spirit beast quickly.”
“You will. I have a feeling.”
He wasn't just saying that. In Cheong-o’s eyes, Jaekyung looked no different from a spirit beast. His body, which had grown to about 15 meters, looked as sturdy and menacing as a boulder when coiled up.
The disposition he subtly exuded made those who looked at him feel not just simple fear, but a primal sense of pressure. It seemed like something was lacking compared to a real spirit beast, but it was a very small difference. As a third party, he could see things more objectively and accurately.
Cheong-o was certain that Jaekyung would soon become a spirit beast. The envious glances he had been giving him occasionally these past few days stemmed from this inner thought.
“Yes. I'm sure I will. But the question is when.”
Jaekyung knew his growth period was not over yet. Putting everything else aside, the answer was simple just by thinking of his parents. He had now grown to about 15 meters, but compared to his parents, who looked to be over 50 meters, he was still of a small stature.
'If my current growth rate continues… maybe in a year or two?' Even thinking about it now, it was hard to understand the fact that his parents were not spirit beasts. But looking at it another way, it meant that the standard separating beasts and spirit beasts was not simply vital energy.
Without a doubt, in terms of vital energy alone, his parents were not lacking compared to most spirit beasts; in fact, they were probably in the superior category. But his parents lacked spiritual wisdom. That was why they had to remain as large, strong beasts, not spirit beasts.
'Vital energy can be built up somehow by consistently eating and growing. But spiritual wisdom isn't like that. So, the most important thing for a beast to become a spirit beast isn't vital energy, but spiritual wisdom.
In that sense, I have a big advantage.' Jaekyung glanced at Cheong-o, who was pecking away at a small piece of meat over several bites. Cheong-o did not lack spiritual wisdom either.
He said an Immortal had personally performed the awakening for him. Although the credibility of that statement was a bit questionable, his spiritual wisdom was more than enough for him to become a spirit beast. But unfortunately, while he had spiritual wisdom, he lacked vital energy.
That was Cheong-o’s inherent limitation and weakness. 'It must be the difference in species.' Despite always eating his fill since they started hunting together, Cheong-o hadn’t grown that much.
Of course, compared to his initial size, he had almost doubled, but that was just like a sparrow becoming a pigeon. Size wasn’t everything, but from what he had seen so far, a larger body generally meant more abundant vital energy.
He didn't know what the standard of vital energy was for Cheong-o to become a spirit beast, but in Jaekyung's view, his vital energy was still sorely lacking. 'The one who desperately needs better meat isn't me, but him.' After a glance at the bird diligently tearing at its meat, Jaekyung headed back to his cozy underwater home.
The pond was still large enough for him to submerge himself, but the water level had clearly dropped compared to when he first saw it. The spiritual energy had also decreased proportionally. At this rate, he would probably have to leave the home he had grown fond of within a month.
'What a shame.' Enjoying his improving condition day by day was addictive, but Jaekyung felt more regret about having to leave his safe and cozy home.
Of course, even in this pond, he had to maintain a minimum level of alertness in case some crazed creature attacked him in his sleep, but it was incomparable to when he used to sleep on tree branches, exposed to the wind.
If he had to force a comparison, it was the difference between a suite in a five-star hotel and sleeping on newspapers in front of a train station. He had never experienced either, but if he had to compare, that’s what it would feel like. But now, it was time to prepare to leave.
In fact, he had already asked Cheong-o a while ago to look for a suitable place, but there had been no results yet. It seemed there were no suitable places nearby, so he would have to venture further out to find a good spot. 'It'll be fine.'
Jaekyung thought optimistically. He would surely find a place bigger and cozier than this pond. It would be able to fully accommodate his growing body, and it wouldn't shrink like this pond.
Perhaps he could stay there leisurely for a few years. Would that mean goodbye to his wandering life? As Jaekyung continued these positive thoughts, his eyes suddenly twitched.
An itch, as if thousands of ants were crawling on him, suddenly began to be felt. Thousands, no, at this rate, tens of thousands. 'This can't be.'
If this were the first time, he would have been overcome with fear, not just surprise, but this was not his first such experience. He had experienced this before. A smile spread across his contorted face.
It was an unbearable pain, but he knew. This pain would eventually pass, and after the pain passed, the sweet fruit of endurance would come.
“Grrrngh!”
In any case, the prerequisite was that he had to endure this terrible pain. Just because he had experienced it once didn't make the pain any less. The pain of the second molting was just as excruciating as the first.
'Damn it.
I made a mistake.' He should have prepared for this kind of situation! Making do, Jaekyung began to rub his body against a small rock embedded in the pond floor, using as little force as possible.
But he hadn't rubbed for long before the rock started to crack. It was because he had unconsciously put strength into it while rubbing his body.
“Grrr!”
In the end, Jaekyung had no choice but to clench his teeth and endure the pain. If he had his way, he wanted to bite every part his teeth could reach, from his tail to his torso, to relieve the itch. But he used his patience and reason to the fullest to overcome that impulse.
A short while later. The time of tribulation, which seemed to stretch on endlessly, finally passed, and Jaekyung let out a long sigh and collapsed.
Pasak!
Pususu- Scales peeled off Jaekyung's stretched-out body like dead skin. As if an invisible scrubber was vigorously rubbing off grime, the things that were originally part of his body were shed and broken apart. Jaekyung hadn't noticed it, but his current state was different from his previous molting.
Unlike before, when his bones and muscles grew stronger but there was no external growth, this molting made him grow significantly. His stretched-out body had grown to nearly 20 meters, and his frame had grown to match.
'Huh?'
Belatedly coming to his senses, Jaekyung was flustered by the extreme hunger he suddenly felt. And only after he flusteredly raised his body did he realize that he had suddenly become enormously large. 'Can this even happen?'
He thought he had become somewhat accustomed to the mysteries of this world, but it seemed he was greatly mistaken.
'Still... good.'
His body grew bigger and stronger. He couldn't feel it yet because he was hungry, but his vital energy must have grown stronger as well. It seemed he would have to fill his stomach to make a proper judgment, but……….
'I think it's possible. Even if not, it must be right around the corner.' Jaekyung swam up toward the surface.
As the snake of about 20 meters in size moved its whole body and advanced, the entire placid pond shook violently.