Chapter 55
Chapter 55 – There’s a Bit of an Aftertaste
The first thing I did upon arriving at school was simple.
First, I gathered the kids.
Now that I’ve dealt with the annoying issue of Wi Gunak, it is time to move on.
The spirit vein. It’s a mechanism that can instantly strengthen the kids.
However, this doesn’t work for everyone.
First and foremost, Wi Gunak.
She can’t draw from or use spirit veins because she can’t use magic in the first place.
Next is Abel.
He’s similar to Wi Gunak. A vampire that utilizes blood manipulation.
Excluding those two, everyone else can use the spirit vein’s power.
I’ll just have to give something special to those two.
Wi Gunak can use the Mysterious.
Abel, on the other hand, will have his blood power strengthened.
I happen to have something similar among my possessions.
A unique ability that strengthens blood power.
There are martial arts, and there’s also magic.
Handling the blood through magic, you can awaken the source of blood.
It exists.
It is the power I gained from my second life.
It is an incantation, a power used by druids near the World Tree.
‘Come to think of it, I heard there are druids here too.’
I heard they are having a good time with brown bears somewhere in Russia.
Anyway, just combine sorcery and martial arts to make something suitable.
‘Then, I need to activate the spirit veins…’
However, just obtaining spirit veins doesn’t mean they can be applied immediately.
Those who solidify their inner world to create their own universe.
Martial artists.
Only they can use it.
Mages are just basking in mana from the outside. Of course, those below a certain level can see tremendous benefits from just that.
‘The best thing would be to solidify these spirit veins.’
Spirit veins.
There is also a method for utilizing this pure mana, such as turning it into a pill and using it as an elixir.
However, there is a downside.
A part of the spirit vein gets cut off, drastically reducing the efficiency of the spirit vein.
No matter how much the principal favors me, I can’t imagine causing such an incident.
‘…Well, not that I plan to.’
Staying here consistently for half a year could yield significant effects.
Initially, even if a pill is made, there are only one—no, two—people here who can digest it.
“This is the spirit vein.”
“The mana is materialized like this…”
The kids looked at me, drooling.
Inside the square building, water was overflowing.
The principal created a small space, transferring a part of the spirit vein here.
My power, Eternity, was maintaining that spirit vein forever.
Rotating Power.
The power was copied after seeing the device that created the spirit vein. There’s also one made with my Heavenly Eyes and linked to it…
‘I did a pretty good job making it myself.’
What I did was simple.
The spirit vein passes beneath the academy.
So, I created a small spirit vein centered around the middle of that spirit vein.
That was why it was exceptionally suitable for the kids to train.
‘Of course, there’s a risk of becoming a cripple from getting caught in a mana torrent.’
But that’s no problem since I’m here.
I can solve that quickly.
Ding.
While I was thinking that, a blue window popped up in front of me.
[The user’s level is too low. Mana will not increase further.]
[Mana is converted into Mental stat. Increasing Mental stat by +1.]
The window indicates that Mental stat increased instead of mana.
‘I should set aside some time to raise this too.’
The system judged me quite accurately.
The head of the Wi Clan, Wi Cheongun, judged me as a high ranker.
The principal also judges me by that standard.
‘In fact, I’ve just reached the middle level.’
It’s surprising how much I’ve grown like this.
Thanks to my traits, perhaps.
“Then, are we absorbing the magic power of the spirit vein?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Experience it. We’ll absorb it this time, too, but don’t expect a dramatic increase now, okay?”
“…Tsk, stupid Yoo Eunchae. If you absorb that much magic power at once, the power will backflow and kill you. That’s why the professor said to experience it.”
“Right, right.”
“…Then, this advanced class is about absorbing that spirit vein. If there’s that much magic power…”
Yoo Eunchae had a dreamy, hazy look in her eyes.
Shin Yura was next to her, and she was the same.
Mages, unlike warriors, have many area-of-effect skills that require a lot of mana.
“If we could absorb the mana would be really great.”
“Well.”
I grinned broadly.
“Would it really be good for you to absorb mana from these spirit veins?”
“It… It would be good, right?”
“Of course~.”
Having mana is good, after all.
Whether the body supports it or not is another story, and using mental power is yet another.
‘Well, this lesson is different from the previous ones; it’s a really advanced lesson.’
Crack. Crack.
I quietly stretched my body.
“I have a question.”
While the others focused entirely on the spirit vein,
Yoo Seolrang quietly raised her hand while observing the situation.
Crack. Crack.
“Hm? What is it?”
Calmly replying, I see Yoo Seolrang smiling brightly.
Do the other kids not notice Yoo Seolrang’s presence even after she asks?
‘I think this one really needs a strict lesson.’
Lest she gets completely tricked by a lousy man someday.
No, she will definitely be swindled.
“Why are you warming up?”
“Oh, that?”
I smiled brightly.
What’s the fastest way to absorb the mana from the spirit vein?
‘Even though it’s not the pure energy created by my Great Sky Dancing Divine Mantra.’
The mana from the spirit vein is the energy of nature itself.
It contains an enormous purity.
That purity is even more refined than what the kids have accumulated so far.
But there’s one problem.
Such pure mana doesn’t get digested quickly.
It’s high-quality mana.
It’s proud.
Even after explaining this much, Yoo Seolrang didn’t understand.
Crack.
“No, I mean, why are you warming up?”
“To best receive high-purity mana, it’s better to have none at all. It’s like how a house needs to be somewhat big for someone to want to enter.”
“…Wait a moment.”
Yoo Seolrang finally realized the seriousness of the situation.
Abel and Wi Gunak had already moved far apart.
“I think you’re fortunate. Because you have no mana.”
“I’ll have to pray to the Primordial Vampire for today.”
“Well, don’t worry. If you do it recklessly, unlike usual, you could really end up crippled.”
I extended my hand.
The spirit vein, as if recognizing me as its master, created a sphere of water that grew in size above my palm.
“It’s simple. Basic and beginner. Just the combination of those two levels.”
“Could it be…”
“Oh, so that you know, it’s really dangerous if you do it moderately? I might be a once-in-a-lifetime genius, but even I’m not perfect.”
This is real.
If there’s no will to do it oneself, it’s truly dangerous.
But looking into their eyes, it seems they’ve all decided to try.
“Can we keep up to some extent if we absorb that?”
Seon Woohyeon’s question.
His attitude towards me is provocative.
‘Am I the target?’
I laughed.
Having too big a goal isn’t good. Especially if you can’t follow that person forever, it’s better not to set such a goal at all.
Well, still.
“You might be able to catch up to the claws, at least.”
Snap.
I flicked my finger. The students’ bodies floated momentarily due to the telekinetic magic.
“Wait, why are we—!?”
“Why am I included too!?”
“It’ll be quite a useful experience for you too.”
Paaang! Paaang!
They plunged into the sea of spirit veins.
Spirit veins.
It is a torrent of mana.
As she entrusted her body to the water made of solidified mana, she suddenly couldn’t breathe.
‘I can’t breathe.’
An immense mana wraps around her body, entering and leaving it to the point of bursting and dying.
Shin Yura calmly organized her body.
Yoo Eunchae was already growling, and Seon Woohyeon was concentrating with his eyes wide open.
The problem is that mana is leaking out in real time.
She doesn’t know what Han Seojin, the Head Professor, did, but the spirit vein keeps sucking in mana.
Mana circulates back to the spirit vein as they try to fill up with mana.
‘What kind of technique is this…’
It’s beyond her imagination.
She thinks of the head of the Magic Shin Family, her mother.
She was nothing short of a milestone for Shin Yura.
The highest level.
7th Circle.
But even her mother, who reached that level, seemed like she would have difficulty handling Han Seojin.
She recalled the times her mother used magic.
Even the head of that place, her mother, couldn’t perform such feats.
She was sure of it.
Yet, this man effortlessly displays such skills.
That alone was astonishing.
‘He’s harmonizing the mana of all the students.’
It was truly hair-raising.
ㅡEmpty your minds.
Professor Han Seojin’s voice echoed everywhere.
ㅡEverything begins from nothingness; the absence of anything is the great void. From there arises a single chaos, which is the primal chaos, and the power derived from it is called the Taiji.
Strange sounds echo in her head.
She tried to calm her mind forcibly.
‘Dharmadhatu.’ 1
The study of the mind.
She had heard of such a thing.
The power gained upon reaching a higher rank is the ultimate mind.
It was the ability to study the mind.
However, most of the ones who possessed that ability were gone.
The only ones who would still possess them are the Emperor of the Empire, the master of the Seven-Colored Tower, or Ming Cult’s Heavenly Demon.
That only those two might know that it is the study of the mind…
‘I guess only someone like me would know this much.’
Everyone who realized that what Professor Han Seojin was talking about was not ordinary was focusing on his words.
ㅡTaiji (the Supreme Ultimate) is divided into Qian and Kun, and it is the origin of all things. The origin of all things formed heaven and earth and created humanity; these are the Three Powers.
Naturally, they focus.
Then, mana leaks out, and mana fills up.
A mana of different purity than before filled her body.
– This is the most basic Dharmadhatu. If you come to handle your intentions in the future, this is what you must learn the most.
Han Seojin quietly looked up at the sky.
It scared Yoo Seolrang, but in truth, this wasn’t such a difficult task.
‘It’s just because he’s incredibly strict.’
She cleansed the murky mana within her body and reconstructed it with mana of high purity.
In the process, she removes waste and enlarges her meridians, making them stronger.
It’s a forced and artificial metamorphosis.
The amount of mana absorbed during this process is crucial.
‘Well, you can’t expect to be full with just the first spoonful.’
Those with talent could achieve tremendous accomplishments by undergoing this process three times.
Han Seojin calmly looked at the students.
This is the first task that must be done before entering the advanced class.
Despite that, it’s highly difficult. If they make a mistake, it wouldn’t be strange for his disciples to end up crippled.
‘The real problem, however, comes after this.’
What follows is that if one does not go through this process, they would either become a cripple or a vegetative state.
Therefore, this is an advanced class.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that everything up to now was to prepare for this class.
If there’s anything fortunate about it, that would be it.
The items here are far superior to those of the Empire and the Ming Cult.
So, there shouldn’t be any deaths.
Han Seojin clapped his hands.
Clap.
Then, the sea of spirit veins scattered in an instant. Wi Gunak and Seon Woohyeon, Abel landed safely, and Yu Seolrang and Shin Yura quietly sat down using the wind.
“Uuuugh!”
Yoo Eunchae flailed her arms and legs in the air, barely managing to land.
“Ack!”
Seo Boram hit the ground face-first.
But what’s terrifying is that the ground, which is extremely hard to maintain the spirit veins, was deeply dented.
‘Indeed, a family that handles the way, following Hwangbo and Peng Clan.’
Han Seojin quietly marveled.
Utterly ignorant.
And efficient, too.
“Hmm…”
Han Seojin looked closely at Seo Boram.
‘Should I properly raise this one too?’
There’s something good about her.
Not like the Namgoong Clan, which turned everything upside down.
I watched Peng Clan’s swordsmanship while fighting for a week.
‘The swordsmanship and footwork just need to be roughly fitted together.’
In this world, the Peng Clan existed.
The Mighty Seo Clan is a clan that branched out from Peng, and a member of the Peng clan taught the head of the Mighty Seo Clan the swordsmanship.
‘It turns out to be quite a nice picture.’
Defeating a person from Peng Clan is all it takes.
That’s all Han Seojin wants from Seo Boram.
The place where the Blade King was raised was defeated by a clan that they taught.
Just imagining it was delightful.
The last of my third life.
The supreme swordsman of the righteous faction and the head of the Namgoong Clan had numerous chances to kill him during their joint attack, but the supreme swordsman of the righteous faction kept interfering.
A guy who bluffed without any real skill.
Recalling the head of the Peng clan, Han Seojin smirked.
“I should teach him a lesson in manners.”
Han Seojin was quite vindictive.
From Buddhism, Dharmadhatu refers to the purified mind in its natural state, free of obscurations. ↩️
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