The Lone SF Transmigrator in the Otherworld Forum

At the old man's serious tone, Karlstein began to make up a story.

"Hmm. It was someone wearing golden armor. I couldn't see clearly because of the halo. It was too dazzling."

He acted out a slight fear with trembling eyes.

"Armor? I see.... The halo makes sense too. Indeed, an ordinary person wouldn't be able to look directly at them."

Huh? Yes....

Let's just say that's correct.

"They said they would come back when the time is right and left a lot of things."

"...They said they would come back?"

He set up this excuse in advance since he wouldn't be receiving item transfers just this once.

This Metal Spiritual Mountain isn't a place just anyone can enter.

The restrictions placed on Metal Spiritual Mountain were set up in ancient times, even before the Flame Metal Sect was created. Even the Flame Metal Sect, which had researched the restrictions for a long time, couldn't enter without a special wooden plaque.

If it's someone who can infiltrate without anyone knowing....

They must be someone the Flame Metal Sect couldn’t handle.

But it is difficult to think this child, Gahwi, is lying...

A shape he had never seen before.

Materials he couldn’t even guess the origin of.

Smooth and glossy metal processing.

Uniform and perfect craftsmanship.

How could a child without Spiritual Power obtain such things?

Even a passing dog wouldn't believe it.

Greed flashed momentarily in Ma Yucheol's eyes. Befitting someone belonging to the Qi Refining Pavilion, he could tell at a glance these were no ordinary items.

However, the greed in his pupils disappeared in an instant.

These were items given by an unknown person of elden times. Rash greed could cost him his life. His cautious nature was a big reason he had survived to this age.

"Hoo...."

"Junior Brother! Did you perhaps hear their honored name?"

"...I did not hear it."

Ma Yucheol scanned the items with his Spiritual Power.

"Was there nothing else they said? About our Flame Metal Sect, perhaps..."

Ma Yucheol's eyes sparkled with expectation.

Karlstein felt a pang of conscience but brazenly continued.

"They might have said something, but I can't remember. Especially after entering the Awakening Spring."

"I see...."

Karlstein had an utterly serious expression. As such, no one thought it was a lie.

But lies become exposed when they drag on. So this story had to end here.

"That's all I have to say."

"When they come back, tell them I would very much like to meet them."

"Yes. I understand."

Meanwhile, Zhang Yihong showed a complicated expression behind Ma Yucheol.

Envy? Jealousy? Emptiness? A sense of deprivation?

Hmm....

No, what? It was just an excuse I made up. Is it that shocking?

Unlike Zhang Yihong who kept her mouth shut, Ma Yucheol seemed to have many more questions.

"Have you ever met an Immortal before?"

"No."

"Or have one of your ancestors perhaps become an Immortal?"

"I'm not sure."

"Hmm...."

After that, Ma Yucheol asked about his past in detail, but of course, there was no harvest.

"At any rate, it seems to be a fortuitous encounter, so cherish it."

Yet Ma Yucheol's eyes showed inner regret.

There's risk in forcibly taking them, and there are eyes watching.

But just giving up here is regrettable, as there are many things I’m curious about.

Would be what he feels right now, yeah?

Should I show some generosity?

"Haha. Since I received them, I should be able to decide how to use them, right?"

"Hut!"

"Junior Brother!"

The two were startled.

"Of course, considering the feelings of the person who gifted them, I should restrain myself."

"..."

"Th-That's right."

The two looked dejected.

They're so easy to read.

Karlstein cleared his throat and spoke softly.

"But wouldn't they understand if it's just one or two items?"

"!!"

"Mmph!"

The two were visibly delighted and surprised.

Haha. This is fun.

That's right. Even in Xianxia, they should be able to recognize the greatness of civilization!

Before leaving, Ma Yucheol threw him a small pouch. It was a subspace pouch called ‘Storage Pouch'. Before, he didn't give it saying it couldn't be used without Spiritual Power.

I guess you have to give to receive, huh?

***After that, Karlstein's cultivation progressed rapidly.

And as just over three months passed…

The preliminary study, which was expected to take at least a year or two even for a Heavenly Spiritual Root, was almost complete.

If he hadn't logged out intermittently, it probably would have finished several times faster.

It was an unbelievable speed considering others with Spiritual Roots took over 10 years doing odd jobs while awakening their Spiritual Power.

"Heunggg."

"You should go back now. It's distracting."

"A-Ahem!"

Senior Sister Zhang had a completely relaxed expression in the massage chair.

Crunch-

The stimulating taste of special cookies enveloped her tongue.

It seemed like just yesterday she was saying that to become an Immortal, one must maintain proper posture and control appetite by staying away from spicy foods.

"Uuuh."

Where did her by-the-book personality go? She became a complete sloth.

Of course, Karlstein's influence played a big part in this change.

-A-Already? You've progressed that far? Even while playing so much?!

The studies were almost finished, and now a small amount of Spiritual Power had begun to accumulate.

-I told you spicy food is not allowed! To purify mind and body, you must reduce food intake!

-It tastes good, though?

-But how do you already have Spiritual Power!!

-Isn't it fine as long as I get results? It won't be long before I call you Young Lady Zhang instead of Senior Sister Zhang.

-Wh-What!

Even though it was absorbed into the body, the Spiritual Power that used to completely dissipate gradually began to remain as the rate of leakage decreased.

Senior Sister Zhang, who was shocked by Karlstein's terrifying growth rate, gradually lost words.

Now...

"This is paradise.... Yawn. There's no need to cling to immortality and abandon the present...."

"Senior Sister, you need to go."

"J-Just a little longer."

"Today is important cultivation, so please come back tomorrow."

"Hiing."

The innocent expression of someone shocked by the wonders of civilization was gone. There was only a Senior Sister Zhang who eyed the chance to stay.

For reference, the voice recorder given to her during the first item transfer was taken by Ma Yucheol. Rather than being forcibly taken, it was exchanged for cultivation resources.

One way or another, it was equally difficult to refuse Ma Yucheol's suggestions.

Ma Yucheol took the night vision goggles and her voice recorder and entered closed-door cultivation.

Apparently, he had some kind of inspiration?

At any rate, he sent her away despite her reluctance.

Although it was entertaining to watch her fall for all the modern conveniences installed in the hut, there was something he had to do today.

Karlstein ingested various pills and injected drugs brought from the Galactic Empire.

Then he headed to the spring in the backyard.

"Hoo...."

His senses became keen and vitality surged, probably due to the effects of the drugs.

It was the result of taking various doping potions, sensory enhancers, and Ether Reactivity Enhancers.

"Today I must break through properly."

The minimum gateway to becoming a formal cultivator.

He was on the verge of 1 Star in the Qi Refining Stage.

Karlstein entered the spring water and began to practice the Grand Void Cultivation Sutra he had researched with Aria.

Swoosh-

What was written in the books was too abstract and conceptual, so he had Aria conduct research.

Thus, the Grand Void Cultivation Sutra became somewhat renewed with her help.

Swoosh-

Spiritual Power began to circulate along the acupoints throughout his body.

One kè¹, one shíchén², two shíchén.

Time passed.

Karlstein, who had fallen into a state of No-Self, forgot the flow of time.

Only the verses of the Grand Void Cultivation Sutra floated in his mind. When he squeezed out his concentration to the limit of limits like that…

Woong-

The circulating Spiritual Power suddenly sank into somewhere around his solar plexus and jolted.

"Hmm."

He had stopped here last time. Trying to proceed further consumed too much mental and physical energy.

But now, after doping, it was different.

Under Karlstein's terrifying concentration, Spiritual Power pushed towards his solar plexus and collided again.

Thud-

Drip-

Although he had injected enhancers, he couldn't stop the blood flowing from his mouth due to internal injuries.

I'll end it this time.

He didn't want to drag it out.

Again.

Thud-

Heave-

Ugh.

I’ll do it until it works.

Once, twice.

Five times, ten times.

Wait, isn't a Heavenly Spiritual Root supposed to be amazing talent? Why is it so difficult?

Surely Ma Yucheol wouldn't have lied? And he himself couldn't lack intelligence, right?

Enraged, Karlstein crudely pushed Spiritual Power into his solar plexus.

Just break through already!

Then at one moment.

Boom-

A massive explosion occurred as if a Big Bang had occurred inside his head.

Gulp-

Ugh.

Hot blood rose in his throat.

But he smiled.

"So this is it..."

His solar plexus opening without obstruction. The feeling of meridians opening up one after another and circuits being engraved in his body in an instant. And Spiritual Power beginning to circulate much faster through there!

Haah.

A sense of refreshment and thrill enveloped his entire body.

It's certain. This feeling.

Strength overflowed throughout his body.

Ah, perhaps?

Karlstein began to draw more Spiritual Power from the spring water and circulate it in his body.

More. More. More.

Just a little more.

His greed raced without end.

Once more with this feeling!

Boom- Boom-

Consecutive explosions occurred in the universe expanded by the Big Bang.

An endlessly expanding universe.

An infinitely expanding Grand Void.

Spiritual Power in his body surged in like a flood.

Ah....

Boom- Bang- Boom- Bang-

How many explosions occurred?

Golden light flowed from Karlstein's pupils as he opened his eyes.

"Huh? 17 times?"

I heard the Qi Refining Stage only goes up to 17 Stars, though?

Is this not it?

I thought I went up 1 Star with each explosion....

Did something go wrong?

However, it didn’t seem like something went wrong. After all, Spiritual Power akin to a great river was flowing in his body.

Huh?

What exactly happened?

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