Status 1 - Dumpster

Creating Status Display in Murim – Chapter 1

| Reincarnation Year 3. Finally, I became an immortal.



"Hahaha!"

Maybe fifteen years old.

A shabby boy covered in dirt and wearing patched clothes, Jin Somyeong, burst into hearty laughter.

"I finally entered the first stage of the Qi Refining Stage!”

Three years had passed since I awakened in this damned world of immortals.

After suffering like a dog, I finally went from being a powerless ordinary person to an immortals wielding mystical powers.

Of course, this was just the beginning.

To become a true immortal who could part the seas with a casual wave of the hand and live for ten thousand years—he was still far from that.

But someday.

He vowed to become a transcendent who would ride a flying sword and cross the heavens.

Just as he clenched his fist tightly, another joy arrived.

"Supreme Great Ability (무상대능력(無上大能力))?"

Perhaps because he became an immortal, the superpower engraved deep in his soul awakened.

Related information naturally surfaced in his mind, and when he realized what kind of power it was, his eyes shot wide open.

The Supreme Great Ability was literally a fragment of omnipotence.

A god-like power that could achieve anything desired, as long as the quantity was sufficient.

True to its absurd name, it was an unbelievable great ability.

Perhaps only the legendary true immortals could command such divine power. He was so stunned by the tremendous ability that he was left speechless.

"...Ahaha!"

The laughter that suddenly burst out simply wouldn't stop.

In this life as a bottom-rung laborer struggling to survive each day... a single ray of hope had finally arrived.

***

Rewind to one day ago.

In the Jeokyang District, a settlement where cultivators dreaming of becoming Immortals gathered.

Jin Somyeong woke from sleep.

"Ah."

His rough morning voice echoed inside his small room. Accustomed to rising at dawn, he pressed his fingers firmly against his forehead.

He wanted to sleep more, but he held back. Even laziness was a privilege permitted only to those qualified for it.

He lightly stretched and cleared his drowsy mind.

Sitting down cross-legged just like that, he circulated the 'Five Elements Qi Refining Art'.

Wooooong!

A subtle wind blew. With each breath, a mysterious energy was absorbed and guided to his lower abdomen, his Dantian.

Repeating with every inhale and exhale, it created a faint vortex.

How much time had passed?

"Haah."

Jin Somyeong's complexion darkened as he exhaled a turbid breath.

'...Did I fail again today?'

The Five Elements Qi Refining Art was a cultivation technique of the Immortal Path (선도(仙道)) that, once mastered, allowed one to become an immortal.

Although it was a simple foundational method, it required qualification. Those without talent could not even begin to learn it.

Jin Somyeong muttered quietly.

"Status window."

...

Naturally, nothing happened. Only bitterness lingered in the quiet room.

After a long silence, Jin Somyeong let out a chuckle.

It had already been three years since he awakened his past life memories.

This place, called the Cultivation World, was surprisingly a world where immortals truly existed.

Immortals were transcendent beings that ordinary people could not oppose.

'Literal gods.'

The more one cultivated the Dao and raised their realm, the longer their lifespan became, and they could perform miracles like magic.

High-level immortals could move mountains or fill vast seas with a single gesture.

According to legend, True Immortals had unimaginable lifespans.

There were even sayings that they lived for billions of years, meeting their end together with the world itself.

Divine beings who possess eternal life! It was truly a dreamlike tale.

However, for an ordinary person to become an immortal, they needed a 'Spiritual Root.'

The Spiritual Root could be described as a root that absorbs ‘Spiritual Energy (Qi)’, the source of the ommortals' power.

It was the bare minimum requirement. Without it, cultivation could not even begin.

Jin Somyeong was lucky.

He possessed a spiritual root said to appear in one out of ten thousand people. It meant he had the minimum qualification to become an immortal.

However...

His luck ended there.

The Spiritual Root was merely the minimum condition, and it was further graded according to talent.

Lowest Grade, Low Grade, Middle Grade, High Grade, Earth Grade, Heaven Grade, and so on.

The grade varied depending on sensitivity to sensing spiritual qi and efficiency in absorbing it, and his aptitude was not very good.

"...Haha."

Jin Somyeong let out a hollow laugh and finally admitted it.

‘Is my Spiritual Root of the Lowest Grade or Low Grade...? I didn't want to believe it, but it seems I really do have an Impure Spiritual Root.’

If his aptitude were good, he could have entered the Qi Refining stage using just the 'Five Elements Qi Refining Art'.

That meant he could become an immortal even without special resources.

But that wasn't granted to him.

Over the past three years, he had circulated the Qi Refining Stage countless times, but he always failed to cross the threshold and enter the realm.

Jin Somyeong swallowed the bitterness lingering on his tongue and chuckled.

"It doesn't matter."

He would not give up just because he lacked talent.

Even in his past life, he had been interested in mystical and transcendent beings.

He had harbored a kind of longing since childhood. Upon becoming an adult, he naturally gave up on that impossible dream, but this place was different.

Having luckily awakened to his past life and come to a world of immortals (신선(神仙)), he naturally had to try.

Moreover.

There was a way for even a talentless person with an Impure Root to become an Immortal.

That was Spirit Stones (영석(0石)).

Mystical stones where pure Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth condensed and hardened like crystal.

If one could absorb the energy contained in this Spirit Stone, even someone with an Impure Spiritual Root could enter the Qi Refining Stage.

‘If I collect just 110 Spirit Stone fragments, I can exchange them for a real Spirit Stone. If only I can do that...’

He could begin cultivation to become an immortal.

Someday, he would strike down lightning with a single gesture and soar through the nine heavens riding on clouds.

Just imagining it made his heart tremble.

'I cannot be satisfied with an ordinary life. I will definitely become an immortal and ascend to the Great Dao of Longevity.'

He reaffirmed the goal that had never changed since he awakened his past life memories.

Having come to the world of his dreams, he had to challenge it with his life on the line.

Clench!

He clenched his fist tightly and vowed firmly in his heart. Having made his silent resolution, he brushed himself off and stood up.

Since he finished circulating the Five Elements Qi Refining Art, it was time to go earn money.

Swoosh.

He pulled an old cloth pouch from a hidden hole in the floor. With careful movements, he opened the pouch.

Rustle!

Dozens of fingernail-sized blue crystals came into view.

“...Gulp.”

His fingertips trembled finely as he looked at the gems emitting a lustrous light.

This was his entire fortune.

105 Spirit Stone fragments desperately collected over three years since awakening to his past life!

For him to truly begin cultivation, he needed a 'real Spirit Stone,' and he needed a total of 110 Spirit Stone fragments.

“I just need to collect five more.”

Forcibly suppressing his bubbling excitement, he took five Spirit Stone fragments out of the pouch.

He wished he could carry them all with him, but he couldn't.

If he were to encounter a robber, all the Spirit Stone fragments he had painstakingly gathered would be stolen.

But he couldn't hide them all either.

Without bait to throw, he could get beaten to a cripple or even killed in the worst case. It was common in this world with its hopeless public security.

Just as he was tucking the 5 spirit stone fragments inside his chest…

Bang, bang, bang!

He frowned at the rough pounding on the door.

'At this hour?'

An uninvited guest at dawn. It wasn't a good sign.

His face darkened as he peered outside through the door crack. In this harsh world, one always had to be cautious.

‘...Steward Beom. Why is that bastard here at this hour?’

It was a familiar face, but not a welcome one. His expression stiffened even further.

That was understandable, because Steward Beom was a tax collector.

Butler Beom was a Qi Refining stage cultivator who performed duties like collecting rent and maintaining public order in the Jeokyang District where Jin Somyeong lived.

To Jin Somyeong, the lowest of the lower class, he was a fearsome existence with immense power.

'Haaah.'

He wanted to avoid the man, famous for his foul temper, but he had no choice. If left alone, he was the type to break the door down and come in anyway.

He quietly retreated and settled down as if he had just gotten out of bed.

"Ahem... Who is it?"

"Jin Somyeong! Open the door quickly! I know you're in there!"

Bang, bang, bang!

His patience ran out after waiting only a few seconds. The pounding grew increasingly violent.

“P- Please wait a moment! I'll open it right away!”

Bang, bang!

He deliberately ran around the room. After making sounds of frantic haste, he cautiously opened the door.

“Steward Beom? What brings you here at this hour...”

"Hmph! Of course, I'm here to collect the monthly rent. Why else would I seek out the likes of you!"

Under the contemptuous gaze that looked upon him as something filthy, Jin Somyeong's face darkened.

"...Monthly rent?"

"That's right! Besides, you climb the mountain every single day, so you're never here if I come during the day!"

While it was indeed Steward Beom's duty to collect shack rent from the loose cultivators living in the outer city, something was off.

Steward Beom was usually famous for being arrogant and lazy.

Normally, he would just sit idly in the Steward Office in the inner city, waiting for the mountain folk to come and pay their rent.

He had never come in person to collect the rent like this before.

And...

“Steward Beom. There seems to be a mistake. I paid three months' rent in a lump sum last time. There is still one month remaining on my lease.”

"Hm?"

Steward Beom frowned deeply, then snorted.

“Hmph. It doesn't matter. I am going into closed-door cultivation for the next year, so I won't have time to collect rent. Therefore, pay me one year's rent in advance. That will be 60 Spirit Stone fragments total!”

"Huh? 60?"

His eyes nearly popped out at the insane nonsense.

Extorting 60 Spirit Stone fragments with just a few words. 60 fragments was practically half of his entire fortune.

Rage surged at this absurd tyranny, but he pushed it down and endured.

He spoke in the most respectful tone he could muster.

"Steward Beom. How could I possibly have that many Spirit Stone fragments? I only have 5 Spirit Stone fragments."

"What?"

"I can pay for one month in advance with these 5, and I will go to the Steward Office myself to pay the shortage to another steward next time."

"..."

Without a word, the frowning Steward Beom suddenly reached out his hand in that moment.

Wooong!

Spiritual energy rushing in from all directions bound Jin Somyeong's entire body. It pressured him so he couldn't move even a fingertip.

"Only 5? Hmph! Know that you'll be in big trouble if you're lying!"

Swish!

Steward Beom approached without hesitation and snatched the pouch from inside Jin Somyeong’s clothes.

Bound by the bastard’s magic, Jin Somyeong could do nothing but watch.

'Damn it! For someone who calls himself a steward to do such things!'

Stewards played a role similar to modern-day police as peacekeepers, but their behavior was no different from thugs.

Steward Beom clicked his tongue while rummaging through the pouch. He shot a glare filled with contempt at Jin Somyeong.

“Is it really just 5 pieces? Tsk. I wasted my time on a poor bastard!”

To insult him after arbitrarily taking his money. Anger surged, making the back of his neck tingle.

Perhaps he thought even a mosquito’s leg was meat. The bastard who snatched all five Spirit Stone fragments snorted.

Without exchanging another word, he turned and left abruptly.

Bang, bang, bang!

Steward Beom went to the next house and repeated the same behavior. Watching his conduct, Jin Somyeong ground his teeth.

'That dog-like bastard. I'll definitely make him regret this someday!'

He pressed down his malice and kept it deep in his heart. He still lacked power, so he had to endure.

He returned inside and took a deep breath to compose himself.

"Let's calm down."

Incidents like this had happened countless times over the past three years. If he got worked up over every single one, he would just die from anger.

Forcibly closing his eyes, he meditated for about a minute to regain his composure.

‘Haa! I had barely scraped together 105 Spirit Stone fragments, and now another five have been taken. I need to collect 10 more to get a Spirit Stone.’

He quietly headed to the corner of the bed. He took out five Spirit Stone fragments from the ‘real pouch’ he had hidden away.

If he hadn't handed over 5 Spirit Stone fragments to Steward Beom just now, things wouldn't have ended peacefully.

'He definitely would have broken something. Under the pretext of searching my body, he might have inflicted internal injuries.'

Thugs always acted the same. If not appeased with bait, they would take out their anger on you.

"Forget it. Let's just consider it paying the rent for one month in advance and go earn some money."

He could only sigh at the wretched state of security, but what could he do? This was the world he lived in, so he had to adapt.

Gathering his supplies, he left the lodging.

It was roughly 2 a.m.

It was still the dark of dawn before sunrise, but he had to hurry. If he didn't leave now, he would have no income for the day.

"Ugh!"

He folded his arms, trembling as goosebumps rose on his skin.

The cold dawn air swept over his entire body. As his head, hot with anger, cooled down, he felt somewhat better.

Despite it being dawn, the streets of the outer city were quite bustling.

It felt like walking through a busy market day. Everywhere he looked, groups of ten or more people walked by.

There was a reason so many were out at dawn.

'For cultivators, there's no distinction between night and day. This level of darkness is no different from broad daylight.'

Jin Somyeong, who had been walking diligently, involuntarily paused.

The street was lined with stalls, and one of them caught his eye.

[Freshly picked Three-Colored Grass (삼색초(三色草)). 10 Spirit Stone fragments!]

Looking at the pile of colorful spirit herbs, envy surged within him.

At a glance, there were more than ten bundles. Worth over one hundred fragments.

'Did they discover a colony of Three-Colored Grass? What good luck.'

If only he had those spirit herbs, Jin Somyeong could become a Qi Refining stage cultivator right away.

Just as he stood there unable to move his feet, swallowing his envy, someone approached the stall.

"Let me see the condition of this Three-Colored Grass."

“Mm. Go ahead.”

"Eh, it's so-so. Ten spirit stone pieces are too expensive."

"Nonsense! If you're not buying, don't interfere and just go. Three-Colored Grass is a material for Condensing Qi Pills, so they sell quickly.”

"Oho! Is that any way to do business? Come on, sell it for 8 pieces and I'll buy them all."

He left behind the two men who were haggling passionately, spitting as they spoke.

There was no time to waste.

He had to get to work before sunrise. Walking without rest for who knows how long—

Finally, he reached the base of Jeokyang Mountain. Only when his breath became ragged did he arrive at his workplace.

'Phew.'

He took a deep breath to calm his rough breathing.

Jeokyang Mountain was very, very dangerous.

It was teeming with all kinds of beasts with sharp claws, and there were too many poisonous insects to count.

A single moment of carelessness meant a direct ticket to the afterlife. He wouldn't even get a chance to complain about the injustice.

Moreover, Jeokyang Mountain didn't only have ordinary beasts.

'There are demon beasts too.'

True monsters who wield Demonic Powers (요력(妖力)).

Even the weakest 1st-rank demon beast could shatter rocks and ran so fast it was invisible to the eye.

If someone were unlucky enough to encounter them, resistance would be impossible. On that day, one would have to link arms with the Grim Reaper and find their way to the underworld.

Climbing Jeokyang Mountain, which was crawling with demon beasts and wild animals, was literally an extremely dangerous act that put his life on the line.

But there was no other way.

'This is the only way for me to earn Spirit Stone fragments.'

Saving money safely was too slow. He wouldn't have been able to acquire a single Spirit Stone even if he spent sixty years of his life.

For an ordinary person like him to become an immortal, he had to be prepared for death.

Rustle.

He rolled on the ground, covering his entire body in dirt. It was a desperate measure to erase the scent of human flesh.

'It won't help much, but still better than nothing.'

Shing!

Drawing his crude cleaver, he parted the thick undergrowth and climbed Jeokyang Mountain.

---

Consider supporting me by subscribing on Patreon for 5$. 

Advance chapters of Magic Realm Convenience Store Worker : 20 Chapters

Advance chapters of Got a Gallery in the Wild : 8 Chapters

Also, consider visiting my patreon to check out my other projects