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Translator/Editor: Dionysus

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◈ Xianxia Cultivation with a Dragon Heart ◈

Chapter 32: Advancement to the Dharma Soul Stage

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More than two more years passed peacefully, without any major incidents.

Come to think of it, his abilities as a cultivator played a huge part in making him feel that he could keep living like this forever.

Many things that would inevitably be troublesome, exhausting, and inconvenient for an ordinary person did not bother him at all.

Not only was he incredibly resistant to cold and heat, but darkness did not trouble him either. Sleeping on hard ground never left his back sore, and he could go days without sleep and remain perfectly fine.

When eating felt like a hassle, he could replace meals with spirit liquid wine. Cleaning and bathing took only a single Purification Art. He could quickly make the shelter and tools he needed without any equipment, so he was free to move or settle wherever he liked.

Insects and wild animals could not ordinarily threaten his safety, while injuries and illnesses were almost nonexistent.

'I'm only in the Entry Stage, yet I've become inhuman in so many ways.'

And that inhumanity would only grow stronger once he entered the Dharma Soul Stage.

From the Dharma Soul Stage onward, one could survive without sleep or food so long as there was spiritual energy. A purified body produced no waste whatsoever, remaining clean even without washing. The power of a soul sublimated into a Dharma Soul could even automatically clear away nearby filth according to the cultivator's unconscious preferences.

Even without mentioning enhanced intelligence, the transcendent sense known as Divine Sense, or the superiority of dharma power, that was enough to explain how extraordinary it was.

And that was only the Dharma Soul Stage.

The saying that immortals and mortals were fundamentally different clearly existed for a reason.

There was also no phrase more thrilling to someone walking the path of immortality. Every human being possessed the desire for self-actualization, to become as exceptional as possible.

'Today, I'll form my Dharma Soul and lay the true foundation of my path of immortality.'

Han Yujin had already spent over half a day meditating to calm his mind. As though she sensed his seriousness, Muyong stayed quietly nearby instead of playing around or hovering about as usual.

How much more time passed like that?

As his breathing became completely still and tranquil, the Returning to the Origin Art began to move, intervening with his soul.

Perfect Foundation Establishment.

He could sense that his soul had been flawlessly and completely sublimated into a Dharma Soul. It was like the software of some wondrous machine, every preparation complete and merely waiting to be activated. His tempered body would be the hardware.

And now, as the final formula sequence operated, that machine's power button was pressed.

The change was both swift and slow.

Within the sensation of time stretching endlessly, the colors he perceived within his soul were suffused with infinity.

Every dharma pattern he had carefully built up until now rose while connected to one another, beginning a full fusion that sent ripples through his soul. It was like the movement of one small spring setting every component in motion, creating a dramatic scene.

Dharma patterns were phenomena, forms, and methods through which the spiritual energy filling heaven and earth revealed its mysteries.

Patterns containing the power of lightning that could be found in rocks struck by lightning over countless years, patterns containing the power of flames found on the skin of creatures living while submerged in lava.

Those were dharma patterns.

It would not be wrong to simply call them crystallizations of mystery.

Formula sequences were arrangements of such dharma patterns, designed to create synergistic effects in a desired direction. The purpose of a cultivation method composed of those formula sequences was to lead humans toward becoming immortals, eternal and indestructible beings.

The essence and foundation of cultivation, steadily tested and improved for perhaps more than a hundred thousand years, perhaps taking even longer to take root and fully bloom, completely lifted Han Yujin's soul to a higher level and fixed it there.

His previous sublimation had merely struggled to maintain that state once all preparations were complete. Now, he was truly being reborn anew.

He sensed a new power beginning to flow from his soul, dharma power. It appeared to shine with brilliant golden light, but when he looked again, it resembled his soul, infinite and impossible to distinguish by color.

At the same time, his body was strengthened until it felt as though it would burst from fullness.

'I can endure it.'

Even amid the joy and overwhelming emotion of advancing realms, Han Yujin judged calmly. He had tempered his body by taking fruit spiritual pills, so there was no reason he could not endure it. And although his dharma power was so powerful due to Perfect Foundation Establishment, it was not unstable in the slightest.

The Clear Mind Art, part of the Returning to the Origin Art and something he had maintained even while sleeping for the past several years, allowed him to remain composed even now.

His body grew fuller and fuller, seeming to break through its limits again and again. Within that sensation, the five senses that had been bound to his body suddenly burst outward, as though a dam had collapsed.

It was the awakening of Divine Sense, a new and transcendent sense possessed only by cultivators.

The Divine Sense born from the enhanced five senses granted by Perfect Foundation Establishment and the fruit spiritual pills far exceeded his expectations. It would likely be nearly twice as strong as that of an ordinary Dharma Soul Stage cultivator.

It felt like someone who had spent their entire life with their eyes closed opening them for the first time and looking upon the world.

All spiritual things he could only dimly see by using the Spirit Vision Art now appeared clear before him. He could perceive them the instant his mind turned toward them, without using his physical senses, and he could clearly sense even things beyond the reach of ordinary perception.

For example, he could now inspect the state of the soul inside his body and the flow of his dharma power in greater detail than by any other method. Even if he dissected himself, laid everything out, and examined it with every conceivable tool, he could not see more clearly than this.

The effects of gaining Divine Sense did not end with gaining a new sense and expanding his perception.

It felt as though several new brains had been added outside his body.

He was not sure about things like creativity, but it felt as though he could memorize anything after seeing it once. Complex calculations seemed to solve themselves and produce answers, while judging anything became incredibly easy and clear.

Combined with his expanded perception, it felt as though he were constantly observing everything within a radius of twenty or thirty meters with every possible means at his disposal. Perhaps even farther than that.

By then, all the changes were wrapping up and entering the stabilization stage.

He had spent so much time tempering himself in the Entry Stage, so it was only natural that the changes ended swiftly and smoothly. This was even more true since he had achieved Perfect Foundation Establishment.

'Finally.'

Thinking that, Han Yujin slowly opened his eyes. As he exhaled at length, a faint ripple of spiritual energy flashed and disappeared, as though carrying remnants of the transformation.

Squeak! Squeak!

Sensing her owner's overwhelming satisfaction, Muyong ran over and made a fuss. She was especially exuberant, as though seeking a reward for having stayed quiet all this time.

She seemed to instinctively understand that now her owner had reached the Dharma Soul Stage, she too could become an Entry Stage-level creature.

"Hey, stay still for a moment."

But Han Yujin did not want to start cultivating again immediately after advancing. After achieving something great, one needed to relax and play without thinking about anything.

'Or not? Whatever.'

Either way, it was fine for now.

He picked Muyong up in his arms and stepped outside. It had become completely dark at some point, but he did not need to use the Spirit Vision Art. Muyong had no trouble either, since she naturally had keen night vision.

When she realized they were heading toward the place where a jar of spirit wine he had specially brewed and set aside beforehand was kept, that useless creature, good for nothing but gluttony, grew excited again.

"I'm drinking all of this today."

It was certainly a day worth celebrating that way. He took the entire jar of spirit wine and brought out a considerable amount of meat he had stored elsewhere, then began grilling it lavishly.

It was a truly beautiful and fulfilling night.

* * *

Han Yujin did not immediately try to return to reality.

He needed time to adjust to the abilities he had gained after reaching the Dharma Soul Stage, and he also needed to become familiar with the Earth Escape Art and other techniques he had not properly practiced until now.

Training for the Core Formation Stage was impossible anyway, since he did not have a suitable cultivation method. He spent his days practicing nothing but spells and rapidly improved his abilities.

After roughly two months, he learned the Spellbreaking Thunder Wall Art, a defensive barrier specialized against spells. He also became proficient in the Earth Escape Art and learned the Wind Escape Art, allowing him to fly through the air like a proper Dharma Soul Stage cultivator.

Naturally, he learned the Fire Escape Art and Lightning Escape Art as well.

Learning the other Five Elements escape arts gave him many insights on its own, and above all, the increased intelligence he gained from reaching the Dharma Soul Stage made cultivation several times easier than before.

At the same time, he intended to create a new and special spell.

A spell for escaping.

The fact that he could only return to the Waiting Area by dying or being completely incapacitated had always weighed on his mind. He might end up suffering in some unwanted, awkward situation.

In other words, it was clear that it would be a disaster if using an escape spell became a habit, but he felt that he could not do without one.

'With the mind I have after reaching the Dharma Soul Stage, it'll be fine as long as I don't act ridiculously stupid.'

Only after considering it over and over did he begin creating the spell.

If he was going to make one, it had to let him escape as quickly, reliably, and comfortably as possible. Conceiving the method was difficult, but realizing that idea was relatively easy.

About three days after the escape spell was completed.

Han Yujin was looking around the hideout he had grown rather attached to after spending so long there, settling his feelings. He held Muyong in his arms and stroked her.

Muyong had thoroughly benefited from the Spirit Beast Training Formula while he practiced spells nearby.

Not only had she gained approximately Entry Stage-level strength, but she could also use several spells easily passed on through spiritual communication. Most were for hiding and fleeing, but she clearly possessed offensive spells too.

'Her intelligence is still underdeveloped, so she definitely won't be A-rank. C-rank? If things go well, maybe lower B-rank?'

If she actually fought a B-rank Hunter, she would likely have difficulty winning if the opponent knew Muyong's abilities well. Still, the fact that this useless creature could contend with a B-rank Hunter at all was astonishing.

'If even my pet is like this, then I'll clearly be overpowered in reality now.'

This strength was exactly why he had begun xianxia-style cultivation. Of course, that did not mean he had any intention of letting his guard down.

"Let's go now."

After taking his time to finish settling his feelings, he sat on a rock he often used. Then, certain that he could return together with Muyong, he cast the escape spell for the first time.

It had been worth the effort of making it.

- You have died.

Without any sensation at all, the world went dark in an instant, and silver letters mysteriously appeared.

His brain and heart had been completely destroyed in an incredibly brief instant. Even if some powerful being stood beside him, they would not be able to save him as they pleased.

- Select your harvest.

Coming to his senses anew in the Waiting Area, he examined the harvests laid out before him. He immediately selected Muyong, who floated nearby with her body curled up as though asleep. He did not even calculate the Karma cost.

Naturally, he next selected the fruits of his cultivation. Once he had selected both, roughly 74 percent of his Karma remained.

'It only used 26 percent?'

He had selected the results of cultivation that had brought him all the way to the Dharma Soul Stage, yet it was this cheap. He almost began humming.

That must be because, even if he had received help from the environment, he had not simply gotten it for free.

There was effectively no need to choose anything else. The rest were things he could gather or make again whenever he needed them.

'That's everything.'

As he confirmed the Harvest Selection, he prepared to awaken in reality at once.

All while planning what he should do first from now on.

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