WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Dionysus

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Xianxia Cultivation with a Dragon Heart ◈

Chapter 45: A Formation Arts Prodigy

──────

On the massive, majestic city wall of the Thousand Origin City Frontline World, still bearing clear traces of battle,

Han Yujin closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

'Muyong, go sleep and enjoy an easy life. If I bring you here, you'll stand out too much.'

Unlike last time, now that he had reached the Dharma Soul Stage, it would be awkward to use Yeon Biwon's identity again, an identity belonging to a mere private. He might have cause to use it again someday, but not now.

With his identity in such an unstable state, he could not comfortably keep a pet like Muyong by his side. He had no plans to stay here long anyway.

As he looked around, Han Yujin briefly met the gaze of a Dharma Soul Stage cultivator he remembered. It was that bug-eyed, bearded cultivator who had previously shouted at him to move faster.

'They aren't saying anything this time.'

He was curious how the cultivator would react if he remained still a while longer, but he had no real intention of testing it.

Pretending to be busy with the post-battle cleanup, he thoroughly surveyed his surroundings.

Since this had not been a minor battle, it was easy enough to pick up a suitable identity jade token. This one belonged to "Lee Gon, squad leader of Byeong 87th Company, Ungok Sect of Eastern Silver Province."

'As expected, a Dharma Soul Stage cultivator would at least be a squad leader.'

He had discreetly checked the bug-eyed, bearded cultivator as well, and they wore a squad leader's identity jade token at their waist. It would be safest for Han Yujin to match that rank himself.

He continued moving while watching those around him. Whenever he spotted an Entry Stage cultivator who looked easy to push around and somewhat foolish, he would pick a fight for no reason and ask questions.

"Which unit are you with?"

"Excuse me? I'm with Eul 77th Company..."

"Not that. Where are your quarters?"

"Excuse me? They're on the eastern side of Yeonggang District..."

"Who asked where your quarters were, huh?!"

That was roughly how he barked at people like a slightly mad bastard while extracting small pieces of information. Naturally, he did not ask too many questions of any one person, so as not to arouse too much suspicion.

'The citywide art-formula restrictions that serve as a central information processing system are disabled right now. As long as I don't act too strangely, I'll be fine.'

He was gathering information now to learn as much as possible about this place, which he might return to any number of times in the future.

At the same time, he collected several more squad leader-level identity jade tokens. If circumstances allowed, he intended to investigate the identities attached to them and determine which one was safest.

'The sect affiliation is still a concern...'

However, every identity jade token he acquired listed a sect. It seemed that Dharma Soul Stage cultivators rarely lived as wanderers.

As he gathered little bits of information, time passed uneventfully, and night eventually fell.

Even after nightfall, rather than quietly passing the time somewhere deserted as he had before, he actively explored the city. There was no curfew here, and as a Dharma Soul Stage cultivator, the chances of someone picking a fight with him were very low.

As a result, he picked up quite a bit of useful information before dawn.

One piece concerned trade meets.

With the citywide art-formula restrictions malfunctioning, merit point exchanges had been suspended. Considering the Yao Tribe could attack again at any time, there were likely many people in urgent need of magical artifacts, spiritual pills, and the like.

Even for those without such urgent needs, gatherings where cultivators of the same realm exchanged things they needed were always welcome.

The trade meets were not held on a grand scale in a single location. Instead, smaller gatherings were held in various places, and many seemed to be ones Han Yujin could attend.

He set attending as many trade meets as possible as his second goal for this visit to Thousand Origin City.

Even if he failed to obtain anything, simply looking around would help sharpen his eye.

* * *

The Formation Array Arts lecture was held in a large building called Cheonhak Hall, in Thousand Origin City's northern district.

Han Yujin arrived swiftly and inconspicuously using the Wind Escape Art. The elegance of Cheonhak Hall exceeded his expectations, and he could not help but marvel inwardly.

The building, made primarily from jade-green and white bricks and decorated throughout with beads that might have been glass or crystal, was magnificent. The lush gardens and ponds surrounding it made the sight even more impressive.

After crossing a stone bridge over a pond built like a small moat and entering the hall, he was once again impressed by the fact that nothing but natural light had created such brightness and atmosphere. The grand murals were another sight worth admiring.

On the platform within stood the Core Formation Stage cultivator who would lecture on Formation Array Arts, already waiting silently with his eyes closed.

Whether thanks to that or because of it, everyone who entered the grand hall fell silent and solemn.

'There are only about twenty percent as many people as there were at the alchemy lecture.'

At the same time, there were hardly any Entry Stage cultivators. Most had reached the Dharma Soul Stage or higher. Considering how difficult Formation Array Arts was, that was not particularly strange.

A short while later, perhaps sensing that everyone had arrived, the Core Formation Stage cultivator on the platform opened his eyes.

Song Jamun had the appearance of an elderly man with white hair and a long beard, and wore a silver robe embroidered with clouds. Holding a blue-green jade staff, he gave off the air of a true scholar.

'Was his name Song Jamun?'

Just as Han Yujin thought that, Song Jamun spoke.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, fellow Daoists. As you know, I will be lecturing on Formation Array Arts beginning today."

His calm, pleasant voice carried clearly to everyone.

"It would be impossible to explain all the profundity of Formation Array Arts in these few short days. Still, I believe we may at least be able to outline its broad contours."

Song Jamun then explained the goal of the lecture.

In short, Song Jamun would teach the foundations any well-rounded cultivator ought to know, along with the types and principles of commonly used formation array restrictions.

'Good, good.'

It was exactly what Han Yujin wanted. Many other cultivators encountering Formation Array Arts for the first time likely felt the same.

"Then let us begin at once. First, we must address the greatest characteristic and weakness of formation arrays. How can we reliably produce the desired effect using only spiritual energy and combinations of dharma patterns, without incorporating a cultivator's will?"

As Song Jamun raised a hand, lights appeared above him and formed several distinct patterns. Each was a formula sequence construct composed of various dharma patterns.

"Here are ten of the most fundamental formula configurations used in Formation Array Arts."

Void, Primordial Chaos, Yin-Yang, Three Powers, Four Images, Five Elements, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, Eight Trigrams, and Nine Palaces.

Han Yujin had seen those concepts in books acquired from the Five Elements Sect ruins. Naturally, he had not known how to use them.

That was precisely what Song Jamun began to teach.

Every word of the lecture was invaluable.

Before long, Han Yujin's gaze began to seem unfocused.

In truth, however, he could not have concentrated more deeply. As he absorbed every important piece of information, he fell into a kind of sudden enlightenment, creating new insights based on his own knowledge and experience.

His extraordinary comprehension had combined with the intelligence he gained from advancing in realm. Then, like a finishing blow, came the teachings of a master of Formation Array Arts. The results were astonishing.

This was not the terrifying enlightenment one might find in a martial arts novel.

Still, the dead knowledge he had merely possessed until now had all gained life and become vivid. An ordinary Entry Stage cultivator might need several years to catch up to Han Yujin's current understanding. Even a Dharma Soul Stage cultivator of the same realm might need months or more.

That was how remarkable his rapidly growing understanding of Formation Array Arts was.

Its scope was only the basics, but the basics were important in everything.

Much later, when the lecture ended, Han Yujin emerged from his state of sudden enlightenment as if waking from sleep, overwhelmed with emotion and regret.

'Was I... really this smart?'

He had only listened to a single day's lecture, yet he could not even estimate how much he had gained.

Even now, the knowledge of Formation Array Arts swirling in his mind was so alive and clear that it felt as though even the way he viewed the world had changed slightly.

Just then, Song Jamun, the lecturer, a Core Formation Stage cultivator, and a master of Formation Array Arts, mingled with those leaving the grand hall after the lecture and approached Han Yujin.

"What is your name, junior?"

Song Jamun asked a question Han Yujin felt he had heard from someone before.

Naturally, the attention of everyone still nearby immediately snapped toward him. Slightly flustered, Han Yujin answered at once.

"My name is Lee Gon."

"Lee Gon... Which sect do you belong to?"

"I am a disciple of Ungok Sect."

"Is that so? Ungok Sect."

After stroking his beard once, Song Jamun asked again.

"Is Fellow Daoist Chogwang well?"

Chogwang was likely the name of some Core Formation Stage cultivator from Ungok Sect, one who had some acquaintance with Song Jamun.

'I'm fucked.'

Han Yujin inwardly lamented and fell silent for about a second.

Then he realized that Song Jamun, whose gaze met his, was smiling faintly.

Song Jamun had clearly caught on, but did not seem to care. It was as though such things were common enough.

"The way you listened to my lecture today left a deep impression on me."

"Th... thank you."

"What is there to thank me for? I should be thanking you. To be honest, I was not especially motivated. I wondered what meaning there could be in teaching Formation Array Arts over such a short period of time..."

Song Jamun nodded as though he had just heard something greatly pleasing.

"How old are you?"

"I am a little over thirty."

Han Yujin included the time he had spent in the primeval forest when answering. Song Jamun looked even more satisfied.

"To have reached the Dharma Soul Stage at that age, your talent cannot be lacking. Would you consider joining Taicheong Palace as an Outer Sect disciple?"

Astonishment appeared on the faces of the cultivators who had remained in the hall out of interest. At the same time, Han Yujin could feel jealousy and envy filling their gazes.

"I do not mean you would remain an Outer Sect disciple. After a little verification... once that is done, I will raise you directly to the Inner Sect. Personally."

At those words, the jealousy mixed into those stares sharply increased. Han Yujin could almost feel them pricking at him. This was something he had experienced once before.

'Taicheong Palace...'

This was already the second time he had been offered a chance to become a disciple. And it was Taicheong Palace, a colossal and immensely powerful cultivation sect where an Integration Stage Supreme Elder resided.

It could not help but feel strange.

"What do you say?"

Han Yujin quickly came back to himself after his brief daze. His response was not difficult.

There was no reason to hesitate when it seemed he had already been found out. Especially when the other party was showing him goodwill for some reason.

"If that is possible, it would be a great honor."

"Heh heh heh, good."

Song Jamun's gaze briefly passed over the identity jade token hanging from Han Yujin's waist. As Song Jamun smiled faintly, Han Yujin could only return the smile while hiding his awkwardness.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried