WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Dionysus

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Xianxia Cultivation with a Dragon Heart ◈

Chapter 57: Visiting the Righteous Alliance

──────

Divine Sense secret arts were techniques that used one’s Divine Sense to strike at another person’s Divine Sense and mind, or to defend against such attacks.

As Han Yujin had considered before when pondering the Crimson Lotus True Fire Art, it would not be an exaggeration to say that, in the cultivation world, the value of such Divine Sense secret arts nearly rivaled that of a Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure.

'Of course, that depends on the secret art...'

By the cultivation world’s standards, a Divine Sense secret art would grow stronger along with its practitioner’s realm, provided it had no innate flaw.

In other words.

Simply uncovering the secret of this world’s Life and Death Realm could bring gains comparable to a Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure.

'Good. Very good.'

This world had merely developed this way because its environment was so poor. In some respects, it would not be unreasonable to see it as an extremely early form of the cultivation world.

Profound cultivation methods developed over long ages.

Spiritual pills capable of drastically accelerating progress in those methods.

Magical artifacts that bolstered offensive and defensive ability in place of difficult spells.

Talismans used as hidden trump cards in special circumstances.

Without such things, people had no choice but to focus on their bodies to grow stronger and improve their combat power. The body was far easier to approach than the soul.

Indeed, even in the cultivation world’s history, body refiners had not been few in number from the primordial age, through the high antiquity era, and into ancient times.

It was only that, with the passage of time, cultivation methods focused on tempering Qi rather than the body had become superior. In comparison, body refinement arts had earned a reputation for being difficult to advance in without offering any particular advantage, and gradually fell out of use.

So, it was not at all unreasonable to view this martial world as a very early form of the cultivation world.

'There is evidence, too.'

Thinking that, Han Yujin took a wooden box from his Storage Pouch and opened the lid. Inside was a worm about the length of a finger joint, its body marked with a strange pattern of tangled black and white. It was called a Yin-Yang Gu.

'This... is definitely a dharma pattern.'

The strange black and white pattern was stretched long to follow the worm’s body, but it was unmistakably a dharma pattern. No, it was a formula sequence, formed by several kinds of dharma patterns systematically interwoven.

In short, this Yin-Yang Gu was a kind of spell that used an insect as its medium.

“Tell me about the Dark Shadow Demon Cult.”

They were walking along a road that had grown completely dark after sunset.

Seogwang Gahu flinched at the voice that broke their long silence. Eun Miryeong also looked slightly startled, though not as much as Seogwang Gahu. With Seogwang Gahu in poor condition, perhaps from the mental shock, Eun Miryeong had continued answering Han Yujin’s questions in place of her companion.

As he listened to Eun Miryeong’s explanation and added a few questions of his own, Han Yujin gradually broadened his knowledge of this world.

The history of this martial world stretched back roughly three to four thousand years. That was over a thousand years longer than Earth’s history in the Common Era.

And the Dark Shadow Demon Cult had only made its name known to the world less than a century ago.

Yet, for such a young rising force, it had grown powerful at an astonishing speed. It had become strong enough to threaten both the Righteous Alliance and the Heretical Alliance at once. To the older factions with long histories, it had to be utterly shocking.

'Is there something behind this?'

A newly risen faction with such a short history could wield something like the Yin-Yang Gu.

Even to Han Yujin, an outsider, it was clearly strange enough to draw his interest. Once he had finished refining the Dragon Heart, he decided he would have to pay them a visit.

As he continued asking about various things, one answer startled him.

“Awakening Incense...?”

“Yes. Without it, most people would not even be able to begin practicing martial arts.”

After answering his countless questions, Eun Miryeong had gradually realized that this man dressed as a Daoist did not know even the most basic common knowledge. Still, she did not dare ask why and could only answer what he asked.

In any case, Han Yujin had learned another very important fact.

Since this world’s martial arts were also cultivation methods that handled Qi, one could not properly begin without the talent to sense it.

In other words, they needed a Spiritual Root that could resonate with spiritual energy.

However, this world had something called Awakening Incense, made from a spirit plant known as Awakening Grass. If someone trained while smelling it for several years, roughly one person in ten could awaken at least a minimal sense of Qi.

'Does that mean it can turn around ten percent of people with No Spiritual Root into people with False Spiritual Roots?'

Moreover, Awakening Grass was neither rare nor difficult to obtain or cultivate. If he brought it to Earth and spread it there, he could expect an enormous harvest of Karma.

'It might be an even greater gain than Divine Sense secret arts.'

He was also quite surprised by the Hair-Cleansing and Marrow-Washing Method, which required all kinds of spirit herbs and an exquisitely refined procedure from a master at least at the Transformation Realm.

It was a heterodox secret art capable of raising an ordinary False Spiritual Root to the highest tier of False Spiritual Roots.

'With Divine Sense secret arts and heterodox secret arts related to Spiritual Roots, it would be hard to call this world’s level simply low.'

It would be more accurate to say that its development was slow only because of its poor environment. Its history was also far shorter than that of the cultivation world to begin with.

He continued questioning Eun Miryeong while forming plans for the future in a corner of his mind.

Beyond refining the Dragon Heart, it seemed he could gain much more from this world, which pleased him greatly.

* * *

The treasure map Seogwang Gahu possessed was only part of the whole. It seemed they had to gather all the fragments that had begun appearing throughout the martial world in order to learn the hidden treasure’s exact location.

There was much talk that the sudden appearance of these treasure map fragments was a scheme by the Heretical Alliance to pit the righteous and demonic factions against one another, but Han Yujin had little interest in that background.

Political and strategic responses were for the people here to handle themselves. He only cared what he would obtain through the treasure map that seemed to have some connection with him.

In any case.

They needed to visit the Righteous Alliance headquarters to join the holders of the other treasure maps. That headquarters was located in the territory of the Sun Gate in Jiangxi, as Eun Miryeong had mentioned earlier.

There was no pursuit or conflict before they reached Jiangxi.

Considering that they had not hurried, the Dark Shadow Demon Cult had clearly judged that the Yin Demon Gu Lord alone would be enough to capture the two. They likely had not considered the possibility that the Yin Demon Gu Lord would die as they had.

Upon entering the Sun Gate’s territory, Eun Miryeong and Seogwang Gahu visibly relaxed. Seeing that, Han Yujin spoke without much thought.

“Let’s go to the Righteous Alliance.”

“Yes!”

“Yes...”

Seogwang Gahu answered in a voice that sounded half dead, his complexion terribly haggard.

Han Yujin suddenly felt a little sorry for the tall fellow, who had remained so dejected. He offered a brief consolation.

If he had no intention of punishing him anyway, it would not hurt to comfort him once.

“Listen, kid.”

“Yes, s-speak, sir.”

“Don’t blame yourself so much. People aren’t perfect. Everyone makes mistakes and acts pathetic sometimes. I’ve done it often enough myself.”

“...”

“What matters is not repeating the same mistakes and pathetic behavior. Understand?”

“Yes... Th-thank you.”

It had only been a perfunctory consolation, but Seogwang Gahu immediately teared up.

“I’m not one to spread rumors, so don’t worry about that. Whether that person was the Yin Demon Gu Lord or a eunuch, they’re already dead. And Eun Miryeong is still your companion. She won’t go around talking carelessly, right?”

“Yes, sir. Of course not. I will erase it completely from my mind.”

As soon as Eun Miryeong answered, Seogwang Gahu squeezed his eyes shut and tears streamed down his face. It was easy to imagine how much he had suffered until now.

“How old are you?”

“I’ve only just reached yakseo...”

The unfamiliar term yakseo was interpreted with the help of his transcendent comprehension as equivalent to Earth’s expression “weak coronet.” In other words, it meant twenty.

“You’re completely a kid. At that age, it can happen. Everyone grows up building embarrassing memories.”

Then, as he spoke, Han Yujin suddenly resented Seogwang Gahu. This was someone who had tried to get another person killed to save his own skin. Did he really need to comfort him this much?

Even if he had acted under threat.

“Stop crying. I don’t want to see a big man bawling his eyes out, either.”

“Yes, sir!”

After roughly setting Seogwang Gahu straight, the three continued onward.

They had not rested even once, but perhaps strengthened by Han Yujin’s consolation, Seogwang Gahu did not hold them back. Eun Miryeong was struggling, but she was not about to collapse immediately.

After traveling for about another half day, they finally arrived at the Righteous Alliance headquarters.

It was an extremely broad and ancient-looking place. Even the grand, splendid main gate seemed to display the Righteous Alliance’s power, making even Han Yujin rather impressed.

“I would like to stay as a guest for a while. Can you arrange that?”

“Of course, sir. I will take care of everything.”

Han Yujin had addressed Eun Miryeong, but Seogwang Gahu answered in a firm voice from beside her. Then he approached the guards at the main gate with a dignified bearing.

Watching him, Han Yujin silently gave a dry laugh.

And a strange look passed across Eun Miryeong’s face as she watched Han Yujin.

* * *

Han Yujin was led to a place called Gyeongbin Pavilion in the eastern district of the Righteous Alliance, a residence for honored guests.

He liked the place very much.

Despite the chilly weather, all kinds of flowers bloomed in the well-maintained garden, delighting the eye. Koi swam leisurely in the pond, adding to the elegant atmosphere. A small artificial waterfall trickled down one side of the rockery, pleasing the ear as well.

If the garden was like that, there was no need to doubt the building’s quality. It contained only structures and furnishings that seemed impossible to improve upon at this era’s level of civilization.

What particularly drew his attention were the several formation arrays spread around Gyeongbin Pavilion.

Having attended a lecture on Formation Array Arts in Cheongwonseong, Han Yujin had little difficulty grasping their existence, purpose, and operating principles.

They seemed intended to prevent sound from entering or leaving and to stop thieves trying to enter from somewhere other than the main gate. Any cultivator at the Entry Stage could force their way through, but what mattered was that formation arrays with clear purposes had been properly established and were functioning well.

This world was certainly not low in level. It was merely progressing slowly.

'My combat ability here is at least at the Profound Realm.'

Han Yujin pondered as he looked over the garden pond.

'That puts me on the same level as the Ten Great Masters of the martial world. Even if they cannot identify me, they will not dare treat me poorly. Naturally, they will also try to recruit me.'

He had no intention of becoming deeply entangled, but some involvement was necessary to obtain this martial world’s various cultivation methods.

'I need a reputation if I want to move around more easily in the future. It will also let me join the treasure map expedition without any fuss.'

Refining the Dragon Heart?

That could wait a little.

With escape methods considered, he had no urgent need for greater martial strength. This world did not have an apocalypse scheduled to arrive in ten years, and his current lifespan was at least two hundred years.

'Could I simply stay here...?'

He was continuing that train of thought when he suddenly sensed someone’s presence. His gaze turned toward Gyeongbin Pavilion’s main gate. There seemed to be a brief argument with the guards, but the uninvited visitor apparently had enough authority to enter without difficulty.

Soon, a middle-aged man entered the garden.

With deep-set eyes and thick eyebrows, he had an intense appearance. He wore an old-fashioned black martial outfit with a silver-adorned belt, and his neatly tied hair was swept behind him. Together, they gave him considerable charisma.

“This is our first meeting.”

He approached to a suitable distance and performed a clasped-fist salute.

“I am Dok Junseong, commander of the Righteous Alliance’s Black Tiger Corps and known as the Flash Thunder Sword.”

“Mm. A pleasure.”

Han Yujin casually raised his hands in return and asked,

“What brings you here? I was only told to rest comfortably today.”

“I heard that you slew the Yin Demon Gu Lord, heroic sir. I came despite the discourtesy because I wished to know whether it was truly so.”

“It is true.”

At Han Yujin’s simple answer, it seemed a gleam passed through Dok Junseong’s eyes.

“Then would you grant this Dok a sparring match?”

“Out of nowhere?”

“If you are tired, we may postpone it until another day.”

It seemed someone had appeared who could not believe the report of his achievement.

It was entirely possible, and also a good opportunity to use. Han Yujin smiled faintly and asked,

“How will we spar?”

“The usual way. We will not use killing moves, so long as neither of our lives is endangered.”

“Mm.”

Nodding to show his understanding, Han Yujin turned fully around.

“Fine. Let’s begin right away.”

“...”

Dok Junseong’s sharp gaze settled on Muyong in Han Yujin’s arms.

“You mean to face me while holding that beast? Have you never heard of me?”

“It seems your primary weapon is a sword?”

“...It is.”

“Judging by your sobriquet, fast swordsmanship must be your specialty.”

“That is correct. So...”

“Then try blocking this.”

The next instant.

Han Yujin thrust out two fingers in a sword sign like lightning. Golden light flashed, and Dok Junseong drew and swung his treasured sword in response.

Then he realized that his sword blade had been severed at its base.

Clang...!

The severed blade of the treasured sword, though no one knew when it had flown there, landed on a stone at one side of the garden with a sharp sound.

“Consider that one death.”

Han Yujin smiled and continued.

“Do you still want to continue?”

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