WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Xianxia Cultivation with a Dragon Heart ◈
Chapter 63: Bestowing a Teaching
──────
Three months.
That was how long it took Han Yujin to create a basic martial arts heart method for handling origin power.
It was an extremely short time to devise a heart method, the foundation and framework of martial arts. Still, considering the many excellent materials he had to draw from, it was reasonable.
He had the Returning to the Origin Art, which stayed true to the fundamentals, the Taiji Returning to the Origin Art, which handled origin power without flaw, and various martial arts heart methods he had seen at the Righteous Path Alliance. He had more than enough material.
Thus, today, he intended to meet privately at his residence with those who had contributed the most to maintaining Gold Lotus Manor, in order of their contributions.
Dok Junseong, who had answered the summons, looked tense yet expectant, as though they had guessed something. They seemed to be trying their best to restrain themself, but it did not appear very effective.
After some small talk and a brief discussion about managing Okhan City, Han Yujin got to the point.
“I will give you a choice.”
He set the mood before continuing.
“One path requires you to give up a considerable portion of the martial arts you have learned thus far. However, if you achieve success, you will not only gain a lifespan of at least two hundred years, but abilities similar to mine.”
Dok Junseong was nearing fifty, an age this martial world described as beginning to look toward heaven.
Ordinarily, that would have been far too late to begin walking the path of immortality. However, as a master of the Transformation Realm, their body and soul were both robust, and they had abundant experience handling Qi. They still had a chance.
That was all the more true because the Spiritual Root aptitude Han Yujin had assessed with Divine Sense was better than his own. It felt roughly like a middle-tier True Spiritual Root.
“The other is a relatively simple path. You only need to change your heart method. It will be easier to achieve success, and you will be able to handle a special power called origin power rather than ordinary internal energy. But even if fortune favors you, the Life and Death Realm will be your limit.”
Silence followed for a moment.
“Does that mean the first path can take me beyond the Life and Death Realm?”
“Yes. A two-hundred-year lifespan and those abilities are only the first achievement. There are second and third achievements as well. If you grow that far, you may live for over a thousand years. You may even be able to crush Mount Tai with one hand.”
It was clearly difficult to believe.
Still, Dok Junseong believed Han Yujin would not summon them only to speak nonsense, and they looked troubled.
“Would you like to see it?”
“...Y-you mean the first path?”
“I will show you. Open your mind and do not resist.”
Soon after.
Han Yujin gave him a brief moment to prepare, then cast the Illusory Dream Heart-Seizing Art.
Aided by the spell's synergy with the divine ability, which blossomed ever more fully as the Dragon Heart's refinement progressed, and by Dok Junseong's decision to open their mind as much as possible and not resist, as Han Yujin had instructed,
The flawlessly cast spell began showing Dok Junseong the cultivation world. It was an illusion created as though he had edited together only the necessary parts, which should make it easier to understand.
A little later.
Even after escaping the illusion, Dok Junseong could not regain their senses for some time. When they finally spoke, they stammered slightly.
“M-Martial Venerable... you truly... truly were an immortal.”
They seemed both awestruck and shocked. Fortunately, it was in a positive sense rather than a negative one.
“It is absurd to call me an immortal. And as I showed you, that path is never easy. Remember that you may dream of becoming an immortal only to lose even the power and honor you possess now.”
“That is all right.”
Despite the warning, Dok Junseong answered at once.
Dok Junseong looked at Han Yujin with the gaze of a Transformation Realm master. Yet it was not merely the gaze of a master. It belonged to someone with the tenacity to rise from a wandering martial artist to the head of the Righteous Path Alliance's combat corps.
“Even if I become worse off than a third-rate martial artist, I will walk the path of immortality you showed me, Martial Venerable. That... will surely be better than choosing the second path, feeling satisfied for a moment, then regretting it for the rest of my life.”
Dok Junseong truly was no ordinary person.
When Han Yujin had first met Dok Junseong, he thought Dok Junseong was roughly similar to Park Seryong. Yet the more he saw of Dok Junseong, the more certain he became that they were different.
Dok Junseong had a far stronger desire for growth than Park Seryong. Power was only a means to them, something they could discard at any time.
Their calculating, rational disposition and the seasoned nature befitting their career were merely traits of a capable person. They did not mean the two belonged to the same kind.
“Good.”
For some reason, Han Yujin felt pleased. He took out the Returning to the Origin Art and a basic spell manual, which he had translated into this martial world's writing long ago, from his Storage Pouch.
He had rarely used the Storage Pouch so openly. Though this was not the first time Dok Junseong had seen it, their eyes still shone with amazement. At the same time, their desire to become a cultivator surged even higher.
“It cannot be said that you are beginning early, but neither are you beginning late. Your talent is not lacking, seeing as you have already reached the Transformation Realm. There is a high chance you will be able to reach my current realm.”
“Please allow me to serve you as my master. I have waited for this day ever since I first made that request.”
After considering it briefly, Han Yujin chuckled and shook his head.
“There is no need to rush that. For now... just call me Senior. Those who walk the path of immortality usually call cultivators of a higher realm that.”
Dok Junseong looked downcast for a moment, but quickly collected themself and offered an incomparably respectful bow.
“Yes, Senior. I will cultivate diligently and certainly... strive to become your disciple.”
Han Yujin gave them a few more words of encouragement before sending them away. He was quite interested to see what results a martial artist who turned to cultivation would achieve.
The next person he called was Seogwang Gahu.
His conversation proceeded similarly to the one with Dok Junseong, and Han Yujin presented the same two choices.
However, Seogwang Gahu was different from Dok Junseong, so his response was different as well.
“I... would like to know which choice you believe is better, Martial Venerable.”
“This choice may decide the next several decades, perhaps more than a century of your life. You would leave it to me?”
“I do not intend to leave it entirely to you. I simply wish to hear the advice of someone with far greater discernment than mine.”
Understanding the general feeling behind those words, Han Yujin nodded.
‘Seogwang Gahu's Spiritual Root aptitude... at best, it is an upper False Spiritual Root.’
If this had been a world rich in spiritual energy, where spiritual ingredients and spiritual pills could be obtained easily, it might have been enough talent to reach the Dharma Soul Stage without much difficulty.
But not in this world.
Han Yujin himself possessed a True Spiritual Root, even if it was on the lower end. He had only reached the Dharma Soul Stage after cultivating for over five years in a primeval forest with more than eleven times the spiritual energy found here, while eating all sorts of food imbued with spiritual energy.
Of course, if he had not aimed for Perfect Foundation Establishment, he could have reached the Dharma Soul Stage much faster, in roughly two years.
But.
Even using those two years as a basis, the time Seogwang Gahu would need to reach the Dharma Soul Stage was substantial.
First, the spiritual energy concentration was less than a tenth of the primeval forest's, so he would need over ten times as long. There was no food imbued with spiritual energy either, so it would take at least twice as long. And since his talent was only a False Spiritual Root, he would need to prepare for more than three times the difficulty.
‘That puts it well over a hundred years.’
Even if he somehow barely reached the Dharma Soul Stage before his lifespan ran out, he would have attained a sublimation rate of less than fifty percent. His abilities would not be exceptional, either.
The more Han Yujin considered it, the more likely it seemed that Seogwang Gahu could master origin power martial arts and reach the Profound Realm instead.
Since he would handle origin power, his combat ability would not lag far behind that of an ordinary Dharma Soul Stage cultivator, and his lifespan would be fairly long as well.
“In my opinion...”
Han Yujin concisely explained those points, allowing Seogwang Gahu to compare the advantages and disadvantages without leaning toward either choice.
Seogwang Gahu even frowned slightly as he agonized over it, before soon answering.
“I will learn origin power martial arts.”
“Good.”
Now that Seogwang Gahu had made his choice, it was best to ensure he did not regret it.
“They say that if you only look at the stars in the sky, you will miss the flowers at your feet. If I were you, I would have made the same choice.”
As he spoke, Han Yujin took the basic origin power martial arts heart method he had created from his Storage Pouch and handed it over. Its name was the very straightforward Origin Power Heart Method.
Suddenly.
Seogwang Gahu took the manual and prostrated himself, the kind of bow one would offer only to a parent or master.
Han Yujin almost felt slightly displeased, wondering if this was silent pressure to accept him as a disciple. But he soon realized that was not the case.
Seogwang Gahu was crying as he lay facedown.
“You must remember that, when we first met, I committed a grave sin that was difficult to forgive.”
“Now, now. Why bring up what has already passed? And it cannot be said that it was entirely your fault.”
“Just so, Martial Venerable. With your boundless generosity, you saved my life time and again. And today, you have bestowed even a divine technique upon me... This is the only way I can express my gratitude.”
Though his voice was thick with tears, he somehow did not stammer or slur his words. That made it all the clearer that he had put his every effort and sincerity into each one.
“For as long as Martial Venerable wishes, I will serve you with all my life. Please forgive my insolence in thinking of you as my lord without your permission.”
Han Yujin could not speak for a moment. Then, using the Object Manipulation Art, he raised Seogwang Gahu to his feet and patted his shoulder.
“I have received enough thanks, so calm down. You do not need to be so solemn. As long as you keep that heart and help me with small matters at my side, that is more than enough.”
Squeak! Squeak!
Muyong, who had been quietly watching from one side of the room, made her presence known. Han Yujin glanced at her, then snickered as he used the Purification Art to erase Seogwang Gahu's tear tracks.
It soon became a pointless act when fresh tears flowed out again.
“Go drink some warm tea and calm down. While you are at it, bring Eun Miryeong as well.”
“Yes, Martial Venerable...”
“And from now on, just call me Senior too.”
“Yes... Senior...”
His voice finally choked up completely. He wiped away his tears with his sleeve, offered a respectful bow, and left the room.
Squeak! Squeeeak!
“Mm, yes. It feels good to receive such heartfelt gratitude. Very good.”
Han Yujin held Muyong, who was still dressed, in his arms and stroked her for a while.
Then Eun Miryeong arrived.
Han Yujin once again set the mood and presented the choices.
“I will choose the first.”
He could only fall silent at Eun Miryeong's decisive choice, made without much hesitation.
Her Spiritual Root aptitude was similar to Seogwang Gahu's.
In other words, even if she achieved precisely a forty percent sublimation rate and reached the Dharma Soul Stage, it was uncertain whether she could accomplish it before her lifespan ended.
No, it seemed more than uncertain. It seemed impossible.
“Is there a reason?”
When he finally asked, Eun Miryeong gave a faint smile and replied quietly.
“I once read in a book that immortals and mortals are worlds apart. Benefactor, you are an immortal, so you are surely different from a mere mortal like me.”
“I am not an immortal.”
“But are you not at least walking the path to become one?”
Eun Miryeong continued as he quietly nodded. Her tone was gentle, but the meaning behind it was as firm as a mountain.
“I wish to follow in your footsteps as well, Benefactor. If I do not even try, I will surely regret it until the day I breathe my last.”
Silence continued.
After some time passed, Han Yujin sighed inwardly and finally accepted.
He handed her manuals containing the same material he had given Dok Junseong, while resolving that whenever he made a “trade” in the future, he would gather as many spiritual ingredients in this world as possible.
* * *
About a month had passed since he gave the three “juniors” their choices.
Han Yujin suddenly declared that he would visit the Samsara Buddhahood Temple. Dok Junseong and Seogwang Gahu immediately began preparing, and Eun Miryeong did the same.
They all knew Han Yujin's mysterious abilities well, and the Samsara Buddhahood Temple was not particularly far away. Their travel preparations were quickly completed. Leaving the manor empty for a while would cause no problems, either.
Thus, the four of them left Okhan City with only modest belongings.
Their attire was so unassuming that none of the martial artists who had stayed nearby in hopes of catching even one glimpse of the Gold Lotus Martial Venerable noticed their departure.
Since this was not a journey with an urgent purpose, the group also sought out scenic attractions nearby to sightsee.
Thus, despite the short distance, it took them around ten days to finally arrive at the Samsara Buddhahood Temple.
After climbing the well-maintained mountain path, Han Yujin saw that the temple possessed the scale and solemnity worthy of its fame.
Old-world wooden buildings stood across a vast, beautiful mountain range as though they had become one with nature. It was a truly harmonious sight that inspired respect.
“Let us go.”
After pausing to take in the view, Han Yujin spoke and headed with the others toward the Samsara Buddhahood Temple's main gate, where many worshippers came and went.
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
