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◈ Xianxia Cultivation with a Dragon Heart ◈

Chapter 67: Awakening a New Supernatural Power

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Han Yujin realized it at last.

The Six Paths of Samsara Painting truly was a painting.

It was not some remarkable inheritance of knowledge borrowing the form of a painting, nor was it a tool concealing a special function.

It was a pure work of art, created with the artist's own colors for the sake of appreciation.

That was also why the thoughts that had echoed in his mind had not been fully interpreted, despite his transcendent comprehension.

Only that way could it provide precisely the necessary understanding while preserving the work's original feeling to the fullest.

The overwhelming experience of the Six Paths of Samsara had to be understood in the same context. The being who painted this work clearly wished to show viewers how they interpreted human emotions and how they expressed them.

Awakening Divine Sense and gaining offensive and defensive abilities from it were merely byproducts needed to appreciate this work.

‘Then what I need now is...’

Guided partly by instinctive intuition, Han Yujin began blending something of his own into the images of the endlessly cycling Six Paths, and into the sensations and emotions they evoked.

He was not thoughtlessly painting over the artist's style. It felt more like adding an interpretation he could reasonably make as a viewer.

Han Yujin's own personal happiness blended into the joy of the Heavenly Bliss Realm.

First, there were memories he could never deny had been happy, even though his family had shattered when he was in high school and much of their color had faded.

His mother unexpectedly meeting him in front of their home while he was walking home during his early elementary-school years, smiling brightly and opening her arms to embrace him. His father's laughter as he came home from work drunk, suddenly calling the family out to buy them fish cake skewers and fish-shaped pastries from a street stall.

There were memories that could be called personal happiness as well.

The time he sat beside the girl he had first loved on a bus during a school trip, laughing and chatting for quite a while. The moment of achievement when, after making a bet with a friend, he studied hard and scored ninety or above in every subject for the first time in his life. His first paycheck, received with considerable praise at the part-time job he had begun because he was tired of living at a relative's house and constantly watching their mood.

There were also memories that seemed small, but could never be called insignificant because they had made up his life.

Winning a game or getting a good item. The sunlight from when he used to ride bicycles around with friends. The scenery of a walking trail where he listened to music he liked on an ordinary day with fine, cool weather.

Nor could he leave out the pounding of his heart as he imagined his future after suddenly awakening a superpower.

He immersed himself in those memories with a depth and vividness far greater than he would get from rummaging through a photo album or searching old chat logs, wondering if he had ever examined his life in such detail.

Of course, life had not held only happiness.

There were plenty of memories carrying emotions he could blend into the expectations of the Human Desire Realm. No, there were more than plenty. In fact, there were far more of these.

He had once asked someone out with confidence that had no basis and been rejected. Sometimes, he had sighed at things or food that cost more than he could afford. He had even ventured into stocks like gambling in pursuit of the dazzling dream of financial freedom, only to lose money.

Even so, he had never broken. He had carried the hope that things would someday improve, enduring and finding satisfaction in small happinesses.

They were faint scenes that filled his life as everyday, ordinary moments.

For the memories of emotion to blend into the sorrow of the Departed Souls Realm, he could not help recalling the collapse of his family. It might not have been an especially rare story, but to him, it had felt as if his entire life had fallen apart.

In truth, that event was enough to blend into the rage of the Beast Realm, the disgust of the Strange Insect Realm, and the despair of the Abyss Realm as well.

The grief and loss of being abandoned by his own parents. The anger and hatred at how they could abandon their child. The disgust of knowing such people were his parents, and the irrational contempt for himself, as though he deserved to be abandoned. The fear and despair that there would no longer be anyone in the world who was unquestionably on his side.

They were memories that could only be intense because they had been his darkest and most difficult times.

On a smaller scale, he could add the feeling that had been like being stabbed when Muyong ran away as he tried to adopt the little creature.

For the rage of the Beast Realm, the desire for revenge born from the shocking death he had suffered in Ikhapa Pangaea of the Demon Followers would work well.

Even now, merely recalling the shock, pain, and despair he had experienced then made him feel a smoldering hatred toward the main culprit. It was gradually fading with time, but it would take a very long time to extinguish completely.

For the disgust of the Strange Insect Realm, the shock of the unidentified insect magic he had encountered in that world was equally fitting.

Even now, he had never experienced an ability stranger or more horrifying than that. Those who abandoned their humanity to worship demons were bound to be disgusting.

For the despair of the Abyss Realm, he could not leave out his impressions of the overwhelming gaze he had felt while receiving the Baptism in that world.

The sensation that his soul was being pressed down and crushed, then crumbling away into dust, becoming an infinitesimal point before finally vanishing, still made his hair stand on end.

His experiences on Earth After the Apocalypse had to be included as well.

Every ghost seemed wrapped in an unfathomable aura that provoked instinctive human fear. Even now, recalling the chase with the ghost in a suit sent a shiver down his spine.

Above all, Wonhui.

That being had been frightening beyond mere terror, nearly inspiring reverence. Wonhui had left such a powerful impression that the ghost had appeared more often than anything else in the hallucinations he experienced while ascending to the Dharma Soul.

‘Emotion is subjective.’

His experiences might be utterly trivial to someone else, but the authenticity of the emotions he had felt then could not be denied. The same would remain true even if he experienced more intense and shocking emotions in the future.

Thus, Han Yujin completed his own unique interpretation as he appreciated the Six Paths of Samsara Painting. Naturally, he did not forget to respect the artist's original style.

Han Yujin, who had been drenched in cold sweat until recently, had become calm before he knew it.

* * *

A full month and fifteen days had passed by the time he emerged from the Dharma Wheel Hall. To Han Yujin, it had felt like only three or four days, so he was rather surprised.

Perhaps word of his emergence had been quickly delivered, for as he rested and admired the scenery for a moment, Abbot Hyegak appeared.

“There is still time remaining. It seems you have made some progress.”

Han Yujin did not deny it and nodded with a smile.

“Thanks to your advice that I should study the scriptures beforehand, I gained something.”

“Ho... My sincere congratulations. You have surely become a true supreme master of the martial world, one who unquestionably surpasses me.”

Great Master Hyegak smiled gently as he spoke, and Han Yujin could not help smiling again.

Then a thought occurred to him, and he made a serious request.

“If it would not be rude, could you show me your Six Paths of Samsara?”

“You have only just emerged from seclusion. Aren't you tired?”

“I am fine. Rather, I feel mentally fuller than ever.”

“Then... prepare yourself thoroughly, just in case.”

It was closer to a request to witness it than a spar. As a Life and Death Realm master, Abbot Hyegak was surely curious how someone who saw the abbot's Six Paths of Samsara would react.

Once Han Yujin appeared ready, Abbot Hyegak quietly chanted a Buddhist invocation and pressed both palms together.

Immediately, an illusion of the Six Paths of Samsara, divided into six and cycling, rose from Abbot Hyegak's eyes. At the same time, the same illusion appeared in Han Yujin's mind as he met the abbot's gaze.

It looked exactly as it had in the painting.

It was a move worthy of a Life and Death Realm master, capable of seizing and shaking the opponent's emotions until they finally submitted.

Images of the Heavenly Bliss Realm, Human Desire Realm, Departed Souls Realm, Beast Realm, Strange Insect Realm, and Abyss Realm rose and sank repeatedly. It felt as though Buddhist chants echoed from every direction. At the same time, an urge welled up within him to kneel, take refuge, and attain liberation by casting aside every wave of sensation and emotion.

However, it was far too insufficient to make an opponent like Han Yujin submit.

‘It differs greatly from my interpretation.’

Great Master Hyegak had surely interpreted the Six Paths of Samsara Painting entirely through doctrine. Han Yujin could clearly sense that the abbot regarded it as the footsteps and teachings of a sage to be believed in and followed as closely as possible.

‘Certainly... my transcendent comprehension must have activated on the Six Paths of Samsara Painting as well.’

Otherwise, it would have been very difficult to realize that it was a pure painted work by an awakened Liberated One. Naturally, he would not have experienced such profound immersion, either.

As he fell into thought for a moment, the illusion of the Six Paths of Samsara that had been trying to overwhelm his mind soon vanished as if washed away. Abbot Hyegak had confirmed that it was completely ineffective and withdrawn the technique.

“Excellent... Excellent...”

As though facing a great monk who had reached the same level, the abbot offered a respectful salute that felt slightly different from before. Han Yujin had no choice but to return it.

They spoke for a little while longer.

After Great Master Hyegak guided him out of the central grounds, Han Yujin bade him farewell and headed toward his lodgings, organizing what he had gained.

‘I gained the Six Paths of Samsara as a divine ability.’

He had only wanted a Divine Sense secret art, yet he had awakened a divine ability that could only be superior.

He could now read another person's emotions as clearly as the palm of his hand, and he could even attempt to manipulate those emotions as Great Master Hyegak had just done.

Moreover, because it had awakened as a divine ability, it would undoubtedly become far more powerful than expected as he lived, experienced, and felt more.

Unfortunately, it was still not enough to overcome the Heartless Tribulation.

‘I think I can delay it to some extent... but a tribulation truly is a tribulation.’

Fortunately, he had already thought of a few measures, so he was not entirely frustrated.

Thinking of seeing Muyong and the others, Han Yujin happily arrived at the lodging building.

He planned to remain here for another day or two to settle a few matters before leaving.

* * *

After returning to Gold Lotus Manor in Okhan City, the group immediately resumed their former lives.

Han Yujin restarted the refinement of the Dragon Heart, once again radiating that terrifying presence and momentum beyond Okhan City.

Dok Junseong unhesitatingly dismantled the martial arts he had originally learned and pushed ahead with training in the Returning to the Origin Art.

Seogwang Gahu and Eun Miryeong also devoted themselves to training in the Origin Power Heart Method and the Returning to the Origin Art respectively. Whenever they encountered a difficulty in training, they would visit Han Yujin during his rest periods and respectfully seek his instruction.

Muyong was commendably considerate, never disturbing Han Yujin, Eun Miryeong, or anyone else while they trained. Instead, the little creature wandered around the manor and nearby areas, finding amusement alone.

Muyong might only be a small beast, but the creature possessed Entry Stage-level abilities. Han Yujin had especially taught many spells suited for escape, so there would be no danger unless a master of the Transformation Realm or above deliberately unleashed killing moves the instant they encountered Muyong.

Amid those peaceful yet fulfilling days, Han Yujin had Dok Junseong carry out a small bit of groundwork.

It concerned a “deal.”

He had separately planned to send Dok Junseong or Seogwang Gahu on a martial challenge circuit once they achieved a certain level of training, spreading word of the art far and wide throughout the martial world. However, it would be even better to tempt people in advance, like greasing the wheels.

Had word not already spread throughout the martial world that he was cultivating an incredible world-shaking ultimate art in Okhan City?

‘If word spreads that I will trade the basics of this ultimate art for martial arts manuals of a certain standard, aged spirit plants, secrets of the Life and Death Realm, and the like, it will surely draw considerable interest.’

As expected, his prediction proved correct.

It went beyond merely proving correct. Though it was still only a rumor, some factions had already come to Okhan City to sound out the possibility.

They were relatively young and weak factions rather than prestigious clans or major sects, but Han Yujin did not turn them away at the gate.

Unfortunately, what they offered was far too inadequate, and not a single deal was successfully completed.

What mattered, however, was that the Golden Lotus Martial Venerable appeared personally for the negotiations, proving that the rumor was not empty.

Thus, the entire martial world began to stir quietly.

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