WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
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◈ Xianxia Cultivation with a Dragon Heart ◈
Chapter 84: Completing Every Course at Thousand Origin City
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Since he only intended to stay briefly and needed to avoid drawing attention, he did not bring Muyong along this time either.
The first thing he had to do after arriving was the same as before.
He would clean up after the chaos of a major battle and pick up a usable identity token. He planned to use the identity of Lee Gon from the Ungok Sect, the one Song Jamun, the Formation Array Arts lecturer, had discovered before without causing any major trouble.
Until the lectures began, he spent his time gathering all sorts of information as he had last time. He did not know whether he would return to Thousand Origin City after completing every course, but there was no harm in preparing.
Then, in the process, he learned something about Yeon Biwon of the Yeon Clan in Eastern Silver Province, the identity he had used on his first visit here.
‘So it is a cultivation family whose head is only a late Dharma Soul Stage cultivator...?’
Most small cultivation families were like that, really. Many did not even have a Dharma Soul Stage cultivator, so the Yeon Clan of Eastern Silver Province might be a fairly influential force in that area.
Still, to Han Yujin, who was now on the verge of the Core Formation Stage and could already display Core Formation Stage strength, it seemed laughably insignificant.
Perhaps he would use Yeon Biwon's identity again someday. With Dream Illusion, Mind-Only, he could deceive the entire family, making it perfect as his claimed background.
If that ever happened, he could think about the smaller problems then.
The artifact refining lecture was held in the plaza south of the city.
The lecturer was a Core Formation Stage cultivator and artifact-refining master named Do Myeonghwi. He was a handsome man who looked quite young to be called middle-aged.
Like the other lectures, his began with the basics on the first day.
How to turn solid spiritual ingredients into liquid, extract and separate only the necessary components in that state, remove impurities, smoothly combine them with spiritual ingredients of different properties, and stabilize them back into solid form.
The lecture broadly concerned handling materials, though Do Myeonghwi also shared several tips from his experience as an artifact-refining master that made Han Yujin listen closely.
After the lecture ended, Han Yujin sought out the small trade meet he had attended before.
He needed to acquire another Jade Dew Wine Bottle. Since it had been used as a crafting material for the Blood Spirit Crimson Flower Wine Bottle, choosing the completed bottle as his harvest had naturally consumed it.
The Jade Dew Wine Bottle had a flavor and fragrance all its own, so he needed another one for Muyong's sake.
While trading, he also acquired another Borrowed Might Talisman.
‘I'd thought there would be at least one occasion to bluff someday...’
But without ever getting such an opportunity, he had already reached the verge of the Core Formation Stage.
It seemed the Borrowed Might Talisman would simply have to serve as instructional material when he learned talisman crafting. He might gain an idea from the method it used to imitate another being's aura.
On the second day, the lecture covered the combinations and compatibilities of commonly used materials. On the third day, it taught what types of formula sequences to inscribe while solidifying materials and how to inscribe them.
As the lessons grew increasingly advanced, the Entry Stage cultivators naturally began dropping out.
Yet once the lecture had reached a certain depth, it stopped there.
For the remaining days, the lessons mainly concerned repairing damaged magical artifacts and Dharma Treasures. They felt like scattered instruction in the knowledge and tricks necessary for that work.
‘Is he not a good teacher, or is he stingy with his knowledge of artifact refining?’
Han Yujin could not help feeling disappointed. The course was certainly helpful even as it was, but compared to the alchemy and Formation Array Arts lectures, it felt lacking.
Still, he had learned the basics. He believed he could create a Natal Dharma Treasure by using the Five Elements Bracelet he possessed as a reference.
Of course, that was only if he were satisfied with an ordinary Dharma Treasure.
‘Naturally, I can't settle for something ordinary.’
Another cultivator might compromise with reality, but Han Yujin, who possessed such an outrageously powerful awakened ability, could not.
That would be a terrible insult to his own ability.
As soon as he thought that, something occurred to him.
‘If there really is a world with the feel of science fiction combined with xianxia elements, just how advanced would its artifact refining be?’
It was only imagination, but it probably would not lag behind the average cultivation world. It might not be more powerful, but it would likely excel in convenience and versatility.
In any case, he would not know until he visited.
He diligently attended the lectures until the final day, when the Yao Tribe invaded.
Then, intending to make up for his disappointment with the artifact refining lecture by immediately taking the talisman crafting course, he used the Escape Spell rather than waste mental power fighting the Yao Tribe.
He planned to have one satisfying battle after he had completed every talisman crafting lecture as well.
* * *
He returned at once, picked up an identity token, gathered information, and spent a day there.
This time, he headed for the plaza east of Thousand Origin City. Since it was the most popular lecture among cultivators, the place was already packed before he even arrived.
The Core Formation Stage cultivator and talisman master in charge was named Jeok Munyu, a middle-aged figure with a perpetually impatient expression. The fact that they climbed onto the platform, offered a brief greeting, and began immediately made it seem that their personality matched that impression.
Fortunately, the lecture itself was not rushed. On the contrary, it was extremely meticulous.
While the artifact refining lecture had felt somewhat lacking, this talisman crafting lecture was exceptionally substantial, perhaps because it taught an art that was practical by nature.
As Han Yujin listened, he particularly felt that Jeok Munyu showed considerable consideration for Entry Stage cultivators. That was likely because they used talismans the most.
Still, consideration for them did not mean the material was easy. As time passed, many Entry Stage cultivators dropped out of this course as well.
Even so, the survival rate was much higher than in the other lectures, and even those who left midway would likely have gained quite a lot.
The main subjects included the types and methods of making talisman paper and spiritual ink, as well as how to imbue talismans with spells one knew.
All proper talismans had to be made so their authenticity could be determined through close examination of the formula sequences on their surface, while their core remained concealed. Naturally, their performance could not suffer in the process.
Moreover, the most important factor in creating a talisman was not the material, but the talisman crafter's concentration and proficiency. The slightest error in any stroke could result in failure.
Han Yujin found the lectures far more exciting than he had expected.
Whenever there was no lecture, he attended various small trade meets to actively obtain materials for talisman crafting, then devoted himself to practice without sparing any of them.
He also tried to gather information on the Yeon Clan of Eastern Silver Province, but despite already finding one lead, he achieved almost nothing. It seemed to be merely an unremarkable cultivation family without anything notable enough to be widely known.
Then came the last day of the lecture.
He successfully imbued several basic spells into talismans.
It could only be called talent. The transcendent comprehension and the unusual enlightenment he had gained while wearing the pendant had helped him greatly.
If Jeok Munyu had known of Han Yujin's achievement, they might have asked whether he wished to enter Taicheong Palace, just as Won Baengnyeong and Song Jamun had.
Satisfied, Han Yujin put away the completed talismans. Just as he felt the citywide art-formula restrictions recovering, he leisurely headed for the city walls.
As he had planned before, it was time for a satisfying fight.
* * *
“You really placed your faith in a trick like this!”
With the city lord Gu Sobo's mind-speech, the golden mass of flame descending from above was intercepted and exploded.
A ring-shaped shockwave overturned the sky. The battle between Spirit Transformation Stage beings continued, with only flashes of light and afterimages visible.
Even so, Han Yujin could observe their battle in greater detail than before.
As he watched in constant inward amazement.
“Hold the walls!!”
A voice amplified by a spell rang out.
When he naturally turned his gaze beyond the city walls, he saw Yao Tribe members of every kind surging in like a tidal wave from the horizon.
This was a great war with an entire world as its front line. Even if Han Yujin could display Core Formation Stage strength here, he could not play a major role.
‘But what about on a local scale?’
Just as he subtly drew out his power and prepared himself.
Kiaaaak!
A bird-of-prey-like Yao Tribe member flew low and passed through the citywide art-formula restriction barrier, which was riddled with holes. However, it charged in with such momentum that it drew the attention of every nearby human cultivator and was struck by a concentrated barrage.
As it was sent tumbling back outside the walls in a miserable state, several Yao Tribe members infiltrated at other points.
Han Yujin's gaze immediately fixed on one of them.
Kheheheek...!
A one-eyed, human-like monster with three heads and three pairs of arms, it resembled a cyclops from a fantasy novel.
It swung its six weapons like a storm and showed off its toughness by enduring most spells with its body alone.
‘Last time, making it retreat was the best I could do.’
Thinking that, Han Yujin pointed his index finger at it.
The three-headed, six-armed monster sensed something and sharply turned its heads toward him.
But Pure Yang Extreme Flame Thread Shot was slightly faster than its reaction.
Pwoosh...!
Kyaaaak...!
Two arms on its left were struck by lines of flame and burned away.
It barely avoided the remaining attacks, an impressive display, but that was all.
Han Yujin appeared nearby with thunder and flashes of light, then unleashed Origin Power Great Hand.
The instant the translucent hand struck the fleeing monster with its palm.
Baaang!!
A tremendous blast rang out as it was slammed straight into the ground.
Baaang!! Craaash!!
After about two more blows, its barely clinging life was completely extinguished, and its entire body became a bloody pulp.
“Th-thank you, Senior...!”
A nearby Dharma Soul Stage cultivator offered their thanks. They had clearly mistaken him for a Core Formation Stage cultivator.
Han Yujin merely gave a brief nod before looking upward.
Just as he had calculated, a Mantis-Scorpion Monster was flying through the air.
The creature that had once targeted him and plunged down at him was now trying to pass by as though it had not seen a thing.
Han Yujin curled one corner of his mouth upward and immediately vanished amid thunder and flashes of light.
Appearing directly before the Mantis-Scorpion Monster, he asked in an almost friendly tone,
“Where are you rushing off to?”
“W-wait...!”
Before it could say anything else, Han Yujin used Origin Power Great Hand and fused Deep Sea Cold Ice Water into the divine ability.
A huge hand of water formed almost instantly and rushed at the creature too quickly for it to react.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
It shattered the hastily formed barrier and smashed the body inside into pulp.
Watching its corpse fall helplessly, Han Yujin felt deeply moved.
Previously, he had only barely defeated this creature after losing an arm and having more than half his scalp melted away. Now, he had simply killed it as if swatting a fly.
‘There were others I needed to repay, too.’
He swept the surroundings with Divine Sense and Spirit Vision Art. It did not take him long to find another enemy he remembered.
It was a bipedal tiger-like monster, the very one that had charged at him while calling him gutsy for a human.
By chance, their gazes met at the same moment. The creature immediately showed signs of withdrawing, a far cry from its reckless charge in the past.
But Han Yujin's Six Paths of Samsara divine ability was faster.
The six worlds appeared behind him like a halo, revolving as they began to stir up an endless storm of emotions.
The divine ability did not affect only the tiger monster. Its influence spread over a wide area, intensely rousing the emotions of the Beast Realm, the realm of rage.
“Now kill each other.”
The moment he spoke quietly.
The Yao Tribe members roared madly and began attacking one another. Just as Han Yujin intended, the tiger monster charged toward him.
“I prepared the Corn Frost I couldn't give you before.”
As he spoke, he cast Gold Lotus Nine Revolutions Full Bloom in one hand.
He sent it into the mouth of the tiger monster as it charged at him roaring.
Soon.
The creature snapped up the intermediate Five Elements Art, only for the Geng Metal Sword Qi that erupted in place of tiger energy to rip its entire body into pieces.
It would take many nearby Yao Tribe members with it, so its journey to the afterlife would not be lonely.
Footnotes:
“Corn Frost” is the Korean name for Kellogg's Frosties cereal, whose tiger mascot touts the slogan “tiger energy.” Han Yujin jokes that the Geng Metal Sword Qi explosion bursts out in place of tiger energy after the tiger swallows the spell.
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