A Substitute for Bloodline
Upon reaching the Core Formation Realm, talented cultivators awaken or learn Divine Abilities. Ultimately, these Divine Abilities stem from one's comprehension of the Dao. Those with exceptional comprehension and abundant natural talent grasp a Divine Ability the moment they form their core—or sometimes even before doing so. On the other hand, some fail to awaken a single one throughout the entire Core Formation Realm, only managing to grasp one or two after finally reaching the Nascent Soul stage.
Of course, mastering a Divine Ability does not guarantee that one will achieve the Nascent Soul stage, so awakening one cannot be seen as the sole proof of a cultivator's talent. Nevertheless, it is an undeniable fact that those who grasp a Divine Ability early on hold a significant advantage in their future cultivation.
In that regard, I suppose I cannot be considered particularly outstanding.
Jekyeong had yet to master any Divine Ability, nor did he even have a grasp of where to begin. Though his cultivation was only at the early Core Formation stage, a considerable amount of time had passed since he first condensed his core. Even taking into account how much the demonic obsession had held him back, it was difficult to call his progress exceptional.
Yet, Jekyeong did not care in the slightest. Talent? Since when had he ever relied on such a thing? In the beginning, he was nothing more than a lowly beast without even a shred of noble bloodline. That he had managed to reach his current height was solely due to his unwavering resolve to seek the Dao, supported by various fortuitous encounters. If anyone were to speak of talent to someone like him... he would merely laugh it off.
He possessed no Divine Abilities, but his heart was resolute regarding the Dao he pursued. The Path of the Fire Dragon. But what, exactly, was a fire dragon? A dragon that breathed fire? A dragon that controlled fire? Something powerful, free, and perhaps a bit violent? Jekyeong's understanding of the fire dragon was incredibly shallow. To be precise, it could hardly be called an understanding at all; it was closer to a vague yearning.
It really is a daunting path.
As his thoughts reached this point, Jekyeong felt he finally understood why the Beast Race placed such immense value on bloodlines, and why they could not take a single step forward without them. A bloodline was like a perfectly rendered contemplation painting. No, it was even more than that. A contemplation painting merely existed to be looked at; it was not an incredibly kind textbook that taught you how to perceive it, how to understand it, and how to reshape yourself in its image.
My future cultivation depends on visualization, and perhaps the cultivation of the entire Beast Race does as well.
This was the conclusion Jekyeong had reached after more than a month of deep contemplation. According to his deduction, visualization could serve as a partial substitute for a bloodline. It could present a path forward, guiding the Beast Race who otherwise could not take a single step without guidance. However, no one could guarantee whether that path was the correct one, or how safe it would be.
But then again, was that not the very nature of walking the path of immortality? Walking on the edge of a blade, facing constant peril, and the meticulous caution born from that danger—perhaps that was the true essence of cultivation. Walking a safe, guaranteed path laid out by someone else might actually be nothing more than a shortcut.
For now, it is all speculation.
How much visualization would help him, and whether it could truly become a beacon of hope for the Beast Race who lacked the blessing of a noble bloodline, were things he would have to verify himself.
In addition to deducing and refining his cultivation methods, Jekyeong added visualization to his daily routine. Although it was a rudimentary practice that could barely be called proper visualization, Jekyeong approached this training with utmost seriousness.
What is the Path of the Fire Dragon?
At its simplest, it could be the fusion of the Path of Fire and the Path of the Dragon, or perhaps a sublimation into the divine spirit known as the Fire Dragon. But was that truly it? Could such a thing be called a Dao? Of course, there was no rule stating that a Dao had to be complex and grandiose. What mattered was how purely and unwaveringly one could pursue it. And yet...
Yearning and pursuit are different. Though the two may intertwine, must I not draw a clear line between them?
Jekyeong began to question himself. Why a dragon? Because it shared a slight resemblance to his physical form in this life, making it a suitable goal, and because the sheer power associated with the divine dragon stirred his heart. Why specifically a fire dragon among all dragons? Because his first accidental step had touched upon the Path of Fire, and the fierce intensity associated with fire had likewise moved his heart. And what was that fierce intensity for? Because he desired the power to utterly shatter every shackle that bound him.
As his internal dialogue deepened, the doubts he hadn't even realized he harbored began to clear, leaving everything pristine and sharp.
I should obtain a contemplation painting.
Jekyeong decided to acquire a contemplation painting from the Human Race to practice his visualization. A painting of a fire dragon would be ideal, but if that proved too difficult, a painting depicting the Path of Fire, the Path of the Dragon, or something similar would suffice. While paintings of fire dragons or true dragons might be rare, obtaining a contemplation painting related to the Path of Fire should be entirely feasible. After all, the Path of Fire was one of the Five Elements, making it one of the most common and widely studied paths.
Contemplation paintings. The heritage of the Human Race is incredibly deep.
He had thought he understood the strength of humanity, but he now realized he had barely scratched the surface. The same went for these paintings. In the past, he had known such paintings existed, but he had never deeply considered their utility. Who would have thought they possessed such an eye-opening, wondrous effect?
"A contemplation painting, my lord?"
Hyeongu blinked, momentarily trying to process what a contemplation painting was, but quickly bowed his head out of habit to accept the order. Even as he did, his mind raced, desperately searching his memory for any mention of such items. Jekyeong, noticing Hyeongu's slightly sluggish reaction, immediately read his thoughts.
"Even if you do not know, those fellows will."
"Y-Yes, Sire!"
Hyeongu immediately sought out Han Cheongyu and Ju-hyeong to deliver the Lord's command. Upon hearing the order, the two humans were also taken aback, though for entirely different reasons than Hyeongu. They actually knew exactly what a contemplation painting was.
"A contemplation painting..."
Both Han Cheongyu and Ju-hyeong looked deeply troubled. Such items were fundamentally beyond the reach of Foundation Establishment cultivators like themselves. Quite apart from whether they could even obtain one, they had never paid them any attention in the first place.
It made perfect sense when one thought about it. A contemplation painting was a cultivation aid designed to help one gain insights into the Dao. Why would a Foundation Establishment cultivator need such a thing? What they required was the accumulation of dharma power, not some lofty, abstract enlightenment. Thus, contemplation paintings were practically the exclusive domain of Golden Core cultivators. As for whether Nascent Soul True Lords took an interest in them... that was far beyond what minor figures like them could ever know, so there was no point in even discussing it.
"What is the matter? Is this contemplation painting so incredibly rare?"
"It is rare, yes, but more than that..."
Han Cheongyu's expression was grim, but he promised to do his absolute best. Ju-hyeong, on the other hand, made no effort to hide his dismay, practically radiating reluctance. Unable to tolerate this, Hyeongu pressed him, prompting Ju-hyeong to launch into a desperate explanation of just how unrealistic this command was. He clearly hoped Hyeongu would return to the Lord and convey his difficult plight.
"Fool!"
But after listening to the long-winded explanation, Hyeongu did not offer any sympathy. Instead, he clicked his tongue and snorted in disdain.
"Do you truly believe the Lord was unaware of that?"
"Pardon? Then, what you mean is..."
"No matter how difficult the Lord's command may be, your only duty is to do your absolute best! Surely, not every single contemplation painting in existence is of interest only to Golden Core cultivators. Just as spirit stones range from low-grade to peak-grade, must there not be a similar spectrum for contemplation paintings?"
"Well... that is true, but..."
"The Lord merely commanded us to bring him a contemplation painting; he said nothing of its quality. Do you think he simply forgot to specify?"
Ju-hyeong's face paled. He still seemed half-doubtful, but he eventually gave a slow nod. It looked less like he was fully convinced by Hyeongu's words and more like he was forcing himself to accept them.
"You are entirely correct, Elder."
"Keep this in mind! Just because I said this does not mean you can slack off and bring back some trash to get it over with! You must do the absolute best within your power!"
"Of course, I understand."
Once the relief of successfully delivering the Lord's command passed, Hyeongu couldn't help but wonder why the Lord had requested such an item.
Could it be that the Lord intends to contemplate a painting to gain insights into the Dao, just like the humans do?
The Lord had always shown a strong affinity for human culture and artifacts, so adding one more thing to the list was hardly surprising. Yet, unlike alchemical pills or spirit wine, this concept of a contemplation painting felt utterly bizarre, even to a relatively open-minded demon like Hyeongu. Staring blankly at a painting was considered cultivation?
Humans truly are incomprehensible.
Grumbling to himself, Hyeongu leisurely began his journey back. Enjoying a brief moment of leisure after completing a task was one of the few luxuries he could occasionally afford.
In due time, Han Cheongyu and Ju-hyeong sent four and two contemplation paintings, respectively. Five of them depicted the Path of Fire, while one portrayed a dragon—or more accurately, a Gyoryong. Even to an untrained eye, the craftsmanship did not appear particularly outstanding. While the subjects were rendered vividly enough to seem alive, they lacked a deep, resonant charm, suggesting they had all been painted by Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Well, this was likely the best they could do.
Ju-hyeong went without saying, and even Han Cheongyu, though influential on Jaseong Island, was merely a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator when looking at the broader Human Territory. How high-quality could a contemplation painting obtained by such individuals in such a short time possibly be? This much was already a testament to their utmost effort.
Still, it is better than nothing.
Though they were not particularly satisfying to look at and even felt somewhat amateurish, staring closely at them did reveal a faint, subtle sensation. A contemplation painting was, after all, an expression of one's understanding. It allowed the viewer to perceive the Dao from a perspective different from their own. No matter how shallow that perspective might be, simply observing it offered some small benefit.
Jekyeong did not covet the perspective of human cultivators whose cultivation and understanding of the Path of Fire and the Path of the Dragon were far inferior to his own. His primary intention in acquiring these paintings was simply to familiarize himself with the practice of visualization.
This is actually quite decent.
If even these low-quality pieces could yield a small harvest, how much more could he realize if he contemplated a truly exceptional painting?
I cannot speak for the Path of the Dragon, but the Path of Fire is certainly something to look forward to.
Anticipation began to swell within Jekyeong's heart. He stared intently at a contemplation painting depicting a raging fire consuming mountains and rivers. Though crude, it still carried a respectable sense of majesty.
Aside from studying the contemplation paintings, Jekyeong also dedicated a significant amount of time to comprehending his cultivation methods. Core Formation cultivation methods were on an entirely different level compared to those of the Foundation Establishment stage. Simply practicing them as written was difficult enough, let alone modifying them to suit his personal needs. It seemed such a feat would only be possible once he had achieved absolute mastery over the technique, far beyond mere familiarity.
As his understanding of the cultivation methods deepened, the difficulty of the task seemed to grow exponentially, but Jekyeong remained unperturbed. He had never expected it to be easy in the first place, and he knew that the more profound the method, the more precious the fruits he would reap in the future.
In a sense, this Fire Dragon Ascending Heaven Art shares some common ground with the path of visualization.
Jekyeong lost all track of time. Aside from occasionally exerting his strength to develop his grotto-heaven, he devoted himself entirely to studying the contemplation paintings and comprehending his cultivation methods. Thanks to his efforts, he was able to conduct another transaction with Jang Hu-am, earning over seven hundred high-grade spirit stones. Jang Hu-am was delighted, and Jekyeong was equally satisfied to have lined his pockets handsomely once more before the gathering at Manryongjeong.
"I shall return. It will not take long."
"Yes, my lord."
Before he knew it, the gathering at Manryongjeong was close at hand. Jekyeong gathered his spirit stones and stepped out of the Black Cult Palace. The meeting of Manryongjeong was not being held in Yang-seo-ho, nor was it even within the neighboring cultivation regions. If he were to travel there directly on foot, it would take several years of diligent journeying to arrive. Thus, Jekyeong had to make use of a teleportation array.
A teleportation array, of all things.