Harmonizing the Dragon and the Dao
It was not a problem that could be solved by pondering for a day or two. Thus, Han Yujin activated his awakening ability and crossed over to the Primordial Forest.
As in his previous visit, he harvested fruit from the monkey monsters’ nests, performed minor construction near the lake to secure the entrance to the Mountain Sea Pearl, and left Mu-yong to play on her own. He then spent more than fifteen full days inside the main hall of Mugeuk Manor within the Mountain Sea Pearl, either carefully examining the Three Origin Ninefold Extreme Mystic Flower Pill Furnace or meditating with his eyes closed.
Upon closer inspection, the sudden incident had brought him an unintentional yet enormous leap in ability.
His reinforced body was an evolution of the existing Dream Dragon Dao Body. It was supremely outstanding, as flawless as a perfected Dharma Body, without a single weakness.
The new divine ability amplified the power of the evolved Dream Dragon Dao Body after his transformation into a half-human, half-dragon form. Though simple, its utility was too profound to ignore.
The Dragon Heart formed at the core of his Nascent Soul was the root of both changes. At the same time, it served as a mysterious energy source that supplied his refined Dream Dragon Dharma Power with overwhelming momentum.
He had already been far stronger than an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator in many respects; now, he might well be the strongest of his level across the entire universe.
The more he examined it, the less he wanted to relinquish this power as a dragon.
Therefore, he made a cautious yet thoroughly greedy decision.
The identity and power of a dragon.
The identity and power of a cultivator.
He did not want to abandon either.
In ordinary terms, it was a mad decision driven purely by greed.
Yet he believed that his awakening ability—more precisely, the power of the Primordial Treasure now residing within him—could embrace and fully digest both paths. He would use the harmony principle of the Yin-Yang Dao Body as the overarching framework.
Not long ago, he had wondered whether he might one day achieve his own great Dao, one that would be called the Dream-Reality Taiji. That vision had played a major role in this decision.
It sounded absurd at first, but because that dragon power was none other than Dream Power, the possibility existed. Moreover, his body had grown so powerful that it seemed capable of incorporating yet another type of Dao Body.
However, before realizing this ambition, there were several critical matters he had to verify and continue observing.
Whether the Dragon God of that other universe had planted some form of restriction upon him.
Whether, even if safe for now, he might gradually be leashed as he grew stronger as a dragon.
Whether the Dragon Heart formed in his Nascent Soul might drive his cultivation path into a dead end.
‘So far, I have detected no restrictions whatsoever…’
The other party was a transcendent being who had detonated bloodline potential with a mere glance at a pattern. Since the mystical principle behind such a feat was unknowable, he could only remain vigilant.
Besides, the Dragon Heart would undoubtedly grow alongside his cultivation realm. As he transformed further into a dragon, it would inevitably exert a massive influence on his path as a cultivator.
His hand, which had been stroking the Three Origin Ninefold Extreme Mystic Flower Pill Furnace, paused. His gaze deepened.
‘At minimum, before reaching the Soul Formation stage, I must obtain a new Dao Body that can at least rival the Dream Dragon Dao Body.’
Only then could he establish the foundation for yin-yang harmony.
The furnace itself held the answer regarding what sort of Dao Body to pursue.
‘The Five Elements Body Forging Pill.’
It was a spiritual pellet that tempered the body with the five elemental energies, ultimately granting the Five Elements Spirit Body. Although it produced a Spirit Body rather than a true Dao Body, there was ample room to refine it further by incorporating his own Taiji Five Elements foundation and additional spiritual materials.
Since the Three Origin Ninefold Extreme Mystic Flower Pill Furnace contained not only recipes but the underlying knowledge for research, learning what he needed would pose no great difficulty.
If he succeeded in creating something worthy of being called a Five Elements Dao Body, it would truly lay the cornerstone for his own great Dao. The process would likely raise his realm as well, whether he wished it or not.
‘As for the Heartless Tribulation until then…’
It seemed his only option was to respond with improvisation as each moment demanded. After all, that was the nature of tribulations.
Fortunately, he already possessed a wealth of information on the Heartless Tribulation. In truly dire situations, he could rely on pellets such as the True Mind Jade Soul Pellet or the Harmony Clear Spirit Pellet, whose formulas were recorded in the furnace.
His hand, still absently stroking the furnace, stopped at a particular section. There, engraved upon it, was information regarding a pellet that might be the ultimate solution to his current problems—one so precious that an ordinary cultivator would never dare covet it.
‘The Seonwon Dojong Pill.’
The name seemed far too grand for a mere spiritual-treasure-grade furnace. He even doubted whether such a thing truly existed.
When a cultivator advanced from the Body Integration stage to the Tribulation Transcendence stage, they were required to give birth to what was called a ‘Dao Seed’ within their own foundation.
The Seonwon Dojong Pill was an astonishing treasure that could substitute for roughly half of that process. It was akin to a Dharma Soul cultivator choosing a false-core or external-core method instead of the true-core method to reach Core Formation.
Naturally, reaching the Tribulation stage through such a pill would leave one lacking in many respects compared to those who advanced through orthodox means, creating obstacles for future cultivation.
Yet within Han Yujin’s Nascent Soul, a Dragon Heart already existed—one possessing enough latent potential to reach the Incarnation stage.
It would be replicating the yin-yang harmony principle once more. It would be the true path to achieving the Dream-Reality Taiji by harmonizing his dragon self and cultivator self.
At present, the idea bordered on delusion, yet merely contemplating it made his heart race.
Moreover, perhaps—though the odds were impossible to calculate—having already generated a Dragon Heart, he might consume a weakened version of the Seonwon Dojong Pill in advance and achieve something truly extraordinary.
If he could manifest a Dao Seed at the Soul Formation stage, something normally possible only at the Tribulation stage, even if it were but a pale shadow of the real thing, the advantage would be immeasurable.
‘…My greed does seem to be running wild.’
Still, the water had already been spilled. This was precisely what it meant to turn crisis into opportunity.
Besides, gathering the materials for a treasure like the Seonwon Dojong Pill would normally be impossible for a mere Nascent Soul cultivator. Yet he possessed the awakening ability and the Primordial Treasure, both of which held infinite potential.
Had acquiring the Dragon Heart been a rational, common-sense affair? No—it too had been infinitely close to impossible. Yet he had succeeded, and that success had become the foundation of his current heights.
The same could be true for obtaining the pill’s ingredients. Once he had them, he could attempt refinement endlessly. He could test the finished product without fear of wasting the pellet or dying in the process.
The more he considered it, the clearer it became.
After obtaining the Dragon Heart, he had grown too easily satisfied. With the Primordial Treasure in his possession, he should be aiming for achievements beyond anyone else’s imagination.
As his hand continued to caress the Three Origin Ninefold Extreme Mystic Flower Pill Furnace, his eyes grew even deeper, almost carrying a trace of madness.
After two days of rest, the students gathered in the grand auditorium brimming with tension and excitement.
Those who had already failed the examination watched the others with deeply dejected and envious eyes. Their gazes lingered especially often on individuals like Ethan Cross, who were certain to be selected as inner disciples.
Yet even those receiving such looks were not entirely comfortable. If they were not chosen as inner disciples, the disappointment would be crushing after their high expectations, and the humiliation would be severe.
Moreover, according to the briefing given right before the test, not all inner disciples were equal. The monthly training resources varied by rank. That small difference could snowball into an insurmountable gap later.
In any organization, securing a high position early was crucial. Falling even one step behind now might mean waiting years for the next opening.
Amid that heavy atmosphere, Han Yujin appeared and ascended the platform.
With a single sweeping glance across every student, he finished his headcount and spoke.
From now on, this place shall no longer be called an academy. It will be known as a sect.
All of you who have not been informed of your elimination are now outer disciples. As for those who failed, I had originally planned to send you away and have you return only for the entrance examination two years from now…
However, since this was the first test, I will allow you to remain.
A collective sigh of relief rippled through the crowd. Someone let out an audible “Whew…” before hurriedly clamping their mouth shut.
Then, as your sect leader, I shall speak plainly from now on.
Ethan Cross, Zaid bin Nasser Al Saud, Eric Weiss…
You are now inner disciples. Your ranks follow the order in which you were called.
The rest of you are outer disciples.
As previously announced, all outer and inner disciples will receive a fixed quantity of training resources each month—manastones and spiritual pellets. However, you must complete the sect’s assigned missions to maintain your status.
Completing missions will allow you to accumulate contribution points, which can be exchanged for additional resources, techniques, or weapons.
If you wish to leave, you may do so without penalty. Should you later change your mind, you are free to retake the entrance examination.
One year from now, a tournament will be held among the inner disciples. Participation is optional, but refusing will lower your rank. Refusing three times consecutively will result in demotion to outer disciple.
New accommodations for inner disciples will be constructed soon. Anyone who wishes may come and observe the process.
At the mention of witnessing Han Yujin’s famous construction spectacle, every student straightened in their seats, eyes sparkling with anticipation.