Recognition from the Formation Master
On the massive, majestic castle walls of the Cheonwon Castle Frontline, still etched with vivid scars of battle, Han Yujin closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.
Mu-yong, just stay asleep and keep sucking on that honey. Bringing you here would draw far too much attention.
Unlike last time, having advanced to the Dharma Soul stage made reusing the identity of a mere low-ranking soldier like Yeon Biwon awkward. He might have a use for it again someday, but not today.
In a situation where his identity was already unstable, he could not afford to stroll around with a pet like Mu-yong. Besides, he had no plans to linger here long.
As Han Yujin scanned his surroundings, his gaze briefly met that of a Dharma Soul investigator he remembered. It was the same fierce, bearded man who had once shouted at him to move faster.
He’s keeping quiet this time.
He was curious what reaction the man might show if he simply stood there longer, but he had no real desire to test it.
Pretending to focus on post-battle cleanup, he swept his eyes over every detail around him.
Since the fighting had been fierce, finding a suitable identity jade plaque was easy. This one belonged to Sergeant of Squad 87, Ungok Gate of Dong-eun Province, Lee Gon.
As expected. A Dharma Soul investigator would hold at least the rank of sergeant.
The bearded man from earlier had also worn a sergeant’s jade plaque at his waist. Matching that rank would be the safest choice.
Han Yujin continued moving while carefully observing those around him. Whenever he spotted an Initiation stage investigator who looked particularly gullible or dim-witted, he would deliberately provoke them with sharp questions.
“Which unit are you with?”
“Huh? I’m assigned to Squad 77…”
“Not that. Where are your quarters!”
“Quarters? They’re in the eastern section of Younggang District…”
“Who asked about your quarters? Huh?!”
In that manner, acting like a half-mad superior, he extracted small fragments of useful information. Naturally, he never asked too many questions of any single person to avoid drawing suspicion.
With the Central Information Processing System—the Heart-Confining Prohibition—now disabled, I should be fine as long as I don’t behave too unusually.
The purpose of gathering this information was to understand the situation of a place he would likely visit multiple times in the future.
At the same time, he collected several more sergeant-level identity plaques. If conditions allowed, he planned to investigate them later to determine which identity would be safest.
The sect affiliation on all of them is a bit troublesome…
Every plaque he obtained listed a sect. It seemed investigators at the Dharma Soul stage rarely lived as wanderers.
While piecing together these minor details, time passed uneventfully until night fell.
Unlike before, he did not hide in a deserted corner. Instead, he actively wandered the interior of the castle. There were no curfew restrictions here, and as a Dharma Soul investigator, the risk of anyone causing trouble for him was extremely low.
By the time dawn approached, he had gathered quite a few valuable pieces of intelligence.
One of the most useful was information about the exchange meetings.
With the Heart-Confining Prohibition compromised and contribution point exchanges suspended, many cultivators likely needed certain spiritual artifacts or medicinal pills urgently, especially with the constant threat of another demonic beast assault.
Even those not in immediate need welcomed gatherings where investigators of similar realms could trade necessary items.
These exchange meetings were not grand events held in one location but smaller, intimate gatherings scattered across many places. Many of them seemed open enough that Han Yujin could attend without issue.
He decided that participating in as many exchange meetings as possible would be his second objective during this visit to Cheonwon Castle.
Even if he gained nothing concrete, simply observing would sharpen his discernment.
The lecture on formation techniques was held in a grand building called Cheonhak Hall in the northern district of Cheonwon Castle.
Han Yujin arrived swiftly yet unobtrusively using the Wind Concealment Technique. The moment he saw Cheonhak Hall, more elegant than he had imagined, he could not suppress his inner admiration.
Constructed primarily from blue-jade and white bricks and adorned with orb-like decorations that might have been glass or crystal, the building was magnificent. The surrounding blue gardens and tranquil ponds only enhanced its beauty.
Crossing the stone bridge that spanned a pond designed like a small moat, he stepped inside and marveled again at how natural light alone could create such brightness and atmosphere. The grand murals covering the walls were another highlight impossible to ignore.
On the raised platform within, the Core Formation investigator scheduled to lecture on formation techniques already stood with his eyes closed, radiating quiet dignity.
Whether because of or thanks to his presence, everyone who entered the hall immediately fell silent and adopted a solemn demeanor.
The attendance is only about twenty percent of the pill refinement lecture.
Almost no Initiation stage cultivators were present; the majority had reached at least the Dharma Soul stage. Given the complexity of formation techniques, this was hardly surprising.
A short while later, sensing that everyone who intended to come had arrived, the Core Formation expert on the platform opened his eyes.
The elderly man possessed a long white beard and hair. He wore a silver daoist robe embroidered with clouds and held a blue-green jade tablet, projecting the refined aura of a true scholar.
His name was Song Jamun.
As the thought crossed Han Yujin’s mind, Song Jamun spoke.
“Greetings, fellow cultivators. As you all know, I will be teaching formation techniques starting today.”
His calm, pleasant voice reached every listener with perfect clarity.
“It is impossible to convey the full profundity of formation techniques in just a few short days. Still, I believe it may be possible to sketch at least a rough outline.”
He continued by explaining the objectives of the lecture series.
In essence, he would teach the foundational knowledge every cultured cultivator should possess, along with the types and principles of commonly used formation prohibitions.
Perfect. Exactly what I wanted.
Most of the other investigators encountering formation techniques for the first time likely felt the same.
“Then let us begin at once. First, we must identify the greatest characteristic and weakness of formations. How can we effectively manifest the desired result using only spiritual energy and formation patterns that contain none of the caster’s intent?”
As Song Jamun raised his hand, light bloomed above him and drew several vivid patterns. Each one was a cluster of formation formulas composed of various glyphs.
Han Yujin had encountered these concepts once before in books obtained from the Ohaeng Sect ruins. He understood the terms but had no idea how to actually apply them.
Song Jamun now began teaching precisely that.
Every sentence of the lecture was pure gold.
At some point, Han Yujin’s focused gaze appeared to grow hazy. In truth, he had entered a state of sudden enlightenment—a profound absorption where he took in every crucial piece of information while simultaneously birthing new insights from his existing knowledge and experience.
His already transcendent comprehension, further enhanced by the increased intelligence that came with his realm advancement, combined with the direct teachings of a formation grandmaster like a decisive strike. The result was astonishing.
It was not the exaggerated, lightning-like enlightenment found in martial novels. Yet the way his previously inert knowledge suddenly came alive with vitality was so powerful that an average Initiation stage cultivator might need years to catch up. Even a fellow Dharma Soul cultivator could require several months.
The explosive growth of his understanding of formation techniques within his mind was truly remarkable.
Though he had only grasped the fundamentals, the foundation is what matters most in any pursuit, is it not?
When the lecture finally ended after a long while, Han Yujin emerged from his enlightened state as if waking from a deep dream, overwhelmed by both gratitude and lingering regret.
Was I… always this intelligent?
He had attended only a single day of lectures, yet the benefits he had gained were immeasurable.
The formation knowledge now swirling vividly through his mind felt so alive and clear that even his perception of the world seemed slightly transformed.
At that moment, as people began leaving the hall, Song Jamun—the lecturer, Core Formation expert, and formation grandmaster—approached Han Yujin through the crowd.
“What is your name, junior?”
He posed the same question Han Yujin had heard once before. Instantly, every remaining gaze in the hall locked onto him. Slightly flustered but quick to respond, Han Yujin answered.
“This junior is called Lee Gon.”
“Lee Gon… of which sect?”
“I am a disciple of Ungok Gate.”
“Ungok Gate, you say.”
Stroking his beard once, Song Jamun asked again.
“Is Elder Cho Gwang well these days?”
It must have been the name of a Core Formation expert from Ungok Gate—someone with whom Song Jamun shared a slight connection.
Damn it.
As Han Yujin remained silent for a brief second, he noticed that Song Jamun was smiling gently.
The elder had clearly noticed something, yet he showed no particular concern. It was as if such matters were commonplace.
“Your demeanor while listening to my lecture today left a deep impression.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Thank me? No, the gratitude is mine. Truthfully, I had little enthusiasm for this. I wondered what meaning there could be in teaching formation techniques over such a short period…”
He nodded, as though he had just heard something deeply satisfying.
“By the way, how old are you?”
“A little over thirty.”
Han Yujin gave a rough total that included his time in the Primordial Forest. Song Jamun’s expression grew even more pleased.
“Reaching the Dharma Soul stage at such an age means your talent is not lacking. Would you consider ascending through the gate to become an outer disciple of our Taeqing Palace?”
The cultivators who had remained in the hall out of curiosity now revealed open shock. At the same time, their gazes filled with envy and jealousy.
“I am not suggesting you remain an outer disciple forever. After a simple verification… once that is complete, I will personally promote you to inner disciple.”
The jealousy in those stares intensified sharply. Han Yujin almost felt stung by it, though this too was an experience he had encountered once before.
Taeqing Palace…
This was already the second time he had been offered discipleship. And not just any sect—this was a supreme, overwhelmingly powerful orthodox sect that housed a Body Integration stage Supreme Elder.
The feeling was indescribably strange.
“What do you think?”
Snapping out of his momentary daze, Han Yujin answered without hesitation. Since he had apparently been seen through anyway, there was no reason to waver—especially when the other party was extending clear goodwill.
“If such an opportunity is truly available, it would be the greatest honor of my life.”
“Hahaha, is that so?”
Song Jamun’s eyes flicked briefly to the identity jade plaque at Han Yujin’s waist. As the elder smiled warmly, Han Yujin could only return an awkward smile of his own.