Chapter 406: The Method to Dissolve

Xu Xing sat with a highly sentient bird, white-bellied and red-backed, perched on his shoulder, moving with the crowd toward the more bustling direction.

Occasionally, some people's gazes lingered briefly on him, but soon shifted elsewhere.

Compared to the Hehuan Sect's charm cultivators, his shoulder bird, though unusual, still lacked sufficient allure.

The method to dissolve "Dao Wang"…

"It's quite simple," Xu Xing said, gazing toward a stall selling ancient artifacts, "'Dao Wang' arises from one's original intention—just as you said, it is the manifestation of past karmic traces."

"If so, sever all mental attachments, retain only a single thread of fixation to preserve the self, and 'Dao Wang' will naturally dissolve."

Wandering thoughts arise from emotional stirring, yet as long as one remains in the mortal world, mental fluctuations are unavoidable.

Thus, if one avoids this, 'Dao Wang' becomes a rootless floating weed and will no longer trap the self.

When all mental thoughts vanish, wandering thoughts vanish too.

That's more or less the idea.

"Of course, if I truly did this, I would no longer be myself."

And when that fixation is fulfilled, one will surely dissolve into the Dao—or become a slave, bringing boundless calamity to the Xuan Realm or even the Chaos Sea.

"A method that isn't really a method," Master Mei Zu remarked.

This isn't merely a grave risk—it's no different from seeking death; in a sense, it already violates the very essence of being an 'Immortal,' drawing closer to the 'Heaven.'

"This method is a shortcut, so naturally it cannot be flawless."

Cultivation has never been something achieved overnight; taking shortcuts always demands a price.

"Hmm, this method is far too reckless, Brother Dao, you should not continue attempting it," Master Mei Zu's tone was unusually serious.

Retaining even a thread of fixation to preserve the self carries the risk of total self-disintegration and Dao dissolution.

"Don't worry—I'm fully aware of the risks, and I have no reason to take such dangers without cause."

"… "

Naturally, without cause there's no need—but I fear that later, cause may arise…

Yet given the current situation, it's unlikely this reckless method will be needed.

"Brother Dao understands well." After a pause, Master Mei Zu added, "Actually, I feel all wandering thoughts originate from within—the self's very core—and perhaps we shouldn't resist 'Dao Wang' at all."

Confusion, clinging delusion…

These are all aspects of the self; seeking balance between 'Dao' and 'Self' need not mean eradicating all wandering thoughts.

"Indeed," Xu Xing nodded slightly.

'Dao Wang' appeared because he severed his past self—in other words, he eliminated part of his fixation, causing this situation.

"But before that, I must first find a way to 'touch' it."

After all, if I can't even reach it, how can I speak of what comes after?

"Regarding wandering thoughts… Brother Dao might try doing things that stir 'Dao Wang.' I can assist you, you know."

"Assist?"

"Oh come on, Brother Dao, you know what I mean!"

"… "

As they spoke, Xu Xing arrived at the stall selling ancient artifacts and idly picked up a piece of ancient-looking iron, streaked with rust.

The vendor was a somewhat lazy middle-aged man, not a Hehuan Sect member, but a merchant here to do business.

Seeing Xu Xing pick up the iron piece, he sat up straighter, about to speak…

"How much for this?"

After a two-second pause, he launched into his rehearsed pitch: "This fragment is a relic I found in a cave dwelling within Qing Xu. I consulted several master artisans from Shenji Lianbao Pavilion…"

"I know the origin of this item. Just tell me the price."

"If you're truly sincere… then this amount." He held up two fingers. "Two hundred thousand spirit coins."

"Fine."

Without haggling, Xu Xing paid and turned away, leaving the vendor stunned.

The vendor stared blankly as Xu Xing's figure vanished into the crowd, feeling an odd emptiness in his chest.

He had just received two hundred thousand spirit coins, yet his joy was minimal…

For a moment, he recalled scenes from novels and films.

Could this iron piece truly be some kind of treasure?!

…

…

At noon, the sunlight was perfect.

Xu Xing sat on a long bench beneath a red maple tree, holding a shard of broken blade, smooth as a mirror, gleaming with cold light.

"The material of this broken blade is indeed excellent, but Brother Dao specifically bought it—surely there's another reason?"

The white-bellied, red-backed bird hopped onto Xu Xing's palm, tilting its head to stare at the shard.

"This is Friend Gu Feng's knife."

When Friend Gu Feng died, his battle knife shattered and scattered across the Xuan Realm; some fragments dissolved entirely.

Friend Meng Xuan searched for years and recovered only half—yet here, one fragment appeared.

"Gu Feng?" Master Mei Zu recalled quickly, "The one you saved in the Alliance of Righteous Sects… Friend Meng Xuan's…"

"Yes," Xu Xing said, watching his reflection in the broken blade, "I'll contact Friend Meng Xuan and send it to her."

Whether Friend Meng Xuan is even still in the Alliance of Righteous Sects remains uncertain, so sending it blindly would be unwise.

"Oh."

Though she knew Meng Xuan, she wasn't close to her—so she wouldn't interfere.

Jumping back onto Xu Xing's shoulder: "You didn't haggle at all for that fragment— the vendor probably thinks it's some kind of treasure and is regretting it now."

In truth, if you examine it closely, it truly qualifies as a 'treasure.'

The material of this broken blade fragment itself is quite exceptional, and moreover, it endured the infiltration of Heaven's and Gu Feng's power without being destroyed; with proper use, one can indeed comprehend the Daoic essence within it to accelerate cultivation progress.

Especially for sword cultivators.

Yet cultivators themselves will also be affected during this process, growing increasingly detached—advantages and drawbacks alike, making it a treasure like a double-edged sword.

Few can avoid its influence; even the vendor just now could not.

Xu Xing put away the broken blade fragment: "An unexpected gain, then."

Saying this, he rose to his full height, gazing toward the distance. The sunlight, adjusted by the great array, was no longer harsh, falling perfectly upon the crimson maple-covered hills.

"Are there any other places within the Joyful Sect worth visiting? Any recommendations?"

"I don't know myself. Just wander around according to the spiritual network guides, Brother Dao." She had always stayed within the Ancestral Cave Heaven and rarely ventured out. "Come back after a stroll—I'll take another look at it for you."

"You probably won't see anything new anyway."

Xu Xing turned his inner gaze inward—the heavy shadow lingering over his mind remained unchanged, just as it had been when it first appeared.

"Then I'll wander around for a bit, and come find you."

After all, that's why I stayed.

"By the way, Brother Dao, you mentioned before that when you ponder the 'Dao Wang,' you tend to drift into wild thoughts, right?"

Since he was seeking help from Master Mei Zu, he had revealed everything without concealment.

"What is it?"

"But earlier, when you and I discussed matters related to 'Dao Wang,' you never exhibited such behavior."

"It's wild thoughts, not wild speech…"

He might think off-track while pondering, but how could he ever voice what he thought?

"So does that mean, while you were with me last night, you were actually lost in wild thoughts—just didn't show it?"

"..."

That's technically not wrong, but why does it sound so strange…

"My thoughts are restless and hard to control—that's all. And it's precisely what troubles me greatly."

Cultivation requires focus, yet 'Dao Wang' makes his mind unsettled.

He cannot reach it himself, yet it can influence him in return…

This 'Dao Wang' is truly troublesome.

"Of the three Sword Sovereigns, which one will you choose?" "Why should I choose?" Xu Xing replied offhandedly.

"..."

His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet the world seemed to fall silent in that instant.

The little bird's eyes revealed a touch of human-like surprise: "So that's it! Brother Dao, you've been thinking this all along!"

Immediately, it flapped its wings and flew to hover before Xu Xing.

"I understand~ Children make choices. Brother Dao, of course, chooses them all!"

"Don't worry, Brother Dao—I absolutely won't tell anyone!"

"But how about considering me? I really like you too, Brother Dao~"

Xu Xing: "..."

Well, he'd just been tricked into revealing himself.

"I..."

!

He'd barely spoken one word when Master Mei Zu interrupted: "Just joking, Brother Dao, no need to answer so quickly."

"It's getting late—I'm about to take a nap. So for now, you can wander on your own."

Puff~!

The little bird with white belly and red back dissolved into a wisp of clear qi and vanished.

Hm?

Already gone?

Xu Xing paused, then pulled out his phone and opened the top group chat.

As expected, the situation matched his prediction exactly.

Master Mei Zu: "Everyone, focus your attention on me / Sunglasses Yellow Duck"

Master Mei Zu: "I have an important announcement to make"

Sword Sovereign: "/ You will suffer blood disaster today · Yellow Duck Edition"

Xiang Yuanjun: "..."

You two argue all you want, but why use my image?

Hong Zun: "Stop interrupting each other / Adjusting Glasses"

Hong Zun: "I bet it's about Brother Dao."

He no longer cared.

Moreover, this was his instinct as one of their kind!

Ba Zun: "Hong Zun, you're using yourself as a model to pull Brother Dao into this / Sipping Tea"

Dan Zu: "Still, it's only interesting this way."

Qi Zun: "+1"

Hong Zun: "Hmph! Ba Zun, have you forgotten Dan Tong and Zhi Meng?"

Are you any better than that?

Like I didn't know already!

Lord Ba: "…"

Ancestor Dan: "Enough, let's hear what Master Mei Zu has to say."

He wasn't afraid of Lord Hong.

After all, he always disliked tasks more troublesome than alchemy.

Of course, watching some entertainment wasn't bad.

Master Mei Zu: "I've discovered a secret of Elder Brother Daoist / serious"

After a few seconds…

Lord Hong: "And then?!"

Just spit it out already!

Master Mei Zu: "How could I possibly do that!"

Master Mei Zu: "This is Elder Brother Daoist's private matter—I couldn't possibly blab it without his consent."

Master Mei Zu: "I'm not the type to gossip."

You damn it!

So you're deliberately saying this just to tease us, aren't you!

Xiang Yuanjun: "So the important thing you wanted to announce is this?"

Master Mei Zu: "Isn't discovering Elder Brother Daoist's secret an important matter? / innocent"

'Master Mei Zu' has been muted by 'Sword Lord' for one minute.

Lord Ba: "Wait, does this group even have a mute function? / confused"

Lord Hong: "Well done."

Ancestor Dan: "I think I should be the admin."

Ancestor Qi: "I think I'm more suitable."

Lord Ba: "Hah! Even Elder Brother Sword Lord didn't give it to you—do you think he'd give it to you?"

Ancestor Dan: "Dictatorship! This is dictatorship (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"

Ancestor Qi: "You could go to the True Immortal Exchange Group next door—Huo Jian would give you admin rights for sure. / smirking"

Ancestor Dan: "Nah, better not. / setting up the table"

The group's atmosphere was as absurd as ever.

Xu Xing watched the messages scroll by, knowing full well that if he spoke up, he'd be mobbed—he stayed out of it.

…………

In the blink of an eye, evening arrived.

Morning light spilled down; crimson maple trees blanketed the hills, glowing dreamlike against the twilight glow.

Gray-blue slowly spread, dividing the sky into two halves.

Where the twilight shone, it was like molten gold in fire—unutterably brilliant; where the gray-blue had spread, tiny stars dotted the darkness, radiating a different kind of stillness.

Yet the Hehuan Sect remained lively.

High in the sky, disciples of the Hehuan Sect came and went, entering and exiting the inner sect's various cave heavens.

"After so long in seclusion, I've finally succeeded."

Amid the sigh, a ravishing female cultivator stepped upon seven-colored mist, gazing at the brilliant twilight.

Her figure was alluring, clad in a purple palace gown, every movement brimming with endless charm.

It was Jiang Yujiu.

The charm cultivator who first went to Xuanjian City and took part in the trial there.

She was also the Hehuan Sect's observer at the last orthodox alliance's martial exhibition, and because of their slight connection, Xu Xing had given her a small gift.

After a long while, she drew her gaze back from afar, looking at the blood jade in her palm.

The blood jade was crimson, like a drop of congealed blood, warm to the touch, with a faint warmth flowing from it into her body, transforming into pure life-giving energy.

"Who could have sent this…?" Jiang Yujiu wondered inwardly.

She had already experienced its effects firsthand—it was no ordinary artifact!

It was thanks to this blood jade, combined with the traffic gained from the Xuanjian City trial and the orthodox alliance's martial exhibition, and another year of seclusion, that she had successfully broken through her realm.

Now, she was a Nascent Soul peak cultivator!

What level was that?

It was the kind of level where, even if she returned to the orthodox alliance for the New Year and her relatives asked about her cultivation, she could answer with full confidence!

Then her grandmother wouldn't keep criticizing her cultivation career as this or that.

In her entire generation, who had a higher realm than her?

Hahaha!

Thank you, anonymous top donor!

The more she thought about it, the happier she became; Jiang Yujiu tucked away the blood jade and descended upon the seven-colored mist.

Breaking through her realm deserved a proper celebration.

Besides, after a year of seclusion, she also needed to prepare for her livestream return.

It was all that senior sister's fault—why did she have to do chest-breaking-with-stones? Now, whenever someone went silent for too long, people flooded the chat.

She definitely wouldn't livestream! (End of chapter)