Chapter 211: The Way of the Sword

The sky first brightened.

A wheel of dawn sun was just pushing aside the misty clouds, releasing radiant beams that illuminated the universe, making it slightly clear and bright.

Beneath this golden light and jade shadows stood a towering, majestic Water-Lodging Star Palace, piercing through clouds and fog as it sped straight toward the distance; its velocity was so fierce, resembling flowing fire or a flying star, that it vanished in an instant, sweeping past layers upon layers of rivers, lakes, mountains, and peaks in the blink of an eye.

Occasionally, cultivators riding clouds or straddling cranes witnessed this scene; their hearts trembled profoundly, overwhelmed by this brilliant momentum, and they hurriedly scrambled to avoid it...

The Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian was not located in the Eastern Region.

If one were to discuss this in detail, there was indeed a hidden story worth telling.

Back then, that Fuchan Fuchan Laozu of the Unorthodox Pure Yang Fire Mist was originally a disciple of the Chiming Sect, hailing from the orthodox Qianguxuan Sect.

Later, after leaving in anger due to a grievance, he drifted and wandered abroad; feeling that practicing the orthodox Xian Dao was arduous, he switched to cultivating unorthodox methods.

Through this, he attained the Pure Yang realm, founded a sect, established the Fire Mist Gate, and became the master of a Dao lineage.

After all, he shared some connection with the Chiming Sect.

Both the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian and the Fire Mist Gate were located in the Northern Region of Dongmi Province, not far from Mount Mount Lutai.

Years ago, when that Ha-Ha Monk from Wu Liangguang Tian used his great divine power to transform into the sun and crush Fuchan Fuchan Laozu to death, he did not immediately rush to plunder Fuchan Fuchan Laozu's lifelong legacy within the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian.

On one hand, there was indeed a major matter summoning him back to Wu Liangguang Tian, allowing no delay.

On the other hand, since Fuchan Fuchan Laozu ultimately maintained ties with the Chiming Sect, and the two sides were related by blood and marriage, even though subsequent events had turned extremely unpleasant, tearing apart all pretenses of face.

There was still the possibility that several of Fuchan Fuchan Laozu's former masters and old friends would become enraged and step forward to champion his cause.

The brilliance of the Bapailiu Sect.

Need hardly be mentioned.

Let alone a mere Ha-Ha Monk; even the temple and pure land behind him, if they truly clashed with the Chiming Sect, would feel greatly troubled and uneasy in their hearts...

And now.

In the party traveling from Changying Yuan to the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian, including Chen Heng, there were exactly twelve people in total.

These twelve individuals had either performed Da Gong for the Wei Yuanzhong, exchanging accumulated merit for the opportunity to cultivate within the Fan Fan Dongtian, or, like Chen Heng, had been designated by the Wei Yuanzhong due to outstanding performance, requiring no other price to be paid.

Using the "Water-Lodging Flying Palace" as their conveyance, three hundred Mountain-Moving Warriors cleared the path ahead, while Dao Soldiers in Zhou Zhou Fujia guarded the rear; furthermore, two Senior Masters of Changying Yuan, Xie Yu and the Jin Dan True Person Hunsu Yuan Zhi, personally led the way, providing strategic support from the center.

Such a display.

Could not be called anything less than grand!

Wherever they passed, the sky was filled with noisy colorful lights and rising misty clouds, rendering the area several li around as magnificent as a heavenly palace realm, solemn and vast...

At this moment.

Inside a hall within the Water-Lodging Star Palace.

Although Chen Heng appeared to be sitting quietly in meditation on a cushion, his left hand had secretly grasped the Golden Cicada hidden in his sleeve; with a mere rise of his intent, he sank his consciousness into the Yi Zhen Fa Zhi Jie.

【Maha Sheng Mi Jin Guang Ding】

【Name】: Chen Heng.

【Gong Fa】: Tai Su Yu Shen (Mystic Realm, 8th Layer), Innate Great Sun Divine Light (Intermediate Mastery), Yin-Eroding Red Water (Intermediate Mastery), Sishan Dou Jue (Intermediate Mastery), Scattered Scenery Concealing Form Art (Minor Mastery), Thunderbolt Flying Thunder Dun Fa (Minor Mastery), Divine Fierce Sword Sutra (Minor Mastery)...

【Dharma Treasures】: Abi Sword (—), Dun Dun Jiesuo (Upper Grade Dharma Instrument), Zi Mi Precious Robe (Upper Grade Talismanic Instrument), Chen Shan Yin (Middle Grade Talismanic Instrument), Qinglu Sword (Middle Grade Talismanic Instrument), Purple-Gold Demon-Breaking Hammer (Middle Grade Talismanic Instrument), Thunder-Fire Thunderbolt Origin Pearl (Middle Grade Talismanic Instrument), Fu Yu Shen Pearl (Middle Grade Talismanic Instrument), Yuanxu Demon-Subduing Sword Register (Secret Treasure)...

【True Sutra】: Shenwu Shenwu Shuhua Daojun Explains the Tai Shi Yuan Zhen Sutra...

【Sword Dao】: Second Realm—Sword Intent Transforming into Form.

【Dao Practice】: Zi Fu Yi Zhong—Ten Thousand Wonders Returning to the Root (Jade Book of the Tianwangshen Sect's Zhongtian Dou Shu Heavenly King).

After gazing for a moment.

He slightly spread his five fingers, and that page of 【Maha Golden Book】 in his hand instantly dissolved into brilliant golden powder; the moment it left his grasp, it returned to the void inner scenery, never to be seen again.

"Although the aperture just now stirred, hinting at growth, as if about to step into another layer of heaven, it still lacked a single thread?"

Chen Heng shook his head slightly, thinking to himself:

"If I can achieve the third realm of Sword Dao before reaching the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian, it would add another means to protect myself; however, judging by this progress, it should not be difficult—success is in sight!"

Since he boarded this Water-Lodging Star Palace and left Jin Tingshan's Changying Yuan.

More than half a month's time had quietly slipped away, vanishing in a flash.

During this period.

Rumors of Dao Son Jun Yao exhausting his lifespan and passing away gradually spread, known to anyone with even a slight connection.

And after this news circulated.

Within this very Water-Lodging Star Palace, the situation was stirred into surging winds and clouds, becoming extremely treacherous and unpredictable.

Many disciples, when meeting as usual, looked at Chen Heng with a hint of inexplicable meaning in their eyes, their attitudes changing slightly.

As for Wang Jiao Dian, he made no effort to conceal the mockery on his face.

Were it not for the two Senior Masters being present in the Star Palace, and knowing that he currently could not defeat Chen Heng, Wang Jiao Dian would have barely been able to restrain himself from deliberately picking a fight to thoroughly ridicule and satirize Chen Heng.

Since Chen Heng was never one who enjoyed lively socializing, and too lazy to engage in hypocritical dealings with everyone, he simply closed his doors, seizing these few days of travel to cultivate in seclusion within the outer world of the Yi Zhen Fa Zhi Jie.

The day when the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian would return to the old site of Xudu Tian was imminent!

Although breaking through another minor barrier in the Xian Dao Jing Zhi Jie before entering the Fan Fan Dongtian to reach the Fu Di Er Chong realm was absolutely impossible to achieve in such a short time.

It was, however, more than enough time for Chen Heng to thoroughly familiarize himself with the Purple Palace Realm, mastering all his newly acquired mysterious methods until he knew them like the back of his hand.

And today, while cultivating in seclusion.

Chen Heng suddenly felt an aperture within his body loosen, as if someone who had long dwelt in a dark, black chamber suddenly found a window loosening, revealing a glimpse of bright heavenly light.

This transformation washed his spirit as if with snow.

His heart-mind instantly became infinitely bright, his wisdom clear and empty!

When Chen Heng activated the jade cicada, sank his mind into the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, illuminated his body with the 【Mahā-Victorious Secret Light Samādhi】, and retrieved his 【Mahā Golden Scripture】.

Although on the path of the Sword Dao he remained at the Second Realm—Sword Intent Taking Form—several lines of text were already flickering slightly, wavering between brightness and dimness without constancy.

Seeing this scene.

He knew then that achieving the Third Realm of the Sword Dao was imminent, just around the corner!

Moreover, the realms of the Sword Dao differed from the divisions of the Righteous and Immortal Daos; they formed a school of their own, possessing unique marvels.

They were divided as follows:

First Realm—One Kill Every Ten Steps.

Second Realm—Sword Intent Taking Form.

Third Realm—Refining the Sword into Qi, Refining the Sword into Silk.

Fourth Realm—Body and Sword as One.

Fifth Realm—Sword Qi Thunder Sound, Sword Light Differentiation.

Sixth Realm—Sword Heart of Clear Understanding.

……

Only upon reaching the Tenth Realm, "One Sword Births Ten Thousand Dharmas" and "One Sword Extinguishes Ten Thousand Dharmas," did it barely cease.

And above the Tenth Realm.

It had already become entirely dependent on the Sword Master's own methods, indefinable and hard to express; it could be said to have leaped beyond the shackles of the Sword Dao realms, no longer bound by so-called categories.

Profound and mysterious transformations, intent identical to the Heart of Heaven!

Such a realm was far too distant for the current Chen Heng, truly too high to climb; let us set it aside for now.

Within the Sword Dao.

The First Realm, One Kill Every Ten Steps.

This was the supreme method of struggle and slaughter for mortal martial artists, regardless of whether the opponent wore armor, wielded weapons, or the number of foes.

Within the taking of ten steps.

Blood must fall where the sword edge strikes!

Anyone who proved this realm, in the mortal world where heavenly spiritual energy was shallow and marvels were hidden, would be a Great Sword Master or Sword Saint, capable of leaving their name in history.

However, while One Kill Every Ten Steps was the Ultimate Limit and supreme state of mortal swords, it was merely the beginning of the true Sword Dao, only the first step across the threshold.

As for the Second Realm, Sword Intent Taking Form.

This allowed one to condense the sword intent within the heart, transforming it into sword qi to manifest in the world.

Once this sword qi was released, even slicing through gold and melting iron was merely an ordinary matter, easily accomplished!

Chen Heng's current cultivation in the Sword Dao.

Was precisely situated within this realm...

As for the Third Realm—Refining the Sword into Qi, Refining the Sword into Silk—these two methods were merely a switch between magnitude and minuteness.

Upon reaching such a realm, the emitted sword qi was no longer bound by ordinary forms.

It could surge forth like the Dajiang River, dozens of zhang long, splitting whatever mountain or lake lay before it in two! Sharp and fierce!

Or it could be as tiny as silk ribbons or fine needles, too small to perceive, too minute to see, leaving no obvious trace in its coming and going...

Even compared to those flying needles and fine shuttles, there was no difference; it could fully rival them!

When a cultivator sought to prove the Third Realm of the Sword Dao, there was always a sequence of speed and slowness, priority and urgency; one had to achieve the previous step before plotting the next.

Some cultivators achieved Refining the Sword into Qi first, then proved Refining the Sword into Silk.

Conversely, proving the Dao of Refining the Sword into Silk first, then comprehending the mysteries of Refining the Sword into Qi, was also never lacking.

At this moment.

Chen Heng joined his fingers and pointed; instantly, a strand of sword qi brimming with sharp energy flew out, hissing several times, possessing the momentum to soar through the clouds and break the sky, like a bleak, sharp rainbow mangling back and forth above the Fa Zhi Jie.

He fixed his gaze and examined it carefully.

He saw that the form of this sword qi was already more than several times larger than what he had emitted previously!

Clearly, he was only a hair's breadth away from the realm of "Refining the Sword into Qi."

The essence thereof was already fully grasped!

He chuckled lightly, urged the golden cicada with his intent, withdrew his mind from the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, and returned to his physical body in the present world.

Fragrant mist hung empty and hazy, crystal curtains shone bright—

Within the magnificent hall.

As Chen Heng opened his eyes.

Suddenly, a crisp sound was heard, and then an old face curiously leaned in, staring at him.

"Your qi mechanism is somewhat unusual; it is not quite the same as before."

Dun Dun Jiesuo stepped back, took another bite of the green plum in his hand, splashing juice everywhere, and said indistinctly:

"Have you achieved the Third Realm of the Sword Dao? Did you prove Refining the Sword into Qi or Refining the Sword into Silk?"

"Refining the Sword into Qi."

Chen Heng shook his head, flicked his sleeve, rose, and said calmly:

"Though I still lack a single thread; I imagine that before entering the Fan Fan Dongtian, completely achieving this realm should not be difficult."

"Refining the Sword into Qi and Refining the Sword into Silk are merely two ends of the same transformation; if you have achieved Refining the Sword into Qi, the subsequent work will not trouble you. It requires only some time to pass, and you shall succeed... Young man, congratulations!"

Dun Dun Jiesuo pondered for a moment, nodded slightly, and spoke.

Immediately, he stuffed the green plum into his mouth, chewed it clean in a few bites, then waved his hand to summon from the glass vessel on the table a spiritual fruit, green in color and shaped like a rooster's comb, drawing it through the air.

Holding it in his hand, he ate again until juice covered him, thoroughly delighted.

Seeing this, Chen Heng smiled and shifted his gaze.

Only within this splendid hall could one see.

Upon the table already lay countless stacked vessels, overflowing with the scent of wine, a sight most messy and disordered.

And the soup pool below the steps seemed to have had its water changed several times over; now it was swirling with thick mist, steaming as if about to boil.

"The treatment offered by the Yu Yuchen Sect is truly excellent; you are still merely in the lower courtyard yet enjoy such serene bliss. If one truly reached the Yuchenshang Sect, what would that be like?"

After devouring all the spiritual fruits, Dun Dun Jiesuo smacked his lips, seemingly still unsatisfied, and sighed with emotion.

"It is good that Senior likes it."

Chen Heng smiled.

Just as his brows relaxed slightly and he was about to speak, suddenly a knocking sound arose; upon receiving permission, a young servant dressed in green cloth and a cloth cap pushed the door open and entered.

After bowing deeply in salute, his gaze flicked to those vessels stacked like a mountain on the table, his face darkened, and he could not help but bitterly lament in his heart.

"Bring this old man some more! Wine as well; do not be stingy or miserly!"

Seeing him enter, Dun Dun Jiesuo shouted loudly and spoke with great laughter.

"..."

The young servant's cheeks twitched; he silently nodded.

After he had collected the vessels and respectfully closed the doors.

The smile on Dun Dun Jiesuo's face suddenly vanished; he looked at Chen Heng and spoke in a heavy voice:

"This lad seems to have been bought off by Wang Jiao Dian the day before yesterday; after taking away these vessels, he always makes a trip to Wang Jiao Dian's residence, however..."

"However, I only meditate within the hall; even if he has the intention, he cannot pry out anything."

Chen Heng shook his head.

"In this old man's view, upon hearing the news that the Dao Son has exhausted his lifespan and sat in meditation to pass away, those of the aristocratic families will likely become even more unrestrained; now that you are not within Jin Tingshan, for them this is undoubtedly a heaven-sent opportunity they will absolutely not let slip!"

After a moment of silence.

Dun Dun Jiesuo's white brows furrowed, and he spoke slowly:

"I heard that the former site of Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua's Fan Fan Dongtian lies at Heming Mountain in the Northern Dongmi Region, and at the escape speed of this Water Lodestar Palace, we will arrive at Heming Mountain in at most another three to five days; during that period..."

"During that period, people of the aristocratic families will surely make their move; once we reach Heming Mountain, under the gaze of all, with masters from all four courtyards gathered, they will find it difficult to act."

Chen Heng shook his head.

Hearing this, Dun Dun Jiesuo's eyes narrowed, his voice filled with worry: "Since you entered this Water Lodestar Palace, Xie Yu has already activated the prohibitions; inside and outside cannot communicate. Even if this old man wished to carry you away in escape, it would not be easily accomplished; instead, it would alert the snake and provoke Xie Yu and the others into vigilance, which would be unfavorable...

I worry that when the people of the aristocratic families truly make their move, if some master of great supernatural powers casts a spell to lock down the void and heaven and earth, even if the locking technique can only hinder me for a few breaths, it would still be a dangerous affair.

Those few breaths would be enough for them to kill you several times over; we must guard against it!"

"If it truly comes to that, even though I am unwilling to abandon it, I will have no choice but to abandon it...

The matter of going to the Eastern Sea to borrow a Fan Fan Dongtian remains uncertain and cannot be relied upon; but now, the opportunity of Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua's Fan Fan Dongtian concerns the Four Courtyards Grand Competition six years hence; I absolutely do not wish to miss it..."

Chen Heng recalled the three Abyssal Void Demon-Subduing Sword Talismans given by Master Qiao Qiao Yubi.

He lowered his eyelids, concealing the hidden ferocity and killing intent beneath his eyes.

A moment later.

Only then did he speak expressionlessly, in a cold voice:

"If they make their move, even if they cannot harm my muscles and bones, I will inevitably cut a piece of flesh from these Bai Bai Xiaoxiao!"

At the same time.

Within the Water Lodestar Palace, inside another hall.

Xie Yu, seated upright on a jade bed, suddenly furrowed his brows, then opened his eyes wide, reached into his sleeve, took out a precious mirror, and said:

"Why summon me so suddenly? What has happened?"

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End of chapter.