Chapter 108: The Perfection of the Dao Heart

"Grandfather."

"..."

It was as if he had returned to that spring day, and everything that followed was but a fleeting dream. At that time, Song Yan was only eight or nine years old. He was already learning to read and write, and had begun to study the basics of medicine.

"Sigh..."

Young Song was playing in the dirt of the herb garden, muttering to himself, "That squire from Linzhou is truly pitiful. Drinking ginseng soup, clinging to life like a living corpse, just dragging it out until he's ninety-eight."

"Grandfather, is your medical skill really that profound? To take someone who should have died long ago and make them live for so many years in your hands..."

Young Song looked up at the old man with a touch of reverence. "You are like a god descended from the heavens, able to grant people immortality."

"Immortality?" The grandfather paused, then burst into a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! If only I truly had that ability, little one..."

His laughter was tinged with tears. He plucked a fresh herb seedling and tossed it into the basket on his back.

"Grandson, let me tell you something amusing. Years ago, there was a high official in the imperial court—a man of immense power, second only to the emperor himself. But he was old and failing, and since he never practiced any art of inner cultivation, his health collapsed like a falling mountain. Hearing of my reputation, he sent ten thousand taels of gold, begging for an elixir of life..."

Young Song caught the point immediately. "Grandfather, was he a bad man?"

"A bad man... or a good man... neither, I suppose." The grandfather’s expression grew complex. "He was merely an ordinary man with power and influence."

"And then? Did you save him?"

The old man’s stern demeanor suddenly lightened. "I slipped some croton seeds into his decoction. That old fellow spent three days and three nights purging, which actually cleared the accumulated toxins from his gut, and he ended up living another two years."

"Hahahaha!" Young Song was amused by his grandfather's mischievous streak.

The old man patted his head kindly. "Silly child... Immortality... where in this world is there such a thing? Do you think the gods in heaven who have lived for thousands of years don't die?"

He pointed to the herb garden, his voice gentle. "Life and death in this world are like the flourishing and withering of plants. If one forcefully clings to withered branches and fallen leaves, it only hinders the sprouting of new buds. Longevity and long-lasting vision... there is nothing worth forcing. A human life is but a fleeting hundred years; to live freely and meaningfully—that is the destiny for us mortals."

Young Song felt that his grandfather’s words made perfect sense. The cycle of life and death is the law of heaven and earth. Yet, for some reason, he felt a faint sense of unease.

"Come, let us head back."

The old man took his hand, and the two walked slowly toward the thatched cottage.

"..."

They walked in silence, step by step.

*Thump...*

Hm? What was that sound?

A vague noise reached his ears. It grew from distant to near, becoming increasingly clear. Young Song suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The old man asked in confusion, "What is it, my dear grandson?"

Now, Young Song understood what it was. It was the sound of a heartbeat.

"Grandfather... you said earlier that there are gods in the heavens who have lived for thousands of years." Young Song looked up and asked, "Is that right?"

The old man was slightly surprised, but he still answered his question earnestly. "...Yes."

Young Song continued, "Mortals live in this world and die. Immortals live in this world and die as well, right?"

"...Yes."

"Grandfather... but mortals are so insignificant." His gaze became increasingly clear. "We die from illness, we die from hunger... we die if we offend the powerful... we die if we block another's path to wealth..."

"I do not want to be a mortal."

At this moment, only firm resolve remained in his eyes.

"I want to be unfettered!"

Whether it be gods, Buddhas, demons, or ghosts! Even the most wretched spirits or strange apparitions... anything will do. It is not about the name... what I want is freedom. Not to be manipulated by anyone else. Not to be restricted by any stance. Not to be bound by any rule... and not even to be eroded by the passage of time—that is true freedom! This is what it means to be immortal!

In that instant, the seed within his Dao-Suppressing Sword Mansion vibrated slowly! The sound, like a beating heart, grew louder and louder! The sword energy surrounding the Dao Seed surged with increasing intensity.

A strand of soft yet resilient spiritual light drifted from the Dao Seed, slowly merging into the embryonic form of his Dao Heart. The small sword hummed softly, its shape becoming perfectly distinct.

At this moment, the scene before him blurred like ink, and everything around him shifted suddenly. The mist on the Path of Tempering the Heart was severed by a sharp edge of spiritual intent.

On Zuo Wang Peak, Song Yan slowly opened his eyes. His sleeves fluttered without wind, and his gaze seemed to contain the myriad phenomena of the world. The Dao Seed within his Dao-Suppressing Sword Mansion had become solid, like polished glass. The lotus sword energy surrounding him transformed into phantom images—birds, beasts, insects, fish, grass, trees, mountains, and rivers... finally manifesting as withered wood, wind, and thunder before him.

He smiled softly. "To not be bound by scorched earth, for withered wood to sprout—that is the free way of life between heaven and earth."

Beneath the Dao-Suppressing Sword Mansion, his heart for seeking the Dao was finally complete!

"..."

Outside the Path of Tempering the Heart, the deacon disciple looked at him with astonishment. Usually, when disciples emerged from the path, their expressions were filled with lingering fear or bewilderment. But this junior brother not only wore a joyful expression, but also had special phantoms condensing around him.

He mused to himself, "Could this be the so-called 'auspicious omen'?"

He looked Song Yan up and down and nodded slightly. The Path of Tempering the Heart was both a trial and an opportunity. Yet, everyone simply treated it as a test. Very few were able to truly face their inner selves and gain something from it. This one before him was likely one of the few.

Thinking that this junior brother was clearly a dragon among men, he decided he should cultivate a close relationship with him. He stepped forward and bowed. "Congratulations, Junior Brother, for successfully passing the Path of Tempering the Heart and formally ascending to the Inner Sect. From here on, we will handle the trivial matters of the transition for you. You may take your Inner Sect disciple badge and robes."

He glanced to the side. "A-Lian."

"Yes." A young Daoist boy hurried forward, holding a tray. On it lay an Inner Sect disciple's robe, neatly folded, with a jade badge resting on top.

Song Yan took them, stored them in his Qiankun bag, and nodded. "Thank you."

The boy looked at him with envy, but obediently retreated behind the deacon disciple.

"Junior Brother, the most important thing now is to choose a main peak so that your cave dwelling can be arranged..."

"Currently, excluding the two special main peaks of Guiyan Peak and Bamo Peak, there are still spots available on the other six peaks."

The deacon disciple politely ushered him into a grand hall. In front of them were eight hanging scrolls.

"Oh, of course, Lianyou Peak does not accept male disciples."