Chapter 40: The Myriad Facets of the Dao Heart

The seed of the Sword Path pulsed like a heart, beating with life. Around it, sword energy surged and roared, wild and untamed. Then, in an instant, all sword energy contracted, and time seemed to pause.

The seed appeared to be gently split open by some unseen force. A strand of sharp, brilliant spiritual light drifted out, condensing into the shape of a small sword, standing upright above the seed, then slowly descending, half of it sinking into the Sword Path seed.

Once lifeless, the Sword Path seed now seemed animated, trembling gently. The small sword atop it gave a soft hum in response.

“What is this…” Song Yan was suddenly struck by a realization.

“The embryonic form of Sword Intent!?”

“…No, something is off.”

He was first delighted, then puzzled.

“This isn’t Sword Intent…”

In the art of sowing the sword, it is said that Sword Intent is the will of the Sword Path. Song Yan had barely practiced sword arts in earnest; how could he possibly possess Sword Intent?

Upon careful reflection, this so-called “Sword Intent” lacked the vitality described in the sword-sowing art.

Then what was it…

He searched his memory for anything in the Spirit Transformation chapter that matched this strange occurrence, but found nothing. Within the Sword Path seed, aside from sword energy and spiritual power, only two things should exist: the “heart for seeking the Dao” and “Sword Path will,” as previously mentioned in the sword-sowing art.

“…The heart for seeking the Dao?”

In earlier times, a sword cultivator’s weapon contained two essential parts. One was the sword body—essentially the flying sword they wielded. The other was the true core: the natal flying sword.

To forge the natal flying sword required the heart for seeking the Dao and the embryonic form of Sword Path will, supplemented by sword energy and spiritual power, refined day and night until it was fully formed.

In battle, the natal flying sword could be attached to the sword body, or wielded independently. If the sword body shattered, it could be reforged, but if the natal flying sword was damaged, the consequences ranged from a decline in cultivation to death and the dissolution of the Dao.

Truly, as the sword lives, so does its master; if the sword breaks, the master perishes.

The heart for seeking the Dao has neither form nor substance. Once the natal Sword Intent is shaped, it naturally merges with the Sword Intent. For some sword cultivators, these two are deeply intertwined, inseparable.

Yet, there exists a rare circumstance where the heart for seeking the Dao and Sword Path will originate as one, appearing simultaneously.

Perhaps it was Xie Tianji’s fierce obsession with the Sword Path, transmitted through the sword script, combined with the mystical power of the Twofold Pearl, and Song Yan’s own longing for the path to immortality, resonating with the Dao seed within the Sword Palace…

The heart for seeking the Dao had become part of the natal flying sword, manifesting within the Sword Palace.

“However… Even the heart for seeking the Dao seems incomplete.”

Of course it was incomplete.

For it belonged to Xie Tianji, not Song Yan. Yet this heart and intention closely resembled Song Yan’s own, and through the Twofold Pearl and Sword Palace, it had taken shape in this peculiar way.

To comprehend the Dao is no easy feat. Even Xie Tianji, an extraordinary genius among mortals, spent half his life to reach this state of mind.

At last, Song Yan pieced together his conjecture.

“It’s a fortunate event, after all.”

He exhaled deeply, gazed calmly at the sword script before him, and after a moment’s silence, carefully put it away.

Truth be told, Song Yan had always considered himself dull, never imagining he could touch upon such elusive, perception-based mysteries.

“A stroke of fate, a blessing of insight—truly beyond words.”

He steadied his heart, sat cross-legged upon the stone bed, and quietly contemplated the heart for seeking the Dao.

Rivers and mountains flowed, grass and trees swayed, beasts roared, birds sang, insects fluttered, fish swam…

Wind and rain lashed, lightning flashed, clouds parted, fog dispersed, sun rose, snow fell…

Joy and anger, sorrow and happiness, love and hate, enmity and passion, life and death, separation and reunion, the myriad states of all beings…

Curiously, this heart for seeking the Dao was boundless, embracing all things. Song Yan seemed to glimpse enlightenment, but could never quite grasp it, letting it fade away.

“What a mysterious state…”

Yet Song Yan did not grow discouraged. Instead, he felt a sudden, inexplicable joy.

Considering his mediocrity, he had, by chance, gained the Dao heart, albeit incomplete, but it was his nevertheless, and his chest felt broadened.

On that day, when he burned his bridges, severed his spiritual root, and dispersed his power to rebuild from scratch, it was for the very purpose of defying fate.

Why shouldn’t he stand at the heart of this world, and compete with those prodigies of the immortal path and the elite of the sects for the great road to longevity?

Threads of spiritual energy drifted in, following the rhythm of his breath and cultivation, merging into his meridians, gathering in his dantian and sea of qi, gently nourishing the Dao seed beneath the Sword Palace, which had already begun to condense into a sword.

“My spiritual power cultivates much faster than before.”

“It’s already surpassing my speed before I severed my spiritual root.”

Having already traveled the arduous path once, it wouldn’t take long to return to the fifth stage of Qi Refinement.

Without delay, Song Yan entered the state of spiritual cultivation.

Over the next few days, he worked diligently, cultivating spiritual power and practicing sword techniques each day.

With the aid of elixirs and spirit-gathering arrays, his progress was swift—almost miraculous.

Yet the consumption of resources was immense, and soon he was short-handed. So Song Yan occasionally accepted moderately difficult sect tasks from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, such as slaying low-level monsters or gathering herbs.

On one hand, he earned spirit stones and elixirs to support his cultivation needs; on the other, he could combine his daily sword practice with real combat, thus advancing his mastery of the sword.

Song Yan had also considered returning to the path of alchemy, but his skill with nurturing qi pills was too familiar to be profitable, and their effects on himself were negligible.

As for other elixirs, he lacked the expertise, and starting from scratch would demand too much time and energy for too little return.

“The path of alchemy can wait until I reach the late stages of Qi Refinement and advance to the inner sect.”

Like many sects, the Cave Abyss Sect had a basic promotion system.

Outer disciples who reached at least the seventh stage of Qi Refinement before the age of twenty-five could petition the sect to attempt the inner sect trials.

Passing the trials meant advancing to the inner sect.

At that point, he would no longer be burdened by monthly chores and trivial duties. If he wanted to resume alchemy, he could seek instruction from the elders of the Alchemy Court.

The status of inner disciples and outer disciples was entirely different.

…

That night, atop Lotus Serenity Peak.

A female cultivator walked in the moonlight, her presence cold and refined. Her frost-colored robes were untouched by dust, and a hairpin of icy jade adorned her raven-black hair.

She descended from her sword light, each step blooming into ice lotuses, which shattered into fine snow in an instant.

“Sister Qin!”

Several mountain-guarding female cultivators hurried forward to greet her.

“Mm.”

“It’s late. You should rest, sisters.”

Though her expression was cold as ice, her tone was gentle and her heart kind.

“With me here, nothing will happen.”

The women bowed gratefully.

Guarding the mountain was tedious and draining; now, with the sect’s prodigy Sister Qin’s assurance, their burden was eased.

She returned to her cave residence and paused at the entrance.

A communication jade talisman hovered before her.

Her brows knit in displeasure as she reluctantly took it down. After learning the gist, her worries gradually eased.

“A sect task…”

“Well, Qingqing did take part in the Quiet Valley dispute earlier, so she has some experience in combat.”

“I’ll send her, then…”