Understanding the Dao Heart

How could Ye Wuchen be willing to remain crippled forever?

His cultivation had been crippled, his foundation destroyed; he had completely become an ordinary man.

An ordinary person only lived for about a hundred years.

With the aid of spiritual pills and wondrous medicines, one could extend one's lifespan, but not by much.

Such a fleeting life simply could not last until the day he reunited with his wife.

The more Ye Wuchen considered the underlying intent of the cultivation method Ye Hao had obtained, the more he felt it was a cultivation method for Proving the Dao and Becoming Emperor.

Otherwise, what cultivation method would demand Clear Mind in one's state of mind?

And make that its foremost core?

In his view, this was more like cultivating one's Dao Heart.

Ye Wuchen could not yet be absolutely certain that this was a cultivation method for Proving the Dao and Becoming Emperor, but if it truly was, then perhaps when he comprehended his own Dao Heart, his Dantian Qi Sea could be restored.

"The next time you break through a realm, do you need to do something that will give you a Clear Mind?"

Ye Wuchen looked at Ye Hao.

Ye Hao nodded lightly.

"Then go do it. I also want to verify whether this truly is a cultivation method for Proving the Dao and Becoming Emperor." Ye Wuchen spoke with some anticipation.

Ye Hao nodded lightly.

But even if his father truly comprehended his own Dao Heart, he did not know whether the Qi Sea in his father's Dantian could be restored.

Still, once his realm was higher, he would find a way to see whether he could restore his father's Qi Sea.

At that moment, Ye Wuchen seemed to think of something. He looked at Ye Hao curiously. "Did you buy those two maidservants from the slave market because it has something to do with attaining Clear Mind?"

Ye Wuchen sensed that something was amiss.

He had not bought maidservants earlier, yet chose to do so at this particular time.

Ye Hao did not feel embarrassed, nor did he avoid the subject simply because the person before him was his father.

Ye Hao said, "It is related to attaining Clear Mind. I'm already at an age when my blood is running hot; I don't want to suppress myself."

Hearing this, Ye Wuchen did not tease him. Instead, he nodded in agreement. "There really is no need to suppress yourself. Once one reaches a certain age, such needs naturally arise. It is like getting hungry—you want to eat when you're hungry. It's perfectly normal. If you deliberately suppress yourself, the loss outweighs the gain. When you're hungry, you should eat and fill yourself up. Only when you're full will you have the mind for other things. If you cannot eat your fill, there will be only one thought in your head: finding every possible way to fill your stomach. That does not benefit cultivation in the slightest."

Ye Hao nodded lightly.

That was what he thought as well.

If one could not satisfy the need to eat one's fill, or went hungry for too long, one would have no mind for anything else. Instead, all one's time and energy would be spent looking for food, leaving no mind for other matters.

It was not absolute.

But for most people, it fit well enough.

Ye Hao's thinking was simple: if he wanted something, he would act on it. That was all.

"Go get busy..."

Ye Wuchen waved his hand, dismissing him. "Come to me once you've attained Clear Mind. I have spirit stones here."

Ye Hao left.

He returned to his own courtyard.

When the two women saw Ye Hao return, they immediately stood up. Like maidservants, they bowed slightly and saluted him. "Young Master."

Ye Hao's bearing had changed.

Before his father, he would lower his posture slightly as a sign of respect.

But before others, Ye Hao appeared somewhat cold and austere.

Ye Hao looked at the two women he had brought back from the slave market. His tone was calm, yet carried absolute authority. "I will teach you cultivation and provide you with cultivation resources. You only need to wholeheartedly fulfill the duties a maidservant should fulfill. Also, since you acknowledge me as your master, you are my, Ye Hao's, people! If anyone bullies you, they are bullying me, Ye Hao! If anyone bullies you, no matter who it is, you must tell me!"

"Yes, Young Master."

"Yes, Young Master!"

The two maidservants bowed, unable to hide the excitement in their eyes.

Their father had been killed by a member of the Li family!

The vengeance of a murdered father could not be borne beneath the same sky!

To avenge him, they had wanted to obtain cultivation resources and formally enter the path of cultivation.

Even if they had to become slaves or servants, even if they had to fall as low as women from the pleasure quarters, they would still avenge their father's death!

But reality was far better than they had expected.

Young Master Ye Hao was handsome and dashing!

And he was even a little younger than they were.

His appearance alone had already satisfied them greatly.

What was more, Ye Hao was a man of courage and had promised to protect them. That alone filled them with gratitude.

It sounded as though they were the ones getting the better deal.

Ye Hao looked at the two of them and said calmly, "Go wash up."

Ye Hao was not a bashful man. Since things had already been said to this extent, they were his own people now.

"Yes, Young Master."

The two maids withdrew.

While the two maids were bathing, Ye Hao had someone deliver twenty sets of clothes, shoes, socks, and the like.

The servants of the clan also brought dinner.

Afterward, he ate with the two maids.

During the meal, he also learned their names.

The elder sister was Lin Shige.

The younger sister was Lin Shiyu.

Having changed into new long dresses, the two sisters looked far more radiant.

The sisters were only twenty years old, still very young.

Early the next morning.

The sky was tinged with the pale white of a fish's belly, and a few birds chirped in the air.

Ye Hao arrived early at the courtyard where his father, Ye Wuchen, lived.

Ye Wuchen handed Ye Hao a Storage Ring and said calmly, "Cultivate."

Ye Hao sat cross-legged on the ground. More than a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones appeared before him.

He then circulated his cultivation technique along its special route.

And began cultivating.

As time passed.

Ye Hao's realm rose steadily.

Sixth Level of Qi Condensation!

Sixth Level of Qi Condensation Perfection!

Seventh Level of Qi Condensation!

Eighth Level of Qi Condensation!

Eighth Level of Qi Condensation Perfection!

After attaining a Clear Mind last night, Ye Hao's realm had ultimately broken through to the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation Perfection!

Ye Wuchen's heart and mind shook violently. He was certain now—this was absolutely an emperor-grade cultivation technique that could lead directly to Proving the Dao and Becoming Emperor, pointing straight at the Dao Heart!

To prove the Dao and become Emperor, one first needed a Dao Heart! After obtaining a Dao Heart, one would begin tempering it until becoming Emperor.

"Hao'er's Dao is a Clear Mind. A Clear Mind is both a Dao Heart and an attitude toward life. My Dao... is to do as I please. I have always wanted to live as I please, but my strength has never been great enough, and all kinds of restrictions have always bound me."

Ye Wuchen continued contemplating his own Dao Heart.

About half an hour passed.

Ye Wuchen's entire body suddenly shuddered. His eyes flew open, and a flash of clarity passed through them.

"My Dao is to do as I please—and it is also dominance!"

The moment his words fell.

A strange Dao rhyme, invisible to the naked eye and impossible to sense, surged wildly into Ye Wuchen's body as though it had gone mad.

Although Ye Wuchen could not sense this strange Dao rhyme, he could sense that his Qi Sea was recovering.

Ye Wuchen was thrilled, but he calmed his heart and focused his mind, concentrating on his Dantian Qi Sea.

Beside him, Ye Hao's divine soul trembled slightly. Within it was a hundred-page heavenly book!

It was the heavenly book he had obtained in the otherworldly realm!

The first two pages of the heavenly book contained the Great Freedom Mad God Art!

The remaining ninety-eight pages had been blank, but now, two more pages had gained words. They contained a cultivation technique!

This cultivation technique transformed directly into an invisible ray of light and instantly entered Ye Wuchen's mind.