Xuan Heng Enters the Quasi-Saint Realm

Over the next several centuries, Xuan Heng absorbed a wisp of Kong Xuan's karmic force every hundred years, and the seed of his Dao laws grew ever more solid.

Kong Xuan had also obediently cultivated at Kunlun these past years. While practicing the Profound Pure Immortal Art Xuan Heng had passed down to him, he also trained with the sword.

Whenever Xuan Heng asked whether there was anything he did not understand, he would always say no. Yet after Xuan Heng helped him sort through his karmic force for the fourth time, he did not immediately leave Xuan Heng's cave abode.

"What is it? Why are you so unsettled today? Is there some problem?"

Xuan Heng could tell that Kong Xuan seemed to have something to ask, so he spoke up at once.

"Master, over these past centuries, aside from cultivating the Profound Pure Immortal Art you taught me, I have also been practicing swordsmanship. But I have run into a problem. Even when I practice the sword, I unconsciously blend my innate divine ability, the Five-Colored Divine Light, into it. Yet I feel that if I train this way, I will go against the original purpose of practicing the sword."

Kong Xuan sat on the cushion below and spoke.

"Mm, I understand. But your master is not skilled in the Dao of the sword. In a few years, once I have recovered, I will take you to visit your Third Martial Uncle."

After hearing Kong Xuan's question, Xuan Heng nodded. The Profound Pure Great Dao he cultivated specialized in purification, suppressing calamities, and protecting the Dao; he was not adept at swordsmanship. As the saying went, one should not be ashamed to ask those beneath oneself. Tongtian did not have many disciples by his side now—if he did not pluck some wool from his third brother, the supreme master of the sword Dao, then when would he?

"Yes!"

Thus, a few years later, Xuan Heng brought Kong Xuan to Upper Purity Peak.

When Xuan Heng arrived with his two disciples, Tongtian was at the summit of Upper Purity Peak, wiping down the Green Duckweed Sword. Seeing Xuan Heng approach, he immediately smiled. "What brings Fourth Brother to my place today?"

Xuan Heng did not beat around the bush and spoke directly. "Kong Xuan received your Azure Cloud Sword. He has encountered quite a few problems while cultivating the sword Dao these past years, and since I am not skilled in swordsmanship, I brought him here to seek your guidance."

The smile on Tongtian's face deepened after hearing Xuan Heng's words.

"Fourth Brother, you truly are not afraid of losing face as a master."

"Not knowing is not knowing. Teaching blindly and teaching wrongly—that would be truly shameful."

Xuan Heng's expression remained calm. The ancestors had said that one should not be ashamed to ask questions. If he did not understand something, naturally he had to seek instruction from someone who did.

Tongtian laughed heartily upon hearing this. "Fourth Brother, I like those words."

Then Tongtian turned to Kong Xuan, who stood beside Xuan Heng. "Your master does not understand the sword Dao, so he brought you to me. Since you have taken my Azure Cloud Sword, it would disgrace me if you went out there having trained into a complete mess."

Hearing Tongtian's words, Kong Xuan immediately cupped his hands in salute. "This disciple requests Third Martial Uncle's guidance."

Tongtian did not immediately teach him any sword forms. He merely turned his fingertip into a sword and lightly traced it through the air.

There was no sword light soaring into the heavens, nor any earth-shaking killing intent—only a clean azure sword mark that swept past Kong Xuan's eyes.

The instant that sword light appeared, Kong Xuan's heart jolted. To his astonishment, his Five-Colored Divine Light could not lock onto that faint strand of sword intent from Tongtian at all.

Tongtian turned to look at Kong Xuan. "Your innate divine ability is too strong—so strong that whenever you encounter any attack, your first reaction is to use your Five-Colored Divine Light to sweep it away."

"But you should understand your own physical condition. Right now, you do not have the capacity to use your Five-Colored Divine Light whenever anything happens. So you must learn to protect yourself even without relying on that innate divine ability."

Kong Xuan tightly gripped the Azure Cloud Sword in his hand. "This disciple understands."

Tongtian sat across from Xuan Heng, glanced at Kong Xuan, and said, "From today onward, come to my Upper Purity Peak once every fifty years. First learn how to keep your Five-Colored Divine Light from blending into your sword Dao."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Heng immediately cupped his hands. "Many thanks, Third Brother."

Tongtian waved his hand.

"Your first personal disciple—could I, as his Third Martial Uncle, simply ignore him?"

After saying that, he cast Kong Xuan another glance, his tone growing more casual.

"Train well. Do not let your master think he has taken in a disciple who only knows how to charge headlong on talent alone."

Kong Xuan pressed his lips together and solemnly lowered his head.

"This disciple will not disappoint Master."

Seeing this, Xuan Heng felt much more at ease. Kong Xuan's talent was too high—so high that the Five-Colored Divine Light had already been carved into his very bones. Since birth, he had never considered cultivating any other divine abilities or sword arts.

If he could truly forge a pure sword heart under Tongtian's guidance, he would gain more means of attack in the future, as well as more cards to hold in reserve.

Afterward, Kunlun returned to its usual bustle. Ever since Kong Xuan arrived, Six Ears had been somewhat gloomy. He had originally been Xuan Heng's only disciple, so the sudden appearance of a senior disciple naturally left him feeling unaccustomed.

Yet though Kong Xuan had a cold temperament, he did not bully Six Ears. His comprehension was high, and his progress in cultivating the Profound Pure Immortal Art far exceeded Six Ears's. Whenever Six Ears found himself unable to advance, Kong Xuan would often guide him.

After spending some time together, the little monkey instead came to respect Kong Xuan as his senior brother.

Another thousand years passed. After ten extractions by Xuan Heng, the outermost and weakest layer of fire baleful karma on Kong Xuan's body had been completely stripped away.

Kong Xuan could now use the Five-Colored Divine Light in a simple manner without suffering backlash from his karmic force.

Xuan Heng's changes were even greater. By now, the seed of his Dao laws had become exceptionally condensed. By his own estimation, he was only one step away from growing a Dao tree of laws.

After preparing for five hundred years, Xuan Heng deliberately brought Kong Xuan to the side of the lotus pool, just in case.

"Master, are you truly going to do this? I am fine. Do not injure yourself for my sake."

Kong Xuan sat beside the lotus pool, his tone carrying a trace of concern.

"Mm. Sit properly. This time will certainly hurt more than before."

With a wave of his hand, the Purifying White Lotus flew out from between Xuan Heng's brows. Its twelve-grade lotus petals unfurled, and purifying white light descended, enveloping Kong Xuan's entire body.

The Calamity-Suppressing Gourd hovered to one side, its mouth opening slightly as profound azure light fell and suppressed the several deeper strands of fire baleful karma within the depths of Kong Xuan's origin.

Profound Pure Immortal Light condensed at Xuan Heng's fingertips into a fine thread and slowly entered Kong Xuan's shoulder.

The moment he touched that deep-seated karmic force, the Five-Colored Divine Light behind Kong Xuan instinctively trembled.

Crimson, azure, yellow, white, and black radiance intertwined, as though it were about to protect its master of its own accord.

Kong Xuan gritted his teeth and forcibly suppressed the Five-Colored Divine Light that was on the verge of erupting.

The next moment, a strand of black-red karmic force far thicker and heavier than before was drawn out by the Profound Pure Immortal Light. The instant it left Kong Xuan's origin, a piercing phoenix cry rang out above the lotus pool.

Within that cry was the roar of volcanoes, the mourning of countless birds, and the lingering unwillingness left behind by the war between dragons and phoenixes.

The fire-baleful karmic force followed the Profound Pure Immortal Light straight into Xuan Heng's body, like a blazing inferno crashing directly into his Primordial Spirit.

The Purifying White Lotus blazed with white light, and the Calamity-Suppressing Gourd shook violently. The two treasures protected their master on their own, instantly wrapping Xuan Heng's Primordial Spirit in purifying white light and calamity-suppressing clear light.

Xuan Heng closed his eyes and forcibly circulated the Profound Pure Immortal Scripture.

The black-red karmic force churned within him, seeking to invade the Law Dao Seed.

Xuan Heng used the Profound Pure Immortal Light to wash over it layer by layer, grinding away its resentment, killing intent, and fire-baleful intent one by one. The process was both exceedingly slow and exceedingly painful.

Kong Xuan opened his eyes and saw Xuan Heng's deathly pale face and the fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his brow. His guilt only deepened.

After an unknown length of time, that strand of black-red karmic force was finally ground down into an extremely faint strand of tribulation-origin energy.

Xuan Heng drew upon the Law Dao Seed and slowly refined it into it.

"BOOM!"

Above the lotus pool, profound azure clear light suddenly surged forth.

The Law Dao Seed within Xuan Heng, tempered for so long, finally broke open completely.

A tiny root burrowed deep into the Great Luo Dao Fruit, then sprouted its first tender branch.

Though that tender branch was small, it stood firmly at the heart of the Dao Fruit.

Xuan Heng slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of profound azure radiance vanished from them.

In an instant, his aura crossed the threshold between Great Luo and Quasi-Saint.

The Law Dao Seed took root and sprouted branches—the Profound Pure Dao Tree had taken its initial form!