The meaning of the righteous path

Standing in the cold forest, Li Linquan Huo Ran felt as if the gloom before him had been swept away and he had finally regained his senses after many days of being in a daze.

I wonder which senior came to give me guidance...

"His Swordsmanship has reached a state of perfection; he himself is probably not even Great Grandmaster..."

Who was it that specifically sought his help?

"Your kindness is as heavy as a mountain..."

Li Linquan bent down to pick up his sword, walked out of the woods, and headed down Xiumei Mountain along the stone-paved path.

Many eyes were cast at him, full of affection. Some girls even mustered up their courage, ran quickly to his side, handed him a handkerchief, and then turned and ran away, blushing with embarrassment.

Martial arts fanatic Li Linquan was still quite bewildered by his current situation, and thought with a slight sense of confusion:

Why are you giving me a handkerchief?

"To express love?"

"But you didn't say anything, so I can refuse..."

Seeing a young man eager to come over, also holding a handkerchief in his hand, Li Linquan quickened his pace and quickly arrived at the Golden Pool Lake, intending to find a familiar painted boat to bathe, change clothes, and wash away the dust.

Just as he was about to board the boat, he saw two familiar faces disembark: Xie Fengchao, a handsome and elegant man, and Bai Qilin, an ordinary-looking man who blended perfectly with the lake and its banks.

Fifth Young Master Xie noticed at a glance that Li Linquan's face was covered in tears, and he truly looked pitiful.

He sized the man up and down, noting that his clothes were fairly neat, and couldn't help but ask:

"Young Master Li, what's going on?"

Did someone beat you up and make you cry?

Li Linquan smiled happily:

Having witnessed the path of the sword immortal, I realize that what I thought was right is now wrong.

"Has he gone even crazier?" Xie Fengchao asked cautiously.

What does it mean to say that what is right today was wrong yesterday?

"I was caught up in my Heart Demon a while ago, blindly rushing forward, which made my fellow practitioners laugh at me." When Li Linquan was in a good mood, he was quite polite. "Only today do I realize that a towering building cannot rise from the ground. I am still a long way from returning to simplicity and authenticity. It cannot be achieved overnight; I still have to proceed step by step."

It seems he's awakened... awakened by the path of the sword immortal? Xie Fengchao asked, unable to hide his curiosity:

What is the path to becoming a sword immortal?

Li Linquan was immediately lost in memories, and said leisurely and wistfully:

"The laws of the world are revealed in a single sword strike."

"I cannot describe the details, it's a pity you didn't get to see it."

"Who showed you the path to becoming a sword immortal, Young Hero Li?" Bai Qilin's curiosity was piqued.

Li Linquan shook his head:

"His face was unfamiliar; I had never seen him before. He was asked by someone to come and give me guidance."

"He should be a Great Grandmaster."

Xie Fengchao and Bai Qilin exchanged a glance, both somewhat taken aback.

Many Celestial Person wield swords, but only a handful can be called sword immortals.

Just as "Phoenix Crying in the Nine Heavens in the Yu Chongyuan, " Benevolent Sword " was famous throughout the world, yet he still lacked the title of Sword Immortal.

On Xiumei Mountain, Ding Songyan accompanied Twelfth Madam on a stroll, admiring the desolate Winter scenery.

"I heard Li Linquan had eaten that herb before, and I was wondering if it would affect his mental state. I didn't expect him to be such a martial arts fanatic, caring about it but not really caring," Twelfth Madam Luo casually remarked. "Judging from the ' Thunderlight Heaven-Splitting Sword ' just now, it might not be such a bad thing."

"What do you mean?" Ding Songyan asked earnestly.

Twelfth Madam Luo recounted in detail:

"I have met other Martial Grandmaster of the Leiyin Gate before. They all pursue unparalleled strength and power. But you should know that thunder is the way of Yin and Yin and Yang. Only when Yin and Yang interact can thunder be produced."

"Li Linquan ate some grass, and gained a touch of yin and yang, which is in line with the way of heaven. He may be able to surpass his predecessors in the ' Thunderlight Heaven-Splitting Sword,' and even develop and sublimate the technique."

"Achieving a higher level of cultivation is no easy task." Ding Songyan had only ever heard of his Senior Sister's ancestors.

The more powerful the skill, the harder it is to further refine it.

Twelfth Madam Luo hummed in agreement:

"I was also taught the two texts, 'Name' and 'Reality,' and only after cultivating them to the Celestial-Human Realm did I grasp some of their principles and slightly elevate my original cultivation method."

Twelfth Madam, don't speak of such shocking things with such a calm expression... Your original cultivation method must have been a top-tier inheritance, yet you were able to further elevate it. Your martial arts talent is simply exaggerated. If I didn't have "Deriving Dao and De," I wouldn't even be worthy of carrying your shoes... Ding Songyan sighed.

After exchanging details about the "Thunderlight Heaven-Splitting Sword" for a while, Ding Songyan, who had benefited greatly, casually joked:

"The Charming to Others ' is truly remarkable. Even a man as masculine as Li Linquan unconsciously reveals a hint of flattery, which was especially evident when he was moved to tears earlier."

"He was lucky to have started taking it when he was around ten years old. If he had taken it when he was young, it would have been even more potent as he grew up," Twelfth Madam Luo said calmly, showing no pity for Li Linquan, as if similar appearances and temperaments were commonplace.

She turned her head and glanced at Ding Songyan:

"You weren't just waking him up; you were truly guiding him on the path of swordsmanship."

"How could they be so kind?"

Ding Songyan sighed and smiled:

"Young Master Li has a good reputation and is a martial arts fanatic. Since we have the chance to meet, and I once led him astray, as Dao One, I am naturally willing to give him more guidance so that he can better uphold justice in the future. Some Martial Arts can be kept to oneself, while others are unnecessary. The more people walk this path of swordsmanship, the more beneficial it will be for me."

"Isn't it through this kind of passing on of knowledge and mutual support that we, the righteous path, have always been able to prevail over Outer Dao?"

Before Luo Mingyin could respond, he smiled and said:

"Twelfth Madam, weren't you also fortunate enough to meet her, and as a righteous master, she kindly guided me?"

Twelfth Madam Luo chuckled softly:

"If you hadn't said that last sentence, my impression of you would have changed. Why did you add that sentence on purpose? Do you want me to give you more pointers?"

"I didn't originally intend to add that sentence," Ding Songyan with a frank smile, "But didn't you say before, Twelfth Madam, not to always play mind games and to speak your mind directly?"

Twelfth Madam Luo's lips curled slightly as she leisurely said:

Sometimes, speaking out is a form of strategy.

As he spoke, the Manager turned north, taking advantage of the panoramic view from his vantage point, and pointed to the magnificent and splendid Forbidden Palace:

"How was Emperor Jianwu able to rule over the Nine Provinces and Four Prefectures despite being a Grandmaster of the Law Realm, and even command Grandmasters of Heaven and Man to do his bidding?"

A biting wind blew by, causing Twelfth Madam Luo's hair and the hem of her skirt to flutter wildly.

The Great Zhao had three prefectures in total, but the common people felt that they were closer to prefectures and were used to referring to them together with Heaven-Bearing Prefecture as the Four Prefectures.

Ding Songyan was pondering and about to answer when Twelfth Madam Luo turned her head and smiled, saying:

"No need to rush to tell me, think it over more, and tell me in a couple of days."

She quickly added in a self-deprecating tone:

"Start with 'name' and 'reality.' I don't know much about anything else, so I can't give you any guidance."

"Thank you, Twelfth Madam." Ding Songyan bowed solemnly.

Twelfth Madam Luo stopped wandering around, descended Xiumei Mountain, and headed south along Golden Pool Lake.

As the Manager passed by a lakeside with withered willows, he stopped and gazed at the shimmering surface of the lake, remaining silent for a long time.

Ding Songyan's mind wandered to the heavens, digesting Twelfth Madam's evaluation of the "Thunderlight Heaven-Splitting Sword" that day.

After a while, Twelfth Madam Luo sighed:

"When I first entered the martial arts world, I chatted with a few friends here by the lake, dreaming of one day recovering the northern lands, spreading virtue to Hundred Tribes, destroying evil and demons, and restoring peace to the world."

"Back then, I was full of lofty ambitions and never imagined that one day I would give up fame and fortune, stay in a small courtyard, chop wood and read books, do as I please, and drift with the tide."

"A young man with lofty ambitions knows no sorrow." Ding Songyan chuckled.

Twelfth Madam Luo smiled as well:

"At least they haven't forgotten about chivalry."

After saying that, she turned around and headed towards Tiger Tail Alley, leaving Ding Songyan with only one sentence:

Let's go.

As she walked, her dark Black Cloth swayed slightly, while her dark red short jacket remained still.

Upon arriving at the Cheap Wine Shop, Ding Songyan spent another fifty taels of silver to ask Chef Shi and the others to help him inquire about the situation in Shushui Street. Afterward, he did not linger and returned to the Prince's Residence.

He practiced what he had learned that day in the courtyard, slowly integrating it into his own "Dao One Sword".

Li Baima came out carrying two short swords and glanced at them casually.

He realized that after so much time, he still couldn't understand Brother Ding's Swordsmanship. It wasn't that he hadn't interacted with other disciples of the Xiaoming Sect, but whether it was the "Cosmic Star-Dipper Swordsmanship" or the "Seven Night-Illuminating Swords," he could at least figure out what they were about. Unlike now, he could only glimpse the appearance of those two Swordsmanship from Brother Ding's occasional changes in moves.

Ding Songyan put away the Cold Shadow and asked with a smile:

"Didn't go out?"

Today's shift is over, and it's time for my day off.

"No, I just want to hone my Swordsmanship more," Li Baima said with a wry smile.

"You've made progress..." Ding Songyan thought for a moment and said:

"Elder Brother Li, just practicing isn't enough. You need to find time to go to the Warrior Mansion Ward and practice in the arena. It's okay if you lose; it won't kill you."

"I understand." Li Baima nodded heavily.

He then said:

"Second Brother Wu and Fourth Brother Fan want to go to the Rippling River with you."

"I'm not going." Ding Songyan shook his head. "I've recently gained some insights into Swordsmanship; I need to seize those moments and deepen my mastery."

These days, going to the Rippling River, isn't it just asking to get hung up and whipped by the Little Sister?

We can't exactly invite Twelfth Madam Twelfth Madam along, can we? She'd chop us into eight pieces...

Besides, I've already started flirting with my Senior Sister, so why would I need to go anywhere else?

Li Baima had gained some new insights into Swordsmanship... Recalling his previous sparring experience with Ding Songyan, he hesitated for a moment and said:

"Brother Ding, may I ask you for some more guidance?"

This was the most powerful Dayan Realm martial artist he had ever seen in the Prince's Residence. Learning from him would surely improve his own skills.

The sect leader has passed away; we must seize every opportunity to become stronger.

"Okay." Ding Songyan was planning to find someone he was familiar with to try out a previous idea—to use "Deriving Dao and De" to deduce the flow of qi in familiar moves and try to incorporate "Betrayal-Trust Sword" into his own Martial Arts.

After Li Baima bowed, he assumed a fighting stance and slashed out with his right sword, grazing the blade of his left sword.

These sparks, now reddish, strung together to form a scorching stream of light.

Ding Songyan remained motionless, watching intently until Li Baima had used all his moves, then raised his Cold Shadow and thrust it forward.

The crimson flames extinguished instantly, and the two short swords clattered to the ground, revealing a flaw where there had been none.

Li Baima hurriedly changed his move, but no matter what move he used, Ding Songyan simply broke it with a single sword strike, either by targeting his weaknesses or by creating something out of nothing.

Li Baima grew increasingly apprehensive as the battle progressed.

This is very similar to the legendary "Betrayal-Trust Sword," but it is also very different. It is balanced and peaceful, and its ability to strike later but arrive first seems to contain some kind of Principles of Law of heaven and earth.

By the time Ding Songyan sheathed his sword, Li Baima was already drenched in sweat despite the early winter weather.

Only after the other person went back to their room to change clothes did he dare to breathe heavily.

He knew beforehand that Brother Ding was very capable and unfathomable, but today he realized that his previous judgment was too narrow-minded.

If one is a firefly and the opponent is the bright moon, one can probably hold out for a while against Martial Grandmaster of the Law Realm!

As his expression shifted, Li Baima suddenly had an idea.

With such a bright moon right beside me, why would I bother seeking guidance from others when it's so close?

Ding Songyan changed his clothes and walked back to the courtyard, preparing to wait for dinner, when he saw Li Baima come over in a few steps and immediately perform a deep bow:

"Brother Ding, could you perhaps offer some guidance on this matter occasionally?"