Heavenly Drum Grotto-Heaven, Divine Empyrean Jade Palace.
After returning to the ever-loyal Qiwu Sword Sect, Chen Zhuo let out a breath and began steadying his Dao Heart.
When breaking through, nothing was more dangerous than losing control and falling into madness. The slightest misstep could doom him beyond redemption.
So his first step was naturally to steady his Dao Heart and shut out distracting thoughts.
"Only with a clear Dao Heart can one attain the Dao."
Chen Zhuo drew a deep breath and cast aside every distraction of recent days—every struggle, gain, and loss.
All that remained in his mind was a pure desire to seek the Dao. His breathing gradually grew long and even.
The fate aspect within his mind
hung like a bright Ming mirror, reflecting his true self without concealment.
When Chen Zhuo opened his eyes again, his gaze had turned resolute!
With that settled, Chen Zhuo rose and walked up to the Jianmu.
The next instant, he summoned the Thunderfire Sword. Its light swept around the Jianmu, severing every branch and bud.
Branches snapped, and tender shoots scattered.
Looking at the fallen leaves and branches, Chen Zhuo formed a hand seal and began refining a wood puppet.
Chen Zhuo had not made the Cangmeng Nourishing Origin Physique's Substitute Wood Puppet before. Now that he was about to break through to Foundation Establishment, it was better to make it in advance to guard against any loss.
He held his breath and focused, engraving formation patterns into the shoots, infusing them with true essence, and inscribing talismans with his full attention.
"Second Wood, awaken! Wood puppet, take form!"
At his low shout, the various materials began gathering in a precise order.
As Chen Zhuo's Spiritual Qi took shape, the broken branches and leaves began to change, gradually assuming