Minor mastery of the diagram record, three sword marks

White clouds turned to gray hounds; three days passed in the flick of a finger.

Floating Cloud Mountain, Truth-Seeking Temple, Pure Maiden Peak.

A middle-aged Female Daoist who still retained her charm emerged from seclusion. She had barely left her meditation chamber when a young girl came flying toward her.

The middle-aged Female Daoist was none other than Xuan Su.

At the sight of Chang Ning, her eyes curved into crescents, her cold expression softening. The next instant, however, Xuan Su's pupils trembled violently. Her eyes widened as she seized her daughter by the collar and demanded in terrified panic:

"How did you break through?"

"What on earth happened?"

"Tell me everything, right now!"

Chang Ning had never seen her mother so distraught. She immediately nodded, not daring to conceal anything, but just as she was about to speak, her mother covered her mouth.

Xuan Su swept her sleeve, sending a streak of cold light to one side. With a crack, a Projection Stone crumbled to dust. She snorted, looked toward Firecloud Peak, and snorted again.

"Once I've dealt with the important business, I'll settle accounts with you."

With that, she pulled Chang Ning into the meditation chamber.

She waved her hand again to set up wards against prying eyes and eavesdroppers, then began questioning her daughter.

This matter was simply too important. If word leaked out, it would do nothing but harm both Truth-Seeking Temple and Chang Ning. She could not afford to take it lightly.

Dao Repository Peak, Dao Inquiry Courtyard.

Xuanming knew nothing of Xuan Su's reaction.

He focused on his seclusion, sorting through what he had gained.

Half a month later, deep within Floating Cloud Mountain.

A waterfall thundered, its roar ceaseless.

A thousand-foot waterfall plunged from a cliff, like the Heavenly River spilling down from the nine heavens.

Its waters surged with majestic power.

Beneath the waterfall, the white-haired old Daoist's robes fluttered.

He stepped forward. As he walked, an illusory Yin and Yang diagram suddenly appeared above his head. Its black and white halves became two Yin and Yang fish that swam around each other, chasing, playing, and blending together.

When he stepped beneath the waterfall, the Yin and Yang diagram softened the mighty torrent and diverted it to either side.

Spray scattered everywhere, veiling a rainbow in mist—a breathtaking sight.

A moment later, Xuanming turned and left the waterfall, utterly unharmed throughout.

Standing beside the pool once more, he gazed at the plunging waterfall and beamed.

He had emerged from seclusion today, having attained minor mastery of the Yin-Yang Diagram Record.

That small trial had shown its power to be quite impressive.

Together with the Five Thunder Orthodox Method, his other abilities, and his ever-deepening cultivation, Xuanming believed he would rarely find an equal in the Essence Refining Realm. Still, he did not let success go to his head.

Essence Refining was merely the starting point of the Great Dao.

Above it lay Qi Refining, Spirit Refining, and even the legendary True Immortals, Buddhas, and peerless Demon Sages.

The road stretched endlessly ahead, its way long and fraught with obstacles.

He still had a very long way to go.

He could not afford negligence or carelessness.

Remembering the promise he had made not long ago, Xuanming turned to leave. With a light tap of his toes, he floated up like a feather.

His white hair streamed behind him, his robes snapping in the wind.

A thousand feet passed beneath a single step, as though he were an Immortal.

Near Truth-Seeking Temple, on a mountain to the west.

Xuanming stood atop a tree, looking up at the thousand-foot cliff before him. With the Peachwood Sword in hand, he unleashed his first strike.

A hundred-foot ray of sword light flashed into being. The earth shook, rocks burst apart, and dust billowed.

A single stroke sheared the thousand-foot cliff flat, leaving a vertical face as smooth as a mirror.

Such a disturbance had already drawn Truth-Seeking Temple's attention.

With whistles through the air, Xuanxu and the other Fourth Realm cultivators arrived first, just in time to see Xuanming unleash his second strike.

Whoosh!

The sword sang, its light even more magnificent.

A ray of sword light nearly two hundred feet long split into eight, leaving an eight-trigrams pattern upon the smooth, vertical cliff.

The sword marks were rough, the pattern rugged.

Yet every Daoist drew in a sharp breath.

Searching their hearts, they knew they could not accomplish such a feat. Never mind two hundred feet of sword light—they could not even produce a hundred.

This alone offered a glimpse of Senior Brother Xuanming's strength.

While the Daoists were still reeling, Xuanming unleashed his third strike.

Sword in hand, he gently swung the Peachwood Sword. His movement was slow and unremarkable, with no terrifying sword light, no piercing Sword Qi, no fearsome sword intent, nor any other extraordinary phenomenon.

Yet that ordinary strike made every Daoist feel needles against their backs. Cold sweat streamed down them as they sensed an overwhelming terror.

It was as though they stood before a Qi Refining True Person.

A dot appeared at the center of the eight-trigrams pattern on the cliff.

It looked like an ordinary mark chiseled into the rock, but none of the Daoists dared dismiss it.

As they gazed at the third sword mark, their spiritual senses suffered a shock, as though they were seeing a gigantic sword thrust straight into the heavens.

After only a few breaths, their spiritual senses began to sting, and they dared not continue looking or seeking insight.

Meanwhile, Xuanming put away the Peachwood Sword, approached the Daoists, and instructed them:

"This poor Daoist has little to his name. Only my swordsmanship is barely worth showing. These three sword marks are all closely related to our temple's Eight Trigrams Sword Art. To prevent the disciples from setting their sights too high while lacking the ability to match, I have placed restrictions upon them."

"Disciples below the Third Realm can only see the first sword mark. Third Realm disciples may view the second, and those in the Fourth Realm may view the third."

At his words, the Daoists immediately bowed under Xuanxu's lead and said with heartfelt sincerity:

"Thank you for your efforts, Senior Brother."

"We thank you on behalf of the temple's disciples."

Xuanming waved dismissively. "I, too, am a Daoist of Truth-Seeking Temple. Naturally, I hope our younger disciples will achieve something in their studies."

"Now that Sword Cliff is complete, I have fulfilled my promise. Unless something requires it, do not disturb this old Daoist's peace."

"If possible, gather more Daoist scriptures and texts. I have no other hobbies; I simply enjoy reading scriptures."

"Also, the tree that towers above the forest is the first the wind will break. Until I become a True Person, do not reveal that I have entered the Fourth Realm, lest our enemies set their sights on me and bring trouble."

After leaving those instructions, Xuanming turned and departed.

He walked upon the wind, his retreating figure graceful and unrestrained.

Led by Xuanxu, the Daoists bowed once more.

"Farewell, Senior Brother."

After Xuanming left, the Daoists descended to the foot of Sword Cliff.

Looking at the sword marks before them and sensing their abundant sword intent, they were overwhelmed with emotion.

"To think Senior Brother Xuanming has already become this strong."

"If we spar again, I fear this poor Daoist won't withstand even one move. He would crush me with ease."

Then they exchanged smiles.

"The temple's disciples are blessed."

"Indeed. Senior Brother Xuanming's sword intent holds layer upon layer of profound mysteries, making it easy to lead people into the Dao. Provided the disciples aren't too foolish, they should all gain something. They have it far better than we did back then."

"More than that, this third sword mark will greatly benefit us as well. If we can comprehend it, our strength will surely rise to another level."

After discussing it for a while, the Daoists remembered something more important and grew excited. Xuan Yang spoke first.

"To think Senior Brother Xuanming had already entered the Fourth Realm. If not for today, we would probably still be in the dark."

Quick-witted as he was, Xuan Tong understood after a moment's thought.

"Senior Brother Xuanming must have gained some insight while we were down the mountain providing relief to the common people, allowing him to break through."

"None of us were on the mountain then, which is why we didn't know."

The Daoists nodded at his words.

That explanation did indeed make sense.

Xuan Su added:

"Senior Brother Xuanming never intended to hide it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have revealed it of his own accord this time. We simply never asked and couldn't perceive it ourselves."

The Daoists nodded in agreement.

They truly could no longer fathom the depths of their senior brother's strength.

Xuan Kong laughed heartily. "Our senior brother possesses a Superior Dao Foundation. Now that he has entered the Fourth Realm, becoming a True Person is only a matter of time."

"When that happens, our Truth-Seeking Temple will surely surpass even its glory when the founding master was alive. Favored by fortune, we will flourish with every passing day."

Xuan Yin smiled in agreement. "Judging by Senior Brother Xuanming's bearing, he should already have the finished bamboo in his heart. I imagine we will witness history for Truth-Seeking Temple within a few years at most."

At those words, brilliant smiles spread across the Daoists' faces, their hearts filling with longing and anticipation.

If Truth-Seeking Temple truly produced a True Person, its standing would become entirely different, greatly benefiting both their own Dao Paths and those of the disciples.

"Since all of you understand, from this day onward, do not disturb Senior Brother Xuanming's cultivation."

"And certainly do not trouble him with miscellaneous affairs."

"Until he becomes a True Person, we must support him with all our strength and provide him with a peaceful environment."

"From now on, this is Truth-Seeking Temple's foremost priority."

"If anyone violates this, do not blame this poor Daoist for showing no consideration."

Xuanxu laid down the final decision.

None of the Daoists objected, and they reached an agreement.

Just then, Xuan Yang asked curiously:

"Senior Brother, if you used the inherited Dharma Sword, could you unleash sword light as magnificent as Senior Brother Xuanming's just now?"

Equally curious, the other Daoists turned to look at him.

Xuanxu shook his head helplessly, turned, and walked away.

Though he said nothing, his silence spoke louder than words.

Understanding dawned on the Daoists. They looked toward Dao Repository Peak with reverence in their eyes: Senior Brother Xuanming was already the strongest person in Truth-Seeking Temple.

Even without their temple master's instructions, they would not dare disturb him lightly now, lest they receive a beating.

Rustling sounds reached them. Seeing that the disciples would soon arrive, the Daoists drew their swords and assumed their stances.

Even Xuanxu returned and drew his Dharma Sword.

This was the arrangement they had agreed upon.

Until Senior Brother Xuanming became a True Person, they would say that Sword Cliff was the work of their combined efforts.