The Dao Heart Ever Pure, the Wisdom Sword Severing Mortal Attachments

The Scripture Library, Path-Seeking Courtyard.

After eating and drinking his fill, he saw Chang'anzi off.

Xuanming sat cross-legged on a cushion, closed his eyes, and visualized the Divine.

Last night, after entering the Mystic Pass and reading the Yellow Court Scripture, he had gained two insights besides the Purity Formula.

First, he had perfected the Primordial Unity Qi Formula.

The vision of heaven and earth opening last night had, in fact, represented the cultivation process of the Essence Refining Realm.

The primordial chaos was like the human body: mysterious and boundless, filled with secrets, treasures, and immense potential.

Heaven and earth were the Yellow Court—the Lower Dantian.

The two qi of Yin and Yang symbolized harmonizing Yin and Yang.

The birth of all things represented the Hundred-Day Barrier.

The appearance of mountains and rivers represented the Jade-Liquefying Realm.

The stabilization of heaven and earth represented the blossoming of the Essence Flower.

Now, the Primordial Unity Qi Formula could take him to the perfection of the Essence Refining Realm, its wonders inexhaustible and its mysteries boundless.

It was among the finest Essence Refining cultivation methods under heaven.

Second, he had comprehended the Eight Outer Visions True Method.

He had gained it by watching those eight deities stabilize heaven and earth, and it matched the Eight Outer Vision Deities of his previous life's legends.

For example, the True One Vision Stomach Deity was named Tong Weiyu, styled Dao Zhan, and yellow; the Lower True Two Vision Intestine Deity was named Zhao Tengkang, styled Dao Huan, and reddish-yellow.

The Yellow Court Scripture held that the human body resembled heaven and earth, concealing countless workings of creation and myriad Divine qualities. Its acupoints, organs, marrow, meridians, and gateways of life and death all housed Divine. Through focused contemplation and visualization, one could attain longevity and enduring vision, living as long as the sun and moon.

With each deity he successfully visualized through the Eight Outer Visions True Method, Xuanming's essence, qi, and spirit would greatly increase, his Primordial Heaven origin would surge, his blood vitality, strength, and breath would multiply, and his Dao body would become more condensed and powerful.

It was a superior method that cultivated both the inner and outer self.

Seated on his cushion, Xuanming planned to visualize the stomach Divine first, letting it command the two qi of Yin and Yang and hasten the birth of the left yang and right yin Divine. Then he would use those two Divine to draw in the Great Sun Purple Qi and Lunar Essence, refining True Yang and True Yin into a virtuous cycle.

An hour later.

He opened his eyes. A faint, hidden Divine radiance flowed through them—very faint, but unmistakably there.

He had gained entry so quickly because the Yellow Court Scripture had improved his root bone and comprehension.

He rose and stepped outside. With a light push of his toes, he sprang upward. As he had that morning, Xuanming sat cross-legged atop a tree, circulated his profound art, and gathered Lunar Essence to strengthen the primordial qi within him.

Only after half an hour did he stop and return to his room to rest.

At dawn, desire was at its strongest.

The root of his troubles stirred restlessly, unusually active.

Even Xuanming's self-control struggled to endure it, forcing him awake.

Especially since he had remained a virgin for a full sixty-year cycle in this life, and his cultivation method was unusual. For him, this trial of desire was like an old house catching fire—ferocious indeed!

Sitting cross-legged, Xuanming silently circulated the Purity Formula. An invisible Wisdom Sword appeared at his Mystic Pass and severed the delusions in his heart, keeping his Spirit Platform clear. It was as though he had truly cut himself once, severing his troublesome attachments.

Once he suppressed his desire, Xuanming opened his eyes. Outside the window, the morning sun rose in the east while the moon sank in the west; sun and moon exchanged places, and Yin-Yang Confluence.

First, he mobilized the power of true yang and true yin. As Yin and Yang converged, they returned to their source as wisps of hazy gray Primordial Chaos Qi, which he then transformed into immense Magic Power.

Then he sat atop the tree and gathered the Dawn Purple Qi.

After breakfast, he entered the scripture tower again to read.

Reading scriptures, comprehending the Dao, gathering qi, severing desire, refining power, visualizing the Divine...

Xuanming devoted himself to cultivation, immersed in it. Gradually, he experienced the profound wonders of the Great Dao. The Dao Qi around him grew richer, its principles accumulated in his heart, and an understanding of its methods arose naturally.

Time flowed on; still waters ran deep.

By the time he came back to himself, the hundred days were nearly over.

Seated atop the tree, the white-haired old Daoist breathed purple qi in and out.

Violet mist swirled like a purple cloud around him. He refined part of it, while the rest flowed into the Three Treasures before him.

Finishing his cultivation, Xuanming smiled in satisfaction at the two pieces of Thunderstruck Wood and the Heavenly Silkworm Silk floating before him.

Over this period, he had combined the abbey's secret methods with frequent cleansing and purification of the Three Treasures using the essence of sun and moon and his primordial unity magical power.

Now, his Hundred-Day Barrier was nearly complete.

The Three Treasures, too, had undergone eighty-one days of cleansing and refinement.

The Lightning-Struck Peach Wood had already taken the shape of a sword blank.

The energies of the Lightning-Struck Jujube Wood and Heavenly Silkworm Silk resonated, acquiring a wondrous connection.

Recalling the hardships of these days, even Xuanming broke into a cold sweat and secretly counted himself fortunate. He had gained firsthand understanding of just how arduous the Great Dao was.

The Hundred-Day Barrier was only a general term.

Some achieved foundation establishment in a month, others in a year.

It depended on the strength of one's Primordial Heaven origin.

Generally, children possessed abundant Primordial Heaven origin and innocent hearts, making it easiest for them to endure the Hundred-Day Barrier.

He, however, truly had to endure a hundred days.

The trial of desire was hard to bear, perilous every day.

Not one day more would do, nor one day less.

During the first month, it increased by onefold each day.

With the Purity Formula and his self-control, he could still endure it.

During the second month, it increased by twofold each day.

He had to cut himself free at least a hundred times daily.

He also had to read scriptures such as the Purity of the Heart Scripture, using their teachings to divert his attention.

During the third month, it increased by threefold each day.

He had to cut himself free at least a thousand times daily.

Besides reading scriptures, he also had to use the mountain's icy pool to sever his desire.

Had he not successfully visualized the three true Divine—the stomach Divine, left Yang Spirit, and right yin deity—greatly strengthening his physique, and had he not had primordial unity magical power to sustain him, he might truly have failed to endure it.

"The day will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves; I shall hoist my cloudlike sail and cross the vast blue sea."

Xuanming sighed with feeling.

Fortunately, it would all soon be over.

Fortunately, no ridiculous melodrama had arisen during these hundred days just because he had entered cultivation.

Early the next morning.

The morning sun had yet to rise, and the waning moon had yet to set.

The white-haired old Daoist sat cross-legged atop the tree, his expression solemn.

Closing his eyes and focusing his mind, he silently circulated the Primordial Unity Qi Formula. Sun and moon united, and a vast surge of energy poured into him once more.

With practiced ease, Xuanming transformed it into Magic Power.

Like floodwaters breaking a dam, the roar of rushing rivers rang out within him. Vast quantities of Primordial Qi surged from True Yang and True Yin, transforming into billowing Magic Power as boundless as the sea.

A gentle breeze blew, sending his Daoist robes fluttering.

A powerful aura surged out of him.

The Hundred-Day Barrier was complete; his Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment had ended!

Riding the momentum, Xuanming pressed on in one burst, broke through the bottleneck, and entered the Third Realm: the Jade-Liquefying Realm.

He circulated his power through the heavenly circuit, sending vast amounts of Magic Power along the Ren and Du Meridians into his Lower Dantian.

On True Mystery Peak, a figure rose into the air.

Xuanxu looked toward the Scripture Library in delighted surprise.

"Senior Brother has broken through!"

On Blazing Sun Peak, another figure rushed straight toward the Scripture Library. Burly and sporting a full beard, he was none other than Daoist Xuan Yang.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sounds of figures slicing through the air rang out incessantly.

Xuan Yin, Xuan Kong, and the others also stirred.

Half an hour later, the red sun hung high. Xuanming reined in his aura, his realm exceptionally stable and his bearing even more Immortal and sage-like.

Opening his eyes, he felt genuine joy.

Not only had he broken through and multiplied his strength, but the Hundred-Day Barrier's tempering had also purified his Dao Heart, as though all worldly adornments had been washed away, leaving him renewed.

Glancing at the Daoists waiting outside the courtyard, Xuanming rose, drifted lightly to the ground, and stepped outside.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, on safely passing the Hundred-Day Barrier."

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior Brother."

The Daoists offered their congratulations, all sincerely meant.

The Truth-Seeking Abbey was only a small Daoist lineage, with a relatively short history and limited strength.

The other Daoists were only at the Fourth Realm, and Third Realm cultivators were already mainstays of the abbey.

Senior Brother Xuanming had entered the Dao through a superior foundation-establishment method. The stronger he became, the better things would be for the Truth-Seeking Abbey, which would benefit them as well.

"This old Daoist merely broke through by good fortune. Thank you, junior brothers, for your concern."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Daoists took their leave. They each had matters to attend to and knew that Senior Brother Xuanming, having just broken through, needed to properly master his strength.

After seeing them off, Xuanming sat cross-legged in his thatched cottage and carefully examined the changes within himself. He still needed to work at controlling his Magic Power and physical strength at will.

Fortunately, the Hundred-Day Barrier was behind him.

He had finally waited until the clouds parted and the moon shone through.

That evening.

Chang'anzi slipped furtively into the Path-Seeking Courtyard.

Aside from the abbot and elders, whose profound cultivation had allowed them to sense it, only Chang'anzi, living next door, knew of Xuanming's breakthrough.

A moment later, seeing a plate of tender spirit meat and a Spirit Crane egg on the table, Xuanming's brow twitched.

"You slaughtered Junior Brother Xuan Kong's Spirit Crane?"

Chang'anzi immediately protested his innocence.

"Martial Uncle, how would I dare?"

"Those are Martial Uncle Xuan Kong's treasures."

"I haven't lived long enough yet."

"I bought these from the Fire Dwelling Hall with my private savings."

Tapping a finger lightly against the table, Xuanming said gravely:

"This old Daoist will give you one more chance."

"Speak properly, and tell the truth."

Chang'anzi immediately began hemming and hawing.

Under the pressure of Xuanming's gaze, he hesitantly said, "I stole... I saw how well Junior Sister Chang Ning raised her chickens on Pure Maiden Peak, so I sincerely borrowed one, especially to congratulate you on your breakthrough."

Hearing this, Xuanming's eyelids twitched wildly.

Junior Sister Xuan Su was far harder to deal with than Junior Brother Xuan Kong.

Chang Ning was her beloved daughter, doted on since childhood. The girl had no other hobbies—she simply loved eating chicken.

The spirit fowl she raised were famous throughout the Truth-Seeking Abbey.

"No one saw you, did they?"

"Rest assured, Martial Uncle. You can trust my work."

Seeing Chang'anzi thump his chest in assurance, Xuanming relaxed for the moment.

The lad was reasonably reliable when it came to getting things done.

Then he began enjoying the meal in earnest.

After all, he had not stolen it.

If someone came knocking, he would profess complete ignorance and flatly deny everything three times over.

Surely Junior Sister Xuan Su would not beat Chang'anzi to death.

He had to admit, this chicken really did taste good.

Meanwhile, on Pure Maiden Peak.

A pretty young Female Daoist counted the spirit fowl returning to their nests, her brows knitting slightly.

"No matter how many times I count, there's always one missing."

"Did it run off to another peak and fail to return in time, or did someone have the gall to steal my damn... this humble Daoist's chicken?"

Inside the Scripture Library, tea fragrance curled through the air, mingling with the scent of books.

Xuanming read scriptures and comprehended the Dao, as always.

Rather than growing lax after his breakthrough, he became even more focused on absorbing the scriptures' principles. Taking them as his foundation, he observed mountains and waters and contemplated their mysteries.

Reading scriptures, comprehending the Dao, refining power, cultivating...

The days passed one after another.

Xuanming's attainment gradually increased, and his magical power deepened.

Mountains and waters were his neighbors; clouds and wind, his companions.

In his leisure, he wandered Floating Cloud Mountain, enjoying its scenery and watching the seasons change.

He lived comfortably and leisurely, his heart free and at ease.

He was very satisfied with his present life.

Most importantly, the rule that transmigrated protagonists attracted calamity had not attached itself to him.

After entering the Dao, nothing happened.

During the Hundred-Day Barrier, nothing happened.

After his breakthrough, nothing happened.

It was thoroughly ordinary, and that was good.

Daoists sought purity and tranquility; this was exactly how it should be.

Until half a year later, when the skies cleared after snow, spring thunder first rang out, and all things stirred from winter dormancy, Floating Cloud Mountain suddenly shook, the earth quaking and the mountains rocking.