My Dao Was Mine to Decide!

According to the scroll information provided by Ning Feng.

The ancient place of heritage indicated by the gold ring is called [Sword Inquiry Forest].

This place is even somewhat well-known in the entire cultivation world of Northwest China.

Ordinary places for passing down traditions are mostly set up for specific successors.

Once the core inheritance is taken away, the secret realm will either collapse or be completely sealed off.

It was a one-off deal.

But the Sword Inquiry Forest is completely different.

It is said that the Swordsmanship techniques passed down in this place are not just one or two, but countless, like a vast forest.

Every sixty years, seventy-two golden rings will spontaneously condense and disperse from this place, scattering in all directions.

Anyone who observes the precepts, regardless of their background or whether they are righteous or evil, may enter into it.

As long as you can pass the corresponding tests, you can choose a Swordsmanship that suits you to inherit.

Therefore, a speculation circulates in the cultivation world: this Sword Inquiry Forest is very likely a secret inheritance site set up by an ancient Sword Dao sect that has long disappeared in the long river of history with astonishing methods.

Its purpose is not to select a specific successor, but to ensure that its own Sword Dao tradition continues unbroken and is widely spread.

As for who will ultimately inherit the legacy—whether they are righteous or evil, human or demon—it was not within the considerations of those who set up the scheme.

As long as the Sword Dao can be passed down, the goal will be achieved.

"The spirit and philosophy of ancient sects are indeed very different from the sectarianism of today."

They don't even care who their family traditions have been passed down to.

Just pass it on.

Qi Yun memorized the core information about Sword Inquiry Forest from the scroll, then extended a wisp of pure Yin Sha black energy from his fingertip, enveloping the leather scroll.

With a hissing sound, the scroll rapidly corroded and carbonized.

In the end, it turned into a small clump of ashes, scattered by the wind, leaving no trace.

The scroll also mentions that the entrance to the Sword Inquiry Forest is not fixed in a certain mountain or ridge, but can be found by simply finding an ordinary well.

Throwing the gold ring, which serves as proof, into the well will automatically open the entrance to the land of inheritance; it is truly miraculous.

"The entrance is random, and it can be opened with a token—that's convenient. No wonder the Seven Kills Sect has difficulty completely blocking the news," Qi Yun thought to himself.

Seeing that the entire cultivation world in the Northwest is now focused on the great confrontation between Foundation Establishment True Person in Teapot Valley, it is the perfect time to fish in troubled waters and handle personal matters.

Qi Yun's eyes flickered slightly, and he no longer hesitated.

He picked up the Soul Refining Banner leaning against the side, and his figure disappeared silently into the dense mountain forest behind him like a ghost.

After a few leaps and bounds, it completely disappeared without a trace.

Several days later, on the edge of an abandoned mountain village.

Qi Yun found a dry well that was half-hidden by vines.

The well's stone walls are mottled, and the bottom is deep, dark, and long since dried up.

With his Divine Sense spreading out, Qi Yun, despite having already used the Thousand Cranes Talisman to search the surrounding dozens of miles, still maintained basic caution.

After confirming that no one was watching, he took out the dull, unlustered gold ring.

Without hesitation, he flicked his finger.

The gold ring traced a faint arc before falling straight into the deep well.

The moment the golden ring touched the darkness at the bottom of the well, a sudden change occurred!

Countless tiny, dazzling silver specks of light, like stars, suddenly emerged from the bottom of the previously dry well.

These points of light spun rapidly, forming a vortex. At the center of the vortex was not well water, but a hazy and unknown curtain of light.

A vast, ancient, yet pure and sharp Sword Intent faintly emanated from the light screen!

The entrance is open!

Qi Yun a deep breath, tightened his grip on the Soul Refining Banner, and without the slightest hesitation, leaped into the strange vortex of light in the well!

A dizzying, weightless sensation washed over me.

Once his feet were firmly planted on solid ground, he regained his balance and took in his surroundings. Even with his current State of Mind, he couldn't help but show a look of shock.

He found himself standing on a sheer cliff, thousands of feet above the ground.

Beneath our feet lay hard rock, marked with the marks of swords and axes.

Behind them lay endless void; there was no way to retreat.

Looking up, one sees a vast, boundless sea of clouds, rolling endlessly.

Amidst the sea of clouds, countless ancient swords of varying shapes, lengths, and styles, exuding a rustic charm, floated silently among the clouds.

These ancient swords range in size from as large as mountains to as slender as willow leaves; some are wreathed in lightning, some flow with frost, some burn with divine fire, and some are shrouded in deathly silence.

Each ancient sword exudes a unique and powerful Sword Intent and Daoist charm.

What's even more captivating is that the blades of these ancient swords don't simply gleam with a cold, sharp light; instead, they reflect a variety of mysterious and wondrous phenomena, with the sun, moon, and stars circling and dying around the sword's spine.

The phantom images of mountains and rivers floated on the hilt of the sword;

Illusions of all living beings, their loves and hates, flowed within the Sword-Ray;

Furthermore, various incomprehensible ancient magical patterns and Daoist marks flickered on the sword's surface.

It seems that each sword carries a great Dao, a unique Swordsmanship passed down through generations.

A biting wind whipped at Qi Yun's robes and Soul Refining Banner, making a rustling sound.

Standing atop this sheer cliff, gazing at the countless ancient swords amidst the sea of clouds, only one thought occupied my mind:

"This is the Sword Inquiry Forest?"

Based on the information obtained previously.

Qi Yun knew about this Sword-Viewing Sea of Clouds.

This is the first test in the Sword Inquiry Forest.

Those seeking the Dharma who enter the Land of Inheritance must sit cross-legged here and quietly observe the shadows of the swords.

This place is mysterious; the sword shadows are not inanimate objects, but rather change with the observer's thoughts, reflecting, like a clear mirror, the deepest obsessions and pursuits of the Dao within their hearts.

Is it the pursuit of the power of slaughter, to stain the sky with blood?

Is it a yearning for the power to protect and safeguard the region?

Is it a yearning for Changsheng, to transcend the cycle of reincarnation?

Or is it seeking a state of carefree wandering, free from all constraints?

The test here is not about choosing a "correct" or "noble" answer, but about understanding one's Mingxin nature and confronting one's true self.

If one's words and actions are inconsistent, and one's thoughts are chaotic, greed and pretense are intertwined.

Then the sea of clouds will immediately surge and churn, with thousands of sword shadows clashing and creating an overwhelming and irresistible force of repulsion.

Those whose hearts are not sincere will be instantly sent out of this place of inheritance, forever cut off from this path.

Only when one is truly open and honest, with pure and unwavering faith, and clearly understands one's own desires and needs, can the sea of clouds calm down and reveal the rainbow bridge leading to the next question.

Qi Yun slowly sat down cross-legged on the edge of the cliff, placed the Soul Refining Banner on his lap, abandoned all distracting thoughts, and focused his mind on himself.

Let's confront that most fundamental question head-on.

I, Qi Yun, have cultivated myself to this day; what do I seek?

At first, the sword shadows in the sea of clouds began to slowly swirl as his mind calmed down.

Sword shadows transformed into mountains of corpses Blood Sea, radiating an overwhelming killing intent.

That is the ultimate path of slaughter; a single thought can bring down millions of corpses.

Sword shadows transformed into an impregnable wall, radiating a powerful protective light.

That is the way of protection, willing to bear the weight of ten thousand pounds.

Sword shadows transformed into ethereal immortal plants, radiating vibrant life.

That is the path to Changsheng, the desire to live as long as heaven and earth.

The sword's shadow transforms into a free-spirited cloud or a wild crane, exuding an air of transcendence.

That is the way of carefree living, a yearning for unrestrained freedom.

These roads all have their own allure.

However, Qi Yun's mind swept over them, but did not linger for long.

Slaughter? He did not shy away from killing, but he was not bloodthirsty. For him, killing was more of a means to clear obstacles and plunder resources than an ultimate goal.

Protect? He was all alone, having transmigrated here. He had no loved ones or friends he needed to protect with his life. For him, the sect was more of a place to stay and a platform to use.

Changsheng? It may be alluring, but if Changsheng means eternal bondage and struggle, then Changsheng is far too boring and pathetic.

Carefree? It seems fitting, but he knows full well that without strength, so-called carefree life is nothing but a mirage, a castle in the air.

A few moments of confusion flashed in Qi Yun's eyes, but he quickly regained his senses.

His mind continued to explore inward, eventually touching upon that deepest, most essential obsession.

It wasn't some grand vision, but a longing that originated from the depths of the soul.

Since he inexplicably transmigrated here, he has been like a rootless duckweed, experiencing a long period of wandering and uncertainty.

He was later sold into the Limitless Devil Sect, which was like falling into an even bigger prison.

The brutal competition in the Outer Mansion, the infighting in the Inner Mansion, the pressure of missions from the sect, and the relentless pursuit of powerful enemies...

There was an invisible force pushing him forward at all times, forcing him to keep moving forward without stopping or daring to relax.

He was tired of this feeling of being powerless!

His obsession was not about wielding absolute power, nor was it simply about killing or Changsheng.

Rather—being at ease!

It means being able to break free from all oppression and constraints imposed upon oneself and truly take control of one's own destiny.

My actions and conduct follow my heart; my path is my own!

As soon as this thought arose, the sea of clouds instantly surged with waves.

This is the fundamental motivation behind his diligent cultivation and his relentless pursuit of any opportunity for improvement.

Power is the tool for achieving freedom.

Rather than the goal itself.

Having figured this out, Qi Yun felt a sudden sense of clarity, and there was no longer any confusion or hesitation in his mind.

His eyes became incredibly clear and resolute.

At that very moment, the sword shadows that had been shifting and reflecting countless desires in the sea of clouds suddenly changed!

All the strange phenomena—mountains of the Blood Sea, impregnable walls, ethereal immortal plants, and carefree clouds and wild cranes—vanished completely.

The myriad sword shadows seemed to be drawn inward by some pure will, beginning to converge and condense.

Finally, before him, above the surging sea of clouds, there were no longer any intricate sword shadows, only a seemingly simple yet perfectly straight ancient sword with an inner sharpness.

This Sword Intent reveals no killing intent, no protection, no Changsheng, and no carefree spirit.

Only with a resolute and unwavering determination to break free from shackles and prisons, to follow my own path!

The sea of clouds had completely subsided at some point, leaving behind a smooth, mirror-like surface.

A rainbow bridge, formed from the convergence of seven-colored rays of light, appeared out of thin air from the cliff beneath Qi Yun's feet.

It stretches across the boundless sea of clouds, extending into the unknowable depths, exuding a tranquil and mysterious aura.

Qi Yun slowly stood up, his face proud and composed.

He had long understood that once he embarked on this path, there was no turning back.

Life is like a game of chess; once a move is made, there's no going back.

Holding the Soul Refining Banner, he stepped onto the rainbow bridge of rosy light, his figure gradually disappearing into the depths of the sea of clouds, to face the trials that awaited him in the Sword Inquiry Forest.

And his Dao heart, after undergoing this test of his conscience...

It became increasingly clear-headed and resolute.