Chapter 564: Myriad Forms of the Dao Heart

The Sword Dao Seed pulsed like a heart!

Around it, Sword Qi surged, roaring untamed!

At a certain moment, all the Sword Qi suddenly converged, and time seemed to stop.

Then, the seed appeared to be gently split open by something.

A wisp of sharp, undeniable spiritual light drifted out, solidifying into the shape of a small sword, which floated vertically above the Dao Seed, then slowly descended, half-embedding itself within the Sword Dao Seed.

The Sword Dao Seed, which had once been like a dead object, now seemed to possess life, trembling gently.

The small sword on it also hummed softly in response.

"This is..."

A sudden realization dawned on Song Yan.

"The embryonic form of Sword Intent!?"

"...No, something isn’t right."

He was first pleasantly surprised, but then felt a flicker of doubt.

"It’s not Sword Intent..."

The Sword Planting Technique states that Sword Intent is the will of the Sword Dao. Song Yan hadn’t even properly practiced sword arts for a few days, so how could there be Sword Intent?

Upon closer examination, this so-called "Sword Intent" did not contain spiritual essence as described in the Sword Planting Technique.

What was it... He re-examined the entire Spirit Transformation Chapter from beginning to end but still couldn’t find an explanation for this strange situation.

Aside from Sword Qi and spiritual power, only two things could exist on the Sword Dao Seed: the "Heart of Seeking the Dao" and the "Will of the Sword Dao," both mentioned previously in the Sword Planting Technique.

"...The Heart of Seeking the Dao?"

In the past, a Sword Cultivator’s sword comprised two elements. One was the sword body, which is equivalent to the current Flying Sword.

The other was the true foundation, the Natal Flying Sword.

The Natal Flying Sword required the Heart of Seeking the Dao and the embryonic form of the Will of the Sword Dao, supplemented by Sword Qi and spiritual power, and refined day and night, before it could be condensed.

When attacking, the Natal Flying Sword could be attached to the sword body or wielded independently.

If the sword body shattered, it could still be reshaped, but if the Natal Flying Sword was damaged, at best one’s Realm would fall, and at worst, one would perish.

Truly, the sword lives as long as the person lives; the sword breaks, the person dies.

The Heart of Seeking the Dao was originally formless and insubstantial, naturally merging with the Sword Intent once the Natal Sword Intent took shape.

Because for some Sword Cultivators, these two were in fact complementary, each containing aspects of the other.

However, there was also a rarer situation.

That was when the Heart of Seeking the Dao and the Will of the Sword Dao shared the same origin, appearing simultaneously.

Perhaps it was Xie Tianji’s intense devotion to the Sword Dao, transmitted through this sword inscription, which, with the wondrous effects of the liangyi pearl, resonated with Song Yan’s strong desire for the Great Dao of Immortality and the Dao Seed within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion... the Heart of Seeking the Dao actually transformed into a part of the Natal Flying Sword, appearing within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion!

"But... even if it’s the Heart of Seeking the Dao, it doesn’t seem complete."

Of course, it wasn’t complete.

Because this was, in fact, Xie Tianji’s Heart of Seeking the Dao, not Song Yan’s.

It was simply that this Dao Heart and intention had many similarities with his own "thoughts," and with the aid of the liangyi pearl and the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, it had led to the current situation.

To comprehend the Dao, how could it be easy?

Even the Mortal Xie Tianji, considered a Prodigy, spent half his life to achieve such a state of mind.

Eventually, Song Yan roughly clarified his conjectures.

"It’s also a good thing."

He let out a long breath, calmly gazing at the calligraphic work before him, silent for a moment, then carefully put it away.

To be honest, Song Yan had always considered himself dull, never contemplating that he could touch upon these ethereal things that sounded heavily reliant on Comprehension Ability.

"By chance, a sudden enlightenment, truly ineffable."

He composed himself, sat cross-legged on the stone bed, and meticulously comprehended this Heart of Seeking the Dao.

Mountains flowing, plants swaying, beasts roaring, birds singing, insects flying, fish swimming... wind and rain lashing, lightning and thunder, clouds parting, fog dissipating, sun rising, snow falling... joy and sorrow, love and hate, life and death, separation, the myriad forms of sentient beings... Strangely, this Heart of Seeking the Dao was unrestrained and all-encompassing. Song Yan felt a certain Epiphany in his heart, yet he couldn’t grasp it, letting it dissipate just like that.

"What a profound Realm..."

Song Yan was not disheartened or disappointed; instead, he felt an inexplicable joy.

Considering that a mediocre talent like himself could, by chance, comprehend the Dao Heart, though incomplete, still possessed it, he felt a sudden expansion in his chest.

Hadn’t he broken his Spiritual Root and scattered his cultivation to re-Cultivate, precisely to achieve such a Heaven-Defying change of fate?

Why couldn’t he stand at the center of this world, contending for the Great Dao of Immortality alongside those immortal Dao Prodigies and Sect elites!

Wisps of Spiritual Qi slowly drifted in, following the breathing rhythm of the Qi Condensation Scroll, merging into his meridians, flowing into his Dantian Qi Sea, and slowly nourishing the Dao Seed that had already condensed a sword beneath the Sword Mansion.

"The speed of spiritual power Cultivation is much faster than before."

"It’s even slightly faster than when I hadn’t cut my Spiritual Root."

Furthermore, having already traversed this detour in Cultivation once, he now believed it wouldn’t take long to return to the 5th Level of Qi Refining Realm.

Song Yan didn’t waste time; he immediately entered the state of Cultivating his spiritual power Realm.

For the next few days, he diligently worked, Cultivating his spiritual power Realm and practicing sword control techniques daily.

Supplemented by Medicinal Pills and spirit gathering arrays, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds.

However, the consumption of Cultivation resources was astonishing, and soon he was struggling to make ends meet. So, Song Yan occasionally went to the Sect’s miscellaneous affairs hall to take on some slightly more difficult Sect missions, such as slaying low-level Demon Beasts or collecting medicinal herbs.

On one hand, he earned some Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills to ensure his Cultivation needs, and on the other hand, he could combine his daily practice of sword control techniques with actual combat to refine his Sword Dao.

Song Yan had also considered resuming Alchemy, but his proficient refining of Qi Nourishing Pills was no longer very meaningful; the profit from Spirit Stones was too low, and their effect on his own consumption was minimal.

As for other Medicinal Pills, he didn’t know how to make them, and if he were to start from scratch, the effort and time required would be too great to be worthwhile.

"The path of Alchemy can wait until I Cultivate to the Late Stage of Qi Refining Realm and am promoted to Inner Sect Disciple. It’s not too late then."

Similar to many Sects, the Cave Abyss Sect also had a basic promotion mechanism.

Outer Sect Disciples, if they could reach the Late Stage of Qi Refining, meaning at least the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level Realm, could report to the Sect and apply for the Inner Sect trial.

Upon passing the trial, they could be promoted to Inner Sect Disciple.

By then, they would no longer be bothered by monthly chores and trivial matters. If they truly wanted to resume Alchemy, as long as they humbly sought guidance, the Dan Yuan (Pill Hall/Courtyard) Elder would offer some pointers.

It could be said that the status of Inner Sect Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples was completely different... That night, on Lianyou Peak.

A female cultivator arrived, treading under the moonlight. Her demeanor was cold and aloof, her frost-colored silk robes unstained by dust, and a spirit ice jade hairpin adorned her raven-black hair.

She landed her sword light, stepping down, ice lotuses blooming beneath her toes, instantly shattering into fine snow.

"Senior Sister Qin!"

Several female cultivators guarding the mountain stepped forward to greet her.

"Mm."

"It’s late, Junior Sisters should rest early."

Though the female cultivator appeared as cold as frost, her tone was gentle, and her heart was exceptionally kind.

"With me here, nothing will happen."

The female cultivators couldn’t help but bow gratefully.

The task of guarding the mountain was extremely tedious and mentally exhausting. Now, with Senior Sister Qin, a Sect Prodigy, speaking up, it spared them much toil.

She returned to her Immortal Cave, pausing at the entrance.

A sound transmission jade talisman hung above it.

She frowned slightly, seemingly very reluctantly taking down the sound transmission talisman. After roughly understanding the situation, the worry between her brows slowly eased.

"Sect mission."

"That’s good. Junior Sister Qingqing participated in the Jiran Valley conflict before, so she has some experience in fighting others."

"Let’s send her."