He looked around again and found that the once-crowded hall now held only him.

The old man stroked his snow-white beard, a smile on his face as he looked at Song Changsheng. "I have met countless people in my life. Your innate talent can only be considered Middle Lower, yet your comprehension is of the Upper Upper grade. Truly strange."

The sudden change startled Song Changsheng. A chill ran down his spine. ’Is this old man truly just a fabrication of the Sword Stele?’

Suppressing the shock and unease in his heart, Song Changsheng composed himself and gave the old man a solemn bow. "This junior pays his respects to Senior."

Perhaps sensing his anxiety, the old man reached out and helped him up, breaking into a smile. "There’s no need to be nervous. I am but a projection."

Before Song Changsheng could reply, the old man continued, "Speaking of which, you and I share a certain connection. I never expected we would meet in this way. It can only be said that some things are destined by fate."

Song Changsheng looked up, a hint of speechlessness in his eyes, and then began to rapidly ponder what the old man meant by "connection."

But no matter how he racked his brain, he couldn’t recall when he had ever been involved with such a powerhouse.

He had no choice but to bow respectfully. "This junior is slow-witted. I implore Senior to enlighten me."

The old man gave him a knowing smile and tapped his own forehead.

In that instant, Song Changsheng felt a jolt of electricity run through him. His head... inside his head, there was a secret he never dared to reveal: the Creation Wondrous Scripture.

’Could this be the connection the old man was talking about?’

"Have you figured it out? Correct. The Creation Wondrous Scripture is what I created after my Ascension, drawing from the strengths of a hundred schools of thought. Besides teaching it to those few disappointing disciples of mine, I also made several copies and cast them into the boundless Star Sea to find those with fate.

"After so many years without news, I thought some mishap had occurred. To think I would meet you here, within the legacy left by my old friend. It truly is the will of heaven." The old man’s tone was filled with gratification.

But Song Changsheng latched onto three words in particular: "after my Ascension."

’No wonder the Creation Wondrous Scripture is so profound—it came from the hands of an Immortal!’ Song Changsheng’s eyes were wide with shock. His mind immediately started racing. ’This is a colossal backer! Even a single strand of hair from his leg would be more than enough to set me up for life!’

And the old man’s next words made him ecstatic.

"Though we do not have the title of master and disciple, we have the reality of it. Due to the cycles of karma, I cannot be stingy. It is only right and proper that I prepare a Grand Ceremony gift for you."

Song Changsheng nearly fainted from joy. He quickly prostrated himself and said, "Disciple pays his respects to Master."

The old man nodded kindly and helped him up, but his next words instantly petrified him, and his blazing heart turned ice-cold.

"However, I left this projection here at the request of a good friend, merely to teach the method for refining the Sword Pill.

"Now that you’ve mastered it, I have nothing left to teach you. Never mind, never mind. After you achieve Ascension, I will prepare a proper initiation gift for you then."

Song Changsheng was instantly dumbfounded. ’Ascension? You really think highly of me, don’t you, old sir?’

"Thank you, Master." Song Changsheng bowed respectfully. He knew full well that this was only a projection, and its capabilities were extremely limited.

But understanding was one thing; he still felt a little disappointed deep down.

"Mm, not arrogant, not rash. Your disposition is acceptable.

"Since you have called me Master, I naturally won’t let you do so for nothing. I’ll leave this for you. I hope you can make use of it in the future."

The old man extended a finger and gently tapped the spot between Song Changsheng’s eyebrows. A brilliant light flashed. Song Changsheng felt his mind go into a trance, and then he sensed several orbs of light appear in his mind, floating unsteadily in his Sea of Consciousness.

"Master, this is...?" Song Changsheng was pleasantly surprised.

Life was full of ups and downs, but nothing like this. He had already given up hope, but to his surprise, there was an unexpected gain. Could anything an Immortal gave be ordinary?

The old man stroked his beard and said, "Don’t ask too many questions. You can examine them yourself after you leave. Each orb of light has a Restriction placed upon it. Every time you break through to a new Great Realm, a corresponding Restriction will be undone.

"It’s not that I am deliberately limiting you, but your foundation is too shallow right now. Knowing some things too early would not be good for you and might even bring about a fatal disaster."

"Disciple understands Master’s kind intentions," Song Changsheng said quickly.

The old man nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. Wake up."

As his voice fell, before Song Changsheng could react, his surroundings instantly changed. The scene returned to how it was before: numerous Cultivators were trying to seal their Sword Intent, and the old man was still standing by the Bronze Cauldron, watching everyone with a kind expression.

A realization dawned on Song Changsheng. It was time for him to leave.

Thus, he respectfully bowed to the old man, then turned and walked out of the hall.

Just as one foot crossed the threshold of the hall, a kind voice suddenly echoed in his ear: "The Sword Dao True Intent lies not in technique, nor in Dharma. It originates from the heart and arises from the spirit.

"Cultivate well, and do not be lazy.

"My title is Heaven-Supporting. If you are able to achieve Ascension one day, you may come find me."

——————

"It originates from the heart and arises from the spirit..."

In front of the Sword Stele, Song Changsheng slowly opened his eyes, murmuring this sentence over and over.

The next moment, he seemed to have an epiphany. Everything he had seen before now clicked into place. Within his Dantian, a Qi Vortex materialized out of thin air above the distinct black and white Yin Yang Dao Foundation.

Song Changsheng raised his index finger. With a thought, a faint wisp of Sword Qi coiled around his fingertip.

"This is... the rudiment of Sword Intent?"

A single sentence of guidance from the old man had allowed him to synthesize everything he had observed from the many steles and comprehend the rudiment of Sword Intent!

The power of an Immortal was truly terrifying.

Looking at the Sword Stele before him, Song Changsheng was filled with emotion. It was widely rumored that this Sword Stele was left behind by an Immortal. He hadn’t believed it before, thinking it was just a baseless legend.

But now, seeing the orbs of light that truly existed in his Sea of Consciousness, Song Changsheng understood the rumors were true.

From the old man’s last words, he now knew his title was Heaven-Supporting.

And in the Purple Imperial Realm, that title represented only one person.

The one who, in ancient times when the Artifact Refining Technique was not yet mature, created the method for refining the Sword Pill, established his own orthodox lineage, and finally ascended to the Upper Realm—the Heaven-Supporting Sword Immortal!

’Perhaps this is the reason the Daoist Scripture brought me to be reincarnated in this world after my death in my previous life.’

’And as a friend of such a Great Power, the owner of this Sword Stele must be no simple character either. Maybe they were also some Sword Immortal from the history of the Purple Imperial Realm.’

"It’s just as the saying goes: the flower you plant with care may not bloom, while the willow branch you stick in the ground by chance grows into a shady tree. I had no intention of pursuing the Sword Dao, yet I’ve stumbled onto its path. So be it. I’ll just consider it a way to broaden my horizons."

Song Changsheng let out a soft sigh, stood up, and bowed to the Sword Stele.

Fortunately, everyone around him was focused on comprehending the Sword Stele, so no one heard him. Otherwise, he probably would have been mobbed and beaten up.

After all, many people spend their entire lives without ever touching the threshold of Sword Intent, yet he had stepped over it with ease and still seemed displeased.

But Song Changsheng wasn’t just playing coy after getting an advantage; he meant it sincerely. The Sword Dao was different from other paths; it demanded a lifetime of dedicated pursuit.

He knew his own limits best. He could never become a Swordsman like Song Qingxing or Xu Yunhe. For him, the Sword Dao was merely an additional means of attack.

’Still, this trip was definitely worth it. Not only did I figure out the origin of the Daoist Scripture, but I also latched onto a powerful backer—even if I can only truly rely on him after my Ascension.

’Oh, right. I still don’t know what Master left in my mind. I’ll have to find some time to check.’ Song Changsheng thought to himself. He glanced at Song Qingxing and saw that he still hadn’t moved.

After a moment’s thought, he called over a disciple from the Celestial Sword Sect. "Excuse me, are there any quiet rooms available? This one has had a small epiphany."

The Celestial Sword Sect disciple was already used to such requests and replied, "The Stele Forest will remain open for another five days. Senior, please follow me."

...