The Quest for Immortality

Patriarch Dugu frowned slightly, ”Sword cultivation must proceed step by step; one must not aim too high too soon.”

Mo Hua nodded and said, ”Ancestor, you are right, but you also said that in Sword Dao, there must be a beginning and an end. Once there is a starting point, the endpoint becomes clear, and only then can there be direction.”

”I am now practicing Sword Qi daily, which is the starting point of Sword Dao. The sword moves of Divine Thought into sword is the endpoint. With a beginning and an end, I have a direction to strive toward learning swordsmanship.”

Patriarch Dugu was taken aback.

This child speaks with eloquence, with reasoning one after another.

He is different from all the sword Dao disciples I taught before.

This child’s Taoist Heart is clear, he is sincere with people, and his character is natural. Though he respects me, he is not like other disciples, who are cautious and overly restrained.

Previous disciples, even Xuan Er, revered this Ancestor, and during teaching, did not dare to say too much.

Not to mention someone like Mo Hua, who often asks a bunch of peculiar questions and occasionally makes small requests...

However, what he said is also correct: although laying a good foundation in Sword Dao is important, so too is having a goal and direction.

Ultimately, one must let him know why he is learning it.

Patriarch Dugu nodded, ”Very well, I will explain it to you briefly.”

Mo Hua’s spirit was lifted, he quickly said, ”Thank you, Ancestor!”

Then he sat up straight, listening attentively.

Patriarch Dugu pondered for a moment, then slowly said, ”From Sword Weapon, to Sword Qi cultivation, to Sword Intent transformation, and then to Divine Thought Sword Form.”

”The sword forms of Divine Thought into sword currently have four moves: Sword Transformation, Soul-Shocking, God-breaking, and God Slaying. These four forms are not independent of each other; instead, they progress from shallow to deep, step by step...”

”Transforming Sword Skill is the foundation and also the entry point, it is a process of further manifesting Sword Intent, shaping the sword, turning the tangible into intangible, and then from intangible to tangible.”

”This sword form, seemingly fundamental, contains profound Sword Dao implications. From this point on, the intangible ’Sword Intent’ becomes tangible ’Sword Form.’”

”But this ’tangible’ sword form is essentially still the ’intangible’ Sword Intent.”

”Interchange of tangible and intangible, both tangible and intangible, you cannot comprehend this now, but in the future...”

Saying this, Patriarch Dugu paused, suddenly realizing that he had not taught Foundation Establishment Disciples for a long time, and had inadvertently strayed too far.

The way of tangible and intangible is the realization of the Heaven Void Realm; it’s too early to be talking about it with this child...

However, he turned to look, and saw Mo Hua’s eyes bright, listening with relish, unsure if he truly understood it or was just pretending to understand.

”These things... when your cultivation reaches a certain level, you will understand.”

Patriarch Dugu then continued:

”Transforming Sword Skill is a foundation, an entry, but it’s too weak. Even if it has been transformed into a sword, it must be carefully nurtured and not used lightly, let alone to kill...” S̩

”Therefore, if Divine Thought into sword is to be used in actual combat, the next step is the Soul-Shocking form.” .

Upon hearing this, Mo Hua was taken aback.

When he first comprehended ”Transforming Sword Skill,” he eagerly used it to kill demons far and wide.

Up to now, he has used ”Transforming Sword Skill” to slay countless demon monsters and evil spirits, even cutting down Evil Gods.

But now the Ancestor told him that ”Transforming Sword Skill” is not meant for cutting down people...

This thing is actually just a ”mold,” meant to be carefully nurtured...

Mo Hua’s mood suddenly became complicated.

Patriarch Dugu, unaware of Mo Hua’s thoughts, continued to explain:

”Soul-Shocking form is to further integrate the Sword Intent honed over decades or even hundreds of years into the ’Transforming Sword Skill,’ and then attempt ’Soul Emergence’ through the Divine Soul.”

”As long as your Sword Intent is strong enough, and honed to be sharp enough, then when the Sword Intent emerges, the intimidation on others becomes more terrifying.”

”Even with a pure Sword Heart, some cultivators who have perfected the ’Soul-Shocking Sword,’ can, during combat, make opponents tremble in fear with just a hint of Sword Intent, without even fighting.”

”Sword sheathed, killing intent contained; when unleashed, Ghost Gods tremble.”

...

This is considered the proper training method for Soul-Shocking Sword.

Mo Hua nodded.

Although Divine Thought Sword Cultivators carry the ”Divine Thought” in their name, in essence, all methods originate from the ’sword,’ entering Dao through the sword, and using powerful Sword Intent to intimidate opponents.

His own ”Soul-Shocking Sword,” in contrast, seems a bit like ”taking shortcuts.”

Since his Sword Dao skills were lacking, he borrowed the ”Refining Something Evil” spell point from the Water Prison Sect, transforming and using it. Therefore, while casting a Pupil Skill to intimidate enemies, it’s not purely Sword Intent intimidation, but more about relying on the Taoist Prison Heart Image, and the pains of the Prison Punishment to intimidate and instill fear.

Mo Hua wasn’t sure which was superior but knew his Pupil Skill was certainly ”not proper.”

But since he had already learned it, he couldn’t just abandon it halfway.

Moreover, the orthodox ”Soul-Shocking Sword” does not conflict with his Seven Souls ”Sword Eyes” skill.

On the contrary, if he learned the orthodox Soul-Shocking Sword well, his Pupil Skill would become stronger.

He now roughly had a roadmap in his mind for the advancement of the Soul-Shocking Sword.

Having heard about Transforming Sword Skill and Soul-Shocking form, Mo Hua roughly understood. So he asked again, ”Ancestor, what about the God-breaking Skill?”

Patriarch Dugu said solemnly, ”The God-breaking Skill and God Slaying Technique are quite different. Transforming Sword Skill is the entry point, Soul-Shocking form is enlightenment. Reaching the God-breaking Skill means Divine Thought into sword is slightly accomplished. Mastering the God Slaying Technique is considered a major achievement, allowing you to take on the world, slaying demons and eliminating evil.”

”Oh, oh!” Mo Hua’s gaze filled with anticipation.

Patriarch Dugu’s eyes focused: ”Breaking Sword Form concentrates Sword Intent, converging it at one point. Its killing power is not large, but its penetration is strong.”

”Some demon monsters and evil spirits in the world have innate abilities, naturally possessing evil thoughts, with Evil Evil forming armor, their skin hard as iron.”

”Only by breaking through their armor can you harm their soul.”