Outside the cabin.
Sun Yangming sat on a stone chair with a jug of wine placed before him. He raised his cup and drank freely on his own.
But his expression was far from pleasant; instead, he looked somewhat irritated.
Liu Qingchan sat beside him, a touch of helplessness on her face.
Ever since that day when he had clashed with Luo Yin, Sun Yangming had gained a faint glimmer of insight into the Sword Dao and immediately entered secluded cultivation.
He had hoped this would allow him to touch upon the Supreme Sword Heart, or perhaps even break through to the Marquis Realm.
Yet after several days in seclusion, he made no progress whatsoever. On the contrary, his frustration only grew, and his understanding of the sword grew ever more muddled.
With no other choice, he had emerged ahead of schedule.
Upon coming out, he had hurried straight to Heavenly Secrets Peak to find Luo Yin for a drink.
Luo Yin, however, seemed occupied at the time, and only two young women were present, so Sun Yangming could only drown his sorrows alone.
Creak!
The wooden door of the cabin swung open, and Luo Yin’s figure appeared in the courtyard.
“Elder Sun, you’ve only been in seclusion a few days? Out already?”
Luo Yin approached Sun Yangming with a smile and took a seat on the stone chair opposite him.
Ling Qingxue followed close behind, her appearance altered, and settled beside Luo Yin.
She knew Sun Yangming’s visit this time was hardly just for the wine.
No doubt, he also wanted to discuss matters of the Sword Dao with Luo Yin.
And Ling Qingxue herself was deeply curious about the depth of Luo Yin’s comprehension of the Sword Dao.
Once Luo Yin had sat down, Sun Yangming poured him a cup of wine, then one for himself.
The two clinked their cups and drank. As he sipped, Sun Yangming shook his head with a sigh.
“Sigh~ Perhaps this old man is simply too aged, my mind no longer as sharp as it once was. After our battle that day, I caught a glimpse of enlightenment in the Sword Dao, as if the Supreme Sword Heart was within reach. But… hah! Never mind. Let’s just drink!”
Halfway through his words, Sun Yangming let out a heavy sigh, drained his cup in one gulp, and poured himself another.
Seeing him like this, Luo Yin chuckled softly.
How could he not guess what was weighing on Sun Yangming’s mind?
Drowning his sorrows was likely not the true aim; no, he had come seeking genuine insights into the Sword Dao.
Yet since Sun Yangming hadn’t broached the subject directly, Luo Yin saw no need to volunteer them.
He simply kept him company in the drinking.
Before long, Liu Qingchan joined them as well, though she rarely touched alcohol.
The brew Sun Yangming had brought was exceptionally potent; after just a few sips, her cheeks flushed bright red.
Fortunately, she did not become intoxicated, her mind remaining clear.
Time passed unnoticed until the sky was painted red by the glow of sunset.
Sun Yangming let out a wistful sigh and turned to Luo Yin. “Little Luo, tell me—what exactly does one cultivate on the path of the Sword Dao? This old man feels as though I’ve pushed the sword to its utmost limits, yet I’m more lost than ever.”
Liu Qingchan and Ling Qingxue turned their gazes to Luo Yin as well.
They, too, were eager to hear his response to the question.
Luo Yin smiled.
As the preeminent Sword Dao cultivator in the Northern Spirit Realm, Sun Yangming’s swordsmanship was beyond question.
He had simply encountered a personal bottleneck.
Luo Yin met his eyes and asked, “Then, Elder Sun, what do you believe the Sword Dao path cultivates?”
Before Sun Yangming could reply, Liu Qingchan spoke up eagerly. “Sword Dao is the Dao of the sword—of course it cultivates the sword! What else could it be?”
Luo Yin merely smiled, saying nothing.
Sun Yangming fell silent for a moment before nodding in agreement with her words.
From the day he had first gripped a sword as a boy, he had known his life would be forever bound to it.
A lifetime of sword cultivation had propelled him—who possessed no exceptional talent for general cultivation—to the pinnacle, thanks to his remarkable aptitude for the Sword Dao.
Thus, if the Sword Dao was not the cultivation of the sword itself, then what was it?
Even in his current confusion, he had never questioned that foundational understanding.
A moment later, Luo Yin shook his head. “My view might differ somewhat from yours.”
Sun Yangming’s curiosity piqued. “Oh? In what way?”
Luo Yin gave a faint smile. “I believe the path of the Sword Dao cultivates not the sword, but the heart!”
“Heart?”
Sun Yangming furrowed his brow, mulling over Luo Yin’s words in silence.
“Precisely! The heart! An Invincible Sword Heart! A Supreme Sword Heart! This holds true not only for the Sword Dao but for all other Daos as well. Among the three thousand Great Daos, paths diverge yet converge at the same destination. Regardless of the Dao, what is cultivated is an invincible heart!”
His words sent a shiver through the other three. A spark of realization lit their eyes.
Even Ling Qingxue’s gaze toward Luo Yin shifted subtly.
Where on earth had this young man derived such profound insights?
As a disciple of the Heavenly Maiden Palace in the Central Province Realm, her talent was nothing short of terrifying.
She was the sort who could make a breakthrough merely by taking a sip of water.
On her cultivation journey, she had seldom delved deeply into contemplation; she had advanced to the Marquis Realm with effortless ease.
She excelled at personal cultivation but would falter if called upon to guide others or unravel their doubts—she simply couldn’t put it into words.
This was precisely why she so rarely appeared in person to instruct disciples at Heavenly Secrets Peak.
“Elder Sun,” Luo Yin continued, “let me ask you: Do you think the path of the Sword Dao has defined realms?”
Sun Yangming snapped out of his reverie at the renewed question and pondered deeply.
After a moment, he replied, “I’m not entirely certain. Whether Sword Dao, Fist Dao, or any other Dao, there seem to be no explicit realm divisions. Comprehending the ‘Intent’ marks one as an expert, with strength determined by the potency of that ‘Intent.’ Are you suggesting the Sword Dao does have such divisions?”
All three fixed their eyes on Luo Yin.
He nodded slightly. “Indeed, what you say is correct. But to each their own—a thousand readers have a thousand Hamlets. People’s perspectives on Sword Dao realms vary. Naturally, I have my own interpretation.”
“Oh? And what is it?”
They had no idea who this Hamlet was; all they cared about was Luo Yin’s perspective.
Sun Yangming sensed intuitively that what followed would prove immensely helpful.
“In my view,” Luo Yin said slowly, “be it Sword Dao or any other Dao, there are fundamentally just two major realms.”
The three leaned in attentively.
“Those who have entered the stream, and those who have not!”
“These are delineated by the ‘Intent.’ Comprehending the ‘Intent’ grants entry to the stream, qualifying one as a true powerhouse.”
“And entry to the stream comprises three sub-realms.”
“First: Mountains are Mountains, Waters are Waters.”
“Sword Dao experts at this level possess Sword Intent that is not overwhelmingly powerful but is solidly proficient. Every strike is grounded and purposeful, never squandered.”
“Second: Mountains are not Mountains, Waters are not Waters.”
“Here, Sword Dao experts wield potent Sword Intent—often multiple varieties. Their strikes reach the absolute pinnacle, shifting and transforming endlessly.”
Luo Yin paused before continuing.
“Third: Mountains are still Mountains, Waters are still Waters.”
“Those at this realm have returned to the primordial simplicity. Even without Sword Intent, they can cleave the firmament with a single sword. Their strikes eschew ostentation, appearing utterly mundane yet embodying the great Dao.”
The three nodded, their eyes gleaming with fervor. An entirely novel path of thought unfolded before them.
Ling Qingxue stared at Luo Yin as if he were some kind of monster.
Is this my disciple?
My worthless disciple?
Did I teach him this?
No!
I never taught him anything!
He’s the one teaching me!
Is he the Shizun, or am I?
In that moment, she felt profound admiration for Luo Yin’s aptitude.
These words held great significance for her as well.
“Elder Sun, your current level should correspond to this third sub-realm,” Luo Yin said.
Sun Yangming nodded.
He retained confidence in his own prowess.
“But!” Luo Yin added, “this sub-realm is not the terminus of the Sword Dao! Advancing beyond it is no easy feat~”
Despite the words, Sun Yangming latched onto the implication and pressed, “No easy feat? Meaning there is a method?”
Luo Yin inclined his head with a smile. “Naturally, there is.”
“What is it?”
All three watched him with bated breath, anticipation in their eyes.
In that instant, Luo Yin seemed the master, while they were but thirsting pupils.
His gaze sharpened, and he intoned gravely, “Break and Then Establish!”
…
