darknovel Chapter 34 Inner Sword Light, Outer Sword Control
Chapter 34 Inner Sword Light, Outer Sword Control
Inside the quiet room, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows.
Chi Mingzi sat cross-legged on a futon, his tattered Daoist robe casually spread out, his expression unusually solemn. His cloudy old eyes were now clear as swords, fixed on Xu Changqing, and he spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but each word clear, like metal and stone falling to the ground.
"The path of sword cultivation is divided into various streams based on different methods and emphases."
Some specialize in sword light, condensing their inner energy into a beam of light, capable of taking a head from a thousand miles away with unparalleled speed. Others are masters of swordsmanship, nurturing their weapons in scabbards, achieving perfect harmony between man and sword, their sharpness unmatched. Still others refine sword pellets internally, forming seeds in their dantian, capable of piercing the body to kill enemies with unpredictable and treacherous methods. Some temper their sword bodies, using their own bodies as swords, impervious to all attacks, their ferocity unmatched. And then there are those who set up sword formations, connecting heaven and earth, trapping and killing from all directions, their power overwhelming and difficult to resist.
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xu Changqing's focused face, a slight smirk playing on his lips: "And my Pure Yang Path follows the path of internal sword light and external sword weapon control. These two, one internal and one external, one hidden and one revealed, seem to be different paths, but in reality, they share the same origin."
Xu Changqing listened intently, not daring to miss a single word. Although the "Heavenly Void Nourishing Life Method" and "Purple Star Annotation on Death Scripture" that he had previously studied were also profound, they focused on nourishing life, observing death, and controlling evil. This was the first time he had heard such a systematic exposition of the fundamentals of swordsmanship. He felt that every word was precious and his mind was captivated.
Seeing that he was listening intently, Chi Mingzi didn't keep him in suspense and continued, "The inner sword light is the result of refining one's magical power through countless trials, removing the impurities and retaining the essence, ultimately condensing it into a natal sword light that can cut through anything and is indestructible. This light is hidden in the dantian, usually unseen, but once activated, it is like the rising sun, magnificent and dazzling, destroying all evil and cutting through all falsehood. Its speed is as fast as light and lightning, its sharpness can cleave gold and jade, and its power is overwhelming and unstoppable. When cultivated to a high level, the sword light can be generated with a single thought, and taking the life of an enemy from a thousand miles away is not difficult."
As he spoke, he made a series of gestures with his fingers, a wisp of crimson light flickering at his fingertips. Although it was not actually activated, it had already cleaved the void. When Xu Changqing touched it from a distance, he felt a chill on his skin, as if countless fine needles were gently pricking him.
"As for the external sword weapon..." Chi Mingzi changed the subject, patting the seemingly inconspicuous red wine gourd at his waist, "it is made from materials naturally nurtured by nature and imbued with spiritual energy, or by collecting the essence of the five metals and the marrow of stars, and tempered day and night with one's own sword energy, in harmony with mind and spirit, to forge a flying sword that is intimately connected to one's destiny. This sword is not only a weapon for killing, but also a tool for protecting the Dao. It can change size at will, and can move freely in and out of the azure sky. When fighting, the sword light and the sword weapon complement each other. The sword light is internal, breaking through laws and severing souls; the sword weapon is external, crushing the strong and breaking through the body. Only when the internal and external are intertwined can the power of my Pure Yang Sword Dao be revealed."
Xu Changqing suddenly understood, but more questions arose: "Master, which should come first, the inner sword light or the external sword weapon? And how can one cultivate both simultaneously?"
Chi Mingzi gave him an approving look: "Good question. Ordinary disciples usually only attempt to condense their natal sword light after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. As for swords, they require fortuitous encounters, materials, and a long period of time to refine. But you are different."
His gaze swept over Xu Changqing's fresh body, as if he could see through the surging killing energy beneath and the hidden, boundless vitality.
"Through this ritual, you have rebuilt your foundation, your physical body is nearly a Dao body, and your magical power is profound and solid. You have already initially met the conditions for cultivating both. My intention is that you can try to start simultaneously before you establish your foundation. With your current cultivation level of half a step into foundation establishment, first nurture a wisp of sword light seed in your dantian, and at the same time seek out a suitable sword embryo. Communicate with it through your mind and spirit, and refine it with your magical power to lay a foundation. Once you truly establish your foundation and your Dao foundation is stable, your sword light and sword can advance in tandem, saving you a lot of time and effort."
Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing felt a surge of warmth in his heart and immediately bowed, saying, "Please, Master, impart the Dharma."
Seeing this, Chi Mingzi said no more. His withered hand reached into the sleeve of his tattered Taoist robe, groped for a moment, and took out a scroll.
The scroll was about a foot and a half long, dark gold in color, with slightly worn edges, exuding an ancient and rustic aura that had been refined by time.
The surface is plain and unremarkable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it appears as if countless tiny points of light are flowing and flickering within it, as if all the sword energy in the sky has been contained within it.
"This is the foundation of my Pure Yang Dao lineage, the [Pure Yang Sword Diagram]." Chi Mingzi's voice was deep and solemn, as he gently stroked the dark gold scroll with his fingertips, a fleeting look of reminiscence in his cloudy eyes.
Xu Changqing held his breath and focused his gaze on the scroll, sensing a faint sharpness emanating from it.
Chimingzi said no more, and with both hands holding the shaft, slowly pulled the scroll horizontally open.
As the scroll unfurls, a hazy, pale golden background appears, resembling the horizon at dawn.
Within that pale gold, there was only one figure. That figure was outlined by countless crisscrossing, concise sword marks. He wore a tall hat and a wide belt, stood with his hands behind his back, and although his figure was not particularly imposing, he exuded an aura of towering stature and cleaving through the heavens.
In the void around him, several crimson-gold lines, some straight, some curved, some long, some short, meandered and moved, resembling sword light, Dao traces, and star trails, intertwining to form a profound and ineffable pattern. The rise, development, transition, and conclusion of each line contained a profound principle of swordsmanship that cuts through illusion and points directly to the origin.
The moment Xu Changqing's divine sense touched that figure...
In that instant, he seemed to see a sword light that cleaved the heavens and the earth, severing the primordial chaos, separating the pure from the impure, and settling the universe. Countless insights about the sword flooded his heart like a tidal wave.
At the same time, a torrent of crimson gold surged directly into his ancestral aperture at the center of his forehead. An ancient, vast, and majestic scripture slowly unfolded within his mind.
The Pure Yang Sword Immortal Scripture.
The passage begins by stating the Great Way directly:
"The sword is the king of all weapons, a tool for killing and conquest, and also a manifestation of the Dao. To infuse the sword with pure Yang is to control the weapon with the Dao, to nourish its sharpness with Qi, to forge its brilliance, and to achieve the supreme immortal path..."
The scriptures are profound and expansive, fully explaining the method of condensing the sword light seed in the dantian. This sword seed is the foundation of everything in the future. It can be nurtured internally to create an inner sword light, capable of slaying evil and vanquishing falsehood with unparalleled speed; or it can be externally applied to a weapon to create a natal flying sword, achieving unity of mind and sword, and traversing the heavens.
However, at the end of the text, several lines of blood-red writing slowly appeared.
The price of taboo:
1. The Ghost Sharpening the Sword at Midnight: When practicing this sword manual, every night at midnight, the sound of sharpening a sword will inevitably rise in one's ears. The practitioner must not respond, must not follow the sound, and must not cover their ears.
II. The Challenge of Breaking Through. When breaking through a realm, one will inevitably receive an inexplicable invitation to spar. This invitation is unavoidable; one can only accept it with one's soul. If one fights with it, victory will break through the realm; defeat will result in the severing of one's soul, leaving one stuck at this level for life, with no further progress.
...]
Xu Changqing slowly opened his eyes.
Once the divine light in his eyes had gradually subsided, Chi Mingzi slowly rolled up the [Pure Yang Sword Diagram] again.
"Have you memorized everything?" Akame asked, his voice returning to its usual lazy tone.
Xu Changqing took a deep breath and bowed solemnly: "This disciple will remember it and will never forget it."
"Just write it down." Chi Mingzi casually stuffed the sword diagram back into his sleeve.
"The scriptures are wordless; the transmission resides only in the heart. The sword diagram reveals the essence of the Dharma. Specific cultivation requires you to constantly verify it through your own practice. Ultimately, the path of cultivation is one you forge yourself."
He paused, looked at Xu Changqing, and spoke earnestly.
"The Pure Yang Sword Immortal Scripture is the highest method of our lineage, progressing step by step and laying a solid foundation. At the beginning of cultivation, the focus is on condensing the seed. You must first condense the sword seed in your dantian according to the scripture. The speed of this process varies from person to person, ranging from a few days to several months, all of which are normal. Avoid being impatient and be sure to seek stability."
"Your physical foundation is now excellent, and your magical power is also quite strong, which is an advantage. But remember, condensing the sword seed requires patient refinement, removing the dross and retaining the essence; it cannot be rushed. You can try cultivating it in the quiet room of the temple later. If you have any questions, come and ask immediately."
Xu Changqing bowed again: "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I understand. As for the sword-forging method..."
Akamiko waved his hand.
"As for the method of sword forging, I will teach you it tomorrow."
Xu Changqing wanted to ask more, but then he saw Chi Mingzi's nose twitch and his gaze turn to the door of the quiet room. The air of superiority on his face vanished instantly.
"Hmm, the roast chicken smells good. Looks like your two little girls are quite skilled cooks. Come on, let's eat first. Of all things, eating is the most important. Cultivation is a long-term process."
As he spoke, he walked out of the quiet room, his tattered Taoist robe trailing on the ground, showing none of the solemnity he had displayed when he was preaching.