Chapter Sixteen: The Catalogue Nears Completion, Three Sword Scars

[Page 1 of 3]

The clouds changed and the hounds of heaven passed; three days slipped by in the blink of an eye.

At Floating Cloud Mountain, within the Truth-Seeking Abbey, on Plain Maiden Peak, a graceful middle-aged female Daoist emerged from seclusion. The instant she stepped out of her meditation chamber, a young girl came flying toward her.

The woman was Xuan Su.

When she saw Changning, her eyes curved into a smile, and her expression softened from cool indifference. But in the very next moment, Xuan Su’s pupils seemed to quake. She widened her eyes, seized her daughter by the collar, and demanded in panic:

“How did you break through?”

“What on earth happened?”

“Tell me everything at once!”

Changning had never seen her mother so flustered. She immediately nodded, not daring to conceal anything, and was about to speak when her mother clapped a hand over her mouth.

Xuan Su swept out a sleeve. A streak of cold light shot to one side, and with a sharp crack, a projection stone shattered into dust. She gave a cold snort and looked toward Fire Cloud Peak.

“Once I’ve dealt with the important matter, I’ll settle accounts with you.”

With that, she pulled Changning into the meditation chamber.

She then waved her hand and established a ward against spying and eavesdropping before questioning her daughter in earnest.

This matter was simply too serious. If word got out, it would benefit neither the Truth-Seeking Abbey nor Changning. Xuan Su could not afford to take it lightly.

———

Hidden Dao Peak, Inquiry Academy.

Xuan Ming knew nothing of Xuan Su’s reaction.

He remained devoted to his retreat, carefully organizing what he had gained.

Half a month later, deep within Floating Cloud Mountain.

A waterfall thundered endlessly.

A hundred-zhang cascade plunged from the mountain cliff, as if the Milky Way itself had fallen from the ninth heaven.

It was vast and magnificent, surging with overwhelming force.

Beneath the waterfall stood an old white-haired Daoist, his robes billowing in the wind.

He stepped forward. As he walked, a hazy Yin-Yang diagram suddenly appeared above his head. Black and white intertwined, transforming into two yin-yang fish that swam around one another, chasing and playing as they merged together.

When he stepped beneath the waterfall, the diagram transformed the fierce, heavy torrent from hard to soft, diverting the water to either side.

Spray burst in every direction, and a rainbow shimmered through the mist. The sight was breathtaking.

After a moment, Xuan Ming turned and walked away from the waterfall, not a hair harmed.

Standing once more beside the pool, he gazed at the descending torrent and smiled broadly.

Today, he had emerged from seclusion. His Record of the Yin-Yang Diagram had reached the minor mastery stage.

His brief trial just now had shown that its power was impressive.

Combined with the Five Thunder Orthodox Method and his other techniques, as well as his increasingly profound cultivation, Xuan Ming believed that he would be hard-pressed to find an equal within the Refining Essence realm.

Even so, he did not allow himself to become conceited.

Refining Essence was merely the beginning of the Great Dao.

Above it stood Refining Qi and Refining Spirit, not to mention the legendary True Immortals, Buddhas, and peerless Demon Saints.

The road ahead was long, arduous, and beset with obstacles.

He still had a great distance to travel.

He could not afford carelessness or negligence.

Remembering the promise he had made not long ago, Xuan Ming turned and left. With a light tap of his toe, he rose into the air as gently as a drifting feather.

His white hair streamed behind him, his robes snapping in the wind.

In an instant, he crossed a hundred zhang, as though he were an immortal.

Near the Truth-Seeking Abbey stood a mountain peak to the west.

[Page 1 of 3]

[Page 2 of 3]

Xuan Ming stood atop a treetop and gazed up at the hundred-zhang cliff before him. With a peachwood sword in hand, he swung his first stroke.

A ten-zhang sword radiance burst forth. The earth shook, the mountains trembled, rocks crumbled, and dust billowed into the air.

One stroke sheared the hundred-zhang cliff flat. Its vertical face was cleanly cut, smooth as a mirror.

Such a disturbance had long since drawn the attention of the Truth-Seeking Abbey.

The sound of something tearing through the air rang out. Xuan Xu and the other beings of the Fourth Realm arrived first, just in time to see Xuan Ming swing his second stroke.

———

Whoosh!

A sword cry rang out, and the sword radiance became even more magnificent.

A sword beam nearly twenty zhang long split into eight, leaving the image of an Eight Trigrams diagram upon the sheer, polished cliff face.

The sword marks were rough, and the pattern crude.

Yet every Daoist present drew a sharp breath.

If they were honest with themselves, none of them could have achieved such a feat. Forget a sword beam twenty zhang long—even one ten zhang in length was beyond them.

The sheer strength of Senior Brother Xuan Ming was plain to see.

While the Daoists were still reeling in shock, Xuan Ming delivered a third stroke.

Holding the sword in his hand, he gently swung the peachwood blade. His movement was slow and utterly unremarkable. There was no terrifying radiance, no razor-sharp sword aura, no fearsome sword intent, nor any other strange phenomenon.

And yet this ordinary stroke left every Daoist feeling as though needles pricked their backs. Cold sweat poured down them as they sensed an immense terror.

It was as if they stood before a True Adept of the Refining Qi realm.

At the center of the Eight Trigrams pattern on the cliff, a single dot had appeared.

It looked like nothing more than an ordinary mark carved by an axe or chisel, but none of the Daoists dared treat it lightly.

As they gazed at the third sword mark, their spiritual senses were struck. They seemed to see a gigantic sword piercing straight into the heavens.

After only a few breaths, their spiritual senses began to throb with pain, and they dared not continue observing or comprehending it.

At the same time, Xuan Ming sheathed the peachwood sword and came before the gathered Daoists. He admonished them:

“This old Daoist has little to offer. Swordsmanship is the only thing I can present with any confidence. These three sword marks are all closely connected to the Eight Trigrams Swordsmanship of our abbey. To prevent the disciples from aiming too high while lacking the ability, or chasing lofty goals beyond their reach, I have placed restrictions upon the marks.”

“Disciples below the Third Realm will be able to see only the first mark. Those in the Third Realm may observe the second. Only beings of the Fourth Realm may view the third.”

Upon hearing this, the Daoists immediately bowed under Xuan Xu’s lead and replied with heartfelt sincerity:

“Senior Brother, you have worked hard.”

“We thank you on behalf of the abbey’s disciples.”

Xuan Ming waved his hand dismissively.

“I am a Daoist of the Truth-Seeking Abbey as well. Naturally, I hope that the younger disciples will achieve something in their studies.”

“Now that the Sword Cliff is complete, I have fulfilled my promise. From this day forward, unless something truly important arises, do not disturb my peace.”

“If possible, gather more Daoist scriptures and classic texts. I have no other hobbies; I simply enjoy reading through scriptures.”

“One more thing: when a tree rises above the forest, the wind will surely destroy it. Before I become a True Adept, do not reveal that I have entered the Fourth Realm. I would rather not attract the attention of old enemies and invite trouble.”

After giving them these few instructions, Xuan Ming turned and departed.

He walked upon the wind, his back relaxed and unrestrained.

Xuan Xu led the others in bowing once more.

“We respectfully see Senior Brother off.”

———

After Xuan Ming left, the Daoists descended to the foot of Sword Cliff.

Gazing at the sword marks before them and sensing the abundant sword intent within, they were filled with a thousand emotions.

“I never imagined that Senior Brother Xuan Ming had already grown so powerful.”

“If we spar again in the future, I fear I won’t be able to withstand even one move. He would crush me with ease.”

[Page 2 of 3]

[Page 3 of 3]

Then they looked at one another and smiled.

“The abbey’s disciples are truly blessed.”

“Indeed. Senior Brother Xuan Ming’s sword intent is layered with profound mysteries. It can easily lead one into the Dao. So long as the disciples are not too foolish, they will gain something from it. Their circumstances are far better than ours were in the past.”

“More than that. The third sword mark will also benefit us greatly. If we can successfully comprehend it, our strength will certainly rise to another level.”

After discussing the matter for a while, the Daoists remembered something even more important. They became excited, and Xuan Yang spoke first.

“I never imagined that Senior Brother Xuan Ming had entered the Fourth Realm long ago. If not for what happened today, we would probably still have been kept in the dark.”

Xuan Tong was quick-witted. After thinking for a moment, he understood.

“It must have been during our descent from the mountain to aid the common people that Senior Brother Xuan Ming gained some insight and broke through.”

“We were all away from the mountain at the time. That is why we knew nothing.”

The Daoists nodded upon hearing this.

The explanation indeed made sense.

Xuan Su added:

“Senior Brother Xuan Ming never intended to conceal it. Otherwise, he would not have revealed himself so openly today. We simply never asked, and we were unable to perceive his true depth.”

The others nodded.

They truly could no longer discern the limits of their senior brother’s strength.

Xuan Kong laughed heartily.

“With such an exceptional Dao foundation, Senior Brother Xuan Ming is now in the Fourth Realm. Becoming a True Adept is only a matter of time.”

“When that day comes, our Truth-Seeking Abbey will surely surpass even the era when our founder still lived. Favored by fortune, it will flourish ever more.”

Xuan Yin smiled and agreed.

“Judging by Senior Brother Xuan Ming’s appearance, he seems to have everything under control. I imagine that within a few years at most, we will witness a historic moment for the Truth-Seeking Abbey.”

At these words, smiles blossomed across the Daoists’ faces, and longing and anticipation stirred within their hearts.

If the Truth-Seeking Abbey truly produced a True Adept, its status would be utterly transformed. That would greatly benefit both their own paths and those of the disciples.

“Since all of you junior brothers understand the situation, then from this day onward, do not disturb Senior Brother Xuan Ming’s cultivation.”

“Do not burden him with trivial affairs.”

“Until Senior Brother achieves True Adepthood, we must support him with all our strength and create an environment of peace and quiet.”

“From now on, this is the Truth-Seeking Abbey’s highest priority.”

“If anyone violates this order, do not blame me for showing no mercy.”

Xuan Xu gave the final word.

None of the Daoists objected. They reached a unanimous decision.

At that moment, Xuan Yang asked curiously:

“Senior Brother, if you wielded the inherited ritual sword, could you produce such magnificent sword radiance as Senior Brother Xuan Ming did just now?”

The other Daoists were equally curious and turned to look at him.

Xuan Xu shook his head helplessly and walked away.

He said nothing, but his silence spoke louder than words.

The others suddenly understood. They looked toward Hidden Dao Peak with awe in their eyes.

Senior Brother Xuan Ming had already become the strongest person in the Truth-Seeking Abbey.

This time, even without the abbot’s warning, they would not dare disturb him lightly, lest they be beaten senseless.

Rustling sounds came from nearby. Seeing that the disciples were about to arrive, the Daoists swiftly drew their swords and assumed their positions.

Even Xuan Xu turned back and returned, taking out his ritual sword.

This was the result of their discussion.

Until Senior Brother Xuan Ming achieved True Adepthood, they would claim that Sword Cliff had been created through their joint efforts.

[Page 3 of 3]