Qin Yi was still confused. The path of the Dao was anything but simple. Xu Zhangqing's words sounded clear and light, yet were extremely difficult to truly grasp.
"Junior Brother, for fifty years you've sat quietly in the flower garden, cultivating your heart and tending flowers. Your mind is calm and your spirit at ease, but you ultimately lack the tempering of the mortal world."
"To walk this Dao, you must enter it before you can emerge from it."
Xu Zhangqing spoke softly.
Qin Yi fell into thought. Recalling the emotional fluctuations he felt earlier when facing Chong Lou, he suddenly gained some understanding.
In the worlds of Hokage and One Piece, his strength had increased far too quickly. Using such strength as a comparison, within the world of The Legend of Sword and Fairy, even the most gifted disciples would need ten or twenty years to reach this level. Yet for him? How long had it really been?
Such rapid cultivation caused his strength and mental state to fall out of harmony. It also nourished pride, dominance, and a level of self-esteem far beyond what his cultivation realm could bear.
When facing Chong Lou, his mindset didn't adjust in time; thus, anger and unwillingness were born. If his realm were higher, he would not have rushed to find Chong Lou immediately. Even if he did find him, he wouldn't have felt resentment simply because the other party acted arrogantly.
In the end, his state of mind was lacking.
At this moment, Qin Yi felt fortunate to have entered this world. If his mental strength remained weak, what kind of monster would he eventually become? Would he fall into madness?
All along, he focused heavily on cultivating his mentality while becoming stronger, but it was still difficult to avoid the murderous aura produced by unchecked power growth.
"Huu, "
Exhaling deeply, Qin Yi suddenly understood the meaning behind his Senior Brother's words.
On the path of cultivation, the most important thing was to maintain a peaceful heart, to guard oneself and refine one's qi. Only with a rational mind could one see through all things, keep the spirit untainted, and grow properly.
"A heart like a polished mirror, wipe it often."
Xu Zhangqing's voice echoed again, and Qin Yi nodded.
He now understood that in this world he not only needed to enhance his strength, but also clarify his heart and elevate his comprehension.
"Senior Brother, this Junior Brother understands."
Qin Yi said in a deep voice.
"Your talent and your comprehension far surpass mine. Even the Venerable Devil Chong Lou recognizes you. Do not waste this advantage, nor allow arrogance or conceit to give rise to a demonic heart. Always maintain reverence, and walk forward with sincerity."
"One day, you will surely step upon the Great Dao and ascend as an immortal."
Xu Zhangqing instructed earnestly.
Qin Yi naturally understood and nodded repeatedly.
Only when standing before the Dao itself can one recognize how incomparably powerful it is. Without reverence, without humility, one is certain to be crushed to pieces.
Shortly after, Qin Yi took his leave and pondered Xu Zhangqing's teachings carefully.
He found that although his Senior Brother's words sounded simple, the deeper he thought, the more profound they became.
Later, he went to the Sword Qi Platform, sitting cross-legged at the mist-shrouded cliff edge, discarding distracting thoughts.
Qin Yi's Life Source Talent was indeed powerful. His temperament was also good, he summarized well, accepted advice, and possessed a broad heart. This was why officials and citizens of Qin's Nation respected him so deeply. After contemplating Xu Zhangqing's words, he was able to put them into practice.
"Chong Lou."
When his mind replayed the earlier events, Qin Yi now felt only calm.
No anger. No unwillingness. No hatred. He was like an outsider watching a movie, he could even judge the scene objectively.
After a long while, Qin Yi exhaled once more, a serene smile spreading across his face.
"After the Sword Controlling Technique, there are Mount Shu Sword Skills, the Myriad Swords Art, the Heavenly Sword, the Sword God…!"
Qin Yi yearned for Mount Shu's sword techniques immensely.
He began cultivating these Mount Shu Sword Skills. With his cultivation already at the Sixth Level, he was qualified to learn most of them.
From that day on, Qin Yi's figure often appeared at the Sword Qi Platform. Each day he inhaled and exhaled the surrounding mist, while the long sword resting on his knees transformed into Sword Qi, one becoming a hundred, a hundred becoming a thousand.
Fifteen days later, Qin Yi had already mastered Sword Controlling Technique and Myriad Swords Art to the point where he could use them at will. Even without relying on the long sword in his hand, he could release a foot-long Sword Qi directly from his sword fingers, its power formidable enough to seize objects through the air.
One month later, Qin Yi sat cross-legged on the edge of the Sword Qi Platform, eyes closed as he nourished his spirit. Before him lay a sea of clouds stretching for miles, mist swirling like an Immortal Realm.
On this day, a handsome, refined young man walked up the path, with Dugu Yuyun following behind him, eyes full of respect.
"Senior Brother Jiang Qing, I, Dugu, am deeply grateful that you are willing to teach me sword techniques."
Dugu Yuyun spoke softly, with reverence in his voice.
"No need to be so polite, Junior Brother Dugu. You are one of Mount Shu's most outstanding youths. It is only right that I, as a Senior Brother, give you guidance."
Jiang Qing said with a gentle smile.
His demeanor was elegant and refined, like a dragon among men, simply looking at him made one feel at ease.
At that moment, Dugu Yuyun suddenly noticed Qin Yi on the Sword Qi Platform.
"Senior Martial Uncle Chang Yi!"
"Senior Martial Uncle? That's him?"
Jiang Qing was stunned.
Over the past days, he too had often come here to temper his sword skills. And every time, without fail, he had seen this Senior Martial Uncle diligently practicing. His hard work and perseverance surpassed most disciples.
"That's right. Senior Martial Uncle Chang Yi's talent is astonishing."
Dugu Yuyun nodded.
As the two spoke, a shocking Sword Intent suddenly erupted from Qin Yi's body.
This Sword Intent carried an overwhelming, tyrannical aura that shot straight into the heavens, like the sword of a king seated high upon the throne, its mere emergence forcing all things to bow and making even the gods tremble.
"What a powerful Sword Intent!"
Jiang Qing exclaimed. Dugu Yuyun's pupils shrank in shock.
He knew that this Senior Martial Uncle had not cultivated for very long, yet in such a short time, he had managed to forge such a terrifying Sword Intent. It was enough to make one's hair stand on end.
Sword Skill relied on controlling the sword with the heart and controlling the sword with qi. The secret method itself wasn't difficult, diligent practice would yield results quickly. But the true essence of it all… was Sword Intent.
Sword Intent was the condensation of one's will, essence, qi, and spirit, a unique insight reached through merging oneself with the path of the sword. Compared to simple cultivation and qi-refining, Sword Intent symbolized pure destructive power, something every Sword Immortal must attain.
Only with Sword Intent could Sword Skill truly break through all things.
Ordinary people would struggle to form Sword Intent even after twenty or thirty years of cultivation. But what shocked the two men was that Qin Yi had clearly trained for only a short time.
"Although the quantity is still small, this Sword Intent is overflowing with a vast, domineering kingly aura. What exactly did this Senior Martial Uncle used to do?"
Jiang Qing said gravely.
Dugu Yuyun's lips trembled, but he said nothing. The more he saw, the less he understood this Senior Martial Uncle.
At this moment, under Qin Yi's Sword Intent, a hundred Sword Qi blades suddenly materialized around him. In a flash, they formed a circular sword array, floating behind his back.
"Go!"
Qin Yi commanded lightly.
The hundred Sword Qi blades shot forward into the sea of clouds. In an instant, a massive area of mist was shredded apart.
"He even modified the Myriad Swords Art!?"
Jiang Qing said in disbelief.
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395