Chapter 86

Chapter 87: Jade Bones Paint the Mountains and Rivers, Xu Yan Enters the Innate Realm (Requesting Monthly Votes)

"Xu Yan, it's different. Without your accompaniment in practice, I wouldn't have suddenly gained insight, nor would I have realized that every word and action of my master has already laid the foundation for me to understand the sword's intent."

Xu Yan shook his head and spoke honestly.

Without Xie Lingfeng's questions and practice, he wouldn't have been triggered to gain insight, so he was able to understand the sword's intent of the mountains and rivers so quickly, and Xie Lingfeng still had some merit.

"Xu Brother, can I meet the senior?"

Xie Lingfeng said with a look of longing.

"I need to ask my master first."

Xu Yan thought for a moment and said.

"Then I thank you, Xu Brother."

Xie Lingfeng said gratefully.

After a pause, he sighed, "I, Xie Lingfeng, thought I had outstanding talent in the sword path, but I never imagined that I haven't even entered the door of the sword path."

"Xu Brother, how can one achieve a clear sword heart?"

The foundation of the sword path is a clear sword heart.

Xie Lingfeng also wanted to achieve a clear sword heart. As for the realms above a clear sword heart, they were too distant for him.

Being able to achieve a clear sword heart and enter the door of the sword path in this life would be enough of an honor.

How can one achieve a clear sword heart?

Xu Yan was taken aback. He didn't know how to teach Xie Lingfeng, as their cultivation methods were different.

After some thought, Xu Yan felt that before achieving a clear sword heart, the primary thing was to elevate one's mental state, making it clear and pure.

"Master said, 'Without women in the heart, cultivation is like a god.' This realm is too profound, breaking the constraints of one's mental state. I achieved a solid foundation by understanding the analogy in this sentence, which laid the groundwork for a clear sword heart."

"So, to achieve a clear sword heart, one must first reach a state of 'no women in the heart,' a mental state free from external distractions, clear and pure, to step into a clear sword heart."

Thinking this, Xu Yan asked, "Xie Brother, do you think about women?"

Xie Lingfeng, though older, was still in the prime of his youth, easily attracted by women. If he could resist the temptation of women and act freely, his mental state would have the foundation for a clear sword heart.

Xie Lingfeng was confused.

I ask about the sword path, and you talk about women?

This leap in thought is too exaggerated.

"Maybe... a bit... I might think about them?"

Xie Lingfeng didn't know how to answer.

"Xie Brother, the foundation of a clear sword heart lies in a clear and pure mental state, where one can control oneself and not be disturbed by external things."

"To enter the sword path, one must first have 'no women in the heart,' only then is there hope."

Xu Yan said solemnly.

Xie Lingfeng continued to be confused, his eyes blank, "No women in the heart? Does that mean..."

He looked down at his lower abdomen.

"Xie Brother, you misunderstand. 'No women in the heart' doesn't mean rejecting women. It's a realm, a mental state... to put it bluntly, if I don't feel moved, then women won't move me..."

"It's a mental state of controlling oneself, a clear and pure heart."

Xu Yan explained hurriedly.

To prevent Xie Lingfeng from misunderstanding and cutting off his own brother.

Xie Lingfeng's eyes were blank. What kind of mental state is this? How to achieve it?

It's too profound.

No women in the heart, yet not rejecting women, and controlling oneself...

"Am I not suitable for cultivating the sword path?"

Xie Lingfeng fell into self-doubt.

After a long while, he took a deep breath and said, "Xu Brother, how can one achieve the mental state of 'no women in the heart'?"

Xu Yan thought for a moment. He had improved his mental state by going to the harem of the old emperor, which led to a significant enhancement.

So he said frankly, "Initially, I went to the old emperor's harem, watching his concubines and beauties dance and move gracefully, to train my mental state, and eventually succeeded."

"Thank you for your guidance, Xu Brother!"

Xie Lingfeng's eyes lit up, and he thanked him solemnly.

"You're welcome, Xie Brother."

Xu Yan felt that since Xie Lingfeng had helped him understand the sword's intent earlier, it was only right to guide him on how to train and improve his mental state.

For Xie Lingfeng, this day was like opening a skylight, seeing the true world.

The subtleties of the sword path, he glimpsed a bit, but couldn't grasp the essence.

The sword's intent is so profound.

Without understanding the sword's intent, how can one be said to have entered the door of the sword path?

Leaving Xu Yan's residence and returning to the palace annex, Xie Lingfeng saw Hu Shan, who still looked somewhat dejected, and said, "Hu Shan, you should be happy. Knowing the truth of martial arts, you should pursue the true path of martial arts!"

Hu Shan smiled bitterly, "Young Master, it's easy to say, but I still can't accept it!"

"There's nothing that can't be accepted."

Xie Lingfeng said with a determined gaze, "I will cultivate the true path of martial arts, and truly enter the door of the sword path."

Hu Shan was taken aback, as if he saw the young master pursuing the sword path on Sword Respecting Cliff again.

"Young Master, what's wrong with you?"

"Hu Shan, do you know what sword intent is? Today, I learned what true sword path is."

Xie Lingfeng exhaled.

"Sword intent?"

Hu Shan murmured.

Xie Lingfeng recounted how Xu Yan had understood the sword's intent today, and concluded, "The sword intent of the mountains and rivers is truly powerful!"

Hu Shan couldn't calm down for a long time.

...

Xu Yan finally understood the sword's intent and decided to return to Yunshan County to break through to the innate realm.

Before leaving, he guided Guo Rongshan and others in their cultivation.

On this day, Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan saw him off.

"Xie Brother, if my master is willing to meet you, I will inform my grandfather, who will notify you!"

Xu Yan clasped his hands and said.

"Thank you, Xu Brother!"

Xie Lingfeng said gratefully.

He wanted to visit Xu Yan's master, that mysterious hermit.

This is an opportunity!

It must be seized!

"Farewell!"

Xu Yan clasped his hands, turned, and left.

Yunshan County.

Meng Chong was contemplating the Eight Trigrams. The more he contemplated, the more profound it seemed, always feeling on the verge of understanding but unable to grasp the essence.

"Don't be too hasty."

Meng Chong took a deep breath, calming his anxious heart.

Li Xuan observed Meng Chong for a few days and then stopped paying attention, as Meng Chong's talent would inevitably lead to some understanding.

Suddenly, the golden finger's feedback appeared.

"Your disciple Xu Yan has understood the sword intent of the mountains and rivers, and your sword intent of the mountains and rivers is now complete!"

Boom!

The sword intent appeared in his mind, as if he had possessed it from birth.

The sword intent of the mountains and rivers!

Li Xuan was overjoyed, "What a good disciple! He hasn't even broken through to the innate realm and has already understood the sword's intent. Truly has the potential of a sword god!"

The great cause of martial arts has taken a significant step forward.

In a moment, an indescribable aura enveloped the small courtyard, as if the mountains and rivers were within the courtyard, with a continuous and relentless force, yet hidden with a sharp and merciless edge.

Shi Er, who was in cultivation, suddenly felt as if he had entered a world of mountains and rivers.

He felt how insignificant he was.

The mountains and rivers seemed merciless, as if they could bury all life, and he was being buried by them.

"What's happening?"

Shi Er was shocked.

"I need to break free!"

He tried to struggle but couldn't move. Finally, he gritted his teeth and continued to cultivate, refining his bones.

"I need to become stronger, the faster I become stronger, the sooner I can escape from here!"

With this belief, Shi Er went into a frenzy of bone refinement.

In a daze, he felt as if he was being eroded by the mountains and rivers, but his stubborn resistance greatly increased the speed of bone refinement, while the speed of the mountains and rivers eroding him gradually decreased.

Overjoyed, he cultivated even harder.

Li Xuan silently glanced at Shi Er. Just by using the sword intent of the mountains and rivers, he had greatly increased Shi Er's bone refinement speed.

"The sword intent can refine oneself, from the body to the spirit."

Li Xuan fell into deep thought.

When Xu Yan returns, he will remind him to continue exploring the wonders of the sword intent.

Shi Er came out of the state of being enveloped by the mountains and rivers and was shocked to find that he had refined his bones to copper!

Unconsciously, he had completed the refinement of iron bones in a short time.

At this moment, he understood something.

"Thank you, Master!"

He bowed respectfully to Li Xuan.

"Good, cultivate well and enter the path soon."

Li Xuan nodded.

Xu Yan returned.

"Master!"

Xu Yan bowed respectfully.

"Good! Good! My disciple, you have understood the sword's intent before breaking through, not in vain for my efforts!"

Li Xuan looked pleased.

"Indeed! Master has been teaching me from the beginning, laying the foundation for me to understand the sword's intent."

Xu Yan was deeply moved.

"Thank you, Master!"

"Disciple, the sword's intent is profound and can refine oneself, not just for defeating enemies. You must contemplate it deeply."

Li Xuan said solemnly.

"Yes, Master!"

Xu Yan thought, the profundity of the sword's intent, he had yet to fully understand.

Master is reminding him that the sword's intent is not just for combat!

"You should break through to the innate realm."

"My disciple will break through in a few days."

"Go, settle down, and break through to the innate realm. Only by breaking through to the innate realm can one truly transcend the mundane world and truly enter the path of martial arts."

"The Qi and Blood Realm is just the beginning of the martial arts path."

Li Xuan said seriously.

"My disciple understands!"

Xu Yan bowed.

Outside Yunshan County, Meng Chong was still walking the Eight Trigrams, contemplating their profound principles and body techniques.

Xu Yan appeared, looking at Meng Chong walking the Eight Trigrams, feeling surprised.

"Does my junior brother's understanding of the Eight Trigrams differ from mine? Could he have misunderstood?"

"No! If my junior brother had misunderstood, Master would have corrected him."

Thinking this, Xu Yan fell into deep thought.

"The profound principles of the Eight Trigrams, everyone's understanding is different. Perhaps we can cross-verify and gain more insights."

Meng Chong stopped and said joyfully, "Senior Brother, you're back."

"Junior Brother, are you contemplating body techniques?"

"Yes, but I'm still dull and haven't understood them yet!"

Meng Chong touched his bald head, looking somewhat ashamed.

"Contemplating techniques is not urgent. The profundity of the Eight Trigrams, everyone's understanding is different. After I break through to the innate realm, we can discuss and exchange our insights, which will surely bring new gains."

Xu Yan patted Meng Chong's shoulder.

"Good!"

Meng Chong nodded.

After chatting with Meng Chong, Xu Yan left the forest and came to a nearby hill.

He sat cross-legged, settling himself.

Preparing to break through to the innate realm.

The cultivation method for the innate realm, he had already understood.

Breaking through is not a problem.

Three days later.

Xu Yan took a deep breath, began to circulate his qi and blood, continuously refining them. As the qi and blood refined, the jade bones shone brightly.

"Refining qi and blood into innate true qi, connecting the bridge of heaven and earth, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, and opening the dantian qi sea..."

Xu Yan circulated his qi and blood, refining them while connecting the bridge of heaven and earth. A booming sound echoed within his body.

A profound feeling arose in his heart.

His intuition told him that if he connected the bridge of heaven and earth, he could sense the essence of heaven and earth and absorb it for cultivation.

Boom!

The bridge of heaven and earth gradually connected under the impact of the qi and blood, forming a path of light within his body.

"This is the bridge of heaven and earth? A bridge to connect oneself with heaven and earth."

Xu Yan was excited.

Boom!

The qi and blood continued to impact, and the bridge of heaven and earth gradually connected, though not quickly. As the bridge of heaven and earth began to connect, the qi and blood continuously refined, showing signs of transformation.

The jade bones around his body shone brightly.

"Master said, the sword's intent can refine oneself, not just for combat..."

Xu Yan suddenly remembered Master's words.

With a thought, the sword intent appeared.

"Integrating the sword's intent into the qi and blood, connecting the bridge of heaven and earth, and integrating it into the jade bones..."

In Xu Yan's body, the sword intent of the mountains and rivers flowed. As the sword intent entered the qi and blood, a transformation seemed to occur.

On the flawless jade bones, the sword intent gradually formed mysterious patterns, fine and flawless, as if depicting the mountains and rivers.

Immersed in the breakthrough, Xu Yan circulated the sword intent, refined the qi and blood, and connected the bridge of heaven and earth, unaware of the transformation occurring within him.

Boom!

After the sword intent integrated into the qi and blood, the speed of connecting the bridge of heaven and earth gradually increased.

On the bridge of heaven and earth, the shadow of a sword seemed to appear.

At a certain moment, Xu Yan had a flash of insight: "Integrating the sword's intent into the qi and blood, if I refine the Dragon Subduing Palm and use it to connect the bridge of heaven and earth, wouldn't it be faster?"

Thinking this, he acted.

Boom!

The qi and blood suddenly transformed into a giant dragon, roaring and continuously impacting the bridge of heaven and earth. As the dragon connected the bridge of heaven and earth, the bridge gradually took on a dragon-like shape.

It seemed as if a giant dragon was coiled on the bridge of heaven and earth!

The sword intent integrated into the qi and blood, and the qi and blood transformed into a giant dragon. At this moment, the Dragon Subduing Palm seemed to undergo a transformation.

Xu Yan had a flash of insight.

Boom!

The bridge of heaven and earth continued to connect, growing larger and wider.

The qi and blood gradually transformed into innate true qi, pure and powerful, like the might of a true dragon.

It also contained a sharp and relentless force, like the mountains and rivers.

The jade bones shone, and the mountains and rivers were depicted on the flawless jade bones, forming a flawless image of the mountains and rivers.

At a certain moment, a dragon's roar echoed within his body, the giant dragon coiled around him, and disappeared into the jade bones, as if a true dragon was hidden in the mountains and rivers.

The bridge of heaven and earth connected at this moment.

Boom!

The qi and blood suddenly transformed, becoming innate true qi.

In this instant, Xu Yan felt his senses transform, as if the world became clearer.

He felt as if he had merged with the world.

He sensed the essence of heaven and earth.

The fierce essence of heaven and earth, under his absorption, surged into his dantian qi sea through the bridge of heaven and earth.

Boom!

The dantian trembled, as if the world was being created. Under the impact of the essence of heaven and earth, the dantian qi sea began to take shape.