Chapter 3

Meng Chuan carefully read through one biography after another. Some were written by large families to honor their ancestors, promoting their ancestors' achievements. Some were truly famous, and the biographies were written spontaneously by the people. Even the most famous gods and demons had dozens of versions of their biographies. There were also biographies written by sects for the gods and demons. The most exaggerated were those written by the gods and demons themselves, wanting future generations to remember their deeds.

"These biographies are mainly about telling stories. Sometimes, a few sentences in a book can be useful for my cultivation. Even in a whole biography, I might not find anything useful."

"Moreover, some of these stories are highly credible, while others are less so. They need to be categorized."

After all, Meng Chuan was a descendant of a god and demon family, and had received systematic training from Jinghu Dao Academy. His foundation was solid, and he had cultivated top-notch sword techniques to a high level, just one step away from the 'Unity Realm.'

With such a foundation...

He could better discern which parts of the biographies were useful.

"Practicing the sword without heart makes one a slave to the sword. Practicing the sword with heart makes one the master of the sword." Meng Chuan read a sentence from a biography where the Northern Sword Emperor had advised a junior.

Meng Chuan stared at this sentence, pondering: "The Northern Sword Emperor was advising a junior who was already a 'No Leak' realm expert. At that time, the junior's sword skills had at least reached the Unity Realm. Normally, they should have been practicing with heart. But the Northern Sword Emperor still said this... Clearly, in his view, even a No Leak realm expert's sword practice was not sufficiently heartfelt."

...

Meng Chuan continued reading through the biographies of gods and demons.

Occasionally, a few words or a particular deed left by a god or demon would spark some of Meng Chuan's speculations.

To ordinary people, these were just stories.

But to those with a discerning eye, they could see the reasons behind the power of these gods and demons.

"A single skill, to rule the world. To defeat an enemy, you only need one move. As long as you master the strongest move, practicing other miscellaneous techniques is useless." This was a conversation between a powerful god and demon from three thousand years ago, 'Devil Blade' Wei Feng, and his disciple, recorded in a biography. There were fifteen versions of Wei Feng's biography found in Dongning Prefecture.

All of them contained similar phrases like "A single skill, to rule the world. To defeat an enemy, you only need one move. As long as you master the strongest move, it is enough."

Meng Chuan also recorded this.

Besides the biographies, Meng Chuan also valued the family precepts of famous god and demon families that had been passed down. Family precepts were left by gods and demons, generally considered to be extremely important matters.

The more he recorded, the more Meng Chuan was secretly alarmed.

"Learning from the best, you only get the middle; learning from the middle, you get the worst. Learning from the strongest gods and demons in history is correct! But biographies are just fragments. Without a solid foundation, it's easy to go astray." Meng Chuan realized this because he saw many family precepts that emphasized the importance of a solid foundation.

They all mandated that family members must enter the Dao Academy for complete and systematic cultivation.

The Dao Academy, established in every major city of the Great Zhou Dynasty by the ancient sect 'Yuanchu Mountain,' had a cultivation system set by Yuanchu Mountain. Cultivating in the Dao Academy provided a solid foundation.

Of course, it only taught the basics. Meng Chuan's sword technique was just one step away from the Unity Realm, and the seven years of cultivation in the Dao Academy had taught him everything they could. He needed to explore more on his own.

"My foundation is sufficient. Now, I need the final breakthrough."

"Today, I have recorded many things that have inspired me."

"However, there's no rush. I will quickly go through these books, then organize and merge them. Some cultivation principles, mentioned by at least three gods and demons, are more credible."

...

Day after day.

The more Meng Chuan collected and integrated, the more he combined with the 'cultivation iron rules' from Jinghu Dao Academy, which were set by Yuanchu Mountain.

The combination helped Meng Chuan understand more.

"Alright."

In the evening, Meng Chuan looked at his notes and smiled.

"These five days have been more important than five years of cultivation." Meng Chuan looked at his notes with excitement, gaining a clearer understanding of cultivation.

The first principle: A solid foundation is crucial, like the foundation of a house. Entering the Dao Academy for complete cultivation is the best choice.

The second principle: Frequency is important. No matter how much you imagine in your head, it's not as effective as practicing ten thousand times! Practicing drawing the sword ten thousand times a day, practicing 'Blood Shadow Thrust' ten thousand times a day, this was said by twelve gods and demons.

The third principle: A single skill, to rule the world! Similar to the second principle, to defeat an enemy, you only need one move. Mastering one move to its extreme is more useful than practicing ten relatively powerful moves.

The fourth principle: Cultivation is indeed arduous. Enduring the hardship and practicing with gritted teeth ultimately makes one a craftsman! Only by truly enjoying and being obsessed with it, meticulously studying each move, can one become a master. Otherwise, one remains a craftsman.

Meng Chuan also understood the true meaning of the Northern Sword Emperor's words: "Practicing the sword without heart makes one a slave to the sword. Practicing the sword with heart makes one the master of the sword." Ordinary cultivators may seem to practice diligently, but this is not truly heartfelt. Truly heartfelt... is enjoying the sword technique, being obsessed with it, discarding all external distractions, and being completely immersed in it. Only such madness can lead to great achievements and mastery. Otherwise, one remains a craftsman.

The fifth principle: Progress every day, change every month, and ultimately achieve success...

The sixth principle...

...

There were nine principles in total.

All were mentioned by at least three gods and demons, and Meng Chuan believed they were very reasonable.

"Every day, I practice the sword for several hours, until I am completely exhausted. I always push through the fatigue. I thought I was practicing diligently and with heart, but clearly, I was not 'heartfelt' enough. I should enjoy the sword technique, be immersed in it, and carefully study each move." Meng Chuan felt this was his biggest issue. Cultivation is a tiring endeavor.

Usually, he would spend an hour painting in the afternoon, his only luxury and enjoyment, a hobby he developed in childhood. In painting, the fatigue of cultivation would be forgotten, and his mind would become incredibly calm.

This is how he persisted year after year.

Now, he realized his mindset was wrong.

"Before, I seemed to be diligent and hardworking, but ultimately, I was just a craftsman." Meng Chuan couldn't resist, put down his notes, and went to the courtyard.

In the courtyard, he began practicing the top-notch sword technique, 'Falling Leaf Sword.'

This time was different.

This time, he focused solely on the first move, 'Drawing the Sword.' Meng Chuan put everything aside, completely immersing himself in the sword technique, as if the world only existed through the sword in his hand! Then, he drew the sword! He felt the silence as the sword left the scabbard, the sensation of the sword cutting through the 'wind.' The sword technique was the same, but his mindset had changed, and what he 'saw' had changed.

He chose the fast sword technique from a young age because he genuinely loved it. But the daily practice had made him tired, and his passion had been worn down. Today, with his changed mindset, as he fully immersed himself in the sword technique again...

His passion was rekindled.

The sword, silently leaving the scabbard.

The trajectory of the sword, like a painting, was so beautiful. He tried to make this trajectory more beautiful, to cut through the 'wind' faster! A truly powerful sword technique is beautiful, and Meng Chuan's sword technique was approaching this level.

Meng Chuan repeatedly tried the same move, striving to draw the sword faster and more silently, to cut through the 'wind' more swiftly.

After fifty repetitions, he felt satisfied.

"This is how one should practice!" Meng Chuan was excited and followed by practicing the second move, 'Spinning Moon.'

...

On the second day after Meng Chuan integrated his cultivation notes, in a large underground hall of the Yun family.

"Whoosh~"

In the center of the hall, purple flames rose.

A black-haired old man sat cross-legged in the flames, unharmed.

"Father, you called for me?" Yun Fuan respectfully walked into the hall but dared not approach, feeling the heat from a distance, the air distorting.

"Fuan." The black-haired old man opened his eyes, his gaze calm. "I just received news that the old woman of the Meng family, while defending Anhai Pass against the demon race, was severely injured and is unlikely to live much longer. She should return to Dongning in the next few days."

Yun Fuan was shocked: "Father, you mean that Lady Meng?"

"Yes, her."

The black-haired old man nodded slightly.

"Could it be a mistake?" Yun Fuan couldn't believe it. "Didn't they say Lady Meng was the best at investigation, that nothing within ten miles could escape her notice, and she didn't need to be at the forefront of the battle, how could she suddenly be severely injured?"

"It's not a mistake," the black-haired old man said coldly. "The King of Anhai has invited several skilled healers for her, but her injuries are too severe, and there's no hope of recovery. In Anhai Pass, this is no longer a secret! If she doesn't fight, she might survive for seven or eight years. If she continues to fight, she will live even shorter."

"Only seven or eight years?" Yun Fuan couldn't help but say. "Without Lady Meng, the Meng family will be finished, won't it?"

"The five great god and demon families of Dongning Prefecture will soon become four." The black-haired old man nodded.

A family rises because of a god or demon.

Similarly, without a god or demon, the family becomes ordinary.

"The Meng family no longer has the right to occupy so many positions and benefits in Dongning." The black-haired old man said coldly. "By the way, the marriage contract between Qingping and that Meng Chuan from the Meng family, go to the Meng family and have them hand over the marriage contract, tear it up on the spot! The current Meng family... is not worthy of our alliance."

"Yes." Yun Fuan said respectfully.

"However, before the old woman dies, we don't need to make things too ugly." The black-haired old man closed his eyes after speaking.

Yun Fuan quietly withdrew.

...

"What? Dissolve the marriage contract?" Yun Qingping was shocked, looking at her father.

Didn't you say no? Why the sudden change of heart?

"Father is just informing you." Yun Fuan smiled. "Today, I will go to the Meng family and dissolve the marriage contract for you."

"Will the Meng family hand over the marriage contract obediently?" Yun Qingping couldn't help but ask.

"They will hand it over obediently." Yun Fuan said confidently. His father had received the news from a friend, and the Meng family must already know about their ancestor. These large families have self-awareness; resistance would only bring shame.

Yun Qingping said, "Father, I want to dissolve the marriage contract, but I don't want to ruin the relationship between the two families. Why don't we invite Uncle Meng to discuss it..."

"There's no need to make it so complicated." Yun Fuan smiled. "Alright, leave this matter to me. Just wait for good news at home."

---

"Father, what? Dissolve the marriage contract?" Yun Qingping was shocked, looking at her father.

Didn't you say no? Why the sudden change of heart?

"Father is just informing you." Yun Fuan smiled. "Today, I will go to the Meng family and dissolve the marriage contract for you."

"Will the Meng family hand over the marriage contract obediently?" Yun Qingping couldn't help but ask.

"They will hand it over obediently." Yun Fuan said confidently. His father had received the news from a friend, and the Meng family must already know about their ancestor. These large families have self-awareness; resistance would only bring shame.

Yun Qingping said, "Father, I want to dissolve the marriage contract, but I don't want to ruin the relationship between the two families. Why don't we invite Uncle Meng to discuss it..."

"There's no need to make it so complicated." Yun Fuan smiled. "Alright, leave this matter to me. Just wait for good news at home."