The setting sun cast a golden glow, like a layer of fine sand, slowly cascading over Mount Shu.
Dugu Yuyun closed his eyes, facing the mountain path that led down to the base. After a long, long moment, he finally turned his head.
For centuries, Mount Shu had stood unwavering, a testament to the selfless devotion of generation after generation of Sect Lords and disciples. Though they may have had their flaws and shortcomings, earning the respect or disdain of countless people, and personal quirks, like Chang Hao's aversion to female disciples, which led him to dismiss them all from the mountain for the world to judge.
Yet their hearts had always remained steadfastly devoted to Mount Shu, never wavering.
In this, Qin Yi differed fundamentally from them. He had come to this world with his own ambitions and his own purpose.
He had never forgotten his true identity. Though he had spent more time in this world than in the King's World, developing deep affection for it, Qin Yi remained acutely aware of his mission.
The day after Chang Hao's departure, Qin Yi returned to Mount Shu, sword in hand.
He wore a blue robe, and the morning sun fell upon his shoulders, as if traveling alongside the light itself, dazzling and radiant, drawing the admiration of countless Mount Shu disciples.
Under the gaze of the disciples, Qin Yi threw all the demons he had captured on his journey into the Demon Prison Tower.
This act eliminated the lingering threat left by the previous Sect Lord. As the newly appointed leader, he established his authority, enhanced his reputation, and restored the glory of Mount Shu, which had recently endured a great war.
Afterward, Qin Yi retreated to the Everlasting Pavilion.
He entered seclusion. The authority of the Sect Lord naturally differed from that of ordinary disciples or elders. They had access to the accumulated experience and sword skills left behind by all previous Sect Lords, a unique privilege determined by their position.
The gates of the Everlasting Pavilion slammed shut with a thunderous roar in the eyes of the assembled disciples and elders, and Qin Yi began to vanish from the world's sight.
"Chang Hao, Xu Zhangqing, Qingwei, and further up, Taiqing!"
Thin manuals floated out before Qin Yi's eyes, each one demonstrating a personal Dao and its unique characteristics.
His eyes twinkled, and a smile spread across his lips.
The cultivation insights, notes, and sword skills of all twenty-four Sect Lords were laid out before him in that instant.
To Qin Yi, these were priceless treasures. If he could thoroughly study and comprehend each one, it would provide an immeasurable boost to both his realm and his personal strength.
He knew with absolute certainty that this period of seclusion would be a time of explosive growth for his power.
Reaching the Forgetting the Dao Realm was a monumental breakthrough, completing the transition from mortal to immortal. In soul and spirit, he had already become fundamentally different from humanity, his lifespan extended and his physical form perfected.
Qin Yi naturally seized this opportunity to fuse the martial arts of all previous Sect Lords of Mount Shu, forging his own unique Dao.
'What unimaginable power would be unleashed if the essence of both Mount Shu and Magnificent Jasper could be integrated into a single entity, becoming entirely his own?'
"One technique transforms into ten thousand, one sword becomes ten thousand swords," he murmured, his eyes burning with pure Sword Intent.
He had long held a vague imprint of his own Dao.
His pursuit was to evolve from structured techniques to formlessness. If he could comprehend and unify all these principles, even the simplest movements would become devastatingly powerful.
When he finally emerged from his seclusion, a new world would await him.
Mount Shu fell silent. Though storms brewed in the martial world, they stirred no ripples here.
About a month later, a sword light wavered and descended from the Kunlun Mountains.
"It took me ages to find you!"
An elder, his hair and beard as white as snow and his face withered, seemed to tremble all over.
He gazed at the vast Kunlun Mountains, and a glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes.
After catching his breath atop the peak, the elder cautiously extended his trembling right hand and made a few gestures in the air.
"Mirror of Misty Waves!"
Like ripples on water, a mirror-like image materialized before him.
Within the mirror, a magnificent and spectacular sect appeared.
"The Magnificent Qin Faction!"
The elder's eyes narrowed as he fell into deep thought.
He pointed again, and the mirror rippled, instantly zooming in. When the image sharpened, it revealed the delicate face of a woman.
"That's her."
"The Fox Demon!"
The elder's pupils constricted, and his right hand trembled as he dispelled the mirror.
He set off, staggering through the Kunlun Mountains toward the woman's location.
At first glance, he appeared to be nothing more than an old man in tattered Daoist robes, devoid of any trace of power or sharpness. No one would ever suspect that he was Chang Hao, the former Sect Lord of Mount Shu.
Chang Hao had come precisely for An Yi.
He sought not only to sever Qin Yi's emotional attachment to her but also to completely eradicate the only stain on his legacy as the Sect Lord of Mount Shu.
Qin Yi remained oblivious, believing his path along the Carefree Path was simply insufficiently understood. But Chang Hao saw clearly.
The Dao was the Dao! Though adaptable, it was also rigid! Qin Yi had not truly overcome his emotional tribulation; he remained trapped within it.
In this regard, he hadn't even progressed as thoroughly as Dugu Yuyun. At this moment, the difference might seem negligible, but the further Qin Yi ventured, the narrower his path would become!
He would never reach the summit, never become the most powerful immortal to ascend from the Mortal Realm in history, and would miss his only chance to confront the God Realm!
"As long as this Demoness exists, Chang Yi, you will remain on the wrong path!"
"If sacrificing myself can help you reach the Dao, I would gladly do so!"
Muttering these words, Chang Hao's figure gradually faded into nothingness.
He walked for three days and three nights, advancing steadily and unhurriedly. At dawn on the fourth day, his steps suddenly halted.
At the edge of the dense forest, ordinary people would see nothing but trees. But Chang Hao's eyes clearly perceived it:
"The Magnificent Qin Faction!"
"We've arrived!"
His clouded eyes suddenly sharpened, becoming crystal clear.
He took a step forward, his spine straightening with a series of sharp cracks. His entire body seemed to grow taller in that instant.
Even more astonishing was the transformation of his face. The wrinkled, aged countenance had become remarkably youthful.
After three steps, Chang Hao had fully regained his youth. Though his Daoist robes remained tattered, his aura grew even more formidable.
In that moment, he was Chang Hao, the dignified and imposing Sect Lord of Mount Shu, his presence radiating overwhelming Sword Intent.
"Only by sacrificing oneself can one reach the Dao!"
"If you will not make the sacrifice, this old man will do it for you!"
With these words, Chang Hao stepped into the Magnificent Qin.
Hum!
Instantly, Sword Intent surged skyward, startling the mountains and forests and shaking the earth.
The vast, open, and razor-sharp Sword Intent awakened everyone in the Magnificent Qin.
Alone with his sword, Chang Hao's eyes were cold, his body radiating murderous intent.
The moment he entered the Magnificent Qin Faction, his gaze locked onto An Yi's location. His piercing eyes seemed to pierce through countless buildings, directly striking her.
Pfft!
An Yi jolted awake. The Sword Intent's impact forced a mouthful of blood from her lips, already wounded.
"Alert! Enemy attack!"
"Someone is trying to kill the Sect Lord's wife!"
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395