CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: PATH OF THE CELESTIAL HUMAN, RIVERS OF BLOOD

Lu Chengfeng moved quickly. Upon returning to Bixiao Peak, he swiftly notified Luo Suyi and Qiutong about the relocation.

Fortunately, there weren’t many people on the mountain now, so packing was simple. Lu Chengfeng made an extra trip to explain the situation to Qiutong personally, and she agreed.

The group from Bixiao Peak moved to Jade Immortal Peak on the same day, where there were many vacant rooms in the Immortal Encounter Hall to accommodate everyone.

Although it wasn’t their home and was somewhat unfamiliar and inconvenient, Lu Chengfeng insisted, and Luo Suyi and Qiutong had no choice but to comply.

Li Mo was sent by Lu Chengfeng to the Su Family in Jiangnan and has yet to return, while Luo Tong was dispatched to the town below the mountain to gather news and does not reside within the sect.

After arranging various chores, Lu Chengfeng spent almost every day at Zhu Yuxian’s place, seeking her guidance.

The longer he practiced, the more doubts he had. The gifts from the three Elders only added to his puzzlement and misunderstanding regarding the martial world, martial arts, and renowned and righteous sects.

"Master, the longer I practice, the more puzzled I feel. May I ask, Master, what exactly is sword intent?"

Zhu Yuxian sat cross-legged, her beautiful curves all concealed within the wide red silk court dress, embroidered with golden phoenix threads, dignified and luxurious.

"That you can ask this question shows that your internal and external skills have reached a certain level, and your martial arts skills have attained a state of perfection, beginning to explore the mysteries of the martial path."

"So-called sword intent is not a means purely cultivated by relying on cultivation techniques alone."

"Sword intent is the core of the practitioner’s heart, the Great Tao they pursue, the truth ingrained in their hearts."

"Only by adhering to one’s true heart, can the will remain pure and flawless, allowing it to penetrate both internally and externally, refining Essence, Qi, and Spirit to achieve the purest sword intent."

Lu Chengfeng still asked in confusion: "But as far as I know, the sword intent cultivated by the Elders of the Five Peaks includes thunder and wind, water and fire, yin and yang, life and death, and bearing virtue. Many different types—are these all considered one’s true heart?"

Zhu Yuxian replied: "The martial path is divided into heavenly and human paths. So-called heavenly path seeks the truth of natural operations and explores its mysteries, integrating them into one’s martial arts, participating in the Path of Heaven and Earth, and seeking transcendence."

"The Taoist lineage is such a practice, and in today’s world, many sects and families mostly follow this Great Tao."

"Like water and fire, wind and thunder, mountains and lakes, such natural truths, when incorporated into martial arts, achieve the true intent of the martial path, which is the heavenly path."

Speaking of this, she paused slightly, "The Five Elements Returning to Origin Sword Scripture contains the wonders of the five elements, which also belong to heavenly principles."

"Apart from the heavenly path, there is also the human path. So-called human path seeks no external assistance, explores the treasures within the human body, seeks the realms and sublimation of the soul."

"Some are timid and fearful, but can rise up to kill in life-and-death situations; some, outnumbered, stand firm in battle, unleashing potential to sweep away enemies."

"Human beings have limitations, but the power of the soul is infinite. The seven emotions and six desires contain unimaginable power—once unleashed, it can exert power far beyond physical limits."

"Thus, there are those who, driven by passion, do not practice sword for ten years yet upon the death of a lover can swing a sword that shakes the heavens, shedding blood on the skies, and cutting down all enemies."

"Some sects are destroyed, fiery rage consumes the heart, pursuing vengeance three hundred miles, burning enemies’ bones with fierce fire."

"There is also the unparalleled demonic skill ’Heaven and Earth Competing Yin-Yang Great Sadness’, comprehending this secret skill, which leads heaven and earth to mourn with it, and those afflicted with this skill often take their own lives."

"This is the human path!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chengfeng suddenly had a revelation, "I see—so it means that forging sword intent is also divided into heavenly and human aspects, hence such variety."

Zhu Yuxian nodded, "Swords and spears, axes, hooks and forks, or fists, palms, fingers, and claws—martial arts cultivation is not limited to swords, and what is condensed may not necessarily be sword intent but can be called the true intent of martial arts."

"Taoist cultivators also refer to the natural principles understood from heaven and earth as Tao Rhyme."

"In the past, pursuing celestial enlightenment made one a Daoist, seeking to be carefree outside the world, sharing life with heaven."

"Whereas killing in anger, using martial arts against dharma, acting chivalrously with blood one’s courage, upholding justice was the pursuit of inner peace, thus as a martial artist."

"It’s just that three hundred years ago, when the world was unified, the Great Chu Dynasty established dominion over the lands, collecting the learnings of various schools, merging Tao and martial arts to establish the Thirty-Six Layers of Martial Path, marking the beginning of a martial golden age."

Lu Chengfeng couldn’t help but nod. Although Li Guan’s martial skills were profound, many memories were fragmented. Despite receiving his gifts, some aspects were understood without knowing the reasons behind them.

Having Zhu Yuxian’s guidance now suddenly brought clarity.

"Your talent is exceptional, with ample Essence of the Five Elements within you, harmonized yin and yang, and vaguely, there is immortal light piercing through the top of your head—this is an extraordinary disposition, eligible to pursue the Path of the Celestial Human."

"So-called Celestial Human uses the human heart to command heavenly principles, thus possessing extraordinary divine techniques, akin to land-dwelling immortals—popular legends about sword immortals and immortals often refer to Celestial Human strong persons."

"The secret skills of the Five Peaks within the sect, though not common, have no fate in the Ultimate Celestial Human Realm, but the Five Elements Returning to Origin Sword Scripture, albeit incomplete, aims for high intention by laying down the Celestial Human Foundation from the start."

"That is why I urged you to use this cultivation technique to refine sword intent—this is indeed the Path to Heaven."

A teacher propagates the Tao, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts.

Since moving to Jade Immortal Peak, Lu Chengfeng shamelessly sought advice every day, and Zhu Yuxian was forthcoming in her instruction—only then did they have some semblance of a master-disciple relationship.

Greatly benefiting, although there was no immediate increase in martial skills, Lu Chengfeng’s understanding of martial arts became clearer, and his foundation more solid.

In an instant, three days had passed, and after addressing Lu Chengfeng’s confusion on that day, Zhu Yuxian took out a stack of letter paper, saying, "These are some letters the late husband and I used to communicate. They contain his understanding of heavenly principles and the human heart. If you can carefully ponder them, you will surely gain something."

Lu Chengfeng treasured and carefully stored them away. Just by looking at the yellowed letter paper, he could see it had been kept for years, evidently cherished by the master.

Willing to lend them to him now truly showed sincerity.

Although there was a slight misunderstanding at the beginning when acknowledging her as his master, as time went on, he found Zhu Yuxian was virtuously untainted, with emotions freely expressed, not hidden, frank, and natural.

"Perhaps this is the path Master follows—to do with sword intent," Lu Chengfeng speculated.

After he stored the letters away, Zhu Yuxian slowly stood up, the large palace dress trailing on the ground, and her celestial-like features showed a cold expression.

"It really has come after all!"

Her gaze seemed to penetrate the palace, seeing beyond the gates of the mountain.

At this moment, outside Yun Cang Mountain, three forces suddenly intruded, each with hundreds of members, totaling over a thousand, all elite martial artists and experts.

They entered the mountain from different directions, killing anyone they saw. The mountain guardian disciples and patrol disciples were no match, and blood flowed into rivers in the blink of an eye.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The mountain’s bronze bell rang seven times continuously to alert all sect disciples of a major enemy invasion.

Splash! Splash! Splash!

Blood splattered, heads rolled, bodies lay scattered.

Just in a flash, this sect that suppressed the Northern Lands was in chaos, as invading forces slaughtered relentlessly, causing countless Outer Peak disciples to wail and flee for their lives.

The invading forces also ignored the Outer Peak, converging together to attack the Inner Peak from three directions.