Chapter 13: Spirit Convergence Realm, A Glimpse at the Sword Intent

Qing Yanzi's speech, centered around envisioning the future and imparting precepts to his disciples, lasted for two hours. Even Mu Wanxuan, who had always given him her full attention, couldn't help but feel fatigued and stifle yawns, making her eyes water.

Finally, upon concluding his lengthy lecture on cultivation and the Dao, Qing Yanzi pointed to the rusted iron box.

"Once you step into the Golden Core Realm, you may open those treasures that our ancestors left behind. They will be of great benefit to you," he told his disciples.

Wang Sheng couldn't help but look forward to opening the iron box. It had been taken out and displayed to them twice, only to be sealed back up until they met the condition. Could it contain some powerful magical artifacts?

Qing Yanzi was certainly keeping them in suspense.

However, the Golden Core Realm seemed a distant goal for their little group. Only after building solid foundations for the first three cultivation realms could one even consider forming an Illusory Core. Moreover, only by transforming their Illusory Core into a Golden Core could they truly gain the ability to fly and perform extraordinary feats.

Though the path seemed straightforward, the journey was anything but easy.

As far as Wang Sheng remembered, aside from the elderly cultivators who spent their entire lives in the Dao just to become "great masters" on their deathbeds, the fastest a young cultivator had completed the Foundation Establishment Stage in his past life was five years even with their sect's full support.

Five years to progress through the Breath Condensation, Spirit Convergence, and Seed Formation Realms and reach the Illusory Core Realm. Though extraordinary, it was considered an unattainable dream for most cultivators outside renowned Daoist sects.

In his previous life, Wang Sheng failed to touch the threshold of the Seed Formation Realm before his death. He couldn't even reach the Spirit Convergence Realm or obtain advanced Daoist techniques.

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Wang Sheng repeatedly reminded himself to take his time with the Foundation Establishment Stage. There was no need to rush for the sake of being fast, considering it held little practical significance.

Men should know how to endure.

"Little Sheng," Qing Yanzi called, his tone turning serious. "I'm not too worried about your senior sister. Unlike her, you weren't raised in the mountains, so I have to remind you of a few things."

"I'm all ears, Master," Wang Sheng quickly responded.

"The precepts you memorized upon entering the sect have to always remain in your heart. Keep in mind that cultivation is primarily about refining the mind and heart. Your heart must harbor no regrets or grievances, and you must remain carefree and at ease. Only then can you truly achieve the Dao.

"No matter how much progress you make in the future, you must not flaunt your abilities, bully the weak, or use your skills to commit crimes. Do not think cultivation makes you invincible. Let me be blunt: until you reach the Illusory Core Realm, you'll have no choice but to run for cover if firearms are aimed at you. Since the world is at peace, we should simply focus on our own cultivation. Do not stir up trouble, and never use Daoist arts to satisfy your personal desires. Do you understand?"

"Understood," Wang Sheng replied.

Unfortunately, not everyone could be reasoned with.

"As the world changes, there will likely be some chaos, possibly even fiends causing unrest," Qing Yanzi said. Sighing, he stood at the door with his hands behind his back.

In a heavy tone, he added, "Though the Daoist sects traditionally avoid worldly affairs, it is not out of apathy. We simply want to avoid being tainted by mundane corruption. If fiends run rampant in the future, you must take up your sword and walk the righteous path. Protect the Dao and uphold the legacy our ancestors have safeguarded for a thousand years.

"Cultivating the Dao is no easy feat, and protecting it is even harder. However, walking this world with righteousness and integrity is the hardest task of all. Starting today, let us strive to cultivate together as best as we can."

Wang Sheng pulled Mu Wanxuan to stand beside him. Together, they lowered their heads respectfully and responded, "Yes, Master."

"From today onward, I will personally supervise your daily cultivation. With the path to immortality and freedom now before you, you must not slack off in the slightest."

"Understood!" Wang Sheng responded firmly.

Mu Wanxuan just blinked slowly, his strange words seemingly making her worry that her master had been drinking again.

Qing Yanzi chuckled and stepped into the sunlight. "Get out of the house and meditate. I'm going to check the mountain to see if anything has been discovered."

As soon as their master left, Mu Wanxuan gently tugged on Wang Sheng's sleeve. He then pointed at Qing Yanzi in the distance and tapped her temple.

Wang Sheng coughed lightly, unsure how to explain. "Master has always had a youthful heart. Perhaps he's been watching too many TV dramas lately and wanted to play the role for a bit. Don't worry, Senior Sister. He isn't hitting menopause just yet."

Seeing Mu Wanxuan's expression of utter belief, Wang Sheng couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt—though he also found it amusing.

Meditate and cultivate!

That day, they began their journey on the path of immortality, stepping into a world beyond imagination.

***

Qing Yanzi certainly became stricter in supervising them. Every day, as the first light of dawn broke, they were required to begin meditating.

With the primal qi of heaven and earth permeating the atmosphere, meditation became the primary method for absorbing it and enhancing one's cultivation. As their mental states and cultivation levels improved, the duration of their meditation sessions gradually increased.

Since Qing Yanzi could occasionally meditate for an entire day, he quickly made immense progress in cultivation. Being mindful of her responsibility to prepare lunch, Mu Wanxuan would wake from her meditation before noon. Wang Sheng, on the other hand, barely managed to last until midday—six hours of meditation was his limit.

After lunch came technique practice. Wang Sheng buried himself in mastering the Seven-Star Sword Formation, while Mu Wanxuan continued to delve into the secret techniques of the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams, occasionally summoning yin and yang qi to swirl around her.

She wore no makeup and dressed simply, yet she grew increasingly radiant.

Qing Yanzi dedicated three to four days each month to personally guide their cultivation. The rest of his time was spent in silent meditation, rarely practicing any Daoist techniques.

As time passed, Wang Sheng's understanding of the Seven-Star Sword Formation deepened steadily.

With the support of his true essence, he began to unleash some of the formation's power. However, replicating Qing Yanzi's initial demonstration—unleashing seven phantasms and converging them back into one—took him over five months.

His first year on Wudang passed in the blink of an eye.

Despite their slightly tense cultivation schedule, Wang Sheng did not neglect to stay in touch with his family. During the Qingming Festival in March, his parents visited to check on him, sweep the ancestral graves, and pray for blessings.

His parents had been talking about having a second child, but there had been no progress, leaving Wang Sheng somewhat concerned. He spent two days off the mountain with his parents before returning to immerse himself in cultivation.

Although his parents reminded him of the few months left in his academic break, they were rendered speechless when Wang Sheng demonstrated a few visually striking moves from the Seven-Star Sword Formation.

Seeing the light in their son's eyes, they no longer knew how to convince him to return to school.

Wang Sheng's cultivation level was still lacking. Although he was at the threshold of the Spirit Convergence Realm, he was still far from being able to unleash sword energy. Otherwise, his demonstration would have been even more convincing.

Though still worried about how Wang Sheng would support himself in the future, his parents did not ask him to return home again. After visiting and bringing gifts to Qing Yanzi and Mu Wanxuan, they reluctantly departed.

When his parents left, Wang Sheng's mental state cleared, allowing him to notice the signs of his divine sense forming.

Three months later, the blazing heat of summer dawned upon them.

One day, while Wang Sheng was meditating under the shade of a tree, he suddenly felt a faint stirring on his forehead. Streams of primal qi seeped into his body through his pores, causing his true essence to first stagnate and then surge forward rapidly.

Was he about to break through?

A wave of joy filled him, but he quickly calmed his mind, focusing intently on the changes occurring within him. After a short while, although his eyes remained closed, he sensed his surroundings becoming vividly clear in his mind.

Rather than seeing with his eyes, he formed a manifestation of his spiritual perception or divine sense, cautiously reaching out to touch the environment around him. He mentally perceived the blades of grass by his legs, the movements of two ants crawling beneath them, and their distinct antennae and limbs. He could even effortlessly perceive the fine veins on the grass stems and leaves.

In a time devoid of primal qi, such clarity was referred to as "micro-awareness," a state many martial artists spent their entire lives striving to achieve. However, it was merely a basic application of spiritual perception at the Spirit Convergence Realm.

Sitting quietly, Wang Sheng observed the various movements within dozens of feet around him. His thoughts gradually sank, and he instinctively began pondering the details of the Seven-Star Sword Formation that had previously eluded him.

Breaking through was just that—a breakthrough. Wang Sheng found little to celebrate in it, especially since his senior sister had already reached the Spirit Convergence Realm four months prior.

Half a day later, Wang Sheng opened his eyes, feeling an intense hunger and thirst. Grabbing the wooden sword beside him, he stood still for a moment before starting to practice again, this time with subtle differences in his techniques.

Faint traces of primal qi followed his every move. As his true essence flowed steadily within, his wooden sword radiated a faint light.

His movements were calm and harmonious, continuous and unbroken.

Wang Sheng had dedicated most of his first year—and more—on the mountains to practicing the sword formation. With Qing Yanzi's constant guidance, he had made impressive improvements to his Seven-Star Sword Formation.

Today, as he completed a round of training, a myriad of auras seemingly swirled around him. Unsatisfied, he repeated the sequence from beginning to end once, thrice, and then finally five times.

He seemed to have forgotten his hunger, thirst, and the fact that he hadn't yet begun fasting. His wooden sword became his entire world, and the intricate sword formation became his expression of self-understanding.

Finally, a trace of doubt appeared in his gaze as he looked up at the northern sky.

Raising his left hand, he formed a sword gesture with his fingers and lightly tapped the body of the wooden sword a few times.

The sword aligned with the Big Dipper's Seven Stars: Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, and Megrez formed the blade. Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid formed the hilt.

The Seven-Star Sword Formation contained profound mysteries. The Big Dipper rotated, marking the seasons.

Wang Sheng's expression filled with realization, but it was quickly followed by confusion. He stepped forward and walked casually in a pattern that traced the positions of the Seven Stars.

Just like the Big Dipper in the heavens, seven faintly glowing footprints now marked the grass beneath him, mirroring the stars' positions.

However, he had yet to draw upon the power of the stars to enhance his formation. What he experienced was merely a momentary insight.

Wang Sheng smiled, his expression radiating contentment. He sighed softly before leaping lightly into the air, easily ascending a height of ten feet. Seemingly floating down, he landed quietly and serenely. A variation of the Seven-Star Sword Formation spilled naturally from his movements.

Despite the disrupted sequence of moves, the transitions between them were seamless and embodied the essence of unpredictability.

The form was scattered, but the rhythm was intact. Sword intent was infused in his very being.

Moments later, under the starlight, Wang Sheng seemed to split into seven, each phantasm assuming a sword stance. They hovered for a moment before converging at a single point. Right after, he struck a nearby boulder with his wooden sword!

The thunderous crash interrupted Wang Sheng from his moment of insight.

Wang Sheng staring at the cracked boulder by the roadside, glanced at his still-intact wooden sword, and then scratched his head in embarrassment.

This doesn't count as vandalizing the property of the Wudang Mountains... right?

At the courtyard gate, Mu Wanxuan's mouth hung slightly open, softly squealing in admiration.

Qing Yanzi stood nearby, observing Wang Sheng with a faint smile. He nodded approvingly before retreating to the side room.

When Wang Sheng returned to the courtyard clutching his growling stomach, Qing Yanzi emerged with a long box in his arms.

Smiling, he said, "You've mastered the Seven-Star Sword Formation enough to delve into its deeper secrets. Consider this a gift to celebrate your breakthrough. Starting tomorrow, practice with this sword."

Though the sword was regarded as the gentleman among weapons, it could still invite calamity when encountered by soldiers. That was why Qing Yanzi had only allowed Wang Sheng to use a wooden sword until now.

"Thank you, Master!"

Wang Sheng accepted the wooden box with great excitement.

Could this be an ancient treasure? Maybe a renowned blade passed down through generations?

Upon opening it, he immediately saw the small plastic Tai Chi emblem on the hilt. He couldn't help but laugh softly.

Well, it isn't sharp, but at least it's a real sword.

In one day, Wang Sheng had advanced to the Spirit Convergence Realm, grasped the Seven-Star Sword Intent, and upgraded from a wooden sword to a Tai Chi sword commonly used by plaza-goers. It was a day of consecutive joys.

However, cultivating the Dao was destined to be a slow and monotonous path.

Over the next eighteen months, Wang Sheng dedicated himself to diligent practice. Though he steadily advanced, he only managed to reach the late stage of the Spirit Convergence Realm.

Immersed in the way of the sword, days blurred into years. Though the mountain remained timeless, spring soon turned to autumn.

In the blink of an eye, Wang Sheng had spent nearly three years on the mountain and quietly celebrated his twentieth birthday.

By this time, his senior sister had already successfully broken through and reached the final stage of Foundation Establishment—Seed Formation Realm.

Wang Sheng, however, felt no pressure. After all, it had only been a little over two years since the resurgence of primal qi. His strength now had already far surpassed the peak of his previous life.

Still, his otherwise tranquil days of cultivation were soon disrupted by the unexpected arrival of a Daoist master.