Mysterious mirror hanging high

Following these two causal lines, Jing Yu vaguely saw the faces of Yun Xuance and Yang Dingfeng, and couldn't help but raise her eyebrows:

"I never imagined that it was Third Sister and Fellow Daoist Yang who ascended to immortality together?"

He had initially thought it might be Li Jiangmei and Nangong Fuhua, but upon further reflection, given Li Jiangmei's aptitude, her cultivation level was likely still hovering around the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm even at over five thousand years old, making her ascension uncertain.

As for Yun Xuance and Yang Dingfeng... since comprehension of the laws after the Nascent Soul stage is primarily based on understanding, one of them possesses the destiny of "Exquisite Wisdom," while the other is a genius who achieved enlightenment through the seven laws of "filth, poison, injury, disease, decay, death, and life." They may actually surpass each other later on, cultivate to the late Nascent Soul stage, and ascend steadily.

Thinking of this, Jing Yu grabbed Zhong Yuanyi and said, "Come with me to see Immortal Master He Dao."

"Huh? I just came from my father's place..."

----

Jing Yu and Zhong Yuanyi arrived at the courtyard where Zhong Hedao was cultivating. They saw Zhong Hedao dressed in a white robe with a flying sword circling around him, as if he was practicing a sword technique.

The Celestial Immortal's spiritual sense was astonishing. Before Jing Yu and the other person even approached the courtyard, Zhong Hedao had already sensed their approach. At that moment, he had just finished practicing this set of sword techniques, and the timing was extremely precise.

"So it's Xuanjing. Are you here today to learn about swordsmanship?" Zhong Hedao sheathed his flying sword and asked with a smile, showing none of the imposing manner that an ordinary immortal would display when facing a lower-level cultivator.

Jing Yu then cupped his hands and said, "Senior, I have come today to bid you farewell."

"What?! You're leaving?" Zhong Yuanyi was shocked. "Xuanjing, why are you leaving all of a sudden? Did you suffer some injustice at the Zhong family?"

"No, not at all," Jing Yu said with a smile. "It's just that my body has now reached the Cave Heaven level, which is enough to traverse the starry sky. In addition, I have been cultivating in the Yu family for so many years, and I am really too restless to think about anything else."

So he thought he should go out and try his luck.

Zhong Hedao raised an eyebrow, gently stroking the blade of the flying sword at his waist, and asked, "The outside world is not peaceful these days. Reborn individuals and mind readers are everywhere, and there are frequent rumors of geniuses being murdered. It is not a wise move for you to go out and travel at this time."

"I am naturally aware of the advantages and disadvantages involved."

Jing Yu said respectfully, "But... I humbly believe that this may be the purpose of the mastermind behind the scenes."

"Oh?" Zhong Hedao showed an interested expression: "How so?"

"The Immortal Realm is full of geniuses. Not to mention the high and mighty true disciples of the Immortal Court... even among the many rogue cultivators who came from the First Heaven, are there no geniuses with the potential to become Golden Immortals or even Dao Lords?"

"A massive population will give rise to a huge number of geniuses. How many prodigies can those reborn individuals and mind readers kill? The mastermind behind this wants to use this method to stop cultivators from seeking the Great Dao? It's just a drop in the ocean."

"His true purpose is most likely to make all the geniuses in the immortal realm feel insecure and simply hide away."

"Even a prodigy with the potential to become a Dao Venerable has not yet realized his full potential. If he does not experience several life-and-death crises and witness the vicissitudes of life, how can he temper his Dao heart? He will also miss out on many experiences and encounters in his life."

"This kind of path of cultivation... will not lead to the attainment of the Great Dao."

Jing Yu said leisurely, "Therefore, I dare to say that the more turbulent the environment, the more we should travel and explore – as the saying goes, 'Only in turbulent times can true heroes be revealed,' that's all."

Zhong Hedao laughed heartily: "Well said! Xuanjing, with such a mindset, coupled with your unparalleled comprehension and talent, as long as you don't perish along the way, your future achievements will surely surpass mine!"

In fact, there was one more thing Jing Yu didn't mention: the [Mirror of Destiny] he practiced required observing the life paths of all beings in the world in order to continuously improve and iterate. Simply closing himself off and practicing asceticism, relying on those faint lines of cause and effect to sense destiny, could not satisfy his need to create a new cultivation method.

Only by truly placing oneself in the torrent of destiny can one truly witness the mystery of the convergence of all lives and destinies.

Zhong Hedao put away his smile and said, "Come back and visit often. If you encounter any unavoidable calamities while you are out there, just mention my name, Zhong Hedao... If the other party still doesn't listen, send a message talisman and I will travel through the void myself."

Jing Yu bowed deeply and said sincerely, "Thank you for your care over the years, senior. When I achieve success in my cultivation, I will surely repay you."

Zhong Hedao's expression shifted slightly, and the flying sword at his waist seemed restless, but he forcefully suppressed it and then closed his eyes.

"Then I won't keep you any longer."

Jing Yu bowed again before saying to Zhong Yuanyi, "Yuanyi, the mountains are high and the roads are long, and we may not see each other for a long time. Take care."

Zhong Yuanyi's eyes reddened: "Brother Xuanjing, aren't you going to say goodbye to my eldest sister and fifth brother before you leave?"

"No, it would only cause more trouble."

Immediately, Jing Yu transformed into a streak of light and flew away from the place.

After Jing Yu left, Zhong Hedao opened his eyes. At this moment, his sword intent surged, and the flying sword in his hand emitted a series of clear whistles.

"Father, what's wrong?" Zhong Yuanyi asked in confusion.

"It's nothing," Zhong Hedao said calmly. "The buzzing of flies is so annoying."

"Flies? With Father's sword intent dominating the entire field, how could any fly possibly survive around you?"

Zhong Hedao remained silent. Just now, he seemed to have "heard" Jing Yu's innermost thoughts, but the content of those thoughts was...

"Xuan Jing... he actually possesses a lineage that directly leads to the Dao Lord realm? And anyone can cultivate it?"

"The Daoist's legacy..." Zhong Hedao's heart pounded.

"Most of the thoughts overheard are false, merely the delusions and fantasies of some supreme being... but there's still a one in ten chance they're true... What if the Mysterious Mirror truly possesses a lineage that leads directly to the Dao Lord?"

It should be noted that a complete Dao Lord's inheritance is not just a simple cultivation technique; it will most likely also include accompanying treasures... and even some ancient treasures that can reverse one's aptitude and comprehension.

This explains why Jing Yu's comprehension was so extraordinary, allowing him to easily deduce a path to the Golden Immortal realm from the seed of primordial intent.

If the content of these thoughts is true, then he shouldn't have let Jing Yu leave earlier; he should have simply kept her here.

Even... murder for treasure?

Once this thought appeared, it grew and spread endlessly in Zhong Hedao's mind.

But soon, a sword of the heart condensed within the previously turbulent sea of ​​consciousness, swiftly extinguishing the thought.

Zhong Hedao's previous greedy expression vanished, and the Zhong family sword immortal once again regained his calm demeanor.

"This body is solely devoted to the sword, seeking nothing external... If one is solely attached to unorthodox paths, how can one be considered a pure sword cultivator?"

"We sword cultivators are best at severing inner demons and delusions... Mere tricks of inner demons cannot disturb my Dao heart!"

Zhong Hedao's clear mind had further advanced his Dao heart, and as he was rejoicing, he suddenly thought of something:

"Speaking of which, although there have been quite a few 'reborn' and 'mind readers' who have been affected by inner demons and delusions in recent years, it seems that none of them are pure sword cultivators."

"Even if sword cultivators infiltrate among them, they merely treat flying swords as weapons, not as their natal objects that are inextricably linked to their own path of cultivation."

"If that's the case, could it be that pure sword cultivators subtly restrain the mastermind behind it all?"