Chapter 456: Chapter 398: The Mirror of Dao Heart, Wiping Away the Dust
Moonlight Fairy Qu Ying was the disciple of Building Master Sword Unlimited, and the most talented tribulation-crossing cultivator of the Nine Heavens Jade Tower.
This time, after completing her secluded refinement of the sword pill and experiencing a significant rise in mana, she sought out trouble for Song Lin.
The two women accompanying her were her handmaidens and junior sisters who cultivated alongside her.
Qu Ying took a small sip of wine, gazing at the Mortal World’s prosperity and the Thunder Mansion Ghost Soldiers scattered in every corner.
After traveling the world for many years and seeing much, she admitted that the harmonious relationship between Taoists and ordinary people here was something rare.
The two sides stayed clear of each other’s affairs. Taoists refrained from flashy displays. Most traveled on foot, avoiding the common folk as if mortals were their mortal foes.
"Why are they like this?" one maid curiously asked.
There was a saying among mortals: "One’s wealth is wasted if not flaunted back home, like wearing silk robes in the dark."
The same principle applied to the cultivators’ world. When one achieves greatness in divine skills, what was the point if one couldn’t show it off to mortals?
"You don’t understand. They have the Three Refuges and Nine Precepts which strictly prohibit revealing divine skills before mortals. Violators face severe punishment. Most of the younger generation have never seen cultivators display divine power. Some even believe it to be the nonsensical imaginations of the olden days."
"What? Then how can a cultivator maintain their dignity?"
Both maids looked at each other in confusion, unable to fathom such a restriction.
"Haven’t you noticed? Without the interference of cultivators, the Mortal World has actually become much more thriving."
Qu Ying inwardly acknowledged Song Lin’s accomplishments.
Because of this, she sought him out after leaving seclusion—to cause trouble.
Song Lin was a great threat, especially someone who produced such tangible results. The danger was even greater.
People could easily rally behind him, disrupting the plans of Qingchen Heavenly Master and the Building Master.
But in the end, these were minor doctrines.
The true Great Dao, the only path to survival for the Human Clan, lay in the road paved by Qingchen Heavenly Master.
The current prosperity was no more than an illusory mirage under the overwhelming power of the Demon Clan.
When demons invaded, everything here would perish.
Qu Ying keenly sensed that Song Lin would become a colossal calamity in the future.
If everyone chose to follow his path...
Even if his current achievements brought a false sense of prosperity to the Human Clan, the consequences would be unimaginable in the long run.
Of course, Qu Ying had to admit that Song Lin was an exceptional man.
Thus, she didn’t intend to kill him, though in truth, she might not even succeed if she tried.
Her aim was to take advantage of his tribulation crossing. Using her Nine Heavens Moonlight Sword Pills, she would interfere and ensure his failure, removing him from the stage.
With this thought, Qu Ying glanced at the box on the table.
The box was framed with rare metals. Gold threads connected inlays of pearls and jade. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, it exuded a restrained divine light.
This was a Sword Box.
The sword techniques of the Nine Heavens Jade Tower did not involve three-foot swords but relied on sword pills.
Sword pills eschewed unnecessary components, adopting a spherical form that eliminated air resistance and specialized in the path of slaughter.
Their killing intent was so overwhelming that they were usually kept sealed within the Sword Box.
The Sword Box and Sword Pills were no external objects. They were formed from one’s own Essence, Qi, Spirit, and Taoist Realm, combined with the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi and rare worldly treasures.
Once a sword pill was refined, all things could be cut down.
Especially the nine moonlight sword pills within that had passed through three tribulations.
They were virtually indestructible, capable of destroying anything in existence.
Boom!
As these thoughts raced through her mind, the sky began to darken.
A suppressive aura spread across the land.
The city guards started driving away the vendors, forcing them to pack up to avoid harm from the heavenly tribulation.
The Eight Sceneries World was not suitable for tribulation crossing.
Furthermore, the world was fragile; forcibly crossing a tribulation could severely damage the realm’s foundation, so Song Lin stepped out to cross his tribulation.
After all, with protectors like Zhonghuang Zi and others present, serious incidents were unlikely.
Atop a mountain peak in the Donghua Jungle, all residents within dozens of miles had been relocated, leaving only Song Lin alone to face the heavenly tribulation.
Splash!
Suddenly, the dark clouds turned crimson as if dye had been spilled into water.
Flames like rosy clouds descended, instantly melting the ground within ten miles into a sea of magma, with Song Lin at its center.
The omnipresent heat burned his body, while inner delusions manifested as Six Desires Demon Fire, igniting him from within outward.
Internal flames proved far more terrifying than external ones.
Past delusions and malevolent thoughts transformed one by one into flames.
It was due in significant part to inner fire that Song Lin had suffered internal injuries in the story world, damaging his foundation.
Inner fire stemmed from delusions, evil thoughts, and every unbecoming notion harbored in the heart.
The Three Refuges, Three Laws, and Nine Precepts that Song Lin had reformed and established for the Taoist School in his past life were now the foundation of Donghua’s precepts.
Of course, though he authored the precepts, had he never violated them?
In the early days, he certainly broke many, for he was the founder and no one could hold him accountable.
Only later could he truly act as a model, no longer violating the precepts.
If the heart did not believe in them, it would be one thing. But because he did believe, previous violations inevitably became karma and backlash.
However, armed with his experiences from the story world, Song Lin faced them with remarkable calm, in sharp contrast to the earlier chaos of the story world.
To him, the human heart was like a bright mirror—a bit of dust from time to time was normal.
The present moment offered an opportunity to manifest and sweep away the dust. It was a good thing. Learn from it now, and diligently keep the mirror clean in the future.
From all directions, Zhonghuang Zi and others observed Song Lin’s calm expression and exchanged astonished glances.
While others looked harrowed and desperate during tribulations, why did this young man seem as if he was reaching enlightenment?
Indeed, Song Lin had achieved enlightenment.
His enlightenment was not about cultivating the Taoist Realm or divine skills but about strengthening his Dao Heart.
As time passed, the calamity clouds began to disperse.
In the county, Qu Ying stood up abruptly.
The moment had come!
Splash!
Qu Ying opened the box to reveal nine flawless, crystal-clear jade-like pills.
Whoosh!
The nine Moonlight Sword Pills shot out like meteors, targeting Song Lin, who stood beneath the tribulation.
Across the sky, transparent white streaks carved sharp arcs.
The piercing sword qi caused all living beings within hundreds of miles to feel pain in the center of their brows.
Witnessing this unforgettable scene, mortals raised their heads.
Amid the blackened night sky, nine bright moons hung high above.
"Impudent!"
Zhonghuang Zi roared in fury, transforming into Nine Yang Demons to intercept the falling moons.
Having broken through to the Primordial Spirit realm, Zhonghuang Zi was no longer bound by the limitations of this world and could exert his full power.
Boom!
The Nine Yang Demons shattered the Nine Bright Moons.
"Tricked!"
Not far away, a smile appeared on Qu Ying’s lips.
Even though the Nine Bright Moons had been destroyed, the nine sword pills bolted straight toward Song Lin.
Just as Zhonghuang Zi moved to intercept, it was already too late.
Sword pills, deadly weapons focused entirely on slaughter, moved with unmatched speed.
Taking advantage of the moment’s distraction, the pills penetrated the encirclement.
Of course, their lethality had diminished significantly. Under ordinary circumstances, they wouldn’t even be able to harm Song Lin. But he was in the midst of a tribulation. A mere disruption would engulf him in tribulation fire, making it difficult for him to manage both threats, allowing her to retreat cleanly.
Qu Ying’s starry eyes pierced through the window, across a hundred miles, seeming to focus on Song Lin engulfed in the sea of flames.
The nine sword pills raced toward his vitals.
At that moment, in disbelief, Qu Ying watched Song Lin rise abruptly amidst the sea of flames.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The nine sword pills were deflected by his dharma body.
Next, Song Lin ignored the raging sword qi and grabbed the chaotic sword pills with his bare hands.
Song Lin locked eyes with her across the distance, smiled faintly, and said:
"My turn!"
"Not good! Retreat now!"
Qu Ying and her two maids leapt out of the window.
Boom!
A wave of scorching heat surged as Song Lin rose into the sky.
He was simultaneously crossing his tribulation and facing his adversaries!
At that moment, the nine sword pills finally broke free from his grasp, unleashing dazzlingly beautiful yet deadly moonlight.
Song Lin, wielding a golden sword, brought it down in a single sweeping strike.
In that instant, the entire world seemed to fall silent.
That sword resonated with the heavens above and the living beings below.
The Nine Bright Moons, like ripples on water, dissolved into nothingness.
The golden sword qi carried remaining force, entwined with the Eight Sceneries World, and struck down.
Qu Ying’s calm demeanor shattered instantly. Disbelieving, she roared:
"What sorcery is this?"
How could there be a sword dao in this world comparable to that of the Nine Heavens Jade Tower and Xuanzong Shangqing?
Boom!
The single strike completely destroyed the Nine Heavens Moonlight Sword Pills. The Sword Box snapped apart with a crack, and Qu Ying spewed blood before seizing an opportunity to flee with her maids. Merging with moonlight, the three transformed into beams of light and vanished into the distance.
Ultimately, Song Lin’s tribulation limited him, leaving him far from his full strength, and they escaped by a hair’s breadth.
"When I return, I will surely slay you!"
Qu Ying glared venomously at the scene behind her.
In the Mortal World below, a horse-drawn carriage slowly rolled along the road.
It was Qingyu, who had recently broken through to the Purple Mansion Realm, returning with Wu Chen from their trials.
Seated cross-legged on the carriage rooftop, Qingyu was surrounded by eight floating divine swords.
She seemed to meld with the heavens, the divine swords, and all of nature itself.
She had grasped the path of the Heavenly Hero.
At that moment, Qingyu suddenly opened her eyes, witnessing the distant commotion.
Qu Ying and her party were speeding in her direction, with Song Lin chasing distantly behind.
"Strong!"
This was Qingyu’s immediate thought.
The opponent could likely kill a hundred versions of herself with but a single strike.
But she still wanted to try!