Crafting an Immortal Race with Daily Hexagrams

Chapter 721: Chapter 262: Epiphany and a Great Boost in Strength

Shen Yuan sighed after hearing this and said, "After all, this matter is still speculation."

"As your father, I think Danzhou can be a backup option, but other paths should still be pursued."

"Otherwise, if Yangnao Land collapses, followed by Danzhou, our Shen Family will lose all retreating paths."

"Son thinks the same." Shen Wen’an nodded and said, "If that’s the case, I’ll transmit a message to Senior Sister Lingshan later, asking Cyan Ruo Sword House for assistance in finding a suitable place in Danzhou for our Shen Family, and to prepare it temporarily for future use."

Shen Yuan nodded.

"There’s no rush for this matter."

"The current battle at Celestial Aromatic Mountain is key."

"I heard from your elder brother that tomorrow is the agreed day between Celestial Sandalwood Mountain and Luoxia Mountain."

"If the Shen Family and Luoxia Mountain decide not to make a move, you need to quickly go to Yunzhong County City to discuss countermeasures with Qiuling and Elder Jiang."

"This countermeasure is mainly to guard against Celestial Sandalwood Mountain."

"Luoxia Mountain has already agreed to send troops, but a last-minute change of plans might enrage Celestial Sandalwood Mountain."

"If they turn against Luoxia Mountain or the Shen Family, we must be prepared in advance."

Shen Wen’an’s expression grew somber upon hearing this.

Although Cyan Ruo Sword House has agreed to provide support, Huang Lingshan still needs to negotiate with other Sword Immortals.

During this time, if Celestial Sandalwood Mountain makes a move, the Shen Family and Luoxia Mountain will have to withstand it on their own.

This is a Purple Mansion Influence, even if their ancestor Feng Xi doesn’t act, there are probably numerous Golden Core Demon Kings below Celestial Sandalwood Mountain’s Purple Mansion.

A countermeasure must indeed be devised.

"I will head to Yunzhong County City now."

Realizing the urgency, Shen Wen’an immediately stood up and cupped his hands.

"Take Xiuyan with you too."

"Your elder brother has been too busy to attend to him these past few days, taking him along will give him some exposure to the world; it will be beneficial for him to make decisive decisions when he assumes the position of Patriarch in the future."

Shen Wen’an nodded with a faint smile, "Last time that kid was pestering me to teach him sword skill, it would be a good opportunity to talk to him about it during the journey."

After cupping his hands, his figure transformed into a sword aura and left Black Water Pavilion.

In the void outside Yunshui City, Shen Xiuyan stood at the forefront of a giant flying sword, watching the rapidly retreating clouds on both sides and the city walls and mountains below, his face full of excitement.

"Third Grandpa, is this sword flight?"

"Xiuyan wants to learn!"

Shen Wen’an stood behind him with his hands folded and smiled faintly, "You can learn, but cultivating both the Literary Dao and Sword Dao, you’ll need to put in more effort than usual."

Hearing this, the excitement on Shen Xiuyan’s face suddenly froze, and he reluctantly suppressed his thoughts.

"Elder brother and Grandfather both say that Xiuyan is the future Patriarch of the Shen Family, bearing the responsibility of the family’s rise and fall."

"Xiuyan has a natural Literary Heart, and can’t neglect the Literary Dao."

"As for the Sword Dao... I’m afraid there’s really no energy left to delve into it..."

Seeing the little guy’s somewhat desolate back and hearing the unwillingness in his words, Shen Wen’an also felt discomfort in his heart.

He understood the bitterness in Shen Xiuyan’s heart.

People’s energy is limited, even cultivators like them have moments of exhaustion.

Managing the family and governing the world consume a lot of energy, and cultivating the Literary Dao is no different. He truly has no extra energy to venture into the Sword Dao.

This is a form of sacrifice.

"If you don’t cultivate the Sword Dao, Third Grandpa can still teach you sword skill."

"Once you achieve something in the Literary Dao, the means of controlling the sky won’t be much inferior to sword flight."

Shen Wen’an comforted him.

Upon hearing this, the shadow over the little guy’s heart was instantly swept away.

"Then Third Grandpa, tell Xiuyan about the Sword Cultivator."

Shen Wen’an nodded and then spoke in a deep voice:

"A Sword Cultivator is not simply about wielding a piece of iron to produce aura.

At first, people control the sword; the sword is a dead object, swallowing metal and stone, slashing wind and waves, merely a sharp tool.

Afterwards, the sword controls the person; the sword has a spiritual connection, communicates intentions and thoughts, and before the mind moves, the sword qi already traverses the river."

At this stage, the sword is half a body."

Shen Wen’an’s voice was low and slow, and the Shen Xiuyan in front of him listened intently.

"Ultimately, man and sword forget each other; there’s no iron in hand, but a blade in the heart; wherever the eyes reach, the sea of clouds splits and the dome opens; wherever the intention goes, all dharmas are broken and causality disappears. This sword is neither gold nor iron, but a transformation of a single innate spirit light, known as ’Sword Intent’."

Hearing this, Shen Xiuyan’s eyes shone brightly, and he eagerly looked up at Shen Wen’an, "What about beyond ’Sword Intent’?"

"What does Third Grandpa think should be beyond ’Sword Intent’?"

Beyond Sword Intent...

Shen Wen’an’s eyes narrowed slightly, contemplating for a long time before he spoke:

"My understanding is: the extreme of the Sword Dao is not in cleaving external objects but in slicing one’s own self.

Cutting away cowardice, cutting off delusions, severing worldly attachments and inner obstacles. Until divine thought is as clear as a mirror, reflecting the true self, then the body can be the sword, fingers can be the sword, even a blade of grass can cut down stars.

Thus, it’s said: cultivating the sword is truly cultivating the heart.

The sword’s edge does not aim at enemies or foes, but truly at that indestructible true nature within us cultivators, which lasts as long as heaven and earth, shines as brightly as the sun and moon."

The surrounding sea of clouds continued to retreat rapidly, and both grandfather and grandson on the flying sword remained silent.

The latter part of Shen Wen’an’s speech seemed directed at Shen Xiuyan, but was also a self-narration of his understanding of the "Extreme Sword Dao" through Shen Xiuyan’s inquiry.

"Third Grandpa..."

Just as Shen Xiuyan was about to turn around and speak, he suddenly noticed that Shen Wen’an seemed to have entered a peculiar state, surrounded by surging sword intent, which dispersed the clouds wherever they passed.

"Xiuyan, Third Grandpa suddenly feels an epiphany in his heart; we must descend."

Feeling the insights in his heart bubbling like a spring, Shen Wen’an immediately spoke deeply, directly maneuvering the flying sword under their feet to descend onto a towering mountain peak below.