611 sword of divine thought - The Quest for Immortality

**Chapter 611: The Sword of Divine Thought** It was afternoon, and the bright sunlight fell between the lush green forest. A moss-covered stone staircase led up to the mountain peak. Mo Hua walked up the stairs with light and nimble steps, humming a tune all the while. However, when he reached the old temple, he was taken aback. "No one?" The dilapidated temple was empty, devoid of any human figure; even within his divine sense, there was no trace of the mountain spirit's presence. Mo Hua looked closely and saw that the offerings on the altar, a few buns, had gone bad, and some fruits had dried, lying there for an undetermined length of time. There was no meat on the offering plate, only a wine cup. The wine cup was full, but it wasn’t wine; it was filled with rainwater that had dripped from the eaves, clear on the surface, with sediment settled at the bottom. It was a forlorn sight. Mo Hua felt a pang of sympathy. What a pitiful mountain spirit. "Huang Shan Jun?" Mo Hua called out a few times, but the empty old temple only echoed the name before falling silent again. "Not at home?" Mo Hua frowned, feeling a pang of melancholy, like traveling from afar to visit a friend only to find them absent. "That can’t be right…" A mountain spirit, where could it possibly have gone? Would it abandon its temple? Mo Hua looked around, but the temple was so small, the walls dilapidated, and there was still no sign of Huang Shan Jun. Mo Hua narrowed his eyes and suddenly felt a peculiar intuition. He sensed a tremor from the faint traces of golden marrow within his divine sense, refined from the "marrow" of the demon leader, the horned envoy. Realizing this, Mo Hua allowed the golden divine blood to lead him out of the temple, circling it, until he found a small dog statue at the rear corner. The little dog statue was drab, dusty, head drooping as it lay in the grass, not daring to release any aura. Mo Hua crouched before the statue, his large eyes silently observing it. The little dog remained completely motionless. "Hey—" Mo Hua whispered. For some reason, the eyes of the mud statue seemed somewhat panicked. "Huang Shan Jun—" Mo Hua called softly again. The mud statue dog wished nothing more than to close its eyes. "Aren’t you ashamed, being a mountain spirit hiding inside a little dog?" Mo Hua remarked. The small dog felt shame and fury, yet still did not respond. Mo Hua’s expression turned a bit displeased as he lifted three fingers, stating firmly, “I’ll count to three. If you don’t come out, I’ll get rough...” "Three…" "Two…" Before he could finish, the little dog statue suddenly began to emit smoke, revealing Huang Shan Jun’s slender, smiling face. Noticing Mo Hua’s less-than-friendly expression, Huang Shan Jun cheerfully greeted him: "Ah, I was wondering who it was; turns out it’s you, my little friend. With nothing to do in the mountains, I was basking in the sun and, whoops, dozed off. Excuse me, excuse me…” Mo Hua glanced up at the sky and questioned, “But it’s shady here. What sun are you basking in?” Huang Shan Jun paused, forced to keep smiling. "Basking in the shade, it’s both warm and cool…" Afraid Mo Hua would ask more, it quickly changed the subject: “Did you come to find me for something?” As expected, Mo Hua’s attention was diverted. “Yes.” Mo Hua nodded, about to speak when he glanced at Huang Shan Jun and curiously asked, “Do you plan to stay inside this little dog statue?” Huang Shan Jun thought bitterly, “Do you think I want to…” “If not for wanting to hide from you…” As he thought this, he realized he’d slipped and immediately questioned: “How did you know I was ‘hiding’… I mean, basking in the sun here?” He had been so discreet, sacrificing face to dwell in such a small dirt dog, hiding even his mountain spirit core, yet he was still found... “I felt it,” Mo Hua replied. “Felt it?” “Yeah.” Mo Hua nodded, “I felt like you were here and, sure enough, I found you.” Huang Shan Jun felt a chill down his spine. This little troublemaker couldn’t be shaken off… So absurd… A clever kid isn’t scary, but a clever kid with strange senses is terrifying. No routine to follow, impossible to guard against… Huang Shan Jun sighed, slowly emerging from the mud dog statue, making a gesture of invitation, “Let’s chat inside…” Thus led by the mountain spirit, Mo Hua boldly entered the shabby temple alongside Huang Shan Jun. Huang Shan Jun turned into wisps of blue smoke, residing inside the central mountain spirit statue on the altar. Mo Hua sat at the edge of the altar, chatting with Huang Shan Jun “shoulder to shoulder.” However, Huang Shan Jun appeared somewhat uneasy. Mo Hua, puzzled, asked: “I’m not going to ‘eat’ you. What’s there to be scared of?” Huang Shan Jun chuckled inwardly, “You think I believe that…” But externally, he continued smiling, “Little friend, you’re exceptionally intelligent. Your heart is clear as a mirror, which is rare in this mundane world. I can’t befriend you soon enough; why would I shy away?” Mo Hua, of course, didn’t believe it. He glanced at Huang Shan Jun curiously and asked: “Were you very powerful in the past?” Huang Shan Jun paused, smile faltering, puzzled as he asked, “How do you know?” “I guessed.” Huang Shan Jun shook his head. “Do I look powerful to you, dressed like this?” Mo Hua looked at Huang Shan Jun, his gaze clear, voice calm: “Ten-zhang tall, claws seven feet long, with brown fur, majestic power shrouding the mountains, a thick aura, eyes filled with fresh blood, boundless ferocity and evil thoughts entwining the body…” Huang Shan Jun’s gaze turned fierce, but upon meeting Mo Hua’s deep eyes, his face abruptly turned pale. “You, you… what are you…” Mo Hua blinked, softly asking: “Was this really your previous appearance?” Huang Shan Jun’s expression was bitter. “How did you know?” Mo Hua said, “I dreamed it; I dreamed of a mountain spirit, a great yellow beast-like spirit. I guessed it might be you, so I came to ask.” Huang Shan Jun wore a complex expression, hesitating before letting out a long, sorrowful sigh: “That’s all in the past…” “In the old times, I did enjoy offerings, my divine thought strong, encompassing mountains and rivers, manifesting divine form. Under the laws of the heavens, reigning almost unrivaled at the peak of my realm.” “But like humans, mountain spirits, once arrogance develops, they fall prey to malevolent influences.” “As for what happened afterward, you know… it’s a story too painful to recall. Now I’m like a tiger fallen from grace…” “...being bullied by me?” Mo Hua added. Huang Shan Jun nodded, “Exactly…” Halfway through, he suddenly felt a chill, quickly correcting himself, “No, no, you never bullied me…” Mo Hua pondered, visions of Huang Shan Jun’s once-mighty, intimidating presence contrasted sharply with its current fallen, fish-like state, leaving Mo Hua somewhat incredulous. Huang Shan Jun seemed to sense Mo Hua’s thoughts, lamenting: “In all existence, be it human, demon, or god, most are puppets to power, fame, authority, and status.” “Humans especially.” “A beggar becoming an emperor, imbued with authority, naturally displays imperial grace;” “An emperor becoming a beggar, stripped of power, can only plead pitifully.” “Truly transcending material influences and seeking no fame or power is a rarity…” “I, as a mountain spirit, was no exception.” “When my divine thought was mighty, imbued with boundless power, naturally I was formidable…” “But the potent force wasn’t truly from me; it was the celestial might puppetizing me…” “Later, my cultivation was cut by a sword, lost my mighty power, and now I’m just a small, fallen mountain spirit, skulking through days like this…” Mo Hua, surprised by both Huang Shan Jun’s insight and its plight, couldn’t help but pity it. Huang Shan Jun, uncomfortable with Mo Hua’s sympathetic gaze, remarked: “You didn’t come just to open old wounds, right…” Mo Hua nodded, “Of course not; I’m not that idly…” Huang Shan Jun’s eyelid twitched, a helpless expression on his face. This child, with such an innocent face, had such a way of speaking that always pierced right through… Huang Shan Jun sighed and said, "What brings you here? Just ask your question..." He hoped that Mo Hua would ask quickly and leave promptly. Huang Shan Jun wanted to send Mo Hua on his way. Mo Hua immediately replied, "Can you teach me the technique used against you, the sword art that turns divine thought into a blade?" Huang Shan Jun grumbled, "I've already said, I don't know how to do it..." Mo Hua shook his head, "Even if you can't use it, your divine sense is exceptionally strong, and you’ve experienced it firsthand, so you must understand the principles behind this Divine Thought Sword technique. You probably also know how it’s cultivated!" "I really don’t know..." "No, you do!" Mo Hua's eyes were bright, and his tone was firm. Looking into Mo Hua's keen eyes made Huang Shan Jun feel an intense headache. He felt that in his entire life, he had never encountered such a troublesome young master... "Fine, fine, I'll tell you then..." Huang Shan Jun conceded. It was better to just say it quickly and be done with it, otherwise, he’d be continually hounded by this matter indefinitely... Recalling past events, Huang Shan Jun's expression turned solemn and his gaze heavy as he said: "This sword technique is called..." "The True Art of Transforming Divine Thought into Sword of the Taixu!" After reciting the name, he glanced at Mo Hua and noticed that there was no surprise on his face. Momentarily taken aback, he asked, "You already knew?" "Mm!" Mo Hua nodded. "How do you know?" Mo Hua jumped off the altar and spread his arms, showing Huang Shan Jun his elegantly simple robe of black and white: "Guess which sect this robe belongs to?" Huang Shan Jun scrutinized it, and suddenly his eyes widened in shock, "Could it be..." Mo Hua smiled, "It’s the Taixu Sect robe, and the 'Taixu' in 'The True Art of Transforming Divine Thought into Sword' refers to 'Taixu'." Huang Shan Jun felt bitterness rising in his heart. He had found Mo Hua's robe somewhat familiar before, and now, upon hearing him, he realized that it was indeed the robe of Taixu Sect. This young master, it turned out, wore the same sect robe as that person who had defeated him back then! The only difference was, Mo Hua wore the robe of an entry-level disciple. It was much simpler in design, with more black and less white, unlike that previous person who was nearly decked in all white, which was why he hadn’t immediately recognized it... Eyeing Mo Hua with a sense of grievance, Huang Shan Jun said, "You’re a Taixu disciple yourself, why don’t you just learn it from your sect? Why ask me?" "The sect doesn't have it, I couldn't find it..." Mo Hua said and then contemplated, "Or maybe, it's just that my level is too low and I don’t have the clearance to learn it yet..." Huang Shan Jun remained silent, somewhat reluctant to speak further. Mo Hua then said, "Why don't you just tell me and I'll owe you a favor for it." "And what use is your favor..." Huang Shan Jun muttered inwardly, but outwardly he consented, "Alright, I'll tell you..." Mo Hua leapt back onto the altar, sitting crossed-legged, listening quietly. Huang Shan Jun sighed, "As a mountain spirit, my understanding of divine thought is deeper due to the unique nature of my position compared to regular cultivators..." "When I fought that Taixu sword cultivator back in the day, their divine thought sword aura left me riddled with injuries, but I also gleaned some of the secrets of this sword technique..." "The sword technique of transforming divine thought into a sword differs from typical sword techniques." "Ordinary sword techniques involve infusing spiritual power into a spiritual sword, condensing 'sword qi', and then using that formidable sword qi to attack." "Transforming divine thought into a sword is different. It requires condensing a formless yet profound 'sword intent' beyond just sword qi..." "You must use sword qi as the foundation and refine the divine charm with sword intent to unleash immense power. It can cut through the tangible and also strike the intangible spirits!" "In short..." "Ordinary sword control focuses on the sword itself, honing sword qi." "But transforming divine thought into a sword goes a step further; it develops sword intent from sword qi." "Neither can be lacking. Only when sword qi reaches its pinnacle can sword intent be cultivated, and with sword intent fortifying it, sword qi becomes unstoppable, conquering all!" Huang Shan Jun’s eyes held a hint of pride: "If not for this True Art of Transforming Divine Thought into Sword, which allows turning concrete into abstract, striking intangible spirits with a tangible sword, back then, no one in the realm could've dealt with me..." Mo Hua contemplated: "Wouldn’t that make you a 'Dao Fiend' then?" Huang Shan Jun felt a chill at those words, shocked, and incredulous: "How... how do you know?!" Mo Hua nodded, "I've seen it; that’s how Dao Fiends are nurtured..." And I’ve even slain a Dao Fiend! But such matters are taboo and best not spoken of... Even so, Huang Shan Jun involuntarily sucked in a breath of cold air. He increasingly felt that this young master Mo Hua was not to be trifled with. Promptly, Huang Shan Jun restrained the pride in his demeanor. No more boasting. If he exaggerated further until the facade was pierced, and this young master saw through it again, it would be troublesome... Mo Hua, not noticing the subtle shift in Huang Shan Jun’s expression, pondered on the idea of transforming divine thought into a sword: "I need to first cultivate sword qi, push it to the utmost, then transition from form to formless, cultivate sword intent, blend sword intent with sword qi to practice the 'True Art of Transforming Divine Thought into Sword'..." Mo Hua felt disillusioned. "If I don’t become a sword cultivator, if I don’t cultivate sword qi, does that mean I can't learn to transform divine thought into a sword?" Huang Shan Jun nodded, "Naturally." Mo Hua thought for a moment, his eyes suddenly brightening, "What if I don’t cultivate sword qi but have a strong enough mind to directly convert divine thought into sword intent, would that work?" Huang Shan Jun found Mo Hua’s idea whimsical, and replied in a frustrated tone: "If you don’t cultivate sword qi, where would the sword intent come from?" "Can an array master without drawing arrays understand array principles?" "Isn’t it the same logic..." "The better you cultivate your sword, the sharper your sword qi, the purer and stronger your sword intent will be..." "How could you solely rely on transforming divine thought? Do you think your divine sense could be stronger than a sword cultivator’s sword qi?" "Moreover, how strong do you think your mind really is?" Mo Hua whispered, "Is sixteen markings enough?" Huang Shan Jun sneered, "Sixteen markings, what’s that enough for?" Just as he was about to say more, he froze, turning to Mo Hua in surprise, "How many?" "Sixteen markings..." Huang Shan Jun’s expression stiffened... Sixteen markings... how could there be sixteen markings? What age and what level are you at? In the early stage of Foundation Establishment, where would you get a divine sense of sixteen markings? Unless you... Huang Shan Jun’s heart skipped a beat, and he promptly calmed himself, speaking gently: "Sixteen markings are quite strong, but if you aim to transform divine thought into a sword, it's still not sufficient..." "How many would I need?" "Yu..." Huang Shan Jun almost slipped, promptly correcting to a lower tier, "At least Golden Core level, over twenty markings..." "Moreover, even at Golden Core, it may not happen..." "Since transforming divine thought into a sword entails evolving sword qi into sword intent, manifesting sword qi through intent, rather than merely materializing sword qi with 'divine thought'..." Mo Hua nodded, "Alright, I see." He decided to give it a try. When the day comes that his divine sense reaches twenty markings, aligned with Golden Core, he would attempt to manifest a sword purely with divine thought. Before then, he planned to further inquire within his sect about the authentic "True Art of Transforming Divine Thought into Sword." After all, Huang Shan Jun’s account was from the "victim's" perspective, and perhaps not an entirely accurate version of the technique for transforming divine thought into a sword, so he could only take it as a reference. Contemplating these facts, Mo Hua had a slight tinge of reproach and said: "Why didn’t you tell me last time when I asked?" Huang Shan Jun’s expression was complicated as he replied: "Why tell you so you could practice it and then strike me with it..." Mo Hua was momentarily taken aback, realizing the truth in those words. He let it go and instead pulled out some delicacies from his storage bag. Visiting a friend, after all, called for bringing gifts. "I bought these especially for you..." There was pork, beef, fruits, snacks, and wine... In that moment, Huang Shan Jun was stunned, and warmth surged in his heart... For so many years, it had gotten used to stale buns and wild fruits, drinking rainwater daily without the incense offerings, and had become quite gaunt... Though Mo Hua is a bit mischievous, a bit harsh, and sometimes unreasonable, his heart is quite good... Huang Shan Jun felt genuinely comforted. Mo Hua placed the food and drinks on the altar. An altar is used for rituals, where offerings are split into two parts. One part remains tangible, while the other is transformed into an incorporeal "offering" for the mountain spirit or guardian deity to enjoy. The food which the mountain spirit consumes turns white and flavorless; the consumed wine turns bland like water. While arranging the offerings, as he placed a leg of lamb, Huang Shan Jun’s expression shifted noticeably, quickly saying: "No lamb!" Mo Hua was puzzled, "Why not lamb?" Huang Shan Jun's face turned slightly pale as he nodded, "I don't eat lamb..." Mo Hua found it a bit odd but didn't delve into it further. One must respect others' dietary preferences. Humans can be picky eaters, and so can mountain spirits. But still, waste is not an option... So Mo Hua decided to keep the lamb leg for himself. Within the old temple, Huang Shan Jun and Mo Hua shared the meal together. Huang Shan Jun enjoyed the offering of spirit meat and fine spirit wine, yet his thoughts were elsewhere, frequently glancing at Mo Hua. Mo Hua sat on the altar, happily gnawing on the lamb leg, fully absorbed in his meal. "The meat I don't dare eat, Mo Hua is eating…" Huang Shan Jun's eyes shook slightly, and a sudden unease washed over him. He had a vague feeling that Mo Hua might do something terrifying in the future... ... After they had their fill, Mo Hua bade farewell to Huang Shan Jun. The concept of the True Art of Transforming Divine Thought into Sword from the Taixu started to crystallize in his mind. Divine sense, sword qi, the secret manual. Three areas of focus. "Reaching twenty markings in divine sense is still a long way off..." The twenty-mark level, where divine sense forms a core, is undoubtedly a major threshold, and the nature of such a bottleneck remains unknown... According to Huang Shan Jun, after reaching twenty markings, one could attempt to transform divine thought into a sword. Though the attempt might not succeed in creating a sword, it’s something to strive for. Then there’s sword qi... In his spare time, he could also practice sword qi—not to become an expert, but to lay some groundwork for "transforming divine thought into a sword." And then, there's the authentic secret manual for the True Art of Transforming Divine Thought into Sword of Taixu. Mo Hua resolved to complete more tasks, earn more merit, unlock more permissions, connect with more fellow disciples, and look for clues to possibly obtain the manual sooner... It’s early days yet, but it's best to be prepared in advance. Mo Hua nodded to himself. "Take it one step at a time..." The immediate priority, however, was formations! Upon returning to his sect, Mo Hua resumed his regular routine of cultivation, attending classes, learning about formations, and honing his divine sense. During his breaks, he would join Senior Sister Mu Rong and others for tasks, steadily accruing merit. After much hard work, Mo Hua finally collected over eight hundred merits and headed to the Merit Hall to exchange for the long-desired Grade Two Sixteen Mark "Beacon Fire Primordial Magnetic Array." This array belonged to the Bagua Thunder Magnetism series. It was a highly confidential array. Few disciples in the Taixu Sect studied it, and even across the entire Qianxue Province, few were adept in it. But for Mo Hua, it was incredibly critical. Mo Hua treasured the array diagram of the "Beacon Fire Primordial Magnetic Array" greatly, unfurling it as though opening a new door into the profound world of formations... (End of Chapter)