Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 126 - 106 Immortal Skill: Heavenly Demon Skill

Chapter 126: Chapter 106 Immortal Skill: Heavenly Demon Skill

Gu Wen returned to his room and immediately sat down in meditation, this time with more urgency than ever before.

Achieving Dao Foundation Perfection and becoming an Immortal were his imperative goals. Previously, he only knew the benefits of becoming an Immortal but was unaware of the dire consequences of failing to do so.

The world was like a chessboard, and all beings were the chess pieces; only those who became Immortals could escape the chessboard.

If he couldn’t become an Immortal, would he turn into the next Jade Sword Buddha?

The Dao Master must become an Immortal!

Upon internal observation of his Qi Sea, his Dao Foundation had not been nourished by Heavenly Marrow for a long while. However, he had already advanced by one-third of the needed progression through relying solely on Pills and seeking advice from others. Now, he needed only seventy years of Heavenly Marrow to succeed.

This meant that Gu Wen could theoretically catch up with most of the proud heavenly talents without relying on the Fate Diagram; he only lacked the time which Heavenly Marrow could significantly shorten.

Within the vast sky of the Fate Diagram, there were sixty-five streaks of fire meteors and twenty tributaries of the Gold River.

"Heavenly Marrow for sixty-five years. Emperors’s Elixir for twenty years."

He hadn’t yet decided where to use the Emperor’s Elixir; theoretically, he could refine any treasure, but in reality, most treasures already had owners. He could refine ordinary Spiritual Treasures and Artifact Spirits by himself, but Taoist Soldiers were not so readily found.

Currently, the most significant use was refining a Taoist Soldier and consuming Spiritual Treasures with the Primordial Spirit.

He still remembered when he first started taming the Jade-eyed Water Wave Pearl; he could use the Emperor’s Elixir to consume the spirit of the Spiritual Treasure and nourish his Divine Thoughts. The next phase would be the Primordial Spirit, which functioned as a second life and enhanced Daoist Skills.

Intention, Spirit Form, and dharma form enhanced the power of Daoist Skills, while the Primordial Spirit was all about speeding up and increasing the output of Daoist Skills.

And some magic skills that required the Primordial Spirit would also be strengthened, such as the Sword Control Sect’s Sword Control Technique and his own Yuqing Sword Skill.

Previously, Gu Wen would have prioritized enhancing his Dao Foundation, but now with the True Sword Dao in hand, enhancing his Dao Foundation wasn’t necessarily better than mastering The True Sword Dao.

Perhaps this was only temporary; once his three swords improved in stage, the cost-effectiveness would not match the Fourth Level Dao Foundation Perfection.

For now, he would naturally focus on practicing Sword Dao.

Gu Wen shifted his gaze from the Dao Foundation Divine Mountain and saw three swords reflecting in his eyes. The interwoven Sword Qi of the Buddha, Tao, and Demon Swords revealed more profound levels of True Sword Dao.

Like a white mist, elusive and formless, encompassing myriad swordsmanship.

"True Sword Dao, the origin of heavenly and earthly swordsmanship; no need for Heavenly Marrow."

True Sword Dao was not a single sword technique but a convergence of the Buddha, Tao, and Demon Swords, which could not be enhanced via Heavenly Marrow.

Perhaps it was because his current level was not high enough to directly handle the True Sword Dao and could only glimpse its essence through the three swords.

His gaze fell on the three swords, currently his most potent offense. The grade of True Sword Dao was based on the lowest level; it was the First Level due to the other two swords being at the First Level, while his Yuqing Sword Skill was at the Sixth Level.

"Demon Sword, Second Level, needs fifty years of Heavenly Marrow, reduced by observing battle techniques and receiving guidance, thus needing thirty years to accomplish."

"Buddha Sword, Second Level, needs fifty years of Heavenly Marrow, reduced by observing sword battle techniques and receiving guidance, thus needing twenty-five years to accomplish."

"Yuqing dharma form, influenced by True Sword Dao, thirty years deducted from the required Heavenly Marrow, now requiring one hundred and ten years of Heavenly Marrow to be fulfilled."

Is True Sword Dao also able to reduce the amount of required Heavenly Marrow?

Gu Wen felt a surge of joy as the gears in his mind started to turn vigorously.

If the three swords were cultivated in sync, each could reduce the need for Heavenly Marrow by thirty percent. Including the part from True Sword Dao, it amounted to nearly forty percent discount overall.

But since Yuqing Sword Skill had already advanced to the Sixth Level, a ten percent discount had already been counted. The fifty years of Heavenly Marrow required for the Buddha and Demon Swords were the same as at the First Level, clearly already discounted.

By driving Heavenly Marrow to refine the Buddha and Demon Swords, he quickly attained the Second Level.

"Thirty years of Heavenly Marrow spent, Demon Sword Second Level, Sword Qi solidified."

"Twenty-five years of Heavenly Marrow spent, Buddha Sword Second Level, Sword Momentum has begun."

Insights flowed into his mind concerning the effects and distinctions of the Second Levels of the Buddha and Demon Swords. Although these wouldn’t significantly enhance his current level, their nuances would contribute to the True Sword Dao.

"True Sword Dao, Second Level."

It was simply conveyed by a few numbers, clearly indicating that Gu Wen’s current understanding could not fully comprehend its intricacies. Nevertheless, there was one thing the Dao Master could definitely comprehend.

"Sword Qi solidified, Sword Momentum overwhelming, energy consumption reduced by fifty percent."

The practical effect of the True Sword Dao was quite straightforward, the objective of the swordsmanship plain and simple: nothing could withstand its cut.

Comparing it to an attack launched by the Flame Spear, with the same amount of Mana, the True Sword Dao was ten times more potent. This tenfold increase was purely a multiplication of power, equating the might of a single stroke of Sword Qi.

An adult’s average punch might produce a hundred pounds of force, which the stomach might withstand ten times. But multiplied by ten times, a thousand pounds of force could burst through the belly.

In battles between cultivators, there were no health bars, and body-protecting Daoist Skills had no Shield Values, which was why Gu Wen could instantly kill a Demon Path old monster by transcending a level.

Gu Wen’s Flame Spear was like the punches of an average person, which, if defended properly, wouldn’t necessarily result in injury even after several dozen punches. But the True Sword Dao was so overwhelming that even defenses were futile, especially since he had countered it with his dharma form.

This was the ultimate Attack and Conquest Technique, one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Skills, the True Sword Dao.

Now at the Second Level, it had even halved the energy consumption.

Gu Wen estimated that his current Mana could sustain ten consecutive uses of the True Sword Dao, thus being capable of slaying ten old monsters.

Even if potentially blocked by various means, five swords could kill one person, still leaving five swords. This was overcoming enemies of higher levels, and with half the energy still remaining, unlike the previous time when the True Monarch had fought until exhaustion.

The Dao Master was invincible!

"Ten years of Heavenly Marrow."

"Yujian dharma form, influenced by True Sword Dao and the Buddha and Demon Swords, thirty years of Heavenly Marrow deducted, now requiring eighty years of Heavenly Marrow to be fulfilled."

’Only lacking seventy years of Heavenly Marrow, Lu Chan still has a furnace of Pills totaling fifty years of Heavenly Marrow, and there are still thirty years of Heavenly Marrow in Spiritual Wine. Tomorrow, if I find Xiao Yunyi, I might be able to gather a few more decades.’

Meanwhile, the cultivation of his Dao Foundation also hadn’t slackened and could break through at any moment, but Gu Wen wanted to gather more experience first. According to his observations, the lower the level of seeking guidance from others, the more Heavenly Marrow he could obtain.

Gu Wen felt the path was smooth, although he hadn’t reached the place where Heavenly Marrow was freely spent, but with his careful planning, he wasn’t stuck due to insufficient Heavenly Marrow.

The great path was smooth, the great path would be fulfilled!

-----------------

The next day, there were fourteen days left until Heavenly Spring Mountain opened.

Gu Wen came downstairs for breakfast in the early morning. The inn had a dedicated chef whose skills could match those of the chefs at Dragon Bridge, and thanks to the prosperous fisheries of Luo River, he could enjoy a fresh steamed fish for breakfast.

Lu Chan delivered the last batch of pills, also fifty in total.

"This settles the account."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Gu Wen slightly bowed as a sign of gratitude, having come out ahead this time. Lu Chan only charged a twenty percent labor fee, and because of Jun Yan’s involvement, he actually got all that back.

Even Lu Chan had paid a bit more out of her own pocket.

"I wonder where senior Jun Yan is now?"

"Are you very close to your elder brother?"

Lu Chan’s face suddenly tightened, already carrying some worries in her eyes, now she looked even more anxious.

’She used to call Jun Yan Senior Sister.’

Gu Wen sensed something was amiss and asked, "Is there something wrong with senior Jun Yan?"

"Nothing; my elder brother is a descendant of the Demon Sect. How could anything happen to him..."

Lu Chan’s voice became softer, and then she gradually lowered her head, her hands clutching the hem of her skirt.

Was she crying?

Gu Wen felt a headache, not knowing how to comfort her, yet he vaguely felt that the situation was extraordinary.

What could have happened to Jun Yan? What reason caused Lu Chan to change how she addressed him? But what did all this have to do with me?

His acquaintance with Jun Yan was rather superficial, but considering the person who had guided him in swordsmanship, Gu Wen was willing to lend a hand if something had indeed happened.

But it looked like the situation was clearly more than just lending a hand — even if he was willing to help, they might not want his help.

"Lu Chan, come upstairs."

Yu Hua’s voice came through, and then Lu Chan turned her head and ran upstairs without hesitation. By the time Gu Wen got there, he saw her sobbing into Yu Hua’s arms, as if she wanted Yu Hua to save her mentor.

Gu Wen asked about it, but Yu Hua only answered that Jun Yan practiced a special Magic Skill, harboring multiple consciousnesses; now, the consciousness at the Qianfeng Sect had died.

As for the reason, Yu Hua herself didn’t know; she wasn’t close to Jun Yan, but she knew that Jun Yan was exceptional.

Perhaps Xiao Yunyi knew the reason, as Jun Yan and Xiao Yunyi were closest.

’These prodigies are all troubled.’

Gu Wen could only lament the phrase "Heaven imposes great responsibilities on those it sends," feeling there was some truth to it in the grand scheme.

Jade Sword Buddha was troubled by the Buddha Demon conflict, Jun Yan seemed to have a split personality, Xiao Yunyi was entangled with the True Sword Dao; everyone had their problems. Yet, this generation of prodigies was the strongest in history, for they didn’t fade into obscurity because of this.

Where did that leave me?

Gu Wen subconsciously touched his cheek; the marks left by Zhao Feng’s whip had long vanished, but the burning pain required the downfall of an entire dynasty to calm.

-----------------

Late at night, during the third watch.

Gu Wen carried wine to the bamboo grove and was about to knock when Jun Yan came out from inside.

He opened the door and was visibly startled when he saw Gu Wen, then displayed a somewhat evil smile, "It seems you’ve learned the True Sword Dao, and he should be liberated now."

A faint scent of blood reached his nose, filling Gu Wen’s eyes with alertness. Perhaps noticing his change in demeanor, Jun Yan slightly stepped aside, revealing Xiao Yunyi, sitting perfectly well inside.

The source of the blood scent was from the blood at his feet, a bath bucket half as tall as a man filled with dark red blood, in which lumps of flesh intermittently appeared.

"Go in, I won’t disturb your transmission of the skill, nor do I want to hear this True Sword Dao."

Jun Yan hurried away, disappearing into the night with a few flashes.

It was Gu Wen’s first time entering Xiao Yunyi’s room. He noticed the blood-stained sword in the other’s hand, Jun Yan’s faint scent of blood, and could guess the origin of the blood in the bathtub.

But none of this concerned him.

He placed the Spiritual Wine on the table, slightly bowed, and said, "I seek to learn the Sword Dao."

"I will teach you the Buddha, Tao, and Demon Sword without reservation."

Xiao Yunyi wiped the last drop of blood from the blade, revealing the levels of his Sword Dao cultivation, Buddha, Tao, and Demon Sword each at the Sixth Level, every strike near the dharma form.

But there was no trace of the True Sword Dao.

He changed the tone and said, "But I have one request, if one day Jun Yan goes completely mad, and you have the ability to kill him, please do it for me."

Gu Wen’s eyes narrowed slightly, asking, "Why?"

"You should know the True Sword Dao is one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Skills, and Jun Yan also possesses an Immortal Skill."

Xiao Yunyi pointed to the lumps in the bath of blood, round and resembling heads.

"Heavenly Demon Skill, embodying Ten Thousand Demons, merging into one to become Immortal."