Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 149 - 119: Obtaining the Roots of the Immortality Pill

Chapter 149: Chapter 119: Obtaining the Roots of the Immortality Pill

Those who have mastered the True Sword Dao are the pinnacle of the Sword Dao of their era.

So when Gu Wen revealed the True Sword Dao in that moment, no matter what fixed impressions people had of him, Gu Wen had already gone further than anyone else on the path of Sword Dao.

They thought that the pinnacle was Gu Wen, the only one besides the Sword Master who had mastered the True Sword Dao over countless years.

Gu Wen looked at their baffled expressions, as if he were looking at his former self. Half a year ago, he was just a household servant, newly introduced to cultivation, naive and ignorant about everything.

What are the Five Elements, what is the Cycle, and what is Qi Refinement into Essence?

These were all things that Yu Hua taught him bit by bit, but even with explanation, he could never see the landscape that Yu Hua saw.

Now the roles had reversed, and these people could not understand what he saw when looking at a Sword Immortal.

That streak of sword light could slash through the sun and moon, and the mere glint in the eyes could cause the sky to fall and the earth to split.

Lan Yongning vaguely understood the meaning behind Gu Wen’s words. It was rumored that Heavenly Spring Mountain was where the Sword Master attained his Dao, and that he left behind an inheritance about the True Sword Dao there.

The former could be confirmed, but his sect had not been involved, so he knew very little. As for the latter, it was a tale crafted by later generations because no one had mastered the True Sword Dao, so people tended to believe the secret lay in Heavenly Spring Mountain.

But no one could explain why the Sword Master didn’t leave the inheritance at Broken Sword Mountain instead.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have matters to attend to, please make way."

Gu Wen’s words snapped everyone out of their thoughts. Instinctively, they wanted to stop him and ask for guidance, but they couldn’t bring themselves to say it out loud.

Because before, none of them had taught Gu Wen, except for Lan Yongning, who had all but refused the former’s ’shamelessly persistent’ requests for guidance.

Their refusal was reasonable, as nobody was well acquainted with the other, and one’s own insights couldn’t be casually imparted. Thus, Gu Wen never harassed them. In the end, the only ones he could ask for guidance were a few like Chi Yu Zi.

Now, roles had been reversed; what reason did they have to ask for Gu Wen’s guidance?

Silence and their yearning for the pinnacle of the Sword Dao kept them rooted in place.

"Brother Hongchen, what brings you down to the seventh level?"

Lan Yongning broke the silence, while subtly stepping aside to let Gu Wen pass. There were only six people present, and they couldn’t possibly form three layers deep of a crowd.

Thus, the two of them naturally left the group. The others felt reluctant but didn’t feel it right to obstruct them.

Only the increasingly distant conversation between the two men could be heard, which apparently concerned the eighth level and the True Sword Dao!

Alas, all they could do now was regret their past refusal to guide Gu Wen in swordsmanship.

So many walks of life, no more than a handful of individuals, yet the unfolding drama was so compelling that Lan Yongning, walking ahead and glancing back, was amazed, even feeling somewhat fortunate.

Originally, he had not rejected Gu Wen and hadn’t shut him out from the beginning. Now, their roles had swapped, and in just a short month, he found himself in need of Gu Wen’s help.

The world is unpredictable; karma and fate are hard to discern.

Lan Yongning sighed, "Brother Hongchen is different now, embodying the demeanor of an Inheritor of the Three Religions, perhaps even surpassing them."

The sole master of the True Sword Dao was now someone one would regret not recognizing, especially for a Sword Cultivator.

"They’re probably full of regret now."

Gu Wen’s demeanor remained unchanged, neither arrogant nor proud; he stated indifferently, "They’re not wrong. They only regret missing out on a good opportunity, and given another chance, they would likely make the same decisions."

These talents of the Sword Dao didn’t regret not being friends with him; they regretted not befriending the master of the True Sword Dao earlier. It didn’t matter who that person was, it just so happened to be Gu Wen.

It’s like buying a lottery ticket; if they passed by a lottery booth today, and heard someone won there tomorrow, they would regret not purchasing one themselves.

The only pity was that the benefits didn’t fall upon them, which was not a mistake, but to persistently bother him from now on would be their fault.

"Cause yields effect, a wise man will know what to do."

Lan Yongning nodded in agreement, then with a change of tone, asked, "If I may inquire, can Fellow Daoist tell me about what’s above the eighth level?"

"Of course."

Gu Wen bent down to pick up the spiritual sword on the ground, flicked it twice to test its hardness before stowing it in his Qiankun Bag.

"Above the eighth level lies the Sword Pond, and within the Sword Pond is the scabbard of an Immortal Sword."

"Immortal Sword scabbard?"

Lan Yongning inhaled sharply, eyes widening, his reaction no surprise given the sheer impact of the words "Immortal Sword."

"Indeed, Chi Yu Zi and the others were all fighting over it. The battle was fierce and chaotic; it was quite an eye-opener for me."

As Gu Wen spoke, he gathered a dozen more spiritual swords into his bag. He didn’t need to tame any Artifact Spirit; with the True Sword Dao, all swords became obedient.

"Can you help me call that spiritual sword over there?"

Lan Yongning lifted a hand, and with a flick as if pulling ink from a brush, he summoned numerous spiritual swords towards Gu Wen. However, his attention wasn’t fixated on this.

He quickly asked, "Brother Hongchen, did you come out on top? What happened to them?"

Gu Wen had obtained the True Sword Dao and came down unscathed; he was undoubtedly the victor. Yet, Lan Yongning couldn’t fathom how Gu Wen, with his Fourth Level Daoji, achieved victory. Could the power of the True Sword Dao be so astonishing?

"It was a draw. I am not their match yet," Gu Wen answered truthfully. Being able to sever Xiao Yunyi’s arm was purely because he didn’t dodge and used only swordsmanship to defend.

If Chi Yu Zi had used the Golden Light Spell, the True Sword Dao could cause damage, but Gu Wen wouldn’t be able to use the True Sword Dao many times with his Mana. In such a prolonged battle, Gu Wen would be doomed to fail.

Therefore, the Golden Core was crucial. To contend with an enemy with a fulfilled Fifth Level, one must have a Golden Core to provide sufficient Mana.

To defeat an opponent of a higher realm, one needed a Golden Core at the level of perfection. However, different Cultivation Techniques define Golden Core Perfection differently. For Yuqing Daoji it’s the Sixth Transition, while for the Golden Core Skill, it’s the Ninth Transition.

Gu Wen pondered whether he could easily surpass a level with the "True Sword Dao" and, if he added the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill, could he perhaps bridge two levels, or at the very least, contend with it.

This would roughly be equivalent to bridging stages in the Golden Core Stage to contend with the Nascent Soul and Divine Separation Stages.

Ordinary cultivation techniques could not grant such a substantial increase, but possessing two Immortal Skills might make it worth a try.

"How did Brother Hongchen come to comprehend the True Sword Dao?"

Lan Yongning grew even more puzzled, and a speculation surfaced in his mind.

Could it be that the Taoist Heavenly Girl killed everyone, and that’s how Gu Wen got the opportunity?

Suddenly, the voice of Chi Yu Zi echoed down from the eighth level, piercing through all nine levels of Heavenly Spring Mountain.

"Ten days from now, I will collect all spiritual swords from Heavenly Spring Mountain. Weigh your own strength carefully before claiming your share of the benefits."

Lan Yongning’s guess shattered on its own, and other sword dao talents also gave up on the idea of eavesdropping on secrets; everyone started to busy themselves.

Gu Wen sat squatting in front of a pile of spiritual swords and said indifferently, "They are fighting over scabbards, which does not conflict with me. I comprehended the True Sword Dao before I entered Heavenly Spring Mountain."

Before entering Heavenly Spring Mountain, had he, relying solely on his innate talent, comprehended the True Sword Dao?

A momentary daze flashed across Lan Yongning’s face, followed by a slightly bitter smile.

He held high expectations for Gu Wen, even initially entertaining the thought that ’this youth will certainly become a great power.’ Yet, he still seemed like a frog in a well, always guessing the other rely on fortune to comprehend the True Sword Dao.

And never would he assume Gu Wen had the capability on his own.

Out of the blue, Gu Wen asked, "Does Brother Lan know on which level the sword spirits are? I need three or four sword spirits."

"Sword spirits are basically divided up by now. If Brother Hongchen wants some, I’m afraid the only way is to ask to buy..."

Before Lan Yongning could finish speaking, suddenly someone burst forth; he almost teleported over, clutching a spiritual sword, and said, "Brother Hongchen, I have a sword spirit here."

The spiritual sword was only of middle grade, but its spirit charm seeped out, and Gu Wen could even faintly sense a clear trace of emotion.

Sword spirits were considered half-monster and a type of creature naturally born and nurtured.

Yu Hua had said that such creatures, in the ancient times beyond reckoning, were known as Innate God Demons, born with exceedingly strong cultivation. Later, for some reason, whether changes in the natural environment or the aftermath of a war, they utterly declined.

Nowadays, the Demon Sect was established relying on these remnants of the Innate God Demons.

Without hesitation, Gu Wen accepted the sword spirit and said, "Isn’t that not quite proper?"

"Having an extra fellow daoist on the path of cultivation is like having an extra pathway. If Brother Daoist urgently needs it, take it first, as helping in an emergency is like putting out a fire."

The unfamiliar sword dao prodigy said with a sense of justice and then didn’t forget to introduce himself, "I am Xu Liyan from Purple Cloud Cave Heaven, pleased to meet Brother Hongchen."

"I am Hongchen."

Gu Wen replied with a bow, his demeanor serene. To someone else, it would just be neither humble nor arrogant, but at that moment, he seemed to radiate light.

Too approachable!

Another person stepped forward and said, "Brother Hongchen, I also have a sword spirit."

"I have one too."

In the blink of an eye, Gu Wen had collected five sword spirits, and everyone present, apart from Lan Yongning, had given him one.

And Gu Wen was open to all comers, not fearing to owe favors when barefoot himself. As for the future, he would deal with it when it comes; once he truly became immortal, what favors could he not repay?

This was the difference between attracting investments and running a small workshop; Gu Wen wasn’t concerned with how many favors he owed, but with how many benefits he had received. As long as the benefits balanced or exceeded the drawbacks, even if it was forty to sixty, he was willing to be indebted.

Because one does not always have to repay favors, but debts surely make one the master.

Once enough favors were owed, they could be converted into connections, a network that would grow even firmer as his talent soared.

Everyone present was a sword dao prodigy, backed by top-notch powers, commanding almost half of the cultivation world.

Three two-hour increments, one Taoist sword, over a hundred spiritual swords, and five sword spirits collected.

Gu Wen didn’t linger; he turned back to the eighth level and handed over everything to Chi Yu Zi, only specifying that it should be exceptionally durable.

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

At the nine levels of Heavenly Spring Mountain,

With the remnants of the Immortal Sword taken by Gu Wen, the sword dao had already disappeared, leaving only a bare expanse of white rock.

Gu Wen flew up on a spiritual sword and saw Yu Hua standing quietly on the white rock, draped in plain white as if merging with the surrounding space.

She turned and smiled, asking, "How does it feel to be surrounded?"

"It’s no different from Dragon Bridge."

Gu Wen shook his head. He didn’t dislike such things but wasn’t prideful or self-satisfied because of them.

"I have something for you."

Yu Hua took his hand and then placed a strand of golden light in his palm.

It was about the length of an index finger, thin as a hair, and bore no detectable spirituality—it was the root of the previously mentioned Immortality Pill.

Gu Wen asked, "Wasn’t it supposed to be sent to the Daoist Sect to prolong someone’s life?"

"Can’t send it out. Ao Tang just sent a message saying he’s been attacked, and now, injured, he has temporarily fled Luodu." Yu Hua shook her head, her expression growing grave.

"Rather than it being taken by someone else, it’s better for you to use it."