The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 547 - 313 Scolding Refining the Heart

Chapter 547: Chapter 313 Scolding Refining the Heart

Baotong Zen Temple’s Mystical Realm was called the Refining Heart Hall.

It was somewhat similar to the Thunder Fire Refining Hall on Wudang Mountain, both being special terrains and architectures, forming a mysterious area due to a fortuitous combination of factors.

Some innate evil lands operated on the same principle.

This Refining Heart Hall had five barriers, corresponding to five "obstacles." As long as one broke through a barrier, they would gain an opportunity and enter a state of enlightenment.

And Li Yan, had already passed through four barriers!

The barriers were projected onto the Divine Sense in the form of an Illusion Realm, consuming a great deal of energy. To support it until now with Li Yan’s Dao was nothing short of a miracle in the eyes of a few elder monks.

One of the elder monks furrowed his brows and said, "This child is a martial artist. Could it be that he is exhausting his Divine Soul through sheer will, making it dangerous?"

Tong Xuan pondered for a moment, then picked up a stick from the side.

This stick was forged from Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure, its entirety crystal clear, as if made of glass. On it, three words were engraved: "Deshan Stick," clearly not a mortal item.

Tong Xuan held the stick and said in a deep voice, "Rest assured. This child’s energy and blood are still abundant, not like he’s exhausting his Divine Soul. If necessary, I will awaken him in advance."

"At present, this Habit Barrier is rarely overcome. If he can break through it, it would also be an opportunity for him..."

At the entrance of the Great Hall, Li Yan’s pupils dilated, his clothes soaked with sweat. His feet trembled, yet he still couldn’t step over the threshold...

...

On the other side, within the Illusion Realm.

Li Yan panted heavily, staring fixedly ahead.

In the courtyard ahead, also stood a version of him, twirling a Duan Chen Blade with cold eyes, pacing slowly, occasionally gesturing provocatively.

"Cowardly scum!"

Li Yan couldn’t help but grit his teeth and curse.

In the first four barriers, he broke through the knowledge obstacle and vexation obstacle. Though somewhat fatigued, it was a kind of mental training that brought significant gains.

Following that, the karmic obstacle and rebirth barrier led him through the Three Evil Paths and the Three Hardships, like intense training. He barely made it through thanks to the recovery of his Daluo Dharma Body.

But this barrier truly gave him a headache.

He had vaguely realized that this was the "Habit Barrier."

The so-called "Habit Barrier" was an extremely subtle knowledge obstacle, a negative impact arising from long-term habits cultivated in the past.

Everyone has habits; sometimes, you can’t even notice them.

Take an inappropriate example: someone in study or work may need small tricks like listening to music or brewing tea to get into the state...

Or when fighting with someone, they might always prefer to make a certain move first.

Such habits can sometimes be strengths that help you achieve goals, but if you want to go further, they often become an impediment.

This was the "Habit Barrier."

In the Phosphate Mine Canyon, Li Yan had encountered an Esoteric Sect expert and later collected intelligence with special attention.

This "Habit Barrier" was particularly emphasized in Tibetan Buddhism.

Unexpectedly, it proved so troublesome.

The "he" opposite him knew all of Li Yan’s moves and habits inside out, even better than Li Yan himself.

Every move was caught in a flaw, making the fight more frustrating than facing Zhang Xiaoshan.

But it was also a kind of opportunity.

Problems are like backpacks; many can easily see others’ flaws, few can clearly see their own problems.

The "he" in front of him was like a mirror, exposing all his flaws starkly.

For instance, being too rigid at the start, always breaking with a Splitting and Hanging Palm, then resolving with a tricky punch or Thunder Technique.

Once blocked, he would be eager to use the Soul Hook.

These backhand cards had unconsciously become obstacles for him in advancing in Martial Arts, and thinking about it made Li Yan slightly fearful.

Thinking of this, he growled lowly and charged forward again.

This time, he didn’t use Splitting and Hanging, but directly used the Heavenly Thunder Demon Suppressing Hammer. Electrical arcs crackled over his fists, slamming down with a roar.

Sure enough, the adjustment in tactics immediately yielded results.

The opponent dodged in haste, exposing a flaw.

But Li Yan didn’t fall for it, directly advancing with the Thunder Technique.

If it were his usual self, he would surely switch techniques and seize this flaw, using Yin Thunder or some cunning method.

But flaws need not always be seized.

All techniques are impermanent; winning is a good move!

Boom!

With a loud sound, the figure flew several meters away, but while rolling on the ground, the injuries on its body fully healed.

Li Yan followed closely, the Duan Chen Blade slashed down fiercely.

But just as he struck, he sensed something was amiss.

His Blade Technique was also too focused on routine, habitually slicing in attack, with insufficient variations in closing moves.

Sure enough, the "he" on the ground caught the flaw again, raised a block, and used the Nine Rolls and Eighteen Falls of the Red Fist style, directly hooking the legs and flipping with an elbow.

Boom!

Li Yan took an elbow to the head, dazed and dizzy, stumbling to the ground, his vision blurring once more.

He knew it was due to excessive consumption of his Divine Soul.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Yan quickly used the Daluo Dharma Body to repair himself and stood up to face his opponent again.

Through the "he" before him, Li Yan felt like he was examining his past self, the habits formed from martial training, the routines summarized in fights, all gradually blurring in his mind.

All moves seemed to have been forgotten.

His actions grew faster, Splitting and Hanging, Red Fist, Yin Thunder Hand, Demon Suppressing Hammer... all used instinctively, like an antelope hanging from its horns, leaving no trace.

Finally, after another loud strike, the "he" before him flew several meters away. Upon standing, their eyes met, and the figure gradually dispersed.

Li Yan breathed a sigh of relief, stepping forward.

In an instant, the surroundings transformed drastically.

When he looked up, he found himself somehow inside the Great Hall. Wooden fish and Zen melodies floated, Buddha lamps lit like stars, incense flourished, and right before him stood the grand statue of Shakyamuni Buddha.