Chapter Thirty: The Violet Heart Immortal Sword

  The first layer of the Taiqing Dao's entry-level heart method is to introduce the spiritual energy between heaven and earth into the body, using the heart method to transform it into true energy to open up the meridians inside the body, thereby building a strong foundation for the spirit. Although different schools have different heart methods, they all return to the same origin - this is an essential step that all cultivators must take: introducing energy into the body!

  The oral formula passed down by Qingxu only had a few thousand words, but each word was precious and profound in meaning. After Qingyan memorized the formula, Qingxu asked him to recite it several times to ensure that he understood it correctly before explaining it sentence by sentence. First, they discussed how to absorb the spiritual energy from heaven and earth into one's body. For Qingyan, this was relatively easy, as he had previously practiced sunbathing under Zhao Wujin's guidance. Although at the time Zhao Wujin had only guided his body to circulate the energy, Qingyan still knew a little bit about it. With Qingxu's guidance, he quickly grasped the concept.

  Qingxu quickly grasped the insight of Qingyan, and was naturally delighted. He said, "Younger brother, your comprehension of our sect's Daoist principles is so rapid, it truly exceeds my imagination. Now that you have mastered the method of guiding spiritual energy into your body, let us proceed to practice!"

  Qingyan was taken aback and said, "Aren't we supposed to be practicing here?"

  "Not so," Qing Xū smiled and said, "You've just begun to cultivate the first step is extremely crucial. Although Tiān Tǎi Mountain is also a place where heaven and earth's spiritual energy accumulates, there are several places with exceptionally pure and clear spiritual energy that can't be compared to other places. It's an ideal location for cultivating Daoist techniques!"

  Qing Yan thought to herself, "At that time in Chijin Town, when I was sunbathing, Brother Zhao also found a quiet place for me!" She asked, "Where is this place?"

  "Not a few, one is on the Qingming Peak in the Qing Palace, which is where Master closed his doors. There are also two masters living in the Zushi Hall on the Red Cloud Peak, and another place is where you found today. There are several more places in the back mountain, wait until your cultivation is successful, you can go see for yourself."

  "Where did I find this place today?" Qingyan thought for a moment, but really couldn't remember.

  "It's where our ancestor engraved the characters, Qingfeng Cliff!"

  Qingyan suddenly remembered that earlier in the morning, he saw two crimson large characters "Kongtong" in the middle of Qingming Peak. At that time, he was surprised who left such a handwriting in that place. Then Qingxu Shixiong said it was carved by Dafang Zushi, and it turned out that the place was called Qingfeng Cliff.

  The Qingxu lectures on the Tao, and the Clear Wind Cliff stone carvings were left by the founder of the Kongtong Sect. Each character is nine feet square, and the place where the characters are carved has a rare spiritual energy. At that time, the master opened up a platform three feet wide and nine feet long for future disciples to practice. Later, generations of disciples practiced qigong on the Clear Wind Cliff, built their foundation, strengthened their spirit, and comprehended the Tao.

  Qing Yan listened to Qing Xu's lecture and then hastily said, "Big Brother Master, let's go!"

  Qingxu knew he was anxious and said, "Alright! Did you clearly understand the key points I mentioned earlier? Don't forget them again when you're practicing!"

  "Alright, alright! I forgot you could teach me on the side."

  It's the same with clearing the mind and imagining, guiding the breath is just about absorbing the spiritual energy into the body, there's no risk involved. As for how to transform it into true energy, that requires further cultivation, at which point you can't afford to be even a little careless. Let's let my younger brother experience the joy of cultivating truth first, so he won't suffer later and regret it! He said "Then let's go!" and stood up.

  Qingyan also stood up, and found Qingxu had placed a long green cloth package behind him. He had seen him carrying this package earlier, but was too busy with the registration and listening to Qingxu's teachings to ask about it.

  Qingxu picked up the package and said, "This is something Master asked me to bring for you. Take a look." He then handed it over to Qingyan.

  Qingyan reached out to catch it, just as he was about to grab it, Qingxu suddenly shouted "Be careful!" and his hand had already let go.

  Qingyan's hands had just received the package when he felt that it was extremely heavy, his wrists aching and the joints of his arms cracking with a "crackling" sound. He exclaimed in his heart, "My dear mother! How can it be so heavy!" His two hands loosened and the package fell to the ground. Qingxu hastily stretched out his hand to pick it up, saying, "I forgot to tell you, this package is very heavy!"

  Qing Yan rubbed his wrist with a bitter smile and said, "Big Brother Master, you're telling me this too late! What is this thing that's so heavy?"

  "A pale face apologized, saying 'It was my fault, I forgot that your Taoist skills are not yet complete and you don't have such great power.' He said, opening his bundle and putting it on the ground. Then he said 'You take a look yourself!'"

  Qing Yan bowed his head and took a look, only to see that there were several things in the package. There were two sets of Taoist robes, one of which was the same as what Qing Xu wore on his body. There was also a jade hairpin that should be used for binding hair, with a light purple color, pure texture, and smooth surface. A jade belt with the same color as the jade hairpin was also very delicate and luxurious. At this time, Qing Xu said, "These two sets of Taoist robes were made by Master overnight. This jade hairpin and jade belt were given to Master by Zhang Tian Shi, the leader of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Heavenly Master Sect, when Master took over as the leader. There are three sets in total, with green, yellow, and purple colors. Each of us brothers will have one set."

  "Thank you, Master, for thinking of me so thoroughly!" He looked at him again and saw that he was wearing a green jade hairpin and a green jade belt, and asked "Second Brother is Huang Yu."

  "Ah! Maybe it's just a coincidence. My sword is Qing Ming, Qing Hua's sword is Huang Long, and your sword, my junior brother, is this Purple Heart Sword!"

  Qing Yan had already discovered the four-foot-long purple-hearted sword when Qing Xu said it. He heard Qing Xu say that this was a great wonder in the heart of the Purple Heart Sword, because the Purple Heart Sword really didn't look like a sword, but rather like a wooden stick.

  Deep, deep purple, almost black. The wood used for the furniture in his bedroom seemed to be of the same kind, only much darker in color. The texture was clear and smooth, with a luster that only jade could have. The shape of the long sword, the blade, the hilt, and the handle were all complete, but there was no sharpness or sword energy at all, only a piece of brass was inlaid on the handle to tightly wrap around it.

  "Ah, it's a wooden sword!"

  Qingxu saw his doubt and said, "The Purple Heart Sword is made from the Purple Heart Tree. The Purple Heart Tree grows on Mount Sumeru in Tianzhu, growing one foot every three thousand years. Look at how long it is!"

  Qingyan saw that the sword was four feet long and suddenly exclaimed, "This is over 10,000 years old!" He couldn't help but be shocked.

  "Ah, yes! Over 12,000 years! The Purple Heart Tree usually doesn't live that long, the longest it can live is up to a thousand years which is already rare. In Tianzhu, the Purple Heart Wood is also called Bodhi Wood. It can ward off evil spirits and protect one's heart and mind. To be able to obtain even half a chi of Purple Heart Wood would be a priceless treasure, truly something that can't be sought after."

  Qing Yan no longer dared to underestimate the purple-hearted sword that looked like a wooden stick, and asked, "Big Brother Master, I think this purple-hearted sword and the furniture in my bedroom seem to be made of the same material."

  "Not bad, but the purple heart wood used for those tables, chairs and beds has only a thousand years of weathering, emitting a fragrance that calms the mind. The older the purple heart wood, the deeper its color, the brighter its luster, the heavier its weight, and the more subtle its fragrance. Moreover, it is impervious to water and fire, even divine artifacts cannot damage it in the slightest. Once refined into a sword, its power will be no less than that of the Qingming Sword. When your Taicheng Dao reaches completion, you can control the sword's movement, and then you'll know its true might. The Purple Heart Sword weighs 360 catties, and now with the addition of the copper hilt, it's almost 500 catties!"

  "Five hundred kilograms! No wonder I couldn't catch it earlier. But with this weight, how can I possibly move it!" Qingyan said helplessly.

  Qing Xū smiled and said, "It's not possible now, but it will be later. As long as you successfully build your foundation, your power will increase dramatically, and using the Purple Heart Sword will be no problem."

  Qing Yan thought of his own bedroom and wondered, "Big Brother Master, where did so many Zi Xin Mu come from? And they were even made into furniture?"

  "That was done by a senior of our sect, and this Purple Heart Sword was also his former immortal sword. As for these purple heart woods, they were all found in Tianzhu by that senior."

  Qingyan was shocked, and found a large pile of treasures. This senior is really impressive! In his surprise, he forgot to ask the senior's name and about the Hao Tian Jian.

  Qingyan stretched out his hands to grasp the Zixinsword, and felt that the hilt was warm to the touch. With all his might, he could only lift the Zixinsword a few inches off the ground, and Qingyan was left panting heavily. Letting go of his grip, he said "Big Brother Master, why is the Zixinsword so hot?"

  "Ah, that's the Copper Mother emitting heat. Yesterday, Ming Dao Shixiong gave me this piece of Copper Mother and said it was what Master wanted, turns out it's to be inlaid on the Purple Heart Sword."

  "What's the use of it?"

  "I don't know! It was Master's order."

  Qingyan thought that since it was Master's order, there must be some intention behind it. He looked at the things and said, "Big Brother, I'll change into this Daoist robe first. Since I'm called Qingyan now, I should have a Daoist appearance."

  Qing Xū also said "Alright, come help you tidy up your Daoist hair bun."

  In a short while, Qingyan was dressed as a Taoist priest. A purple jade hairpin held back his hair, and he wore a blue robe with a purple belt. The Taoist robe fit him perfectly, making him look like a true Quanzhen Taoist.

  Qing Xū praised, "Little Shidi, you really look like a Taoist with this outfit!"

  Qingyan also smiled and said "This robe is really suitable, Shixiong! Let's go practice our skills!"

  "Alright! Let's go!"

  The two walked out of Songfeng Temple, Qingyan looked at Qingfeng Cliff and asked again "How can we get past this? Are we going to have to walk again?"

  "This time we won't walk, let's fly over!" As soon as he finished speaking, his right hand grasped Qingyan's waistband, and the two of them flew up simultaneously. Their figures rapidly rose several zhang, paused in mid-air for a moment, then flew towards Qingfeng Cliff.

  Qing Yan suddenly felt his body as light as a cotton ball, being supported by a great force and flying rapidly forward in the air. As he saw that he was getting closer and closer to Qing Feng Cliff, he thought of looking down to enjoy the feeling of flying with the wind. Before he knew it, his body slowed down, and the two big characters "崆峒" were already in front of him - he had arrived at Qing Feng Cliff!