บท 33: Cultivating the Dao Sutra, the Dao Protector
After a long time, Gu Xuan finally recovered from the shock.
"In the beginning..."
"Cut Dao!"
He murmured.
In the blink of an eye, if there were an outsider present, they would clearly see that a flaming sword light was still interweaving and flashing in his pupils.
Fiery and dazzling.
Brilliant and radiant.
"Such swordsmen truly deserve the title of the top swordsmanship in this world!"
"The act of slashing is simply unparalleled!"
Gu Xuan exhaled deeply, and the sword light in his eyes gradually converged, eventually returning to normal.
When he looked again, he could no longer see anything extraordinary.
...
After leaving the Asking Pavilion, Gu Xuan made his way straight to Taihua Peak.
At this time, disciples from Tiangong Temple were everywhere, and hundreds of them were busy constructing the palace where he would reside.
"Meet Gu Zhenzhuan!" they all called out as they saw him approach.
"No need for such formality; go about your business. I intend to retreat and practice, so please don't disturb me!" Gu Xuan waved his hand and then found a secluded spot on Taihua Peak.
Time was of the essence; he wanted to dive into the Absolute Beginning Slashing Dao Sutra as soon as possible.
Reaching the top of the mountain, Gu Xuan sat cross-legged and began to comprehend the teachings.
In an instant, the mysteries related to the Sutra of Severing the Dao at the beginning of time flowed into his mind.
As the core inheritance of the Holy Land of Absolute Beginning, the Sutra of Severing the Dao was an emperor-level scripture.
Its obscurity and complexity made it difficult for ordinary practitioners to grasp.
However, at its core, there were only three stages—
Condense the sword, draw the sword, cut the road!
It seemed simple, but mastering an emperor-level scripture was anything but easy; even the act of condensing the sword was extremely challenging.
Fortunately, at that moment, the Hunyuan Daoist in Gu Xuan's purple mansion trembled slightly, sending out a wave of Dao rhythm that allowed Gu Xuan to instantly enter a state of harmony with the Dao.
During this process, his experience in condensing the sword deepened rapidly.
...
Time passed, though Gu Xuan could not tell how long it had been.
A terrifying golden sword energy suddenly enveloped his body.
At first, there were only a few strands, but soon they began to multiply.
Dozens!
Hundreds!
Hundreds… Thousands…
Eventually, countless sword lights appeared, filling the space around him.
When he reached this point, it seemed to have peaked, and these sword lights began to converge, from tens of thousands to thousands, then to hundreds.
Finally...
They returned to a single sword!
Gu Xuan, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, revealing a brilliant sword shadow that shone brightly.
In the next moment, the sword shadow in his eyes vanished.
But behind him, a round of golden sword shadows rose like a great sun.
A dazzling golden light cascaded down.
Taihua Peak was instantly enveloped in this radiant golden light, and countless intricate patterns filled the air, transforming it into a sea of sword energy.
"What's happening?"
"With such overwhelming sword energy, could it be that Gu Zhenzhuan is comprehending the magical powers of swordsmanship?"
"This kind of kendo aura is terrifying; I feel like I don't even have the courage to draw my sword at this moment!"
"Gu Zhenzhuan is truly formidable when it comes to real power!"
Many disciples from the Tiangong Temple, who were busy with construction, stood stunned on Taihua Peak.
They felt the sword intent permeating the surroundings. Although it flowed quietly, the power contained within it made their scalps tingle.
And just then...
"Chong!"
A sudden sound of a sword being drawn from its scabbard echoed through the air.
The sound wasn't very loud, but when it rang out, it exploded like a clap of thunder, resonating in the ears of everyone on Taihua Peak.
In the next moment, a cold light shot up, dazzling like a great sun, instantly filling everyone's field of vision.
It was as if the world had opened up, evolving mountains and rivers.
"Shh!"
The terrifying golden sword energy vanished in an instant.
Otherwise, the entire space on Taihua Peak remained still at that moment, as if the void had become stagnant.
Uncertain whether it was a fleeting moment or an eternity, the stagnant void finally returned to normal.
But at the same time, a surge of sword energy suddenly shot into the sky, like a ray of light piercing through the heavens, bursting forth.
This sword energy seemed capable of capturing the brilliance of heaven and earth.
At the moment it appeared, the entire world seemed to dim, leaving only this sword light radiant and blooming.
During this moment, countless eyes across the Holy Land of Absolute Beginning were drawn to it.
Shock was evident on many faces.
At the core of the Holy Land, the Supreme Headmaster, who was observing Yunhai's enlightenment, also turned his gaze toward the source of the phenomenon.
"In just three days, he has grasped the Daoist Sutra at the beginning of time. Such aptitude and understanding..." he murmured, surprise flickering in his eyes.
But then he recalled something and commanded, "Bring Elder Qu to me!"
...
At the summit of Taihua Peak, Gu Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
The sword qi that had surged around him gradually subsided, but a bright sword shadow still lingered in his gaze.
As time passed, it too began to dissolve, eventually fading completely.
"The Sutra of Severing the Dao at the beginning of time is truly mysterious!"
"Having successfully condensed my sword, my means of killing and combat have reached a higher level!"
Gu Xuan took a deep breath and stood up slowly.
He was extremely satisfied with the Taichu Dao Sutra.
Although he was only just beginning to grasp it, as an emperor-level scripture, its power was already impressive, enough to allow him to unleash strength far beyond his current cultivation.
It was more than ten thousand times stronger than the "Pure Yang Sword Art" he had practiced before.
"Currently, I possess 20% of the sword intent, and I've also learned the basics of the Daoist Sutra of Severing the Dao. Although I'm only at the first level of the Tongxuan Realm, I could easily defeat someone at the fifth level!"
"And I'm certainly not outmatched against warriors around the eighth level of the Tongxuan Realm!"
"Exactly; after three days of retreat, it's time to head down the mountain to Tai'an County!"
With that thought, Gu Xuan turned around and began his descent.
However, before he could leave Taihua Peak, an elder flew toward him. "Gu Zhenzhuan, please wait!"
"What is it, Elder?" Gu Xuan asked, stopping and looking at the approaching elder in surprise.
"I am Elder Shaoguang. Elder Qu heard that you plan to travel down the mountain and has sent me as a protector to accompany you," the elder said with a bow and a smile.
"I see."
"Then I appreciate Elder Shaoguang's assistance!" Gu Xuan replied with a smile.
"Gu Zhenzhuan is too polite!" Shaoguang said, relieved by Gu Xuan's easy demeanor.
Although he was an elder and had reached the pinnacle of the Yangshen Realm, his status was far inferior to Gu Xuan's.
After all, while his Yangshen Realm had reached its limit, Gu Xuan possessed limitless talent and a bright future ahead.
The two held different standings.
Not to mention, while his role was officially that of a guardian, it was more akin to being Gu Xuan's personal protector.
In the event of a life-and-death crisis, Elder Shaoguang would sacrifice his own life to buy time and opportunity for Gu Xuan to escape.
While this notion may seem harsh, many elders were willing to make such sacrifices.
This willingness stemmed from their own circumstances; having reached the end of their paths with no hope for the future, they often had families and descendants to think about.
Survival for themselves seemed futile compared to the chance to contribute to the Holy Land, ensuring that their children and grandchildren might benefit in return.
"Elder Shaoguang, let's head down the mountain!" Gu Xuan said.
Elder Shaoguang nodded in agreement.
Thus, the two descended the mountain together, making their way toward Tai'an County.
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