Chapter Fifty-Seven: Steadfast Resolve

Qi Fei and Zhuo Jin’er each harbored their own thoughts. Within the pavilion, they clapped their hands together in oath, establishing an alliance to jointly confront the Yin-Yang Path and the Heart-Sword Sect.

After a moment of silence, Zhuo Jin’er shot Qi Fei a sidelong glance and said, “Qi Fei, I wonder what your master taught you. That night, you dared to face Sima Yan, whose martial cultivation had reached the Innate Realm. Escaping with your life from his hands—truly fortune smiled upon you. Had Sima Yan not underestimated you, I fear you would have perished beneath his blade.”

Qi Fei was puzzled and asked, “Miss Zhuo, Sima Yan’s innate might is indeed formidable. Yet I rely on the Blood Shadow Escape Technique of the Heart Demon Sect for protection. Surely it would not be easy for Sima Yan to take my life.”

Zhuo Jin’er replied coldly, “Do you know what it truly means to reach the Innate Realm in martial cultivation?”

Qi Fei was taken aback, then slowly said, “The path of martial cultivation is to harness the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, temper the body, refine the martial soul, and thus advance step by step toward the supreme realm where the body is indestructible. The Innate Realm, I suppose, is when a martial artist’s true qi becomes more abundant, the body and bones more robust. Is there some deeper secret within? When my master’s time drew near, he never spoke in detail about the mysteries of the Innate Realm. As for my master in the Danxia Sect, his cultivation was only at the fourth tier of martial arts, and he knew little of the Innate Realm. I hope Miss Zhuo will enlighten me.”

Zhuo Jin’er poured a cup of clear tea, took a sip, and frowned. “Though I cultivate the mysteries of the Dao, I am not wholly ignorant of the marvels of martial cultivation. Martial arts techniques and manuals are but the surface of the martial path. Only upon reaching the Innate Realm, when the martial soul awakens innate spiritual awareness, can one begin to glimpse the true mysteries of martial cultivation.”

Qi Fei’s heart trembled; he realized Zhuo Jin’er’s words would greatly benefit his future cultivation. He hurriedly pressed her for more. “Miss Zhuo, could you elaborate on these secrets?”

Zhuo Jin’er smiled lightly. “When you reach the sixth tier of martial arts, refining your qi to its origin, and seek to enter the Innate Realm, you will encounter the difficult-to-break innate barrier. To awaken the innate spiritual awareness of the martial soul, you must first temper your martial soul to perfection. Yet even so, some spend their lifetime in vain, unable to break through, while others reach the Innate Realm in a single instant of enlightenment. The mysteries here far surpass what you or I might imagine. You may have opportunities, but to achieve the Innate Realm, you must first understand your own Dao heart.”

“Dao heart?” Qi Fei’s face showed bewilderment. He pondered for a while but could not resolve his doubts. “If it were Dao cultivation, I might grasp what is meant by the Dao heart. But where does the Dao heart come into martial cultivation?”

Zhuo Jin’er, learned and wise, spoke with the air of a martial master. “The road of cultivation is fraught with hardship and countless trials. Practitioners may become fearful or cruel, their hearts shaped by suffering and slaughter. One’s inner state changes naturally through such experiences. To reach the Innate Realm and awaken the martial soul’s innate awareness, you must first understand why you cultivate martial arts, how you face endless dangers and deadly battles. Only by keeping your resolve unshaken can you hope to achieve the pinnacle of martial cultivation. If your Dao heart is broken, your progress will stagnate.”

Qi Fei fell into deep contemplation, questioning himself—why did he pursue martial cultivation? How could he strengthen his resolve and break through the innate barrier? Reflecting on his past, he could not help but smile bitterly.

He had entered the path of cultivation by chance, meeting his master at a time of desperation. He killed Ma Deyuan to avenge a friend, slew Guo Huai at the Cliff of Reflection to protect himself, and felt a pang of guilt when he killed Luo Changfeng and the disciples of the True Mystery Temple. On Qingyang Peak and beyond Cangyun Mountain, he would inevitably face endless slaughter. Would he become hesitant and soft-hearted, or grow cold, ruthless, and numb? To decide to kill in pursuit of the Dao was no easy task.

Zhuo Jin’er watched Qi Fei’s inner struggle and felt a trace of bitterness herself. The great Dao is merciless; she wondered if Qi Fei could break through the fog and strengthen his Dao heart.

Afraid that Qi Fei would become lost in his thoughts, Zhuo Jin’er quickly spoke to rouse him from his confusion. “Sima Yan has attained the Innate Realm and is no ordinary man. You survived his attack either because he held back or was careless and did not use his full strength. Otherwise, when the power of the Innate Realm erupts, a martial artist’s body transforms into the might of the martial soul. How could you, who have not reached the Innate Realm, possibly withstand it?”

Qi Fei broke into a cold sweat, feeling a wave of dread. Sima Yan’s claim that he could kill him in one move was not empty boasting. Fortunately, Qi Fei had provoked Sima Yan and lured him into agreeing to three moves, and Sima Yan, distracted and not fully exerting himself, allowed Qi Fei to escape from the library pavilion.

Noticing Qi Fei’s fear, Zhuo Jin’er said coldly, “Are you frightened now?”

Qi Fei snapped out of his stupor and replied solemnly, “Having heard your teachings today, I will not let fortune make me arrogant. Until I break through the innate barrier, I will avoid and yield to Innate Realm masters, and never act recklessly again.”

Zhuo Jin’er nodded slowly and sighed. “In Cangyun Mountain, martial artists of the Innate Realm and Dao masters in the Transformation Stage are top experts. But there are always greater people beyond, and beyond the mountains, Innate masters are far more numerous than you imagine. There are martial masters who found schools and sects, whose slightest gesture can determine the fate of the world and countless beings—the Martial Sages. The path of martial cultivation is long; what you must do now is settle your Dao heart, never let powerful foes cause you to waver.”

Qi Fei exhaled deeply and said, “Hearing about the might of the Innate Realm and the prowess of martial experts outside Cangyun Mountain, I am indeed somewhat afraid. But I am not afraid of dying at the hands of a strong enemy. I am afraid of not being strong enough, of disappointing my master’s painstaking efforts. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—my cultivation has not reached a year, yet I have gained such fortune and reached the fifth tier. Someday, I will not only defeat Sima Yan myself, but I will also challenge those martial masters and sages. Thanks to your guidance, Miss Zhuo, I have now understood my Dao heart.”

Zhuo Jin’er’s beautiful eyes shone as she asked, “You’re not joking? You’ve already understood your Dao heart? Can you tell me what it is?”

Qi Fei hesitated, then solemnly replied, “In troubled times, life is as cheap as ants. My parents died tragically in the chaos. Since martial sages can decide the fate of the world with a wave of their hand, I must strengthen my Dao heart, seek to achieve the Dao, clear away the filth of this chaotic world, and restore justice and clarity to the land.”

Zhuo Jin’er sneered, “You have lofty ambitions, but you cultivate the demonic arts of the Heart Demon Sect and oppose the righteous Heart-Sword Sect. You may become the demon whom the righteous unite to destroy. Such upright and heroic words seem rather laughable.”

Qi Fei shook his head. “The line between good and evil is but a matter of thought. I do not wish to be a saint who saves all beings from suffering. Even if I reach great heights, to restore order, I will cause much slaughter. Many may not deserve to die, but in these chaotic times, no one has a choice. The Heart-Sword Sect’s leader is a hypocrite—he ruined my master’s family to seize power. Even if it means wading through seas of corpses and blood, I will avenge my master. The Dao heart I have found is not to kill the innocent, to show no mercy to enemies, and to act with a clear conscience, regardless of how others see me.”

“You can speak such words today—it seems I, Zhuo Jin’er, have indeed chosen the right partner. There’s no time to waste. I will go find Sima Yan and borrow the Yin Evil Blade Technique. Once we settle matters with the True Mystery Temple on Qingyang Peak, our next target is Chu Yanran, the master of Seven Absolutes Sect, who has reached the peak of the Innate Realm.” Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, her beautiful face showing a hint of cruelty.

“Chu Yanran? The other Innate master you mentioned from Seven Absolutes Sect? Peak of the Innate Realm? Is she stronger than Sima Yan?” Qi Fei felt a trace of unease. He wondered why Zhuo Jin’er, who had previously cautioned him against facing Innate masters before achieving that realm himself, now set her sights on an even stronger foe.

“That’s right. Chu Yanran, the hidden Innate master of Seven Absolutes Sect, is the true reason I came to Cangyun Mountain and risked helping Seven Absolutes Sect against the True Mystery Temple.”