Chapter 96: First Victory of the Azure Dragon Sword Qi

Meanwhile, the secret technique that had just vanished from his spiritual core echoed once more in his mind.

“The highest virtue is like water; water benefits all things without contending. It dwells in places that others disdain, thus it is close to the Way.”

“The movement of Heaven’s Way is precisely non-contention. Like a towering mountain that commands reverence, great virtue can bear the weight of all things.”

“When the heart attains tranquility, the spirit is free from worry. Gathering heavenly qi and embracing earthly essence, merging within the void cauldron—that is the immortal technique.”

Yes! I understand now!

Bai Mu nearly shouted these words aloud.

All things grow from one another in endless cycles—from nothing to existence, back to nothing, and then to existence again. This is a process of perpetual circulation.

In other words, if one likens the human body to the myriad things of the world, then all cultivation within is like the cyclical changes of weather and seasons.

A person’s cultivation and spiritual energy can be depleted, but if one can use the secret technique to transform spiritual energy into a cycle akin to the seasons, and the void cauldron that stores the spiritual energy is like the Heavenly Way controlling the flow of the seasons,

Then, in battle, the internal spiritual energy, after being refined and reborn through the void cauldron, could continuously regenerate without exhaustion. Thus, in combat, one could remain undefeated forever.

Heavens, cyclical renewal, endless vitality—this is the profound essence of the “Highest Virtue Like Water” technique!

Yet even now, Bai Mu’s tightly closed eyes remained shut. Having just grasped the secret technique, he planned to test it immediately.

Previously, the spiritual energy that had rushed out disorderly from the void cauldron no longer responded to its master’s summons once Bai Mu’s entire body entered a state of clarity. They obediently returned to the void cauldron. As for the restless Azure Dragon sword qi, it had long since stealthily concealed itself.

After comprehending the secret technique’s subtle use, Bai Mu again infused his relatively powerful divine awareness into the void cauldron, then gently guided the spiritual energy within to flow gradually from his abdomen toward his chest.

Currently, three distinct types of cultivation lay dormant within Bai Mu’s void cauldron.

The first was his original cultivation, cultivated over more than a decade under his master on Eastward Mountain—the foundation of his spiritual energy.

Secondly, there was the Azure Dragon sword qi that had invaded from outside after the attack in White Deer Valley.

This sword qi was not obtained through his own cultivation and thus did not obey his will. It was the type that would randomly lash out within his meridians whenever it was displeased.

To Bai Mu, this Azure Dragon sword qi was both immensely powerful and extremely dangerous.

The third energy within his body was the “Highest Virtue Like Water” force, deliberately infused by Fan Sheng a few days ago to suppress the sword qi.

This force was not particularly overwhelming—indeed, it was weaker than his decade-long accumulated spiritual energy.

Within his vast void cauldron, it occupied only a small corner.

Yet surprisingly, this force was remarkably tenacious. Whenever it confronted the Azure Dragon sword qi, it could subtly retard the sword qi’s eruption, providing Bai Mu critical moments to catch his breath.

Otherwise, given his restless state immediately after entering meditation, he would have long been slaughtered multiple times by the lurking sword qi within the void cauldron.

Of course, though the spiritual energy inside his void cauldron was far from pure, Bai Mu had to admit it was a tremendous treasure trove.

If he could master the “Highest Virtue Like Water” technique in the future, blending his own spiritual energy, the Azure Dragon sword qi, and the gentle force from Fan Sheng, the day he completed his cultivation would mark his brilliant rise amid the many formidable powers of the Wildlands.

As his divine awareness flowed slowly into the void cauldron, the stored spiritual energy began to obediently follow it, coursing through the meridians outside the cauldron.

Yet the stubborn Azure Dragon sword qi remained arrogantly hidden in a corner of the void cauldron, refusing entirely to submit to his divine summons.

This was clearly not what Bai Mu wished to see.

After all, the primary reason he studied the “Highest Virtue Like Water” technique was to completely reconcile the Azure Dragon sword qi, thereby eliminating the sword qi injuries that flared during full moons or moments of anger.

After urging his divine awareness four or five times within the void cauldron, the Azure Dragon sword qi remained unmoved, arrogantly standing in its corner like a cold and aloof emperor.

By now, all of Bai Mu’s spiritual energy had flowed out of the void cauldron, rushing toward the Dan Zhong acupoint on his chest, guided by the “Highest Virtue Like Water” technique, while the Azure Dragon sword qi remained indifferent as if a mountain were collapsing before it.

“Such a nuisance.”

Bai Mu muttered anxiously within his mind, intensifying his divine awareness as he advanced toward the Azure Dragon sword qi within the void cauldron.

But the Azure Dragon sword qi was no pushover. Sensing Bai Mu’s attempt at coercion, it roared fiercely from the depths of the void cauldron, transforming into several sharp swords identical to the sacred Azure Dragon sword, slashing wildly in every direction inside the cauldron.

“Ahh!”

After several sword strikes within the void cauldron, Bai Mu groaned in pain, large beads of sweat streaming down his forehead and cheeks, soaking a wide patch of his white robe.

This scene naturally did not escape Fan Sheng’s eyes, who was watching nearby. He knew that Bai Mu’s mastery of the “Highest Virtue Like Water” technique had reached a critical life-or-death juncture, where success or failure hinged on every precious moment.

With a thought, Fan Sheng calmly lifted the jade flute to his lips and began to play again. His fingers danced, releasing countless beautiful and peaceful notes that swept into Bai Mu’s heart like the scent of lotus blossoms carried on a summer breeze.

As the notes resounded, the gentle force Fan Sheng had infused into Bai Mu surged swiftly from its corner within the void cauldron, charging at the rampaging sword qi with thunderous speed.

Though this gentle force was not even a fraction of the Azure Dragon sword qi’s strength, upon collision, the Azure Dragon sacred swords formed from the sword qi began to visibly corrode.

In the blink of an eye, they dissipated like spring sunlight melting snow, vanishing completely and merging into the gentle force.

“This is incredible! Incredible!” Bai Mu cried out joyfully within his mind. “I never imagined the gentle force from Fan Sheng’s ‘Highest Virtue Like Water’ technique would be so powerful that even the fierce Azure Dragon sword qi cannot resist it at all.”

After the gentle force circulated three small cycles within the void cauldron, the once domineering Azure Dragon sword qi had already been frightened into fleeing in all directions. Those that could not escape were forced to merge peacefully into the gentle force.

Watching the sword qi curled up in a corner, Bai Mu knew the time was ripe. Hastily, he strengthened his divine awareness, surging forth with greater speed and power toward the Azure Dragon sword qi.