novelraw Chapter 68 : The Mysterious Gate
Chapter 68 : The Mysterious Gate
Chapter 68: The Mysterious Gate
“He actually re-condensed his Sword Heart!”
The Sword Saint of Cangshan paused slightly. When he sensed the emotion of utmost love within that Sword Heart, he instinctively looked toward Li Yunqing.
Back then, Li Yunqing had not been wrong—bones had limits, but the heart was boundless.
For a strong person, the first requirement was an unwavering heart. Talent was merely the ticket to becoming strong.
The Sword Heart was, in essence, the tempering of that unwavering heart—refined through countless trials until it became sharp.
Because of the Sword Heart, sword techniques gained multiplied power.
“Emotion of utmost love? The seven emotions form the heart… what kind of sword will this become?”
A trace of anticipation arose in the Sword Saint’s heart.
A Sword Heart condensed from the seven emotions and six desires—this was his first time witnessing it.
But he understood that if this emotion was earth-shaking, then Lu Xingzhou’s sword would also be earth-shaking.
In other words, Lu Xingzhou’s future depended entirely on this heart of emotion.
“Destruction followed by rebirth—its sharpness even greater!”
Sensing the increasingly pure sharpness emanating from Lu Xingzhou, Hall Master Liu was momentarily stunned, then cupped his hands.
“Congratulations, Sword Saint. This child’s future is boundless!”
He did not cultivate the path of the Sword Heart and naturally did not know what kind of Sword Heart Lu Xingzhou had re-condensed.
But being able to shatter everything in despair and forge a new path—such a genius was destined to shine.
The Sword Saint nodded slightly in response, his expression calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.
At that moment, the sharpness around Lu Xingzhou receded. He slowly opened his eyes and instinctively looked toward Li Yunqing, who stood quietly nearby.
This time, his gaze did not evade.
It met hers directly—calm and composed.
Li Yunqing paused, astonishment rising in her heart.
Those were eyes of extreme brightness and purity—like sword light, without the slightest impurity.
There was no calculation, no desire, no hesitation, no concern for personal gain—only absolute purity and unwavering resolve.
Carrying a gentle tenderness like water—neither explicit nor concealed.
It reminded her of a phrase from her memory: ‘The highest good is like water.’ Now, ‘utmost love is like water’ seemed even more fitting.
“Pure love type?”
This thought suddenly surfaced in Li Yunqing’s mind.
She then slightly cupped her hands, as polite as ever.
“Congratulations, Senior Brother Lu, on re-condensing your Sword Heart.”
Maintaining distance through courtesy.
Even if it was pure love, she did not wish to be involved.
She still retained an instinctive wariness toward men.
Or rather, if she were male, she would naturally stand on the side of men.
But as a woman, she was destined to stand on the side of women—maintaining the necessary caution and distance.
After all, people were changeable. Today it might be pure love—who knew if it might turn into obsession or madness in the future?
Since she rejected all men beyond normal interaction and basic friendship, she would not give any man even the slightest opportunity.
“Thank you, Junior Sister Yunqing!”
Lu Xingzhou responded calmly, then cupped his hands toward the Sword Saint.
“I have caused Master concern.”
The Sword Saint nodded slightly and asked, “Do you regret it?”
“Even if I die a hundred times, I will not regret it!” Lu Xingzhou answered without hesitation.
Not only did he not regret it—there was even joy in his heart.
If one lived alone like a wandering ghost, what meaning did life have?
Now he had a goal—to stand beside the woman he cherished most.
Even if it was only simple companionship, it gave him endless meaning and motivation.
“Whoosh—”
At that moment, the sound of air being torn apart rang out.
Everyone turned to see figures rushing across rooftops from all directions, heading straight here.
In the blink of an eye, four figures landed in the courtyard.
“Qingzhou’s Qin Changzhen greets Sword Saint Senior!”
“Qingzhou’s Jiang Yifeng greets Sword Saint Senior!”
“Qingzhou’s Zhou Boyan greets Sword Saint Senior!”
“Demon Suppression Division’s Sun Yidao greets Sword Saint Senior!”
The four bowed respectfully to the Sword Saint.
Even though three of them were over a hundred years old—Qin Changzhen being one hundred and twenty—they still acted as juniors.
In martial arts, strength was supreme. Aside from blood relations, age held no weight—achievement came first.
“To think they are the elders of the Qin, Jiang, and Zhou families of Qingzhou.”
“And that one must be the Commander of the Demon Suppression Division.”
Li Yunqing suddenly understood as she looked at the three elderly men and the middle-aged Sun Yidao.
The Sword Saint’s breakthrough had caused a massive disturbance—these figures would naturally come to pay respects.
After all, a Profound Realm Grandmaster was the strongest existence below the Divine Realm.
“Greetings to you all.”
The Sword Saint was neither cold nor arrogant. His tone remained gentle, like a refined scholar.
Yet those who knew his name understood—
This seemingly scholarly Sword Saint had guarded the Great Azure Mountain since the age of twenty, slaughtering demons for twenty years until they could not raise their heads.
His killing intent surpassed even that of battlefield generals.
Even Sun Yidao, who had spent half his life fighting demons and evil gods, fell far short.
After exchanging nods with Hall Master Liu, Qin Changzhen spoke:
“We were unaware of Sword Saint Senior’s arrival—this is truly deserving of punishment!”
“Coincidentally, in two days it will be this old man’s birthday banquet. Let us take this opportunity to gather—what do you all think?”
No one responded immediately, their gazes all turning to the Sword Saint.
Originally, after the Poison of Nine Infants was cured, the Sword Saint should have returned to the Great Azure Mountain.
But now that Lu Xingzhou’s Sword Heart had been reformed, he could not take Li Yunqing with him.
He would likely stay a few more days.
Or perhaps leave Lu Xingzhou behind to protect her.
With Innate Sword Bones and a formed Sword Heart, he also wished to see what her future would become.
“Very well.”
The Sword Saint nodded, not refusing.
Seeing his agreement, Qin Changzhen could no longer hold back and asked:
“May I ask what insights Sword Saint Senior gained in breaking through to the Profound Realm?”
Breaking into the Profound Realm required breaking through the Mysterious Gate.
Yet this gate was elusive and incomprehensible—he had pondered it for twenty years without progress.
Now that he had met someone who had just broken through, how could he restrain himself?
If he did not break through soon, even with his Azure Wood Intent, he would not last much longer.
As soon as Qin Changzhen spoke, Sun Yidao’s eyes lit up.
In all of Qingzhou, only Qin Changzhen and he had reached Qi Realm Perfection.
The other two were close, but still slightly lacking.
At this moment, all of them stared intently.
The Profound Realm Grandmaster was a realm countless people dreamed of.
Once reached, one’s lifespan extended to one hundred and fifty years.
With their talent, the Divine Realm was beyond reach—but the Profound Realm was just one step away.
“To enter the Profound Realm, one must break the Mysterious Gate!”
The Sword Saint did not conceal anything and spoke directly.
“This gate lies in the heart, in the body, and within heaven and earth.”
Seeing their confusion, he continued:
“The Qi Realm refines qi and cultivates intent.”
“This intent is the imprinting of natural phenomena into one’s mind and spirit.”
“To break the Mysterious Gate, one must imprint that inner intent into heaven and earth—this is ‘momentum’.”
“Once momentum forms, True Qi and the body become perfectly unified, and the Mysterious Gate reveals itself.”
“Like this—”
As he spoke, his will moved, and his aura surged.
At that moment, everyone seemed to see a vast mountain range rise behind him—
Among them, a single peak stood like a sword piercing the heavens.
A terrifying pressure descended instantly.
It felt as if each of them bore an entire mountain range on their backs—movement became difficult, cold sweat covering their foreheads.
They could not even move.
“This is the Great Azure Mountain!”
“He uses the entire mountain as Sword Intent… no—now it is Sword Momentum!”
Seeing that mountain-like presence, everyone was shaken.
This was not mere mental oppression like artistic conception—it physically affected their bodies.
It was as if the mountain had truly manifested, suppressing all beings.
“Indeed, it is the Great Azure Mountain.”
The Sword Saint continued:
“The Mysterious Gate is elusive and intangible—most people never touch it in their lifetime.”
“I cannot fully explain its profundity, but I can offer one principle.”
“Intent is the seed. Water it constantly. Once it takes root, it becomes like mountains and rivers in this world—rooted in heaven and earth, forming its own momentum.”
“When momentum is formed and merges perfectly with True Qi and the body, the Mysterious Gate will naturally appear.”
Hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought.
Beside them, Li Yunqing blinked slightly, committing his words to memory.
Moreover, she had a feeling—
The Sword Saint was deliberately explaining this in detail for her and Lu Xingzhou.
She recalled what he once said:
“I will wait for you.”
“A Profound Realm Grandmaster…”
“Is this Sword Saint really planning to challenge me?”