Chapter 288: Dao Sword Fourteen

Qin Mu's heart trembled slightly, immediately guessing why the Dao Master was so certain of his identity as the contemporary Human Emperor.

The Village Chief's sword diagram, he had only learned two moves and used them infrequently. Aside from displaying them before Emperor Yanfeng and the Imperial Preceptor, he had only exposed them before Ban Gongcuo and Lin Xuan, the Dao Child.

When Lin Xuan the Dao Child had followed Daoist Master Danyuan to challenge the Imperial College, he was defeated precisely by the first move of the sword diagram, "Sword Steps Mountains and Rivers."

After returning to the Dao Gate, he had surely attempted to demonstrate that move, "Sword Steps Mountains and Rivers," from Qin Mu to the Dao Master. The Dao Master most likely learned at that point that Qin Mu's sword techniques originated from the Village Chief, but he couldn't be certain that Qin Mu was indeed the contemporary Human Emperor.

His confident tone was, in fact, merely a probe.

Qin Mu, meticulous in his thoughts, although he had guessed the Dao Master's intention, did not deny it. He even fetched some water to water the Yellow Essence, laughing, "Dao Master's divine powers are vast, his wisdom surpasses all others."

The Dao Master and Lin Xuan the Dao Child used leaves to hold water, while he directly used vital energy to lift the spring water, making it more convenient and quicker.

The old Dao Master saw him using vital energy and remarked, "The Dao is natural. Why does the Human Emperor need to be so hasty?"

Qin Mu replied, "Purely following the natural flow, learning to utilize it. If the Dao Master doesn't use it, why bother learning?"

The Dao Master frowned, then his eyebrows smoothed out again, and he laughed, "The differences between our two teachings lie in the ways of living. I will not argue with you about the doctrines of the Dao Gate and the Heavenly Demon Cult. The Human Emperor has not appeared in the world for several hundred years; this time he has, should he not have some plans?"

Qin Mu, controlling separate streams of water with his vital energy to water the Yellow Essence, said earnestly, "What plans could I possibly have? The Village Chief in our village said that being the Human Emperor is a responsibility. I still don't understand what good being this Human Emperor does. I have no power, no influence, and yet I have to bear some responsibility. If the Dao Master is willing, I'll let you."

The Dao Master, who was just using leaves to hold water, his expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly shook his head, "I cannot bear it."

One used leaves to hold water, the other used magic to fetch water, watering the Yellow Essence.

Lin Xuan the Dao Child watched them, secretly shaking his head. Both the old and the young were somewhat set in their ways, remarkably stubborn.

After the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, Qin Mu, being faster, had finished watering all the Yellow Essence. The old Dao Master also planted the leaf he had used for holding water into the soil, straightened his back, and sighed, "I'm old, my body is useless. Since the Human Emperor is the Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Dao Gate cannot be an enemy of the Human Emperor. This time, this old Dao has come to see the Human Emperor to acknowledge a successor for him. Just now, Lin Xuan also paid his respects to you; after I die, he will be the Dao Master."

Qin Mu paid his respects to Lin Xuan, who hurriedly returned the gesture, saying, "I am not yet the Dao Master; I dare not receive it."

The old Dao Master laughed, "Even after you become the Dao Master, you are still a junior. When paying respects, you need to lower your hands."

Lin Xuan was startled.

The old Dao Master spoke unhurriedly, "We cultivators received favor from the first generation Human Emperor twenty thousand years ago. Therefore, we collectively revered him as the Human Emperor, and each race and sect contributed the best treasures of that time to refine a Human Emperor Seal. Thus, the rites must be followed and not slighted. May this old Dao have a look at the seal?"

Qin Mu took out the block of black Human Emperor Seal and casually tossed it to him. The old Dao Master hurriedly caught it, his face twitching repeatedly as he said, "How can you toss it? How can you toss it? This old Dao bathed and changed clothes before coming to see the Human Emperor. I even washed my hands many times, daring not to slight the seal. How can you casually toss the Human Emperor Seal?"

Qin Mu was puzzled, saying, "The Village Chief just casually tossed it to me. I didn't even want it and threw it back. He insisted on giving it to me, and I only accepted because I couldn't defeat him."

The old Dao Master's face was bitter. He held the Human Emperor Seal in both hands, examining it repeatedly, confirming it was indeed the seal. He said, "Human Emperor, please take it back." Saying this, he stepped forward and respectfully held up the Human Emperor Seal with both hands.

After Qin Mu took the Human Emperor Seal, the old Daoist stepped back, lowered his hands, and said to Lin Xuan the Dao Child, "Remember, the Human Emperor Seal is received like this; the rites cannot be messed up."

Lin Xuan the Dao Child agreed, but then saw Qin Mu casually toss the Human Emperor Seal into his Taotie Bag. Lin Xuan dared not speak.

"He is the Human Emperor; he can choose not to respect it, but we cannot choose not to respect it."

The old Dao Master said kindly, "This seal was refined by the ancestors of our various sects and races using the finest treasures and offered to the Human Emperor, revering the person who controls this seal as the common emperor of the human race. Therefore, our Dao Gate must show respect. But since this seal was offered to the Human Emperor, the Human Emperor can choose not to respect this seal. Do you understand?"

Lin Xuan the Dao Child nodded, "Disciple understands."

Qin Mu's heart couldn't help but feel somewhat moved. The old Dao Master was already near the end of his lifespan; his life would reach its end within the next few years. Yet, he was still exhausting all his efforts to mentor his disciple.

This kind of traditional master-disciple relationship was more likely to cultivate outstanding talents.

The old Dao Master was now old; he must be hoping that in his final years, he could cultivate the Dao Child and let him succeed him.

"Dao Master has come this time, besides wanting to see the Human Emperor Seal, is there anything else you wish to say?" Qin Mu asked with a laugh.

The old Dao Master looked at him deeply and said, "The Human Emperor should understand that the reforms of Yan Kang's Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Yanfeng are not the proper path and will suffer heavenly punishment. This snow disaster is a warning. For the sake of the world's common people, the Human Emperor should stop these reforms."

Qin Mu shook his head, "The great trend of the world is like a rolling flood. Those who stand in its path will surely be crushed. I can only follow the great trend, follow the flood. Senior Brother, you have already suffered many hardships; do you still want to persist in error?"

The old Dao Master sighed, "I will not argue with you. Arguing back and forth only argues about the doctrines of our two families, making it difficult to convince each other. It is better not to argue. You insist on supporting the Imperial Preceptor's reforms, I will only say one thing: the Dao is natural; reform is changing the Dao, changing the natural order. Gods are naturally born, transformed by the Great Dao. If you want to change the Dao, you know the pros and cons. The reflection in the carriage mirror before the Great Ruins is something the Human Emperor cannot fail to examine."

Qin Mu was slightly startled. The Dao Master clearly knew more insider stories.

But the Dao Master was unwilling to say more, saying, "I have come to see the Human Emperor to express my intention: the Dao Gate will be an enemy of Yan Kang but not an enemy of the Human Emperor. Disciple, bring the Dao Sword Fourteen Chapters."

Lin Xuan took a stone board from a leather bag at his waist. When he took it out, it was actually two *zhang* high, with seven horizontal and eight vertical sword marks drawn on it.

Lin Xuan hesitated, "Dao Master..."

"Let him see."

The old Dao Master said, "The old Human Emperor's sword techniques were better than mine, more profound. I even showed the Imperial Preceptor the Dao Sword Fourteen Chapters, why can't I show them to the contemporary Human Emperor?"

Lin Xuan the Dao Child propped the stone board up on one side. The old Dao Master said, "Dao Sword Fourteen Chapters, one sword, one chapter. When Yan Kang's Imperial Preceptor came to my Dao Gate to seek knowledge, I allowed him to look for fourteen days. I will also allow the Human Emperor to look for fourteen days. As for my Dao Gate's Innate Great Profound Merit, I will not show it to the Human Emperor."

Qin Mu showed a surprised expression. The old Rulai had allowed him to look at the Rulai Great Vehicle Sutra, only letting him see the laws within, not the entrance – having laws but no entrance.

Whereas now, the Dao Master allowed him to look at the entrance of the Innate Great Profound Merit, but not the laws within. The masters of both great sacred grounds had very broad minds.

Qin Mu pondered for a moment, took out the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra, and said, "I am not used to receiving favors from others. This is the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra. I will allow the Dao Child to look for fourteen days."

Lin Xuan the Dao Child's heart was quite moved. He looked towards the old Dao Master. The old Dao Master's expression changed slightly, and he pondered for a moment before saying, "Let you look, then you look. The Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra, when stored well, is a god; when stored wickedly, it is a demon. If you enter the demonic path, it means your cultivation is insufficient, your heart and nature are insufficient."

Lin Xuan the Dao Child agreed.

Qin Mu sat in front of the stone wall and looked at the sword marks on it.

These sword marks were seven horizontal and eight vertical, appearing to have no regularity at first glance. He looked at the first sword mark, and at first, he didn't see anything remarkable. But as his mind immersed itself within, he gradually felt a wonderful sword intent.

In his eyes, the sword marks were no longer just sword marks. He seemed to see some numbers, as if a Daoist with a large brush was quickly writing, writing down the principles of some techniques and numbers. These principles gradually evolved, forming two mutually interfering Tai Chi diagrams, one black and one white.

A single point connects the vast movement, two instruments repeatedly yin and yang within!

Qin Mu's heart trembled slightly. The cultivation method of the Dao Sword was indeed different from others. The sword carvings on the stone wall contained extremely deep sword intent. Within the sword intent were hidden numbers, and these numbers composed the first style of the Dao Sword.

The numbers hidden in the first style of the Dao Sword were the binary calculations of yin and yang!

"This can truly be compared with the Great Profound Calculation Sutra."

Qin Mu's heart moved slightly. He had already comprehended the Great Profound Calculation Sutra seven or eight parts. The first style of the Dao Sword was not difficult for him.

Not long after, Qin Mu thoroughly comprehended the first style of the Dao Sword and turned to look at the second sword mark.

Dao Sword's second style: Five Qi and Three Origins knot the essence, clouds and carriages are added to the ascending place!

This sword mark contained ternary and pentary, Three Origins and Five Qi. This move's numbers constructed the sun, moon, and earth, with Five Qi converging towards the Origin!

This move was also not difficult for Qin Mu. He used the time it takes for one incense stick to burn to comprehend this move, then went to look at the third sword mark.

Dao Sword's third style: Five-colored auspicious clouds cover, immortal sounds are clear in the Three Heavens.

This move was also Three Origins and Five Qi, just more profound, showing the changes of Three Origins and Five Qi.

Qin Mu used a significant portion of an hour to thoroughly comprehend this move.

Dao Sword's fourth style: Silently grasp the operation of the Universe, see the fusion of all things in the Luo diagram. The numbers contained within were already extremely complex, involving the numbers of the Three Lives and Ten Thousand Things. It was already extremely difficult for the Great Profound Calculation Sutra to solve the mysteries of this move.

Only after Qin Mu solved the mysteries of this sword mark did he realize that the sun was about to set into the sea, and the sky was already late. The red sun fell on the surface of the sea, reflecting reddish light all over the island.

"Perhaps I cannot solve the fifth chapter of the Dao Sword!"

Qin Mu's face was solemn. Each sword of the Dao Sword was harder to learn than the last, containing deeper and deeper numbers. It was fundamentally impossible to fully learn it within fourteen days. He might not even be able to learn the fifth chapter!

He could only choose to first comprehend the sword intent within. Once he had grasped the sword intent, as for the sword methods of the other several chapters of the Dao Sword, he had no time to learn them. He would comprehend as much as he could!

Qin Mu, thinking of this, immediately looked at the fifth sword mark: Dao Sword's fifth chapter: Jade Cave collects all changes, wind and moon gleam on Kun Gang.

He carefully comprehended. The numbers contained within the sword intent were already difficult to understand. Although he had comprehended the Great Profound Calculation Sutra seven or eight parts, some numbers were not included in the Great Profound Calculation Sutra; they were likely hidden in the Profound Maiden Calculation Sutra.

The Dao Master just sat on one side, the old god in meditative silence, seemingly unaware of hunger.

When Qin Mu was hungry, he left from under the stone wall and went to find Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang. The two girls had already cooked the rice. They inquired about him. Hearing that it was the Dao Master, both girls were greatly surprised and dared not be presumptuous.

On the third day, Fan Yunxiao sailed his boat to seek him out. Seeing the Dao Master, he suddenly cried out loudly and kowtowed several times to the Dao Master. The old Dao Master opened his eyes and glanced at him, his face calm as he said, "You have entered the Heavenly Demon Cult? I was indeed not mistaken about you; your heart and techniques are indeed not right. Go, I will not kill you."

Fan Yunxiao howled and cried, wiping away tears as he sailed away in his boat.

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