Chapter 330: One Meeting Surpasses Countless Earthly Encounters

The middle-aged man on the city tower looked pale, clearly still injured and not yet fully recovered. This was the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace, who had been severely wounded in a battle with a god. Although Qin Mu and Little Poison King Fu Yuanqing had jointly treated his injuries, they were wounds inflicted by a god, and he had not completely healed.

The Barbarian Nation seized this opportunity to invade Eternal Peace. Qingmen Pass was strategically vital, and the Imperial Preceptor knew that Eternal Peace had suffered two major calamities, severely depleting its vitality. Moreover, neither he nor Emperor Yanfeng had recovered to their peak condition, with Emperor Yanfeng's injuries being even more severe than his own.

Fearing a direct invasion by the Barbarian Nation, he deployed troops to hold Qingmen Pass at all costs. He even came to the battlefield in person to command the confrontation.

The Village Chief's single sword stroke, which quelled the conflict on the battlefield, was deeply astonishing and did not escape the Imperial Preceptor's notice. In fact, it was more than just astonishing; it was an ability that could transform the battlefield into a vast sea of blood, completely intimidating both armies. The lives of everyone on the battlefield were held firmly in his grasp.

This level of swordsmanship could no longer be simply called a sword art; it was so profound that it bordered on the Dao, revealing a higher realm to the Imperial Preceptor – the realm of the Sword Dao. The Village Chief's technique unleashed an incalculable number of sword lights. What was most terrifying was that each beam moved along a unique trajectory, subduing individual martial artists and divine arts practitioners – an almost impossible feat.

With hundreds of thousands of soldiers clashing, charging, and fighting on the battlefield, each individual possessed different cultivation levels, practiced slightly varied martial arts and divine arts, and battle formations shifted constantly. To simultaneously control everyone required restraining all their divine arts, martial arts, spirit weapons, and formations, demanding an incredible amount of calculation. Anyone who could achieve such a feat could truly be called a god – a god of the sword!

"A single sword cleaves open the Emperor's blood ocean. I've seen this sword art before, in a painting by the Saint Painter."

The Imperial Preceptor narrowed his eyes, looking towards the Dragon Qilin. Qin Mu and the others stood on its back; although they were powerful, they did not yet capture his full attention.

"From that painting, I witnessed the pinnacle of swordsmanship. For two hundred years, I diligently studied the sword techniques of the figure depicted, gaining new insights with every observation. Then, one day, I could no longer discern any new sword arts, and I believed I had reached the same level as the person in the painting."

The Imperial Preceptor recalled the painting, his gaze searching for the figure within it, but finding none. His eyes then focused on Qin Mu's back. Qin Mu was carrying a medicine basket on his back, and inside it was a white-haired old man, missing both hands and feet. This old man did not resemble the figure from the painting. The person in the painting was a sword god, not so advanced in age, full of vigor and sharpness, like a freshly blooded sword. Yet the old man in the medicine basket was a cripple, in the twilight of his years, like a candle flame ready to be extinguished by the wind. How could he possess the spirited and vibrant demeanor of the sword god in the painting?

Nevertheless, the Imperial Preceptor was certain: this disabled old man was indeed the sword god from the painting! His own mastery of swordsmanship had, after all, begun with the sword god in that very painting.

The Imperial Preceptor's body trembled slightly. He exhaled a long breath and commanded, "Welcome them!"

The city gates opened, and the generals within lined up on either side. The Dragon Qilin, head held high and belly swaying, strode into the city. Suddenly, all the sword lights from the battlefield surged like a tide, whistling towards Qin Mu and pouring into the medicine basket on his back.

The Village Chief, emerging from the medicine basket, saw the approaching middle-aged man – the one hailed as a saint born once every five hundred years, the strongest person beneath the gods, and revered as the contemporary Sword God!

Their eyes met, and a wave of emotion stirred within them both. The Sword God of the previous era and the Sword God of this era had finally met!

Behind the battlefield, from the city towers of the two grand passes, the clang of bronze gongs resonated – the signal to retreat. On the battlefield, hundreds of thousands of soldiers felt a wave of relief and swiftly retreated. Everyone suddenly realized they were drenched, their sweat flowing like a torrent.

Inside Qingmen Pass, the Village Chief floated out of the medicine basket. As if he had suddenly grown limbs, he moved directly towards the Imperial Preceptor. The strongest men of two eras were about to meet!

"You study swordsmanship?" the Village Chief asked.

The Imperial Preceptor adopted the respectful posture of a disciple, saying, "I studied swordsmanship in my early years, and at the age of one hundred and sixty, I stopped learning."

The Village Chief inquired, "At one hundred and sixty, you understood the sword?"

The Imperial Preceptor replied solemnly, "At one hundred and sixty, I had thoroughly studied all the martial arts and profound techniques in the world. I comprehended the Grand Thousand Divine Arts, and only then did I truly understand the sword and begin to create my own sword art."

The Village Chief smiled. "Show me your sword art."

The Imperial Preceptor drew his sword. Its light filled the sky, illuminating the world. His swordsmanship was protean and ever-changing, as numerous as the stars yet as simple as counting sticks. It had horizontal, vertical, and curving strokes, seemingly capable of transforming into any of the world's myriad techniques, leaving an ineffable impression.

His swordsmanship carried an indomitable momentum and the grand ambition of radical reform, like a blazing fire nourished by oil or a profusion of blossoming flowers. It sought to ignite the passion within all beings, to transform the existing world and the immutable Grand Dao, to reform all that was antiquated, and to tear open the rot of the old era, exposing its ugliness and truth. He intended to use his sword to alter the world's decaying ways, to forge new paths, and to usher the world into a new era!

His swordsmanship had already transcended mere technique to become a principle, imbued with his own philosophy. It was just one step away from directly reaching the Dao realm! The concept of "Li" (理) encompasses both ideology and fundamental principle. A sword art imbued with "Li" gains life, and his swordsmanship already possessed this vitality. However, the Dao precedes "Li"; only by transcending "Li" can one perceive the Dao. His swordsmanship was just one step away from perceiving the Dao.

The Imperial Preceptor sheathed his sword, panting slightly. His injuries had not fully healed, and his cultivation was not what it once was. Yet, before the former Sword God, he was like a student, eager to display his most perfect swordsmanship, awaiting the other's assessment.

"Excellent swordsmanship," the Village Chief praised. "You truly are the strongest under the gods, the saint born once every five hundred years. Before my end, I have finally met someone I can truly communicate with. I came out specifically to see you; I want to help you perceive the Dao."

The Imperial Preceptor stated solemnly, "Today at Qingmen Pass, there are millions of stationed troops, many of whom are my students, yet I am your student. There are also many scholars from the Imperial Academy who have come to contribute during this national crisis. I humbly ask, teacher, that you enlighten us here!"

The Village Chief chuckled. "I wouldn't presume. Let's simply exchange ideas."

The two walked side by side, with Qin Mu following behind. Xiong Xiyu looked up at the sight of one man in his prime and another in his twilight years, her gaze peculiar. She murmured, "In the True Heaven Palace of the Western Lands, there are no men as outstanding as these. In the West, our women govern, and men are meek and obedient. If the men of the Western Lands possessed such grand ambition and capability as these two, why would we women need to rule?"

As they entered the city, Qin Mu saw numerous scholars from the Imperial Academy, all sitting cross-legged, waiting quietly, their excitement barely concealed. Amidst this national crisis, the Barbarian Nation had launched a full-scale invasion. Eternal Peace had already endured a major rebellion and a severe snow disaster, leading to widespread suffering, a sharp decline in population, and displaced citizens. The country was still unstable, and food supplies were scarce. Even within the army, provisions were insufficient, and many Imperial Academy scholars who had come to help were living frugally, not daring to eat their fill. Qin Mu also spotted Wei Yong, Qin Yu, and others. Wei Yong, who had once been quite portly, was now noticeably thinner from hunger. This dire situation would likely only improve with the autumn harvest.

The Village Chief and the Imperial Preceptor sat down. The Village Chief said unhurriedly, "This time, I will not speak of mere sword arts, but of the Dao itself – specifically, the Sword Dao. How much you grasp will depend on your own comprehension. There was no 'Sword Dao' in this world until the sword as a weapon was created; only then did the Sword Dao come into being."

Many soldiers returning from the front line also came over. Some removed their armor and sat on the ground, while others simply stood to listen. Many who heard the elder speak looked puzzled. Some whispered, "Can the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth truly be created? Don't we divine arts practitioners cultivate the natural Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth?"

Qin Mu's heart stirred as he recalled his conversation with Jade Heavenly King, which had touched upon reforms and the alteration of the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth. Human creativity had introduced many Grand Daos of Heaven and Earth that previously did not exist, and that same creativity had also altered the pre-existing Grand Daos within heaven and earth. When the Dao changed, so too did the methods of divine arts. This transformation was therefore known as "Bianfa," or reform. Jade Heavenly King believed that such reforms might infringe upon the interests of gods and demons. What the Village Chief spoke of, however, was far more profound than anything Jade Heavenly King had articulated.

The reason for their confusion was that they were all Qi cultivators, whose ingrained understanding revolved around learning the inherited Dao methods and divine arts. To ask them to alter this fundamental perception would undoubtedly create an immense psychological shock.

The Imperial Preceptor asked, "How is the Grand Dao created?"

The Village Chief replied, "It can be created when one reaches the ultimate. Imperial Preceptor, has your swordsmanship reached its ultimate?"

The Imperial Preceptor paused slightly. "Just a little short," he said.

The Village Chief smiled. "I'll help you."

He thrust his sword towards the Imperial Preceptor, and immediately the surrounding scenery transformed. A myriad of mountains and rivers surged into view. In an instant, their surroundings no longer resembled Qingmen Pass or the blood-drenched battlefield, but a fresh, new world. Mountains were verdant, plants vibrant green, rivers surged, and each ripple of the waves was distinct and real. The intricate veins of every leaf were visible, each unique.

Everyone stood up. Some climbed towering mountains, others plunged into rushing rivers, and one person even plucked a flower formed from sword light. Qin Mu extended his hand and caught a dewdrop suspended from a leaf.

This was the "Sword Tread Through Mountains and Rivers" technique. Although "Sword Tread Through Mountains and Rivers" was a technique of immense power, when wielded by the Village Chief, it showed no destructive force; instead, it transported them into a strange, new world. It felt like a real world, a world entirely composed of the Sword Dao.

While this scene was profoundly impactful for everyone present, its effect on the Imperial Preceptor was the most profound. His body trembled, his soul vibrated, and he crouched down to touch the earth, then gazed up at the starry sky. The Village Chief had revealed the true essence of the Dao to him, allowing him to perceive the Sword Dao. Suddenly, he felt a massive portal burst open, and he stood there, stunned and motionless.

Seeing this, the Village Chief sighed inwardly, "A saint born once every five hundred years truly has much better aptitude than Mu'er. He comprehended the Dao so quickly."