Forge your destiny into a sword, slash your soul and ascend to immortality

Chapter 366 The Inheritance of the Heart Saint
This "Hell of the Soul" is a priceless treasure of the "Saint of the Heart."

It lies at the bottom of the Sea of ​​Souls, silently guarding the world of the soul for countless millennia.

Each step of this black jade staircase is striving to bear the evil thoughts originating from the "Sea of ​​Minds of All Beings".

All evil thoughts are potent poisons and evil medicines; only a powerful figure like the [Heart Saint], a [Totem] master, can regard them as resources that can be collected.

However, even the most precious [Totem] treasures have their limits in the [Mind Hell].

Without the [Saint of the Heart] regularly clearing away accumulated evil thoughts, relying solely on [Spiritual Essence] is simply not enough to resolve the many "sufferings" entrenched on the Jade Steps.

Such terrifying demons, formed from condensed evil thoughts, are not only extremely difficult to kill, but once killed, the evil thoughts they unleash have an endless, pernicious influence, making them even more troublesome.

Before Jing Qian, the last cultivator from the Great Abyss to descend upon this place was that scoundrel Xuan Yuan.

As a top-tier assassin, [Xuanyuan]'s combat strength is in no way weaker than Jing Qian's.

He was equally capable of slaying the great demon atop the jade steps.

However, he did not possess the system found in Jing Qian's [Sumeru] dimension.

He had no way to completely resolve the leaked evil intentions.

Once these evil thoughts re-coagulate, the great demon will naturally be resurrected on the spot.

Therefore, Xuanyuan only killed it a few times at the level of "Parting Pain" and took some of its evil thoughts to temper his own "Sword Pill" before going any further.

But Jingqian was completely different!

He not only climbed up layer by layer, but also killed all the great demons.

They even specially arranged for avatars to be stationed there, prepared to absorb evil thoughts over a long period of time.

In a sense, this can be considered a permanent solution to the chronic problem of "mental hell".

In terms of his spirituality, he can be said to have gotten what he needed!
It begins with the suffering of separation and the suffering of birth and death.

Jing Qian also personally experienced the suffering of old age, the suffering of not getting what one wants, the suffering of resentment and hatred, and the suffering of being cut off from the Great Way.

These "Six Sufferings of Hell" fully describe all the hardships and pains in the world.

Even a common cultivator would risk the collapse of their Dao heart if they faced any one of them for a short time.

Jing Qian not only personally endured the suffering, but also destroyed and suppressed the six emanations of pain one by one.

Transform it into six floating black reefs within its own [Sumeru Heavenly River], subject to the constant scouring of the vast true waters day and night.

When he cast the last of the great demons transformed from the Great Dao of Suffering into the deepest part of the Milky Way vortex, the entire Hell of the Soul trembled like never before.

That was not a painful groan, but a hum of liberation, a clear echo of shackles being broken.

The deep-seated problems that had accumulated over countless millennia were swept away in one fell swoop, and the black jade staircase itself began to radiate a restrained yet warm luster.

The light shone from the depths of the steps, as if a priceless treasure, covered in dust for millennia, had finally had its surface grime wiped away, revealing its true sacred form.

At the end of the stairs, the source that was originally obscured by heavy evil thoughts and connected to the "sea of ​​all beings' minds" is now clearly revealed—it is a door.

A door formed from the purest light of the heart.

Above the door, flow the most primal prayers, the purest joy, the most fearless courage, and the wisdom and compassion that transcend suffering of countless beings.

Jing Qian stood in front of the door, his brows furrowed, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

He already knew that the five saints—[Heart], [Fate], [Qi], [Immortal], and [Time]—had already transferred their souls to another world.

Perhaps this door in front of us is the passage through which the Five Saints left?

As he pondered, [Spirit] skipped and hopped up the black jade steps and came to Jing Qian's side.

She then spoke:
"You are so awesome!"

Jing Qian did not turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the portal of light, his tone calm and unwavering:
"You're too kind, fellow Daoist. It's just a matter of mutual benefit."

"Different."

【Spiritual】swayed her small feet, which were made of pure heart light, and sat on the edge of the black jade steps.

"People in the past could kill ghosts, but they couldn't tolerate so much evil."

"You can share my evil thoughts, and I can finally stand on this ladder again."

Jing Qian finally tilted his head slightly, looking at this embodiment of pure will that had sustained this place for countless years:

What lies behind this door? Is it the path through which the Five Sages departed?

[Spirit] blinked, not answering directly, but instead asking:
Do you think that the "Hell of the Soul" was left behind by the "Sage of the Heart" merely to imprison evil thoughts?

Before Jing Qian could answer, she continued speaking to herself, her voice ethereal and melodious:
"Evil thoughts are both poison and medicine. This black jade staircase is both a prison and a furnace."

"Before leaving, the [Sage of the Heart] said that if anyone could truly 'digest' everything here, then they would be qualified to know the next step."

"However, your cultivation is too weak. You need at least the [Other Shore] level to be able to withstand the karma of a [Heart Saint]."

"Come back after you've been promoted."

At this point, the [spirit] quietly transformed into a beam of clear light and rushed towards the door in front of it.

The clear light flowed like mercury, instantly filling the entire door of the Heart Light. The scene on the door changed accordingly; the original flowing prayers, joy, courage, and compassion rippled like pebbles thrown into water, eventually coalescing into an image of the [Spiritual Yama].

This image of Yama is not that of a ferocious demon king, but rather one that combines compassion and majesty, with wisdom that sees through the minds of all beings hidden between his brows.

In her hand she holds a precious jewel that is constantly arising and ceasing, reflecting all mental images; it is the symbol of the authority of the "Hell of the Mind".

Immediately afterwards, a beam of magical light shot out from the image of Yama, directly entering Jing Qian's sea of ​​consciousness.

Jing Qian did not refuse, but instead fully embraced the spiritual light.

Inside, it actually contains the fundamental inheritance personally passed down by the [Heart Saint], the "Heart King Book" that points directly to the [Totem] Great Dao!
That spiritual light itself was the seed of inheritance. The moment it entered Jing Qian's sea of ​​consciousness, it was like a drop of water merging into a vast ocean, instantly resonating with his soul.

A vast, star-studded flow of information swept in, unfolding slowly in a way that suited Jing Qian's own comprehension pace.

The mind is not a single thing, but the ocean of all laws. The king is not the ruler, but the foundation of order.

It explains how to transform one's own thoughts into a "mind king," which sits in the sea of ​​consciousness and governs all emotions, thoughts, and even external evil thoughts and desires.

Ultimately, by responding to the "heretical teachings" above and igniting the true fire below, one attains the path of the "totem."

This aligns perfectly with Jing Qian's approach of constructing an inner order through the "Sumeru" dimension to alleviate the six sufferings.

This was Jing Qian's first serious encounter with the cultivation knowledge of the [Totem] hierarchy.

This is the completion and sublimation of the path!
He stood at the end of the black jade steps, his eyes slightly closed, his aura restrained, as if he had transformed into an ancient stone statue.

But within his sea of ​​consciousness, a tremendous transformation was taking place.

After an unknown amount of time, Jing Qian slowly opened his eyes.

In the depths of his eyes, it seemed as if countless lights were rising and falling, as if starlight were flowing, and there was an indescribable tranquility and majesty that seemed to be able to bear all things.

His cultivation level did not increase dramatically as a result, but a fundamental transformation had been completed.

He felt an unprecedented and intimate connection between himself and the "Hell of the Soul" beneath his feet, and the boundless "Sea of ​​Souls of All Beings" below.

At this point, he had completely obtained the inheritance of the [Heart Saint], and this inheritance was so perfect that it far exceeded the two [Totem] inheritances of the [Lord of Xiayang] and [Immortal Seal] on his body.

He became a true successor of the "Sage of the Heart".

He looked again at the crystal door and the serene image of the "Spirit King" on it, his heart now devoid of any doubt or urgency, only filled with quiet gratitude and a clear sense of responsibility.

Jing Qian straightened his robes and bowed solemnly before the door, which was also the "Hell of the Soul."

This gesture is an expression of gratitude to the "Sage of the Heart" for spreading the Way, and to the "Spirit of Nature" for protecting and supporting me. It is also a confirmation and commitment to my future spiritual path.

After the ceremony, he lingered, turned around, and descended the black jade steps.

Jing Qian's path to becoming a "Dimensional Master" has already been decided!
The Great Dao of Space and Time are his most fundamental cultivation systems.

This [Heart Saint] lineage primarily cultivates the [Primal Spirit], [Primal Nature], and [Primal Emotion] Great Daos, which are not entirely consistent with his cultivation system.

However, the stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade.

He descended the black jade steps one by one, his mind immersed in verifying and integrating the "Book of the Heart King" with his own path of cultivation.

That "totem path" that "corresponds to the [heretical] path above and ignites the true fire below" is a high-level and insightful path that allows Jingqian to perfectly experience the future path of cultivation.

It can also reveal subtle flaws along the way and make up for deficiencies within the system.

He did not intend to completely switch to studying the "Book of the Heart King," but rather to extract its essence, integrate its concepts, and use it as an excellent aid and proof of his own fundamental path.

This is far more valuable than acquiring another powerful lineage!
When he finally stepped out of the "Hell of the Soul" and returned to the vast and boundless "Sea of ​​Souls of All Beings," he felt that his Dao heart was clearer and more transparent than ever before, and his grasp of the future path was clearer and more firm than ever before.

Looking back at the dark jade staircase hidden deep within his heart, Jing Qian stopped lingering. His figure transformed into a stream of light, breaking through layers of mental waves, and headed back towards the Great Abyss.

He did not linger in the mortal world, but went straight to the [Sumeru] dimension, found a place where no one would disturb him, and began another deep seclusion.

This trip to the "Sea of ​​Souls" brought him many gains.

He urgently needs a long period of time to carefully read and polish it.

As the saying goes, the path of cultivation involves both tension and relaxation.

Jing Qian's choice to go into seclusion was the most advantageous course of action for him.

Within this secret realm, time stands still. Jing Qian's mind and spirit were completely absorbed into his body, multiplying into several functions, yet ultimately unified under the single thought of "I".

A portion of the mind, like the most skilled craftsman, guides the true waters of the Sumeru River, ceaselessly washing over the six "painful reefs" day and night.

At the same time, his six incarnations were all embedded deep within the "Hell of the Mind," drawing upon his evil thoughts.

By combining the essence of the "Book of the Heart King," the evil thoughts that were originally just forcibly suppressed began to be truly "digested" and "analyzed."

The other part of his mind, like the most diligent student, repeatedly studied and verified the profound meaning of the "Book of the Mind King." He did not seek its form, but its spirit.

The method of "the mind king sitting in charge, governing all thoughts" elevated his control over his inner world to an unprecedented level.

The flow of energy and the arising and ceasing of rules are all within a single thought, making things more harmonious and smooth.

Secluded in seclusion, one loses track of time.

Jing Qian was completely immersed in this wonderful process of rapid improvement and essential transformation.

(End of this chapter)