Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

This caused Qingxuan's expression to change once again.

Seeing Qingxuan's constantly changing expression, Xiaoyaozi immediately had the answer in his heart.

He revealed a regretful expression, “Qingxuan, I know that as a member of the royal family of Wei, you are heartbroken at the sight of your homeland’s destruction. This sense of patriotism is only natural, and the Way does not go against human nature. But the Way of Humanity is not about being trapped by momentary grief or personal hatred, but about seeing through gains and losses in the chaos of the world and cultivating a pure and clear heart.”

Because Xu Qing had previously led Qingxuan into a dreamlike state through the Dust Sword, Xiaoyaozi, as an observer, witnessed the evolution of that dream. Therefore, he was very clear about Qingxuan's past and knew his origins.

At this moment, without keeping anyone in suspense, he directly revealed Qingxuan's background.

Hearing Xiaoyaozi's words, Qingxuan was shocked. He hadn't expected that the sect leader knew everything. However, at this moment, it seemed that there was no point in investigating why the sect leader knew everything.

Meeting Xiaoyaozi's gaze, Qingxuan spoke in a deep voice what was on his mind: "Sect Leader, Wei is my homeland, the place where I was born and raised. Now that Wei has been destroyed, how can I turn a blind eye? The Qin army's iron hooves trampled the Wei capital, and countless clansmen died tragically. If I don't even have the heart to seek revenge, how can I face my ancestors in the afterlife?"

Xiaoyaozi sighed, his gaze falling on Qingxuan's reddened eyes as he spoke, and gently shook his head: "Qingxuan, do you know why the Human Sect advocates tempering the heart in the mortal world? It's not to make you cold and heartless, but to make you see clearly the power and the Dao."

"The conflict between the six states and the turmoil of the world are not the fault of any one person or state, but the cycle of the heavens and the inevitable trend of the times. In the past, the state of Jin was divided into three families, and the Tian family replaced the Qi family. These were all changes in the times, which could not be reversed by human power. The fall of the state of Wei is not your fault, nor can it be reversed by one person alone. Your obsession with revenge only traps you in the shackles of the past. In the end, you will only be devoured by hatred and lose your moral compass."

"But...but I'm not reconciled!" Qingxuan suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with struggle. "I am a member of the Wei royal family, and I have a responsibility to avenge my homeland! The Heavenly Sect's ultimate techniques are fierce and domineering. If I can learn them, I will surely be able to assassinate the Qin army's commander and avenge Wei!"

Previously, Xiaoyaozi had subtly pointed out Qingxuan's purpose. Now, facing Xiaoyaozi, Qingxuan made no attempt to hide it: he intended to go to the Heavenly Sect to steal their secret techniques.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoyaozi sighed again, his tone becoming even more peaceful yet carrying an undeniable power: "The Way of the Heavenly Sect is to transcend the world and detach from worldly affairs, emphasizing purity and non-action, but it has lost the clarity of worldly affairs; while the Way of the Human Sect is to engage in worldly cultivation, guarding one's original heart in chaotic times, and comprehending the Great Way in gains and losses."

"You think the Heavenly Sect's ultimate techniques can help you take revenge, but do you know that under the weight of killing, obsession will only grow stronger? Today you avenge Wei by killing the Qin army's commander, but tomorrow the Qin army will return, and even more people will die in the flames of war. Can you kill them all? An endless vengeance and an unfulfilled resentment will only make you a slave to hatred and deviate from the right path."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the mountain stream, as if reminiscing about the past or expounding on the Dao: "The Daoist concept of 'wuwei' does not mean inaction, but rather acting in accordance with the natural order."

"As a member of the royal family of Wei, you have your homeland in your heart, and this sentiment is precious. However, this sentiment should not be turned into a sharp blade of hatred, but rather into the strength to uphold your principles."

As he spoke, Xiaoyaozi's tone shifted again, becoming extremely firm. "Although the Wei Kingdom has perished, the spirit of the Wei people has not. If you can devote yourself to cultivating the Way of the Human Sect, refining your character, and improving your cultivation, you can travel the world in the future and protect those displaced Wei people, allowing them to live in peace. Wouldn't that be more comforting to your ancestors than assassinating one person and causing more bloodshed?"

Qingxuan stood there, stunned, as Xiaoyaozi's words echoed in his ears like a thunderous roar.

He recalled the tragic destruction of his homeland and the despair of his failed revenge in his dream; his expression changed constantly throughout the process.

Seeing Qingxuan struggling, Xiaoyaozi immediately circulated his inner energy and raised his voice, "Qingxuan, why don't you wake up?!"

In saying this, he used some spiritual power, and the Worldly Sword that was originally hanging at his waist was drawn from its sheath.

In an instant, Qingxuan was once again enveloped by the power of the Worldly Sword.

Chapter 325 The World is Boundless, Old Friends from the Past

Qingxuan once again succumbed to his illusions.

The difference is that this time, the dream did not begin from his birth.

It starts right now.

After he conceived the idea of ​​assassinating the Qin general to avenge the Wei state, he gained power, which became his obsession. Therefore, he decided to go to the Heavenly Sect to steal its secret techniques.

The Heavenly Sect's ultimate techniques are incredibly powerful. If one could learn them, they would definitely help him gain immense power in a very short time.

During this journey, the sect leader, Xiaoyaozi, did not appear to obstruct them.

This is actually an anomaly. Logically, Qingxuan should have been able to discover it and realize that he was trapped in an illusion.

But he didn't.

This is also the power of the Worldly Sword. When it pulls a person into a dream, it temporarily alters the person's underlying consciousness, preventing them from perceiving anything amiss. Instead, the person is constantly reincarnated within the dream. It is a pure illusion sword.

He successfully infiltrated the Heavenly Sect and stole their ultimate techniques.

Qingxuan obtained the powerful force he had always dreamed of.

In order not to implicate the Human Sect, he deliberately revealed the matter, pretending that he had just infiltrated the Heavenly Sect's library. Because he had just infiltrated and had not yet learned the Heavenly Sect's secret techniques, even though the matter was exposed, the Heavenly Sect did not strongly demand that his skills be crippled. However, in order to save face, the Human Sect chose to expel him from the sect.

Everything that followed was no different from the illusion that Xu Qing had created for Qingxuan using the Mortal World Sword.

After leaving the Human Clan, he returned to the State of Wei.

Qingxuan chose to assassinate.

The assassination attempt failed once again.

Even if he had mastered the ultimate techniques of the Heavenly Sect, he was still just one person. How difficult would it be to take the head of the commander-in-chief amidst a vast army?

Kiyohiro is dead!

In reality, he suddenly collapsed to the ground.

His eyes remained dazed for a while, but his unfocused pupils finally focused again, and a complex expression appeared on his face.

Xiaoyaozi stood in front of Qingxuan, holding his sword.

"Aren't you going to wake up yet?"

His gaze fell on Qingxuan's face, and he asked Qingxuan again.

"Sect Leader..."

Qingxuan's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Xiaoyaozi didn't lecture Qingxuan anymore, but simply said softly, "Qingxuan, let's talk!"

"Let's not talk about grand principles this time, let's talk about ordinary things..."

Meeting Xiaoyaozi's gaze, Qingxuan ultimately did not resist, but responded softly, "Okay..."

If the initial illusion created by Xu Qing failed to awaken Qing Xuan from his obsession, then this second illusion, this second failure, finally left Qing Xuan bewildered.

Is revenge really wrong?

Is my own obsession just a joke?

As many thoughts flashed through his mind, in the mountains where the Human Sect and the Heavenly Sect met, Qingxuan began to tell Xiaoyaozi about his past.

The past of the State of Wei was recounted in detail.

After these past events were recounted, Xiaoyaozi was about to speak when Qingxuan spoke first: "Sect Leader, perhaps you are right."

"It's time for me to wake up!"

"From this day forward, there will be no more Wei Wushang in this world, only Renzong Qingxuan!"

……

Regardless of whether Qingxuan has truly let go of his obsession.

After that, Qingxuan did indeed give up the idea of ​​going to the Heavenly Sect to steal their secret techniques.

In order to prove his ideas to Xiaoyaozi, he even took the initiative to apply for seclusion, which meant he did not hesitate to confine himself to the Human Sect and never step out of the sect again.

This move brought Xiaoyaozi both satisfaction and mixed feelings.

However, he didn't feel much more at ease.

Among the Renzong sect, Qingxuan is not the only one with problems. With the fall of the Wei state, many Renzong disciples who came from the Wei state have developed some psychological issues. He did not notice these issues when the Han and Zhao states were destroyed, and could only let things happen as they were. Now that he has noticed them, he naturally cannot sit idly by.

So, Xiaoyaozi quickly got busy.

He constantly comforted the disciples of the Human Sect, and even took the initiative to use the Mortal Sword to help them resolve their inner obsessions.

Seeing this behavior, Mu Xuzi immediately felt contempt for Xiaoyaozi.

"You obtained the divine sword, yet you waste it on such a thing. Xiaoyaozi, you are truly unworthy to be the leader of the Human Sect!"

In his view, since Xiaoyaozi has obtained the divine sword forged by Xu Qing, he should spend all his time improving his strength. After all, there is still a Miaotai Sword Viewing Competition waiting for the Human Sect between the Heavenly Sect and the Human Sect.

The Human Sect has already lost three consecutive battles for the Snowfall Festival; they cannot afford to lose the fourth.

In this matter, Mu Xuzi did not believe that becoming the leader of the Human Sect would guarantee his victory in the battle for Xueji.

He is aware of his own strength; he is indeed slightly inferior to Xiaoyaozi at present.

Immediately afterwards, Mu Xuzi felt a pang of jealousy towards Xiaoyaozi.

He had previously obtained a sword from Xu Qing and thought he had gotten a great deal, but after seeing Xiaoyaozi's Worldly Sword, he realized that he had still lost out.

He was the one who found Xu Qing first, but Xu Qing showed favoritism, giving Xiaoyaozi a better sword while his own sword was inferior.

This made Mu Xuzi somewhat indignant.

……

Within the Heavenly Sect.

Bei Mingzi sat cross-legged in the mountains and forests. He never left his house, but with his profound state of being one with the heaven and man, and his fusion with the Taoist mountain-protecting formation, nothing that happened in the entire Taiyi Mountain could escape his notice.

He had also witnessed Xiaoyaozi's intervention in the affairs of the Renzong disciples.

"The Human Sect is truly different now!"

He certainly understood where the changes in the Human Sect came from; it was all related to the mortal sword that Xu Qing had forged.

Immediately afterwards, Bei Mingzi also turned his gaze back to the sword that Xu Qing had forged for the Tianzong Sect.

The Human Sect believes that the Dao resides in the mortal world, so Xu Qing forged the "Mortal World" sword based on this principle. The Heavenly Sect, on the other hand, pursues the ethereal and elusive Heavenly Dao, hence the sword forged by Xu Qing is named "Boundless"!

Life is finite, but knowledge is infinite.

Although this is the saying of Zhuangzi, the founder of the Human Sect, the Heavenly Sect also agrees with it.

"Boundless" refers to something limitless; human life is finite, but knowledge is infinite.

This sword is named after this, and its purpose is to help people observe a wider and more subtle world.

When forging swords for Taoists, Xu Qing considered the situation of Taoists. There are many Taoist masters who possess all sorts of mysterious and unpredictable Taoist arts, so the swords he forged did not necessarily have to be powerful.

If the only requirement is power, many third-tier swords can meet this requirement, so there is no reason to forge a fourth-tier sword.

Compared to power, what Taoism needs more is a sword that helps people understand the Tao.

The Mortal Sword, when used properly, allows members of the Human Sect to experience the myriad aspects of the mortal world without leaving their homes.

The "Boundless Sword" of the Heavenly Sect, once activated, can help Taoists to observe the myriad stars above and assist them in peering into the microscopic world below. It can be understood as a combination of an astronomical telescope and a microscope.

As for how such an ability can be integrated into the sword?

In this world, science doesn't work; after all, it's a world of metaphysics.

Leaving aside the Mohist school's advanced technology, in the original work, the Gongshu family and the Yin-Yang school even joined forces to create something called the Yin-Yang Vision, which could achieve intelligent monitoring with just a basin of water.

The microscopic world that Xu Qing forged this time can see is not only the tiny dust particles, but also the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

This is also why Bei Mingzi sat in the mountains, constantly studying this sword. Even though his realm was high, there were some things that even he could not detect. However, the Boundless Sword could help him see a more vast world.