Chapter 158 - 155: Chao Wendao, Content to Die by Evening
Meanwhile, Enlightenment Dao had stayed at Shushan, meditating on the true meaning of the Sword Dao of Patriarch Song Lun of the Shushan Sword Sect. Time passed unconsciously.
One day, he abruptly opened his eyes. The Seven Stars Sword on his back unsheathed instantly, its brilliance soaring into the sky. Gripping the sword, he performed a dance with it amidst Sword Cliff.
"Sword Leading Immortal Flight!" He thrust out violently with his sword, as if a Heavenly Immortal was descending to the mortal realm. This thrust was incredibly dazzling, almost bringing the Sword Dao to its ultimate perfection.
This sword technique was Song Lun’s ultimate move, named Sword Leading Immortal Flight. Once executed, it was like an Immortal flying beyond the heavens, elusive as an antelope hanging by its horns and incredibly fast! It’s often said in the mundane world, "In all martial arts, nothing is unbreakable except speed!" This saying also applies to the Sword Dao, where speed breaks all techniques.
Enlightenment Dao returned the sword into its sheath, bowed towards the character ’Sword’ on the cliff, and said, "This humble Daoist is forever grateful to the elder Song Lun for leaving behind this character, allowing me to comprehend his divine Sword Dao powers. I am deeply thankful, and having formed a bond with Shushan, should there be any trouble here in the future, this Daoist will surely not hesitate to help."
Enlightenment Dao could even comprehend the character ’Sword’ in the Xia Dynasty Dragon Seal, let alone the character left by Song Lun. However, the spirit and will left by Song Lun were immensely powerful. Enlightenment Dao first needed to connect with his spirit, gain its approval, and only then could he receive the inheritance contained within this character. This inheritance was not some specific Magical Treasure but the essence of the Sword Dao as understood by Song Lun, only accessible to those approved by him. Although Shushan had many talented individuals, few could truly grasp its essence.
Enlightenment Dao turned his head and saw Venerable Ape still staring absentmindedly at the character he had written. Clearly, he had not yet comprehended it. Comprehending the Xia Dynasty Dragon Seal was not so easy; it required great opportunities and great fortitude, not achievable by just anyone.
Suddenly, Enlightenment Dao saw specks of light starting to appear on Venerable Ape’s body, gradually drifting toward the sky and scattering.
Enlightenment Dao reached out to catch one, feeling as if his fingers were about to disappear. He hurriedly tossed it away and exclaimed, "Oh no, this old monkey is about to ascend through Dao transformation."
Ascension through Dao means that one’s entire being merges into the Heavenly Dao, both the Primordial Spirit and the physical body dissolve, often described as being one with Dao. In simpler terms, it means complete annihilation of form and spirit, making reincarnation impossible.
The only times one encounters Dao transformation are during a deviation into madness, when one delves too deeply, aligning their entire Primordial Spirit with Dao principles until they can no longer emerge, or when an adversary uses great divine power to assimilate an enemy with Dao, using its power to annihilate them. This divine skill is terrifying and not something average individuals can learn; if not qualified, they might end up being assimilated themselves.