Infinite Professions

It turns out, it was because he hadn’t awakened!

Indeed, he had mastered the Three Calamities Saber Technique, capable of unleashing the three killing techniques: Scorching Sun, Sea of Calamity, and Shattered Peak.

But such a display was just following the answer, doing the task formulaically!

He hadn’t comprehended the philosophy behind the Three Calamities Saber Technique; thus, the technique executed step-by-step only possessed form, not spirit, so it wasn’t recognized by the heavens, nor subjected to trials.

To give a simple example, if you are given the Tao Te Ching, will reading it once make you Venerable of Dao and Virtue?

Clearly not!

Even if you’ve only read it, even if you’ve written and copied it, even if you can recite its five thousand words backwards and write them into a book, you cannot become Venerable of Dao and Virtue.

Because you’ve only seen its surface, without understanding its essence.

This is why both Daoist and Buddhist Sects love to preach the word "enlightenment"; many truths won’t be blatantly told to you, but rather, conveyed through various metaphors and riddles, even encouraging you to personally experience and truly comprehend them.

This is not them being deliberately obscure or mysterious, but some deeper truths can’t be conveyed solely through words; they can only be realized through personal enlightenment.

What you see isn’t yours, what you hear isn’t yours; only what you understand and comprehend is truly yours.

Right now, Shen Hex merely hears and sees, only able to recite and copy, without grasping or comprehending, let alone transforming it into his own resources.

So his Three Calamities Saber Technique possesses only the form, not the spirit.

Although Shen Hex understood this, he didn’t know how to awaken.

Awakening!

This single word is indeed too mysterious.

Shen Hex was momentarily at a loss on how to awaken; although he knew those truths and had even personally experienced them, combining them with the Three Calamities Saber Technique, and transforming it into his own was incredibly difficult.

With no other option, he could only repeatedly practice in this Free Heaven Realm, planning to utilize the power of this realm to aid in comprehending the principles of the Karmic Fire Three Calamities.

Thus he began...

"Scorching Sun, Sea of Calamity, Shattered Peak!"

"Fire calamity, water calamity, wind calamity!"

"Weapons, plague, famine!"

"Destruction, nirvana, creation!"

"Ah!!!!!!!!!"

Within the Free Heaven Realm, Shen Hex’s Demon Saber danced wildly, enacting the fierce and maddening cycles of Scorching Sun, Fire Sea, Shattered Peak, Weapons, Plague, Famine.

How to awaken, how to awaken?

Unknowing, unknowing!

Madness, chaos!

Without realizing it, losing oneself, yet meeting oneself.

Amid the frenzied dance of his saber, Shen Hex seemed to see all beings.

All beings suffer, all beings are troubled.

The human heart, filled with greed, is an unfillable chasm, pursuing fame and profit, wealth and sensual pleasures, sparking war and chaos, chasing after empire, beauty, under its resplendence, how many skeletons lie?

One general’s success leads to myriad bones withered, empire’s rise and fall brings misery to the populace!

This is the sin of the human heart, the sin of greed!

There is also the sin of selfishness, the sin of indulgence!

Behind the rich, the wine and meat are foul, yet by the road lie frozen bones!

The world offers no idle land, yet farmers starve to death!

Those clad in luxurious silk are not the ones who rear silkworms!

Looking at this world, how vile?

Looking at these people, how sinful?

In the midst of the frenzied dance, Shen Hex suddenly perceived a Buddha.

The Buddha, compassionately, couldn’t bear the suffering of the world, sacrificed himself to deliver the people.

But even after aiding thousands, the suffering persisted, the sins remained.

Why, why?

The Buddha wondered, puzzled by reason.

But observing the people, he suddenly awakened.

He was wrong!

He was utterly mistaken!

Sins arise from the human heart, the human heart itself is sin.

How to save, how to save?

Only by killing!

Killing all people, will there be no sins; massacre all life, then enlightenment could be attained!

This leads to the Buddha’s descent into demonhood, Karmic Fire extinguishing the world!

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Killing intent, murderous thoughts, killing heart, instantaneously pervade all.

Shen Hex had disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes, his Demon Saber was even more frenzied.

Scorching Sun, Sea of Calamity, Shattered Peak!

Fire calamity, water calamity, wind calamity!

Weapons, plague, famine!

He had awakened, he had awakened, he finally comprehended the reason behind the Buddha’s descent into demonhood, the principle of the Karmic Fire Three Calamities.

In such a world, with such people, how can they be saved?

Only through killing!

Kill all beings, deliver all beings!

Extremist, extremist, the Dao enters extremism.

Shen Hex finally understood why he couldn’t succeed in mastering the Karmic Fire Three Calamities Blade.

He was too merciful!

What about The Orthodox Dao and Demon Dao?

All should be killed, all should perish!

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Shen Hex rose with wild laughter, the Demon Saber flared with intensity, about to fully transform into the Three Calamities Blade Demon, fall into the Demon Dao, never to turn back.

This is the Demon Path Technique.

Without reaching extremes, how can one become a demon?

But once extreme and fallen into demonhood, there is no return.

This is the danger of enlightenment.

Although the Seeker possesses the Professional Talent of "Iron Dao Heart," able to resist various Outer Demons and evil spirits confusing the Dao Heart, now this demon does not come from outside, but arises from within.

Demon Dao is also Dao!

This is self-realization, not pollution, not erosion, the power of seeking Dao, helpless.

Do I really have to become a demon?

"Bang!!!"

At the moment of Shen Hex’s extremity, suddenly a resounding clang, the Daoist Sword’s brilliance burst forth.

With a grasp of his left hand, Shen Hex seized the sword, wielding it alongside the chaotic dance of the Demon Saber.

Karma Fire Three Calamities Blade!

Sacrificial Demon Slaying Sword!

This sword’s state, comparable to the saber, has only cultivated the Five-Nine Law Prohibition, not reaching the Six-Nine or Seven-Nine Number.

Karmic Fire Demon Dao, tangible yet lacking spirit, can be understood, as Shen Hex has never truly fallen into the Demon Dao.

But this Sacrificial Demon Slaying Sword does not require falling into the Demon Dao, only to slay demons with a heart that protects the Dao, can he not grasp even this?

It can be grasped!

However, the core of the Sacrificial Demon-slaying Sword Technique is not just to slay demons, but to sacrifice Dao!

How does one sacrifice Dao?

With spirit as sacrifice, with body as sacrifice, with technique as sacrifice, with Dao as sacrifice, everything can be used as material, material for sacrificial sword, material for attaining Dao.

The core of this sacrifice is creation, to sacrifice oneself to create the Dao Sword.

This has become Shen Hex’s obstacle, for his insight into the Creation Dao is shallow, thus this sword realm is difficult to advance; previously being able to slay demons was mostly due to his own cultivation and Professional Power.

But now...

With the Dao Sword in hand, Shen Hex combines with the Demon Saber, refining them together.

Sacrificing spirit, sacrificing body, sacrificing technique.

Triple Crown Blossoms above, Five Qi in the chest, Foundation of the Great Dao, Purple Mansion Primordial Spirit... all can be sacrificed.

One style of Sacrificial Dantian!

One style of Sacrificial Nascent Soul!

One style of Sacrificial Spirit!

Three styles of killing techniques, seemingly one sword, yet each has mysteries.

Unconsciously, the sacrificial Dao technique, principles of creation, have already merged.

After merging, comes penetration!

Penetrate what?

Slay demons!

Sacrificial Demon Slaying, to slay demons through sacrifice of Dao, destruction through creation?

Why slay demons?

For myself, for Dao, for all living beings!

The creator of this Sacrificial Demon Slaying Sword was a true Moral True Immortal, who poured out everything to achieve the slaying of demons, the ultimate supreme sword of "Primordial Spirit Sacrificial Dao Demon-slaying Sword" serves as proof.

Sacrificial Demon Slaying, even in death without regret!

One immortal, one demon, one life, one extinction.

With sword and saber in hand, fierce conflict.

Shen Hex grasped the sword and saber, his face contorted, exhibiting madness on one side, rationality on the other.

Extreme extreme, two-sided extreme, fierce conflict.

If this continues, surely will go mad!

At such an extreme juncture.

Outside the sea of consciousness, within the living world.

Shen Hex sat on a meditation mat, attire shattered, hair wildly flying, on a bare body, Demon Saber’s karmic fire and Dao sword’s spirit light clashing, head-on confrontation, utmost conflict.

As both sides are about to burn jade and stone together...

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, a golden light flashed, indeed it was the Qi Sea Dantian.

Inside the Qi Sea Dantian, a figure sat calmly, it was Shen Hex’s Nascent Soul.

The Nascent Soul operated, forcefully absorbing karmic fire’s spirit light, maneuvering the Demon Saber Dao Sword.

At the same time, in the Free Heaven Realm...

"Throughout the land cries of woe, city stained with blood, all for a single thought to save all beings!"

"Demon is not me, Buddha is not me!"

"I am me, my true heart is me!"

"Saber moves towards creation, destruction through creation!"

"Three Calamities and Four Tribulations, Nirvana and Reincarnation!"

"Sacrificial Demon Slaying, sacrificing life for righteousness!"

"I... have understood!"

In the Taiyuan World, within the Alchemy Room, Shen Hex opened his eyes, uttering a phrase.

"Bang!!!"

At the same time, a clanging sound, Demon Saber Dao Sword broke free from the furnace.

Simultaneously, Shen Hex leaped, holding the Demon Saber Dao Sword, breaking through the Artifact Room’s ceiling, heading straight towards Gao Tian.

Suddenly...

"Boom!"

The sky darkened abruptly, tribulation clouds rolled in, covering Dongting’s fish dragon.