Chapter 33: The Crack in the Dao Heart

“The origins are roughly as such. It’s just a pity that no one can decipher these ancient cloud-characters anymore. I wonder how the Shenzong Sect of old managed to interpret these scriptures. Could it be that Zhang Liusun, the patriarch of the Xuan Sect, misinterpreted them, leading to his eventual tragic fate? Also, these Daoist scriptures originally came in two chests. The other chest’s whereabouts are unknown. Perhaps it contains the key to deciphering these texts?” Bi Zhen said wistfully.

At this moment, Mei Qing was already lost in thought. Hearing Bi Zhen’s words and recalling the records he had seen earlier in the Bureau of Records, he instantly realized the other chest was most likely the one in Lao Liu’s room—the very one he had carelessly burned at Lao Liu’s funeral.

No wonder the Jinyiwei rushed to his house to arrest him. If it weren’t for Master Six intervening for some unknown reason, he probably wouldn’t even have a speck of ashes left by now.

Now, reflecting on those events, whether it was regret or fear, it was already too late. Suddenly confronted with these revelations about the cultivation world, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel bewildered and at a loss.

“Bi Zhen, what you’ve said about attaining Dao and ascending to immortality—could all of that actually be true? Does it mean that if you and I cultivate to a certain level, we could ascend as well? But where exactly would we ascend to?” Mei Qing asked, somewhat dazed.

“Of course,” Bi Zhen replied, surprised at his question. “Cultivation is precisely for the purpose of ascending. If we couldn’t ascend, why would we cultivate at all? As for where one ascends, no one really knows. Ancient legends say that when a cultivator ascends, they transcend the realm of earthly immortals and enter the realm of celestial immortals. The place they ascend to is known as the Immortal Realm. However, once one enters the Immortal Realm, there is no return to the mundane world. Therefore, no one really knows what lies beyond.”

Although Mei Qing had accepted the reality of being a cultivator, in his mind, cultivation and alchemy were still akin to a kind of “qigong” exercise—essentially just ways to strengthen the body and mind. Even if it involved visualization techniques, he had always considered them as forms of mental hypnosis. Thus, hearing Bi Zhen speak of these ancient cultivation stories was naturally difficult for him to believe.

“…So does that mean gods, spirits, and monsters are all real? Please don’t look at me like that. I’m not saying I don’t believe you—it’s just hard to accept…” Mei Qing muttered, clearly confused.

“Mei Qing, look at me,” Bi Zhen suddenly realized his state was abnormal. She fixed her gaze directly on him and calmly said.

Mei Qing mechanically raised his head to meet Bi Zhen’s piercing gaze. She continued solemnly, “Though the Dao resides within the heart, how can one attain supernatural abilities without external manifestations? Mei Qing, as cultivators seeking the Dao, how can our conviction waver? Without faith in the Dao, how can we cultivate, and how can we attain enlightenment?”

Bi Zhen and Mei Qing shared a subtle connection, allowing her to sense his emotional fluctuations. At that moment, she deeply felt his doubts about cultivation, which alarmed her greatly—how could a cultivator possibly doubt the Dao itself? Could it be that Mei Qing had been possessed by an external demon?

Her suspicion wasn’t unfounded. In this world, there was likely no other cultivator who had successfully established their foundation and was nearly at the golden core stage who would harbor such doubts about the Dao. Thus, in Bi Zhen’s mind, such a phenomenon could only occur if one had lost their Dao-heart due to possession by an external demon.

“This is roughly the origin of it. It’s a pity that no one can decipher these ancient cloud scripts. I wonder how the Shenxiao Sect managed to interpret these secret texts back then, and whether Zhang Liusun, the patriarch of the Xuanjiao Sect, also met his unfortunate end due to inaccurate interpretations. Moreover, these Taoist scriptures were originally in two boxes, and the whereabouts of the other box are unknown. Perhaps it holds the key to deciphering these secrets,” Bi Zhen said thoughtfully.

Mei Qing, however, was already in a state of confusion. After hearing Bi Zhen’s words and recalling the documents he had seen earlier in the Experience Department, he couldn’t help but realize that the other box was most likely the one in Scar Liu’s room, which he had inadvertently burned in front of Scar Liu’s coffin.

No wonder the Imperial Guards had rushed to his house to arrest him. If it hadn’t been for Sixth Master’s inexplicable intervention, he might have been reduced to ashes by now.

Reflecting on the past events, whether it was regret or fear, it was already too late. Suddenly hearing so many secrets about the cultivation world, Mei Qing couldn’t help but feel lost and bewildered.

“Bi Zhen, are these tales of ascension and enlightenment really true? If we cultivate to a certain level, can we also ascend—but where would we ascend to?” Mei Qing asked in a daze.

“Of course,” Bi Zhen replied, somewhat puzzled. “The purpose of cultivation is to ascend. Why else would you cultivate? As for where we ascend to, no one knows. According to ancient legends, if a cultivator achieves ascension, they transcend the realm of earthly immortals and enter the realm of celestial immortals, ascending to what is called the Immortal Realm. But once you enter the Immortal Realm, there’s no returning to the mortal world. So, no one knows for sure.”

Although Mei Qing had accepted the reality of becoming a cultivator, in his mind, cultivation and alchemy were still akin to a form of exercise called “qigong,” essentially a way to strengthen the body. Even the methods of cultivation he had learned, he considered as a form of mental hypnosis. Hearing Bi Zhen talk about these ancient tales of the cultivation world, he naturally found it hard to believe.

“…Are gods, spirits, and demons really real… Don’t look at me like that, it’s not that I don’t believe, it’s just that… it’s hard to believe…” Mei Qing said, his thoughts in disarray.

“Mei Qing, look at me,” Bi Zhen said suddenly, realizing that Mei Qing’s state of mind was not right. She fixed her gaze on him and spoke calmly.

Mei Qing mechanically raised his head and looked into Bi Zhen’s eyes, which seemed to see through everything. Bi Zhen spoke earnestly, “Though the Dao resides in the heart, the transformations of divine powers are not without external manifestations. Mei Qing, as cultivators, how can our faith in the Dao waver? If we lack even this confidence, how can we cultivate? How can we achieve enlightenment?”

Bi Zhen and Mei Qing shared a subtle connection, and she could sense the turmoil in Mei Qing’s heart. At this moment, she deeply felt Mei Qing’s doubt towards all Daoist methods, which shocked her—how could a cultivator doubt the Dao? Could it be that Mei Qing had been possessed by an external demon?

It was no wonder Bi Zhen thought this way. In this world, aside from Mei Qing, there was likely no other cultivator who had successfully laid the foundation and was on the verge of forming the Golden Core, yet harbored doubts about the Dao itself. In Bi Zhen’s mind, the only explanation was that Mei Qing had been taken over by an external demon, losing his faith in the Dao.

The so-called possession by an external demon usually involved malevolent cultivators who, after losing their original bodies, used sinister methods to seize others’ bodies and imprison their souls. For a cultivator, this was a fate worse than death, more terrifying than the destruction of both body and soul.

In her urgency, Bi Zhen didn’t hesitate. She quickly composed herself, formed a Daoist hand seal, and bowed towards the southwest, chanting, “Supreme Pure God, Six Jia and Six Ding, reveal yourself at this moment. Swiftly!”

As Bi Zhen’s incantation ended, the air around them seemed to distort, waves of energy twisting and turning, and the sound of thunder echoed faintly in the air. Golden light flashed, and a massive figure gradually materialized from the void, taking on a solid form.

A towering deity, over twenty feet tall, appeared before them. Clad in a golden battle robe with white floral patterns and a green armor, his face was golden, and his three giant eyes shone with electric light. He bellowed, “I am the True Lord of Balance and Strategy, summoned by your spell. What is your request?”

Bi Zhen, with a solemn expression, raised her hand in salute and said, “My fellow cultivator has been possessed by an external demon. I beseech you, Great Deity, to protect him!”

“An external demon?” With a low roar that reverberated like thunder, golden liquid-like energy visibly spread out in waves, filling the entire space. The golden light from his three eyes shone like the sun, illuminating Mei Qing and Bi Zhen as if they were coated in gold.

“How strange, there is no external demon here. However, your fellow cultivator does have a crack in his spirit, making it unstable,” the deity said after a moment of searching. Suddenly, the waves of energy transformed into tendrils, wrapping around Mei Qing like a giant cocoon of light. After a brief examination, the deity exclaimed in surprise.

Mei Qing, in his state of confusion, suddenly saw Bi Zhen’s expression change drastically. She stood up and chanted some strange words, and then everything that unfolded before him far exceeded his usual understanding of reality.

A massive deity radiating golden light had appeared out of thin air. No matter how he tried to calm his mind and focus his energy, the reality before him was undeniable—this was neither a dream nor an illusion.

Though Mei Qing wouldn’t claim to be highly skilled in Daoist methods, he had reached a level of mental fortitude that he himself did not doubt. If someone had told him that his mind could be disturbed to the point of hallucination, he wouldn’t have believed it. Therefore, the only explanation for what he was witnessing was that it was all real.

It was all real. For the first time, Mei Qing truly accepted the existence of Daoist methods from the depths of his heart. Although he had been progressing rapidly in his cultivation and his power had been growing, it was all built on a fragile foundation—his lack of fundamental faith in the Dao. If this foundation were to be shaken even slightly, the entire structure of his cultivation could collapse, plunging him into an abyss from which there was no return.

Today, hearing Bi Zhen’s tales of the cultivation world had triggered this inner demon, pushing him to the brink of losing control. The energy that had been gradually solidifying within him suddenly scattered like wild horses, and his inner world showed signs of imminent collapse. This was an extremely dangerous situation, and without intervention, he would surely suffer a mental breakdown and lose his cultivation.

Fortunately, Bi Zhen noticed the anomaly in time and, without hesitation, summoned the Dingjia deity using a precious artifact. Although she had mistaken Mei Qing’s condition for demonic possession, her actions inadvertently stabilized him.

The appearance of the deity, though shocking to Mei Qing, solidified his faith in the Dao. With his mind now somewhat stabilized, the scattered energy within him began to flow naturally, and his inner world, which had been on the verge of collapse, regained balance. The sun rose, the moon set, and the elements of water and fire harmonized, leaving only minor damages that were no longer a significant threat.

However, the deity saw things differently. Although Mei Qing had calmed his mind and was no longer at risk of losing his cultivation, the deity, with his far superior spiritual perception, sensed a crack between Mei Qing’s spirit and his core essence, unlike the seamless unity found in ordinary people.

The deity summoned by the Six Ding and Six Jia method was not the true form of the god but a manifestation. The strength of the summoned deity depended on the cultivator’s level of cultivation. Bi Zhen’s summoning method was not her own but relied on a magical artifact gifted by a master. Therefore, the deity she summoned was exceptionally powerful, matching the master’s cultivation level. Without this, the deity might not have detected the peculiarity within Mei Qing.

To the deity, the crack in Mei Qing’s spirit seemed to be the result of a demonic attack, which had injured his spirit without completely severing it, leaving this fissure. He didn’t consider other possibilities.

The deity took a step forward, his presence as steady as a mountain and as deep as an abyss. He formed a hand seal, and the golden light from his three eyes focused on the space between Mei Qing’s eyebrows. With a concentrated burst of energy, he shouted, “Three souls and seven spirits, return to the origin, stabilize!” As his voice fell, he extended his left index finger and pointed directly at Mei Qing’s forehead.

Mei Qing, enveloped in the deity’s energy, felt constrained and unable to move. As the deity’s massive golden finger approached his forehead, he tried to evade but found his body completely rigid. He could only watch as the finger touched the space between his eyebrows. Instantly, a powerful spiritual force penetrated his mind, causing a sensation of pressure and numbness. The red mole between his eyebrows throbbed incessantly.

Just as he was about to react, a sharp pain shot through his head, as if it were being split by an axe. With a cracking sound, something seemed to shatter, and his mind suddenly calmed. His previously unsettled spirit became tranquil, and a sense of peace far beyond anything he had experienced before washed over him. His senses quieted, and his spirit, while deeply focused, also felt an indescribable ease.

“Hmm, not bad. With diligent cultivation, you should recover fully. My task here is done, I shall take my leave!” The deity chuckled, clapped his hands, and the surrounding energy surged like a whirlwind. The golden light condensed into a thin line, and with a flash of lightning, the massive figure disappeared into the line of light. The room returned to its original state, but the expressions on Mei Qing and Bi Zhen’s faces were no longer as calm as before.

Without hesitation, Bi Zhen quickly composed herself, forming a Daoist mudra with her hands, and faced southwest in solemn reverence: “Supreme Lord of the Upper Clarity, Six Jia and Six Ding Deities, reveal your presence now! Swiftly!”

As Bi Zhen chanted the incantation, the air around them suddenly twisted, rippling like waves of true energy. Thunderous sounds echoed through the air, and golden light flickered. A massive figure gradually emerged from the void, solidifying into a tangible form.

A colossal deity, over two zhang tall, descended from the sky, standing proudly before them. Clad in a golden battle robe with white floral patterns and green armor, his face was golden, and his three eyes radiated lightning-like brilliance. He roared, “I am Quan Heng Jie Lue Zhenjun, the divine general of the Jia Shen year. Why have you summoned me?”

Bi Zhen remained solemn and respectfully clasped her hands: “My companion has been afflicted by an external demon, and I humbly request your protection!”

“An external demon?” The deity’s deep, furious growl reverberated like thunder. Golden waves of true energy visibly surged outward in layers, filling the entire space. The golden light from his three eyes radiated like the sun, casting a golden glow over Mei Qing and Bi Zhen.

“Hmm, strange. There’s no sign of any external demon. However, I do sense a slight fracture in your companion’s mind—it’s not very stable,” the deity said after a brief search. Suddenly, the golden waves transformed into tendril-like threads, wrapping Mei Qing in a cocoon of golden light. After a moment of inspection, the deity, Jia Shen, expressed surprise.

Mei Qing, already in a state of confusion, suddenly saw Bi Zhen’s expression change drastically. Then she began chanting strange words, and before his eyes, something completely beyond his previous understanding unfolded.

A massive divine figure, radiating golden halos, appeared out of thin air. No matter how he tried to focus his true energy and calm his mind, he couldn’t deny that what he was witnessing was real—not a dream or hallucination.

Although Mei Qing couldn’t yet fully grasp the profundity of Daoist cultivation, his mental discipline had reached a formidable level. If anyone could manipulate his mind to create illusions, he wouldn’t have believed it himself. Therefore, there was only one explanation for what he was seeing—this was real.

For the first time, Mei Qing truly accepted the existence of Daoist cultivation from the depths of his heart. Although he had progressed rapidly in cultivation and his power had grown steadily, his understanding was built on a fragile foundation—he lacked true faith in the Dao itself. If that foundation were ever shaken, even slightly, his entire cultivation could collapse catastrophically.

Hearing Bi Zhen’s account of the cultivation world had awakened his inner doubts, pushing him to the brink of losing control. The true energy in his body, which had been gradually stabilizing, suddenly scattered like wild horses. His inner world of true energy was on the verge of collapse. This was an extremely dangerous situation—if no one intervened, he would likely descend into madness and lose his cultivation forever.

Fortunately, Bi Zhen noticed the anomaly in time and, without hesitation, used a precious artifact to summon a divine general of the Six Jia and Six Ding. Although she mistakenly believed it was a case of demonic possession, her actions inadvertently stabilized Mei Qing’s condition.

Although the sudden appearance of Jia Shen shocked Mei Qing, it ultimately solidified his Dao-heart. With his mind calmed, his scattered true energy began to flow naturally, restoring balance to his inner world. The miniature cosmos within his body, which had been on the verge of collapse, regained stability—sun rising, moon setting, water and fire harmonizing. Though still slightly damaged, it was no longer in danger.

However, Jia Shen perceived something unusual. Although Mei Qing had regained his composure and was no longer at risk of losing his mind or cultivation, the deity sensed a subtle rift between Mei Qing’s consciousness and his fundamental nature. Unlike ordinary cultivators, whose minds and essence were seamlessly integrated, Mei Qing’s appeared to have a faint fracture.

The divine being summoned through the Six Jia and Six Ding method was not the deity’s true form but a manifestation. The strength of the summoned deity depended on the cultivator’s power. Bi Zhen’s summoning technique was not something she had cultivated herself but was instead activated through a magical artifact gifted by a powerful cultivator. Therefore, the Jia Shen deity she summoned was exceptionally powerful, matching the strength of its benefactor. Without such power, the deity might not have detected Mei Qing’s unusual condition.

From Jia Shen’s perspective, the fracture in Mei Qing’s mind was likely the result of demonic interference. Although the demon hadn’t fully separated his consciousness, it had left a wound. The deity didn’t consider other possibilities.

Jia Shen stepped forward, his presence as immovable as a mountain and as deep as an abyss. Forming a mudra with his hands, he focused his golden-eyed gaze on Mei Qing’s forehead and, gathering his divine energy, shouted, “Three souls and seven spirits, return to your original source—Stabilize!” As he spoke, his hands moved in a circular motion. Suddenly, his left index finger extended and pointed directly at Mei Qing’s forehead.

Mei Qing, already enveloped in Jia Shen’s divine energy, felt a tightening sensation throughout his body. As he saw the massive golden finger approaching his forehead, he tried to move but found himself completely paralyzed. Helplessly, he watched the finger strike between his eyebrows. A surge of divine power pierced his mind like an overwhelming force, causing a throbbing sensation. His red mole between his brows pulsed violently.

Just as he was about to panic, a sharp pain shot through his head, as if it were being split by an axe. As a cracking sound echoed in his mind, the pain abruptly ceased. His previously unstable consciousness stabilized, and a profound sense of peace emerged. His senses quieted, and his mind, though deeply focused, felt unexpectedly refreshed.

“Hmph, not bad. With continued cultivation, you’ll recover completely. My task is done—I shall depart now!” With a chuckle, Jia Shen clapped his hands together. The divine energy around the room surged like a whirlwind, condensing into a single golden line. Lightning flashed, and the massive divine figure vanished into the golden streak. The room returned to its original state, with only Mei Qing and Bi Zhen remaining—but their expressions were far from calm as they had been at the beginning.