Compared to the brilliant Milky Way, humans are truly insignificant. An individual among Earth’s creatures is merely one in billions, and Earth, compared to the stars of the cosmos, is similarly as small as a speck of dust.

The existence of an individual, or even the life and death of a planet, holds no real significance to the entire cosmos; it’s merely the continuous transformation of matter.

“Wang Xuan, what do you seek in this lifetime?” He Fang asked him, his gaze seemingly nurturing a brilliant Star Sea, profound and infinite.

This question seems simple, yet upon careful thought, it becomes difficult to answer. People’s aspirations are always different and change with age, experience, and differing living environments.

Wang Xuan pondered briefly and realized his master was not asking about a specific ideal, but about his Dao!

Everyone has their own Dao. Some are aware of it, while others never contemplate it in their lifetime. Cultivators have it, ordinary people have it; any wise creature has its own path and pursuit.

A person’s Dao clearly explains the meaning of their life and reveals their self-perception.

“Master, I’ve pondered for many years and questioned myself countless times, yet I’ve never found an answer.

I’ve been drifting through the world for half my life, seeking material things, mostly driven forward by destiny.

Many things are desired, but upon obtaining them, one returns to tranquility, not feeling their importance. The past is like smoke, the future like the sea, destiny’s matters are uncertain.

Most external possessions are mere things that can be discarded at will; their true value depends on the spirit.

When I love, even a stone is a treasure, carrying emotions. When I don’t love, even a jade wall is discarded like a worn shoe.

But the spirit changes too quickly, varying with time and environment, seemingly formless, making it hard to grasp.

As the world changes, ultimately one seeks a quiet mind and a place of solace.”

External changes, every movement of a person, reflects upon the spirit, which is why mental studies and idealism have existed in every era.

All objective existences in the world become subjective impressions, processed through senses, thoughts, and emotions.

Close your eyes, lose perception, and everything in the cosmos exists only in the spirit, as illusions that rise and fall.

“Things have form, but the mind is unfixed. Then how can your mind be tranquil? Stabilize where?” He Fang saw nothing problematic in Wang Xuan’s words, unlike the absurdities spoken by the insane.

The existence, all right and wrong in the world, does not matter. What matters is someone’s answer and what they believe.

The positions of king and minister are fiercely contested by the world, yet those with great virtue and Dao disdain them. A plastic ring falls into a stinking gutter, unnoticed by passersby, but someone will risk everything to retrieve it.

Some love salty flavors, some favor sweet, some can’t live without spiciness, while others prefer plain food.

However the world is, it exists solely in the mind.

“Not daring to conclude, I’m still searching. If I must give an answer, it would be: act with a clear conscience and find joy in self.” Wang Xuan laughs, feeling all he’s said before was nonsense, saying it was quite meaningless.

“You say there’s no answer, yet saying: act with a clear conscience and find joy in self—that’s your Dao! That’s where the Dao resides. In fact, your heart has given the answer long ago.”

Wang Xuan feels embarrassed: “Such an answer is too broad.”

“Since this is the case, settle your heart at Immortal Martial Mountain. Consider it your home,” He Fang said.

Wang Xuan puzzled: “Master, cultivators cultivate Dao, but what Dao do they cultivate? I can’t even be sure of my own Dao. It’s such a failure, and the cultivation path seems bleak.”

He Fang couldn’t help but laugh: “What do you think cultivating Dao is? The Dao of life is one aspect, the Dao of cultivation is another.

Some pursue Body Refining, some choose to become Daoists or Monks, while others wish to be Sword Immortals. Some can freeze rivers with a sword, others boil seas with a punch. These are energy attributes, directed by cultivation techniques.

The Path of the Mind, however, is an attitude, becoming norms for one’s actions.

The two Daos are certainly different; sometimes they interfere, sometimes they harmonize, like a hot-tempered person aligning with the Flame path. If asked to cultivate Water Attribute Magic, it surely won’t work.

To reach higher levels, it’s best the two Daos align, achieving twice the result with half the effort, attaining clarity of mind.”

Some monks find it difficult to purify their six senses or perform acts of compassion. Forcing them into such a path when their spiritual path is different leads to a lack of clear thought.

“I understand, Master.”

“In the future, follow your aspirations. I won’t stop you. After all, Dao is chosen by oneself, and it’s walked step by step.

If you regret later, scolding won’t help.

What I can do is give you the key to seeking Dao, to illuminate your path based on my experiences, so you don’t have to walk in darkness.”

He the Sixth does not enjoy interfering in his disciples’ decisions. He prefers to be a support, a guiding light, watching those children find their life’s direction.

“Thus, I shall impart to you our school’s core technique, the 『Mixed Element Martial Scripture』. Both I and your grand-master have our own techniques created.

But compared to this ancestral scripture, the difference is vast, so I won’t embarrass myself by showing them.

Furthermore, the Primordial Path within the 『Mixed Element Martial Scripture』 encompasses too much. Each person can find their own answers within, rather than being fixed like the attributes of ice and fire.

Whatever you cultivate becomes your own; even the same technique results in different outcomes for different individuals.

Finding the most suitable direction for oneself is your choice to make.”

He Fang placed a hand over Wang Xuan’s crown, chanting the scripture, sealing the 『Mixed Element Martial Scripture』 in his mind, with thousands of words entwining his soul.

“If you have any questions, silently ask in your heart. I’ve sealed a memory concerning the scripture’s cultivation experience in your Purple Mansion, allowing most doubts to be clarified.

Go now.”

He Fang waved, and Wang Xuan took leave, heading towards his Black and White Mountain.

Under the moonlit glow and starlight, thousands of words flowed through his mind, forming profound sentences as Wang Xuan memorized and contemplated them.

He walked and stopped intermittently, sometimes furrowing his brow. The difficulty of cultivating the 『Mixed Element Martial Scripture』 exceeded his imagination, with the intricate text frustratingly requiring deep thought.

If not for the master’s experience, achieving thorough comprehension of the martial scripture would take an unknown amount of time.

When his thoughts were clear, he would walk quickly; encountering doubts, he would halt for minutes without moving a step, resulting in several miles taking him half the night.

At dawn, as the eastern sun began rising, he continued to periodically furrow his brow and scratch his head, sitting on a large rock beneath Black and White Mountain, deep in thought.

After three consecutive days of thorough meditation on the 『Mixed Element Martial Scripture』, clarity returned to his mind, his eyes bright and spirited.

“So that’s it! This scripture holds profound mysteries. Truly, what kind of talent and wisdom does the Martial Immortal have to create such a technique!”

Wang Xuan climbed step by step up Black and White Mountain with refreshed and joyous spirits.

(The author suffered a relapse of depression, filled with sadness akin to Lin Daiyu, thoroughly discouraged—it’s truly a tragedy.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep