Start from a baby to become a Taoist

Chapter 423 The golden ocean instantly boiled!

A strange, indescribable feeling stirred within Xu Ran's heart.

This turmoil is neither sympathy nor pity, but a more complex kind of confusion and reflection on a certain path.

He had witnessed the trial of that nameless swordsman, in the Land of Desolation, where, with a mortal body, he toiled day after day, year after year, sacrificing his sweat and life.

Although he ultimately did not reach the true threshold of immortality, he honed an extremely pure sword intent, a kind of persistence in facing death and living, a mortal's questioning of the heavenly way.

The butcher before us had an even more wretched beginning than the nameless swordsman.

Forty years old, an age long past the golden age of cultivation, one could even say that one is no longer even considered a scrap.

His body had long been shaped by the grease, blood, and repetitive movements of his slaughtering career, becoming stiff and devoid of spirit.

The sword in his hand was not for killing, nor even for protection; it was merely for dismantling inanimate objects.

The mocking voices all around were as intense and grating as the lingering stench of blood in a slaughterhouse.

Those butchers, their knives were fast, accurate, and ruthless, far more efficient than this strange man with a sword.

Their laughter was filled with a compromise with reality and a disdain for dreams.

"Old Zhang, why are you doing this? These hands of ours are meant to wield the butcher's knife, not some magical contraption!"

"Exactly! Look at you, you're almost half as slow as us! When the foreman comes, he'll dock your pay again!"

"Sword? Hahaha, by the time you've made a name for yourself, it'll be too late! Not only will your wife run off with someone else, but even your son will be disgusted with you!"

However, the dark-skinned middle-aged man, the butcher known as "Old Zhang," seemed to be in another world.

In his world, there was no mockery, no urging, not even the cries of those vibrant lives, only the already cold flesh before him and the clumsy, even somewhat rusty, iron sword in his hand.

"Pfft!"

Another sword stabbed out.

This sword strike was as simple and unadorned as ever, without any mysterious trajectory or fluctuation of spiritual energy. It relied solely on muscle memory and repeated experience to precisely pierce the heart of the wild boar carcass—even though the heart had long since stopped beating.

That strange sense of satisfaction reappeared on his face, as if he had accomplished something earth-shattering.

A faint glimmer of light flashed in those cloudy eyes, only to be quickly obscured by deep weariness and the weight of life.

Xu Ran watched silently.

His soul, like a ghost floating on the river of time, observes this frozen moment of life.

He could feel the soreness in Old Zhang's arm muscles every time he swung his sword, he could feel the unique stench of the slaughterhouse in every breath he took, and he could feel the faint but never-extinguished flame deep in Old Zhang's heart.

what is that?
Is it a sense of resentment?
Or is it just wishful thinking?
Xu Ran cannot be defined.

Day after day, month after month, year after year.

Faces came and went in the slaughterhouse; young butchers became seasoned, and seasoned butchers grew old.

The laughter gradually thinned out, turning into indifference, occasionally interspersed with a few sighs of pity.

Old Zhang's back became even more hunched.

The white hair at his temples spread across his entire head, like the frost of late autumn.

His movements became slower due to his old age.

But his hand holding the sword was unusually steady; the rusty iron sword seemed to have become an extension of his arm.

He continued to slaughter with his sword.

Inefficient and with meager income.

Although Xu Ran couldn't see the situation at home with his own eyes, he could guess a thing or two from the occasional discussions of the people around him, Old Zhang's increasingly hunched figure, and the worry that occasionally flashed in his sunken eyes.

Perhaps his wife had truly left him, or perhaps his children could no longer comprehend their father's almost insane obsession.

But he never put down his sword.

He did not learn more complex sword techniques, nor did he pursue the so-called sword energy or sword intent.

He was just repeating, repeating that one action—stabbing.

It pierced the flesh and blood that had already lost their lives.

Xu Ran's spiritual sea, the golden ocean sealed by the nine-story giant tower and golden chains, was now rippling slightly with Old Zhang's movements.

The rusty iron sword phantom, representing Old Zhang's will, hovered silently, exuding a deathly yet stubborn aura.

This aura was completely different from the wooden sword phantom beside it, which represented the will of the nameless swordsman.

The wooden sword embodies the indomitable spirit of mortals and their yearning for the Dao, as well as their desire for "life".

This iron sword seems to contain something purer, yet more bizarre.

It only pierces inanimate objects.

What kind of swordsmanship is this?
For the first time, Xu Ran's heart wavered slightly at this seemingly "wasteful" and "useless" persistence.

Could there be a deeper meaning behind this?

Time, in this trial space, seemed to have lost its meaning, or perhaps it was stretched out infinitely.

Xu Ran didn't know how long she had been "watching".

ten years?

Twenty years?
Thirty years?
All he saw was that the wrinkles on Old Zhang's face were getting deeper and deeper, like a dried-up riverbed.

His body grew thinner and thinner, as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

But the sword in his hand continued to thrust out.

The movements were as slow as those of an elderly person in their twilight years, tracing the strokes of memory.

Yet each thrust carries an indescribable certainty.

It was as if this thrust of the sword would be the end.

For that inanimate object, it was complete decomposition.

As for the action itself, it is the perfection reached after countless repetitions.

No one around him was laughing at him anymore.

The new young butcher simply watched the strange old man with curiosity, listening to the older generation of butchers tell him their "legends"—a madman who spent his entire life killing pigs with a sword. Finally, one day...

Old Zhang never appeared at the slaughterhouse again.

People were talking a lot.

"Old Zhang didn't come today? That's strange!"

"Did you hear? He went to his house last night."

"Gone? Sigh, it's a relief. I've lived a really complicated life."

"Yes, why not use a proper butcher's knife instead of that broken sword?"

"It's better that he's dead. I heard he's been living alone for a long time."

The discussions were tinged with worldly sighs and bewilderment.

But Xu Ran's consciousness suddenly tightened at that moment!
He felt an invisible and intangible yet incredibly clear thought rising from the void!

This thought does not belong to the soul, nor to life; it is like the pure sense of "end" that Old Zhang has accumulated from countless times of stabbing inanimate objects throughout his life!
hum-

Xu Ran's spiritual sea, that sealed golden ocean, suddenly stirred up a subtle yet exceptionally clear ripple!
At this moment, the rusty iron sword phantom seemed to come alive!

It was still rusty and unremarkable, but the aura emanating from it suddenly became incredibly sharp and utterly desolate!
This is not the sharpness of killing living beings, but a kind of annihilation that severs cause and effect and ends everything!

Stabbing inanimate objects
This sword strike is not incapable of killing.

Rather, what it seeks is "death" itself!
It is the final state where all things return to nothingness!
Old Zhang spent his whole life honing his skills in what seemed to be the most foolish and meaningless way, and what he honed was an ultimate concept that was almost like the "Tao"!

He had no inspiration, no talent, no lineage, and not even a decent goal.

He simply relied on an almost instinctive obsession to repeat a simple action millions and millions of times, day after day, year after year!
Ultimately, he grasped the true meaning of "death" from "inanimate objects"!

If this sword were to be thrust out, it might not be able to cleave mountains and rivers, nor shatter the void.

But it can cut off a person's life force, directly reducing them to a state of "death"!
It might be able to sever a cause and effect, allowing it to be completely "extinguished"!
This is an incredibly strange, yet incredibly powerful force!
Xu Ran's mind was shaken like never before!
He recalled his senior brother's heartbroken expression, and the wasted pillar of Origin Realm spiritual energy that had merely rejuvenated a corpse.

At that moment, what the senior students saw was "waste".

But at this moment, Xu Ran had a different feeling.

Perhaps the target of that beam of light was not "resurrection," but rather that the corpse contained some unknown secret related to "death."

Or perhaps, the corpse itself represents some kind of ultimate "end"?
The first pillar of light that revived the spiritual energy of the Origin Realm contained a life force as vast as the creation of the world, yet it chose to "die." This very act is full of paradox and mystery!

The trial of this old man Zhang, this rusty iron sword that only pierces inanimate objects, seems to be lifting a corner of this fog for Xu Ran!
"So the way of the sword is not just about killing and protecting."

"It turns out that obsession can be so pure, and so terrifying."

"So death can also be a path, a power."

Xu Ran murmured to himself, a look of enlightenment flashing in his eyes.

In the sea of ​​consciousness, the rusty iron sword phantom, though its light was restrained, exuded an aura that caused even the wooden sword phantom beside it to tremble slightly.

That is the Daoist rhythm that represents "end" and "annihilation"!

Just then, the surrounding scenery began to blur, the stench of blood from the slaughterhouse gradually faded, and the murmurs disappeared without a trace.

Yu Kong's voice, tinged with both praise and amusement, rang out again:
“Indeed, indeed. Even in the mundane world, there is a great path. By holding fast to a single thought, one can reach the netherworld. This sword technique is called ‘Silent Annihilation Thrust.’ Although it is in its rudimentary form, it has already grasped its true essence. It seems that you have seen something different in it.”

The bald man Yu Kong's figure reappeared in front of Xu Ran, a faint smile on his face.

"Have you fully grasped the essence of this second sword?"

Xu Ran took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and bowed slightly to Yu Kong: "This disciple has gained some insight."

He didn't say he fully understood, because he knew that the profoundness of Old Zhang's "Silent Thorn," which he had condensed throughout his life, could not be fully comprehended by mere observation.

But he did gain a lot from it, and he had a completely new understanding of "sword", "Tao", and "life and death".

In particular, this sense of "annihilation" seemed to subtly touch something deep within his spiritual sea, sealed beneath the nine-story giant tower.

Yu Kong nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with Xu Ran's answer.

"There are countless ways to use the sword, and it is not only the way of showing off one's sharpness that is the right path. Hidden in the sheath, in the city, or even in the dead of night, one can also give birth to astonishing power."

He paused, his gaze becoming profound, as if he could see right through Xu Ran's heart.

"Your spiritual sea is sealed by supreme power, seemingly cutting off your path. But the seal is also a form of protection and a tempering process. When you can truly understand the intent contained in these swords, perhaps that will be the time for you to break free."

Xu Ran's heart stirred.

Break the seal!

These two simple words were like a thunderclap, exploding in his heart!

He had always thought that the trial of the nine-story tower was only to hone his will and sword skills, but he never expected that the trial itself was actually closely related to the seal on his spiritual sea!
Seeing the excitement flash in Xu Ran's eyes, Yu Kong smiled slightly, said nothing more, and simply pointed ahead.

The ring that originally surrounded Xu Ran, consisting of eleven iron swords, has now quietly become twelve.

The twelfth sword was the rusty iron sword that seemed ready to break at any moment, yet it contained the meaning of "annihilation".

At this moment, the ring formed by the twelve iron swords shimmered with light, as if it were brewing something.

"You've passed the second test." Yu Kong's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Prepare yourself for the trial of the third sword."

The words just fell!

The ring formed by the twelve iron swords suddenly accelerated its rotation, emitting a piercing buzzing sound!

Among them, a brand-new iron sword, gleaming with a sharp, cold light, its blade covered with fine patterns and exuding a strong aura of killing intent, suddenly lit up!
This sword is completely different from the gentle wooden sword and the lifeless rusty iron sword I had seen before!
It is full of aggression!
Full of fighting spirit!
call out!
This iron sword, exuding a murderous aura, transformed into a streak of light and instantly shot towards Xu Ran's brow!
The speed was even faster than any previous time!
Xu Ran's pupils suddenly contracted!
He could sense that this sword strike contained a scene of carnage and bloodshed!
It contains the clash of swords and horses!

It contains a resolute determination to fight to the death!
No time to hesitate!

Almost instinctively, Xu Ran's mind sank into the sea of ​​consciousness!

That golden ocean remains sealed off by chains.

But at this moment, as the sword of slaughter from the outside world drew closer, something in the depths of the ocean seemed to be stirred!
A fighting spirit, an indomitable will, and a thirst for battle, faintly emanated from the depths of the ocean!

boom!
The intent of the killing iron sword surged into Xu Ran's spiritual sea like the most violent torrent!

This time, unlike the previous two times, it did not simply condense and take shape quietly.

It was like a ferocious beast awakening, carrying endless killing intent, about to stir up a monstrous blood wave in Xu Ran's sea of ​​consciousness!
The golden ocean instantly boiled!

(End of this chapter)