The Sect’s Secret Was Never Just the Demons

The Heavenly Dao Sect Leader was a somewhat lean old man.

“These demonic sects have grown far too rampant!
Daring to ambush and kill a genius of our Heavenly Dao Sect right at our sect gate!
Do they think our Heavenly Dao Sect is made of clay?
Although our Heavenly Dao Sect is not the leader of the righteous path, we absolutely cannot swallow this humiliation!”

He spoke with great seriousness.
“Therefore, I intend to host a ‘Demonic Extermination Conference,’ inviting numerous righteous factions to discuss the great matter of annihilating the demonic sects!
This time, it will not end lightly!”
“Sect Leader Senior Brother!
This… is no small matter!”
“Of course it’s no small matter!
Our sect gate was attacked!
If we tolerate this in silence, how will our Heavenly Dao Sect stand among the righteous factions?
We must fight!
Even if our Heavenly Dao Sect suffers a great loss of vitality!
We must fight!
This is the responsibility of the righteous path!”

True Master Dao Sword then knew the Sect Leader had made his decision.
“I understand.”

The Sect Leader slightly softened his tone.
“Naturally, this Demonic Extermination Conference will also require each sect and school to send their talented disciples for mutual demonstrations, to boost the allied army’s morale!
Since I intend to support the conference, our Heavenly Dao Sect must achieve excellent results in the demonstrations, proving our foundation!
Your disciples, especially your eldest disciple Lin Wushuang, are key combatants at the Golden Core stage for our sect.
I know he is abroad seeking a breakthrough, but you must recall him.”

Back then, I wanted to delete that part, but my own master stopped me, saying it contained the true essence of the Sword Dao.
Are you truly prepared?”
His eyes showed genuine concern.
“Are you prepared to forget all things under heaven, even forget yourself, entrust all emotion to the sword, becoming ‘self-forgotten, only the sword’?”
“This disciple has been preparing for this for many years.”

The Sect Leader closed his eyes.
“Forgetting oneself to become the sword—that will allow you to reach late Nascent Soul.
But the most critical part is… can you truly remember yourself again?
I know you had your eldest disciple cultivate the Ruthless Sword so he could approach the artistic conception you inhabit.
You had your second disciple cultivate the Righteous Sword, using the vicissitudes of the mortal world’s righteous path to remind you of all things under heaven.”

Your third disciple cultivates the ‘Only-Self Sword,’ using the concept of ‘only’ to awaken your true heart.
Combining these three, you would return from self-forgetfulness.
‘Forgetting self, having self,’ achieving Transformation.
If all goes smoothly, you could reach Transformation mere days after breaking through to late Nascent Soul.
But why must you take such a path?”

He reopened his eyes, unable to help lamenting with a sigh.
“Are there few old fossils trapped at this realm under heaven?
Must you break through using such an intense method?
I cannot bear to see it.”
“Sect Leader Senior Brother, ‘Dao Sword, Dao Sword,’ Dao comes first, sword comes after.
Thus, ‘hearing the Dao in the morning, one can die content in the evening.’
I came here to achieve immortality.
The faster, the better.”
“…The key to this method lies with your third disciple.
He cultivates the Only-Self Sword; his heart contains only himself.
He might not truly save you.”
“As long as he is given sufficient reward, he will save me.
The only worry is he might seize the opportunity to attempt body usurpation.”
“This method only requires three disciples.
Five years ago, you took a fourth disciple.
What was your intent?
What sword did you intend to pass on to him?”

True Master Dao Sword fell silent for a long moment.
Finally, she said, “I intended to pass on to him the ‘Great Love Sword.’
Or rather, the ‘Selfless Sword,’ the ‘Ferrying Others Sword.'”
“You intended to use this fourth disciple to impact your third disciple’s Only-Self sword intent, preventing any potential body usurpation thoughts he might have at that time, ensuring your safe return and achievement of Transformation?”
True Master Dao Sword nodded.
“Precisely.”
“You truly prepared extensively.
Then… the incident five years ago… didn’t that ruin your plans?
Why did you abandon him?”
“He failed my trial.
Although it was a dead-end situation for him at the time, I actually left a wisp of my divine sense by his side, observing his actions.
If he had shown any intention to sacrifice himself for others… I would have personally destroyed that secret realm and rescued him, then pass on to him the Great Love Sword.
However, the love in his heart was only for himself, for those he considered his own.
It was a small self, not a great self.
Therefore, I expelled him from the sect.”

The Sect Leader sighed faintly.
“That action was somewhat excessive.
Know that there are those who give up the small self for the great self.
Yet one who loves the small self can love the great self; that is not necessarily wrong.
One who loves those close to them has the capacity to love others.
If one doesn’t love those around them, how can they love all sentient beings?”
“…Sect Leader Senior Brother, you may be right.
But that matter is in the past.
Perhaps this was the hint of the Heavenly Dao.
The trial concerning my Transformation… no one can achieve perfection.”
“You are more open-minded than I am.”
“Sect Leader Senior Brother need not worry.
Before forgetting myself, I will also make preparations.
Even if I do not succeed, the sect will gain another late Nascent Soul elder who follows orders.
For the sect, that also counts as part of its foundation…
Moreover, it is not absolutely necessary to rely on their power to return from self-forgetfulness.
This path, from the very beginning, should involve returning from self-forgetfulness on one’s own.
I am merely trying to accelerate the process.”

The Sect Leader could say no more.
When it came to personal cultivation, Dao Sword was willing to discuss this much with him probably because that step was approaching, and she wanted to make more arrangements.
After all, cultivation was a very personal matter.
Who could interfere with what path another chose?

“In that case, go attend to your affairs.”
“Yes.”

True Master Dao Sword did not hesitate.
She turned and left.

Watching Dao Sword depart, the Sect Leader let out a long sigh.

“Everyone says True Master Dao Sword only understands the sword—but how could someone with such innate talent and comprehension in cultivation be foolish?”

That would be insane.
He couldn’t even be bothered to investigate.
It was demonic sects anyway; he’d just pick one that seemed easy to fight.
As for whether they were the actual perpetrators…
Could the demonic sects even step forward and admit who did it?
Even if they did, could he believe them?
Did the demonic sects have that credibility?
So, pick one that seems easy to fight and be done with it!
As for whether they’re the killers, that could be determined later.
His purpose in launching this war wasn’t to avenge Jade Lotus anyway.
It was to display the Heavenly Dao Sect’s power to the world.

This thought involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

The conversation with the Sect Leader was not false.
Back then, she had indeed thought that way.
But now it was slightly different.
After all, she was already recorded in the Mystic Maiden Mirror.
If she forgot herself and became only the sword, Li Wangyan would certainly do this and that to her…
Perhaps she could rely on the Mystic Maiden Mirror to return from self-forgetfulness.
It was, after all, an Immortal Artifact!
So she might not need the original plan.
Using the original plan… she genuinely feared Qi Xiao might suddenly usurp her Dao fruit.
The Only-Self Sword inherently had some restraint over the Self-Forgetting Sword.