In the past, Chen Qingyuan had extraordinary talent, yet was still merely a mortal. According to ancient records, a golden Dao bone symbolized a perfect foundation, without any flaws, and would bring unimaginable benefits to future cultivation.
The Five Domains of the world, with Northern Wilderness occupying an extremely vast territory, contained millions of stars.
Chen Qingyuan was once a renowned prodigy of Northern Wilderness, with extensive knowledge. Even so, he had never heard of anyone cultivating the legendary flawless golden bone.
Chen Qingyuan was well aware of the pricelessness of this golden Dao bone.
"Senior, this..." Chen Qingyuan didn't remain immersed in joy for long. His expression gradually became complex, and he spoke hesitantly: "This is far too precious. I am unworthy of such a gift."
"By the order of the Forbidden Zone's lord, this Dao bone is presented to young master," the old man shook his head, indicating it was not his own doing, and explained the specific circumstances.
"Forbidden Zone." Suddenly, Chen Qingyuan thought of the red-clothed maiden, feeling a lingering fear mixed with an inexplicable sense of nostalgia.
"Young master, rest well. This old man will take his leave."
After saying this, the old man left the sealed chamber.
In the silent room, Chen Qingyuan fell into deep contemplation.
After a long while, he organized his thoughts and understood his current situation, no longer allowing his mind to wander.
An unblemished Dao bone, a perfect foundation. As long as Chen Qingyuan maintained a solid Dao heart, his future achievements would be absolutely limitless.
Chen Qingyuan changed into a clean, neat outfit and walked into the courtyard.
In the corner of the yard, the old man sat on a wooden chair, his crutch by his side, using the broken sword to chop firewood.
Watching the old man's chopping motion, Chen Qingyuan hesitated but eventually approached: "Senior, why waste such a precious sword?"
"The sword is broken. What use is it, no matter how good?" the old man said indifferently.
"My foundation was broken, and you repaired it with great magical power. Might there not be a way to repair this broken sword?" Chen Qingyuan truly didn't want to see such a precious sword used for chopping firewood.
"I've tried many times, all failed," the old man's chopping motion slightly paused, a complex look flashing deep in his eyes.
Hearing this, Chen Qingyuan didn't know how to respond and remained silent.
"What is this sword called?" Chen Qingyuan asked after a while.
"Return to Yang," the old man pondered for a long time before revealing the sword's name.
"Return to Yang... I seem to have heard this somewhere," Chen Qingyuan muttered a few times, feeling he had heard it before, and lowered his head in thought. Moments later, he suddenly looked up, a flash of shock in his eyes that transformed into reverence, and he exclaimed, "You are the Bright Star Sword Immortal!"
Upon hearing this title, the old man's body slightly trembled, his expression complex, his voice hoarse: "It's been many years since anyone has called this old man by that name."
Clearly, the old man had acknowledged his identity.
Initially, he was unwilling to reveal his identity. However, after seeing Chen Qingyuan merge with the mysterious Dao bone, he changed his mind.
"It really is you. Unbelievable," Chen Qingyuan was dumbfounded, his emotions significantly stirred, unable to calm down for a long time.
The Bright Star Sword Immortal, named Li Muyang, was once a world-renowned ultimate powerhouse, a top-tier swordsman from Northern Wilderness.
According to records, the Bright Star Sword Immortal last appeared ten thousand years ago. It was said he went to Central State, also called Imperial State. He split the Purple Cloud Mountain - symbolizing the will of heaven and earth - with a single sword, all to pursue the peak of the sword dao.
Splitting the Purple Cloud Mountain had angered the heavenly dao, which then descended a divine punishment.
In that battle, the Longgeng Sword Immortal was defeated, and the world believed he had perished, buried by the laws of heaven.
Since then, the life experiences of the Longgeng Sword Immortal became a legendary story, viewed by countless sword cultivators as an insurmountable monument.
"It's all just empty fame, long scattered like cloud smoke," Li Muyang looked at these things with detachment.
"How could a Sword Immortal of such caliber be staying here?" Chen Qingyuan had heard stories about the Longgeng Sword Immortal since childhood and held great respect.
Without exaggeration, Li Muyang could easily establish a top-tier power if he wished.
"Grinding the sword," he said.
Even as a dying camel is larger than a horse, Li Muyang, no matter how fallen, was incomparable to ordinary cultivators.
Though he had failed countless times, Li Muyang had never given up.
"Grinding the sword this way?" Chen Qingyuan looked at the ground full of firewood, temporarily unable to understand.
"Young master, what do you think is most important for a sword cultivator?" Li Muyang put down the broken sword and met Chen Qingyuan's gaze.
"According to common understanding, for a sword cultivator, having a sword that suits oneself is very important, as well as superior sword cultivation techniques," Chen Qingyuan continued: "However, I believe that no matter which path one takes, the most important thing is the heart of the Dao. Cultivate the mind before cultivating the Dao."
Hearing this answer, ripples of emotion appeared in Li Muyang's eyes, and he remained silent for a long time.
After a while, Li Muyang sighed deeply: "If this old man had been as wise as the young master back then, I would never have ended up like this. The principle of cultivating the mind before the Dao, I only truly understood it in my late years!"
Li Muyang was not grinding a sword, but his own heart of the Dao.
In his youth, Li Muyang considered himself extraordinarily talented, sailing smoothly and suppressing his peers so they dared not raise their heads. Later, during his peak, he even claimed to be the third-best in the world, making countless sword cultivators look up to him in awe.
Why the third in the world?
Heaven and Earth were first and second.
He claimed to be third, and no one in the world dared to claim the first or second, for fear of angering the way of Heaven and Earth.
Later, unable to find a suitable sword cultivator opponent, believing his strength had reached an extreme, he went to the revered Zicloud Mountain, drew his sword to challenge, wanting to contend with Heaven and Earth.
Unfortunately, Li Muyang was defeated and disappeared from the world.
"May I ask, senior, where is the other half of this precious sword?" Chen Qingyuan had been staring at the rusty broken sword.
Why did the sword become rusty?
It was because its spiritual intelligence had fallen into a deep slumber, turning into an ordinary weapon. One day, when Li Muyang restored his sword heart, the sword would awaken and show its former sharpness.
"Stayed in Ziyun Mountain."
Li Muyang gazed into the distance, lost in thought.
Ziyun Mountain in the Central Plains was a forbidden place.
Chen Qingyuan followed Li Muyang's gaze and remained silent.
In the days that followed, Chen Qingyuan began his cultivation.
On the first day of his re-cultivation, Chen Qingyuan stepped into the Acquired Realm.
The Acquired Realm and Innate Realm were the foundations of cultivation, each with nine levels.
In just a month, with his innate talent for the Perfect Dao Bone and his own comprehension, Chen Qingyuan broke through the ninth level of the Acquired Realm and ascended to the Innate Realm.
After consolidating his foundation for several days, Chen Qingyuan continued to push forward with his cultivation.
This kind of life continued for half a year, and Chen Qingyuan reached the early stage of the Yellow Spirit Realm.
"To establish the foundation in just half a year and reach the Yellow Spirit Realm, it's inconceivable."
Li Muyang would have a hard time believing it if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes. In his memory, no one could compare to Chen Qingyuan, especially without relying on spiritual pills or the teachings of powerful beings, just drawing spiritual energy from the heavens and earth.
Moreover, Chen Qingyuan's foundation was extremely stable, with no flaws to be found.
"Finally reached the Yellow Spirit Realm."
Chen Qingyuan had achieved his first goal and could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
He then stayed inside his room and took out a dark-colored bracelet from his belongings.
At the time, when Chen Qingyuan managed to survive and walk out of the Abyssal Forbidden Zone, it was because of a pact he made with the girl in red. He had agreed to help her complete nine tasks, and once they were done, the karmic bond between them would be settled.
For such a request, Chen Qingyuan had no right to refuse.
Only after reaching the Yellow Spirit Realm would he be able to use the special secret technique taught by the girl in red to unlock the bracelet's restrictions.
"What was the first task she gave me?"
After working for a while, Chen Qingyuan finally unlocked the restriction and a strand of consciousness entered the bracelet.