Li Nian has stayed in the Sword Master realm for a long time.
The last time he entered the Sword Tomb, he drew six swords in vain, which had a great impact on him.
This made Li Nian understand that his accumulation of practice in swordsmanship, swordsmanship, sword skills, and even magical powers and practice was far from enough.
On the way out of Zhongzhou, he received guidance from Xiao Yunshan and went through two peak duels.
Of the two things Qin Bao told him, he did the first one and successfully awakened the blood flame talent.
Wu Zuo and Qin Jinan are both excellent opponents.
These two contests were of great help to Li Nian.
The last time he held a banquet, he combined the characteristics of many sects in Tianhuang Territory.
Li Nian felt that he had accumulated enough experience along the way and it was time for him to break through.
It is not difficult for the Sword Master to break through the virtual path.
The difficulty is, how to establish the path!
What kind of path he wants to take is the second major thing Qin Bao entrusts.
Emperor Xia is a powerful human emperor, and Li Nian wanted to hear Emperor Xia's opinion.
soon.
The two came to Emperor Xia's study.
Emperor Xia is indeed in a good mood recently and is playing with the birds in his study.
As soon as he saw Li Nian coming, his smile gradually disappeared.
"What brings you here?" Emperor Xia asked with a serious look on his face.
"I am very happy to see Your Majesty. I have something I would like to ask Your Majesty to clarify." Li Niandao.
"Say." Emperor Xia turned around, not looking at Li Nian.
"This junior is about to break through, but his understanding of the 'Tao' is not enough. Your Majesty, who is the emperor among men, must have a profound understanding of the 'Tao'." Li Niandao.
"Do you want to establish Taoism?" Emperor Xia asked.
Li Nian nodded.
"When you practice swordsmanship and follow the path of swordsmanship, you should find a swordsman and ask me what I am doing." Emperor Xia and Li Nian have different training directions.
Li Nian was helpless: "Looking at the entire Tianhuang Territory, there is no one with a broader knowledge than Your Majesty. Your Majesty's understanding of Tao must have been thoroughly studied long ago, just like the vast ocean with no bottom..."
"Stop flattering me." Emperor Xia glanced sideways at Li Nian.
"I think Li Nian is right. Does your father think that Emperor Li has a better understanding of Tao than you do, or does this old tortoise from the East have a better understanding of Tao than you?" Xia Qinggui didn't believe it.
"Then I must be better than them." Xia Huang did his part.
"Yes, I finally found the right person. Can your Majesty tell me your views on 'Tao' to this junior?" Li Nian humbly asked for advice.
"Since you are so eager to learn, I will just say a few words."
Emperor Xia took a sip of tea: "This Tao is very mysterious. Everything in the world has a Tao. This is too profound. You don't understand, right? I'll make it simple for you."
"Yeah." Li Nian nodded.
Xia Huangdao: "Martial arts, swordsmanship, and martial arts are all imaginary. They are used by those who claim to be experts to scare others. In fact, they don't understand. From a personal point of view, Tao is a kind of spirit.
A kind of will, a kind of behavior style that maintains the original intention, let's use an analogy..."
"A lustful person covets the beauty of a certain woman. He will try his best to get that woman. No matter how hard it is, rain or wind, he will not frown. He will definitely get it. This is his way.
You threaten him, ravage him, or even beat him, no matter how injured you are, he remains firm."
"Your Majesty, let's put it another way." Li Niandao.
"OK."
Emperor Xia just expressed his opinion. He said: "Then, let's use another analogy, a money-grubbing person, or a sneaky person..."
"He will try every means to get money. No matter how he ravages him, threatens him, or beats him, he will do whatever it takes, unswervingly, no matter what."
"Don't interrupt me, do you understand?" Emperor Xia said displeased.
"According to Your Majesty's understanding, when I draw a sword, I must understand why I draw the sword. No matter how strong the opponent is, I must adhere to my original intention and be unswerving. No matter how hard it is in the future, I must remain consistent. This is the way."
Emperor Xia slapped his thigh: "Yes, but you haven't found the direction in which to draw the sword. That direction is your true Tao. Once you have established your Taoist heart, you must not waver. Otherwise, it will be difficult to break through in the future."
Everyone will be trapped."
Li Nian nodded and began to think deeply.
Why did he draw the sword?
This is the key.
Qin Bao once asked him the same question.
At that time, what Li Nian was thinking was that swordsmen should kill people.
If you don't kill people, you won't be playing with swords or practicing cultivation.
However, it is not limited to killing.
In the battle of Sword Mountain, two thousand swords from the same sect came out for him.
The swords of senior brothers and sisters were drawn out for him.
The swords of the sect leader's uncle and the elders were also drawn for him.
The sword is protection.
Li Nian suddenly thought of Xiao Yunshan again.
Xiao Yunshan was from the Li Dynasty, but he was able to put aside his status as a national master and help Li Nian leave the Li Dynasty.
Is the uncle simply not wanting to owe Li Nian any favors?
Looking at it now, it's not just that.
Xiao Yunshan has Xiao Yunshan’s Tao. His Tao is higher than life, the glory of his ancestors, and even personal life and death.
Xiao Yunshan has always insisted on himself, and his Taoist heart has never been broken.
"Why do I draw my sword?"
Li Nian asked himself again and again.
The direction of the sword is his way.
"Your Majesty, why do we practice and what do we practice?" Li Nian suddenly had a question.
"What do you mean?" Emperor Xia was confused.
"Is spiritual practice also a kind of Tao? Some people like to practice martial arts and gather the strengths of hundreds of schools of thought; some people like to practice martial arts and hunt for treasures everywhere; others are constantly pursuing magic weapons and sharp blades, changing them again and again; what exactly is cultivation?
, is strength, is immortality, is looking down at all things from high above?" Li Nian didn't quite understand.
What is the relationship between spiritual practice and Tao?
Emperor Xia was silent.
What does a person achieve through cultivation in this life?
Emperor Xia didn't know either.
But his practice was just to protect the Xia Dynasty, bless the peace of the people, and continue the long-term prosperity of the Xia clan.
Does this count as Tao?
"What is the purpose of cultivation in life? Maybe you will understand the answer only when you surpass me and become strong enough. I can't answer it for you."
Emperor Xia said seriously.
The emperor among men is but a drop in the ocean when it comes to spiritual practice.
One day, Li Nian surpassed Emperor Xia and became the Sword Emperor, and even became a saint. Only then did he have the chance to understand.
But at that time, the answer to spiritual practice may be more complicated.
"Your Majesty's words have solved the long-standing confusion of this junior. I think my swordsmanship is still not strong enough and I need to go back and continue to sharpen it."
Li Nian cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
After saying that, Li Nian walked out.
Emperor Xia's eyes widened: "If you are not strong enough, you will have to poke a hole in the sky. My dear, tell me, father, what does a person achieve by practicing in this life?"
"My son... I don't know." Xia Qinggui was ashamed.
"Go away." Emperor Xia waved his hand.
Xia Qinggui left quickly.
"Actually, I don't understand either." Emperor Xia sighed.
Saint, you should understand!
…
After returning from Emperor Xia, Li Nian refreshed his understanding of Tao.
It is far from easy to establish a path and break through the realm.
He needs to re-examine himself and the way of the sword.
At this time, Xia Palace suddenly received a major news.
The Le Dynasty withdrew its troops.
Emperor Le used Tian Shui Bay to mark the territory and challenged Emperor Xia to a confrontation between the younger generations of the dynasty to end the war.
The winner will advance the border a thousand miles.
The loser will cede territory and compensate for the city.
When the news came, it immediately caused a sensation in Xiahuang City.