Initial Self
“Why? Why? When Ku Mu stepped on the formation, the pattern disappeared before my eyes instantly. Why are you still here? Revealing Cauldron should acknowledge you!” snapped Yao Wuji.
“I would say it is because I’m not a pure alchemist,” Mu Yu proposed.
“Ku Mu isn’t, either. Something must be wrong. Shi Dengtian! Shi Dengtian must’ve modified with it before we came here! I’ll kill him!”
Mu Yu grabbed Yao Wuji by the arm as the latter charged out. “Shi Dengtian is nowhere good enough to tamper with it. It’s just not my luck.”
Yao Wuji rolled his shoulders forward as his spiritual energy flow started to move disorderly. “Why? Why? Is Pill Cauldron Sect history? I don’t want to be resigned to defeat. I don’t want to witness Pill Cauldron Sect drowning in Shi Dengtian’s ocean!”
Mu Yu crouched down next to Yao Wuji. “Alchemist Yao, you are the only informed person at the moment, so you must pull yourself together. If you fall here, Pill Cauldron Sect will fall.”
“What’s the difference now? I don’t have the power to change the outcome.”
“There is a difference. If even you’ve given up, then there won’t be anyone to fight. I’ll do what I can, starting with killing Shi Dengtian. You can trust me. I’ve always been looking to kill him.”
“Your cultivation isn’t enough. If you can’t beat them, I’m not going to send you to your death.”
“I’m not incompatible with Revealing Cauldron; I just haven’t calmed my mind. I can tell where the cauldron is rejecting me and why. Give me some time. I’ll make it work,” assured Mu Yu, sitting down in the centre of the cauldron.
Mu Yu wrestled to suppress the bloodlust energy and soul energy inside him for they conflicted with Revealing Cauldron’s qi, hence the restriction. The only problem was that controlling soul energy, which the cauldron judged to be malicious energy, was a foreign concept to Mu Yu. Qian Shange and Wan Shuiyao could not enter the cauldron for the same reason.
Now I know why Formation Palace didn’t like me or Bai Jie. This means Revealing Cauldron is the equivalent of Formation Palace and Formation-Talisman Palace. How am I supposed to fight Third Heaven Palace without bloodlust energy, though? Mu Yu contemplated. “Xiaoshuai, what do you suggest.”
“Uh… I don’t know. It depends on your choice.”
“Bloodlust energy is my weapon to fight Third Heaven Palace.”
“And it’s also influencing your mindset. It’s not cool.” Xiaoshuai hopped onto Revealing Cauldron’s formation and knocked on it. “How long has it been since your mind has been at peace?”
“What?”
“Dustfallen Mental Cultivation requires your mind to be at peace, no? It’s impossible for your mind to be at peace when you’re thinking of maiming him or her all the time. Somebody once told me Dustfallen Mental Cultivation will help clear my mind. Maybe you’ll find the answer you seek once your mind is at peace.”
Mu Yu shut his eyes and started running Dustfallen Mental Cultivation, gradually sinking into his thoughts, mulling, I must force myself to detest the bloodlust energy so that I don’t indulge in it. I’m essentially a murder instrument now. I remember the days where I only had to think about learning swordplay and living life, yet I almost forgot all about it until I needed it last time. I’ve foregone my early beliefs.
Mu Yu took a deep breath and started performing Celestial Swords Nine Summons.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s first technique: Falling Leaves Dance to Heaven.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s second technique: Roiling Qi and Fallen Dust. Collect Qi to Penetrate the Spirit. Qi and Spirit Return to Genesis.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s third technique: Fallen Sword Recoil. The principle for execution is to not restrict the downward thrust to a fixed form but to adapt.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s fourth technique: Falling Meteor Slash, stars and sword hidden in the dark sky.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s fifth technique: Falling Dragon Howls the Sky Down, a strike concealed in a feint.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s sixth technique: The Wind Sweeps the Moon. Stir the wind with the sword. Bring down the moon in the nine heavens.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s seventh technique: Heavenly Lightning Strike. Dao begets all life. Lightning controls a part.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s eighth technique: Falling shadow destruction.
Dustfallen Swordplay’s ninth technique: Regenesis, great truths are simple.
Mu Yu committed every ounce of focus to the details of each movement, reminding him of how long it had been since he practiced it. Usually, Shadow Splitter Sword executed movements on its own, stressing how easy it was to forget things of the past.
Twang! Upon completing the final and most simple technique – a straight thrust – Mu Yu dispersed the qi on the tip then ushered back, demonstrating the ability to control his execution at will. He exhaled slowly to bring his heart rate back down, drawing his focus to the qi he was once familiar with.
“Murder isn’t the desire at the bottom of my heart. I’ve been too stubborn.”
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