Chapter Forty-Nine: The Will of the Law

In truth, the cultivation methods of all sects are divided into nine heavenly tiers, each with its own distinctions. Yet, within these first three tiers, the Daoist traditions remain largely similar.

This stage is known as the Condensation of the Law.

To condense the law is to solidify one's intent of the law.

Such intent most often lies within the five elemental forces.

They are: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

From these, further branches arise—such as rain, snow, wind, frost, thunder, and lightning—but at their source, all these intents never stray beyond the bounds of the five elements.

It is rumored that certain rare intents do not belong to the five elements.

One is the intent of the Dao itself, for the Great Dao encompasses all things, even the five elements reside within it.

Another is the intent of humanity.

This human intent is ethereal and manifold, but the most famous among them is the intent to kill.

Qingyuan had heard faint rumors that among the Bai clan of East Lin, there was a man named Bai Qi.

From a young age, Bai Qi joined the Shu army, leading troops in fierce battles. Over the years, slaughtering without end and soaked in blood, he forged an overwhelming killing intent. Though he was but of the third heavenly tier, with this killing intent he was said to possess the power to contend with cultivators of the fourth tier.

More crucially, the murderous intent within the army, mingled with its amassed fate, could shatter the law-intent of any cultivator.

But Bai Qi, a man of the army, cultivated his killing intent within its ranks, yet remained untouched by the army’s influence.

For this reason, to Southern Liang he was a grave threat. In the end, through painstaking calculation on Southern Liang’s part, he was lured and slain during the chaos that followed the death of Minister Ge and the ensuing unrest in Shu.

“Condensing the law…” Qingyuan’s expression grew grave as he gazed at the man opposite him.

He did not know what law-intent this man surnamed Yue had condensed.

But since he had already condensed his law, he was a cultivator of the third heavenly tier.

Qingyuan knew well that those who had set foot upon the third tier could conjure Daoist arts at a whim, their cultivation and abilities high; he dared not believe he could win.

But that did not mean he would surrender to fate.

Taking a deep breath, Qingyuan prepared to act first.

“No need for alarm, it was but a jest,” the man surnamed Yue suddenly smiled, the coldness fading from his manner. “I, too, am a cultivator of Liang, like you, devoted to seeking the immortal path, never wishing to meddle in the affairs of the world. As for those who avoid true cultivation and seek shortcuts to the gods’ ranks, I have always disdained them.”

Qingyuan did not lower his guard at this, but at least abandoned the notion of attacking first, surprised nonetheless.

The man surnamed Yue sighed. “Later, my elder brother admonished me: ‘How many in this world cultivate the Dao, yet how few attain immortality? In truth… he is not wrong…’”

He looked at Qingyuan. “I cultivated in the mountains, but my brother, knowing he could not become immortal and unwilling to fade into oblivion, descended into the world to pursue the gods’ path. Alone he pledged himself to the service of Deng Yin.”

He sighed again. “Recently, Deng Yin and Jiang Bojian battled in Nanan. Though Southern Liang prevailed, my brother’s law-intent was scattered by the killing intent and fate of the great army, and he perished beneath their iron hooves. So, I go now to avenge him, but once one enters the mortal world, escape becomes impossible. I only hope I may one day claim a divine seat…”

Qingyuan frowned slightly. “Your brother’s law-intent was broken by the army’s fate and killing intent?”

“He was no stronger than I—a cultivator of the third tier.” The man shook his head. “Even those of the fourth tier, men above men—what of it?”

“When the army’s killing intent and fate combine, and Daoist practitioners in the ranks inscribe runes upon armor and weapons, this advantage is magnified even further.”

“So, when the army’s killing intent is unleashed, it becomes as the intent to kill—a form of law-intent for cultivators. Yet it is powered by the momentum of heaven and earth, vast and mountainous, far surpassing any third-tier cultivator… Tell me, outside of those true masters of the Dao, who could withstand it?”

“Even those true masters can barely defend themselves, but dare not unleash killing intent; should they slay the mundane armies, they might not withstand the backlash of fate.”

The man’s words were filled with emotion and regret.

In every era, cultivators were beings akin to immortals, lofty and unapproachable.

Even now, if dozens attacked together, how could they hope to stand against a single cultivator?

But if these were not just a rabble, but dozens of trained soldiers, bearing the fate of heaven and earth, then perhaps even a cultivator of the third tier could be slain.

Heaven and earth shift, fate entangles, and every cultivator must tread with utmost caution.

In these troubled times, even cultivators cannot escape being drawn in.

“When the army’s killing intent is unleashed, it is as though a giant cultivator’s law-intent is forged, borrowing fate, as mighty as the will of heaven itself, crushing and quelling the law-intent and power of the cultivators.”

The man surnamed Yue sighed. “In the end, those weapons inscribed with runes, when they cut through the flesh, bring not only death but the destruction of the Dao. Some may become gods after death, but these are either those of deep cultivation or abundant fate. Ordinary soldiers and shallow cultivators are unlikely to ascend to the ranks of the gods.”

Qingyuan remained silent. He knew much of this already; indeed, being from the celestial palace, he occasionally heard secrets unknown to worldly cultivators.

But since these were secrets, he did not speak of them.

“I’ve said all this, friend, only to tell you: the immortal path is hard. Why not join me in seeking the gods’ path?”

The man’s tone was earnest. “I have not yet reached the fourth tier, and godhood is but a hope, but if you aid me, together we could achieve great deeds, earn merit, and both become gods.”

Qingyuan replied quietly, “Our paths differ; I cannot join you.”

The man fell silent, then sighed, cupped his hands, and said, “So be it, I will not insist.”

He did not linger, but turned and left, soon vanishing at the end of the road.

…

“Master…” Gu Cang asked in a low voice, “Is that man very powerful?”

Qingyuan nodded. “More powerful than you and I combined.”

Gu Cang’s face showed shock. “But he, too, could die in the army?”

“Yes. Even one ten times stronger could fall to the army’s law-intent.”

Qingyuan sighed. “The army’s killing intent is human intent; when merged with fate, it becomes the will of heaven. As he said, aside from those true masters of the Dao, none can withstand it.”

Gu Cang asked, “How many like him are there in Southern Liang?”

“I do not know.” Qingyuan shook his head slightly, glancing in the direction the man had gone, a glint in his eye. “But he is not of Southern Liang.”

Gu Cang was baffled.

“He is of Shu.”

Qingyuan continued, “The attire of Liang is much like that of Shu, but differs in the details. His clothes are of a style similar to ours—perhaps he was careless, or thought we would not notice, and so pretended to be from Liang. But his robes are of Shu’s design. He is a cultivator come from Shu, and not long ago at that, or he would have already changed his clothes.”

Gu Cang asked, “He was deceiving us?”

Qingyuan nodded. “Yes.”

Gu Cang pressed, “Why?”

Qingyuan smiled faintly. “To test us.”

Gu Cang lowered his head, more confused than ever, feeling these matters were far too complex.

“He tests us because he is of the Bai clan,” Qingyuan said with a laugh. “I have practiced the Six Months Unblemished Contemplation, a Daoist art passed down from the immortals, and thus am especially sensitive to such things. Though he is a third-tier cultivator, his methods of concealing his aura are not profound. When he was not in the Bai family’s estate in Yuanjing City, I sensed in their halls an aura much like his…”

He turned to Gu Cang and said, “For one’s presence to linger in the house while away, it must mean he resided there for quite some time…”

“Moreover, such detailed knowledge of fate and law-intent is uncommon among third-tier cultivators, yet he spoke with clarity and order. He is certainly not a lone wanderer, but one with a lineage…”

“I would wager he is not surnamed Yue, but Bai.”

…

In the distance, the man who had called himself Yue had already gone far.

“The master truly guessed correctly,” he mused, his expression shifting. “Last time he visited our house, he was only of the first tier, and not even deeply so—just a beginner on the path.”

“It’s only been a few days, and now he is already at the second tier…”

“Who in the world cultivates so quickly?”

“If his cultivation truly advanced so fast, then today his skills should be unfathomable—why was he only at the first tier before?”

“Could it be he is in fact a master of great depth, hiding his powers?”

Bai Yue’s face changed as he pondered in silence. “Still, when I tested him earlier, his reaction was perfectly natural—vigilant and grave, not daring to relax even a little. He did not seem at all like someone of unfathomable depth…”

“It is said some masters, though supremely skilled, enjoy pretending to be ordinary, wandering the world, suffering insult and abuse without care… Could Qingyuan be one such as these?”

He thought for a long time, but could not come to a conclusion.

“Only the master would know the truth of such things… I shall send word to him at once.”

Bai Yue drew a deep breath and gazed into the distance.

Bai Xiao, now using the name Xiaosheng, had joined Chen Zhiyun’s White-Clad Army.

He himself was bound for Deng Yin.

Deng Yin and Jiang Bojian had just fought a battle, with another decisive clash soon to come.

Such brutal battles would claim not only the lives of soldiers, but also those cultivators who followed the army.

“The master’s command… is worth dying for…”

Bai Yue sighed desolately.