Chapter 350 — All Three Dantians Break Through Together

The Hermit of Qingyou's appraisal of Shen Mu's sword art could be called exceedingly high; a sword art that lords it over the world is not a thing won by merely learning a few profound sword moves—it demands that one's understanding of the sword reach an exceedingly high plane, so that one passes from technique to art and forges a sword art of one's own. At Shen Mu's present level, he had gone beyond sword technique and entered the realm of sword art; though he declared his own sword art to be full of weaknesses, only those who had one foot already planted in the Dao of the sword, or who had long since stepped into it, could perceive those weaknesses! Such figures under heaven were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns, few enough to count on the fingers of one hand.

Young as he was, Shen Mu had entered the level of art; even if in his own eyes his sword art was riddled with weaknesses, in the eyes of others who had never entered that level it was a masterpiece of incomparable subtlety. And even a disciple such as this did not satisfy Li Zheng, who said he was like a broken sieve, holes all over, who would not know how he died when death came for him. The standard he set was truly too high.

Yet Shen Mu had actually admitted it, without the slightest resentment or complacency—humility far more sincere than the modesty he had shown after defeating Long Yu.

The Hermit of Qingyou shook his head. "Master and disciple both—a pair of eccentrics.

" A keen light flashed in his eyes, and he said in a low voice, "Human Sovereign Shen, that you defeated my three disciples of Little Jade Capital does not prove how high your abilities are. Your strength in truth is only a part or two above Long Yu and the rest.

The Hall of the Three Primes and the Hall of the Five Qi are the true test!

" At these words Long Yu and Mu Qingdai both looked ashamed, taking the Hermit of Qingyou to be forcing himself to save their face, but Wang Muran seemed lost in thought. "Immortal Qingyou's eye is indeed extraordinary.

" Shen Mu nodded.

"My strength is indeed only a part or two above theirs. " These words were no self-deprecation but plain fact. Though all were of the Six Harmonies realm, once cultivation and strength had reached their stage, being one or two parts above one's opponent was enough to defeat him within a move or two!

Higher by a part or two, and one's vision and understanding were utterly different! At their stage of strength, further advance demanded ten parts of effort for one part of progress; improvement had become exceedingly difficult.

An advantage of one or two parts was exceedingly hard to come by!

Had Shen Mu not entered the level of art, defeating Long Yu, Mu Qingdai and the rest would have been no matter of a move or two.

"Muran, you three withdraw.

Human Sovereign Shen, come with me; I will take you to the Hall of the Three Primes. " The Hermit of Qingyou walked down the mountain.

Wang Muran and the other two wore looks of envy; Long Yu said in a low voice, "When will I ever enter the Hall of the Three Primes and the Hall of the Five Qi.

. .

" Li Zheng said hurriedly, "Many thanks, Daoist Qingyou!

" The Hermit of Qingyou shook his head.

"The Human Sovereign has the right to enter the Hall of the Three Primes and the Hall of the Five Qi.

" Shen Mu followed him, doubts in his heart: "From what they say, the Hall of the Three Primes and the Hall of the Five Qi are not a trial but rather something like a tremendous stroke of fortune.

Grandpa Li Zheng has already thanked Immortal Qingyou twice; if even Li Zheng offers thanks, it must be no small matter.

But did Xu Shenghua not enter the Hall of the Three Primes and the Hall of the Five Qi as well?

He took ten days to pass through them, and by the sound of it there was nothing in that worth Grandpa Li Zheng's thanks. . . " He had always believed the two halls, Three Primes and Five Qi, to be trials aimed at him, conducted by these immortals of Little Jade Capital in person; now he dared not be so sure. Li Zheng drifted over and said with a smile, "Since the Hall of the Three Primes and the Hall of the Five Qi have both allowed Shen'er in, why not press on in one breath and open the Hall of the Six Harmonies as well?

" The Hermit of Qingyou sneered, "Daoist Brother, give you an inch and you take a mile! " Li Zheng sneered in return, "You permitted Xu Shenghua, who came from Heaven Above, to enter the two halls of the Three Primes and the Five Qi; is the Human Sovereign to rank below Xu Shenghua?

" The Hermit of Qingyou shook his head. "Heaven Above is exceedingly powerful, in no way inferior to the Human Sovereign Hall—indeed, stronger by a good deal.

I must hold the bowl of water level, leaning to neither side, lest I give people grounds to talk.

" Li Zheng tried to provoke him: "So much for the First Holy Land—are you not simply afraid Heaven Above will make things hard for you?

" The Hermit of Qingyou said calmly, "You cannot provoke me. That Little Jade Capital is honored as the First Holy Land is a name outsiders forced upon us; the thought has never once crossed our minds.

Daoist Brother, you had best not set your mind on such things.

" As they spoke, they came to an immortal isle; climbing the immortal mountain, the Hall of the Three Primes appeared before their eyes. Outside the hall, three aged immortals of Little Jade Capital had long been waiting. The three looked far older even than Li Zheng, the Dao Lord and the rest; their eye sockets were sunken deep, their eyes round and very small, their white hair and long brows trailing upon the ground; though they stood there, they seemed very short of stature.

These three aged immortals were about the height of Xiong Qi'er. "Three senior brothers, I have put you to trouble," the Hermit of Qingyou said, saluting. The three aged immortals returned the salute. "The Human Sovereign comes to visit; naturally we must play the host with some warmth.

" Li Zheng's eyes flickered.

"The Three Primes of Little Jade Capital?

How are you three still alive?

You are far older than I am!

" The three aged immortals glanced at him; one of them, an old woman whose mouth had lost its teeth, said with her lips pursed, "The Earth Lord must have forgotten us, and so has never come to take our lives. " Li Zheng was astonished and uncertain.

Dragging their long brows and white hair, the three aged immortals walked into the hall.

"Human Sovereign, please follow us.

" Shen Mu followed them, afraid they would tread upon their own hair or brows, but happily no such sight occurred. Their white brows and white hair were like living things, ever able to avoid their footsteps of themselves.

"Can it be that, having lived so very long, their hair has taken on spirit?

" Shen Mu secretly wondered. Suddenly the ground gave way beneath his feet; he hastily launched himself upward, and as his vital qi surged, a pair of wings appeared behind him.

Shen Mu beat his wings and hung in the air, his body rising and falling. Before him, boundless firelight came surging in, blinding beyond measure; layer upon layer of array patterns surfaced in Shen Mu's eyes as he worked the Nine Heavens Far-Seeing Art and opened the Azure Heaven Eye, and only thus could he look upon that blazing firelight. Before him the great fire shrouded the whole sky; then the fire fled at flying speed, and a scorching sun drew farther and farther from him, then halted in the air.

The searing heat remained; the sun poured out raging fire, and had Shen Mu not in time circulated the Vermilion Bird vital qi, his very flesh could hardly have borne it. At that moment a coolness came from behind him; Shen Mu hurriedly turned, and saw a vast bright moon blotting out the sky at his back, the moon too receding at flying speed.

"The Heaven Prime is the sun, the Water Prime the moon—then where is the Earth Prime? " Shen Mu looked down at his feet.