Daoist Master, I'm really not an evil cultivator.

Chapter 49 [Pure Yang Heaven], Divine Soul Forging

At this moment, Chi Mingzi staggered out of the side room, carrying a red gourd in his hand, still half asleep.

"Kid, how was the sword-sharpening last night?"

Xu Changqing smiled bitterly: "It feels like falling into a hellhole, my heart is pounding."

"This is just the beginning." Chi Mingzi chuckled, rummaged around in his tattered Taoist robe for a moment, pulled out a white jade token, and casually tossed it over, "Here, take it."

Xu Changqing reached out and caught it. It felt warm and slightly cool to the touch. The token was about the size of a palm, pure white, like jade but not quite. On the front were three ancient Daoist characters: "Pure Yang Heaven," the strokes vigorous and powerful, with a hint of sword intent flowing through them. On the back was a simple cloud and star map, with a red light in the center, like a sword suspended in the air.

"Sink your mind and you'll be fine." Chi Mingzi took a swig of wine, smacked his lips, and a hint of anticipation flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

Xu Changqing had no doubts and followed his instructions, focusing his mind and slowly extending a wisp of his divine sense towards the token in his hand.

The moment his consciousness touched it, a thunderous roar resounded in his mind. It was as if the world was spinning, and the surrounding courtyard, pine trees, and pond water blurred and disappeared in an instant.

He felt as if he had been thrown into an endless, intensely bright, pure white light.

The light flowed like countless fine sword beams, emitting a deep and grand hum that shook his very soul.

Before one could look closely, a colossal figure, towering to the heavens and standing tall, slowly emerged from the depths of the light.

The figure was blurry and indistinct, with only its outline towering like a mountain. It was enveloped in a blazing light like the sun, making its face impossible to discern. One could only feel a vast, ancient, and pure sword intent rushing towards him, pressing down on Xu Changqing's consciousness to the point of almost collapsing.

The tall, divine being remained silent, but simply raised a giant hand that seemed to be formed from light and grabbed at the air.

Xu Changqing then felt his consciousness being seized, kneaded, and stretched by an invisible force... turning into a blurry mass of light and shadow.

Immediately afterwards, the giant hand grasped a giant hammer and raised it high.

"clang!"

The first hammer blow struck directly onto the luminous image formed from Xu Changqing's divine consciousness. An indescribable pain instantly pierced his soul; he felt as if everything about him had been shattered by this blow, sparks flying and impurities scattering everywhere.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The giant hammer never stopped, striking again and again with a heavy and steady rhythm. Each strike was accompanied by the roar of the Dao and the trembling of the soul.

He seemed to become a piece of metal, a hammer, and the forging itself. Pain and enlightenment intertwined, shattering and reshaping occurred simultaneously.

Countless pieces of information about forging flying swords were forcefully poured into his mind like a torrent.

After countless hammer blows, it was finally forged into the prototype of a longsword, its blade shimmering with light and displaying Dao patterns.

Xu Changqing's consciousness, through this endless tempering, was worn away by much of its impetuosity and superficiality, becoming solid and sharp, and his understanding of "sword" suddenly rose to a whole new level.

Strands of enlightenment naturally emerged, automatically coalescing in his mind into an even more profound and mysterious scripture, the "Pure Yang Refining Immortal Sword Dao Scripture".

This scripture elaborates in detail how to use oneself as a furnace, magical power as fire, and the divine soul as a hammer to temper and cultivate the sword seed step by step until it is forged into an indestructible immortal sword capable of slaying gods and immortals.

The methods for condensing sword intent, differentiating sword light, and cultivating swords are exquisite and profound.

Just as the longsword was about to be fully formed, the entire scene shattered with a deafening roar.

Xu Changqing suddenly opened his eyes and found himself still standing in the courtyard, clutching the white jade token tightly in his hand. His back was soaked with cold sweat, his face was as pale as paper, and deep in his soul lingered the lingering fear and dull pain of being tempered a thousand times.

He subconsciously looked inward at his dantian, where the crimson-gold killing sword seed now shone with a more subdued light and its form was more solid, as if it had undergone hundreds of temperings.

"How are you feeling?" Akamiko's smiling voice came from behind.

Xu Changqing took a deep breath, suppressing his discomfort, and looked at his master's lazy appearance. He immediately understood that Chi Mingzi wanted to see him make a fool of himself. His voice was a little dry: "Master, why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

"I told you beforehand, it wouldn't feel like this!" Akamiko waved his hand dismissively, taking a swig of wine. "The taste may be unpleasant, but the benefits are real. Tell me, what did you see?"

"A tall, divine figure... wielding a hammer to forge a sword." Xu Changqing was still shaken. "This disciple became the sword blank, repeatedly hammered and beaten."

"Hey, that's right." Chi Mingzi nodded, a rare seriousness appearing in his eyes. "That's not some divine phantom, but a wisp of 'Sword Forging Dao Rhyme' left behind by the Pure Yang Ancestor. It's the mark left by our Pure Yang Dao Ancestor when he forged the sword. Every recognized [Pure Yang Child] must undergo this 'Divine Soul Forging' when receiving their identity token. It may seem like suffering, but it's actually the most direct way to let you understand the true meaning of forging a sword from nothing to something, from mortal to immortal, and it can also solidify your foundation in swordsmanship. You cultivate the 'Pure Yang Sword Dao Immortal Scripture,' a method that emphasizes meaning and comprehension. The suffering of this soul forging is equivalent to several years of self-study."

Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing once again sensed the changes in his soul and sword seed, and indeed felt a sudden enlightenment regarding many obscure aspects of the "Pure Yang Sword Immortal Scripture".

"Thank you for your generous gift, Master." Xu Changqing bowed solemnly.

"We're master and disciple, no need for formalities." Chi Mingzi accepted the bow, but his expression suddenly softened. He looked up at the sky, then listened intently to the distant wind. "I've given you the gifts, and I've taught you what I needed to teach. Boy, your master... is leaving."

Xu Changqing was taken aback: "Master? Is it that sword madman..."

"Hmm, that fellow's aura is getting closer and closer. I reckon he'll be here in a few hours." Chi Mingzi picked at his ear, looking disgusted. "If he gets involved, it'll take ten days to half a month to decide the winner. It's a real hassle. I'm used to being lazy and can't stand this kind of trouble. Now that you've entered the sect, received the true teachings, and have the token, you're a proper disciple of the Pure Yang Sect. From now on, you'll have to walk your own path."

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Xu Changqing's heart, and he bowed deeply once more: "Disciple respectfully sees Master off. Master's teachings will never be forgotten."

Chimingzi looked at him, a hint of relief flashing in his cloudy eyes, before he returned to his cynical demeanor and waved his hand.

"Alright, enough of that. Before I leave, let me say a few more words. This [Pure Yang Heaven] token you have isn't just an identity document; it has another use."

He pointed to the crimson light in the center of the star map on the back of the token: "If you achieve success in your cultivation in the future and go to the imperial capital Xuanjing, remember to visit 'Xuandu Mountain,' which is three hundred miles west of the city. Our ancestral land of the Pure Yang Dao is there. As for what's inside... hehe, you'll find out when you get there. In short, it will greatly benefit your sword cultivation. Remember, the token is the key, don't lose it."