Dawn had arrived. The sea outside the cave gleamed crimson like spilled blood, waves crashing endlessly like the weary sighs of heaven and earth.
Inside the cave, Quang Minh sat cross-legged, both hands resting on his knees. Bích Thủy still lay unconscious, her breathing faint. Quang Minh closed his eyes and began channeling his inner energy.
The Dragon Soul Diagram's Mantras Become Clear
In the silence, Quang Minh felt the energy in his dantian surging like tumultuous waves. The lines of scripture once imparted to him by Nguyễn Tinh Vân flashed vividly in his mind, as if etched into stone.
"The five elements give birth and restrain each other, all converging into a single point. Yang energy condenses into water; yin energy condenses into frost. Purple energy arrives from the east, transforming into a dragon emerging from the sea."
Quang Minh murmured, his voice low as midnight wind:
"Condensing water into a sword… condensing frost into a finger strike… The Divine Art of Transforming into a Dragon is indeed fathomless."
Suddenly, he recalled Nguyễn Tinh Vân's warning:
"If you cannot maintain a tranquil heart, the demonic nature will invade. The higher one's martial arts, the easier the mind falls into chaos."
Sweat beaded on Quang Minh's brow. In his mind, images of Lê Hoàng Tử's sinister smile and the blood-soaked screams of Jianghu came flooding in.
Quang Minh gasped for breath, scolding himself:
"No! I cannot let the demonic heart control me!"
Practicing 'Condensing Water into a Sword'
He guided his energy downward into his dantian, then slowly up through the Hand Taiyin Meridian. Quang Minh pressed his palms together. In the space between his hands, vapor gathered and slowly solidified into a thin blade of water, delicate as a cicada's wing.
Firelight from the cave shimmered along the translucent water blade, while cold radiated outward, causing frost to form on the surrounding stone.
Quang Minh whispered:
"Condensing water into a sword… requires unwavering focus and a mind as clear as glass. Should stray thoughts intrude, the blade will shatter."
At that instant, hatred for Lê Hoàng Tử surged into his consciousness. The water blade quivered violently, then splintered into droplets falling with soft plinks.
Quang Minh turned pale and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Understanding the Thin Line Between Righteousness and Evil
Wiping the blood from his lips, he closed his eyes, murmuring in a grave voice:
"Martial arts training isn't merely about techniques. It's about training the heart."
Nguyễn Tinh Vân had once told him:
"Between righteousness and evil lies but a single thought. If the heart is still, the technique becomes supple; when supple, it transforms into strength."
Quang Minh took a deep breath, dispelling all thoughts of vengeance. In his mind remained only the image of Bích Thủy and the gentle face of Nguyễn Tinh Vân.
Once again, he gathered his energy. Vapor condensed into a sword. This time, the blade was crystal clear, sharp yet perfectly steady.
Practicing 'Condensing Frost into a Finger Strike'
Shifting his focus, Quang Minh pointed his finger at the stone wall. Energy flowed from his dantian to his fingertip. Vapor condensed into a tiny ice needle at his fingertip, which shot forward and pierced the stone.
"CRACK!" A small hole the size of a bean bored clean through the rock.
Quang Minh panted for breath, sweat pouring down his face, but his eyes shone brightly:
"Condensing Frost into a Finger Strike… at last, I've achieved it…"
He knew that once fully mastered, the technique could pierce iron and steel, striking enemies from three zhang away.
Bích Thủy Awakens
Just then, Bích Thủy let out a faint groan. Quang Minh rushed to her side, gently shaking her:
"Bích Thủy! You're awake?"
Bích Thủy opened her eyes, misty and glistening with tears. Her voice was feeble:
"Quang Minh… are you… all right?"
Quang Minh gripped her hand, smiling softly:
"I'm all right. I've realized… that the path of righteousness isn't only in the sword… but within the heart."
Bích Thủy managed a weak smile. In her eyes shone trust mixed with quiet worry.
Bích Thủy exhaled shakily, murmuring:
"Did you know… the Lục Phong Sect doesn't consist only of Lê Hoàng Tử. Behind him… there's someone else. That person… is…"
Before she could finish, an explosive boom echoed from beyond the island. The sea erupted into white-crested waves, birds scattering in panic.
Quang Minh sprang to his feet, eyes blazing with vigilance.
"Who… is coming now?!"
Outside, a green-robed figure skimmed across the waves, speeding toward Bích Hải Island, heralding yet another impending upheaval.