Mu Qingfeng's words were filled with relief, yet also a hint of worry.
Wang Xiao's Cultivation was progressing far faster than he had ever anticipated.
So fast it was unprecedented, and likely never to be matched.
It was for this very reason that Mu Qingfeng was worried.
The path to the Martial Saint Realm was unlike any Cultivation that came before.
To become a Martial Saint, one had to rely more on Enlightenment!
It required forging all of one's knowledge into one, creating a path of Martial Arts that was uniquely one's own.
The number of Upper-Grade Martial Arts Wang Xiao had cultivated to the Transformation Realm was far greater than that of any other Grandmaster.
This also meant that Wang Xiao's path to becoming a Martial Saint was destined to be more difficult than anyone else's.
The time it would take would certainly be much longer.
Mu Qingfeng was worried that Wang Xiao, accustomed to his meteoric rise, wouldn't be able to settle down for the slow process of Enlightenment, which could destabilize his martial heart.
Wang Xiao replied in a tone that was neither servile nor arrogant, "Sect Leader, in recent years, I have studied the legacies and cultivation insights of the Sword Sect's past Martial Saints. I have already gained some understanding, but I still need to contemplate how to proceed on the path to the Martial Saint Realm."
According to the historical records of the Sword Sect's Martial Saints, the step from Grandmaster to Martial Saint was known as "beholding Heaven and Earth."
First, one must forge all their knowledge into a single entity, constantly refining and innovating upon it. Then, they must integrate this creation with the world itself, using it to sense the rhythm of Heaven and Earth.
When the Martial Arts one has created can perfectly synchronize with the rhythm of Heaven and Earth, becoming one and the same, only then has one truly entered the Martial Saint Realm!
If the Grandmaster Realm was about perceiving the infinitesimal and achieving perfect control over one's own body...
...then the Martial Saint Realm was about perceiving the grand through the small, achieving perfect control over Heaven and Earth!
Reaching this stage was no simple feat.
It required immense passion for Martial Arts and an extremely high capacity for Enlightenment!
Otherwise, there wouldn't be a mere four Martial Saints in the world today.
Even though future generations could learn from the Martial Arts of their predecessors, the more one learned, the harder it became to innovate.
How, then, could one ever hope to behold Heaven and Earth and sense its rhythm?
Now that Wang Xiao had brought thirty-six Upper-Grade Martial Arts to the Transformation Realm, forging his own path would be tens, even hundreds of times more difficult than it was for other Grandmasters.
Of course, if Wang Xiao did manage to become a Martial Saint, the achievement would be world-shaking. He would be unstoppable!
Mu Qingfeng clapped Wang Xiao on the shoulder. "Xiao'Er, I have been trapped at the peak of the Grandmaster Realm for nearly thirty years and have never found the way forward. Therefore, I have no guidance to offer you. This is a path you must walk alone."
He paused, then continued, "However, on the path to the Martial Saint Realm, simply staying cooped up in this Sword Tomb, studying the knowledge of our predecessors, is not enough."
"Before you can behold Heaven and Earth, you must first behold all living beings."
"Therefore, I grant you permission to leave the mountain."
"Go see the Jianghu. Go see all living beings. And then, find the path of Martial Arts that belongs to you."
"Heaven and Earth... they are hidden among the multitudes."
Wang Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this.
'Behold all living beings, behold Heaven and Earth...'
He had originally planned to descend the mountain and experience the Jianghu only after he became a Martial Saint.
But now it seemed that trying to cross the threshold into the Martial Saint Realm by working in isolation was impossible.
After all, most of his knowledge came from the Sword Tomb. No matter how he wracked his brain, he would remain stuck here, unable to make any progress.
To behold Heaven and Earth, he had to see the mountains, the rivers, and all living beings with his own eyes.
Otherwise, his perspective would be too narrow, like looking at the sky from the bottom of a well.
'If I don't behold all living beings, how can I ever hope to behold Heaven and Earth?'
"Sect Leader, I understand," Wang Xiao nodded.
Mu Qingfeng smiled faintly. "However, Xiao'Er, before you leave, you must agree to three conditions with me."
"Please state them, Sect Leader."
"First, before becoming a Martial Saint, you must not reveal your true strength."
"Second, before becoming a Martial Saint, you must not display our Sword Sect's Martial Arts."
"Third, before becoming a Martial Saint, you must not get involved in the affairs of the Jianghu."
"Can you do this?"
Wang Xiao understood.
'So, even though Mu Qingfeng laid out three conditions, there's really only one requirement.'
'Become a Martial Saint!'
'Once I become a Martial Saint, these three conditions will naturally be null and void.'
At this thought, Wang Xiao nodded. "Alright."
Mu Qingfeng said, "Good. Go say goodbye to your master, and then be on your way."
"Yes. This disciple will take his leave."
Wang Xiao bowed to Mu Qingfeng and the assembled Elders, then departed from the Sword Tomb.
After Wang Xiao had gone, the Elders' expressions filled with worry.
"Sect Leader, the Sword Son is only eight years old. Are we really just going to let him descend the mountain like this? Shouldn't we send someone to follow him?"
"Indeed! The Sword Son is the future of our Sword Sect! We cannot allow anything to happen to him!"
Mu Qingfeng's expression was serene, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips.
"With Xiao'Er's current strength, who among you do you think is qualified to be his Guardian?"
At these words, all the Grandmaster Elders fell silent.
'He reached the Grandmaster Realm by mastering thirty-six Upper-Grade Martial Arts.'
'Even the Sect Leader might not be a match for the Sword Son.'
'Let alone any of us.'
'In the entire world, likely only the four Martial Saints could pose a threat to him.'
However, those four Martial Saints were all recluses who would not act without extreme provocation.
And if one of them really did make a move, sending someone to follow would be useless anyway.
So, a Guardian was indeed an unnecessary precaution.
One of the Grandmasters, still not reassured, said:
"The Jianghu isn't all about martial prowess. There are countless dirty tricks out there. The Sword Son is worldly naive; what if he falls into someone's trap?"
Mu Qingfeng said:
"Xiao'Er has already attained an Immaculate and Unbreakable by God physique. Even lethal poisons will have little to no effect on him. There is no need to worry."
"Furthermore, the very reason I'm letting Xiao'Er enter the world is so he can experience the Jianghu for himself. If we smooth the path for him, it will only hinder his Enlightenment. Let him go."
"Xiao'Er is gifted and intelligent, with an extraordinary disposition. What he needs isn't to be coddled, but a vast world that is truly his own to explore!"
...
「In the courtyard.」
Zhang Tianyang gazed at Wang Xiao, whom he hadn't seen in three years, his eyes filled with emotion.
"I never imagined that the infant I brought back eight years ago would come this far in the blink of an eye. A Martial Saint... Our Sword Sect hasn't produced a Martial Saint in nearly a century!"
Wang Xiao said:
"Master, I haven't become a Martial Saint yet. I don't know what will come of this journey down the mountain."
Zhang Tianyang laughed boisterously.
"Xiao'Er, I believe that with your Talent, becoming a Martial Saint is only a matter of time. Haha! Even though I'm just an Innate Realm Martial Artist, in the future, I'll still be known as the master of a Martial Saint!"
He was now fifty-four, and his vitality had begun to decline. He knew it was likely impossible for him to ever become a Grandmaster.
However, having taught a disciple like Wang Xiao, he was without regret.
Wang Xiao said:
"Master, I came today for two reasons. First, to say goodbye. Second, to help you break through to the Grandmaster Realm."
He knew that Zhang Tianyang practiced the Upper-Grade Martial Arts, the Azure Dragon Cloud-Breaking Sword.
He, of course, also knew this Sword Technique and had already mastered it to the Transformation Realm.
Furthermore, using his Analyze All Things Talent, he had simplified and improved upon it.
This was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate it for Zhang Tianyang.
Zhang Tianyang was taken aback.
"How will you help me?"
Wang Xiao drew his sword and rose. "Master, watch closely."
His body twisted and turned as he demonstrated the Azure Dragon Cloud-Breaking Sword. He performed the entire sequence once, his movements paradoxically slow and deliberate, yet the whole display was over in a flash.
At the same time, he placed a hand on Zhang Tianyang. With a surge of Inner Qi, he guided the energy flow for the Azure Dragon Cloud-Breaking Sword through a full Circulation in Zhang Tianyang's meridians.
As Zhang Tianyang watched Wang Xiao's demonstration and felt the Inner Qi flowing through his body, he suddenly trembled.
All the past confusion and doubts seemed to dissipate in an instant.
It was like parting the clouds to see a clear sky!
"So this is the Transformation Realm... I understand!"
Zhang Tianyang unconsciously drew his sword and performed the Azure Dragon Cloud-Breaking Sword, a technique he had practiced his entire life.
This time, any trace of his previous awkwardness and hesitation was gone.
In its place was a fluid, natural grace—a truly masterful performance.
BOOM!
A violent surge of Inner Qi erupted from Zhang Tianyang's body!
At that moment, Zhang Tianyang stepped into the Grandmaster Realm!
"Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Grandmaster Realm, Master," Wang Xiao said, cupping his fist.
Zhang Tianyang sheathed his sword and let out a long breath.
"Xiao'Er, thank you."
He knew that without Wang Xiao's guidance, he would have been trapped in the Innate Realm for his entire life!
At that moment, he finally understood just how powerful Wang Xiao truly was.
'A Realm like that... it's something I could never hope to reach in my lifetime.'
'But so what?'
'My disciple will see the view from the highest peak for me.'
'That's enough for me!'
"Xiao'Er, wait a moment. I'll go get some wine for a farewell toast. You can leave after we have a drink!"
「Half an hour later.」
Wang Xiao drank the last bowl of wine in one gulp, packed his belongings, and bid farewell to Zhang Tianyang.
With just his sword for company, he descended the mountain.
He was going to behold all living beings and behold Heaven and Earth.
And along the way, he would see the Jianghu for himself!