Grandpa.

...

It was as if he had returned to that spring day, and all the subsequent events were but a dream.

At this time, Song Yan was only eight or nine years old.

He could already read and was gradually beginning to learn some medical arts.

"Hmph..."

Xiao Song was playing with mud in the medicine garden, muttering, "That Squire in Lin Prefecture is truly pitiful."

"He drank ginseng soup, clinging to life, like a living dead person, until he was ninety-eight years old."

"Grandpa, is your medical skill really that brilliant?"

"Someone who should have died long ago can live for so many more years in your hands..."

Xiao Song looked up, gazing at the old man with a hint of reverence: "You’re like an Immortal descended from the heavens, able to grant people eternal life."

"Eternal life?" Grandpa suddenly paused, then burst into laughter: "Hahahahaha, if this old man really had that ability, that would be wonderful..."

Laughter mixed with tears.

He plucked a fresh medicinal seedling and casually tossed it into the medicine basket on his back.

"Grandson, let me tell you something fun."

"Back then, there was a high-ranking official in the imperial court, a man of immense power, second only to one person and above ten thousand."

"But he was old and frail, and he usually didn’t practice any Qi cultivation, so when illness struck, it was like a mountain collapsing..."

"He heard that your Grandpa’s medical skill was brilliant and sent ten thousand taels of gold in exchange for a Spirit Medicine to prolong his life..."

Xiao Song immediately caught the key point: "Grandpa, was he a bad person?"

"Bad person..."

"Good person..."

"Neither, really."

Grandpa’s expression became complex: "He was just an ordinary person with power and influence, that’s all."

"So what happened next? Did you save him?"

The old man’s originally serious expression suddenly relaxed: "I put a little croton bean in his herbal medicine."

"That old fellow had diarrhea for three days and three nights, which actually cleared all the accumulated toxins from his abdomen, allowing him to live for two more years."

"Hahahahaha..."

Xiao Song was amused by Grandpa’s mischievousness.

The old man affectionately stroked his head: "Silly child..."

"Eternal life... Where is there eternal life in this world?"

"Do you think those Immortals in the heavens who have lived for thousands of years don’t die?"

He pointed to the medicine garden in front of them, his voice gentle: "Life and death in this world are like the flourishing and wilting of plants. If you forcibly keep withered branches and decaying leaves, you will only hinder new sprouts from emerging."

"Longevity..."

"There’s nothing to strive for."

"A person’s life is but a hundred years; living freely and meaningfully is the destiny of us Mortals."

Xiao Song felt that what Grandpa said made a lot of sense.

Life and death, Reincarnation, the laws of heaven and earth.

But for some reason, he vaguely felt that something wasn’t quite right.

"Alright, come back with me."

The old man took his hand, and the two slowly walked towards the thatched cottage.

...

Neither of them spoke, walking step by step.

Thump... Hmm? What’s that sound... A blurry sound came from his ears.

The sound grew from distant to near, becoming clearer and clearer.

Xiao Song suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The old man asked in confusion, "What’s wrong, dear grandson?"

Now, Xiao Song recognized what it was.

It was a heartbeat.

"Grandpa..."

"You just said there are Immortals in the heavens who have lived for thousands of years."

Xiao Song suddenly looked up and asked, "Is that right?"

Grandpa was a little surprised, but still answered his question earnestly: "...Yes."

Xiao Song continued, "Mortals living in this world will also die."

"Immortals living in this world will also die, right?"

"...Yes."

"Grandpa..."

"But Mortals are too insignificant..."

His gaze gradually became clear: "They die from illness, they die from hunger..."

"They die if they offend powerful officials and nobles..."

"They also die if they block someone’s path to wealth..."

...

"I don’t want to be a Mortal."

At this moment, only determination remained in his eyes.

"I want to be unrestrained!"

Whether it be Immortals, spirits, gods, Buddhas, or demons, monsters, ghosts!

Even chimaeras, specters, ox-headed and snake-bodied deities... anything is fine.

What I want is not that name... What I want is freedom.

Not to be manipulated by anyone else.

Not to be restricted by any stance.

Not to be bound by any rules... and even true freedom that is not erased by the passage of time!

This is eternal life!

At this instant, the seed within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion slowly vibrated!

The thumping sound, like a heart, grew louder!

The Sword Qi around the Dao seed also surged more violently.

Then a gentle but tenacious spiritual light floated out from within the Dao seed, slowly merging into the embryonic Dao Heart.

The small sword hummed softly, and its appearance became very clear.

At this moment, the scene before him blurred like ink, and everything around him changed suddenly.

The mist on the Heart Refining Road was cut open by a sharp spiritual intention.

On Zuowang Peak, Song Yan slowly opened his eyes, his robes moving without wind, and his eyes seemed to contain all phenomena of the world.

The Dao seed in the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion had solidified incomparably, like Colored Glaze.

The surrounding lotus Sword Qi suddenly transformed into phantoms.

Birds, beasts, insects, fish, grasses, trees, mountains, and rivers... finally transformed into withered wood, wind, and thunder, manifesting before Song Yan.

He suddenly let out a soft laugh: "Not constrained by scorched earth, new sprouts from withered wood, that is also a free way of living between heaven and earth."

Beneath the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, the Dao Heart, seeking the Dao, was finally in Perfection!

...

Outside the Heart Refining Road, the attendant Disciple looked at him with some surprise.

Historically, when Disciples emerged from the Heart Refining Road, their expressions were mostly of lingering fear or sudden realization.

But this Junior Brother before him, not only showed joy on his face, but also had a special phantom condensed around his body.

He secretly mused: "Is this perhaps what is called an ’unusual phenomenon’?"

He sized up Song Yan from head to toe, then nodded slightly.

The Heart Refining Road is a test, but also an opportunity.

However, everyone simply regarded this place as just a test.

Those who could truly face their inner self and gain something were few and far between.

This person before him was probably one of them.

He thought to himself that this Junior Brother was clearly a Dragon and Phoenix among men, and he should make good friends with him and maintain close contact in the future.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed: "Congratulations, Junior Brother, on successfully passing the Heart Refining Road and officially being promoted to Inner Sect Disciple."

"Next, we will handle all the handover trivialities for you."

"You may take your Inner Sect Disciple jade token and Dao robe first."

He glanced slightly: "A-Lian."

"Yes."

A young Daoist boy quickly stepped forward, holding a tray.

On it, an Inner Sect Disciple Dao robe was neatly folded, with a jade token pressed in the center.

Song Yan took it, temporarily put it into his qiankun bag, and nodded: "Thank you."

The young boy’s eyes held a hint of envy, but he still obediently retreated behind the attendant Disciple.

"Junior Brother, the most important matter right now is to choose a main peak, so that an Immortal Cave can be arranged for you later..."

"Currently, apart from Guiyan Peak and Demon Subduing Peak, which are two special main peaks, the other six peaks still have available slots."

The attendant Disciple politely welcomed him into a grand hall, where eight hanging paintings adorned the front of the hall.

"Ah, of course, Lianyou Peak does not accept male Disciples."