One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Chapter 88 A Love That Could Topple a City?

In the space of consciousness, Nie Feng's phantom had become extremely faint, almost transparent, as if it might dissipate in the wind at any moment. The fire unicorn phantom that had been lying prostrate at his feet also stood up, its golden beastly eyes fixed on Nie Feng with a complex expression.

"Senior..." Nie Lingfeng's consciousness struggled to coalesce and bowed to Nie Feng. He could sense that the last bit of power of this senior, who had given him new life across time and space and guided him again when he was about to lose his way, was dissipating.

Nie Feng smiled faintly, a smile that contained relief, understanding, and a sense of ease.

"The legacy has ended, the road signs have been set." He said slowly, his voice growing softer and softer, "Whether the remaining journey is a smooth road or a thorny path, whether it is a bright and sunny day or a bloody storm... you must measure it with your own feet and forge it with your own hands."

He raised his hand, and light gathered in his palm.

Two soft halos, one black and one white, appeared, gradually solidifying into a pair of jade pendants.

The jade pendants are no bigger than a thumb, with a simple and ancient design, perfectly round in shape. The black jade pendant is as warm and smooth as the finest black jade, yet even more profound, seemingly drawing the viewer's gaze into its depths; the white jade pendant is as translucent as mutton-fat jade, flawless and smooth, with seemingly flowing cloud-like patterns inside. The edges of both pendants are engraved with extremely fine and mysterious cloud patterns. These patterns are not merely decorative; upon closer inspection, they subtly form a miniature Tai Chi symbol.

Most remarkably, when the two jade pendants are placed together, they seem to form some kind of invisible connection. The black jade pendant's ink color seems to come alive, subtly flowing towards the white jade pendant; the white jade pendant's translucent whiteness also ripples like water, blending with the ink color. Yin and yang, hard and soft, mutually generating and regenerating, in a continuous cycle.

"These 'Yin-Yang Jade Pendants' were obtained by chance from an old friend, and they are the last tangible thing I can leave you." Nie Feng handed the jade pendants to Nie Lingfeng, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of reminiscence and melancholy in his eyes. "They are not divine weapons, nor do they possess any offensive or defensive capabilities. However, their material is special, containing a wisp of innate Yin-Yang energy, which has the effects of calming the mind and soul, harmonizing Yin and Yang, and nourishing the meridians. They will be quite beneficial to your current state."

Nie Lingfeng solemnly accepted the jade pendant with both hands. The jade pendant felt warm and smooth to the touch, and a cool and gentle aura flowed into his body along his arm, instantly calming his restless blood and spirit caused by receiving the inheritance. The Qilin tattoo on his chest also received a comfortable sensation; the ever-present, faint burning sensation was significantly neutralized by the aura of the jade pendant.

"Furthermore," Nie Feng paused, looking at Nie Lingfeng with a strange expression, "these jade pendants are also related to a... legend."

"A legend?" Nie Lingfeng's heart stirred.

"Hmm." Nie Feng nodded. "Legend has it that if a man and a woman, whose hearts are in sync and whose yin and yang complement each other, each receive the recognition of a yin-yang jade pendant, under certain extreme circumstances and emotional resonance, they might be able to sense each other and have the opportunity to cultivate together that legendary—"

He paused, as if carefully choosing his words, and then slowly uttered four words:

"A Love That Could Topple a City".

Nie Lingfeng trembled violently! His consciousness was also violently disturbed!

A love story that could topple cities!

In the original novel of "Wind and Cloud," a fleeting glimpse of a supreme skill, hailed as transcending the realm of martial arts and nearly embodying the "Tao," was displayed! Back then, Nie Feng and Dugu Mingyue met, fell in love, and through a jade pendant, their hearts finally connected at the critical moment of life and death. They drew upon the power of heaven and earth to unleash a breathtaking love that could "topple cities"! No one has ever been able to replicate it since!

These seemingly ordinary jade pendants are actually the key to unlocking the legacy of "A Love That Could Topple a City"?!

Seeing Nie Lingfeng's shocked expression, Nie Feng smiled, a smile that showed a calm acceptance of the ways of the world.

"However, you don't need to be too fixated on this," he said slowly. "The inheritance of 'Love That Shakes the City' is extremely mysterious and cannot be forced by human power. Whether you can meet the other half acknowledged by that jade pendant requires immense fate; even if you do, whether you can be of one mind and complement each other's yin and yang requires even deeper emotional bonds and tacit understanding; even if you are of one mind, whether you can walk side by side on the path of martial arts to a sufficient height to trigger the inheritance is even more difficult. As for whether you can ultimately cultivate it... that depends on fate and destiny."

He cast his gaze into the distant void, his voice echoing: "My old friend and I... had the opportunity to encounter this legend back then, and even... vaguely sensed some traces. But ultimately, our karmic connection wasn't complete, and we couldn't truly grasp its core. These jade pendants have been in my hands for decades. Giving them to you today can be considered... finding them a home."

Nie Lingfeng gripped the Yin-Yang jade pendant tightly in his hand. The warm, smooth touch gradually calmed his excited emotions. He understood Nie Feng's meaning—to have it is my fortune, to lose it is my fate. A love that could topple empires is wonderful, but it cannot be forced. The jade pendants themselves are already rare treasures; they can help him harmonize the Yin and Yang within his body and stabilize his mind, and that is enough.

"I understand," Nie Lingfeng said solemnly. "Fate cannot be forced. I will take good care of these jade pendants. If there is an opportunity, I will cherish it; if there is no opportunity, I will never force it."

"That's good." Nie Feng nodded with satisfaction and placed the jade pendant in Nie Lingfeng's hand.

Then, his figure began to dissipate rapidly, starting from the edge, turning into specks of shimmering starlight that slowly drifted away.

"juvenile……"

The last sound came, ethereal and otherworldly, yet containing the most sincere blessings and expectations.

"Remember, the ultimate goal of martial arts is never destruction, but protection; not control, but freedom; not unparalleled dominance, but... finding your own path and walking it steadfastly."

"Go."

"Go experience your love and hate, face your life-and-death choices, protect everything you care about, and witness the grandeur and tenderness of this world."

As the last word fell, Nie Feng's phantom completely dissipated, transforming into countless starlight points that gently fell upon Nie Lingfeng's consciousness, then merged into it, becoming part of his soul's nourishment.

The Qilin phantom, which had been quietly observing, raised its head and let out a silent, mournful, and respectful howl in the direction where Nie Feng had disappeared.

The whistling sound echoed in the space of consciousness.

Then, the Qilin turned its head, its beastly eyes, burning with golden flames, staring intently at Nie Lingfeng. In that gaze, there was scrutiny, there was approval, and there was also a strange entrustment that transcended species and time.

The next second, the phantom of the fire qilin suddenly opened its huge mouth!

"roar--!!!"

It wasn't a real sound wave, but a torrent of pure, golden-red flames containing endless life and destruction power, which spewed out of its mouth and rushed straight towards Nie Lingfeng!

The moment the flames touched him, Nie Lingfeng felt no burning pain.

Instead, an indescribable, gentle yet overwhelming warmth, like amniotic fluid in a mother's womb, completely enveloped him. This warmth permeated every "corner" of his consciousness, and then, through some mysterious connection, spread to his physical body, seeping into every inch of flesh, every bone, and every meridian!

He "senses" it!

My perception of "fire" suddenly became a thousand times clearer!

The faint, free-floating thermal particles in the air; the surging, blazing fire of the earth's veins deep underground; even the boundless energy of light and heat emanating from the sun high in the sky… everything related to "fire" became incredibly familiar, as if it were an extension of his own body. With the slightest thought, he could clearly perceive their existence, flow, and intensity.

At the same time, the Qilin blood surging within his body seemed to be completely "activated" by this torrent of flames!

The previously deep-seated, fiery, and domineering power that had threatened to erupt and backfire was now as docile as a tamed dragon. It remained powerful and fiery, but no longer attempted to break free or retaliate against its master. Nie Lingfeng could clearly feel that his control over this power had reached an unprecedented level! With a thought, he could precisely control the speed, temperature, and intensity of his blood flow! He even vaguely touched upon some deeper, more fundamental mysteries belonging to the Qilin bloodline…

The torrent of flames lasted for an unknown period of time before gradually weakening and dissipating.

The phantom of the fire qilin became extremely faint, and it nodded slightly to Nie Lingfeng—a solemn nod that carried a sense of entrustment.

Then, it transformed into countless sparks, blooming like fireworks and dissipating into the darkness of the consciousness space.

The third sphere of light completed its final mission, its radiance completely receding, transforming into an inconspicuous gray pebble, quietly suspended in a corner of the consciousness space.

The legacy has now truly come to an end.

IV. Enlightenment by the pool, the road ahead is long.

In reality, it's located under the waterfall on the back of Longhu Mountain.

Nie Lingfeng suddenly opened his eyes!

The sunlight was blinding, the sound of water deafening, and time seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye—perhaps only a few breaths. But he knew that everything was different.

Deep within his consciousness, two vast and boundless cultivation techniques were inherited; within his soul, the final blessing of Senior Nie Feng and the original gift of the Fire Qilin were imprinted; his perception and control of his own power leaped to a completely new level.

He lowered his head and opened his palm.

In his palm lay a pair of warm, smooth jade pendants. One black and one white, they were warm to the touch, and a cool, gentle aura flowed continuously into his body, coexisting harmoniously with the surging Qilin blood, giving him an unprecedented sense of comfort and peace.

He gripped the jade pendant tightly, closed his eyes, and focused on feeling it.

In his mind, the cultivation method of "Crossing the Demonic Heart" was strict and ruthless, like a perilous ladder leading to the abyss yet pointing to the light; the mental cultivation method of "The Ease of Seeking Nothing" was ethereal and vast, like a magnificent scroll depicting the ultimate truths of heaven and earth. The information of both was crystal clear and distinct, waiting for him to explore, cultivate, and comprehend.

There's also that affinity and control over "fire," and a deeper connection to one's own Qilin bloodline... these are all tangible improvements.

"So that's how it is..." Nie Lingfeng murmured to himself, his voice barely audible amidst the roar of the waterfall. "My so-called 'control' was nothing more than forcibly suppressing with greater power, using the Heart-Cleansing Mantra and the Ice Heart Technique to construct a cage to trap the demonic nature and mad blood. It's like trying to control floods by only blocking them, not channeling them. Once the pressure becomes too great, the cage breaks, and the floodwaters will be overwhelming."

"The first step of 'Crossing the Demon Heart,' 'Facing It Directly,' is to make me acknowledge the existence of this 'Flood,' to acknowledge that it is part of my power. The 'No Desire' and 'Borrowing Power' of the 'No Desire Easy Technique' teach me how to manage the flood, and even use the power of the flood to irrigate fields and drive waterwheels. As for the final 'Unity'... that may be to let the flood and the earth completely merge, you in me, me in you, with no more distinction."

He opened his eyes, a glimmer of understanding flashing in them.

The path is clear now.

First, use the "Easy Way of No Desire" to stabilize your mind and temper your will, reaching the state of "borrowing power," which allows you to resonate initially with the power of heaven and earth. Based on this, begin cultivating "Crossing the Demonic Heart," starting with "facing" it directly, gradually subduing, controlling, and ultimately merging with the demon within your heart.

This is a long process; it cannot be rushed or rushed. We must proceed step by step, as if walking on thin ice.

"As for these jade pendants..." Nie Lingfeng looked at the Yin-Yang jade pendants in his hand and smiled, "Let fate decide. If I get them, I'm lucky; if I don't, it's my fate. Right now, they can help me harmonize the Yin and Yang within my body and stabilize the restlessness of my mad blood, which is already a tremendous help."

He took out a dark red cord woven from celestial silkworm silk from his bosom (actually from his Qiankun bag), which he had prepared beforehand. The cord appeared thin, but it was exceptionally strong and impervious to water and fire. He carefully strung the Yin-Yang jade pendant onto the cord, black on the left and white on the right, then tied an exquisite knot and hung it around his neck.

The jade pendant hung down, resting perfectly against his chest, covering the Qilin tattoo.

Instantly, a warm, cool, and peaceful aura emanated from the jade pendant, seeping through the skin and into the meridians, slowly merging with the burning tattoo on the chest and the surging Qilin blood within the body. The ever-present, faint restlessness of the mad blood and the subtle stinging of the demonic blade's killing intent were mostly neutralized and soothed by this aura!

Nie Lingfeng was so comfortable that he almost groaned.

It's like someone who has been carrying a heavy burden for years suddenly having half of their load lifted off their shoulders; or like the constant noise in your ears suddenly being turned down. Your entire mental state becomes instantly refreshed!

"What a wonderful thing!" he couldn't help but exclaim, gently stroking the jade pendant on his chest.

He stood up and walked to the edge of the pond.

The clear pool water was like a mirror, reflecting his figure.

The long, grayish-white hair was slightly damp from the moisture, shimmering with a silvery-gray sheen in the sunlight. The black at the roots had clearly spread to the mid-lengths, creating a natural transition from deep black to grayish-white. Far from making the hair look old, it possessed a strange, weathered charm.

Her complexion was rosy, and her eyes were bright and clear, no longer showing the occasional bloodshot or madness that had appeared before. Deep within her pupils was a calm that had settled, but beneath that calm lay a chilling power, like the deep sea.

He could feel the coolness emanating from the jade pendant on his chest, the gentle surge of the Qilin blood within his body, the profound information from the two supreme cultivation techniques in his mind, and his newfound control over "fire" and his own power...

All of this gave him a feeling of being reborn.

"First, practice the Yi Jue of No Desire." He said softly but firmly to his reflection in the water, "In this tranquil place of Longhu Mountain, by utilizing the power of the waterfall, the mountain's veins, and the essence of the sun and moon, quickly comprehend the wonder of 'borrowing momentum.' Once your state of mind and control have reached a higher level, then try to touch the threshold of 'Crossing the Demonic Heart.'"