Library of Heaven’s Path 2: Eternal Destiny

Vol 2 Ch 91: Keep a Hand

“Of course! The Mo Dao is a type of long blade that combines the power of a sabre with the flexibility of a broadsword. However, its flaw is evident: it excels at long-range attacks but becomes restricted in close combat. Your blade technique flows continuously like a stream, and its power is impressive. However, every time you execute it, there’s a deviation at a certain point. This deviation makes it extremely difficult to break through to the third stage no matter how much effort you put in.”

Zhang Xuan explained his observations in detail.

“Deviation?”

Min Jiangtao was stunned. He executed the Mo Dao technique again, stopping at a particular point. “Here?”

“Exactly!” Zhang Xuan nodded. “According to the proper Mo Dao technique progression, after the blade slides down, it should continue into a horizontal slash. However, you abruptly retract your strength, which not only scatters the gathered blade energy but also disrupts the flow of energy within your body. It’s like throwing a punch and then suddenly switching to a straight jab midway, losing the full force of your blow.”

Min Jiangtao stiffened, disbelief written all over his face. “But that’s what my teacher specifically told me to adjust! He said it would catch opponents off guard…”

Zhang Xuan replied, “If catching opponents off guard is the goal, you can connect the technique into seven consecutive variations. Each move extends the strength from the sliding blade. Try using the move on me.”

“Yes, sir!” Min Jiangtao nodded and raised his Mo Dao. Taking a deep breath, he brought the blade crashing down toward Zhang Xuan’s head in a dazzling arc.

Zhang Xuan merely flicked his wrist, and a Mo Dao appeared in his palm. With a gentle thrust, the incoming blade energy scattered. Min Jiangtao felt a heaviness in his chest and a stinging pain in his hand as the Mo Dao slipped from his grasp.

Whoosh!

Zhang Xuan’s Mo Dao stopped at Min Jiangtao’s throat.

“I…” Min Jiangtao’s eyes widened, and his body trembled involuntarily. Thankfully, it was just a sparring match. Otherwise, that single move would have pierced his throat.

“Now, adjust your technique as I instructed!” Zhang Xuan flicked the fallen Mo Dao back to him and demonstrated the move. Unlike Min Jiangtao’s previous execution, Zhang Xuan followed through with a swift horizontal slash instead of retracting his strength.

Min Jiangtao hesitated briefly but mimicked Zhang Xuan’s method. Instantly, he felt the flow of energy within his body smooth out, bringing an unprecedented sense of comfort.

Even without entering combat, he knew this was the correct way to wield the technique, confirming that his prior method had been flawed.

He practiced the blade technique over ten times, each iteration becoming smoother. Suddenly, he let out a long roar, and an explosion of energy surged from his body. His strength, which had just reached the Star River Realm third level—Serenity Realm—had advanced again.

“Thank you for your guidance, Master Zhang… I’ve benefited greatly! This adjustment not only applies to me but likely to my teacher’s technique as well. With your permission, I’d like to share this insight with him upon my return.”

After completing his practice, Min Jiangtao looked toward Zhang Xuan with a mixture of gratitude and hesitation.

“It’s fine to share my adjustments with Mo Baiye. However…” Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow. “I’m curious—how profound is his understanding of the Mo Dao?”

Min Jiangtao smiled wryly. “The Heaven’s Fate Mo Dao was created by my teacher himself. His comprehension has already reached the peak of the third stage, and he’s on the verge of a breakthrough.”

“The peak of the third stage?” Zhang Xuan frowned slightly. “If his understanding is so advanced, how could he fail to notice the flaws and gaps in the technique? And why would he let you continue practicing this way?”

Min Jiangtao froze.

Indeed, as the creator of Heaven’s Fate Mo Dao, his teacher’s understanding should be unparalleled. If Zhang Xuan could identify the flaws with a single glance, why hadn’t his teacher corrected him?

“Take some time to think it over…” Seeing Min Jiangtao deep in thought, Zhang Xuan didn’t press further. He sat cross-legged and began to ponder as well.

He had only recently advanced to the third stage of the Heaven’s Fate Mo Dao, yet he could easily identify the flaws in the technique. Mo Baiye, as the technique’s creator, undoubtedly had the ability to see the same flaws. Why would he choose not to correct them?

“It’s clear now!” Min Jiangtao suddenly sighed, his expression filled with disillusionment.

“Oh?” Zhang Xuan glanced over.

Min Jiangtao explained, “The principle of a singular fate dictates that cultivating the same Heaven’s Fate can lead to competition. To avoid being surpassed by their students, teachers intentionally hold back some knowledge. In other words, they don’t impart everything they know. This is likely why my senior brothers and I have all reached the second stage of the Mo Dao but have been unable to break through to the third.”

“This…” Zhang Xuan frowned.

A teacher deliberately holding back to prevent their students from surpassing them… This concept was new to him.

On the Master Teacher Continent, teachers were expected to give their all to nurture their students, never withholding knowledge. The idea of deliberately sabotaging one’s students would have been met with universal condemnation and resulted in eternal disgrace.

Min Jiangtao nodded. “It’s actually quite common. I’ve also held back critical techniques when teaching my own students. Singular fate… Teachers don’t want to be surpassed, and I don’t want others to surpass me either.”

“No wonder Kong Shi was so quickly labeled a Chaotic Fate Practitioner and hunted by the entire Destiny Hall…” Zhang Xuan muttered.

In a world where everyone held back, someone who selflessly shared everything, even encouraging students to surpass their teachers, would naturally stand out as an anomaly.

“Master Zhang, I’ll return to my training now…” Min Jiangtao bowed before retreating, realizing he had spoken too much. Returning to his position, he began to refine the blade technique Zhang Xuan had taught him.

Zhang Xuan ignored him and immersed himself in the study of the Library of Heaven’s Path’s analysis of the Mo Dao Flowing Stream technique. Although it was only a seventh-tier Heaven’s Fate technique, it was of immense help given his current strength. If mastered correctly, even a Star River second-level expert could be cleaved in two with a single strike.

---

Zouyi City, Mo Dao Hall.

Mo Baiye sat cross-legged in quiet cultivation. Suddenly, the old man rose, reaching out into the air. A Mo Dao leaning against the wall flew into his grasp.

With sharp precision, he executed a series of blade techniques. The slashes flowed like water.

Had Min Jiangtao been present, he would have immediately recognized that this was the very technique Zhang Xuan had modified, not the flawed version Mo Baiye had taught.

Buzz!

As the blade technique unfolded, the Mo Dao in his hands began to tremble. Mo Baiye froze, shifting his gaze to a long incense stick in the corner. It had ignited spontaneously, releasing streams of Heaven’s Fate Energy that coalesced into the shape of a Mo Dao.

Much like when Zhang Xuan comprehended the second stage, this was a sign of someone advancing—but this time, it burned three sticks of incense, signifying an even greater power.

“Someone has reached the third stage? How is that possible?”

Retracting his blade, Mo Baiye’s expression turned grim. “The Mo Dao is a fiercely masculine weapon. Breaking through to the third stage requires overwhelming yang energy. Neither Mo Hong, Mo Qing, nor Min Jiangtao possesses such energy. How could anyone have achieved it?”

It didn’t make sense to him. To prevent his disciples from surpassing him, he had not only altered their techniques but also weakened their physical constitutions, leaving them with diminished vitality and even… impotence.

By all accounts, it should have been impossible for anyone to break through to the third stage. Yet, the undeniable truth of the incense left him feeling deeply threatened.

He observed the incense trail closely.

“The scent drifts southeast… toward the Hanyuan Dynasty. Could it be Min Jiangtao or Ling Buyang?”

Mo Baiye squinted. He was aware that Mo Qing had been killed and had just received word of Ling Buyang’s death. Could Min Jiangtao have been the one to advance?

He tried to sense the Heaven’s Fate Energy generated by the breakthrough, hoping to absorb some of it, but found the area completely barren.

If Min Jiangtao had broken through, as his direct disciple, Mo Baiye should have gained some benefit. The absence of such a connection felt suspicious.

“Forget it. I’ll question him when he returns…”

Unable to make sense of the situation, Mo Baiye waved his hand dismissively. “Send for Mo Hong!”

Mo Hong was his eldest disciple, a middle-aged man in his forties with cultivation at the peak of the Star River Realm third level—Serenity Realm. His understanding of the Mo Dao had reached the pinnacle of the second stage, far surpassing Min Jiangtao and Mo Qing.

“Yes, teacher!”

Mo Hong entered the hall.

“Min Jiangtao is investigating something and should return today,” Mo Baiye said, rising. “When he arrives, I want you to test his strength and report back to me.”

“Yes!” Mo Hong nodded.

“If he reveals his full strength, do not hold back. Otherwise, you might not be his match. If you sense anything suspicious, deal

with him on the spot!”

Mo Baiye’s voice was calm but carried a chilling intent.

“This…”

Mo Hong hesitated before bowing. “Understood, teacher! If Second Brother does anything to betray the sect, I will show no mercy.”

As a loyal disciple raised by Mo Baiye, Mo Hong had no qualms about carrying out his master’s orders.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

After arranging this, Mo Baiye let out a deep sigh of relief.

---

“Finally, I’ve mastered it…”

Standing atop the Iron-Scaled Winged Beast, Min Jiangtao continued to practice the adjusted Mo Dao technique tirelessly. At last, he fully grasped the nuances of Zhang Xuan’s teachings.

Each strike now unleashed blade energy with precision. His power had effectively doubled. Coupled with his recent breakthrough, Min Jiangtao had undergone a complete transformation in just a few days in Hanyuan City.

“It’s clear now that the technique my teacher taught me had issues…”

Sighing to himself, he turned his gaze to the distant figure of Zhang Xuan. Without the man’s intervention, he might have spent decades stuck at the second stage, never breaking through to the third.

“Should I display this newly learned technique in front of my teacher?”

Min Jiangtao hesitated, contemplating his next move.

Author's Note