Feng Ming fell into silence the moment his master's voice echoed through the still air. There was a weight to those words, a stillness that pressed against the boundaries of his heart.
After a long pause, his master finally spoke, his voice calm, yet laced with a depth that seemed to transcend time itself.
"The true Dao of the Eternal Way is not a singular path.
It is the fusion of countless Daos.
It need not be the same for everyone."
His master's lips curved slightly into a rare, enigmatic smile as he added softly,
"But it would be wonderful if yours happened to align with mine."
That strange smile a mixture of warmth and cold inevitability stirred something within Feng Ming. In that fleeting moment, he grasped the hidden meaning within his master's expression.
Then, the voice of the master resonated again, deeper this time, like a blade sliding free of its sheath.
"My Dao is the Dao of Killing.
It was born to slay, to sever, to silence.
Its foundation lies in the very laws that govern heaven and earth.
It is both absurdly simple and infinitely profound."
His eyes gleamed with a piercing light as he continued,
"In the human body, billions of cells dwell. Each moment, thousands perish while thousands more rise in their place.
For new life to be born, energy is required Energy obtained through the devouring of others.
Mortals call it food.
But in essence, it is the cycle of life and death killing and transforming."
Feng Ming listened, his mind sinking deeper into the boundless ocean of his master's words.
"This truth applies to all life forms.
The heavens, the earth everything.
Energy cannot be created it can only be transformed.
And transformation demands the death of the former owner
Kill. Devour. Transform.
This is the essence of all existence.
This is the truth behind the Dao of Killing
One of the Three Supreme Daos."
The air seemed to darken, the silence thickening like fog around them.
"Through killing, I absorb the lifespan of my enemies.
That is merely a passive effect.
As for the active abilities?
You don't need to know it."
Feng Ming said nothing. He simply remained seated, legs crossed, breathing calm, mind immersed in silent meditation.
Yet his master was not done.
"You must find your own Dao.
Seek one of the Three Supreme Paths if you dare.
My master walked the Dao of Devouring.
I chose the Dao of Killing.
And through one of them I forged my Eternal Way.
Now, let us see which Dao you will choose."
Feng Ming gave only a nod. Words were unnecessary. His resolve was his answer.
The master, too, fell silent.
Ten months passed.
The seasons shifted, but Feng Ming did not move. Seated like a statue carved from obsidian, his body remained still. Finally, his eyes slowly opened calm, focused. Though a Bone Refining cultivator could go years without food, water was still a necessity. And thirst had finally called him back from the depths of his cultivation.
Sitting beside him, his master opened his eyes as well. He had been waiting.
Without a word, he handed Feng Ming a flask of water. After the youth drank, his master rose and spoke with the same serene gravity:
"Follow me."
And Feng Ming stood, the silence between them echoing with destiny.