Once an Epiphany casts the heart of a sword, but there is a surprise in the ear.

"There are countless fine swords in the world, but none can compare to that which I forge myself."

"Abandoning the self to become the iron embryo, I forge with egoless heart."

"All manner of divine weapons are no match for me, my murderous heart can shatter armies of ten thousand!"

...

One after another, the murals flashed through Du Ke's mind and he mumbled to himself as the images shifted.

The white cat with drooping eyelids was concocting an increasingly sharp and extraordinary sword intent within those golden orbs.

Having entered a state of no self and no mind, Du Ke was comprehending the Heartless Sword Technique at a speed that could only be described as godlike.

He had originally planned to slowly comprehend the Heartless Sword Technique only after returning to the girl's side.

But unexpectedly, being brought to this brothel by Si Er and experiencing its carnal temptations had granted him the fortune to enter this egoless state of enlightenment.

While Du Ke was comprehending the Heartless Sword Technique, Si Er and Shi San anxiously awaited on the fourth floor.

"It's already been three hours, how has he still not finished!"

Squatting on the cushion, Si Er gazed at the entrance to the fifth floor pavilion, clicking his tongue in amazement.

Ever since leaving Miao City and following the White Duke, Si Er had witnessed countless heroes and geniuses over a period of time. Among them were those with monstrous aptitudes.

There were even those who had walked the demonic path of slaughter since childhood, killing innumerable innocents before successfully transcending their tribulations to become immortals.

But none could compare to even a fraction of Du Ke's brilliance now.

"If I told others what my brother was up to, probably not many demons would believe it!"

Si Er chuckled to himself, "Just one night in a brothel granted him the fortune to gain enlightenment and comprehend the egoless state in but an instant. Such an opportunity, such talent, is rarely seen in the world, with none able to match it."

"Ah, this brother of mine is becoming more and more incredible."

"It's just that he's too reserved, even rejecting the precious gift of a beauty."

"Looks like I'll have to try a different approach with him."

As Si Er muttered to himself, his amber eyes glanced over at Shi San.

Shi San was currently lying prostrate at the top of the stairs, intently staring at the entrance to the fifth floor. His tiger hat had been removed and only one strap of his bib remained hanging across his chest.

The foolish dog's eyes were filled with guilt and regret, and he hadn't budged an inch this whole time.

"Foolish dog, how did you and I become brothers?"

Si Er tossed a grape into his mouth as he eyed the dog's back.

Shi San was in no mood to answer, lost in his own sea of self-reproach. Seeing this, Si Er scratched his ear and sighed, "What a silly mutt."

Just as Si Er was bored to death, the charming fox who had previously been dancing came over and knelt beside him. In a soft voice she said, "Master Si Er, Madame Bu from the Hong Que Building is here. She says she wants to see your brother."

"Oh?"

Si Er's ears perked up as he looked at the charming fox, "The madam of Hong Que Building?"

"Yes."

"What business does the madam of Hong Que Building have with my brother?"

Si Er stroked his chin while the charming fox asked in a low voice, "Shall I let her come up?"

"Call her here, I'm rather curious what she wants with my brother."

"Understood."

The charming fox nodded, then slowly backed away. Once she had retreated some distance, she finally turned and left to inform the old madam waiting at the entrance.

Soon after, the charming fox led the old madam to the fourth floor and had her stand before Si Er.

Seeing Si Er leisurely reclining amidst his embroidered silken robes at the top of the stairs leading to the fifth floor, combined with the information she had received earlier, the old madam was slightly shocked.

It seemed this Si Er had a much closer relationship with that Du Ke than she had imagined.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have reserved the entire brothel and personally stationed himself at the top of these stairs to guard the path for that white cat.

"Madam, what business do you have with my brother?"

Si Er flicked his tail, an inquisitive look on his face. The old madam quickly explained with an ingratiating smile, "Master Si Er, I've come to deliver a message to your brother."

"A message?"

Si Er tilted his head and scratched his ear with his hind leg.

"That's right. Earlier, your brother came to our Hong Que Building to gather intelligence," the old madam recounted why she was here: "But because of certain circumstances, we did not provide the full information."

"Just recently, new information came in from headquarters. Realizing it was exactly what your brother had asked for, I rushed over to deliver it."

"I see."

Si Er nodded lightly, his tail swaying as his expression remained neutral.

"Since that's the case, just leave the message here."

"As for the cost of the information..." Si Er spat out some spirit stones, letting them pile up beside him. With a casual wave of his paw, he said, "Take as much as is owed."

"You have my thanks, Master Si Er."

The old madam took out a bamboo slip from her person. After placing it near Si Er, she also bowed her head slightly to show respect.

"Take the spirit stones and be on your way. Do not disturb my brother."

"Yes!"

The old madam nodded again and took her leave after collecting the spirit stones. Si Er glanced at the entrance to the fifth floor pavilion.

"I wonder how long my brother will remain in comprehension. It really makes one envious!"

Si Er let out a long sigh. Meanwhile, Shi San silently lay prostrate on the carpet, patiently waiting for Du Ke to awaken.

...

The next dawn, Fifth Floor of the Brothel.

The white cat who had been motionless for so long suddenly blinked its lifeless eyes. As the golden orbs blinked rapidly a few times, a piercing radiance abruptly ignited within.

Taking a long deep breath, Du Ke slowly exhaled the stale air.

With a whoosh, the carpet and floorboards before Du Ke were instantly covered in countless fine gashes, as if they had been raked by blades.

As the gashes appeared, an aura of sword intent erupted from the white cat's body. Though faint, it was extremely pure.

The unleashing of this sword intent affected the entire brothel.

Nearly every demon inside the brothel heard the cry of an invisible sword in their ears.

Amidst the buzzing sword cries, Si Er and Shi San immediately charged up from the fourth floor to the fifth.

Shi San was the fastest, bolting ahead of even Si Er.

Before Du Ke could gather his thoughts, Shi San's canine head forcefully entered his field of vision and pounced on him.

The dog pressed his head against Du Ke, repeatedly nuzzling him affectionately and eliciting laughs.

"Alright, enough messing around. You're not a pup anymore. And nothing happened to me."

Du Ke stroked the dog's head and said with a smile, "I just had some insights, that's all!"

When the dog finally raised his head, Du Ke saw tears shimmering in Shi San's eyes as he stared fixedly at him.

"Ah, no need for tears!"

Du Ke rubbed Shi San's head and took out the tiger hat tucked in his bib to put it back on the dog.

"I'm fine!"

After reassuring Shi San, Si Er sidled up next to Du Ke and peered at him closely with widened eyes.

"Brother Si Er, what are you doing?" Du Ke felt rather uncomfortable under Si Er's scrutiny.

But Si Er simply said, "I just wanted to see what you managed to gain from your comprehension last night."

"Don't tease me, brother Si Er. I merely had some trifling insights on a whim!"

"That's too modest, brother!"

Si Er retreated two steps, very seriously said: "The realm of no-self enlightenment is very rare. Ordinary cultivators who want to be enlightened find it as difficult as reaching the heavens!"

"Enlightenment is not cultivation. It doesn't just come when you want it or have it when you wish."

"During my time away, I have seen so many heroes and exceptional people, but you're the only one who has entered the realm of no-self!"

Seeing Si Er so serious, Du ke could only smile and say: "It's just some insight, no big deal."

"Oh, don't say that!"

Si Er sidled up to Du ke, put his arm around his shoulder, and also winked at Du ke: "No matter what you've comprehended, take it out and show your brother, let me see!"

"Oh, brother!"

Du ke shook his head with a smile, but still stretched out his arm and flicked out a sharp claw.

As soon as Du ke flicked out his claw, a burst of sword qi shot out and fell on the floor, leaving a hole the size of a thumb.

"Is this sword qi?"

Si Er looked at the thumb-sized hole and clicked his tongue.

"It is said that sword-type divine powers and techniques are all unmatched in killing. For you to comprehend this, it is truly extraordinary!"

"I have just caught a glimpse of the threshold, it really doesn't count for much."

Du ke still shook his head. This was not modesty on his part, but just having glimpsed the threshold.

Having entered the sword art of no-self sacrifice, he had now forged a sword heart. As the sword heart circulated, he could convert his inner strength into sword qi to kill enemies.

But now his sword heart had just formed and still needed constant grinding. Only when the sword heart was finely honed could it be said to have achieved something small.

But grinding the sword heart required the help of others' sword intent.

In other words, Du ke wanted to cultivate the no-self sacrifice sword art, so he needed to constantly challenge and fight.

Through constant battles, constant collisions with others, to hone this sword heart.

"You're wrong. You've just glimpsed the threshold and can leave such a hole in the floor. If it was a flesh and blood body, one sword qi from you could probably turn the person into a sieve."

While marveling at the hole left by Du ke’s sword qi, Si Er also patted his head.

"Oh, look at my memory."

"What's the matter, brother Si Er?"

"Earlier, the old madam from Hong Que Lou came looking for you, saying she had obtained the information you wanted."

"Just now I was preoccupied with asking you about your comprehension, and forgot about this!"

"Information I wanted?"

Du ke's eyelid jumped. Could it be about the girl?

"Where's the information?"

Du ke asked anxiously. Si Er hadn't had time to speak before Shi San rushed out, went down to the fourth floor, bit the bamboo slip in his mouth, and hurried back to the fifth floor to place it in front of Du ke.

"Thank you, Shi San."

Du ke patted Shi San's head and unfolded the bamboo slip. But after only two glances, Du ke's expression became restrained and extremely serious.

Not long after, Du ke put down the bamboo slip and said to Si Er: "Brother Si Er, when was this bamboo slip delivered?"

"Around the third hour after you started meditating, I think. What's wrong?"

Seeing Du ke's abnormal expression, Si Er couldn't help asking. Du ke didn't answer, but picked up the bamboo slip again and read it carefully. His face showed indescribable anger.

"These guys are really going too far, do they think there is no one around my girl to help her?"

"What exactly happened?"

Seeing Du ke so angry, Si Er hurriedly reached out his claw to try and take the bamboo slip from Du ke.

But Du ke flipped his claw and took back the bamboo slip, saying apologetically to Si Er: "Sorry, brother Si Er."

"We are brothers, what's there to say sorry for?"

Si Er waved his claws, but immediately asked: "But what urgent matter has come up?"

"There is an urgent matter, but I will resolve it!"

Du ke said to Si Er: "Thank you for your hospitality these past two days, brother. I'm afraid I have to say goodbye for now."

"What, leaving already?"

Du ke recalled the content he had seen before, sighed heavily,

"I have an appointment with someone, I have to go!"