Cutting to the quick with endlessly dazzling piece (11)

'cutting' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'the quick with endlessly dazzling piece' is the wordplay.
'the quick with' becomes 'viv' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'endlessly' says to take the centre (the ends of the words are removed).
'dazzling' becomes 'awing' (synonyms).
'piece' becomes 'section' (both can mean a part of something).
The middle of 'awing' is 'i'.
'viv'+'i'+'section'='VIVISECTION'

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?