Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Comprehending Sword Intent

Ling Fei walked out of the Sword Pool and headed toward the Sword Wall.

”Such a disposition is well-suited for cultivating the Sword Dao.” Seeing this, many of the instructors nodded in approval.

Then, their gazes shifted to the Sword Pool.

At that moment, Shangguan Yurou was also undergoing the trial of the Sword Pool.

Despite being a woman, she showed no fear and refused to give up.

In the end, even when facing a sword strike that could have completely crushed her, she met it head-on.

Pang Fei and Zhou Feng also emerged from the Sword Pool one after another.

However, when Liu Ming faced the strike manifested by the Giant Sword, he hesitated.

The light in his eyes wavered, revealing a clear hesitation.

He...

He seemed to have lost some of his former confidence.

In the end, Liu Ming still raised his sword to meet the attack and successfully passed the trial.

But his brief hesitation was caught by the instructors.

”It seems the last battle left a shadow on the boy,” Director Pang and the others remarked, shaking their heads slightly.

”If one’s will isn’t strong enough, they ultimately won’t get far,” Vice Dean Zhou said, shaking his head.

”Now, let’s see who can comprehend the Celestial River Sword Intent first.” With that, Dean Han and the others fixed their gazes on the Sword Wall up ahead.

The Sword Wall was wreathed in Light Patterns, making it impossible to see the situation clearly.

Even the image projected by Vice Dean Zhou’s activated Mirror Disc could not show everything; it could only reveal the person walking toward the Sword Wall.

A Restriction was isolating the Sword Wall.

「Inside the Sword Tomb」

Ling Fei had already approached the Sword Wall.

The Sword Wall was massive, stretching across the entire cavern wall of the Sword Tomb.

At a glance, the Sword Wall resembled a river with surging waves, and a vast aura swept out from it.

Standing about ten feet from the Sword Wall, Ling Fei couldn’t help but feel as if he were about to be submerged by the Sword River.

”The Celestial River Sword Wall... its aura is so vast!” Shangguan Yurou glided over gracefully. As she took in the sight of the Sword Wall, her eyes glowed with fervor.

’It’s just a cavern wall, but it looks like a great river is bursting from it, with such majestic Sword Qi. What kind of person could possess such power?’ Ling Fei’s heart filled with yearning.

The one who left this Sword Wall behind had to be an expert of Heaven-Reaching power.

”The path of Martial Arts is vast, with an endless array of Divine Techniques far beyond our current reach. For now, let’s focus on comprehending this Celestial River Sword Technique together!” Shangguan Yurou’s expression was solemn, but she quickly composed herself. A smile touched her lips as she looked at Ling Fei beside her.

”Alright!” Ling Fei pulled his gaze away from the Sword Wall.

His gaze then shifted to the area in front of the Sword Wall.

Three feet from the Sword Wall stood several seven-foot-tall Sword Towers.

The towers had seven stories and emanated a piercing Sword Qi.

”Sit before the Sword Tower and connect with your Heart Spirit. You may then use the tower to immerse yourself within the Celestial River Sword Wall.” An inscription was carved in front of the Sword Towers.

Afterward, Ling Fei chose a Sword Tower and sat cross-legged on the cushion beside it.

Once seated on the cushion, Ling Fei focused his Heart Spirit, reaching out to sense the Sword Tower before him.

VMM!

The moment his Heart Spirit touched the Sword Tower, Light Patterns bloomed across its surface, and a piercing stream of Sword Qi swept toward him like a torrent.

Overwhelmed by this Sword Qi, Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit was instantly repelled.

’Body Like a Sword, Heart Like a Sword.’ After his Heart Spirit was repelled, Ling Fei froze for a moment before realization dawned in his eyes.

”’It seems my Realm is still insufficient. If I had truly achieved the state of Body Like a Sword, I would naturally have a Heart Like a Sword as well,’ Ling Fei murmured. ’If my heart were like a sword, Sword Intent would constantly emanate from me. In that case, I wouldn’t be rejected by this Sword Tower.’”

’So this is where I’m lacking!’ At that moment, Ling Fei finally understood his own deficiency in the Sword Dao.

This was also why he had been unable to comprehend Sword Intent.

But now, he had a much clearer understanding of the Sword Dao, and his entire aura changed as a result.

In truth, the Sword Bridge, the Sword Pool, and these Sword Towers in the Celestial River Sword Tomb were all part of a deliberate design.

Each trial one passed was meant to deepen a person’s understanding of the Sword Dao.

Only in this way could one naturally comprehend the Sword Dao Mystical within the Celestial River Sword Technique when the time came.

Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit became like a sword, his aura sharp and imposing as it plunged into the Sword Tower.

VMM!

This time, his Heart Spirit successfully entered the Sword Tower.

Instantly, the Sword Tower’s Light Patterns flashed, and its first level burst forth with a dazzling sword light.

The sword light shot thirty-six feet into the air, its Sword Qi incredibly sharp.

”Ling Fei successfully connected with the Sword Tower!”

”A thirty-six-foot sword light! That’s excellent!”

”Back in her day, Shangguan Wan’Er’s sword light was only thirty-eight feet!” As the light from the Sword Tower shot into the sky, the instructors outside began to buzz with discussion.

The strength of the sword light represented a person’s mastery over Sword Momentum.

Of course, strong Soul Power also provided a slight boost.

However, the most important factor was the depth of one’s comprehension of Sword Intent.

”For a young man who has only just begun to study the Sword Dao to reach this level... he’s not that far behind Wan’Er,” Shangguan Hong mused, stroking his short beard.

He was filled with high expectations for Ling Fei’s aptitude.

Just as the light shot up from Ling Fei’s Sword Tower, the one belonging to Shangguan Yurou beside him also began to shine.

WHOOSH!

This sword light shot thirty-two feet into the sky!

”That girl, Yurou, isn’t bad either.” Seeing this, the elders outside all nodded slightly.

”Yurou works hard, but she lacks the Sword Heart her sister possesses,” Shangguan Hong said in a low voice.

He was keenly aware of his two daughters’ respective talents.

Next, Pang Fei’s sword light reached twenty-nine feet, and Zhou Feng’s reached twenty-seven.

Then, it was Liu Ming’s turn.

VMM!

Sword Momentum emanated from Liu Ming as his sword-like Heart Spirit poured into the Sword Tower.

Then, the sword light shot skyward, reaching a full thirty-three feet.

After reaching thirty-three feet, it could go no higher.

”So Ling Fei’s comprehension of the Sword Dao is actually the strongest of the five.” In the distance, the students in the giant trees also looked surprised.

”Thirty-six feet! That’s even stronger than the last batch of geniuses!” Mu Xue said with a smile in her eyes. ”Our genius, Ling Fei, is just incredible.”

She was truly happy for him.

”Brother Fei is awesome!” Wu Dapang and the others exclaimed from the edge of the training grounds.

Upon seeing this, he was also incredibly excited.

”I really hope he can surpass Shangguan Wan’Er and Liu Rulong to become the number one person at Celestial River Academy!” Huang Xiaoman whispered.

Now that her relationship with Ling Fei was public, she was no longer conflicted and sincerely hoped that he could walk the path to power he desired.

”I wonder who will be the first to comprehend Sword Intent and light up the Sword Pattern on the second level of the Sword Tower.” After their initial surprise, many people watched with looks of anticipation.

Any genius who comprehended Sword Intent was destined to become a powerful expert!

While countless people watched with anticipation, the Heart Spirits of the five geniuses sank into the Sword Wall.

WHOOSH!

As his Heart Spirit sank into the Sword Wall, Ling Fei felt his entire consciousness being pulled in.

Then, a vast Sword Qi raged forth, submerging him.

He felt as if he were in a world of the Sword Dao.

The sword is a sharp weapon!

The sword is a cutting edge!

The sword can be gentle!

The sword can be unyielding!

The sword can take ten thousand forms!

The sword can contain ten thousand Daos!

All things can be a sword!

...

Only by comprehending the intent of the sword can one enter the Sword Dao!

The general principles of the Celestial River Sword Technique immediately rang in his mind.

Then, Ling Fei saw a flash of light before his eyes.

The next moment, a great river appeared before him.

The river was as vast as an ocean, magnificent and powerful, its undulating waves carrying the force to swallow mountains.

Then, a man appeared upon the great river.

”The Celestial River Sword Technique. The sword is like a river—sometimes surging, sometimes calm. The sword has no forms, but the user has intent, allowing for infinite transformations,” the man murmured.

His voice carried the True Essence of Swordsmanship, causing great waves to stir in Ling Fei’s heart.

The next moment, the man moved.

SWISH!

His Long Sword moved and Sword Qi howled. It was as if he had merged with the Celestial River, his one strike becoming a river that surged furiously upward.

The Sword Momentum was enough to submerge heaven and earth.

The Sword Intent shook Ling Fei to his very core.

’So this is the Celestial River Sword Technique?’ Ling Fei became completely immersed in this Sword River World.

In fact, the middle volume of the Celestial River Sword Technique he had previously obtained also contained these general principles of the Sword Dao.

However, its Sword Momentum and Sword Intent were a world apart from what he was seeing in this river.

After all, that version of the Celestial River Sword Technique was merely a copy—a counterfeit.

This here was the original Sword Technique left behind by the founder of Celestial River Academy.

Only now, here, did Ling Fei truly feel what the Celestial River was, and what the Celestial River Sword Technique truly was.

The Celestial River surged, its waves rising and falling. A single one of those giant waves seemed capable of annihilating an Innate Realm expert.

Although only Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit was immersed here, he could still clearly feel that terrifying pressure.

An experience like this was immensely important for any cultivator.

”The sword takes ten thousand forms; the Sword Qi moves with the will!” At that, the man struck.

With a move of his Long Sword, Sword Qi howled forth, transforming into a Celestial River that swept across the land.

However, after this form, his Sword Momentum shifted. The Sword Qi became fine as silk, yet it possessed a power that could pierce heaven and earth.

The Sword Silk shot out like a rainbow, blasting toward the mountain face beside the great river.

The mountain face was pierced clean through, leaving only a small hole.

Yet the rest of the mountain face was completely unscathed, as if it hadn’t suffered any impact at all.

’This...’ Seeing this, Ling Fei’s heart pounded. ’The Sword Qi moves with the will! Is that what Sword Intent is?’

As Ling Fei pondered this, the Long Sword in the man’s hand changed again.

”Sword River as curtain!” a deep voice called out. The man flicked his Long Sword, and a river of Sword Qi swept forward.

Finally, this river of Sword Qi formed a vast curtain, sealing off the area.

’This one form could fend off ten thousand enemies!’ Ling Fei thought, his heart racing. ’If I were to fuse it with my Cold Qi True Intent, I could even Ice Seal the entire area.’

At this moment, Ling Fei’s blood was boiling.

The man before him continuously demonstrated Sword Forms, each one born from his will.

The sword moved with the heart, the energy moved with the will, and then it took form!

Such a Realm clearly surpassed the attainments of countless Cultivators in the Sword Dao, making Ling Fei feel as if he had seen a whole new world of swordsmanship.

Sword Qi Rain!

Sword Qi as Star Arrows!

...

As the deep voice continued to resound, the man executed one profound Sword Form after another.

Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit became completely immersed in the Sword River World, fully absorbed in the Mystical of the Sword Forms the man demonstrated.

Gradually, the true meaning of the Sword Dao Mystical became clearer and clearer to him.

Time passed by without him noticing.

”The sword moves with the will; the sword can take ten thousand forms!” Finally, the man sheathed his sword, turned his head, and looked at Ling Fei.

His deep voice resounded, sinking into Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit.

”The sword moves with the will; the sword can take ten thousand forms. Only where the intent reaches can the Sword Qi take form!” The voice was like a sudden enlightenment, and realization dawned in Ling Fei’s eyes. He murmured, ”Where the intent reaches, it can manifest ten thousand forms. For example, Sword Qi Silk, Sword Qi Rain, Sword Qi Transformation Curtain, transforming into arrows, or even a Sword Mountain... all of these are born from intent, which creates the form of attack. Sword Intent... that is the true foundation of the Sword Dao.” Unconsciously, Sword Intent began to condense within his Heart Spirit.

As for Ling Fei, who was sitting before the Sword Tower, his entire aura changed abruptly as a distinct Sword Intent began to emanate from his body.

VMM!

As the Sword Intent condensed, the Light Patterns on the Sword Tower before Ling Fei flashed.

Suddenly, the second level of the Sword Tower blazed with light. A beam of sword light shot into the sky, and an aura of Sword Intent spread out along with it.

”The second level of Ling Fei’s Sword Tower lit up!” As the sword light shot into the sky, the eyes of every instructor watching the Sword Tomb widened in amazement.

”Is Ling Fei’s talent really that terrifying? It’s only been three hours, and he’s already comprehended Sword Intent!” An uproar immediately followed.

[The book’s title will be changed to ”Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor.” It’s a more epic name. Don’t forget to vote, everyone!]