Chapter 300: Seventh Level of the Sword Tower

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Xiao Chen slowly ascended the steps leading to the seventh level of the Sword Tower. His pace was unhurried, and his heart remained calm and untroubled.

Moments later, he stepped onto the seventh level of the tower.

Before him appeared a secluded cultivation chamber, where an elder with an immortal bearing was seated on a meditation cushion, silently cultivating.

The elder seemed not to have heard Xiao Chen's footsteps. His eyes remained shut, motionless like a great bell.

Xiao Chen took a step forward. The moment his foot landed, he felt an overwhelming sword intent press down upon him—a silent warning that if he dared take another step, he would be torn to pieces.

Yet Xiao Chen did not retreat. He firmly stepped forward again.

With each step, the surrounding sword intent intensified. When he reached the seventh step, it abruptly vanished.

At that moment, the environment around him shifted. The elder before him had transformed into a peerlessly sharp longsword.

Xiao Chen paused briefly, then cupped his hands and said, “Junior Xiao Chen greets Senior.”

“No need for formality.”

A deep voice echoed from within the sword, followed by a question, “Why did you stop advancing?”

Xiao Chen smiled and replied, “This junior was paying respects, an act of courtesy. If Senior does not permit, proceeding without approval would be disrespectful.”

“Hahaha…”

Laughter rang out from within the sword. “I couldn’t tell whether you were truly frightened or genuinely polite. If you can come within three feet of me, I’ll allow you to witness my sword dao.”

Xiao Chen bowed. “Many thanks, Senior.”

With that, he resumed his advance.

With just a single step forward, the entire path before Xiao Chen transformed. A sea of flames erupted around him, engulfing his entire body.

Within the inferno, countless sword auras formed from the flames surged toward him. These auras pierced straight through his body and aimed for his soul and internal organs.

The moment a sword aura struck his heart, a radiant light burst forth from within, instantly dispersing the attack.

At the same time, an image of Chu Feng suddenly surfaced in Xiao Chen's mind. It felt as if he had returned to the days of sword training beneath the waterfall on Miao Miao Mountain.

He saw Chu Feng slowly turn around and say, “The strength of a sword cultivator is not determined by his cultivation level, but by the resolve of his sword heart and dao heart. A true sword cultivator must never cower before any opponent. When the sword is drawn, there is only death—never retreat.”

That phrase exploded in Xiao Chen's mind. He immediately closed his eyes, disregarding everything he saw, and released his invincible sword intent.

Even as his soul was riddled with sword auras, he pressed forward, step by resolute step.

With every step he took, the sea of fire around him diminished.

Within the Sword Tower.

The sword spirit guarding the seventh level smiled faintly at the scene. “This young man truly has something in him. Otherwise, those twelve little fellows wouldn't have let someone with perfected sword intent reach the seventh level. I’m curious to see how far you can go on the path of the sword, and what kind of dao you’ll forge.”

As he spoke, he casually waved his hand, and the flames grew fiercer.

But Xiao Chen seemed to no longer feel anything, allowing the blazing fire to consume his body freely.

Days passed. Xiao Chen no longer knew how long he had walked within the sea of fire.

Yet he could clearly feel his sword heart growing firmer, and his invincible sword intent condensing further within him.

After passing through the fire, Xiao Chen saw a massive iceberg ahead. He had only taken a single step toward it before his foot was instantly frozen in place.

Xiao Chen did not retreat. In his eyes, this was merely one small step on his path to the invincible sword.

He continued forward. Crack... crack... The sound of shattering ice echoed sharply through the stillness of the glacier.

Now, Xiao Chen used his heart as his eyes and sword intent as his guide. Wherever his heart pointed, his sword intent would follow.

He had no idea what lay at the end of this path—he simply wished to carve out his own Great Dao using sword intent alone.

After crossing the glacier, he entered a vast swamp conjured by the sword dao. The moment he stepped in, Xiao Chen was struck by a strange sensation—as though all his strength was sealed away.

Gritting his teeth, he relied solely on his sword intent to slowly open a path through the mire, inch by inch.

As time passed, he finally emerged from the swamp, only to be greeted by a towering sword mountain.

Countless treasured swords were embedded along the slopes, and the stairs leading to the summit were forged from blades as sharp as razors.

With a clear mind and no distractions, Xiao Chen, dressed in tattered robes, ascended the mountain.

With each step, a new wound was carved into his body. Yet these wounds did not shake his resolve—instead, they only made it firmer.

He scaled the sword mountain, passed through the forest of wooden swords.

Then, a familiar voice rang in his ears, “Young man, you’ve truly impressed this old man.”

Upon hearing it, Xiao Chen slowly opened his eyes and saw that everything he had experienced had vanished. His body bore no wounds, and he now stood before the elder.

“Sit.”

The tower spirit spoke, casually pointing to summon a meditation cushion before Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Senior.”

Seeing Xiao Chen sit, the tower spirit continued, “Young man, if I’m not mistaken, the path you walk is the invincible sword path, is it not?”

Xiao Chen replied, “Senior’s insight is precise.”

The tower spirit stroked his beard and murmured, “I understand your sword dao clearly. However, I couldn’t make sense of the cultivation technique you’re using. Normally, with your sword intent at perfection and your comprehension of the sword path, passing my Five Elements Sword Road should have led you to the true essence of sword dao.”

“But I’ve noticed you’re still half a step away from it. Forgive me for asking, but are you willing to share what cultivation method you practice?”

On the Xuantian Continent, cultivators rarely revealed their techniques to others, lest their weaknesses be exploited.

Xiao Chen smiled. “To be honest, I cultivate the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin. This sword art emphasizes drawing upon the strengths of all schools to forge an invincible sword.”

Hiss...

The tower spirit sucked in a sharp breath. “Young man, your sword path is truly one that few can walk. It’s difficult even for me to guide you toward the essence of sword dao. All I can do is share with you what I’ve cultivated—the Five Elements Sword Technique.”

“I humbly ask for your guidance.”

Xiao Chen’s expression was one of sincere humility, without a trace of arrogance.

The tower spirit began to speak slowly, “The Five Elements consist of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth...”

At the very same time Xiao Chen completed his trial, Cao Youqian was nearing the end of his path within the River of the Dead. A group of Nirvana realm souls blocked his way.

Cao Youqian looked at the group of Nirvana souls, a grin forming at the corner of his lips. He hooked his finger at them. “Come at me all at once. I’m on a tight schedule!”

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