CHAPTER 269: CHAPTER 268: PERFECTION SWORD INTENT_1

After tipping the other party ten taels of silver, Ling Chen pushed the door open and walked inside.

Ling Chen relaxed, his eyes half-closing, recalling the details of the preceding battles. Perhaps due to his Mental Power, some details he ordinarily wouldn’t dwell on came to mind—a particular sword thrust, a certain dodge, a specific kill.

This attack seemed too hesitant.

This one didn’t hit the vital part.

The evasion path of my Light Skill was incorrect.

The more Ling Chen reflected, the more mistakes he found. It wasn’t that his skill had decreased. After all, when fighting so frequently—while it was possible to maintain peak condition once or twice—errors became unavoidable when the count rose to thousands, or even tens of thousands, of engagements. Even for a combat prodigy like Ling Chen, this still held true. Mistakes could only be minimized, not wholly avoided. However, through repeated scrutiny, it was possible to identify one’s vulnerabilities and subconsciously rectify them in the next battle.

Rising from the bath, Ling Chen’s tall and strong body appeared faintly through the steam. He was already seventeen, his body fully developed, appearing more powerful and explosive. Although he looked lean, Ling Chen’s strength and muscles were not to be underestimated, just not apparent from the outside.

「Three days later.」

In the Earth Country, thousands of miles away, lay a place known as the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range. This was a rarely visited place teeming with Exotic Beasts and extending for hundreds of miles. Most people considered it a desolate mountain, but any experienced warrior would know that this place was the lair of the Demon Way’s Myriad Beasts Sect.

Inside the Myriad Beasts Sect, there were endless cages housing a variety of Exotic Beasts. Around these cages were disciples of the Myriad Beasts Sect, dressed in uniform robes. These disciples were the lowest-ranking Servant Disciples, responsible for feeding and managing the Exotic Beasts, and could not yet independently command them.

At the heart of the Myriad Beasts Sect stood its largest hall. Dense Devil Qi permeated the air, and the walls were inscribed everywhere with vibrant and colorful patterns of Exotic Beasts. At the center of the hall sat a black-robed elder—the Sect Leader of the Myriad Beasts Sect, the Elder of Myriad Beasts.

"Sect Leader, something terrible has happened!" At the doorway, a frantic disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect entered.

"What’s got you so flustered?" The Elder of Myriad Beasts opened his tightly shut eyes, speaking calmly.

"We just received a report that Second Disciple Xu Chao has been killed!" The disciple immediately knelt and reported.

"What did you say?" The aura around the Elder of Myriad Beasts changed drastically. In a flash, he appeared before the disciple, his hand gripping the latter’s neck.

"Second Disciple... Xu Chao... was... killed..." Choking under the Elder’s grip, the disciple struggled to speak.

"Who did it?" The Elder’s face turned dark, like a wild beast on the verge of lashing out. "Wasn’t he with Chu Tiange? Why was he killed?" After speaking, he slightly loosened his grip.

"According to Chu Tiange and Mei Ji, it was a Divine Intent Sect disciple named Ling Chen who killed Xu Chao." The disciple’s face still bore traces of fear as he spoke.

"Why did only Xu Chao die when those two are still alive?" A cold glint flickered in the Elder of Myriad Beasts’ eyes. "I had cautioned him not to associate with those two. He wouldn’t listen, and now look – he has indeed brought about his own death."

"What about that Ling Chen? Is he dead yet?"

The disciple shook his head. "No. Chu Tiange could have killed him, but then Liu Feiyue suddenly appeared and rescued Ling Chen."

"Liu Feiyue?" Upon hearing this name, the Elder of Myriad Beasts fell into contemplation.

"Sect Leader, we have investigated. This Ling Chen is currently still in East Desolation City. Should we inform Big Disciple Teng Beast to go to East Desolation City and deal with the kid?" seeing the Elder of Myriad Beasts deep in thought, the disciple cautiously asked.

"No need. That Liu Feiyue is heralded as one of the ’Four Outstanding Talents’ by the Righteous Path. Even if Teng Beast goes, he may not be Liu Feiyue’s match."

"This time, I will personally make the trip and seek revenge for my second disciple." Murderous intent radiated from the Elder of Myriad Beasts. It was the first time he had harbored such killing intent towards a junior.

Xu Chao was his most beloved disciple. Not only was he extremely talented, but he was also quick-witted, brave, and strategic. In this regard, he was much better than his Big Disciple, Teng Beast. He had originally intended to groom Xu Chao as his successor. He never expected Xu Chao to be killed at such a critical juncture.

Ling Chen must die.

In a flash, the Elder of Myriad Beasts disappeared from the secret room.

...

In East Desolation City, time passed day by day as Ling Chen remained in closed-door cultivation.

「The seventh day.」

An intense sharpness erupted in the guest room, causing ripples in the stable air.

"Break!" Ling Chen opened his eyes, his gaze shooting out as sharp as sword qi. He opened his mouth and uttered a low shout.

WHOOSH!

The ripples in the air were swiftly cleaved apart; an illusory sword shadow flashed past and vanished. This sword shadow was invisible to others; only Ling Chen could perceive it.

A barely perceptible sound arose.

Ling Chen raised his eyes.

The potted plant across the room trembled slightly. Its leaves drooped as if an unseen power had extinguished its life force, leaving it dull and lifeless.

I’ve finally brought my Sword Intent to Perfection!

A hint of joy surfaced on Ling Chen’s face.

In the Martial World, it wasn’t uncommon to find individuals who possessed Minor Sword Intent; for example, Xue Jingfeng, whom he had met at the Sword Discourse Convention, possessed Minor Sword Intent. However, those whose Sword Intent reached the Perfection Level were extremely few and far between.

Sword Intent, an elusive concept, was generally difficult to grasp initially, becoming somewhat easier in the later stages. This was because before one comprehended it, there was no way to even approach it, nor could one sense its existence. All those who could comprehend Sword Intent were individuals of exceptionally firm will and possessed unique insights into Swordsmanship. Ling Chen had already comprehended Sword Intent and later reached Minor Sword Intent. Having gained a certain understanding of it, he knew what its growth required and how to improve it. Presumably, it was the same for others.

However, this ’easiness’ in later stages was only relative. Many, due to limited aptitude or being restricted to a very small environment, found their Sword Intent stagnating, unable to advance further for their entire lives. Those capable of reaching Minor Sword Intent were very few, and those who achieved Perfection Sword Intent were truly one in ten thousand. As for Grandmaster Sword Intent, likely only a mere handful in the entire Martial World could attain that level. As for what lay beyond Grandmaster Sword Intent, Ling Chen had no way of knowing yet.

The effects of Sword Intent were difficult to articulate. An ordinary strand of sword qi could sever a piece of fine steel. If imbued with Sword Intent, it might cut through two. The underlying reason was that Sword Intent altered the structure of sword qi, making it more resilient and increasing its destructive power. However, Swordsmen were fundamentally unable to influence this process where Sword Intent altered sword qi. Or rather, at Ling Chen’s current Realm, he was still unable to influence Sword Intent; he could only utilize it.

Of course, the utility of Sword Intent wasn’t solely limited to this. Its ethereal nature allowed it to sever the intangible and repel all malice. Like the strike just now—seemingly nonexistent—it could snuff out the life force of flowers and plants. This was the marvel of Sword Intent: killing invisibly. Upon reaching the Great Accomplishment Realm, Sword Intent would become even more indomitable and all-conquering.