CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 172: SWORD INTENT PROTOTYPE (PART 2)

The sense of chill ran down Shen Wang’s spine as he saw this.

This thing is truly sinister. From the looks of it, anyone below the Golden Core level affected by it would be fortunate not to be crippled. Even so, they wouldn’t be able to use any Spiritual Power for a hundred days.

As for Spiritual Sense and Mana, one doesn’t belong to Spiritual Power, and the other transcends mere Spiritual Power, so this thing won’t be triggered.

Spiritual Sense is alright, but as for Mana, it’s out of the question; he couldn’t find any Golden Core Cultivator to help him at this moment.

"It seems I’ll have to wait for a hundred days. In the meantime, I’ll see if I can extract it using Divine Sense." Shen Wang thought helplessly. These kinds of sinister things were likely designed from the start not to be easily resolved, even if they can be. They are meant to torment people.

He glanced at the refining method, which was extremely convoluted and didn’t feel like studying it.

Not daring to leave directly, he turned to inspect various Array Artifacts, earnestly researching them to avoid arousing suspicion.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, a group was growing increasingly restless.

They hadn’t seen Zheng Yunshu return, and the Yun Family hadn’t found the culprit either, so now they were anxiously waiting.

Shen Wang genuinely studied for most of the day, supplementing his foundational knowledge of the Path of Artifact Refining considerably.

In the afternoon, Shen Wang bought a common Flying Sword at the Artifact Refining Pavilion, then went to the Array Refining Pavilion to take on some tasks, planning to practice more in his spare time.

At this time, he noticed quite a few more people in the Array Refining Pavilion, several strongmen looking cold, asking about certain matters.

Pretending to be clueless, he remarked to Steward He, who was counting items, "Why do those big guys seem so unfriendly, are they here to cause trouble?"

The latter sneered, "Xie Xianlong from the Body Refining Pavilion is dead. His father is sending people to investigate, causing a ruckus." Shen Wang was surprised, "Dead?"

"What’s it got to do with the Array Refining Pavilion?"

"That scoundrel went out with our pavilion’s Zheng Yunshu, and now Xie Xianlong is dead. Zheng Yunshu’s Life Plate is intact, but he’s missing and uncontactable, so they are looking for clues everywhere." Steward He chuckled, clearly having no fondness for the Body Refining Pavilion’s people.

"So that’s what’s happening, I was wondering why unfamiliar faces have come." Shen Wang pondered.

"I think they won’t find anything. In the Cultivation Realm, it’s normal for someone to be killed and robbed. Just because Xie Xianlong is the Pavilion Master’s son, people shouldn’t have to accommodate him." Steward He sneered, "That scoundrel was always arrogant and domineering, thinking he could continue being lawless outside. I reckon it’s his own fault."

"Watch what you’re saying, woman!"

Someone outside heard him, grumbled coldly.

"What’s wrong, am I mistaken? Didn’t Xie Xianlong bully fewer people relying on his father?" Steward He wasn’t afraid, instead cursing, "If you have the skills, go find the murderer instead of showing off here. I won’t fall for your act."

Seeing her unpleasant face, he turned reluctantly, "I’m not interested in arguing with you here!"

"A bunch of lazy loafers, pretending to be strongmen."

Steward He continued to mock, even Shen Wang found himself speechless. The Body Refining Pavilion constituted the core combat force of the Hundred Refinement Pavilion, but the consumption of body refinement was large, indeed, they were loafers.

However, daring to curse like this, the fellow earlier didn’t even retort, indicating this middle-aged woman surely had a certain status.

Without saying anything, he left with his things.

The solution to the Spirit-Binding Silk was already in hand, and it wasn’t good to meet Zheng Bingzhong now; there was no need to linger.

Sword Flight, he returned home at the fastest speed possible.

With the sunset on the horizon, Shen Wang confirmed no one followed him, realizing they still hadn’t suspected him.

He really had nothing to arouse suspicion. A newcomer in the pavilion, his cultivation wasn’t exceptional either, it was hard to link him to one who could kill three Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Estimation might lead the Xie Family and the Yun Family to think it was someone at the Golden Core Level.

Thinking about the possibilities, he settled down, deciding to stay at home for an extended period before meeting Zheng Bingzhong once the situation calmed.

Relaxing during Sword Flight, his heart at peace, Man and Sword as One, solely focused on accelerating forward, the speed of his Sword Flight became increasingly faster.

During the journey, he suddenly had a peculiar feeling.

Not only did he fuse wholly with the Flying Sword, but his Spiritual Sense between his brows felt an urge to converge.

He felt an illusion as if everything before his eyes could be broken open, with nothing able to stop his advancement.

Zheng!

The sound of sword resonated in his ears, and Shen Wang seemed to transform into a sword.

A radiant glow emanated from his brow, a flood of spiritual power gathered.

Within the Sea of Consciousness, vast space had been opened through cultivation, Spiritual Power formed a river where a figure sat, akin to a divine spirit of the mental world, resembling Shen Wang.

At this moment, the Mental World’s river began to ripple, a great amount of Spiritual Power converged in front of the figure, gradually forming a sword.

When the sword was formed, the Mental World wielded sharpness, resonating with crisp sword tones.

The figure seated grabbed the sword, outside the Flying Sword shone brightly, fully integrating with Shen Wang’s body, the power further ignited.

Shen Wang seemingly sharpened this Flying Sword further, it became more destructive and possessed a special power.

Spirituality.

Opening his eyes thoughtfully, he gazed at the Flying Sword, "Is this Sword Intent? Fusion of will and spiritual body, naturally gathering Sword Intent, no wonder Sword Cultivators have such strong attack power, it’s because of this." Shen Wang was a bit surprised.

Due to the system’s reward, he had long reached the level of Man and Sword as One, but used the sword against the enemies less often, recently he was mostly utilizing Sword Flight for travel.

It also becomes a unique form of cultivation, as a result, his Spiritual Power condensed into a sword shape.

With the aid of this special spiritual body, he and the Flying Sword, or any sword-type weapons will be immensely harmonious, the power of the spiritual body can amplify the Flying Sword’s strength.

This amplification is the key to Sword Cultivator’s potent attack strength. Shen Wang felt Sword Cultivation belonged to the Path of Divine Refining, it is cultivating one’s spirit into a sword shape.

"So, during Sword Cultivator’s attacks, not only depleted Spiritual Power but also rely on Spiritual Power, Essence, Qi, and Spirit, combining Qi and Spirit." Shen Wang pondered, "If I were to engage in close combat with the sword, it would equate to incorporating Essence, Qi, and Spirit, making the power definitely stronger."

"From now on, I will be a Sword Cultivator. Whether close-combat or long-range, the power will be enhanced, depending on the strength and/or weakness of my sword-shaped spiritual body, or rather, Sword Intent."

He closed his eyes, continued to experience the mystique of Sword Intent.

Currently, his Sword Intent is merely in its formative stage, not considered strong, much like a Sword Embryo, needing continuous refinement and thorough tempering.

This Sword Intent has no specific attributes yet; subsequent additions should be possible gradually.

While experiencing the unique Sword Intent, Shen Wang’s speed significantly improved, yet due to the considerable distance, he arrived home as night fell.

Kunyu Mountain was unlike Fengming Mountain, there was no evil presence, so Shen Wang naturally got home smoothly.

A light illuminated the mountainside, the sole light of the Ninth Peak.

Seeing this, Shen Wang smiled.

This was his home, even in such a remote place, the thought of having his wife waiting for him at home filled his heart with contentment.

Returning home, he conveyed today’s events to Zheng Yunshu.

The latter, after hearing, showed fragility and worry, approached Shen Wang, "Can you hold me?" Shen Wang, naturally, held her tight without hesitation, "You don’t need to worry too much, your brother is, after all, an Elder within the Sect. Without evidence, they wouldn’t dare act rashly." Shen Wang comforted her.

Being held by Shen Wang elicited the familiar feeling she had before, a sense of reliability and security, feeling down, "I understand, I just fear not seeing my brother one last time."

"Let’s see how things go." Shen Wang touched her hair, "Take care of yourself for now. The Spirit-Binding Silk is basically unsolvable, until I can remove it with Spiritual Sense, you won’t be able to use Spiritual Power for a hundred days, let it naturally recede."

"Will waiting for a hundred days solve it? I’m alright with that." Zheng Yunshu shook her head, "Not just a hundred days, even a year would be fine, with Xie Xianlong dead, it might be unsuitable for me to return shortly, otherwise, if questioned, there might be slip-ups."