Three months later.
Inside a secluded cultivation chamber of the Sword Pavilion.
When Lu Yang finally tore his gaze away from the No-Kill Sword before him and came back to himself, his heart held several insights he could neither explain nor put into words.
"I never expected Destiny Critique and Precept Holding to have such a wondrous use."
This was the marvel of the Scripture of Sensing Mystery and Responding to Numen. To speed up his comprehension of Sword Intent, Lu Yang had critiqued for himself the Destiny Pattern of an Inborn Sword Seed.
The effect was quite good.
To obtain the Inborn Sword Seed Destiny Pattern, the precept he needed to uphold was called Abstain from Weapons. As the name implied, from this day onward, he could only use a sword when fighting others.
The moment he used any other weapon, he would immediately break his precept.
Yet after upholding the precept, bolstered by his Destiny Pattern, his comprehension of Sword Intent advanced by leaps and bounds. At this moment, he had clearly taken the most crucial first step.
"Buzz, buzz!"
Lu Yang sat still, without using any Divine Thought or dharma power, yet the No-Kill Sword before him began to tremble. A cold gleam flashed forth, and the blade suddenly slid half an inch from its sheath. Drawn by Lu Yang's Sword Heart, it responded of its own accord, signifying the level of his Sword Dao as well.
I've made it through the door, at least.
Lu Yang nodded in satisfaction. When he could make the No-Kill Sword fully leave its sheath, he would be qualified to condense Sword Intent.
This was a long road.
*The sword is the Dao of utmost sincerity. Better to take from the straight than seek through the crooked. It needs the watering