The instant the golden light swept toward him, Chen Fan had intended to meet it head-on with True Qi. Yet he suddenly sensed that there was no killing intent within the light; instead, it carried a profound Martial Dao Intent. His heart stirred. He withdrew his True Qi, let his hands hang at his sides, and focused on sensing the aura within the light—it was a fierce intent of charging across battlefields and using a spear to break through ten thousand armies. It was as though he could see Zhao Lie in ancient times, wielding a long spear amid countless troops and taking an enemy general's head.
"This is the Flame Spear Intent. It cannot be broken by brute force; you must resist it with your own Martial Dao Intent," Zhao Lie's phantom said. "If all you can do is rely on savage strength, then you cannot be considered a true inheritor of the Martial Dao."
Chen Fan suddenly understood. His previous battles had depended largely on the strength of his flesh body and explosive bursts of True Qi, but he had never deeply considered the meaning of the words "Martial Dao Intent." Now, feeling the fierceness and boldness within the Flame Spear Intent, he could not help recalling everything he had endured along the way: from being humiliated for having no spiritual root to obtaining the Martial Venerable's inheritance; from Xiantian vs Foundation Establishment to a Martial Venerable slaying a Nascent Soul... Every battle and every breakthrough held his obsession with "defying immortals with a mortal body, refusing to submit to fate."
This is my Martial Dao Intent! Chen Fan roared inwardly. The Qi and blood within him abruptly boiled, and pale-red Qi and blood power circulated around his body, gradually condensing into a blurry phantom. Within it stood a youth, bare-handed, facing the ridicule of cultivators, the siege of vicious beasts, and the pursuit of sects. Yet he had never retreated. Step by step, he trod through thorns, smashing through obstacle after obstacle with his fists, his eyes filled with the unshakable conviction: My fate is mine, not Heaven's.
Boom!
The two intents collided in midair. The golden Flame Spear Intent became like a long spear, stabbing toward Chen Fan's Qi and blood intent as though it would pierce straight through it. Chen Fan's Qi and blood intent, meanwhile, was like an impregnable city wall, steadily blocking the spear's assault while carrying an unyielding will that slowly pressed forward.
"Hm?" A flicker of surprise crossed Zhao Lie's phantom's eyes. "A Martial Dao Intent centered on Defying Fate is rare indeed. Ordinary martial artists take 'unyielding strength' or 'swift speed' as their intent, yet you have woven your own experiences into yours. This is the superior realm where intent arises from the heart."
As Chen Fan's intent continued to advance, the sharpness within the Flame Spear Intent was gradually suppressed. Chen Fan could clearly feel his Qi and blood merging with his intent. The sensation of the Mortal Body Shackles loosening, which had remained after his breakthrough into the Martial Venerable realm, now grew increasingly intense—he seemed to have found the key to breaking through to the Martial Saint Realm!
"But the intent to defy fate alone is not enough to receive my Blazing Spear Art." The moment Zhao Lie's phantom finished speaking, the Flame Spear Intent abruptly changed. Blazing flames ignited upon the golden spear, and countless spear phantoms emerged from the fire. Like ten thousand spears firing at once, they blasted toward Chen Fan's intent.
Chen Fan's expression changed slightly. He could sense that this strike's intent contained the destructive aura of Flames of a Prairie Fire. If it struck him, his Qi and blood intent would likely collapse. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The moves of Sky Shattering Fist flashed through his mind, followed by the fire-pattern runes he had seen on the mural. Suddenly, he had a bold idea—to fuse the fist intent and the fire runes into his Qi and blood intent!
"Sky Shattering Fist—Fire Burns Rivers!"
Chen Fan shouted. The youth phantom within his Qi and blood intent suddenly threw a punch. Pale-golden flames blazed over its fist, carrying the fierce force of Sky Shattering Fist and the scorching power of the fire-pattern runes. The punch appeared simple, yet it contained the intent of "Fist Shatters Mountains and Rivers, Fire Burns Rivers," blasting toward the Flame Spear Intent's volley of ten thousand spears.
Bang!
The two intents collided again. Golden spear phantoms intertwined with flaming fists, and waves of thunderous roars rang through the air. This time, Chen Fan's intent was no longer defending passively. It took the initiative, its flaming fists continuously shattering spear phantoms as it pushed step by step toward the core of the Flame Spear Intent.
Praise flashed through Zhao Lie's phantom's eyes. "To fuse multiple intents during battle, your Martial Dao talent far exceeds my expectations. But the essence of the Blazing Spear Art lies in 'using the spear as one's arm, man and spear as one.' You are accustomed to using your fists. If you cannot comprehend the true meaning of 'no spear surpasses a spear,' you will ultimately be unable to inherit my spear art."
Before his words had faded, a golden long spear appeared in Zhao Lie's phantom's hand. He slowly raised it, aiming its tip at Chen Fan. "Watch carefully. This is the first move of the Blazing Spear Art—Flames of a Prairie Fire."
The instant the spear thrust out, the stone chamber seemed to transform into a sea of flames. Countless fires condensed into spear phantoms and spread in all directions, only to gather into a single point at their farthest reach, precisely targeting Chen Fan's brow. This spear appeared casual, yet it contained the principle of Freely Control and All Methods Return to One.
Chen Fan held his breath and stared, enlightenment flashing in his eyes. He extended his right hand, palm upward. Qi and blood and True Energy circulated through his body at once. Pale-golden True Energy wrapped around pale-red Qi and blood, gradually condensing into an invisible Qi and Blood Spear. Imitating Zhao Lie's motion, he slowly lifted his palm and thrust toward the empty space ahead. There was no dazzling move, but it carried an intent of Freely Control similar to Flames of a Prairie Fire. Space itself seemed to split beneath the thrust. Pale-golden currents spread along the crack, then gathered into a single point in the distance.
"It is done!" Zhao Lie's phantom laughed heartily. "Though you have no spear, you have already grasped the true meaning of Spear in the Heart. This is the core of the Blazing Spear Art, a hundred times more important than mere techniques."
As Zhao Lie's words fell, the golden Flame Spear Intent gradually dispersed, and Chen Fan's Qi and blood intent drew back as well. He felt the Qi and blood and True Energy within him circulating more smoothly. Not only had the True Energy he had expended killing the Soul Devouring Snake been completely restored, it had even become more abundant than before. The sensation of the Mortal Body Shackles loosening also grew stronger—once he borrowed the medicinal power of the Dragon Bone Flower, breaking through to the Martial Saint Realm would be within reach.
"My thanks for your inheritance, Senior!" Chen Fan bowed deeply to Zhao Lie's phantom.
Zhao Lie's phantom waved a hand and turned his gaze toward Lin Xiaohu. A trace of gentleness appeared in his eyes. "Though this child lacks astonishing talent, his mind is meticulous. He discovered the fire-pattern runes in a crisis and comprehended Martial Dao Intent while observing from the side. If he perseveres in cultivation, he too can walk a Martial Dao path of his own."
He waved his hand, sending a pale-red beam of light into Lin Xiaohu's body. "This is the Qi and Blood Condensation Art. Though it is not a profound technique, it can help him condense his Qi and blood more quickly and lay a solid Martial Dao foundation."
Lin Xiaohu felt the Qi and blood within him surge. His previously weak Qi and blood power became more condensed, and the bottleneck he had encountered while cultivating basic fist techniques now showed faint signs of breaking through. He hurriedly bowed to Zhao Lie's phantom. "Thank you, Senior!"
Zhao Lie's phantom looked at the two of them, his eyes full of gratification. "My weapon, the Crimson Flame Spear, is hidden deep within Dragon Burial Abyss. If you can break through to the Martial Saint Realm in the future, you may go and seek it. This is no place to linger. My remnant soul is about to disperse, so take the Dragon Bone Flower and leave quickly."
With that, Zhao Lie's phantom gradually turned transparent before disappearing completely. The purple light in the stone chamber faded with him, leaving only the Dragon Bone Flower atop the stone platform, still giving off a faint spiritual glow.
Chen Fan walked to the stone platform and carefully plucked the Dragon Bone Flower. It felt warm in his hand. A stream of pure medicinal power entered his body through his fingertips, echoing the insights from Zhao Lie's inheritance. The loosening sensation of the Mortal Body Shackles reached its peak—he could clearly feel that once he returned to Seven Stars Sect, with the aid of pills and the inheritance insights, he could attempt the Martial Saint Realm within a month!
"Brother Fan, are we going back now?" Lin Xiaohu walked to Chen Fan's side, his eyes full of anticipation. Having watched Chen Fan and Zhao Lie's clash of intents, he had gained a new understanding of the Martial Dao and could hardly wait to return and cultivate.
Chen Fan nodded. "We have obtained this place's inheritance and secured the Dragon Bone Flower. Staying any longer may bring unforeseen changes. Li Mo, how are your injuries? Can you travel?"
Li Mo and the disciples had already recovered and all nodded. "We are fine. We can depart at any time."
The group returned along the passage they had taken in. They encountered no more vicious beasts along the way—perhaps before his remnant soul dispersed, Zhao Lie had driven away the beasts in this region of Dragon Burial Abyss. When they emerged from Dragon Burial Abyss, dawn was breaking. Golden sunlight pierced through the black miasma and fell over them, dispelling the exhaustion of the night.
"Once we return, I will enter seclusion and attempt the Martial Saint Realm." Chen Fan looked at the Dragon Bone Flower in his hand, his eyes filled with determination. "Once I break through to the Martial Saint Realm, if Xianyun Sect dares invade again, I will make them understand that the power of the Martial Dao is not something spiritual-root cultivators can look down upon!"
Lin Xiaohu nodded forcefully. "Brother Fan, I will cultivate the Qi and Blood Condensation Art properly too. I will strive to be able to help you as soon as possible!"
Li Mo looked at the two of them, deeply moved. He had once believed that spiritual-root cultivation was the true path, but he had never expected that Chen Fan and Lin Xiaohu, two mortals without spiritual roots, could travel so far upon the Martial Dao path. Perhaps Chen Fan truly could, as he said, break the shackles of Spiritual Root Destiny and open a new road for mortals.
The group set out on the road back to Seven Stars Sect. The sunlight stretched their shadows long behind them, leaving steadfast footprints on the road toward the peak of the Martial Dao. Yet they did not know that after Xianyun Sect learned Chen Fan had gone to Dragon Burial Abyss, it had not abandoned its pursuit. Instead, it had joined forces with two other sects hostile to Seven Stars Sect and laid an even greater trap along the only road back. A new crisis was quietly waiting for them.
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