Three Steps

Emperor Xuanyuan definitely held back.

Although Lin Feng didn't know why Emperor Xuanyuan had done so, he knew that Emperor Xuanyuan had helped him, and that Emperor Xuanyuan likely wanted him to truly obtain the Xuanyuan Divine Sword.

He naturally didn't want to disappoint Emperor Xuanyuan.

But could he really gain the Xuanyuan Divine Sword's recognition?

He didn't know, but he would definitely give it his all.

Besides, since the System had him come here to accept the Xuanyuan Divine Sword's trial, there must be a reason. Lin Feng believed his chances were still quite high.

However, were things truly as he expected?

After calming his mind, Lin Feng took a deep breath, slowly raised his foot, and approached the Xuanyuan Divine Sword step by step.

Only three steps remained.

Once he crossed these three steps, he could touch the Xuanyuan Divine Sword.

Lin Feng's eyes sharpened, and he took a step.

"Oh my... damn it!"

As soon as he stepped onto the first stair, he cried out in surprise. His leg buckled, creaking ominously, nearly breaking.

An immense weight suddenly crushed him. His entire body began to tremble, as if he were carrying ten thousand tons.

"No wonder everything was smooth sailing until now. The real trial was waiting here."

"Heh, a mere pressure trying to stop this Sect Master."

Lin Feng muttered a couple of sentences, then prepared to circulate the Spiritual Energy in his Qi Sea and unleash his Chaos Pressure to resist.

But the next second, he was stunned.

All his Spiritual Energy was gone. His Chaos Pressure felt as if it had never existed.

"Hiss~"

Lin Feng's heart tightened. Just as he was about to ask the System what was happening, he discovered the System was unresponsive. No matter how he tried to communicate, there was no reaction.

"This..."

Lin Feng gasped, "What's going on?"

At this moment, he realized all his supports were gone, leaving him back at square one.

But no one answered him.

Moreover, the immense weight hadn't lessened at all; it had intensified.

Now, without Spiritual Energy and without the System, he felt like a complete ant.

"Heh, I refuse to believe I can't eat pork just because Butcher Zhang isn't here!"

"This Sect Master is going to take you on today."

Lin Feng shouted, spreading his legs wide. Gritting his teeth, he gathered his strength to withstand the immense weight and took another step.

The second stair.

At this moment, he couldn't stop his body from bending.

The pressure on the second stair far exceeded his imagination. This wasn't just ten thousand tons; it felt like a mountain was pressing down on his spine.

His heart leaped, and a suffocating sensation arose. He spat out a mouthful of blood.

Large beads of sweat streamed down his forehead.

He clenched his fists, veins bulging on his face, his features contorted.

But Lin Feng did not give up.

He forcefully swallowed the blood surging to his throat, and with his bones creaking, he slowly raised his right foot.

He was going to step onto the third stair.

He knew his situation clearly; he couldn't hold on much longer. He had to reach the third stair quickly, or he would truly be crushed to death.

Just then, he noticed the air around him suddenly become heavy, as if trying to freeze him in place.

His raised foot couldn't descend.

However, at this moment, he could clearly feel the Xuanyuan Divine Sword on the altar calling to him.

Lin Feng was completely frozen in place.

In his eyes, the entire world contained only that unremarkable Ancient Sword.

"The Xuanyuan Divine Sword, while being the foremost sword of offense, is not a sword of slaughter. It is a symbol of courage, wisdom, benevolence, and justice."

"Everything the Xuanyuan Divine Sword embodies is: Brave and Fearless! Benevolent and Invincible!"

Just then, Emperor Xuanyuan's voice suddenly echoed.

"Benevolent and Invincible... What does it mean to be Benevolent and Invincible..."

"Brave and fearless... what does brave and fearless mean..."

Staring motionlessly at the simple, unadorned Xuanyuan Divine Sword, Lin Feng's brows furrowed deeply. He muttered to himself as if in a trance, "Brave and fearless!"

Brave and fearless! Benevolent and invincible!

Anyone could understand the literal meaning of these eight characters, but at this moment, Lin Feng completely failed to grasp it. He only felt that these eight characters bore a mountain-like weight upon him, as profound as the ocean, as if they contained all the truths of heaven and earth.

"That's right, it is brave and fearless! It is benevolent and invincible!"

Emperor Xuanyuan seemed to know what Lin Feng was thinking and declared with a resonant voice.

"Disregard everything external. Use your entire heart and mind to feel it, and perhaps you will understand what brave and fearless is. Then, you will be able to take the final step onto the staircase."

"And to gain the recognition of the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, you must open your heart and mind to feel its true profound meaning. At that time, you will understand what benevolent and invincible is."

"Then, you might be able to draw it from its sheath. Once you draw the sword, you will be the new master of Xuanyuan."

He instructed earnestly, his tone filled with encouragement and blessings.

"Disregard everything?"

"How can I disregard everything?"

Lin Feng murmured softly.

He was currently frozen in place, unable to move. He couldn't be brave even if he wanted to. He wished he could disregard it, but the mountain-like pressure was still intensifying...

Suddenly, Lin Feng's eyes lit up. He seemed to have thought of something.

He instantly retracted all his strength and faced the overwhelming pressure head-on. To his surprise, the invisible, intangible pressure vanished at the same moment.

Furthermore, his frozen body suddenly regained its freedom.

Lin Feng easily stepped onto the third step of the staircase, arriving before the Xuanyuan Divine Sword.

"Haha, so that's how it is!"

"Bravery is not the courage of a reckless fool, nor is it the strength to uproot mountains and cap rivers."

"To stand tall like a sheer cliff, devoid of desire, that is true bravery."

"Fearlessness is not just the spirit of not fearing death when facing destruction; it is more about the powerful heart that laughs in the face of overwhelming pressure."

"Possessing an incredibly powerful heart naturally makes one unstoppable, treating mountains of blades and seas of fire with indifference."

"This is what it means to be brave and fearless!"

Lin Feng laughed.

At this moment, he clearly felt a subtle shift in his state of mind.

Simultaneously, Lin Feng understood that Emperor Xuanyuan's previous words were guiding him. Otherwise, he would never have been able to comprehend their true meaning.

Soon, Lin Feng collected his thoughts, his expression solemn as he stared at the ancient sword before him.

The thick, long hilt was covered in unfamiliar runes. The entire sword emitted no energy fluctuations, making it seem inferior to an ordinary mortal weapon.

Yet, for some reason, the closer he got to the sword, the faster his heart began to beat uncontrollably.

Perhaps it was because, as Emperor Xuanyuan had said, he only had one chance. Success or failure hinged on this moment.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, gathered all his strength in his hands, and slowly reached out to grip the hilt.

"Boom—"

Before he could even attempt to draw the sword, a thunderous roar exploded in Lin Feng's mind.

Following that