Astonishing the Entire Arena, Perfected Sword Intent!

The two figures crossed in the blink of an eye. A drop of fresh blood fell to the ground with a patter.

Everyone's eyes widened, and their breaths caught in an instant!

Because Fang Li was the one who had been injured!

A faint bloody gash had appeared on his rugged right cheek, blood trickling down from his cheek and chin.

"I'm hurt?"

Even Fang Li himself froze for a moment. Then, rage that nearly shattered his reason surged up. Veins bulged on his neck, and his face flushed red.

Although Lin Qingyue had assured him yesterday that Su Ye had no background, Fang Li was rough on the outside but shrewd within. Naturally, he had investigated Su Ye thoroughly afterward.

Only then had he confirmed it.

Su Ye's family was utterly ordinary—one could even call them poor. And after the start of senior year, he had shown no astonishing talent in martial arts.

Yet he had been hurt by a poor brat, a piece of trash like this?

Proud as he had always been, and eager to show off before Li Aoxue, how could he possibly accept that?!

"You bastard! I'll fucking kill you!"

"You actually dare fight back?!"

He believed he had merely been careless and ambushed. His voice erupted from his throat in a beast-like roar that shook the air!

The next moment, he lunged at Su Ye like a bear. He was no longer holding back as all six Martial Bones erupted!

"Brother Ye! Run!"

Not far away, Zhang Yuan cried out in alarm, worried for his friend.

Yet Li Aoxue seemed as though she had witnessed something unbelievable in that instant, standing there dazed.

She had not even reacted to Fang Li's outburst at once. Uncertainty and disbelief flashed through her eyes. "That sword Su Ye used just now?!"

Fang Li, a head taller than him, rushed in, yet Su Ye remained utterly calm. There was even a chill in his expression. The wooden sword in his hand was like a surgeon's scalpel in a hospital—steady and precise.

As Fang Li drew close, he shouted low!

The training wooden sword in his hand seemed to transform into several Afterimages that shot toward Fang Li. But at the very last moment, the several swords converged into one, becoming an incomparably swift snake shadow that slammed into Fang Li's waist with tremendous force, forcibly knocking him several inches off course.

And it was precisely that slight deviation.

That made Fang Li's sword miss Su Ye's face by a hair's breadth!

Su Ye did not even blink. This was his first time fighting someone with martial arts, yet he felt none of the unease he had imagined.

Only... excitement!

"Again!"

His eyes were calm as still water, yet seemed to contain an unquenchable flame in their depths. This time, he took the initiative and raised his sword!

Smack!!

Smack!!

After several collisions, he did not fall into the slightest disadvantage!

And everyone suddenly realized something!

"That guy has tempered four Martial Bones!" The crowd stirred in disbelief!

Four Martial Bones were not, by themselves, enough to astonish them. It was considered decent, but quite a few people present had reached that level.

But how could someone with four Martial Bones actually match Fang Li, who had six Martial Bones?!

"It's his swordplay! It's the Extreme Shadow Swordplay!"

A student who had already reached the entry-level Afterimage stage swallowed hard and spoke in disbelief, utterly horrified.

"Th-this is the Extreme Shadow stage!"

They could hardly believe it, but reality was right before their eyes!

Turning into several Afterimages and Void Shadows, supplemented by a Shadowless sword, then converging into one at the final instant to become an Extreme Shadow—this was the highest level of the Extreme Shadow Swordplay!

The entire place erupted!

Li Aoxue was shocked beyond measure, her heart tangled with conflict.

He had really comprehended the highest level?! He hadn't been bragging?

But the battle in the arena only grew fiercer. Li Aoxue temporarily suppressed the myriad thoughts in her heart and snapped, "Enough! Stop!"

But Fang Li had already lost his head. The viciousness in him did not diminish; instead, he became even more frenzied and furious as he charged at Su Ye again!

Su Ye gripped his sword and did not retreat in the slightest. The training wooden sword in his hand calmly unleashed the Extreme Shadow Swordplay with a familiarity as though he had immersed himself in the martial skill for decades, using weakness to overcome strength!

And just as Su Ye swung this sword, it seemed to undergo a sublimation!

In his mind, the Manifestation Talisman emitted a soft purple glow as information came through!

[Shadows of substance and illusion intertwine, ever-changing and unpredictable. Extreme Shadow Swordplay progress +1]!

[Extreme Shadow Swordplay (1000/1000), comprehended 'Extreme Shadow Sword Intent']!

[Manifestation perfected, reflected manifestations remaining: 1]!

As Su Ye used the Extreme Shadow Swordplay in battle, it had directly reached the perfected stage!

At that moment, Su Ye's understanding of the Extreme Shadow Swordplay entered an entirely new realm. It was as if he saw an assassin lying in ambush amid the wilderness, forging a concealed sword through a thousand hammerings and a hundred refinements. This... was a sword of transformation, using weakness to defeat strength.

Rip!

In the blink of an eye, several gashes appeared across Fang Li's training shirt, tearing it to shreds.

He had actually been forced back!

The battle had lasted only a few breaths, yet the entire place was stunned beyond words, staring at the scene before them in disbelief.

"What's going on? Am I still asleep?" A student rubbed his eyes until they reddened.

"The Extreme Shadow stage? How is that possible?!"

"Fang Li actually seems to be at a disadvantage. This has to be fake, right?"

Zhang Yuan, who had been worried before, could not help blurting out, "Holy shit!"

Was this still the Brother Ye he knew? This made no sense!

Su Ye closed his eyes, immersing himself in a peculiar sensation and insight.

It was not in the technique, but in the intent!

Fang Li roared, his eyes bloodshot. He only felt that he could not get past this loss of face, and lunged at Su Ye again!

Su Ye abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them as his right hand gripped the wooden sword.

At this moment, he possessed overwhelming confidence.

Perhaps before, he could only have fought Fang Li to a draw, or perhaps even been at a disadvantage.

But now that the Extreme Shadow Swordplay had been completely perfected... he could win!

"Stop!"

Suddenly, a middle-aged man with graying temples and a black Daoist robe appeared between them. An astonishing aura erupted from his body, directly forcing Fang Li back!

"Master Li!"

Fang Li froze, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists until his teeth bit through his lips. The muscles in his arms bulged violently, but in the end, he chose not to attack again!

Li Hai, Li Aoxue's father, was also the founder of the Vast Sea Swordplay and an expert at the Blood Nourishing Peak!

Even among the Four Great Families, an expert at the Blood Nourishing Peak was no ordinary figure. What was more, it was said that this man had military connections, making him even harder to provoke.

Yet Li Hai did not pay attention to Fang Li at first.

Instead, he looked at Su Ye with unusual eyes, faint shock hidden within them.

"Kid, have you cultivated Extreme Shadow Sword Intent?"

He had originally been in the training room on the second floor. He had only come down to the first floor to stop their conflict after sensing the Extreme Shadow Sword Intent.

Seeing the confusion on the faces of the dozens of students present, Li Hai slowly explained in an even tone.

"The proficiency of martial skills is naturally divided into many levels."

"For example, the Extreme Shadow Swordplay has the Afterimage, Void Shadow, Shadowless, and Extreme Shadow stages. Ordinary people may call it perfection once they cultivate it to the Extreme Shadow stage."

"Or take the widely circulated first-grade martial skill, the Seven Star Saber Technique. Named for the Seven Stars, it divides Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, and Yaoguang into seven stages. Reaching Yaoguang counts as great accomplishment and perfection."

"But only those who cultivate with tireless diligence and possess extraordinary Comprehension can grasp a martial skill's higher realm and comprehend the 'intent of martial arts.' This is a realm beyond perfection, a level comparable to the founder of the martial skill."

Though Li Hai's explanation was calm, the look in his eyes as he watched Su Ye was clearly anything but calm!

Su Ye wore the school uniform of First High School, so he was clearly a senior-year student.

He gave Su Ye, who remained unruffled by favor or humiliation, a deep look.

"To comprehend the true intent of the Extreme Shadow Swordplay in just over three weeks, kid, you're very impressive."

Not far away, Zhang Yuan's head was buzzing. He was clearly still a little dazed.

From Brother Ye gaining a slight upper hand over Fang Li to comprehending Extreme Shadow Sword Intent—it felt just like a dream!

Hearing Li Hai's words, he instinctively blurted out, "But Brother Ye was only at the Void Shadow stage the day before yesterday!"

Li Hai froze. The next moment, his gaze snapped toward Zhang Yuan.

"What did you say?"