Ye Xinglan by Sea God Lake, Dao Intent and Sword Intent, Cherish Today Like a Precious Gift

Though both Soul Rings had been bestowed by the Golden Ancient Tree, Zhao Xuanzhen and Tang Wulin's Soul Skills were vastly different.

Due to Zhao Xuanzhen's unique nature, the Life Core could not grant him the Child of Nature. The Golden Tree Spirit instead used Life Energy to stimulate the origin of his True Self Soul, forming his Fourth Soul Skill—Tai Chi Domain!

Setting aside rare cases such as the Demon-Breaking Domain and Noble Ring, among conventional combat Domains, it was a Soul Skill that Douluo Soul Masters craved more than anything.

As everyone knew, the Lord of the Domain controlled all things within its range. Within the Domain, they received immense enhancements while suppressing every opponent's abilities.

As one side rose and the other declined, the Lord of the Domain opened an enormous gap between themselves and their enemy. Among Soul Masters of the same rank, the side possessing a Domain held an absolute advantage.

The Domains of Douluo Continent came in countless varieties, with varying levels of strength. Zhao Xuanzhen's Tai Chi Domain undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of the Domain world. The power of True Self itself was one reason, while the Golden Tree was another.

Beyond strengthening himself and weakening his opponent, the Tai Chi Domain contained two additional effects.

First, it carried the Power of Yin Yang Decomposition. When other Domains faced the Tai Chi Domain, their power would be greatly reduced. The Dark Demon Domain of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was the first to experience this Domain suppression.

Second, the Golden Tree symbolized light and life, standing at the apex of Plant-type lifeforms. After the Tai Chi Domain fused with the Golden Tree's energy, it also gained the ability to restrain Plant-type Soul Masters and Dark attribute Soul Masters.

Unfortunately for it, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was hit once again. Its Dark Demon Domain was almost entirely covered by the Tai Chi Domain.

It had originally been slightly disadvantaged, and the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had planned to unleash its Domain to turn the tables and thoroughly crush the human before it. However, once the two Domains appeared together, its unfavorable situation instantly became a hopelessly pressured one!

"Qi Moves Mountains and Rivers, suppress!"

The First Soul Ring blazed brightly. Zhao Xuanzhen drew circles with both hands, and the Yin and Yang Qi within the Tai Chi Domain were incomparably dense. The power of Yin Yang attribute Soul Skills surged dramatically as an unparalleled Black and White Tai Chi Diagram appeared, suppressing the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger like Mount Tai crashing down upon it.

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger roared wildly. A biting gale swept forth as the vicious Evil God Hook on its tail circled through the air. The surrounding atmosphere shook violently, and the Evil God Hook overflowed with supremely evil power. Then it straightened, extended, lengthened, and finally transformed into a gray spike steeped in evil aura!

Evil God Spike!

"Boom—"

The Evil God Spike broke through the black-and-white currents along its path and Charged Forward at Qi Moves Mountains and Rivers. Zhao Xuanzhen brought his palms together, and the Tai Chi Diagram instantly folded inward. The Yin and Yang Qi exploded with a thunderous blast. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger staggered back repeatedly. By the time it steadied itself, its limbs had plowed two deep trenches through the Arena of Life and Death's platform, with half its body sunk into the overturned earth.

"Roar—"

The tiger's roar no longer carried any majesty. At this moment, the God-tier Soul Beast actually gave off the feeling of a Cornered Beast Still Fights. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger propped up its upper body as countless light orbs containing evil, wind, and lightning attributes gathered above its head.

Strange gray lightning accompanied by primal evil qi condensed into the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger clan's most powerful Innate Soul Skill—Dark Demon Evil God Lightning!

"Zhen Trigram, Yang Thunder!"

Among the floating Eight Trigrams runes in the Tai Chi Domain, the Zhen Trigram of Thunder suddenly flared. Thunderclouds churned above the Arena of Life and Death, and magnificent heavenly lightning descended like a god arriving in the world. The supremely forceful and fierce Heaven and Earth Yang Thunder collided explosively with the Dark Demon Evil God Lightning!

At the instant the two bolts of lightning Intertwined, heaven and earth seemed to fall silent. The Dark Demon Evil God Lightning was crazed and violent, seeking to destroy everything around it, while the Heaven and Earth Yang Thunder was righteous and imposing, like a blazing sun incinerating filth and corruption.

The Dark Demon Evil God Lightning began to vanish, and the Dark Demon Domain cracked apart with it. Under the Brilliant Gold Thunderlight, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's fur peeled away, exposing charred, ugly flesh beneath.

Burning smoke rose. When the final wisp of evil lightning was extinguished, the Heaven and Earth Yang Thunder transformed into a Sky-Pillar and nailed the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger into the ground.

A Golden Figure tore through the burning smoke. Under the illumination of the remaining lightning, Dark Gold Claw Blades extending from his fingertips chilled one to the bone!

Fear of death appeared in the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's beastly eyes. The instant Zhao Xuanzhen descended, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw thrust out coldly. Its sharp claw tips struck a gray barrier—the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's final line of defense!

The Innate Soul Skill Evil God's Protection activated the Evil God Bloodline to form an indestructible protective barrier. Compared to the similar Invincible Golden Body Soul Skill, Evil God's Protection had a slightly lower defensive limit, but it lasted longer!

Separated by a layer of gray barrier, man and beast looked at each other once more. The human's gaze was icy, brimming with killing intent that would not rest until one side died. The Soul Beast roared in panic and fury. The Dark Gold blades, only inches away, were like Death's reaping scythe, striking Evil God's Protection once, twice... Countless Times, producing a series of teeth-grinding cutting sounds!

"Riiip, riiip..."

Evil God's Protection was about to dissipate, and the cracks in the gray barrier continued to widen. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was seriously injured and powerless to resist. It could only watch helplessly as the expressionless human delivered death to it inch by inch!

At last, Evil God's Protection shattered beneath the storm-like assault of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw. The claw blades pierced the Black King Character on the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's head, penetrating its brain in a single strike!

The infamous God-tier Soul Beast turned into flying ash. The Tai Chi Domain slowly contracted, and the Eight Trigrams Phantom returned to silence.

"What a pity. No matter how much the numerical values are stacked, an imitation without the Evil God Bloodline can never compare to the real Dark Demon Evil God Tiger."

Zhao Xuanzhen sighed. If he had traveled back Twenty Thousand Years, he truly would have been interested in witnessing the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's power. Perhaps the creation of this Arena of Life and Death also carried some intent to commemorate that legendary evil Soul Beast.

With life and death decided, Zhao Xuanzhen automatically exited the Arena of Life and Death. Walking out of the thick gray fog, he saw Homeroom Teacher Shen Yi staring in shock.

"Teacher Shen, are there any other makeup exams?"

Shen Yi was nearly speechless. She merely shook her head blankly.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first."

"...All right."

The final makeup exam had ended. Zhao Xuanzhen left the Arena of Life and Death, but instead of returning to Sea God Island to cultivate or leaving the city for the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, he unexpectedly went to three places in succession.

The Mecha Design Association, the Mecha Manufacturing Association, and the Mecha Repair Association.

He registered his identity with the three Second Profession associations and accepted several missions.

As the extravagantly wealthy second-generation heir of Spirit Pagoda, backed by Mysterious Dragon Street, Zhao Xuanzhen naturally had no interest in the meager Mission Reward. He only did so because cultivating a Second Profession required Practical Combat Training, especially Mecha Manufacturing.

The martial souls of Shrek Students were at least above average, and the missions issued by the Professional Associations were generally of high quality. Making things himself would give Zhao Xuanzhen abundant practical experience and lay the foundation for crafting Two-Word Battle Armor in the future.

The three associations were located in three different directions from Shrek Academy, far apart from one another, and each required a Membership Test. Zhao Xuanzhen spent quite a bit of time on them. By the time he had finished everything, daylight had already Turned Into a sky full of stars.

Bathing in moonlight as he returned to Sea God Island, Zhao Xuanzhen admired the Night Scenery along the way. The night was ink-dark, and Sea God Lake resembled a clear mirror. Rippling reflections connected into a shimmering expanse, while the lowered branches of ancient trees along the shore swayed softly in the Night Wind, occasionally brushing the water and stirring fine circles of ripples.

By Sea God Lake, a sword edge pierced the stillness.

The bright yellow longsword was like Starlight Flowing Light. Every swing drew a dazzling trail, and the moonlight was cleaved by the sword light into scattered frost and snow.

Her Golden Ponytail swung with her movements, its ends brushing the sweat-soaked nape of her neck and forming a damp arc under the moonlight. The girl's azure eyes were clearer than the waters of Sea God Lake, yet they now burned with searing sharpness.

Ye Xinglan, Stargod Sword.

In another time and space, the reason Ye Xinglan had been able to comprehend Sword Intent at such a young age was that her extraordinary Sword Dao Talent, tireless effort, and unyielding will were all indispensable.

Zhao Xuanzhen stopped and watched the Blonde Girl dance her sword beneath the moon. The sound of the sword Tore through the air, always crisp and sharp like tearing silk. The knuckles gripping the sword were clenched tightly, sweat droplets falling into the carvings on the sword hilt, while the Stargod Sword reflected her stubborn face.

The fireflies startled from the lakeshore circled around the girl, yet always scattered in panic just before touching the Sword Aura, as though they feared that obsessively sharp edge.

One form, practiced ten times. One practice, repeated a hundred times.

When she sheathed her sword after the final form, the Stargod Sword continued trembling in the damp air for a long time. Ye Xinglan panted softly, a strand of golden hair falling down and quivering with her rising and falling chest.

The girl slowly turned around. Azure and black—Eyes Met. Raising a hand to wipe the sweat droplets from her eyelashes, she looked at him with an extraordinary gaze: calm, focused, and sharp as a sword.

"How is my sword...?"

Ye Xinglan did not care why Zhao Xuanzhen had appeared by Sea God Lake in the middle of the night. What she cared about more was the opinion of the Peer Expert she regarded as her Pursuing Target.

"You've improved greatly in terms of realm and are close to comprehending Sword Intent, but you're still not pure enough." Zhao Xuanzhen pointed at where her heart lay within her chest.

"Your Worries in Heart are Filling the Chest. If they are not resolved, they will easily become an obsession."

His words struck directly at the heart of Ye Xinglan's current predicament. Her snow-white Pearls bit deeply into her crimson lips as she Opened His Mouth softly.

"Since That Day when I lost the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition, I've thought about many things over this past year, but I haven't found a single answer.

"Why, when we are of similar age, am I not as strong as you?

"Why has my daily hard work and cultivation failed to narrow the gap?

"Why did defending my honor ultimately become Counterproductive...?"

After asking three questions in succession, Ye Xinglan raised her head to Look Up at the starry sky. The stars shone brilliantly, but not one of them could unravel the doubts piled across her entire heart.

"I don't understand what is right and what is wrong. Too many questions fill my mind. Could the beliefs I once held fast to truly have no merit at all?

"My past seems to have been a failure, my present is confused, and my future is nothing but chaos...

"Zhao Xuanzhen, you are one of the origins of my inner confusion. The one who tied the knot must untie it. Now, I want to use the Stargod Sword to seek an answer from you!"

Ye Xinglan gave an incomparably solemn bow, then slowly but resolutely raised the Stargod Sword. Soul Masters of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao feared being trapped by their State of Mind most of all. If she did not untie this Knot in Heart, she might remain stalled before Sword Intent for the rest of her life.

The Stargod Sword cut through the Night Fog, its edge bursting forth with countless cold stars. Its ringing sword cry shattered the sound of waves by the lake. Zhao Xuanzhen's robes abruptly spread open, and the arc traced by his Cloud Hand stirred the water vapor above the lake. His palms dissolved every swift thrust of the Stargod Sword.

His palm slid along the sword spine, his five fingers like those plucking a zither's strings. Ye Xinglan's pupils trembled slightly. The sticking sensation transmitted through the sword hilt felt exactly like stabbing into a mass of viscous moonlight.

Stargod Sword qi erupted. The ribbon binding the girl's hair snapped, and her Golden long hair spilled free like a waterfall beneath the moonlight, concealing half her lovely face. A withered branch beneath her feet exploded in response, and fine wood chips mixed with grass leaves to weave a translucent curtain between them.

Zhao Xuanzhen's gaze remained calm as he slowly walked toward the Stargod Sword. When he raised his hand, the air within a Three Zhang Radius condensed into an invisible Domain. The golden sword edge sank deep into a mire, while Tai Chi Force traveled Flow Upstream along the Sword Body, transforming the Stargod Sword's fierce killing move into Soft Silk.

His palm lightly tapped the longsword, and his Push Hands seemed slow but was actually fast. Ye Xinglan felt as if Heaven and Earth Inverted. A cold sensation suddenly came from the sword hilt, and the Stargod Sword was already Horizontally Placed against her neck.

Staring at Zhao Xuanzhen, who held the Stargod Sword upside down, Ye Xinglan bit through her lips, bloody scent seeping between her teeth. "That is your intent, an intent even greater than Na'er's spear intent!

"If I were not at the critical stage of comprehending Stargod Sword Intent, I would never have discovered that subtle intent in my entire life. Can you tell me what kind of intent it is, to be so profound and mysterious?"

"Want to know?"

Zhao Xuanzhen chuckled. He released the Stargod Sword, and then surging waves suddenly rose from the lake. A water curtain filled the sky as a long and drawn-out dragon roar came from the depths of Sea God Lake. The lake water ascended, and countless water droplets condensed into an enormous water dragon.

The Night Wind twisted into nine azure chains, while crimson Lotus Flame exploded in the void. Both wrapped around the water dragon and soared into the sky. The water dragon, Wind Chains, and lotus flames Intertwined behind Zhao Xuanzhen, while the Tai Chi Yin Yang Diagram beneath his feet expanded and expanded again.

Amid the radiance bursting from these scenes, Zhao Xuanzhen stood at the center of the Tai Chi Diagram, his clothes immaculate. The violent Natural Power was no more than a tame toy in his hand.

With two fingers together, he swiped across the void. The Tai Chi Diagram contracted into a pearl-sized Black and White Light Orb, which fell into his palm and rotated silently. Zhao Xuanzhen squeezed lightly, and the light orb shattered into specks of glowing dust. The wind stopped, the fire extinguished, the water dragon submerged into the lake center, and the violent elements returned to heaven and earth.

"How is this possible? Every kind of power contains your intent..."

Ye Xinglan's Worldview was somewhat collapsing. She could not understand the intent Zhao Xuanzhen wielded at all.

"To me, whether it is a sword, a spear, or an element, it is merely one form of expression for intent." Zhao Xuanzhen said calmly.

"Embrace all things in the world and forge the Path of True Self. That is the intent I have comprehended—Dao Intent."

"Dao Intent..." Ye Xinglan muttered.

"You keep worrying over gains and losses, care about the past, and fear the future. That is why you have lost the present."

Zhao Xuanzhen Rode the Wind and Rose, flying toward Sea God Island. His gentle voice drifted from afar. "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift bestowed by heaven.

"I once thought cultivation meant only being oneself. Later, I added one more principle: always cherish today like a precious gift."

"The past Cannot Be Changed, and there is No Need to Worry about the future. All I can do is seize The Present Moment and devote my heart to the sword..."

With a realization in her heart, Ye Xinglan watched that tall, upright figure gradually recede and shouted loudly.

"That Day was my fault. I'm sorry!"

"It's Past."

Zhao Xuanzhen waved his hand. This was not Ye Xinglan's first apology, and he was not so petty as to hold a grudge against a ten-year-old Little Girl.

Upon hearing this, disappointment flashed through Ye Xinglan's eyes. In her understanding, time had merely erased their past unpleasantness. Zhao Xuanzhen had not personally said, I forgive you.

"Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Since I made a mistake, I have the responsibility to make amends. I must hear That Sentence..."