Sword Immortal (Bonus Chapter)

Sun Wukong's interlude did not concern Xu Yi. Too much had happened that night; after returning home, he lay down to rest, circulating his cultivation technique a few times in passing and calling it a day's cultivation.

At this moment, the previously silent Chat Group livened up, seemingly engaged in conversation.

A week had passed since the last time new members were invited, and Xu Yi could invite newcomers again.

However, Xu Yi did not do so. With few people, things were quiet enough, and there was nothing important going on.

Chat Group.

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "I've run into some difficulties with my recent cultivation. Could you all help clear up my confusion?"

Tushan Second Head: "Don't you practice martial arts? We're fox demons; our systems are different."

Bad Commander: "I have lived for three hundred years and can be considered well-versed in the martial arts of many schools. Perhaps I can answer a question or two."

Xu Yi: "Just passing by."

Tushan Second Head: "Group Owner, this young lady's Magical Power has increased again lately."

Xu Yi: "Oh, are you going to fight?"

Tushan Second Head: "No. Although this young lady is eighty to ninety percent confident, rounding it off gives me less than a fifty percent chance. How would that be any different from asking for a beating?"

Xu Yi: "Not bad. You've improved."

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "Group Owner, Senior Gang, I've been contemplating Sword Intent lately, but I always feel as though something is missing. It's very difficult to comprehend Sword Intent."

Bad Commander: "Sword Intent? I know few swordsmen who have cultivated Sword Intent, though there are several, and they are all exceptionally formidable. But I do not cultivate the sword path, so I do not know much about its principles."

Xu Yi: "Sword Intent? Is it that difficult?"

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "For me, Group Owner, it is somewhat difficult at present. In my world, one must at least comprehend Sword Intent to earn the title of Sword Immortal. No matter how powerful one is, without Sword Intent, one will not receive the title of Sword Immortal."

In her world, Sword Immortals were symbols of extraordinary talent. Some people had never practiced martial arts, yet the moment they picked up a sword, they became Sword Immortals. That was talent; comprehending Sword Intent came effortlessly to them.

Li Hanyi's talent was exceptionally high, but compared with such freakish geniuses, she still fell short.

With her talent, comprehending Sword Intent was only a matter of time. But after witnessing Xu Yi shatter a star with a single slash—

Unconsciously, Li Hanyi wanted to improve her swordsmanship.

Bad Commander: "I have a close friend, Li Chunfeng, who cultivates the sword path. His Seven Stars Swordplay and Longquan Sword Technique are unmatched in the world, but Sword Intent is difficult to study. Li Taibai of the Xuan Sect era, however, bore the title of Sword Immortal. His Azure Lotus Swordplay had no equal in his time.

"Perhaps Sword Intent is a kind of force—the force of heaven and earth. By mastering this force, sword cultivators can in turn enhance the power of their sword path."

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "Force! I understand that, but the key is how to master it. Theory is theory, but practice varies immensely."

Xu Yi: "Gang actually makes a good point; there is some truth to it. As for swordsmanship, I have not seriously cultivated it either."

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "No way, Group Owner. You call that not serious cultivation? You can cleave stars with a single sword strike."

Xu Yi: "Of course. Perhaps our constitutions are simply different. I'll only offer my own view: Sword Intent, plainly speaking, is merely one method of cultivating the sword path. Pursuing Sword Intent too obsessively would instead be taking the lesser path.

"If one's sword moves are exquisite enough, one can still press forward without hindrance and break through anything. Sword Intent and sword moves complement each other—that is the proper path."

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "But I already know all my sword moves by heart. No matter how much I practice them, there will be no change. Only improving Sword Intent and true qi can increase my strength."

Bad Commander: "Indeed. No matter how exquisite the sword moves or Sword Intent may be, this Commander's three hundred years of cultivation can crush them outright."

Tushan Second Head: "That's not fair."

Xu Yi: "It truly isn't fair. That is why finding a cultivation method that suits you is the most important thing."

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "...How about it, Group Owner? Could you demonstrate your swordsmanship once more? I'll see whether I can glean anything from it."

Xu Yi: "Ahem. Those who learn from me may live; those who imitate me... well, that would be even better. Sword Intent is formless. It is best to find your own. If you cannot, then draw on others' examples."

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "Group Owner, I know my own limits. There is no shame in being inferior to you. If I had not joined the Chat Group and witnessed your swordsmanship, I might have become a Sword Immortal in this lifetime, but I would be far inferior to who I am now. I have a feeling that I will surpass my former self."

Xu Yi: "Well said. Then first forget the trouble of Sword Intent and seek out your Sword Heart. How can a swordsman lack a Sword Heart? Once you have a Sword Heart, I believe Sword Intent will no longer be a problem."

Snow Moon Sword Immortal: "Sword Heart!"

In Li Hanyi's world, after hearing Xu Yi's explanation, she could not help but freeze.

Sword Heart—what was a Sword Heart?

She had always cultivated swordsmanship, yet it seemed she had never seriously considered the Sword Heart.

At that moment, an elderly man in white robes appeared. He looked refined, with a full head of white hair and beard.

This man was Li Hanyi's master, Li Changsheng.

He was also the foremost person in the world today, at the Spirit Wandering Mysterious Realm and Earth Immortal realm.

Though he was an Earth Immortal in a martial-arts world, he possessed all manner of inconceivable abilities and had even touched upon the realm of immortal cultivation.

Li Changsheng was elusive and rarely showed himself.

"Master!" Li Hanyi said in surprise.

"Disciple, it seems you are greatly troubled." Li Changsheng stroked his beard and smiled.

"Master, what is a Sword Heart?" Li Hanyi asked.

Li Changsheng clasped his hands behind his back and gazed toward the Sky Dome. "The Sword Heart is my heart; my heart is the heart of heaven!"

A few simple numbers, yet they fully displayed the bearing and dominance of the number one under heaven.

"My heart is the heart of heaven!"

Li Hanyi seemed lost in thought. Her talent was exceptional, and she had already grasped some of the mysteries.

Li Changsheng did not disturb Li Hanyi and drifted away.

Li Hanyi sank into a state of enlightenment, an inscrutable aura faintly emanating from her body as sword light flickered in her eyes.

The leaves drifting through the bamboo grove were suspended in midair by a mysterious force, completely motionless.

At that moment, time and space seemed to have frozen.

Perhaps before long, Li Hanyi would be able to step into the realm of the Sword Immortal as well.

Xu Yi's side remained as usual.

"Group Owner, it is time to invite New Members," the Chat Group reminded him.

The Chat Group rarely spoke, but Xu Yi's laid-back nature had left it somewhat bewildered.

It had never seen such an unmotivated Group Owner.

New Members represented new worlds, and new worlds represented new resources.

"No rush," Xu Yi replied.

"Host, although you are a Cultivator, among the Myriad Realms, Cultivators are merely at the bottom of the food chain. You need to strive to become stronger," the Chat Group said.

"Cultivators are at the bottom of the food chain?" Xu Yi's expression changed.

"Of course. Cultivators only possess some strength in low-tier planes and dimensions. Go any further, and they are merely at the bottom," the Chat Group said.

"You make yourself sound so powerful. How strong are you, exactly?" Xu Yi asked disdainfully.

"I coexist with the Dao and stand above the Myriad Realms," the Chat Group said.

"Oh." Xu Yi nodded, unimpressed.

"..." The Chat Group fell silent.

"Ding."

Outside, the doorbell rang.

"Chat Group, I'm done talking to you. A guest is here." Xu Yi cut off the connection.

"..." The Chat Group fell silent.

Xu Yi opened the door to find Du Qiangwei standing outside.

Du Qiangwei was wearing a red plaid shirt and light-blue jeans, looking every bit like the girl next door.

The jeans made Qiangwei's long legs appear even straighter and more shapely, ...