The Myriad Things Have Spirits, All Beings Have Intent

"This is the pinnacle of martial arts."

Experience the mysterious changes that occur when you wield your swordsmanship, Gu Jinlai.

It was like a well-trained and elite army suddenly developing its own military spirit. Everyone clearly knew why they were fighting and why they were willing to sacrifice, and they were fearless and forged ahead without hesitation.

In this situation, even if their equipment remains unchanged, they can still turn the impossible into the possible, defeating 20,000 with 10,000, or even breaking through 30,000 with 10,000.

"In layman's terms, the realm of mastery is the comprehensive integration of all the sword techniques, fist techniques, Movement Method, and secret arts one has mastered. It is a state of perfect harmony where one knows when and what changes are most suitable for oneself, thereby enabling one part of one's strength to exert two or even three parts of its effect."

Jiang Chongshan said.

"And what about the artistic conception?"

A question has been asked Gu Jinlai.

"Artistic conception..."

Jiang Chongshan pondered for a moment, "I have been immersed in the Dao of Artistic Conception for ten years, but I always feel that something is missing. This thing... should be called spirituality."

"Spirituality?"

"Yes, the realm of intent has already reached a mysterious and profound realm, enabling cultivators to anticipate their enemies and sense good or bad fortune. When a flying sword is about to strike, even though they cannot 'see' the flying sword, they can still detect its traces and intercept it. In fact... I have personally witnessed the feat of a master of intent capturing a flying sword with their bare hands."

As Jiang Chongshan spoke, he looked at Gu Jinlai, "The royal secrets once used the slogan of the Celestial Masters sect, 'All things have spirits,' to describe the artistic conception. They called it 'All beings have intentions.'"

"All living beings have intentions."

"Yes."

As Jiang Chongshan spoke, his expression seemed somewhat awkward. After a while, he said, "As a Celestial Master, Gu Tianjun should be able to understand a doctrine that all living beings, matter, energy, and even spirit and will are essentially derived from the Great Dao?"

"One."

Gu Jinlai, people have pondered, "The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, and Three gives birth to all things?"

Jiang Chongshan's eyes lit up. "Truly worthy of being called the Ancient Heavenly Lord, a very insightful summary."

He quickly said, "According to the royal secrets, if a person's body dies and their spirit is annihilated, it does not mean true disappearance, but rather that they are transformed into another form of existence. Just like a tree withers and dies, but it can still enrich the soil and be absorbed by other trees to grow strong. Therefore, the death of life is just a transformation of the form of existence. Its essence has not changed. One is still the same one. What changes is two, three, and all things."

"So, the essence of artistic conception is simply understanding the power of form transformation?"

"Right!"

Jiang Chongshan nodded. "If all existences are of the same essence, then naturally, moving one will affect the whole body. When other substances move, you will naturally resonate and share the same spirit."

Gu Jinlai to understand.

Just like the entire atmospheric system.

It's like a lightning bolt streaking across the horizon.

When you see lightning streak across the sky, you naturally know that thunder will follow.

The defense of atmosphere against crisis also originates from this.

When Spirit Transformation cultivator draws his sword, it's like lightning piercing the sky.

Although the flying sword had not yet struck, the lightning had already flashed, allowing those who had grasped the essence of the matter—that is, those who understood the atmospheric system—to sense it.

That's not all.

Even if a fighter jet takes off fully loaded in the distance and enters the atmosphere to bomb his area, a cultivator of the Intent Realm can still sense it.

This involves the application of power at different levels and in different dimensions.

"No wonder it is said that the Heavenly Master Lineage has an amazing auxiliary effect on the understanding of artistic conception after entering the realm of the Celestial Monarch... All things have spirits, and all living beings have intentions."

This Gu Jinlai.

Jiang Chongshan glanced at Gu Jinlai with some envy. "With Gu Tianjun's talent, he will probably be able to enter the realm of intent in no time. At that time, flying swords will not be able to hurt you, and with your great Demonic Beasts- level physique, fighting against Spirit Transformation will be no difficult task."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Gu Jinlai.

He cupped his hands in greeting. "I will go and experience the wonders of the Transcendent Realm first, and then come back to thank Your Highness, the Star King, after some time."

"You're too kind, Lord Gu."

Jiang Chongshan smiled slightly and gestured for him to make himself at home.

Gu Jinlai left quickly and returned to his own courtyard.

Then, carrying his heavy Xuan Steel Battle Sword weighing several thousand kilograms, he unleashed the sword technique "Ten Thousand Swords Return to One".

Because of his masterful skill, what was clearly a grand and sweeping sword technique was rendered with a sense of lightness and agility.

Not only that, but he lifted the heavy sword weighing several thousand pounds and leaped down, landing directly on a thin wooden board.

But...

Instead of immediately crushing the wooden plank, it stood there steadily, as if it were holding a plastic mold rather than a heavy sword weighing thousands of pounds.

"This is the realm of perfection."

Having tried for a long time, Gu Jinlai, I have sincerely felt the mystery of this realm.

Once you reach a state of profound understanding, many problems that were previously difficult to solve can be easily resolved.

"Artistic conception...all things have a spirit, all beings have intentions, through another dimension..."

Gu Jinlai, the first thing that comes to mind is quantum entanglement.

In the world of "intention," the cultivator's will is not important to them.

Just like the cellular structure of a living organism, it doesn't mean that if someone else eats this piece of meat, it can't be digested and can't provide energy for the cell.

The same applies to spirits.

This spirit and that spirit are truly of the same kind.

Even the same individual.

As for the humans who drive the "spirit," they are merely an outer shell.

Therefore, when one human's "spirit" wants to destroy another human's "spirit," the two "spirits" will "notify" each other.

Because the "spirit" can be viewed as a whole, this notification is like the brain immediately transmitting pain signals when someone's right hand is injured, with almost no delay.

If a human with "spirit" can capture, access, and analyze this "notification" information at this time, they will realize that someone is instructing "spirit" to attack them, and thus take effective precautions.

"Heavenly Lord, Spirit."

Gu Jinlai, people have squinted, pondering solutions.

Soon, he realized something.

Shared spirit.

"So, can I maintain a state of spiritual communion with the spirits around me at all times? And receive 'notification' signals in this way?"

It Gu Jinlai.

Then he shook his head.

In this way, he is essentially in a state of constant spiritual depletion, a state he cannot sustain.

Just like he can't always activate the close-in weapon system in a state of True Spirit possession.

"Then there is only one way: to strengthen my soul, to make my spirituality powerful enough to pierce through the shackles of the body, to break free from the body, and then to use this dissipated spirituality to maintain a state of spiritual communion with the outside world at all times."

The Way of the Heart, from Gu Jinlai.

However, one must allow their soul to grow strong enough to cause a spiritual dissipation effect...

Even a peak Heavenly Monarch might not be able to afford such luxury.

"Will."

Gu Jinlai, people have been turning their attention back to the realm of artistic conception.

Sword intent, saber intent, fist intent—the essence of these artistic conceptions...

It is actually a highly aggregated form of will.

In other words...

Selective scanning?

The growth of the soul to the point of spiritual dissipation, or the constant maintenance of the growth of the shared spirit, consumes a great deal of energy.

Just like a scanning machine, everything needs to be scanned and calculated.

But what if we set several keywords...?

Just like web search.

Without any keywords, you can search for countless pieces of information, but with each additional keyword, the number of relevant results decreases exponentially.

And the keywords he wanted to set...

"Flying sword! Deadly!"

The Gu Jinlai have become clear.

By simply setting these two search keywords, the workload you need to bear will be reduced to a negligible level.

At this moment, the spirit and will of Gu Jinlai surge.

The deadly intent of the flying sword guided his spirituality to gradually boil, and it began to dissipate outwards.

Soon, this spirituality permeated the body and detached from the physical form.

Having lost the constraint of being the "most intelligent of all beings," the efficiency of the shared spirit has increased dramatically.

Gu Jinlai, we can sense something, but upon closer examination, we perceive nothing at all.

He carefully experienced this feeling and mastered the process.

Half a day later, he suddenly shouted, "Have Gu Chifeng bring the 'Crimson' close-in weapon system over here."

"Yes."

A shout came from outside.

Before long, Gu Chifeng arrived at Gu Jinlai's courtyard carrying a close-in weapon system weighing several thousand kilograms.

"Ancestor, I've loaded all the bullets. Are we going to hunt down a target?"

"Need not."

Gu Jinlai looked at Gu Chifeng's close-in weapon system and said, "Aim at me."

Gu Chifeng was stunned.

"I want to conduct an experiment."

Gu Jinlai gave an introduction.

Gu Chifeng then realized what was happening and operated the close-in weapon system, quickly aiming it at Gu Jinlai.

As soon as he aimed, the "fatal" keyword bestowed by the spirit was activated. In an instant, Gu Jinlai felt a chill run down his spine, and a sense of unease surged into his heart, prompting him to either leave the direct aiming area of the close-in weapon system as quickly as possible or burst out at the fastest speed to destroy the close-in weapon system.

"It's done."

This scene brought smiles to Gu Jinlai.

"Although it's not true will, it's just a way to achieve an effect similar to an artistic conception through spiritual outward expression. It does consume spiritual energy on a daily basis, but... this consumption of spiritual energy is extremely low, and I can afford it completely."

This time, when he was attacked by flying swords again, he finally had a premonition and even had the chance to defeat them in mid-air.

This is the epitome of double happiness.

"I just don't know if we can defeat a Nascent Spirit Transformation cultivator without relying on close-in weapon systems."

Gu Jinlai have speculated about this.

We'll only know the specifics after the fight.

Over the next few days, Gu Jinlai have been familiar with this process of using spirituality as a means of conveying meaning, while trying to reduce the consumption of spirituality in the process.

This peaceful cultivation lasted for less than a week before Gu Chaoyang rushed over. "Ancestor, it seems that our large-scale recruitment of craftsmen in Baihe City has... provoked the dissatisfaction of Elder Xue Wuqing, who is in charge of Baihe City... He has detained our people and wants you to come over and give an explanation."

"Recruiting craftsmen?"

This matter was personally ordered by the Gu Jinlai.

After all, the military workshop has heavy tasks and is already severely understaffed.

Only...

Does our recruitment process involve any coercion?

"No."

Is it reasonable and legal?

"Reasonable and legal."

"Did Baihe City issue an order beforehand prohibiting craftsmen from leaving the city?"

"No."

"So..."

Gu Jinlai slowly finished his cultivation. "Xue Wuqing... where did you get the audacity to detain our people?"