Sword Intent

"Youngsters are formidable, truly formidable!"

City Lord Shen Wuya clapped his hands, sighing with undisguised shock.

The powerful figure who governed Skywind City now had a complex glint in his eyes.

It held both admiration for the genius and a touch of melancholy that time spares no one.

Lu Yue nodded slightly, his eyes revealing undisguised praise.

"Good! Good! Good!" Su Tianheng exclaimed thrice, each word louder than the last.

The usually composed Patriarch of the Su Family was now somewhat beside himself, his eyes slightly moist.

He recalled his brother's dying wish before he disappeared, and his own neglect of Su Yu over the years. A myriad of emotions surged within him.

But now, all his guilt transformed into boundless pride.

Shen Wuya straightened his robes and rose solemnly.

His deep voice, amplified by Spiritual Power, echoed throughout the venue: "With this battle, the victor is decided. I, the City Lord, announce—the champion of this year's Skywind City Grand Competition, from the Su Family, Su Yu!"

The entire venue erupted instantly, cheers rising and falling like waves.

Shen Wuya smiled and turned to Lu Yue: "As per tradition, Elder Lu, please present the champion with the reward."

Lu Yue was already eager. He strode to the stage, holding the grand prize for this competition: a first-grade Storage Bag.

"Su Yu, come forward."

Su Yu stepped forward steadily, respectfully receiving the Storage Bag embroidered with cloud patterns with both hands.

As his fingertips touched the bag's surface, he could feel the mysterious spatial power contained within.

He bowed deeply towards Lu Yue and the City Lord, his movements neither servile nor arrogant.

"This year's disciples selected for the Misty Cloud Sect's outer sect—" Lu Yue's voice boomed. With a wave of his sleeve, ten streams of light flew out in different directions.

"Su Yu, Lin Tian, Su Yun, Chu Feng, Su Mei, Lin Mo, Lin Yan, Su Yan, Xu Chuan, Han Sui!"

With each name called, a cloud-patterned jade pendant landed in the hands of the corresponding person.

Su Yu caught his jade pendant; it felt warm to the touch. Two characters were engraved on the back, with faint Spiritual Power flowing around them.

"New disciples must remember," Lu Yue's gaze swept over them.

"You are not permitted to return home during your first year after entering the sect. The Misty Cloud Sect is two thousand li away. Even with a swift horse, it will take at most five days to reach. You have one month to arrive within the deadline."

Before they departed, Lu Yue gave Su Yu a meaningful look, a slight curve to his lips.

He could already imagine the shock this young man would bring to those arrogant disciples in the Misty Cloud Sect.

As the grand competition concluded, Su Yu's name spread through Skywind City like wildfire.

On street corners, in tea houses and taverns, everyone was discussing that earth-shattering duel.

"I heard Young Master Su broke Lin Tian's Blood Burning Secret Technique with a single sword strike!"

"No way, that sword light nearly blinded me!"

After returning to the Su Family, Su Yu clearly felt the change in everyone's attitude.

The clan members who used to ignore him now stopped and bowed whenever they saw him from afar.

Even the once arrogant Su Hao now greeted him with a fawning smile.

"Cousin~" Su Mei came to him daily with sword manuals, her eyes shining like stars.

"I can never get this move right..."

What made Su Yu even more amused was that even the Third Elder sent someone to deliver his treasured spiritual tea.

This elder, who had always been at odds with the Patriarch, now praised Su Yu to the skies.

After dealing with the endless stream of visitors, Su Yu finally returned to his small courtyard.

Gazing at the Azure Edge Sword in his hand, he let out a soft breath.

Su Yan needed time to recover from his injuries, so they agreed to depart in twenty days.

At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, Su Yu's sword was already unsheathed.

In the bluestone courtyard, the Gale Sword Intent surged, sword qi like dragons, shredding the fallen leaves on the ground into powder.

Every strike was precise to the millimeter, every stance sharp and chilling.

Yet, Su Yu's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

This sword... it still felt like something was missing.

Night fell, and the bright moon hung high.

The Sword Intent suddenly shifted, and the Flowing Cloud Sword Style unfolded with the grace of flowing clouds.

As the sword's edge passed, it seemed to be wreathed in ethereal mist, elusive and unpredictable.

But as he sheathed his sword, a flicker of confusion crossed Su Yu's eyes.

He repeated this for three days, without rest.

During the 324th practice session, an anomaly occurred.

Su Yu's sword suddenly paused slightly, and where the tip pointed, the air rippled minutely.

In that instant, he felt as if he had touched something.

It was like looking through a veil as thin as a cicada's wing, vaguely seeing the brilliant river of stars on the other side, yet never being able to truly reach it.

This is...

He sheathed his sword and stood, letting sweat drip down his chin.

His sword techniques had reached perfection, so why did he still have this profound, mysterious feeling?

It was as if the Gale Sword Style and Flowing Cloud Sword Style could still advance further?

Was there a higher realm beyond Sword Intent?

Su Yu asked himself in a low voice, the sound dissipating in the morning breeze.

He gazed at the long sword in his hand, its surface reflecting his own confused eyes.

That feeling was too subtle.

It was like standing on a mountaintop, only to vaguely see an even more majestic peak within the sea of clouds above.

With his questions, Su Yu went to the Patriarch's study.

Upon hearing his description, Su Tianheng's teacup trembled slightly in his hand.

Sword Intent... A look of reminiscence appeared in the eyes of the well-informed Patriarch.

That was the highest realm of the sword path. Legend had it that with Sword Intent, one could cleave mountains and rivers, sun and moon, and break all malevolent spirits.

However... Su Tianheng shook his head gently.

Sword Intent is extremely difficult to comprehend. Ordinary Martial Artists need to reach the Sea Breaking Realm, and after their souls undergo their first transformation, they might have a chance to glimpse the path.

Speaking of which, he suddenly remembered something, and a look of recollection appeared in his eyes: Of course, among those exceptionally talented individuals, some did comprehend Sword Intent in the Essence Transformation Realm.

At this point, Su Tianheng suddenly chuckled and patted Su Yu's shoulder: But you are only in the Qi Refining Realm, it's too early to consider these things.

Even so, his gaze towards Su Yu was filled with relief.

After leaving the study, Su Yu strolled through the courtyard.

The afterglow of the setting sun stretched his shadow long.

Was that profound, mysterious feeling truly just his imagination?

Three days of quiet cultivation had made him understand that forcing a breakthrough would only be counterproductive.

Perhaps, as his uncle had said, the time was not yet right.

It's time to go to the Monster Forest.

Su Yu looked at the evening clouds in the sky and murmured to himself.