Eve of Departure

The comprehension boost from the golden orb propelled Su Yu into an unprecedented state of cultivation.

For the next half a month, he barely left his residence, completely immersed in the comprehension of martial arts and Sword Intent.

Every day, aside from necessary breathing exercises and meditation, all his time was dedicated to honing his martial arts and understanding Sword Intent.

The progress with the Lone Peak Sword Art was the most significant.

This sword art, already at Greater Accomplishment, became even more refined in Su Yu's hands.

Every move he executed carried the true might of a mountain; where his sword pointed, even the air seemed to thicken and become sluggish.

One move, in particular, underwent a complete transformation. When the Sword Intent surged towards the heavens, it was accompanied by a faint Sound of Wind and Thunder.

What surprised Su Yu the most was that this move, originally emphasizing raw power, now possessed a grace of lifting the heavy with ease, its power increasing rather than diminishing.

The progress with the Wind-Swept Flowing Cloud Sword was equally astonishing.

This sword art was already known for its myriad of changes, and with his enhanced comprehension, Su Yu's understanding deepened further.

One move allowed him to manifest Sword Qi into form, his sword strokes like a raging storm passing through;

another became more continuous and dense, the Sword Intent like a churning sea of clouds, making it impossible to defend against;

as for the killing move, it could now be executed with much greater control.

In terms of fist techniques, the progress of the Thunderclap Fist surprised even Su Yu.

This fist technique, previously only at Greater Accomplishment, advanced by leaps and bounds in these two weeks.

Every punch thrown carried the true force of thunder; as his fist cut through the air, the sound of explosions was incessant.

Most crucially, Su Yu began to grasp the true essence of the technique—not just raw power and dominance, but also an unwavering, resolute will.

This understanding of its artistic conception elevated the power of his fist technique to another level.

The progress of his movement technique, Fleeting Light Shadow, was also gratifying.

Now, when Su Yu executed it, he was as elusive as fleeting light and shadow.

Most remarkably, he began to instinctively adjust the details of his movement based on the opponent's moves, a near-prescient ability that greatly enhanced the technique's effectiveness.

Sometimes, while maneuvering in the training room, he would leave several afterimages in the air that would linger for several breaths before dissipating.

This frenzied state of cultivation caused Su Yu's martial arts attainments to advance by leaps and bounds.

Although he was still one step away from a breakthrough in his realm, he could feel that this threshold was within reach.

Perhaps with another month, all these martial arts could reach the Perfected Realm.

Concurrently, Su Yu's comprehension of Sword Intent continued to deepen.

That wisp of Nascent Sword Intent was now several times stronger than before. Every time he executed a sword move, he could feel a wondrous resonance between the Sword Intent and the sword technique.

This resonance greatly amplified the power of his sword moves, even causing subtle changes in the surrounding Spiritual Qi.

However, when Su Yu attempted to push his Sword Intent to a higher realm, he encountered a difficult bottleneck.

No matter how hard he tried to comprehend it, that wisp of Sword Intent remained in its nascent stage, unable to progress further.

It felt like standing before a tightly shut door, able to sense the vast world beyond but unable to find the key to open it.

It seemed that breaking through in Sword Intent could not be achieved solely through comprehension.

Su Yu stood in the courtyard, gazing at the starry sky, lost in thought.

Perhaps he needed a true life-or-death trial to break through this bottleneck and allow his Sword Intent to truly mature.

One day.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the small courtyard. Su Yu was immersed in his comprehension of Sword Intent when he suddenly sensed two familiar sets of footsteps approaching from a distance.

He quickly retracted his Sword Intent and turned around, only to see Su Yan and Su Mei standing side-by-side at the courtyard entrance, both with hesitant expressions.

"Little Yan, Little Mei?"

Su Yu called out softly.

The two looked up at the sound, a flicker of surprise in their eyes.

Su Yu, merely standing there casually, gave them a feeling of overwhelming pressure, as if gazing up at a towering mountain.

This intangible pressure was even more intense than what they felt from the Outer Sect Deacons.

"Brother Yu..." Su Yan swallowed, his voice involuntarily lowering, "Did you... break through to the Spirit Condensation Realm?"

Su Mei also nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, her eyes filled with anticipation and anxiety.

Su Yu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over their faces, keenly sensing their low spirits. "Yes, I broke through a few days ago. Why, did you need something?"

Su Yan and Su Mei exchanged glances, and finally, Su Mei mustered the courage to speak. "Cousin, Su Yan and I have encountered some bottlenecks while practicing our martial arts, and we wanted to ask for your guidance..."

Her voice trailed off, "But now that you've broken through to the Spirit Condensation Realm and will be going to the Inner Sect, you must have many things to prepare..."

Su Yan picked up where she left off. "Yeah, we shouldn't have bothered you..."

As they spoke, the two turned to leave, their retreating figures conveying an unspeakable sense of dejection.

"Wait."

Su Yu darted in front of them, chuckling softly. "Who says I can't guide you after going to the inner sect?"

Su Mei's head snapped up, a spark of hope rekindling in her eyes. Su Yan also wore a surprised grin.

"The inner sect isn't cut off from the world."

Su Yu's tone was gentle. "I plan to stay in the outer sect for another half a month. That'll be enough time to help you solve your cultivation problems. Even after you go to the inner sect, I'll still come back to see you often."

He paused, looking at their brightening eyes, and continued, "Besides, with your talent, breaking through to the Spirit Condensation Realm is only a matter of time. Wouldn't it be even better if the three of us reunited in the inner sect then?"

These words were like a shot of adrenaline. The gloom on Su Mei and Su Yan's faces vanished.

Su Yan suddenly grabbed Su Yu's arm, exclaiming excitedly, "That's right! Brother Yu, you go forge a name for yourself in the inner sect first. When we get there, no one will dare bully us!"

Su Mei also pursed her lips into a smile, her eyes shimmering with anticipation. "Then the three of us siblings can look out for each other in the inner sect. Let's see who dares to look down on us Su family disciples then!"

Su Yu chuckled and shook his head, but he was also touched by their pure sibling affection.

He patted their shoulders. "Let's go, show me the problems you're having with your cultivation. Remember, the path of martial arts is long. There's no need to rush. Steady progress is the right way."

Under the setting sun, the silhouettes of the three figures stretched long. One was steady as a mountain, the other two were full of youthful vigor, yet both held infinite aspirations for the future.