The Precursor to Sword Intent

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Xu Yuan carefully felt the strange sensations coming from his body after breaking through his cultivation level.

Breaking through the Iron Body and achieving Soul Condensation is the first major bottleneck on the path of cultivation.

The ability to cultivate one's Will Soul is not something everyone can achieve; it requires Secret Method, comprehension, and aptitude—all three are indispensable.

The Will Soul, which originates from the sea of consciousness, represents a qualitative leap in the enhancement of a cultivator's five senses, and a solidified Will Soul that can leave the body can almost be used as mental power.

Although the initial stage of Will Soul Condensation n't result in a very strong level of solidification, it can still cause some trouble for enemies in battle.

In the heat of battle, a fleeting moment of confusion can be the difference between life and death.

However, this refers to ordinary cultivators.

The Will Soul of the Innate Dao Body can leave the body from the very beginning of cultivation, and the use of the Will Soul has long been integrated into Xu Yuan's life.

Therefore, Xu Yuan didn't have a strong sense of his own Will Soul, only that it felt more solid, and the unusual sensations in his body came more from the Source Qi within his body.

It's like a dam bursting; the amount of Source Qi stored has increased significantly.

Moreover, these Source Qi are not only more abundant, but also seem to have become extremely condensed during the breakthrough, as if they were compressed by the Will Soul.

Thinking this, Xu Yuan put on his boots and walked out of the room.

He could feel that his basic strengths were several times stronger than when he was in the Iron Body Realm.

This is exactly what a saying circulates among ordinary cultivators.

Those who are Soul Condensation are all mortals.

In the eyes of ordinary people or low-level cultivators of the Great Yan, the Soul Condensation Realm was already terrifying.

In some small, Aristocratic Clan, they are already considered to be revered and worshipped.

After all, back then, the steward of the Jingjiang Xu Estate, even with Xu Yuan's verbal order to surround and kill the former protagonist Qin Mo, could only mobilize a few seventh-grade Bone Refining cultivators at most. For those above the sixth-grade Iron Body, a report and application were required.

Composing himself, Xu Yuan silently got up, put on his boots, and prepared to go find his maternal uncle to cultivate.

Although the Soul Condensation Realm was already considered very strong, Xu Yuan didn't really feel the impact of breaking through to the Soul Condensation Realm.

Even though you can feel your strength visibly improving, it still doesn't feel real.

Silently walked out of the room.

Silently stepping onto the stone path,

He silently took a few steps.

Then,

A figure in green appeared beside him.

It was very abrupt.

There was no one there in the blink of an eye, but suddenly they appeared in the blink of an eye.

See?

Having climbed from the sewers of the Prime Minister's Estate onto the floor tiles, what sense of reality could he possibly have?

Xu Changge remained silent, and Xu Yuan also fell silent. The two brothers walked silently toward the outside of the Inner Court.

Stepping out of the Inner Court and looking at the green lawn, Xu Changge suddenly asked casually:

"You broke through?"

Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the person beside him:

"What?"

Xu Changge frowned:

"I heard some noise coming from your side, so I came to check on you."

Xu Yuan withdrew his gaze and retorted:

"Can't you tell with your cultivation level? Do you have to come all the way here to ask? Are you crazy?"

"."

Upon hearing this, Xu Changge's expression shifted, as if he were about to storm off, but he held back.

"Changtian that you've broken through, it's only natural that I, your elder brother, would come to check on you."

Xu Yuan stared at Xu Changge with a strange look in his eyes. He slowly raised a finger, pointed at Xu Changge, then at himself, and tilted his head.

Xu Changge remained expressionless.

Xu Yuan suddenly chuckled:

"Xu Changge, have you taken the wrong medicine?"

"." Xu Changge.

Xu Yuan turned to the side and patted Xu Changge on the shoulder:

"Don't be afraid. Although my cultivation speed is very fast, I won't beat you up before I reach the Origin Beginning."

"."

Xu Changge took a deep breath, staring at Xu Yuan, his aura beginning to leak out:

"Changtian, you dared to fight Origin Beginning so soon after entering the Soul Condensation, that's quite impressive."

Xu Yuan sneered, looked behind Xu Changge, and said:

"Father, Xu Changge's brain is all muscles, aren't you going to do anything about him?"

Xu Changge was stunned for a moment. If his father came, he really wouldn't be able to sense him. He concealed his aura and turned around.

"." Xu Changge.

The large courtyard was empty; there was no sign of my father.

Xu Changge turned around with a smile, only to see that Xu Yuan behind her had already raised his sword.

Void-Stepping Slash!

"." Xu Changge.

The person is gone.

Watching his third brother disappear on the spot, Xu Changge trembled with anger. He clenched his fists and looked in the direction of the Northwest Sword Pavilion, seemingly considering whether to chase after the kid and beat him up.

But a moment later,

Xu Changge suddenly chuckled:

"Really, he's still the same as before. I was thinking of going along to persuade my uncle to go easy on him, but now it seems I should just let this kid enjoy it on his own."

As he spoke,

Xu Changge took out two bottles of foundation-strengthening pills from her Sumeru Ring, sent them into Xu Yuan's room, shook her head, and flew back to her own courtyard.

The Prime Minister's Estate, northwest of the Sword Pavilion.

Then, the Saint's soul power teleported a hundred feet, Xu Yuan's figure suddenly appeared at the top of the Sword Pavilion.

It was quite abrupt, but no sooner had he appeared than a figure in pure white robes appeared on the roof of the Sword Pavilion.

He should be a bit faster than Xu Changge, but it's the same for Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan treated Feng Jiuxuan with great respect:

"Uncle, I've broken through!"

Feng Jiuxuan glanced around briefly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes:

"Soon, very good."

Xu Yuan grinned:

"Besides various elixirs, there are also medicinal meals and baths to aid cultivation, which naturally speeds up the process."

Xu Yuan broke through from a novice to the Soul Condensation in less than a year, thanks not only to his talent but also to his almost inexhaustible Cultivation Resources.

Poor scholars, rich warriors.

The reason you're not strong enough is often because you haven't spent enough money on in-game purchases.

It's good to rest in the shade of a big tree.

Xu Yuan has spent countless amounts of silver on his cultivation, especially after returning to the Imperial Capital. The total amount he has spent on cultivation so far is already 400,000 taels.

There is probably no one else in the world who can take drugs like him, not even the current Crown Prince.

Looking at the bigger picture, the Cultivation Resources he's using now would be enough to train several Grandmaster- level experts, but right now they're just being used to quickly improve his own cultivation level.

If he continues to cultivate by taking drugs like this and reaches the third-grade Grandmaster level, it will cost his father at least a million taels of silver.

Feng Jiuxuan remained noncommittal, but then said with slight interest:

"Your swordsmanship just now was quite something, it was like you teleported here."

Xu Yuan smiled upon hearing this:

"Founded by a genius with extraordinary talent, it is indeed very strong."

Feng Jiuxuan asked decisively:

"A genius with extraordinary talent?"

Xu Yuan smiled slightly, "It was Qin Mo whom Xu Changge killed in Jingjiang Prefecture earlier."

"That remnant of the Burial Village? He created such a technique with only an eighth-grade cultivation level?"

Feng Jiuxuan's eyes turned serious. "Even your elder brother might not be a match for him at the same level. If he is allowed to grow stronger, he will truly be a major threat."

Xu Yuan shrugged:

"Dead people don't grow."

Two figures stood atop the pavilion, the sky clear and the early summer breeze gently blowing.

A hint of a smile appeared in Feng Jiuxuan's narrow eyes. He didn't elaborate on the matter, but instead asked:

"Changtian, are you ready now?"

Xu Yuan found it somewhat strange:

"Huh? What are you preparing? Uncle, didn't you tell me to come find you after I broke through to the fifth rank?"

Feng Jiuxuan's eyes looked a little strange:

"Didn't Changge tell you?"

"."

Xu Yuan's eye twitched, and he answered decisively, "No."

Feng Jiuxuan seemed to understand something, glanced helplessly at his three nephews, patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder, and leaped off the pavilion.

"It's all the same, you'll know once you start. Just get down."

The Sword Pavilion, about forty feet high, is the tallest building in the Prime Minister's Estate, and contains countless divine weapons and magical artifacts.

Xu Yuan didn't rush to jump; his strength wouldn't allow it. He stood on the edge and peered over to gauge the distance from the ground.

It could probably kill forty Witchers, but it probably wouldn't kill him.

Thinking it over, Xu Yuan carefully moved around a few times and landed heavily on the ground.

In front of the Sword Pavilion is a huge Martial Practice Arena, roughly the size of two football fields.

This area is also a restricted zone within the Prime Minister's Estate, reserved solely for Feng Jiuxuan to practice swordsmanship.

After all, this is the dojo of the Sword Saint.

After landing,

Xu Yuan's legs felt a little numb. He looked up and saw Feng Jiuxuan standing in the center of the Martial Practice Arena, staring calmly at him, and saying:

"Changtian, try swinging your sword at me."

"Swing a sword?"

Xu Yuan was somewhat puzzled and asked in a low voice, "Like before in the Inner Court?"

Feng Jiuxuan shook his head, his voice gentle:

"Wave it however you like, as long as Changtian is willing to swing your sword at me. You can use Luo Daofan's soul power."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan was still a little confused, but he didn't say anything more and first estimated the distance.

The distance between his maternal uncle and him was about twenty feet.

Let's stick to the old approach for now.

Void-Stepping Slash + Blood Ink Jade.

Having made up his mind, Xu Yuan held the Clear Speech Sword horizontally to his chest and stared at Feng Jiuxuan, who had his thumb on the hilt of the sword not far away.

The moment their eyes met,

Xu Yuan suddenly felt himself flying, and during the flight he saw a headless body dressed in blood-stained clothes.

Vision plunged into darkness

Time has passed, I don't know how much time has gone by.

I awoke from my coma to a magnificent starry sky.

It's beautiful.

But the chilling feeling of utter death still lingered in Xu Yuan's body.

It's not about being near death, but the utter despair of dying.

Suppressing his discomfort, Xu Yuan slowly sat up:

"Haaah... I... I just died? No, my uncle couldn't have killed me."

"Awake?" Feng Jiuxuan's calm voice came from not far away.

Xu Yuan turned her gaze to him, her voice trembling slightly:

"Uncle, what was that just now?"

Feng Jiuxuan smiled slightly, his voice gentle:

"A way of applying sword intent."

Xu Yuan recalled the hallucinations he experienced with the Big Ice Block and Ying'er when he first transmigrated.

One time his head was severed, the other time his hand was severed.

Struggling to sit up, Xu Yuan tentatively asked:

"I experienced this feeling with Ran Qingmo and Ying'er before I started cultivating, but I remember it didn't feel real."

Feng Jiuxuan shook his head, his eyes softening:

"It's different. What you're describing is probably just an illusion caused by the pressure, while my 'intention' can directly kill people."

One glance is enough to kill.

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment and asked:

"Uncle, you made me cultivate to the Soul Condensation before coming here because you were afraid my Will Soul would collapse?"

"That's one aspect we've considered."

Feng Jiuxuan nodded and pointed to the Clear Speech Sword lying to the side. "Let's continue."

Xu Yuan stood there honestly and didn't move.

Feng Jiuxuan chuckled upon seeing this:

"Don't worry, your uncle will go easy on you. This is to train your perception of intention."

Xu Yuan remained motionless.

Just kidding, he's not stupid. If he picks it up, his head will probably be moved again.

He paused for a moment,

Xu Yuan chuckled awkwardly and asked cautiously:

"Uncle, didn't we talk about cultivating the way of the sword? And what about the sword essence of Heaven Gate Mountain?"

"You must first perceive the 'intention' before you can utilize the sword's essence," Feng Jiuxuan explained. "Moreover, once you master this, you won't have to wait until someone's attack is right in front of you before you even realize it."

"."

Xu Yuan remained still, glancing around.

Feng Jiuxuan said with a smile:

"Changtian, stop looking. Pick up the sword. Your father has already handed you over to me. Even if he comes to stop you, it won't make a difference."

"Here, it's my place, Uncle."

"."

He remained silent for several breaths.

Xu Yuan ultimately chose to bend down and pick up the sword, figuring that avoiding looking into his uncle's eyes would ease the situation somewhat.

Just as he was thinking this, the moment he picked up the sword, the man vanished again.

Ten days later,

Xu Yuan discovered that, apart from experiencing various ways to die, he had absolutely no idea what this "intention" his uncle was talking about was.

Waking up again

Looking at Feng Jiuxuan, who was still standing motionless in the center of the field, Xu Yuan missed his elder brother Xu Changge very much.

This maternal uncle is even more ruthless than Xu Changge!

With the full moon high in the sky, Xu Yuan slumped in the arena.

Having his head chopped off repeatedly, his mindset has begun to change slightly.

In short, they want to start selling.

A moment of silence,

Xu Yuan suddenly thought to himself:

"Old Man Luo, how do we fix this thing?!"

The uncle also said that he could borrow Old Man Luo's power.

Although he's down on his luck now, this old man is still a saint, he should have a way to deal with this.

Old Man Luo's reply was quite straightforward:

"Simple, just tell your uncle not to chop off your head directly, and let you experience it a few more times."

"What's the meaning?"

"Literal meaning."

"."

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan asked in his heart:

"If I asked you to hide, could you actually escape?"

"Of course you can. Your uncle's intention is for you to avoid it now."

"Then control my body to dodge?" Xu Yuan asked.

Old Man Luo's voice was strange:

"Meaningful?"

"At least demonstrate it."

"Okay, relax."

Old Man Luo readily agreed, his voice tinged with eagerness:

"This old man also wants to see just how strong these young men are these days."

"."

Feng Jiuxuan had been standing in the middle of the field waiting for Xu Yuan to stand up, suddenly raised an eyebrow. He didn't say anything, but his eyes showed a hint of interest as he stared at Xu Yuan.

In silence,

Old Man Luo slowly picked up the Clear Speech Sword from the ground.

In silence,

He slightly raised the Clear Speech Sword in his hand, as if to parry something.

Unfortunately, Xu Yuan, being such a weakling, couldn't see it.

Under Old Man Luo's control, the cold light emanating from the sword's blade danced like butterflies in the moonlight.

suddenly,

The uncle, who hadn't moved an inch, suddenly tilted his head slightly, as if something had flown past.

This time, Xu Yuan vaguely saw it.

It is not Qi, but an indescribable and illusory phenomenon.