Chu Ning

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

Like an ascetic cultivator, Xie Jinghan remained within the small courtyard, devoting himself to arduous cultivation without a trace of slackness.

Rather than seeking swift success, he focused on tempering his mind and spirit. Again and again, he observed the sword, listened to the sword, drew the sword, and comprehended the sword. With every circulation of sword intent, he strove for perfection, meticulously carving out every detail of the Sword Intent Realm as he cultivated steadily.

Though the progress of arduous cultivation was slow, far inferior to the advancement gained through life-and-death battles, he showed no impatience whatsoever. He continued laying solid foundations and building steadily, silently accumulating proficiency in sword intent.

He had already made up his mind. Over the coming years, he would remain peacefully in the Xie Household's small courtyard and devote himself to cultivation, never rashly venturing out into danger.

He was only seventeen, yet he already possessed two hundred and forty years of lifespan. What was ten years of bitter cultivation? It would pass in the snap of a finger. He would grind it out!

Compared to the path of battle and the path of entering the mortal world, he still preferred arduous cultivation—steady and grounded.

Whenever cultivation left him weary and he paused to rest, he would take the brand-new volume from the desk and read through it.

He had specifically instructed members of the residence to spend heavily on the latest issue of the Sword Challenge Register · 2026 Edition.

This register was an authoritative ranking spanning the nineteen provinces of the Great Yan Dynasty. Updated every three months, it specifically recorded the foremost experts from each province who had entered the Innate Realm and roamed the martial world, challenging swords and contending for supremacy.

By now, the register was no longer limited to sword cultivators. Any martial-world expert who had entered the Innate Realm could be listed.

The book detailed each person's battle records, sword-challenging history, and unique arts. It was the universally acknowledged ranking of prodigies in Great Yan's martial world, where Innate Realm experts across the land measured themselves against one another. Its prestige was exceedingly high.

Xie Jinghan's fingertips brushed over the pages as he turned through them one by one.

The register gathered heroes in great numbers, recording the battle achievements of countless Innate Realm experts from all nineteen provinces.

Some swept across the land with swords, some broke through with spears, and still others relied on nothing but iron fists to defeat heroes one after another and climb all the way to the top of the rankings.

Heroes arose in endless succession, champions fought for the edge, and a hundred boats raced with the current!

The bearing of countless powerful figures unfolded before his eyes, stirring his heart and broadening his horizons.

As his fingers turned past the title page, a famous sword-challenge record abruptly came into view. It belonged to the Great Yan royal family's Tenth Prince—Murong Ye.

[Martial Artist: Murong Ye]

[Identity: Tenth Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty]

[Martial Cultivation: Ninth Layer of the Innate Realm]

[Divine Weapon: One-Night Sword]

[Unique Arts: Heavenly Shift, Joined-Heaven Finger, Seven Demon Shadow Slaughters]

[Sword Challenge Record:

1. In the eighth month of the 506th year of Jianxing, Great Yan, Murong Ye challenged Wu Yingqiong of the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect. The two faced each other atop Azure Mountain. Their sword qi clashed for over a hundred exchanges, their sword intents swept across a hundred li, and the sound of air being torn apart shook the mountain ranges. They pressed one another step by step, neither yielding an inch, fighting until madness took them. In the end, a single sword decided victory and defeat. Murong Ye used Demonfall Apocalypse to break Wu Yingqiong's Myriad Frosts Return to Silence. Victory!

2. In the twelfth lunar month of the 505th year of Jianxing, Great Yan, Murong Ye challenged Fu Shaoqing of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect...

...
]

Xie Jinghan quietly finished reading the entire record, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

He lifted his head and glanced at the sky.

Earlier, servants from the residence had reported that Chu Ning, a disciple of the Mystic Azure Sword Sect, had arrived at the Xie Residence and was currently in its front hall.

The family head, Xie Huaijin, had personally received him and specifically summoned Xie Jinghan to the guest hall to pay his respects, demonstrating the Xie Household's courtesy and ensuring they did not slight a visitor from a great sword sect.

Xie Jinghan closed the book, gently set the Sword Challenge Register back onto the desk, and casually straightened his collar and robes.

He understood at once that the visitor was likely the senior brother Ling Yun had mentioned before.

Counting the days, it perfectly matched the time when the other man had descended the mountain to travel. His visit today was likely because he was passing through Heaven-Bearing Prefecture and had deliberately come to see Ling Yun, who was recovering from his injuries.

With that thought, he no longer hesitated. He stepped steadily out of the small courtyard and followed the long bluestone path toward the Xie Residence's front hall.

He passed through layer upon layer of corridors and pavilions. Along the way, every servant of the Xie Residence bowed respectfully to him.

The moment he entered the front hall courtyard, a figure in azure robes came into view.

The man stood tall and straight as a pine, with elegant, handsome features.

It was none other than Chu Ning of the Mystic Azure Sword Sect!

At first sight of Chu Ning, Xie Jinghan felt that this man possessed a lucid state of mind and a tranquil spirit, like a clear, motionless deep pool.

His sword hung at his side. Its scabbard was old but clean, and it carried no killing intent.

What truly drew attention were those eyes—crystal clear beyond compare.

"Clear Swordheart?!"

As though sensing something, Chu Ning's gaze immediately fell upon Xie Jinghan, who was walking over at an unhurried pace. He spoke first.

"Chu Ning greets you, sir."

His voice was not loud, yet it fell clearly into Xie Jinghan's ears.

Chu Ning sensed that although the youth before him appeared gentle and restrained, an exceptionally powerful sword intent lay dormant within him.

Their eyes met. Two currents of sword intent faced each other in silence, touching only briefly before separating.

At the same time, Xie Jinghan clearly sensed the other man's strength.

Chu Ning's sword intent was like hidden sharpness beneath still water; below its peaceful surface lurked surging waves.

"Jinghan greets Brother Chu."

Xie Jinghan gave a slight nod and calmly returned the salute with cupped hands.

Chu Ning spoke gently. "I have presumptuously come to trouble you. I came on my master's orders to visit my junior brother. Thank you, Brother Jinghan, for stepping forward in righteousness and saving him. Otherwise, my junior brother would likely have struggled to escape the calamity of death."

He glanced toward Ling Yun and slowly continued, "Before descending the mountain, I received a message from my junior brother. He said that the Xie Household of Heaven-Bearing Prefecture had produced a peerless young sword cultivator, whose sword intent was extraordinary and whose talent eclipsed all others of his generation. At first, I merely thought my junior brother admired you greatly and had exaggerated his words, so I did not take it to heart."

"But seeing you today, I now know the rumors were true."

Tranquility remained in Chu Ning's eyes, but sword intent slowly spread around him as he said frankly, "The sharpness of Brother Jinghan's sword intent far surpasses that of ordinary Sword Intent Realm cultivators. The desire to contend has arisen within me, so I have come to challenge your sword. I ask that Brother Jinghan battle me, so that we may mutually verify our Sword Dao."

Xie Jinghan was faintly surprised. Ever since he had comprehended the method of Concealed Sword Within, very few people had been able to see through his Sword Dao realm at a glance. Yet today, this man had completely seen through him.

Faced with the invitation to a sword challenge, he almost immediately wished to decline.

At present, Xie Jinghan only wanted to cultivate steadily. He had no desire for needless contention. When experts clashed, danger was unpredictable; rashly engaging in a duel would bring more loss than gain. He was about to speak and refuse.

As though he had anticipated Xie Jinghan's thoughts, Chu Ning raised a hand and took out a white jade bottle. Its surface was flawless and smooth. Within were ten round pills, their Flowing Light restrained, their medicinal fragrance rich and enduring. The instant it appeared, the fragrance filled the entire courtyard.

"This is our sect's secret-made [Sword Condensation Pill]. It can accelerate the tempering of one's swordheart and divine sense. It is highly beneficial to Sword Intent Realm cultivators, and a fortune cannot buy it outside."

Chu Ning offered the jade bottle, his tone earnest. "If this battle takes place, this bottle of pills will be given to Brother Xie as payment for my visit to challenge your sword."

"I have now reached the complete initial stage of the Sword Intent Realm, the realm of Clear Swordheart. Yet I have never found the method to comprehend the second stage, the Water Intent Realm. I urgently need a great battle to attain sublimation."

"This battle will stop at the proper point."

Xie Jinghan's eyes stirred as he looked at the bottle of Sword Condensation Pills, thoughts racing through his mind. The pills tempered the mind and spirit and nourished sword intent. They would perfectly make up for the slow progress of his current arduous sword-intent cultivation. They were immensely valuable, and they truly tempted him.

After weighing the matter for a moment, he set aside his intention to refuse. He raised his eyes to Chu Ning, his voice resolute.

"Since Brother Chu sincerely wishes to challenge my sword, then let us fight."

"However, I primarily cultivate the Sword-Drawing Technique. The ultimate of this Sword Dao lies in a single instant of fatal slaughter."

"Therefore, I will only draw one sword in this battle."

"If you can receive it, you win. If you cannot, I win."

The moment those words left his mouth, the air in the courtyard abruptly froze.

A clear gleam flickered in Chu Ning's eyes, and he could not help thinking to himself.

So it is the Sword-Drawing Technique. This sword art is utterly simple yet utterly fierce—easy to learn, difficult to master. None but those with great perseverance can cultivate it.

He nodded slightly and answered in a ringing voice.

"Good! Then one sword shall decide victory and defeat!"