Sword Condensation Pill

Wangjiang Terrace buzzed with voices, waves of uproar and astonishment rising without end.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Xie Jinghan and Chu Ning at the center of the elevated platform. No one noticed the two ordinary figures in a corner of the crowd below.

They were two spectators dressed in coarse cloth, with unremarkable faces. Mingling among the ordinary Rogue Cultivators of the martial world, they were utterly inconspicuous, devoid of any presence.

The two quietly exchanged a glance. Their eyes were grave and carried a hidden chill. Without further communication, they silently concealed all traces of their aura and slowly retreated with the flow of people until they vanished completely into the depths of the bustling crowd.

No one knew that these two were spies placed by the Blood Slaughter Sect in Heaven-Bearing Prefecture.

Through careful observation, they had confirmed beyond all doubt that the sword master who had destroyed Black Tiger Stronghold, demolished one of the sect's bases, and slain numerous sect disciples was Xie Jinghan of the Xie Household.

After leaving Wangjiang Terrace, the two immediately found a secluded place and sent word back to the Holy Sect's main headquarters at once, reporting the crucial information: the killer's identity had been confirmed—Xie Jinghan of the Xie Household in Heaven-Bearing Prefecture.

Unnoticed by anyone, undercurrents had already begun to stir throughout the martial world.

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

The next morning, dawn light was faint as a thin mist shrouded the Xie residence's courtyard.

Chu Ning had fully rested, and both his injuries and mental state had recovered.

In his duel with Xie Jinghan yesterday, only his sword intent had been shaken and his mind jolted. He had not actually suffered serious injuries, and after a night of regulating his breath and resting, he had returned to peak condition.

Moreover, Xie Jinghan's sword strike had benefited him immensely and given him much insight.

In the past, whenever he cultivated and sought to comprehend the Intent of Water, he had always felt as though something was missing, preventing him from taking that final step.

The sword light forged through Xie Jinghan's Sword-Drawing Technique had been powerful, sharp, and domineering. The flickers of lightning at its end had even pierced through his own sword intent barrier.

He had spent the entire night reviewing every detail of that battle, gaining profound insight and deepening his understanding of the Intent of Water.

His state of mind was not tranquil enough, and his sword intent still had flaws. His towering waves needed to sweep that lightning within them as well—they needed to embrace all things and drown all things!

After this sword challenge, his mind should undergo a transformation and rise to a new level, while his Intent of Water would become even more vast.

"Thank you for seeing me through this, Brother Jinghan. This battle has allowed me to gain some insight."

Chu Ning solemnly cupped his hands toward Xie Jinghan, his attitude sincere. "Now that we are parting, I will take my junior brother, Xie Jinlin, and Wang Tianfeng back to the sect with me. I will look after them both on the journey and within the sect, so you may rest assured. If fate allows, we shall cross swords again someday, Brother Jinghan."

"Take care on the road. I look forward to our next meeting."

Xie Jinghan nodded slightly, his gaze naturally falling upon Xie Jinlin at his side.

Thanks to the careful treatment of medicinal herbs from the residence, Xie Jinlin's injuries had fully healed after many days. His figure was once again upright, but the loss of his right arm could never be restored. A lingering desolation hung between his brows, and unwillingness intertwined with melancholy in his heart, impossible to let go.

This time, Xie Huaijin had spared no expense in preparing generous gifts. Through Xie Jinghan's connections and Xie Jinlin's sworn brotherhood with Ling Yun, he had repeatedly and earnestly negotiated with the Mystic Azure Sword Sect, finally securing Xie Jinlin a place to enter the sect and cultivate.

In addition, Wang Tianfeng had also relied on his Lineage's connections to successfully obtain a place to cultivate at the Mystic Azure Sword Sect.

Outside the gates of the Xie residence, a gentle breeze drifted past.

Xie Jinlin wore a brand-new azure sword robe, his posture still straight and proud. Yet the sleeve of his right arm hung empty, swaying faintly in the wind and looking especially glaring.

He paused where he stood and looked deeply at Xie Jinghan beside him, unable to put the complexity of his emotions into words.

"Second Brother, from now on, Grandfather, Father, Mother, and everyone in the Xie Household will be in your care."

With that, he turned and nodded to each of his relatives and old friends in the residence, bidding them farewell one by one. His eyes and brows were full of parting sorrow.

"Elder Brother, rest assured. I will take care of everything at home."

Seeing through the sorrow in his heart, Xie Jinghan encouraged him gently. "Elder Brother, there is no need to brood over losing an arm."

"The cultivation of the sword has never depended on one's hands, feet, or limbs. It depends on one's sword heart and true heart."

"As long as your sword heart remains unextinguished, you can wield a sword with your left hand and cleave the heavens with a single arm. As long as your sword heart is clear and your true heart firm, your path in the sword may not be inferior to anyone else's."

"Ancient records speak of the Divine Condor Hero Yang Guo. He lost an arm in his youth and endured countless hardships, yet his will never faltered. He switched to left-handed swordsmanship and traveled the martial world wielding the Heavy Xuantie Sword. He came to understand the truth that 'a heavy sword has no edge; great skill appears unadorned.' With his strength alone, he roamed the world unchallenged and stood above all heroes, ultimately becoming a legend of his generation."

Those simple words were like a morning bell and an evening drum, shaking Xie Jinlin to his core.

His body trembled. The knot that had weighed on his heart for days suddenly loosened, and he said, "Thank you for your guidance, Second Brother. I will remember it well."

With that, he put away his sorrow and quietly made up his mind.

"Then we shall take our leave." Seeing that the time was about right, Chu Ning departed from the Xie residence alongside Ling Yun, Xie Jinlin, and Wang Tianfeng, setting out for the Mystic Azure Sword Sect.

"Take care!"

Xie Jinghan stood quietly before the steps of the Xie residence. The household head, Xie Huaijin, stood on one side of him, while Xie Xuanyuan, his hair and beard touched with frost and his bearing restrained, stood on the other.

The three generations stood in silence, their gazes fixed on the four figures gradually receding into the distance as they watched the group leave.

Parasol Tree Courtyard.

After seeing Xie Jinlin and the others off, Xie Jinghan bid farewell to his father and grandfather before returning to his own secluded courtyard.

He closed the courtyard gate, shutting out all the noise and disturbances of the outside world. The courtyard instantly returned to silence.

Xie Jinghan sat quietly upon a bluestone, calming his mind as he recalled the battle at Wangjiang Terrace.

This clash between top-tier sword intents had brought him tremendous gains.

The most direct evidence was that the proficiency of [Sword-Drawing Technique · Intent] on his martial arts panel had surged by several thousand points, nearly equal to ten days of his usual hard cultivation.

[Sword-Drawing Technique · Intent: 20'827/2'000'000 (Comprehending)]

Of course, he also clearly recognized the many shortcomings and flaws he possessed.

First, his method of concealing his sword within his body was virtually useless against a top-tier swordsman with a transparent sword heart. Chu Ning had sensed it at a glance.

Second, the remarkable effect of his Blade Flowing Light sword light was greatly limited. It was difficult for it to shake someone with a perfected state of mind. Chu Ning seemed completely unaffected by it.

Most crucially, the sharpness of his Sword-Drawing Technique had been blocked and weakened layer by layer by the towering waves. Had he not caught his opponent off guard by incorporating Thousand Flashes into the Sword-Drawing Technique this time, he would have been the one to lose.

These flaws and shortcomings were all areas that required focused refinement and improvement.

They also gave Xie Jinghan a clear direction for further advancement in his subsequent cultivation of sword intent.

After finishing his thoughts, Xie Jinghan raised a hand and took out the white jade bottle. Ten Sword Condensation Pills were quietly sealed inside. These were the greatest gains he had obtained from this sword challenge.

He gently poured one out and examined it carefully in his palm. The pill was round and lustrously white, of exceptional quality, with a rich medicinal fragrance that refreshed the mind upon smelling it. As expected, it was a precious pill rarely encountered in the outside world.