Before the Sword Intent Stele, Momentum Shatters Frost Wind

The seventh floor of the Sword Tower had no stone walls, only an endless void. In the center of the void stood a black stone tablet, about three zhang tall. The tablet was not made of ordinary stone but condensed from ancient Sword Marrow. Its surface was covered in dense, golden sword patterns, each line flowing like a living creature, emitting pure, extremely potent pale golden sword energy. This was the "Sword Intent Stele," which carried the legacy of ancient sword cultivators and was the core of the Sword Tower Trial.

As soon as Ling Yun stepped into the void, he felt a heavy "momentum" wash over him. This "momentum" was different from the oppressive sword intent of the previous six floors; it did not target his meridians or attack his physical body. Instead, it acted directly on his Sword Heart, as if an ancient sword cultivator stood behind the stele, scrutinizing his sword dao foundation with their gaze. Ling Yun couldn't help but grip the Sky-Rending Sword tighter.

"Such pure Sword Intent..." a familiar voice came from beside the Sword Intent Stele. Ling Yun looked up and saw Murong Shuang standing gracefully before the stele, the Green Peak Sword planted in the void (as if it were solid ground), her brow slightly furrowed. The Wind Element Sword Intent surrounding her was more solidified than before, but compared to the golden sword energy of the Sword Intent Stele, it seemed somewhat sluggish. Clearly, she had been trying for a long time but had failed to touch the core of Basic Sword Intent.

"You actually managed to reach the seventh floor," Murong Shuang turned, her gaze falling on Ling Yun with a hint of complexity. "To break through the Swordsman realm with no spirit root, and to pass the clone trial... Your sword dao has truly exceeded my expectations."

Ling Yun didn't reply, his eyes locked onto the Sword Intent Stele. The golden sword patterns on the stele gradually became clearer in his eyes. The trajectory of the patterns' flow faintly coincided with the principle of "Sword Intent Domination" recorded in the "Momentum Chapter" of the Qiankun Sword Canon. It wasn't an accumulation of attributes, but the traction and control of Sword Intent over the surrounding space. This was the essence of Basic Sword Intent.

"Don't waste your effort," Murong Shuang snorted lightly, drawing the Green Peak Sword. Her Wind Element Sword Intent surged, condensing a semi-transparent domain of wind before her. "I tried for three hours. The Sword Intent Stele's momentum only recognizes pure attributes. Only a Wind Spirit Physique can barely stir it. Your Chaos Sword Intent is too mixed; you can't resonate with the stele at all."

As soon as she finished speaking, she swung her sword towards the Sword Intent Stele. The Wind Element Sword Intent, carrying sharp wind blades, struck the golden sword patterns on the stele. The patterns lit up, and a pale golden sword energy rebounded, hitting a weak point in the wind domain. With a "crack," the wind domain instantly collapsed. Murong Shuang staggered back two steps, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

"See? Forcing it will only backfire," Murong Shuang sheathed her sword, her tone laced with helplessness. "This is the limitation of talent, your Chaos Sword Body..."

"It's not a limitation," Ling Yun suddenly spoke, stepping towards the Sword Intent Stele. "Basic Sword Intent is not the power of attributes, but the Sword Intent's domination of heaven and earth's power. You are fixated on the wind element, and thus bound by attributes; my chaos, however, can perfectly integrate with the stele's momentum, not distinguishing attributes, but only taking its core of 'domination'."

Murong Shuang froze, about to retort, when she saw Ling Yun extend his right hand, his fingertips lightly touching the Sword Intent Stele. In an instant, the golden sword patterns on the stele flashed intensely, and a majestic momentum surged into his body through his fingertips. This momentum had no attributes, only pure "condensation" and "dispersion," as if it could gather all the power in the world into a single point, and then expand into an boundless domain.

"Chaos Sword Body, it can indeed inherit ancient Sword Intent!" Sword Elder's voice exclaimed ecstatically in his mind. "Don't resist. Let the stele's momentum integrate into your Five Elements Sword Intent. Use the 'Momentum Absorption' technique from the Qiankun Sword Canon to transform it into your own Basic Sword Intent!"

Ling Yun did as he was told. The five-colored Sword Intent Bead in his dantian spun rapidly, and Chaos Sword Qi absorbed the golden momentum pouring into his body like a sponge. The originally scattered green, brown, gold, purple, and light blue sword energies, guided by the golden momentum, no longer circulated simply. Instead, they condensed into a pale gold "Momentum Core" wrapped around the five colors. This Momentum Core hovered above the Sword Intent Bead, emitting faint domain fluctuations. The surrounding void rippled subtly due to these fluctuations.

"This... this is..." Murong Shuang's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief. She could clearly feel a new Sword Intent forming around Ling Yun. It wasn't the sharpness of the wind element, nor the solidity of the earth element, but a comprehensive power of domination. Even her Wind Element Sword Intent was involuntarily drawn towards that Momentum Core, as if it were about to be consumed.

Just then, Ling Yun abruptly opened his eyes, the Sky-Rending Sword pointing diagonally at the ground. The pale gold and five-colored Sword Intent spread from his body, covering a ten-zhang radius of the void. The previously freely flowing golden sword energy, under the traction of his Sword Intent, formed a rotating halo around the Sky-Rending Sword. This was the true form of Basic Sword Intent: using Sword Intent to dominate space and harness the power of heaven and earth.

"Impossible! How can someone with no spirit root comprehend Basic Sword Intent?" Murong Shuang's voice trembled slightly. She had cultivated diligently for many years, and only with her Wind Spirit Physique had she touched the threshold of Sword Intent. Yet Ling Yun, in mere moments, had completely mastered it, even forming a domain far surpassing hers. Proud as she was, she now felt a strong sense of defeat.

"Your sword dao is indeed stronger than mine," Murong Shuang took a deep breath, drawing the Green Peak Sword. Her Wind Element Sword Intent condensed once more, but it was much more restrained than before. "But I still want to try and see how strong Basic Sword Intent truly is."

Ling Yun nodded, the Sky-Rending Sword turning slightly in his hand. The pale gold and five-colored domain slowly contracted, becoming even more solid. He didn't want to hurt Murong Shuang; he only wanted to use his Sword Intent to prove that there was more than one path to sword dao.

Murong Shuang struck first. This time, she didn't unleash fierce wind blades but integrated her Wind Element Sword Intent into her footwork. Her figure weaved through the void like a phantom, her sword moves becoming agile and tricky, attempting to evade the domain's suppression and attack Ling Yun's weaknesses. But no matter how she moved, Ling Yun's domain followed like a shadow. As soon as her sword moves condensed, they were drawn by the golden sword energy within the domain, their trajectories involuntarily shifting. She could never get within three feet of Ling Yun.

"Is this... the power of domination?" Murong Shuang was shocked. She swung her sword, unleashing a final Wind Element Sword Intent, attempting to break through. Ling Yun no longer defended. The Sky-Rending Sword lightly flicked, and the pale gold and five-colored Momentum Core surged out along the sword, colliding with the Wind Element Sword Intent. There was no earth-shattering explosion, only the Wind Element Sword Intent being slowly assimilated and dissipated by the Momentum Core, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.

"I lost," Murong Shuang sheathed her sword, her arrogance completely gone, replaced by recognition and admiration. "Your sword dao is indeed closer to the essence of 'momentum' than mine. I was narrow-minded before."

Ling Yun retracted his Sword Intent, the pale gold and five-colored Momentum Core shrinking back into his body and merging with the Sword Intent Bead. Although his Basic Sword Intent was not yet perfect, he could already initially dominate space, his strength at least three times greater than when he had just broken through the Swordsman realm.

"Buzz—"

The Sword Intent Stele suddenly flashed violently, and a golden beam of light shot from its top, condensing into two lines of ancient script in the air: "Seventh Floor of the Sword Tower Trial passed. Rewards: Second Floor Scripture Depository Access Right, Ancient Theory of Momentum Scroll Fragment, a bottle of Basic Sword Intent Condensing Fluid."

Three items fell from the beam of light: a yellowed ancient book (the Theory of Momentum scroll fragment), a jade bottle (condensing fluid), and a bronze token engraved with "Second Floor." Ling Yun reached out and caught them. As soon as the Theory of Momentum scroll fragment touched his hand, it resonated with the Basic Sword Intent in his body. The pages automatically flipped open, and the "Application of Momentum" methods recorded within perfectly complemented the shortcomings of his Sword Intent.

"Congratulations, Ling Yun," Murong Shuang stepped forward, handing him a silver token. "This is the Inner Core Disciple Token. Having passed the seven floors of the Sword Tower, you are qualified to cultivate in the core area. The spiritual energy and sword dao legacies there are ten times better than those for ordinary inner disciples."

Ling Yun took the token, feeling its cool touch against his fingertips. He looked up at the exit of the void, where a white light had already appeared, the passage to leave the Sword Tower. Sword Elder's voice echoed in his mind: "The second floor of the Scripture Depository has the complete sword manual for the Flowing Cloud Seven Sword Technique, and you might find clues related to the Ling Family's sword manual. The cultivation environment in the core area will also help you consolidate your Basic Sword Intent more quickly, preparing you for the upcoming Misty Secret Realm."

Ling Yun nodded and walked towards the white light passage with Murong Shuang. Before leaving the Sword Tower, he glanced back at the Sword Intent Stele. The black stele stood silently in the center of the void, its golden sword patterns still flowing, as if recounting the legends of ancient sword cultivators. At this moment, the fire of revenge in his heart still burned fiercely, but it was now accompanied by a reverence and pursuit of sword dao. Revenge was no longer his sole objective; exploring the true meaning of sword dao and protecting those worth protecting had quietly become his new conviction.

Outside the Sword Tower, the Great Steward of the Inner Sect and Elder Liu stood on a high platform. Seeing Ling Yun and Murong Shuang emerge together, surprise and relief flashed in both their eyes. Elder Liu stroked his beard and said softly, "It's been a hundred years. Finally, someone has comprehended Basic Sword Intent in the Swordsman realm again... This Ling Yun might truly be able to change the future of the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect."

Ling Yun held the Inner Core Disciple Token and the Scripture Depository Token, feeling the Basic Sword Intent and Five Elements Sword Intent flowing within him. His heart was filled with unwavering resolve. Next, he would go to the second floor of the Scripture Depository to find the sword manual, consolidate his Sword Intent, and then face the upcoming Misty Secret Realm, steadily advancing step by step towards his goal of revenge and towards a broader world.