Martial Arts Sparring: Sword Intent Merges With Moves

The training grounds in the core area were far more impressive than those of the Outer or Inner Sects. The bluestone floor was polished to a mirror sheen by millennia of Sword Intent, inlaid at the edges with pale green spirit-gathering array patterns. In the morning mist, spiritual energy flowed like streams between the patterns, and a single breath cleared the mind and spirit.

When Ling Yun arrived, Murong Shuang was already waiting in the center of the training grounds. She had shed her Moon-white Sword Robe for a more practical dark-colored combat suit. The silver sword tassel at her hairpin swayed lightly in the morning breeze, and she held the Green Peak Sword diagonally. Wind Element Sword Intent coiled around her, forming a faint, pale green protective shield—it was clear she had entered a state of cultivation beforehand, approaching even sparring with the rigor of actual combat.

"You're here just in time. Try out your 'Cloud Roll' first," Murong Shuang said. Before she finished speaking, her figure darted out like a flowing wind, the Green Peak Sword tracing a series of fine arcs. She unleashed the "Rain Fall" sword stance first, scattering dozens of wind blades as fine as ox hairs from the sword's body. They enveloped Ling Yun like spring rain, blocking all his escape routes.

This strike was sharper than the one in the Scripture Depository. The wind blades incorporated Murong Shuang's initial understanding of Basic Sword Intent, each carrying a slight "pulling" force that left Ling Yun with no room to dodge. He didn't try to resist head-on. The five-colored Sword Intent Bead in his dantian spun rapidly, and Basic Sword Intent spread out, forming a pale golden domain that firmly protected the space within three feet of his body. The moment the wind blades touched the domain, they were guided by an invisible force, their trajectories shifting slightly. They grazed his robes and landed on the bluestone floor, leaving countless shallow marks.

"Your application of Basic Sword Intent is more proficient than yesterday," Murong Shuang's eyes flashed with a hint of praise. She flicked her wrist, and the Green Peak Sword swept horizontally. The "Cloud Roll" sword stance was activated, and pale green sword energy condensed into a massive cloud above Ling Yun's head. The wind pressure contained within the cloud caused the ground to slightly concave. "But this 'Cloud Roll' is the real test. If you can only defend, you'll never defeat a Sword Master Realm guard."

The cloud pressed down with a roar. Ling Yun felt a heavy weight on his shoulders, and even his domain deformed slightly under the pressure. He took a deep breath, no longer passively defending. He pointed the Sky-Rending Sword diagonally towards the sky, and the five-element Sword Intent within his body flowed along the path of the Seven Streams Sword Technique. The pale green (wind) and pale blue (water) Sword Intents surged out first, echoing the wind element Sword Intent of the cloud above. This was precisely the "Sword Skill Resonance" method he had comprehended last night in the Scripture Depository—using Sword Intents of the same origin to guide the opponent's sword skills and then converting them for his own use with the Chaos Sword Body.

"Buzz—"

The Sky-Rending Sword's blade lit up. A rift appeared in the green cloud above, and pale green Sword Intent slowly flowed into the sword. Murong Shuang's expression shifted slightly. She hurriedly activated her Wind Spirit Physique, attempting to regain control of the Sword Intent. However, the Sword Intent within the cloud was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, firmly absorbed by Ling Yun's Chaos Sword Qi. Not only could she not retrieve it, but it also became "nourishment" for his sword skill.

"Take this!" Ling Yun roared. The Sky-Rending Sword drew an arc interwoven with blue and green. A composite sword skill, blending "Cloud Roll" and "Rain Fall," broke through the air. The pale green cloud was no longer a restraint but transformed into a rotating vortex of sword energy. Within the vortex, pale blue water-element wind blades scattered, retaining the "Cloud Roll's" ability to trap the enemy while also possessing the "Rain Fall's" surprise attack power, striking directly at Murong Shuang.

"Well done, borrowing strength to strike!" Murong Shuang's eyes flashed with excitement. She no longer held back, raising the Green Peak Sword high above her head. Her wind element Sword Intent surged, "Wind Sweeping Clouds!"

A concentrated beam of green sword energy erupted from the sword's body, sweeping across the entire area like a tornado, colliding with Ling Yun's composite sword skill. "Boom!" The two wind-dominant sword energies clashed. The thin mist in the training grounds was instantly blown away, several fine cracks appeared on the bluestone floor, and the light from the surrounding spirit-gathering array patterns dimmed considerably.

Ling Yun staggered back five steps, his tiger's mouth slightly numb. Murong Shuang's "Wind Sweeping Clouds" had reached the solidified level of Sword Master Realm Sword Intent, surpassing his current composite sword skill. But he was not discouraged; instead, his mind became clear. In the previous collision, he had successfully absorbed some of the "Wind Sweeping Clouds'" Sword Intent, and the wind element Sword Intent in his dantian had solidified further. This was precisely the advantage of the Chaos Sword Body.

"Not bad. To maintain your Sword Intent without scattering under a Sword Master Realm skill, and even absorb Sword Intent to grow," Murong Shuang retracted her sword and walked up to him, handing him a piece of milky white jade pendant. "This is the 'Wind Intent Jade Pendant.' It can stabilize wind element Sword Intent. Your composite sword skill's transitions still had flaws. Use this to assist your practice, and you'll grasp the rhythm faster."

Ling Yun took the jade pendant. It felt warm in his hand, and a pure stream of wind element Sword Intent slowly seeped into his body, perfectly replenishing the consumption from the sparring. He looked up at Murong Shuang and found that although her tone still carried a hint of arrogance, her eyes were filled with a pure exchange of understanding on the path of the sword. At this moment, she was no longer the aloof Inner Sect genius but an ally growing alongside him.

"The Sword Intent of Sword Master Realm guards is more solidified than mine. They are skilled at 'Sword Intent Suppression,' using their own Sword Intent to forcefully disperse your domain," Murong Shuang continued. "If you want to win, you must find their weakness within three moves and strike directly at the vital point with a composite sword skill. The absorption ability of the Chaos Sword Body is key; don't waste this advantage."

"I understand," Ling Yun gripped the Sky-Rending Sword, his fingertips tracing the three Sword Intent crystals in the groove of the hilt. "There are still three days until the assessment. I will consolidate my sword skill transitions."

"Good," Murong Shuang turned, her dark combat suit cutting a sharp arc in the morning light. "At this time tomorrow, I will spar with you at Sword Master Realm Sword Intent intensity. Be prepared."

After Murong Shuang left, the voice of Sword Elder echoed in his mind: "Murong Shuang's guidance is crucial. The core of the Sword Master Realm lies in 'Sword Intent Solidification' and 'Sword Intent Control.' Your current advantage is the combination of composite Sword Intent and Basic Sword Intent, but your Sword Intent purity is still insufficient. For the next three days, you can use the 'Wind Intent Jade Pendant' to stabilize your wind element Sword Intent, then try to integrate the gold, earth, and wood element Sword Intents into the Seven Streams Sword Technique, elevating the power of your composite sword skills another notch."

Ling Yun nodded and sat cross-legged in the center of the training grounds, holding the "Wind Intent Jade Pendant" in his hand. The pale green wind element Sword Intent merged with the five-element Sword Intent in his dantian. The movement paths of the Seven Streams Sword Technique replayed in his mind, from "Wind Song" to "Rain Fall," from "Cloud Roll" to "Thunderous Movement" (the thunder-related move in the seventh stance, paving the way for the later awakening of fire attribute Sword Intent). The transition details of every movement became clearer and clearer.

Quite a few core disciples gradually gathered around. Seeing Ling Yun cultivating alone, some whispered, "Is that Ling Yun, who came up from the Outer Sect? I heard he has no spirit root but comprehended Basic Sword Intent and can spar with Murong Shuang without being at a disadvantage?"

"More than that! I saw him take out the complete Seven Streams Sword Technique scroll in the Scripture Depository yesterday. Even Elder Liu looked at him with new eyes!"

"Tsk, tsk, the core disciple assessment will be interesting now. I wonder if he can defeat the Sword Master Realm guards..."

The discussions reached his ears, but Ling Yun was completely unaffected, immersing himself wholeheartedly in the refinement of the sword path. The Sky-Rending Sword lay quietly on his lap, its ancient patterns slowly lighting up with the flow of his Sword Intent, as if anticipating the upcoming assessment with him—it was not only a stepping stone to entering the Misty Secret Realm but also an important step in proving the value of his Chaos Sword Body and advancing towards his revenge target.

As the morning light grew stronger, the spirit-gathering array patterns in the training grounds glowed more intensely. The pale golden domain around Ling Yun intertwined with the five-element Sword Intent, forming a brilliant halo. He knew that the next three days would be a critical period for him to break through his limits. Only with thorough preparation could he make a name for himself in the assessment and embark on the journey to the Misty Secret Realm.