Sparring

Liu Chenyu was only halfway through his sentence when he sensed a familiar presence within the sword intent and froze on the spot.

The next moment, a streak of sword light trailed a long tail as it landed before him, revealing Xu Changxing.

Only then did Liu Chenyu finally confirm that the newcomer was actually his third disciple.

The corners of his mouth twitched violently several times. "Y-you've already reached Core Formation!?"

Xu Changxing bowed. "Yes. Something went wrong while I was cultivating in seclusion, and I had no choice but to forcibly condense a golden core.

"But the sword intent within this golden core is far too powerful. I can't suppress it yet.

"Just now, I nearly injured a fellow disciple by accident."

Something went wrong with his cultivation, and now his sword intent can pierce my protective true essence?

Looking at his third disciple, whose sword intent soared into the sky, Liu Chenyu felt his thoughts descend into chaos again.

Still, now that he had confirmed the newcomer's identity, his heart settled considerably.

After looking Xu Changxing up and down, he asked with a strange expression:

"So you came to me because you want me to help straighten out your cultivation?"

Xu Changxing was just about to shake his head when Liu Chenyu gritted his teeth and said:

"It's not impossible.

"Wait here. I'll swallow my pride and go ask my grandmaster's junior!"

Xu Changxing hurriedly said, "Master, there's no need to trouble him with this. Eldest Senior Brother can resolve it.

"You only need to summon Eldest Senior Brother back as soon as possible."

At this, Liu Chenyu's expression grew even stranger.

He had never expected Xu Changxing to seek out Li Changge instead of the Spirit Transformation ancestor.

But after a brief moment of surprise, he agreed to Xu Changxing's request.

By now, Liu Chenyu had decided that since the pot was already cracked, he might as well smash it.

He couldn't teach this disciple anyway, so Xu Changxing could do as he pleased.

He took a Message Jade Pendant straight from his robes and said:

"Something has gone wrong with your third junior brother's cultivation. He needs you to suppress it.

"I don't care which secret realm you're in. You must be back before dark!"

After speaking, Liu Chenyu turned to Xu Changxing and said:

"There. Your eldest senior brother should be back by tonight.

"But Changge's cultivation is only a little higher than mine.

"Can he really suppress all this sword intent of yours?"

Xu Changxing was taken aback as well.

In truth, he had come here because he had no other choice.

His thunder sword core was simply too sharp and fierce. With his foundation, he couldn't fully suppress the sword intent within it.

Given a few months to stabilize his cultivation, he might well have been able to gain complete control over his sword core.

But Han Mingguan had chosen this moment to come challenge him.

All Xu Changxing had thought at the time was, If you dare provoke me again, watch out-I might cut you down with a single strike, and his sword intent had begun surging out uncontrollably.

Only by exerting all his strength had he barely managed to suppress it.

The problem was that Han Mingguan kept shouting outside, oblivious to the danger he was courting.

Afraid that a momentary loss of control would lead him to actually cut Han Mingguan down, Xu Changxing had flown away from his peak on his sword.

At the time, he had only one thought: find Li Changge.

Since Li Changge had left the inheritance behind, he probably had a way to help Xu Changxing control his sword intent.

But hearing Liu Chenyu's question, he suddenly realized that the current Li Changge was only at the Core Formation late stage.

While Xu Changxing stood lost in thought, the sword intent within him surged out again, forcing Liu Chenyu to retreat step after step.

Liu Chenyu cried urgently, "Snap out of it! Get your sword intent under control!"

Xu Changxing hurriedly focused his mind and began stabilizing his sword core.

Watching Xu Changxing's sword intent gradually subside, Liu Chenyu discreetly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

For a moment, he had almost thought Xu Changxing was going to cut him down.

What kind of opportunity did my third disciple stumble upon? How did his sword intent become so terrifying?

Can that little bastard Li Changge really suppress such terrifying sword intent?

He won't get cut down by my third disciple too, will he?

The more Liu Chenyu thought about it, the more uneasy he became.

After wrestling with himself for a moment, he finally gritted his teeth and said:

"Stay here and don't move around. I'll find someone to help suppress your sword intent."

With that instruction, Liu Chenyu turned and flew out of his courtyard.

Xu Changxing could only nod and continue stabilizing the cultivation realm he had just broken through to.

Four hours later, a streak of sword light suddenly approached from the distance.

Li Changge had returned to Flying Stream Peak first.

"Master, what happened to Third Junior Brother?"

Before his sword light had even landed, he was already calling out.

Naturally, Liu Chenyu couldn't answer his question.

But Li Changge no longer needed an answer.

He had already sensed the sword intent soaring into the heavens from Xu Changxing.

Disbelief filled Li Changge's eyes as he said:

"What kind of sword intent is this? Why does it feel so familiar?

"This..."

Before he could finish, he suddenly realized that the sword intent had locked firmly onto him.

Only moments earlier, Xu Changxing had barely suppressed the sword intent that was on the verge of running wild.

Yet the instant he saw Li Changge, the thundercloud within his dantian began churning madly, as though something had provoked it.

And the sword core, which had been constantly struggling against the thundercloud, now broke with its usual behavior and merged with it.

Almost instantly, the thunder sword core entered an exquisitely subtle resonance with that thundercloud.

That sword intent, bearing lightning like heavenly punishment, pointed straight at Li Changge!

Although this sword intent had inexplicably singled him out, Li Changge showed no surprise whatsoever.

Instead, his eyes brimmed with a fighting spirit so intense it seemed almost tangible.

For Li Changge suddenly realized that this sword intent was the answer he had pondered so desperately, yet had never managed to find!

He didn't know what had happened to his youngest junior brother, but he knew he absolutely could not let this opportunity slip away!

Li Changge's emotions surged so fiercely that his sword intent spilled out without him noticing.

Hum!

As though sensing the turmoil in its master's heart, his Startling Rainbow Sword let out a clear, ringing cry of its own accord.

The corners of Li Changge's mouth lifted high. "Junior Brother, take this strike!"

The Startling Rainbow Sword cleaved through the sky toward Xu Changxing.

Almost at the same moment, Xu Changxing sent the Greenwood Sword in his hand slashing out.

Clang!

The two flying swords collided head-on.

Xu Changxing's Greenwood Sword was knocked straight back.

Li Changge's Startling Rainbow Sword froze in midair, as though deliberately waiting for the Greenwood Sword's next attack.

This wasn't Li Changge deliberately yielding. Rather, lightning like heavenly punishment had poured into his flying sword, forcibly severing his connection to it for an instant.

Although Li Changge reestablished his connection to his flying sword a moment later,

Xu Changxing's flying sword had already swept through an arc and come slashing back.

Li Changge had no choice but to direct his flying sword to block.

Clang! Clang! Clang...

Almost in the blink of an eye, the two flying swords collided hundreds of times.

Li Changge had never expected that he would fail to gain even the slightest advantage over this youngest junior brother, who had only just reached Core Formation.

Rather than feeling disappointed, his fighting spirit rose even higher.

For in his exchange with Xu Changxing, he had caught a faint glimpse of the road ahead!