Xiufeng.
Lian Youming left the peach grove and found a quiet place to sit alone.
Before him was a stone inscription, the inscription Wang Yangming had left at Zhaojiang Cliff.
Outside the pavilion, the spring breeze stirred beneath the gentle sunshine.
"Seven steps?"
Lian Youming gazed thoughtfully at his fists.
Sitting on the ground, he recalled his earlier exchange with Gong Wuer, his mind deeply stirred.
Earlier, the moment she pressed within seven steps of him, her presence seemed to become clearer than ever, making her easier to track.
This seemed to be because Lian Youming's perception of the outside world had grown sharper. From hearing that Charge Bugle to breaking through the sixth level of Golden Bell Cover, his five senses had improved considerably without his noticing, honed by his intent and the coordination of his muscles.
Within seven steps in particular, he could detect every stir of wind and grass.
Looking at the bees and butterflies fluttering among the flowers, he felt as though he could reach out and touch them whenever he wished, with no more than a thought.
"So that's it!"
At that moment, he suddenly understood many things.
Supreme Killing Intent was for attack.
His own heartfelt intent was for defense.
To protect his dearest family and friends, preserve this hard-won peace, and uphold the Righteous Path in the world.
What martial artists contested was merely the small patch of ground beneath their feet.
But that was only a lesser aspiration: killing for the sake of killing, winning for the sake of winning.
Now he had formed a greater aspiration, and the world within his heart expanded with his thoughts, already reaching beyond seven steps.
If his intent grew stronger in the future, he could push this aspiration to its utmost, encompassing every direction. Then