At the hundred and sixty-sixth step, Ye Kongling seemed to have strength to spare, yet she went no farther.
Since Ye Wushuang had already made plans for them, Ye Kongling did not deliberately pursue a good result to claim a sword.
Instead, with every step, she carefully comprehended the sword intent, seeking an artistic conception that suited her.
This Listening to Rain Sword Intent suited her extremely well, so she remained where she was, slowly comprehending it.
Behind her, Ye Yanling also continued forward. She strolled through the air above, and even the air around her seemed to grow a little hotter.
As her Fire Spirit Dao Body activated, renowned fire-attribute swords kept flying out and circling her, lingering for a long time, as though begging this fairy of fire to subdue them.
At two hundred steps, Ye Yanling was still advancing. Even when several strands of fire-aspect sword intent resonated with her, she was in no hurry to respond.
Her ambitions lay higher. She hoped to resonate with a stronger sword intent.
To remain by Ye Wushuang's side in the future and strive to follow in his footsteps, both beauties were working hard.
At last, an overbearing power of flame suddenly erupted, and an extremely powerful flame sword intent seemed to respond to Ye Yanling.
Even with her Fire Spirit Dao Body, Ye Yanling actually felt a scorching heat she had not experienced in a long time.
"That fiery beauty from the Ye Lineage actually resonated with that existence's sword intent!" a group of disciples from great clans exclaimed.
Ye Jinghong's eyes also brightened slightly. "The Crimson Firmament Sword Intent of that Crimson Firmament Sword King?"
Watching the Ye Lineage's prodigies steal the limelight, Ming Ye rubbed his palms together, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Heh, these people from the Ye Lineage really love to show off. Once that mongrel bird finishes his attempt, I'll show you what a gap in ability means."
His icy smile sent a chill through everyone who looked at Ming Ye.
Jin Zhan could no longer contain himself either. Ready to show his skills, he appeared on the bank of the Ten Thousand Swords River.
His arrogance reaching the heavens, Jin Zhan drove back the people around the bank with a single punch.
Those who had been about to attempt the trial saw that the newcomer was Jin Zhan of Heavenly Demon Mountain. They were furious, but none dared speak.
"What caliber are you? Do you think you deserve to challenge the Ten Thousand Swords River alongside me, Jin Zhan?"
The surrounding cultivators all withdrew.
Yet one person remained unaffected by Jin Zhan's imposing presence and stood where he was. It was none other than the masked sword cultivator.
As though undisturbed by anything in time, the masked sword cultivator remained composed and spoke calmly.
"All ways in this world have rules. First come, first served. You must not seize things by force."
The other cultivators all looked at the masked sword cultivator in bewilderment.
Offending a prodigy of Heavenly Demon Mountain over nothing more than who took the trial first-was this masked sword cultivator sick in the head?
The corners of Ye Wushuang's mouth rose. "He really is so upright it's downright uncanny."
Looking at Jin Zhan's expression, as though he had eaten shit, Xie Qianli waggled his eyebrows and roared with laughter.
"This little yellow-feathered bird even wants to steal Brother Ye's little wife? Not a chance. I like how this masked sword cultivator acts. I'm definitely making this friend."
"Stop talking nonsense. I think you're itching for another burning," Nie Qingcheng said, turning her face away, flushed to the tips of her ears.
Jin Zhan glared at the masked sword cultivator through gritted teeth. "Ant, if you want to take the trial alongside me, I'll grant your wish."
"When I leave you far behind, everyone around you will laugh their teeth out. I'll help an ant like you take a good, clear look at yourself."
Jin Zhan stepped forward and transformed directly into his true form. A magnificent Golden-Feathered Heavenly Peng appeared overhead.
Jin Zhan shot straight forward. The Sword Qi ahead seemed to have no effect on him, and his speed left everyone speechless.
"What an idiot. Wasting his True Qi just to show off for a moment. What good is going fast? He needs to go far."
Among Immortal Feather Mountain's people, Situ Xue lightly tapped her chin with her index finger, looking at him as though he were a fool.
It was as though events were intent on proving the words of this fairy untouched by mortal life.
Sure enough, Jin Zhan came to an abrupt halt at the hundredth step. The suddenly increased pressure dealt him a head-on blow.
The first burst roused his strength, the second waned, and the third was exhausted.
For Jin Zhan to charge forward again was no longer realistic. At a little over a hundred and thirty steps, he actually found himself unable to advance an inch, drawing a wave of snickers.
Jin Zhan returned to human form, beat his chest and stamped his feet, then swept his sleeves and returned to the bank.
"Oh my, little yellow-feathered bird, why are you back so soon? A man can't say he can't do it, and he can't say he's fast, either."
Xie Qianli did not forget to mock him, gesticulating wildly at Jin Zhan.
"Bastard! So what if it was a hundred and thirty steps? I refuse to believe this disciple from some ordinary faction can get that far."
Jin Zhan spoke, his eyes wide with fury.
From the beginning, the masked sword cultivator had advanced steadily, one step at a time, as though taking an ordinary stroll.
By the time the masked sword cultivator reached two hundred steps, Jin Zhan's face was so overcast it could have rained.
As though sensing something, the masked sword cultivator went no farther. A strand of Gentleman Sword Intent lingered around him.
"Why is there such terrifying sword intent here already? That shouldn't be possible." Nie Qingcheng watched intently, somewhat surprised.
"This Gentleman Sword Intent seems very much in accord with him. It actually came from farther back of its own accord to meet him," Ye Wushuang explained, gazing ahead.
Knowing he had already lost, Jin Zhan gave a cold snort and returned to the disciples of Heavenly Demon Mountain.
Xie Qianli unleashed his ultimate right in his face, shouting at the gathered disciples.
"This little yellow-feathered bird put on such a show, but he can't even match a disciple from Brother Ye's Lineage. What's he still running his mouth for?"
Taiyi refused to be outdone. That adorable little white beast actually turned around, pointed his backside at Jin Zhan, and wagged his tail.
The physical damage was slight, but the insult was immense.
Xie Qianli's cutting words and Taiyi's thunderous move infuriated Jin Zhan so much that he nearly turned into a turkey.
Ming Ye licked his lips and gave a wicked smile.
"Interesting... how interesting. Gentleman Sword Intent. I really want to devour him. He must taste delicious."
Like a ghost, Ming Ye charged straight into the river, forcing his way to the two-hundred-step mark.
His expression grew increasingly frenzied. "Devour it. Devour it all."
A devouring force spread out. Ming Ye sucked even all the sword intent along the path into his body, only stopping when he reached three hundred steps.
Ye Wushuang looked away and played with the little white beast on his shoulder, smiling contemptuously. "A low-grade devouring power."
Ming Ye merely devoured things and placed them inside his body.
If he handled it poorly and could not balance the chaotic forces within, he might even explode and die.
Ye Wushuang's power of chaos, however, could absorb everything and assimilate everything, making it all his to use.
Ye Jinghong drew both swords and walked toward the Ten Thousand Swords River.
"Seniors, please grant me your guidance."
"I came here neither for swords nor to absorb another's sword intent, but only to temper my own Dao of the Sword."
Everyone's expression changed upon hearing this.
"As expected of the Ye Lineage's Throne of Order. What an unparalleled fierce fellow. I'm convinced," a sword cultivator praised.
"Drawing his swords and attacking his way through will put him under far more pressure than simply walking through. After all, drawing his swords against these swords is a provocation."
Ye Kongling, who had returned from comprehending sword intent, sighed in admiration.
He sought no ready-made artistic conception, only to forge his own Dao of the Sword.
Even those from other factions felt deep respect at that moment.
This Throne of Order of the Ye Lineage actually intended to fight his way through by force.
With the swords in his hands, he would carve out a path!