The Human Heart Sharpens the Sword

When it came to swordsmanship, Xiahou Feishan paused, his eyes slowly regaining their clarity.

It's like a person temporarily struggling out of the quagmire of emotions.

Chu Tianshu had never experienced love, so naturally he didn't understand what it felt like to fail in love.

However, he used to be plagued by depression and anxiety because of his strange illness, and he was restless day and night, with all sorts of worries.

At that time, the only thing that could give him some peace of mind and confidence was his study and application of witchcraft.

When what you've learned is truly effective and can cure a patient, the sense of accomplishment you feel is its own medicine.

Everyone must have something they are committed to.

Regardless of whether one has experienced setbacks in their career, or whether their achievements are great or small.

Only in that way can the sometimes empty emotions of humankind have a relatively stable foundation to hold onto.

With this Shitou, life can be polished to leave bright and beautiful marks, and when facing death, there will be something to be proud of.

"My Sword Intent..."

Xiahou Feishan said, "The ancestors of the Xiahou Mountain Manor did cultivate Sword Intent, but they were unable to organize the steps for their descendants to practice."

"He only recorded his few insights in a book, and his disciples throughout the ages have tried to find them, but to no avail."

The ancestors of the Xiahou Family lived during the Southern Song.

He was originally a soldier in the army, eager to serve his country but powerless to change the situation. After many years of wandering, the forces around him gathered and dispersed several times.

The more setbacks he faced, the less he was willing to give up, because he had already lost too much and felt that he only had that one last obsession left to accompany him for the rest of his life.

He persisted in his attack, but failed again.

One day, he was seriously injured and fell into a valley. After being unconscious for a long time, he suddenly woke up.

I saw the mountain covered in blood.

He rose madly, hacking and roaring at the blood-soaked bodies, swinging his sword at his blood-stained enemies.

Much later, he realized that they weren't enemies, but just maple trees.

Those bright red things were not blood, but maple leaves.

The maple trees have turned red; autumn has arrived once again.

On that very day, the Xiahou Family's ancestor lay in the valley, reconciling with his failed life.

The green mountains stand eternally, unchanged through the seasons.

Even when dynasties collapse and the homeland is far away, some things still accompany those who have passed away.

The ancestors of the Xiahou Family thus comprehended their own Sword Intent.

In his statement, he said that he used his insights from that day to fight against his lifelong obsession with revenge, and thus honed a recluse's Sword Intent.

Xiahou Feishan's Sword Intent, though seemingly as blood-red as maple leaves, is actually completely different from his ancestor's Hermit's Sword.

The Xiahou Family, from some unknown generation, became a renowned martial arts family.

It has grown into a sect with strict rules and regulations.

People from the Xiahou Family must always maintain proper manners and etiquette when going out, lest they become a laughingstock.

Growing up in such an environment, Xiahou Feishan was truly a dashing young man in red robes when he first entered the world of business.

Relying on intelligence from the Xiahou Family, he knew that the notorious womanizer had his eye on a family getting married that day.

So he secretly sneaked in, explained the situation to the two families getting married, entered the bridal chamber first, and sat by the window drinking wine.

When the notorious womanizer entered, he raised his hand and killed his opponent with a single sword stroke, taking only a jug of wine as payment.

Every move he made truly reflected the style of a master.

Later, when he heard that bandits in the mountains were going to come down to kidnap a bride, he chose to do the same thing.

When he explained the situation to the two families, it turned out that one of them was an accomplice of bandits.

The bandit also possessed a rare poison, which he secretly passed around, having someone administer it to him.

If he hadn't used his Sword Qi to forcefully suppress the effects of the poison and fight his way out, he probably would have really fallen into the hands of those bandits.

He went around chasing thieves, encountering danger many times, only to find that using the demeanor of a famous person to do these things was counterproductive and simply made himself a target.

It was only then that he asked his father and learned about the two lineages in the family.

Every year when a member of the Xiahou Mountain Manor turns sixteen, a selection process is held to categorize them into those with Overt Branch and Hidden Branch.

Although Overt Branch's martial arts skills are excellent, he is only responsible for dealing with famous martial arts sects. They flatter each other, cooperate by giving each other benefits, and manage their businesses.

Despite the dangers, they are all openly challenged by top-tier experts, a contest of martial arts skills.

The Hidden Branch must remain anonymous so that it can focus on practical matters and truly contribute to the prestige of the Xiahou Mountain Manor.

Xiahou Feishan is the son of the manor lord and has great talent. He has long been a member of the Overt Branch. His insistence on going out alone and wandering around the martial world is against the rules.

But Xiahou Feishan disagreed.

He's confident enough in his abilities, so why can't he make a real name for himself?

So he fled the mountain villa and didn't contact his family for several years, continuing his pursuit of the thief and the murderer.

This time, Xiahou Feishan learned to change his appearance and disguise himself as a commoner.

They also realized that their own Overt Branch Technique might not be suitable for dealing with certain underhanded moves, so when they encountered extraordinary skills, they would often try to spar with them.

It was during this period that he comprehended his own Sword Intent.

The maple leaves are as red as fire; even if they drift with the wind and wander the world, they can still attract people's attention.

"Maple leaves also have their green days, which is when I lie low in the city, but eventually, I will turn from green to red, stand out, and become famous far and wide."

Xiahou Feishan explained in detail, "My Sword Intent is based on the belief that I want to become famous!"

"I want to become famous for my achievements, soaring to great heights and stunning everyone."

His eyes showed a thoughtful expression.

"However, as I approached this stage, I also felt a lot of resistance."

"It seems to be the atmosphere of contentment with the ordinary in the marketplace influencing me, or it seems to be some invisible force in the world hindering me."

"If, like our ancestors, we say we sharpen the sword with our minds."

"Then I should use those thoughts of contentment with the ordinary as the stone to hone a Sword Intent that yearns for fame."

Chu Tianshu's eyes gleamed as he looked at Xiahou Feishan was deep in thought about the way of the sword.

In his eyes, the Sword Intent emanating from Xiahou Feishan's head was like miniature maple leaves rising into the sky.

A few wisps of colored smoke falling from the sky collided with these "maple leaves," causing them to wear down.

So that's how it is.

In order to avoid the connection with the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer, the ancestors of this realm transformed the Spirit Communication Path into the martial art of "Refining Spirit into Qi into qi".

However, when later generations became powerful enough, they eventually sensed the existence of the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer again.

However, those who can reach this stage in Refining Spirit into Qi are already powerful enough and will not be so easily corrupted.

Instead, they regarded the pollution emanating from the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer as a form of tempering.

Through Spirit Communication Path, Refining Spirit into Qi, and then comprehends the Martial Dao Divine Intent.

It's like mining, breaking it down, accumulating it, and then refining it into powerful weapons someday.

The properties of divine weapons are, of course, much more stable than those of the original impurity ores.

Untainted by the Yanxia and haze, even slaying the Yanxia in return.

Chu Tianshu's previous Fist Intent was merely a specific emotional state, mainly used to stimulate the potential within his physical body.

This Martial Dao Divine Intent can be directly released, creating destructive power.

However, if a person who has comprehended the Divine Intent will suffers a severe blow to their state of mind, it is like a swordsman whose hand trembles, allowing the Yanxia to strike the weak points of the sword.

If they fail to awaken to this truth, there is a high probability that their cultivation level will regress and their strength will be greatly diminished.

"This new employee of mine, eager for fame and dazzling success, was first defeated by someone using swordsmanship, and then faced a family crisis..."

Chu Tianshu pondered for a moment before asking, "Have I used up my three questions yet?"

Xiahou Feishan was a little confused. "Huh?"

"Now, listen carefully to this next question."

Chu Tianshu laughed out loud, raised his right hand, and clenched it into a fist.

"Excuse me, how do you intend to block my fist using only Sword Intent and empty hands?"

Xiahou Feishan's face was blank.

Chu Tianshu's smile widened.

"Don't worry, I'll give you a break during halftime. Let's find the answer together."

(End of this chapter)