Sword Intent

"Clank! Clank!" Xueqin was swinging his sword towards Mucheng, only to always be faced by his greatsword, every blow hitting the greatsword. Mucheng wasn't even moving! He stood still with his eyes closed and his arm crossed, with his greatsword was orbiting around him.

It didn't matter trickly attacks or the position, every time that Xueqin attacked Mucheng, the sword was there protecting him, stopping the blow. The truth was that Mucheng wasn't even commanding his sword. His union with his sword had reached a so high realm that his sword created a soul, being able to independent movements.

Even if Xueqin's movements were elegant and without many flaws, they were too crude, easily read and slow. Xueqin could feel Mucheng's greatsword's aura, it was a cheerful one. The sword was enjoying what for it was playing with Xueqin.

Xueqin gripped his sword with both hands, swinging with his maximum strength towards Mucheng.

"Clank!" Again he hit the greatsword, being pushed over 5 meters by it. Xueqin somersaulted recovering his equilibrium, landing safely on the ground.

Xueqin withdrew his spirit and bowed towards the Greatsword "Thanks for your guidance!" The greatsword giggled seemingly to say "You're welcome!"

Xueqin sat down pretty tired and meditated, trying to recover the spirit energy lost. It wasn't any special cultivation technique, he directly tried to absorb the 'heat' of the surroundings, his energy recovering at greater speed.

5 months had passed since Xueqin started the trip with Mucheng and he finally learned to know his limit, trying to not overexert himself, damaging his foundation.

Xueqin's training had become more difficult, more weight added over his body and an increase of the number of swings, also adding the basic movements of the sword, adding thrusts and horizontal swings with a lot of more combinations.

It was finally after 4 months that he was able to really fight with the sword. Contrary with his expectations, the one that sparred with him was Mucheng's Greatsword which was called Abi. Abi at least seemed to care for him, enjoying 'playing' with him, the contrary to Mucheng who only coldly observed him. Mucheng only opened his mouth very few times to order him, complain or say a little advice.

Xueqin was sure that he had grown. The pain all over his body, even with bones cracking, and the face full of tears were something of the past. While he couldn't say that he had got used as the training was always becoming harder, at least now he could bear with it, having become much strong than before. Not only physically, but especially mentally. Mucheng's continuously pressure wasn't something that could be normally endured, Xueqin was forced to bear with it or break under it.

Even so, he wasn't sure about the Sword Intent, having no idea when he would be able to achieve nor how much time he had before reaching their destination. The only thing that he knew about Sword Intent was that it was a manifestation of his will, and he didn't know what that meant.

After all this time, Mucheng was sure that Xueqin had lost something precious, most of his infancy. Even if it was precious and was important to enjoy and play when one is young, not everyone had this right. Even if Mucheng thought that was cruel to Xueqin, he knew that was necessary for him to survive.

"Today, you will have an especial training" Just as Xueqin woke up Mucheng said "While training and sparring are fine practice, nothing surpasses actual battle, especially in the sword arts."

Xueqin's eyes shined "I will finally fight you, master."

Mucheng sighed "I said actual and battle. Did you hear the word beating?" Mucheng shook his head "This would be your rival."

"Boom!" From the sky, something crashed to the ground. It was a white lizard standing with 3 feet over 3 meters tall with hard scales and sharp teeth and claws.

"It's a White Sea Crocodile. This one is 450 years old." Mucheng explained "You should know that it has recently been taken for its home, being extremely angry. Spirit beasts have much stronger bodies and strength than humans so be careful."

The crocodile seemed angry as he looked around. However, when he looked at Mucheng's gaze, it flinched in fright.

"Boom!" the ground under the crocodile cracked and it was thrown rolling next to Xueqin. The crocodile stood up again and looked at Xueqin. Seeing no reaction from the powerhouse, the crocodile charged towards Xueqin.

"Grrrrrrrrrr!" The crocodile roared launching towards Xueqin with his mouth wide open.

A giant lizard trying to kill you would have scared most kids. Most of them even freezing in fright, unable to move their body at all. However, Xueqin was not like the other kids anymore. After having endured Mucheng's killing intents and threats, being in a constant state of fear, being afraid of being killed by Mucheng any second, the little killing intent of the crocodile was nothing at all.

Xueqin sidestepped, the crocodile body passing next to him. He invoked his sword and sliced over the crocodile.

"Clank!" Xueqin's sword rebounded over the crocodile's hard scales, being unable to even dent them. At the same time, the crocodile's tail swept towards Xueqin like a whip.

Xueqin kneeled, lowering his upper body, leaning backward, doing a limbo. The crocodile's tail grazing over his nose. Xueqin twisted his body, horizontally swinging his sword, hitting the back of the crocodile, to not vail, being impossible to pierce through.

"Boom!" The crocodile landed in Xueqin's previous position, cracking the ground under it. His strength was indubitable, a hit from it would be enough to beat Xueqin, but his speed was too slow, making it very easy to avoid.

The crocodile turned around and tried to bite Xueqin again, he sidestepping again avoiding it.

"It's useless" A strong pressure fell over Xueqin and the crocodile, freezing both of them. Mucheng was coldly looked at them "It's a draw, you are unable to pierce his defense and the crocodile is unable to reach you. With this kind of fight, you won't be pushed, actually learning the Sword Intent. Let's stop."

Mucheng approached them and took the crocodile, leaning the massive lizard over his shoulder like if it weighted nothing "Start running. I will take care of this" Mucheng said, he kicked the ground and disappeared, leaving only a dust stale behind him.

Xueqin blinked his eyes surprised "I didn't expect that" He shook his head and started running again.

Once he finished running his daily 50 km, Mucheng was there waiting for him. "Have you prepared another beast?" Xueqin asked curiously.

"No." Mucheng answered coldly "Spirit beasts are mostly extinct, is very difficult to find them except over the sea. However, how many young sea spirit beasts of your level can move over the land? The crocodile was a strange one and even him was too slow. If you have faced him at the sea, his speed would have been 5 times faster."

"Woaw!" Xueqin was shocked as cold sweet fell from his neck. Spirit beasts were truly powerful! Over the sea, he wouldn't have any opportunity to fight or escape, having been eaten by it.

"Be warry of spirit beasts and unless you are in a life and death situation, try not to kill any of them."

"Why?" Xueqin inclined his head.

"They are almost extinct, try not lowering their number" Mucheng explained, Xueqing nodding.

"So...? I finish my training and spar with Abi?" Xueqin asked.

"No" Mucheng shook his head, invoking his greatsword over "This time you would face me" Mucheng took the greatsword, the aura around him becoming fiercer and more oppressive, as a black-red intent surged from his sword. "Attack me!" Xueqing thrust his sword at him.

After a minute, Xueqin could be found laying on the ground panting profoundly with his body full of shallow wounds. He had been unable to even approach Mucheng. His intent was too strong, pushing him and cutting him without Mucheng needing to move from his position, it didn't matter from where he attacked.

"Finish your training for the day" Mucheng said before disappearing.

"Yes, master!"

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"Clank!" "Clank!" Xueqin was swinging his sword to Mucheng. Mucheng was using his greatsword, but no aura surged from it, like if it was a completely normal sword. Mucheng with the minimum movement was stopping all of Xueqin's attacks.

"Sword Intent is unique for everyone," Mucheng said while Xueqin continued attacking him "It's your experience, desire and will. It's what defines you, the same as your spirit."

Xueqin kicked the ground, dashing at Mucheng's back, thrusting his sword. "Clank!" Abi had appeared behind Mucheng, stopping Xueqin's sword with its wide blade.

"Follow your heart and spirit. Manifest your interior!" Mucheng kicked backward, forcing Xueqin to twist his sword, putting in front of him, blocking the kick. He was pushed over 5 meters, stopping dragging his feet over the ground.

(My experience, desire and will. What I desire?) Xueqin thought, gripping tightly his sword (My heart and my spirit) He looked at Mucheng with a determined look "I want be strong!" he shouted dashing towards Mucheng, lifting his sword over his left side, thrusting towards him "I don't want to die!"

Seeing the attack coming, Mucheng simply put his sword in front of, pointing towards the ground with the side facing Xueqin's sword.

"I want to be with Chi!" Suddenly, Xueqin's sword shined, for an instant gray light flashing all over the sword. With a far superior speed than before, Xueqin twisted his wrist, changing his sword from the left side to the right, targetting Mucheng's unprotected right side without arm.

Xueqin's sword was completely stopped. Two fingers were around the blade, blocking it making it impossible for Xueqin to move it. Mucheng had left his greatsword, catching Xueqin's sword with his own right hand, two fingers enough to do the trick.

Over Mucheng's face, there was written surprise and a rare smile "Congratulations. You have created your own intent." Were the last words that Xueqin listened before falling asleep completely exhausted. However, this time, he didn't fell to the ground. Instead, Mucheng's arm caught him, carefully letting him rest to the ground.