Fusion of True Intents . . .
Indeed, well before Qin Wentian grasped the profound true intents of Mandates, he had already ventured into the realm of fusion. His Grand Nihility Palm Imprint and Void Halberd Techniques were early examples of merging his Mandate of Dreamsleep and Mandate of Force. However, these were rudimentary fusions. Now that he had unlocked the true essence of his Mandates, it was time for entirely new combinations.
In the desolate expanse where Qin Wentian stood, he wielded an ancient halberd, repeatedly striking with it. Each swing contained formidable power, as if an inexhaustible force coalesced at a single point, erupting with incomprehensible might.
Fueled by his experiences with fusion, Qin Wentian relentlessly sought to integrate two kinds of true intent into his innate techniques.
"What is true intent, really?" Qin Wentian pondered aloud. After numerous attempts, he closed his eyes, reflecting on Di Tian's combat encounters. As Di Tian grew stronger, the immortals in that space began employing the fusion of true intents in their attacks against him. The resultant forces, born from these fusions, were entirely novel and defied easy categorization. Often, it was challenging to discern the specific true intents woven into the fusions.
Time flowed ceaselessly. Di Tian engaged in constant combat, while Qin Wentian remained devoted to meditation. His mastery and comprehension of true intent grew steadily with each passing day.
Today was no different. Qin Wentian practiced diligently with his halberd, repeating his motions thousands of times without experiencing fatigue. His determination drove him to endure this repetitive, monotonous process. Comprehension might strike sporadically, a fortuitous byproduct of persistent effort, rather than a planned occurrence. Even the most gifted individuals could not expect daily epiphanies. Without unwavering dedication on the path of cultivation, one could not repeatedly shatter their own limitations and advance to the next level.
Bzz! A sudden burst of energy resounded, slicing through the air like a razor-edged dragon, cleaving everything in its path. At the precise moment of the halberd's unleashed attack, a minuscule particle of light materialized at its tip. This radiant speck shimmered with astral brilliance, harboring a novel form of energy.
"I've sensed it!" Qin Wentian rejoiced. This was the sensation he had been pursuing. He thrust his halberd again, and once more, a particle of light materialized, causing the halberd's tip to intermittently vanish into the void. It emitted an unsettling energy, creating an almost surreal impression.
With a calm heart, Qin Wentian continued his halberd practice. Astral light emanated, blanketing the entire halberd, rendering it capable of hiding in plain sight, appearing and disappearing like a dream turned reality. The fusion of true intent engendered this remarkable transformation and gave rise to a new energy.
"Yes, this energy—able to meld with astral energy—is the embodiment of true intent," Qin Wentian mused. His heart trembled slightly as marvelous astral energy radiated from him. This astral energy carried traces of true intent, enveloping his body in an ethereal glow that exuded immense power.
"Hu..." Qin Wentian inhaled deeply. He had just opened another gateway on his journey of true cultivation. Success would naturally follow this opening. It mirrored his first comprehension of true intent, where subsequent revelations proved far easier to grasp.
A few days later, Qin Wentian's body emitted a demonic radiance. At a glance, he exuded an unmistakable demonic aura. His strikingly handsome eyes gleamed with sharpness, and a black glow emanated from the center of his brow.
Within the silent expanse, Qin Wentian delved into the contemplation of true intents. True intent of Demons and True intent of Force, both concepts revolving around the potency of attack. He envisioned the formidable fusion of these two, a merging that could amplify one's offensive prowess manifold. With unwavering determination, he tirelessly practiced with his halberd, seemingly unaware of the very concept of exhaustion.
As a particle of violently radiant light manifested, a devilish gleam flickered in Qin Wentian's eyes. This energy brimmed with tyranny and destruction, every particle possessing the power to obliterate all in its path, perpetually multiplying without end.
"This tyrannical energy would be exceptionally potent even if used for defense," Qin Wentian mused. The particles of this energy swirled around him, enveloping him in a shroud of demonic radiance. Laden with a heavy demonic aura, this energy surpassed even the true intent of Demons in its terrifying nature.
"For those who haven't grasped a single true intent, breaching my defense would be an insurmountable task," Qin Wentian pondered. This incremental progress filled him with excitement. At his level, even a small improvement was hard-won, and advancing several tiers further was a monumental challenge. The fusion of true intents represented the path to greater power. The deeper one's understanding, the mightier the force they could wield.
Qin Wentian's progress was mirrored by Di Tian's own growth. Such rapid advancement began to rekindle hope among the immortals who had initially dismissed Di Tian as hopeless. His ascent was nothing short of astonishing, even startling the immortal observers. In the grand timeline of their long lives, a few months flew by in the blink of an eye. Yet, Di Tian's strength continued to surge. If he maintained this pace, they couldn't help but wonder if he might achieve a level in Heavenly Dipper never before reached.
The immortal palace's master sought a successor who could defeat immortals with suppressed Heavenly Dipper cultivation. Many regarded this quest as futile. Immortals, even with their abilities sealed, could easily dispatch peak Heavenly Dippers. Defeating an immortal seemed nigh impossible. Despite Di Tian's impressive progress, to them, it was still a glimmer of hope, given their seemingly insurmountable advantage in true intent mastery.
Perhaps, in their eyes, they were merely part of a test. Who knew what other challenges the enigmatic old thief had devised? Given his character, such rigorous conditions for choosing a successor seemed fitting.
...
Six months had elapsed since Qin Wentian entered the immortal palace. Time flowed relentlessly within the desolate burial grounds, leaving no traces. Despite the significant growth in his strength, the path ahead remained immeasurable. The true limits of cultivation remained elusive.
Qin Wentian decided it was time to exit this space. His comprehension had reached a plateau, and he missed Qing'er and Mo Qingcheng, who might still be concerned about his well-being. It was enough for Di Tian to remain in the immortal palace.
Tombs of buried immortals dotted the landscape, tempting with their treasures and profound arts. Yet, Qin Wentian resisted the allure, respecting the potential inheritance that awaited Di Tian. For now, he held no illusions about facing a buried immortal solo. The wind whipped around him, soiling his white robes with dirt and dust. Qin Wentian's figure flickered as he hastened through the desolate burial grounds, retracing his path toward the exit. He couldn't help but wonder about the fate of the immortals who had broken free. Memories of a buried immortal guarding the entrance lingered, and he couldn't help but wonder if that guardian still stood in his way.
Amidst the eerie silence, Qin Wentian's keen eyes locked onto a familiar figure. Not far away, a disheveled Fan Miaoyu came into view, appearing as though she was fleeing from an unseen menace. Qin Wentian recognized her instantly.
"Miaoyu?" He noted someone pursuing her from behind, and it was none other than a female member of the Grand Shang Faction who had mocked him previously. Yet, the most unsettling presence was the buried immortal trailing behind the Grand Shang Faction member.
Upon spotting Qin Wentian, Fan Miaoyu couldn't contain her fear and yelled, "She's trying to frame me! Stay away from me and escape in a different direction!"
Qin Wentian's expression turned stern as he observed the Grand Shang Faction member chasing Fan Miaoyu. His eyes fell upon the young woman who was evidently the buried immortal's intended target. She seemed to be deliberately trying to shift the danger onto Fan Miaoyu, hoping for a chance to flee herself. The buried immortal, however, showed no intention of killing her and merely advanced slowly, indicating that his aim wasn't lethal.
"Quinn?" Another person rushed toward Fan Miaoyu.
"Don't worry, that buried immortal doesn't intend to kill her," Qin Wentian reassured, already at Fan Miaoyu's side. The Grand Shang Faction member continued her pursuit, prompting a glint of cold determination in Qin Wentian's eyes. He couldn't help but wonder if this was the same woman who had ridiculed him earlier. The buried immortal accompanying her held a flute, exuding an air of carefree nonchalance, and was remarkably handsome. In his youth, he must have been a libertine and seductive individual.
"Let's go," Qin Wentian said in a hushed tone. Both Fan Miaoyu and Quinn nodded, and the trio began to retreat. However, the persistent Grand Shang Faction member continued to follow. Qin Wentian abruptly turned, his eyes ablaze with a sharp light. "Take one more step, and you'll meet your end."
As his words hung in the air, his intense killing intent enveloped the woman, causing her body to freeze. Fear welled up in her eyes when she looked at Qin Wentian.
"How dare you..." The woman's countenance darkened. Qin Wentian returned her gaze with unyielding determination, his demeanor vastly different from before. His eyes were like ice, sharp as swords, radiating a piercing, murderous aura.
But in that moment, the flute-wielding buried immortal transformed into a blur, hurtling toward Qin Wentian with lightning-like speed. His flute swung out, conjuring a bolt of lightning that shot forth.
Quinn and Qin Wentian acted in unison, brandishing their swords. Quinn's sword moved gracefully, akin to a celestial being, exuding both elegance and immense power. Qin Wentian's sword, on the other hand, was sharp and formidable, packed with explosive force. A deafening roar resounded as their strikes created a deep crevice in the ground. Astonishingly, Qin Wentian managed to block the buried immortal's attack.
"Both of you, go ahead," Qin Wentian urged Quinn and Fan Miaoyu. They stood there, stunned by his resolve.
"You leave first," Quinn insisted to Fan Miaoyu.
"No..." Fan Miaoyu shook her head, surprising Qin Wentian. At that very moment, a fierce wind stirred as the buried immortal approached, exuding a formidable, murderous intent.
With a resolute step forward, Qin Wentian harnessed the surging power of his bloodline, transforming into an entity of sinister allure. An electrifying symphony of crackling sounds filled the air as his clothing disintegrated, replaced by a shimmering armor of astral light. His physical form expanded, dwarfing the surroundings, and a colossal, blood-red ancient halberd materialized in his grasp. A chilling radiance danced around the weapon, emanating a fearsome aura that sent shivers down the spine.
Mysterious mist coalesced, enfolding the buried immortal in its ethereal embrace as deafening soundwaves reverberated. Fan Miaoyu's conjured mist was swiftly dispelled by the buried immortal, who, wielding his flute, made a beeline for Qin Wentian.
Divine energy surged from Qin Wentian's Yuanfu, encasing his ancient halberd in peculiar particles of energy. Stepping forward, he executed a ferocious halberd strike, the weapon flickering in and out of existence. In the blink of an eye, the halberd closed in on the immortal, and an overwhelmingly tyrannical force erupted, causing the ground to quake and rupture into numerous fissures upon impact. Witnessing this clash, Quinn and Fan Miaoyu raced to support Qin Wentian.
Quinn's form blurred into a shadow, launching ruthless slashes with beams of swordlight.
Meanwhile, the buried immortal brandished his flute, generating an intense luminance as he glided across the terrain in a hasty retreat, creating a substantial distance between himself and Qin Wentian's group.
"Fusion of true intent," Qin Wentian commented with a grin, casting an admiring gaze at Quinn. Indeed, the Battle Sword Sect's Heaven Chosen had reached an astonishing level of power in just half a year.
Unbeknownst to Qin Wentian, Quinn was experiencing an overwhelming sense of astonishment at this moment. Over the past six months, Qin Wentian had evolved into an unimaginably formidable figure.
As for the Grand Shang Faction's female member, she stood there in utter disbelief, her senses overwhelmed by shock. Could it be that the combined might of these three individuals had actually compelled a buried immortal to retreat? Not only that, but Qin Wentian had even matched the immortal's attack head-on!