Chapter 19: The True Sword Intent

After lingering on the deck for a moment, Lin Che and his companion returned to their room.

By then, Xiao Yao had already made Lin Che's bed and meticulously cleaned the room. Although Lin Che was accustomed to Xiao Yao's thoroughness, he couldn't help but feel a bit moved. The feeling of being cared for… was truly wonderful. At the very least, he didn't have to worry about the trivialities of daily life.

Of course, after the initial excitement wore off, the days aboard the cloud ship were somewhat dull and monotonous. Yangzhou was vast, and even at the speed of the flying artifact, the journey felt long.

One night, Lin Che stood alone on the deck, staring blankly at the starry sky above.

"Senior Tian Nu, when do you think I'll be able to ride the wind and fly, looking down on this land with my own power?" Lin Che reached out his hand, as if he could touch the stars in the sky, his face filled with longing.

"After reaching the Xuanwu realm, it'll come naturally," Tian Nu replied casually.

Xuanwu Realm!

Warriors in the Xuanwu Realm have mastered their true energy to perfection, making it possible to walk in the sky.

However, thinking about his current level, Lin Che realized he hadn't even entered the Lingwu Realm yet, so that goal still seemed distant.

Nonetheless, Lin Che wasn't discouraged by the gap. Instead, his eyes shone with determination. For the dream of flying, he was determined to reach the Xuanwu Realm one day.

"Do you like the way of the sword?" Tian Nu suddenly asked.

"Yes," Lin Che answered without hesitation.

In truth, Lin Che's family was not a sword-cultivating clan; few people in his family practiced or even used swords. Even during the year he followed Tian Nu's training after condensing his Qi Sea, the mysterious woman never taught him the way of the sword.

But Lin Che had been practicing and exploring swordsmanship on his own since childhood. If it weren't for his genuine love for the sword, it would have been hard for him to persist until now.

He couldn't pinpoint why, but Lin Che had always longed for the way of the sword—one that could pierce through all obstacles with a single strike.

"But it seems that very few people practice the way of the sword. Could it be that there's something wrong with this path?" Lin Che hesitated for a moment before asking, puzzled.

As far as he knew, there were very few sword cultivators in Canglan City.

"Someone once said that the way of the sword is a sideline, that a true warrior should be well-rounded and shouldn't be confined to a single path."

"Which idiot said that?" Tian Nu's voice, dripping with disdain, echoed in his mind.

"Sword cultivation is rare not because the path is flawed, but because it is very difficult. No, I should say that the path is difficult at first, but it becomes easier later on. The problem is… not many people can reach that later stage."

Difficult at first, easier later?

Lin Che was bewildered, clearly not understanding her words.

But then Tian Nu spoke again: "The martial path is inherently a rebellion against the heavens. Trying to excel in every aspect and ultimately break free from all constraints—that's not called wisdom, that's called foolishness…"

"That's why there are prodigies who focus on a single path, like the sword. In the end, they can penetrate through illusions with a single point and be the first to break free."

Penetrating through illusions with a single point!

Tian Nu's simple words felt like they had opened the door to a sacred temple of martial arts for Lin Che, making his heart surge with excitement and solidifying his dedication to the way of the sword.

After a moment, Lin Che calmed down and curiously asked, "Senior Tian Nu, do you use a sword?"

"No," Tian Nu's cold voice replied, followed by an additional remark, "I'm omnipotent…"

Lin Che was left speechless, "But didn't you just say…"

Before Lin Che could finish, Tian Nu interrupted him, "Don't ask… There's no reason. If there is one, it's because I'm strong."

Lin Che: "…"

Lin Che realized that every time he spoke with this mysterious woman, he would suffer severe mental blows.

Of course, he knew he had no grounds to argue. In the face of a peerless genius who had reached the Daowu Realm at seventeen, feeling inferior was the best he could do.

"Senior Tian Nu, you said the way of the sword is difficult at first. Why is that?" Lin Che continued to ask.

At this moment, Lin Che was like a sponge, eager to absorb all kinds of martial knowledge while he had the chance to converse with Tian Nu.

However, this time, Tian Nu did not answer.

"Senior…"

"Shh, look at that star, doesn't it look like a sword…" After a moment of silence, Tian Nu suddenly spoke.

Lin Che was taken aback and looked up.

Just then, a star hanging in the sky suddenly fell.

The falling star, dragging a long tail of light, left a magnificent arc across the night sky.

Its momentum was unstoppable!

Watching this, Lin Che's gaze suddenly changed, as if he had entered a state of emptiness.

In his eyes, the star indeed transformed into a sword—a divine sword piercing the heavens.

Afterward, Lin Che closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, a sharp aura had appeared in his gaze.

"I understand now…"

Lin Che finally understood why the way of the sword is difficult at first—because it requires enlightenment.

Just as martial arts have levels, the way of the sword likely has its own stages of progression. But unlike martial cultivation, swordsmanship requires a high degree of enlightenment.

The rising sun, the falling moon, mountains, rivers, and the lights of ten thousand homes… Everything can be understood through the sword.

It was as if a new world had been opened up to him.

With this realization, Lin Che took a step forward on the deck.

Whoosh—

An invisible "force" surrounded Lin Che, making his black hair flutter and his clothes billow.

At this moment, Lin Che brought his two fingers together to form a sword, thrusting it forward.

Boom! A cloud in front of him was instantly dispersed.

Not only that, but the force also created a ripple of strong fluctuations within a ten-meter radius.

Sword Force!

Lin Che's cultivation had not yet broken through to the Lingwu Realm, so this was not true energy manifesting outside his body.

To achieve this, it was purely the power generated by the release of Sword Force.

Moreover, this time, Lin Che did not rely on any spirit-level combat techniques, and he didn't even hold a sword in his hand.

In other words, even without any external aids, Lin Che could now unleash the purest Sword Force.

"Understanding Sword Force, condensing Sword Intent, forming a Sword Domain, and turning the sword into a law… Now, you've taken your first step on the path of the sword, and you can barely be called a sword cultivator." Tian Nu's voice echoed in his mind.

"Senior Tian Nu, what you just mentioned, is that the true progression of the sword path?"

After grasping Sword Force, Lin Che's expression was somewhat excited. "How can I advance further?"

"Given your current realm, being able to comprehend Sword Force is already impressive. Don't get ahead of yourself… However, you can consolidate your current understanding."

Lin Che quickly asked, "How do I consolidate it?"

"Fight…" Tian Nu spat out these two words, and her voice fell completely silent.

Fight!

Lin Che stood still for a moment, stunned.

Then, he suddenly turned and headed towards a room on the cloud ship.

Room 16, Jia Block.