Volume 1, Chapter 163: Tempering the Body with Sword Intent

Lin Yu smiled. "I want to try the pain of tempering my body with Sword Intent."

"You really seek out suffering, kid. Sword Intent tempering is excruciating—only those with unyielding will can endure it. Are you sure?"

Lord Cauldron asked in surprise.

"How can I understand the true essence of the Sword Intent in Sword Heart Herb without enduring its tempering? Lord Cauldron, if refining this herb requires such a test, there must be a reason."

Lin Yu's expression was resolute. Tempering with Sword Intent wasn't just to grasp its essence; it was also to reduce his reliance on Lord Cauldron.

If he couldn't even refine the Sword Heart Herb without help, what would he do if Lord Cauldron vanished one day? He had to prepare.

After storing the Divine Devouring Cauldron in his sea of consciousness, Lin Yu found a hidden cave in the canyon and sat inside.

Even after being picked, the Sword Heart Herb still emitted wisps of sword qi, carving fine marks into the cave walls.

Following Lord Cauldron's instructions, Lin Yu channeled his spiritual energy and crushed the herb.

In an instant, it turned to powder, leaving only a cyan sword-shaped light in his palm.

"Wind Sword Intent?"

Lin Yu was struck by a thought. His first 领悟 (comprehension) was Wind Sword Intent, and now the herb also contained Wind Intent—what a coincidence!

He opened his mouth and inhaled gently. The cyan light, like a short sword, slipped into his mouth like nectar.

Hiss!

Before Lin Yu could react, the Wind Sword Intent in his body ignited like wildfire, burning through his meridians.

He felt as if he were in a furnace.

Lin Yu knew the burning meridians were an illusion; the real pain came from the sharp Sword Intent slicing and tearing through his meridians.

The intense agony created the illusion of burning!

All he could do was grit his teeth, 运转 (circulate) the Saint Emperor Heart Technique, and desperately refine the invading Wind Sword Intent.

The Wind Sword Intent in the herb was extremely profound, crashing against him like endless waves for a full day and night before finally subsiding. He successfully refined it and merged it with his existing Sword Intent.

The merged Wind Sword Intent was purer, and upon closer inspection, mysterious lines seemed to weave through it—each holding the secret of Wind Intent.

This was the first time Wind Sword Intent had appeared to him in such a tangible form.

Lin Yu believed that with his Saint Emperor Sword Body, he would eventually unlock these mysteries and elevate Wind Intent to the Dao of Sword.

Then, a single strike could summon the great Dao of Wind between heaven and earth, forming a Sword Dao of Wind, making crossing-realm kills against Void Transformation Realm warriors as easy as cutting melons.

After refining the herb, Lin Yu emerged from the cave. Gazing at the canyon, he summoned the Wind Control Sword, channeled the merged Wind Sword Intent, and executed the Nine Heavens Sword Control Art, slashing toward the canyon's end.

The sword shot toward the mountain peak, its Wind Sword Intent—now near the Dao—bursting forth. Before the blade landed, the intent struck the peak.

The Wind Control Sword vanished, plunging deep into the mountain. Lin Yu sensed it piercing straight through, then arcing back to his side.

Only then did the cyan sword light disperse into specks, fading into the canyon.

Rumble!

The peak at the canyon's end roared as rocks cracked. A fissure split from the summit to the base, dividing the mountain in two.

When the falling debris settled, Lin Yu saw a three-foot-wide crack through the mountain's core, revealing a sliver of the landscape beyond.

"Incredible!"

Lin Yu exhaled. This strike was so powerful that not even a Void Transformation Realm Level 1 warrior could withstand it—maybe not even a Level 2.

Once he advanced to Void Transformation Realm, the Wind Sword Intent would grow stronger, easily enabling cross-realm kills against Level 2 warriors.

This technique had surpassed the Thunder Flame Slash to become Lin Yu's deadliest move.

He sheathed his sword and headed out of the canyon. Spirit Mountain held countless opportunities; the Sword Heart Herb was just the beginning.

In the endless forest, distant roars of demonic beasts echoed.

The little white fox tiptoed through the woods, sneaking toward the sound.

Soon, she hid behind a giant tree, peeking at a lake ahead.

The lake was a vivid blue, like a slice of sky laid in the forest. Its water was so thick that even the wind couldn't stir a ripple.

The fox's eyes lit up at the blue lotus flowers by the shore, drool threatening to fall.

Though unsure of their origin, she sensed rich spiritual energy in the flowers—perfect for her.

But two demonic beasts now faced off by the lake:

One was a green python as thick as a water bucket, over ten zhang long. Its scarlet eyes, like lanterns, fixed on a magnificent beast opposite: a three-zhang-tall, seven-zhang-long leopard-like creature with black wings and cloud patterns—an Ebonwing Cloud Leopard.

The fox recognized them at a glance: a Azurescale Dragon Python and an Ebonwing Cloud Leopard.

The python, tied to water and rumored to have dragon blood, could manipulate water and reach Void Transformation Realm as an adult. The leopard, a master of shadow, was a phantom hunter in the forest, also capable of Void Transformation strength when mature.

These two were still Myriad Manifestation Realm Level 9, however—fighting over the blue lotus flowers. Swallowing them would let either break through to Void Transformation, so neither would yield.

The little white fox stayed hidden, waiting for them to wear each other out. Then she could claim the spoils.