I'm Just Making Up The Exercises, My Disciple, Have You Really Mastered Them?

Chapter 86: Xu Yan's Enlightenment, Sword Intent

Boom!

A thunderbolt descended from the sky, its thunderous sound deafening.

Li Xuan sighed inwardly, "The might of heaven and earth is truly extraordinary. Even with my current strength, it would be difficult for me to withstand the power of this thunderbolt."

Suddenly, he became curious whether the Martial Dao in this world included the concept of Transcending Tribulation.

"I won't include the concept of Transcending Tribulation in the Martial Dao I create. It would be foolish to subject oneself to a heavenly tribulation for no reason," Li Xuan thought to himself.

As for whether his strength would be insufficient without a heavenly tribulation, that was not a problem.

Who said that only those who crossed the heavenly tribulation were powerful?

Could one not directly control the might of heaven and earth, the power of the heavenly tribulation, without crossing it?

"As long as the cultivation method is well-designed and the disciples are talented enough, anything is possible!" Li Xuan smiled.

"Your disciple, Meng Chong, has successfully cultivated the Wind and Thunder Diamond Fist. Your Wind and Thunder Diamond Fist has reached perfection!"

Suddenly, golden light appeared.

The feedback from Goldfinger had arrived.

Meng Chong has comprehended the Wind and Thunder Diamond Fist and has already cultivated it.

"Not bad, not bad. Since the Wind and Thunder Diamond Fist has been comprehended, it's time to continue teaching Meng Chong the cultivation method," Li Xuan was overjoyed.

In his mind, he already had the cultivation method for the Wind and Thunder Diamond Fist. He couldn't help but marvel at how powerful it was.

With a slight punch, a thunderous force was unleashed.

"A demonic cultivator like Bloodless Heart would be completely restrained when facing the Wind and Thunder Diamond Fist!"

If Bloodless Heart hadn't died, it would be hard to say who would win in a battle against the current Meng Chong.

The rain was pouring down, but the strong wind had stopped.

The lightning and thunder had also ceased.

Meng Chong returned in the rain.

"Master, I have comprehended the Wind and Thunder Diamond Fist!" Meng Chong exclaimed excitedly.

"Good! You haven't disappointed me. Take some time to consolidate your understanding, and I will teach you the Eight Trigrams and the Dao of the Knife!" Li Xuan nodded approvingly.

"Yes, Master!" Meng Chong was filled with excitement.

Li Xuan decided to teach each disciple the Eight Trigrams. What they comprehended would depend on themselves.

Each disciple's understanding would be different.

Footwork was included, as well as other profound techniques. Perhaps when their cultivation reached a higher level and their strength increased, they would have new insights.

For example, Xu Yan had comprehended the Light Swan Footwork and during the battle with Bloodless Heart, he had also gained insight into the technique of Shifting Positions.

Li Xuan wondered what kind of footwork Meng Chong would comprehend.

Perhaps it would be a coincidence, and he would also comprehend the technique of Shifting Positions?

Three days later.

Outside Cloud Mountain County, in the familiar mountains and forests.

The trees only grew on the outskirts of the mountains and inside, it was already a flat land with not even a blade of grass.

Li Xuan waved his hand, and with the agitation of True Qi, an Eight Trigrams Diagram appeared on the ground.

"This is the Eight Trigrams, containing the profound principles of heaven and earth. Footwork can also be comprehended from it. I will teach you the way of the Eight Trigrams..." Li Xuan explained the knowledge related to the Eight Trigrams, as well as some extremely profound theories that seemed to contain powerful principles, which he had pondered over, to Meng Chong.

"Do you remember everything?" Li Xuan asked solemnly.

"Master, I remember everything!" Meng Chong replied excitedly.

Meng Chong nodded.

He looked at the Eight Trigrams Diagram and fell into contemplation.

"The Way of the Eight Trigrams is truly profound and powerful. It contains the marvelous principles of heaven and earth, and one can continue to gain insights from it.

"Master said that at each stage, there will be different insights, and each person's insights will also be different. From this, one can comprehend their own Martial Dao."

He decided to devote his time to comprehending the Eight Trigrams Diagram.

"I have already comprehended the Wind Thunder Vajra Fist. Next, I want to comprehend a footwork or body technique from the Eight Trigrams.

"Senior Brother's body technique is extremely mysterious and was also comprehended from the Eight Trigrams. Instead of learning Senior Brother's body technique, I want to comprehend my own."

"What I comprehend on my own will be the most suitable for me."

While thinking, Meng Chong walked on the Eight Trigrams Diagram.

Li Xuan saw this and reminded him, "While comprehending the Eight Trigrams, do not forget about your own cultivation. Achieve complete harmony of qi and blood as soon as possible."

"Yes, Master!"

Meng Chong respectfully replied.

"Good, cultivate well!"

After Li Xuan finished speaking, he left.

Next, it was up to Meng Chong himself to see when he could comprehend his own body technique from the Eight Trigrams.

As for the body technique formula, Li Xuan did not provide one. Meng Chong's talent did not lie in memorizing formulas. Teaching him a formula might even have the opposite effect.

...

In the capital city of the Qi Kingdom.

The commotion caused by the appearance of experts had gradually subsided. The courtiers knew that even if experts were brought in, they could not shake the Guo family's position.

The fervor for finding experts had also gradually died down.

All the courtiers wanted to obtain Martial Dao techniques from the experts or have their descendants become disciples of the experts.

Without exception, they couldn't even catch a glimpse of the experts.

In the backyard of the Prince of Qi's mansion, Xu Yan's residence.

Xie Lingfeng held a wooden branch and was sparring with Xu Yan. Neither of them used Martial Dao internal energy or blood energy; they only used pure swordsmanship.

This was not the first time.

"Xu Xiong, are you sure that practicing like this will help you comprehend Sword Intent?"

Xie Lingfeng asked curiously.

After repeatedly discussing Martial Dao with Xu Yan, especially after discussing swordsmanship, Xie Lingfeng realized that he had been practicing a pseudo Martial Dao!

He hadn't even touched the door to swordsmanship!

Since he recognized his mistake, it naturally needed to be corrected. So he sought advice from Xu Yan on what True Martial Dao was and how to cultivate it.

It was no longer possible to start over with Martial Dao.

Xu Yan's answer was to convert his Grandmaster Realm cultivation into Innate Realm cultivation, and the first step was to refine Innate True Qi.

Although it was similar to Martial Dao internal energy, it was purer, more profound, had more potential, and was stronger than Martial Dao internal energy.

According to Xu Yan, the Martial Dao internal energy of an Inner Domain Martial Artist was actually True Qi. It was just that they cultivated a pseudo Martial Dao, so naturally, it was also pseudo True Qi.

Because of this, it lacked the purity and strength of Innate True Qi.

Xie Lingfeng found it reasonable and believed it without a doubt.

But he didn't know how to refine and elevate his Martial Dao internal energy into Innate True Qi.

Xu Yan couldn't provide a method either, but he told him that when he broke through the Innate Realm, understood its mysteries, he might know the method of refining and elevating.

And he wanted to comprehend Sword Intent before breaking through the Innate Realm.

The earlier he comprehended Sword Intent, the stronger his foundation in swordsmanship would be. If he couldn't comprehend Sword Intent within a month, Xu Yan would not continue to pressure him and would choose to break through instead.

Therefore, Xie Lingfeng and Xu Yan sparred to help Xu Yan comprehend Sword Intent.

"Yes!"

Xu Yan nodded and said, "The comprehension of Sword Intent lies in focusing and calming the mind, in understanding all things in heaven and earth, and also in swordsmanship. I have a feeling that continuously sparring with you and exchanging sword techniques will be more conducive to comprehending Sword Intent."

Xie Lingfeng thrust his sword and asked curiously, "Xu Xiong, what is Sword Intent?"

It was too profound. When he first heard it, he was completely confused.

In the Inner Domain's swordsmanship, there was only talk of peerless sword techniques, powerful and invincible sword qi, and cold and sharp sword aura. Although there was occasional mention of Sword Intent, it was a different concept from what Xu Yan described as Sword Intent.

"Sword Intent, is the intention within the sword, my intention, the intention of heaven and earth, and the intention of the way of the sword. It is a kind of comprehension, a kind of artistic conception that aligns with heaven and earth..."

Xu Yan pondered and slowly spoke.

Xie Lingfeng slightly opened his mouth, looking a bit confused. He understood each word, but when they were put together, he became confused. It was too profound, something he couldn't grasp.

At this moment, he sighed inwardly, "I am known as the Sword Sovereign Cliff, the first sword genius in a thousand years. Compared to Brother Xu, I am nothing but a joke!"

Suddenly, Xie Lingfeng was startled.

His eyes widened in shock as he looked at Xu Yan.

In that instant, he felt that the branch in his hand became heavy, as if it didn't obey his command.

What shocked him even more was an indescribable and unfathomable power that emanated from Xu Yan, a power that he could sense but couldn't comprehend.

It was faint, elusive, and inexplicable.

Yet it carried a sense of sharpness and an eternal and immortal charm.

He lost control of his sword technique.

His hand trembled, and then the branch in his hand gradually turned into fragments. Startled, he quickly let go and stepped back.

Xu Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. He entered a state of forgetting oneself and the world, and an inexplicable aura emerged in circles.

"Sword Intent is the intention within the sword, and when the sword is in my hand, it becomes my intention... What is the intention of the way of the sword? The sharpness and fierceness of the sword are indispensable, while I have flawless jade bones, unending and everlasting."

"Martial Dao knows no bounds, and so does the way of the sword. It should be eternal and immortal..."

Xu Yan comprehended himself, and in his mind, his master's words and actions appeared. Sitting comfortably, walking freely, every move was just the posture of an ordinary person's life.

However, his master was such an extraordinary person.

What kind of realm was that?

Images of Xu Yan's hard cultivation in a small mountain village appeared in his mind, feeding chickens and cooking every day, and his master's comfortable living situation. The more he recalled, the more he felt that his master's artistic conception was too high.

"This is what my master said, the Dao follows nature!"

Then, scenes of his master teaching him the Eight Trigrams appeared, Qian, Kun, Zhen, Dui...

The more he recalled, the more Xu Yan realized, "So my master, from the beginning, was guiding me to comprehend the way of the sword, guiding me to comprehend Sword Intent and laying the foundation for me."

"However, I have been neglecting it all along."

"Now I realize that every word and action of my master is in accordance with the Great Dao, while I am just in close contact with the Great Dao."

"My master's realm is truly unfathomable, almost reaching the level of the Great Dao."

At this moment, Xu Yan understood. His Sword Heart became clear, and his Sword Intent became transparent.

A surge of Sword Intent rippled from him.

His Sword Heart reached a preliminary level of clarity.

He comprehended Sword Intent!

"The mountains and rivers are eternal, enduring wind and rain. The mountains and rivers are also heartless, burying countless lives... I shall name this first Sword Intent the 'Mountains and Rivers Sword Intent.'"

Xu Yan opened his eyes, and the Mountains and Rivers Sword Intent emerged, heavy, continuous, and seemingly sharp yet heartless.

He looked at Xie Lingfeng, who was filled with astonishment, and smiled, "Brother Xie, how about experiencing my Sword Intent? Don't worry, I will hold back."

He wanted to test the power of this Mountains and Rivers Sword Intent!

If it weren't for Xie Lingfeng accompanying him in sword practice, he wouldn't have comprehended Sword Intent so quickly. Finally, before breaking through the Innate Realm, he comprehended Sword Intent.

Xie Lingfeng's face was filled with astonishment. This was Sword Intent?

It was too profound and unfathomable.

Taking a deep breath, he solemnly said, "Alright!"

He also wanted to experience this so-called Sword Intent and see if it was truly that powerful.

Clang!

He unsheathed his sword, his expression extremely serious.

"Brother Xu, you can make the first move!"

He was afraid that once he made a move, Xie Lingfeng wouldn't have a chance to make a move.

"Alright!"

Xu Yan, holding the branch in his hand, said, "Brother Xie, please make your move!"

He was afraid that if he made a move first, Xie Lingfeng wouldn't have a chance to make a move.

"Alright!"

Xie Lingfeng didn't hesitate and thrust his sword forward.

The sword light turned into a rainbow, crossing the sky in an instant, surpassing the distance between them.

Buzz!

The heavens and earth seemed to resonate for a moment. Xie Lingfeng, in a daze, seemed to see the manifestation of mountains and rivers, continuous and heartless, as if it could bury all living beings.

The Sword Rainbow disappeared into the mountains and rivers without a trace.

The reflection of the mountains and rivers seemed to collapse and crack, with the rivers roaring as if they were going to bury all living beings, and he was among the living beings about to be buried.

His heart was shocked!

So this is Sword Intent?

Chih chih!

Xie Lingfeng hurriedly drew his sword, one sword after another, the Sword Rainbow flickered, layers of cold light swept up, continuously pouring onto the Sword Intent of the mountains and rivers.

In an instant, a hundred swords were already unleashed!

Puh!

Finally, the Sword Intent of the mountains and rivers dissipated.

The branch in Xu Yan's hand turned into powder.

He felt a bit dizzy, as if his mental energy had been greatly consumed, and his qi and blood had instantly decreased by about ten percent.

His jade bones shimmered, and his qi and blood were rapidly recovering.

His empty mind was slowly recovering as well.

"The Sword Intent is too strong. With my current strength, the consumption is too great."

Xu Yan sighed in his heart.

After all, the realm of Sword Intent is already extremely high, and he is only at the Lifeblood Realm, the first realm of Martial Dao. The consumption of displaying Sword Intent is beyond imagination.

"I have a foundation of jade bones, so I can withstand it. If it were a foundation of golden bones, I'm afraid I could only display Sword Intent once or twice at the Lifeblood Realm."

Xu Yan silently thought to himself.

Although his consumption was great, he could still continue to display Sword Intent.

He could support it even after displaying it five or six times.

While Xu Yan was sighing, Xie Lingfeng was already shocked.

Just one Sword Intent.

He exerted all his strength and unleashed a hundred swords just to eliminate this one Sword Intent.

Moreover, he could clearly feel that Sword Intent could erode the power of his sword technique. The Sword Rainbow was trapped in the Sword Intent, as if sinking into a quagmire.

The power was reduced to only about thirty percent.

He realized a problem: a Sword Dao Martial Artist who comprehends Sword Intent possesses a strength that overwhelms those who haven't comprehended Sword Intent!

Once one comprehends Sword Intent, they can reverse the situation and surpass their realm!

Sword Intent is truly terrifying.

No wonder it sounds so mysterious!

After this incident, Xie Lingfeng became even more sorrowful, believing more and more that what he cultivated was a pseudo Martial Dao!

The Martial Dao passed down from the Sword Sovereign Cliff is also a pseudo Martial Dao!

And he himself is not a sword prodigy!

He is just an ordinary sword Martial Artist who has learned a bit of sword technique!

"I cannot sink down like this. I must comprehend the Sword Dao and enter the realm of the Sword Dao."

"I want to become a true Sword Dao Martial Artist!"

Xie Lingfeng's gaze was firm. This journey to the border wilderness might be an opportunity!

"I want to seek guidance from Brother Xu on how to achieve a clear Sword Heart!"

Only with a clear Sword Heart can one enter the path of the Sword Dao. This is the foundation.

And only with a clear Sword Heart can one comprehend Sword Intent!

"Congratulations, Brother Xu, on comprehending Sword Intent!"

Xie Lingfeng congratulated with envy on his face.

"Thank you, Brother Xie, for your modesty. If it weren't for you sparring with me in sword techniques, I wouldn't have comprehended Sword Intent so quickly!"

Xu Yan modestly said.

"Brother Xu is being too modest. Even without me, it would have only taken you a day or two longer to comprehend Sword Intent."

Xie Lingfeng smiled bitterly.

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(End of this chapter)