Chapter 38: My Heart Only the Sword, the Path of the Sword Immortal

The entire Discourse Hall fell silent, everyone turning to look at each other. Since Ji Ning could defeat 'Senior Bloodshadow' in debate, defeating him would not be easy. Who would step up?

"His heart has changed!" the dwarf elder in the corner suddenly spoke. "This battle in the Discourse Hall is also a tempering for your disciple."

Immortal Diancai also turned to look at Ji Ning in the distance.

At this moment, Ji Ning's eyes were very bright, without a trace of hesitation, and they held a startling battle intent.

"Mm." Immortal Diancai nodded gently. "His heart has changed, purer than before. Previously, it had many distracting thoughts, but now he seeks only a battle. This is also a rare tempering for the Dao-heart."

…

Ji Ning had no other thoughts now, only one: battle!

Battle, and battle to the fullest!

The entire Discourse Hall was silent for about three breaths, then finally a woman in green walked out.

"It's Senior Sister Bai Xue."

"Senior Sister Bai Xue's 'Green Silk Nether Formation' is extremely formidable. In mere debate, even Senior Bloodshadow is no match for her."

"Mm, I wonder if Junior Brother Ji Ning still has any tricks. If not, I'm afraid he'll lose."

Murmurs arose everywhere.

Senior Huo Sheng, surrounded by several junior brothers and sisters, watched from afar and said softly, "If I'm not mistaken, that was already Ji Ning's limit. This battle, Ji Ning will lose."

…

"Facing Junior Sister Bai Xue's Green Silk Nether Formation, this little junior brother will probably lose," the slovenly fat youth also said softly.

…

"Senior Sister, can Junior Brother Ji Ning win?" Jiu Lian stood beside the black-clad girl.

The black-clad girl watched from afar: "Junior Brother Ji Ning has probably reached his limit. This battle should be the last."

…

The dwarf elder in the corner also nodded: "It's about time. This battle in the Discourse Hall should end. Your disciple has reached his limit."

"Mm." Immortal Diancai nodded gently, continuing to watch his disciple in the distance.

…

On the stone pillar.

Ji Ning stood, waiting silently.

"Senior Brother Ji Ning, win, win! I believe you will definitely win!" Mu Zishuo shouted loudly from afar, his fists clenched tightly.

Ji Ning smiled at him.

The woman in green who had come out from the side hall lightly tapped her foot and drifted directly onto the opposite stone pillar. She looked at Ji Ning from afar, her gaze making one feel cold. Looking at her was like looking at a languid beauty. She finally spoke: "Junior Brother Ji Ning, the puppet I have chosen is the 'Heavenly Net Puppet'. Be careful."

"Senior Sister, please!" Ji Ning sat down cross-legged directly.

The woman in green also sat down cross-legged.

The two faced each other from afar.

"Rise!" the white-haired elder shouted loudly. Rumble~~~ the sealing formation once again enveloped the entire battlefield.

"Go!" The woman in green sat cross-legged, her gaze cold. The Heavenly Net Puppet below her immediately flew out countless ribbons, turning into streaks of light.

"New Three Talents Lotus Sword!"

A sharp glint flashed in Ji Ning's eyes. Without hesitation, he immediately manipulated the Thousand Sword Puppet to release fifteen flying swords, forming five New Three Talents Lotus Swords. Five sword beams... blooming with lotuses, they met the ribbon streaks.

Whoosh~~~

The ribbon streaks suddenly traced arcs, and in an instant, the world changed. These ribbon streaks formed a sealed, huge spherical space, trapping all five New Three Talents Lotus Swords Ji Ning controlled inside. The five sword beams desperately attacked one spot, causing the ribbon streaks to bulge out in a large lump, but they still bound the sword beams within.

"Bind!" the woman in green sitting cross-legged said softly.

The huge spherical space formed by the ribbon streaks began to rotate and shrink, forcefully suppressing the five sword beams inside.

Although Ji Ning could abandon these fifteen flying swords and control new ones... if he couldn't break this technique, even if he used new flying swords, they would only be absorbed as well.

"Break!" Ji Ning manipulated with all his might.

"Go." The woman in green pointed again.

Whoosh!

Another ribbon streak flew from the puppet, heading straight for Ji Ning's Thousand Sword Puppet.

"Hmph." Ji Ning's gaze turned cold. Three more flying swords flew from behind the Thousand Sword Puppet, forming a Three Talents Lotus Sword to meet it.

With a total of six Three Talents Lotus Swords, Ji Ning's eyes began to redden.

Straining.

Truly straining.

But Ji Ning had no other thoughts; he only had one thought... to do his utmost, to battle to the fullest! To unleash the strongest power of his flying swords!

At this moment, Ji Ning's heart held only... the sword!

…

In the arena.

Ji Ning and the woman in green faced each other from afar, manipulating their puppets and clashing again and again. Although the woman in green held the upper hand... she simply couldn't defeat Ji Ning. Especially within the huge spherical space, bulges appeared again and again, showing that the five sword beams inside were struggling more and more fiercely, forcing the woman in green to divert much of her attention to control them.

The dwarf elder in the corner of the Discourse Hall suddenly brightened and muttered to himself, "My heart only the sword?"

Immortal Diancai also stared at his disciple.

He too noticed Ji Ning's change.

"My heart only the sword!" Immortal Diancai also whispered. "Finally, his sword heart has touched this threshold."

"Hard to say," the dwarf elder sighed. "Your disciple is truly a genius. Now, the Discourse Hall gathers many disciples of our Black-White College. With so many geniuses assembled... your disciple faces many senior brothers and sisters in a battle destined to end in defeat, yet now it has allowed his sword heart to gradually become clear."

"It's still early to see if he can fully comprehend," Immortal Diancai said, staring fixedly at Ji Ning.

…

Simultaneously unleashing six Three Talents Lotus Swords had already pushed Ji Ning to his limit, even causing dizziness. But Ji Ning had no other thoughts; he only wanted to fight! To do his utmost!

His heart was entirely on the flying swords.

At this moment...

Ji Ning, who had long comprehended the Sword Immortal Heart, now felt his sword heart gradually becoming clear. Scenes even began to flash through his mind.

"Ji Ning, what I am about to demonstrate for you is the first stance of the 'Three-Foot Sword'—Sword Heart Clear and Bright!" Before the battle in the Discourse Hall, Ji Ning had visited Immortal Diancai, who had thoroughly analyzed the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword for him.

"This is the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword!"

Sword light like fire, streaking across the sky, lingering long.

"This is also the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword!"

A sword light like water, coiling in the air, as if the sky was cut by water.

"This is also the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword!"

A green light, tearing through the air.

Stance after stance...

Completely different sword stances, some ordinary, some extremely powerful. Yet all these stances, in Immortal Diancai's words, were the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword.

"The 'Three-Foot Sword' is the supreme sword manual leading to the 'Sword Dao' great Dao. To become a true sword immortal who comprehends the 'Sword Dao' great Dao, one first needs a sword heart. You, through years of hard training, have unknowingly acquired a Sword Immortal Heart, but this sword heart needs true sincerity towards the 'sword'. You must understand your own sword heart."

"When you understand your sword heart and understand what it means to be a sword immortal, you will have pushed open the door to sword immortals. And at that moment, you will naturally know how to execute the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword."

"The first stance of the Three-Foot Sword—Sword Heart Clear and Bright!"

"When your sword heart is clear and bright, you will have seen the true path of the sword immortal."

…

Scenes of Immortal Diancai executing the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword, 'Sword Heart Clear and Bright', flashed through his mind repeatedly. Some stances were very weak, some very strong. But as these scenes flashed through his mind, Ji Ning felt a stirring. He vaguely understood something. Though not fully comprehending, he knew he had touched upon something.

Whoosh!

Sword light danced.

The Three Talents Lotus Swords in the air flew and wove again and again, but the sword beams grew sharper and more powerful. They even began to suppress the ribbon streaks.

Rumble~~~ The five Three Talents Lotus Swords trapped within the huge spherical space struggled more and more fiercely, the bulges on the spherical space growing larger each time.

In the distance, the woman in green, 'Senior Sister Bai Xue', sitting cross-legged, began to sweat on her forehead.

"What!" Senior Huo Sheng, watching from afar, changed expression.

The slovenly fat youth's eyes widened instantly: "Really... he's actually comprehending and breaking through during the battle."

The black-clad girl, always icy-faced, also showed a hint of surprise: "A sword immortal?"

…

"Boom!" With an explosion, the barely maintained spherical space finally burst, ribbons scattering. Six Three Talents Lotus Swords, each with overwhelming momentum, sharp and unmatched, their power greatly increased, charged straight at the Heavenly Net Puppet. Soon, the protective layer on the Heavenly Net Puppet was cut through.

"Ji Ning wins!" the white-haired elder announced loudly.

The woman in green's eyes were full of disbelief. To be touched and break through during battle made her mutter, "Monster, truly a monster of the sword way."

Ji Ning stood up, looked around the hall, and again said loudly, "Is there any senior brother or sister to instruct me?"

…

The dwarf elder in the corner couldn't help but say, "A genius of the sword way, truly a genius of the sword way. This Ji Ning was born to walk the path of the sword immortal! His understanding of the sword is extraordinary, even monstrous. And he has a sincere heart towards the sword."

"Mm." Immortal Diancai looked at Ji Ning from afar. "He is meant to be a sword immortal."

"Another disciple has gone up," the dwarf elder nodded. "Good that he goes up. Now Ji Ning needs battle. The stronger the pressure, the clearer his sword heart will become."

"Perhaps... through this battle, he can comprehend the first stance of the Three-Foot Sword—Sword Heart Clear and Bright!" Immortal Diancai murmured.

…

Ji Ning stood on the stone pillar.

On the opposite stone pillar also stood a black-clad youth.

Ji Ning's eyes seemed to hold sword light, and he said clearly, "Senior Brother, please!"

…