Chapter 356: Blade Intent, Sword Intent

"It's about to start..."

In a tall building in the distance, several old men sat inside, their gazes fixed on the scene.

Among them was Dean Xie Bi, who had nearly vomited blood from anger while examining Zhang Xuan. The others were none other than the highest-ranking elders of the academy.

Although the duel between Mu Xueqing and Zhang Shi's student was a matter between students, the implications were too great, and even they had been stirred.

"If Mu Xueqing wins this time, our academy might rise with the tide and gain great fame!"

An elder stroked his beard and said.

"Indeed. Zhang Shi is the most dazzling star in the Wangcheng Master Teacher Hall in a thousand years, and his student's trust in him has reached 85%, unprecedented! If Xueqing wins, our academy's overall teaching level will be praised by countless people, and the impact will be enormous!"

Another elder nodded in agreement.

"Winning would cause a stir, but have you considered that Mu Xueqing might lose?"

"Actually, win or lose, our academy comes out ahead either way!" the second elder who spoke laughed.

"Why?" The elder who had just asked clearly didn't understand.

"Simple. Teacher Liu is just an ordinary teacher at the academy, while Zhang Shi is a super figure examining for two-star master teacher. Even if he loses to him, it's no disgrace. But if he wins, the benefits are obvious, need I say more?"

The second elder who spoke smiled.

"Elder Luo is right. Win or lose, it's good for our academy! That's why I didn't stop their private duel!"

Dean Xie Bi waved his hand grandly, then his gaze suddenly turned serious: "Look, it's already started!"

Everyone looked sharply and indeed saw that the duel between the two girls had begun.

"Xueqing's starting stance is excellent. The long blade sweeps across, and the momentum is there at once. Truly worthy of a prestigious family, her mastery of martial techniques has reached an extremely profound level!"

All the elders were masters among masters, and they immediately saw the nuances in the two girls' moves, beginning to comment.

"This move is indeed good. Let's see how the opponent responds..."

Another elder nodded, but before he finished speaking, he couldn't help slapping his thigh, eyes shining: "Impressive, impressive! This student named Zhao Ya is also a genius. With a single thrust of her longsword, she not only neutralized the long blade's momentum but also carried the intent of piercing through the air, turning defense into offense."

"Breaking the situation in one move—such decisive skill and temperament, I've only seen in Elder Wu!"

"Her reaction is fast, but Xueqing is no slouch either. Look, she's counterattacking too. Her horizontal slash is perfectly timed—one more fraction would be too forceful, one less would be insufficient! I've seen her use blade techniques before, but when did she become so formidable? I'd say she's not inferior to Elder Bai!"

"Compare to Elder Bai? Are you joking?"

Dean Xie Bi shook his head: "Elder Bai has immersed himself in the blade for no less than thirty years, and is only half a step away from comprehending blade intent. He's the most skilled with the blade in our academy! How old is this Mu Xueqing? Even if she understands the blade well, she's certainly far from blade intent!"

"That's true... Blade intent can only be realized when one's understanding of the blade reaches its peak—one in ten thousand. In Tianwu Wangcheng, only the Mad Blade Guo Da of yesteryear achieved that realm. Even Elder Bai falls short."

"Indeed..."

Dean Xie Bi nodded: "The true intent of weapons is not easy to comprehend! Without decades of immersion, it's absolutely impossible. Mu Xueqing may know a lot about the blade, but to truly reach the realm of understanding blade intent, she needs many more years of accumulation... Holy crap!"

Before he could finish, Dean Xie seemed to see something he couldn't believe and blurted out a curse.

Seeing his loss of composure, the other elders looked forward in confusion. One look, and their pupils contracted simultaneously, trembling as if struck by epilepsy.

"This... this... how is this possible?"

On the stage, Mu Xueqing's jet-black hair flew wildly, her long skirt rustling, making her look like a fairy treading on waves.

Above the long blade in her hand, a pure white blade aura flickered incessantly, like a long snake slithering everywhere, giving a ferocious impression.

"Blade aura spanning the air, energy like lightning—this is... blade intent!"

Dean Xie Bi's throat went dry.

He had just said that cultivating blade intent required years of hard work, and then he saw this—the shock in his heart was indescribable.

Elder Bai had immersed himself in the world of the blade for decades without achieving it, yet a teenage girl had done it... How was that possible?

"It's Teacher Liu, it must be him!"

An elder couldn't help shouting: "I've known Xueqing since she was young, and I know her level very well. Not long ago, she demonstrated her blade technique before me, and she was still a world away from blade intent. In such a short time, to comprehend blade intent—if it's not because of him, I can't think of any other reason!"

"I heard that Teacher Liu Cheng taught her a set of blade techniques just two days ago. Could it be that this set of techniques allowed her to comprehend blade intent?"

An elder who had previously attended Teacher Liu's class said.

"Comprehending blade intent in just three days... How did this Teacher Liu do it?"

"No matter how he did it, it's undeniable that his teaching level has reached an appalling degree. That little girl opposite is probably going to lose!"

"Indeed. Against a master who has comprehended blade intent, the only thing that can counter it is one who has comprehended sword intent... I've seen her sword technique!" Dean Xie Bi shook his head: "Though not weak, she's still far from comprehending sword intent. Losing is inevitable..."

"Ahem, Dean, that may not be the case. Look quickly..."

Before Dean Xie could finish, he was interrupted by an elder.

"What's wrong?" Frowning, Dean Xie looked over in confusion.

"That... Zhao Ya's longsword hasn't been raised, but the blade hums softly, and a white light flows along it. I think it looks like... sword intent?" the elder couldn't help saying.

"Sword intent?"

Everyone looked over.

Earlier, Zhao Ya had her back to them, and her longsword wasn't raised. They were also stunned by Mu Xueqing, so they hadn't observed carefully. Now, paying attention, they immediately noticed something was off.

The longsword in the girl's hand whimpered and rang, with a white light flowing along the blade like water ripples.

"Rippling flow, phoenix cry and metal sound! It really is... sword intent!"

Seeing this clearly, everyone confirmed it.

This Zhao Ya... had also comprehended sword intent!

Two teenage girls, one comprehending blade intent, the other sword intent...

Was there no justice?

Damn it!

Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on?

Comprehending blade intent and sword intent in three days...

If someone else had told them this, they would have spat in their face. Seeing it with their own eyes, they felt the world was about to turn upside down, and their hearts were about to explode.

"..."

Dean Xie Bi was on the verge of tears.

He had just said Mu Xueqing couldn't possibly comprehend blade intent, and she displayed it. He had just said Zhao Ya was bound to lose, and she pulled out sword intent...

Were you two deliberately trying to slap my face today?

But slapping my face is one thing...

Blade intent, sword intent, and such... being cultivated so easily, and appearing in teenage girls... What the hell!

For a moment, all the elders in the room stood frozen, unable to speak.

...

In the residential courtyard of the elders at Tianwu Academy.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

An old man held a long blade, dancing ceaselessly in the courtyard. The blade wind was like raging waves, drawing anyone who looked into it and making it hard to look away.

Huff!

The blade technique stopped, and the old man sheathed his blade and stood still.

"Teacher's blade technique grows more and more refined. I'm afraid you're not far from true blade intent!" A young man quickly handed him a towel, speaking with respect.

"Sigh!"

The old man shook his head, his eyes full of melancholy: "Although I've been able to sense that realm recently, and it seems close, in reality, as long as I haven't comprehended it in a day, it's as far as the horizon!"

This was Elder Bai, whom Dean Xie Bi and the others had mentioned earlier.

He had immersed himself in the world of the blade for decades but had never been able to break through the door.

The true intent of weapons sounds simple, but it's actually very difficult. Sometimes, even if only the last step remains, one might spend a lifetime without reaching it.

"I believe Teacher only lacks an opportunity. When the opportunity comes, it will surely come naturally!" The young man also understood this truth and offered a word of comfort.

"Indeed, it's just an opportunity. But where can I find one?"

Elder Bai smiled bitterly: "If there were a senior who had comprehended blade intent now, I would immediately apprentice myself to him. As long as I could observe that realm every day, I guarantee I could break through completely in less than a month! Unfortunately... no one in Tianwu Wangcheng has comprehended this realm. These are just vain hopes!"

Blade intent can be sensed but not conveyed in words. If there were a senior who had comprehended blade intent and demonstrated blade techniques before him, he could quickly comprehend and take the final step.

Unfortunately, those who can comprehend blade intent are all renowned figures. Who would be willing to be his teacher and practice the blade for him every day?

"Teacher, don't be anxious..." The young man was about to comfort him again when he suddenly saw his teacher's eyes widen and his breathing become rapid.

Clang!

The long blade he treasured fell to the ground, and he didn't even notice.

"Teacher..."

His teacher was always composed; this was the first time he had seen him so flustered. The young man couldn't help looking over.

"It's blade intent! A senior is displaying blade intent in the academy!"

Ignoring his question, Elder Bai's face turned pale, and his lips trembled with excitement.

"Blade intent?" The young man was puzzled.

He was too far from that realm to understand even if blade intent appeared.

"Quick, quick, bring me my robe and take me there. I want to apprentice myself to that senior who comprehended blade intent..."

Unable to contain himself any longer, Elder Bai turned and shouted.

He had been practicing earlier and was wearing a training suit, which wasn't formal enough.

If such a senior took offense, the trouble would be great!

"Yes!"

The young man finally snapped out of it and hurriedly brought his elder's robe.

Putting it on hastily, Elder Bai turned and left, heading straight in the direction from which the blade intent emanated.

...

"Blade intent and sword intent!"

Below the competition stage, Zhao Wuxing and Liu Changyan had lost all their earlier composure, their faces pale and bodies trembling slightly.

When Mu Xueqing had displayed her blade technique earlier, Zhao Wuxing knew he was no match. Now that she had unleashed blade intent, he understood that if she really wanted to kill him, with his strength, he would be instantly slain, without even a chance to escape.

This girl had been formidable before, but there was still a big gap between them. In just a few days, she had become this powerful?

What kind of person was this Teacher Liu, to bring about such earth-shaking changes in a student in just a few days?

"A duel of blade intent and sword intent..."

A shout pulled him back from his shock. He looked up at the stage, where the two incredibly beautiful girls clashed again.

Blade aura soared, sword aura howled.

As blade and sword met, the violent energy swept through like a hurricane, cracking the stone floor of the stage into countless lines of varying depths.

With the true intent of weapons, the true qi became extremely sharp. Ordinary people couldn't withstand it, let alone these rocks.

"Damn it!"

Mu Xueqing's face turned ashen.

Having learned Teacher Liu's blade technique and comprehended blade intent, she knew she had surpassed others in the blade. With such martial skills, she could easily defeat even Zhao Wuxing.

She had thought today's match would be easy and effortless, that she could crush her opponent with a single move.

But she never expected that while she had improved greatly, her opponent had improved even more!

This Zhao Ya, who had only known some trivial martial techniques before, had now displayed sword intent.

Moreover, the sword intent was infused with a yin-cold constitution. Even with blade intent protecting her, she found the battle increasingly difficult, on the verge of collapse!

"Is this Zhang Shi really that formidable?"

Three days ago, she only knew low-level martial techniques. Three days later, she was this powerful. If it weren't for Zhang Shi's guidance behind the scenes, she would never believe it.

Only that super genius, renowned across thirteen countries and suppressing Mo Hong so thoroughly he couldn't lift his head, had such ability to turn someone who knew no martial arts into a fighter with several times their original strength in just a few days.

"Even if Zhang Shi is formidable, our Teacher Liu won't lose to you..."

She gritted her teeth, a fierce determination rising in her heart.

Zhang Shi was powerful, but their Teacher Liu was no less!

Not only had he made it easy for her to learn blade intent, but seeing Lu Chong, who was still in training, she understood just how terrifying he was.

Three days ago, Lu Chong was only at the initial stage of the Strength Realm, a world away from her at the Acupoint Unlocking Realm—she could crush several of him with ease.

But when she went to see him this morning, he already possessed the power of the initial stage of the Profound Passage Realm!

Even ordinary mid-stage Profound Passage Realm cultivators might not be able to defeat him.

In such a short time, to elevate a talentless initial Strength Realm cultivator across two entire major realms... She was confident that no master teacher, no matter how renowned, could match Teacher Liu's methods—not even Zhang Shi!

"Teacher Liu's honor must not be insulted. I must win today!"

Roaring inwardly, the blade aura in her hand surged again, madly chopping down at the girl opposite.

While Mu Xueqing gritted her teeth and persisted, Zhao Ya on the other side was also starting to grow anxious.

The sword technique passed down by her grandmaster had allowed her to comprehend sword intent, and she thought she could easily crush her opponent. But she hadn't expected her opponent's progress to be nearly as great as her own.

"No wonder she can defend him so fiercely. This Teacher Liu is no simpleton!"

Earlier, because of Teacher Zhang's strength, she thought the heroes of the world were nothing special.

Now she realized that there were far too many powerful people.

At the very least, this Teacher Liu was equally formidable.

"She's also very strong, and her blade intent is extremely powerful, but unfortunately... her constitution can't compare to mine!"

Letting out a breath, Zhao Ya's eyes were like lightning.

Her opponent's strength was also great, and her techniques were superb, but in terms of constitution, she was far inferior!

With her pure yin constitution, even if her own strength was slightly lower, she could challenge those above her level. Previously, she was held back by weak martial techniques, so she wasn't a match. Now that she had comprehended sword intent, on par with her opponent's blade intent, how could she be stopped!

"Let's end this!"

Her brows lifted, her jet-black hair fluttering in the wind. She activated her pure yin constitution to its fullest, making her look like an untainted celestial maiden.

Even Mu Xueqing, who considered herself beautiful, couldn't help feeling ashamed in comparison.

The pure yin constitution could fully bring out a woman's perfection. Once activated, it had no flaws—it was what every woman dreamed of.

Whoosh!

With her constitution pushed to the limit, the sword aura flickering on the blade suddenly shot out, like a swimming dragon, heading straight for Mu Xueqing.

This strike was extremely powerful. The blade aura, upon contact, was instantly cut in two, and the sword aura continued without pause.

"Ah..."

Her face changed, and Mu Xueqing turned deathly pale in an instant.

Because... if the sword aura struck her, not only would she be severely injured, but Teacher Liu's honor would also be ruined.

However, the blade aura had been severed, and the sword energy was already upon her. Even if she wanted to change her move, it was too late. She couldn't dodge or evade, so she simply closed her eyes, waiting for the sword aura to hit.

"It seems Mu Xueqing is going to lose..."

"Indeed, there's no helping it. Facing this sword aura, no one could withstand it!"

"Such a powerful attack would be hard even for an initial Profound Passage Realm expert to block, let alone an Acupoint Unlocking Realm cultivator!"

Seeing this, everyone's hearts tightened, and they showed expressions of regret.

Both girls were excellent, but in a match, one had to lose. They just hadn't expected it to be her...

...

"What good show is this that you insist on dragging me to see? I have things to do, no time to watch a spectacle with you!"

Leaving the palace, Zhang Xuan looked helplessly at Princess Mo Yu, who was excited nearby.

He still had to go to the Physician Guild to read books, and then return to the residence to instruct Zhao Ya and the others in their training... He had many things to do. Why would he have the leisure to watch a show with her?

"Don't rush, we're almost there. This good show will definitely make you very happy..."

Raising her eyebrows, Mo Yu smiled lightly.

This guy before her was always composed and calm in front of her, seeming to know nothing, yet in reality, he could easily solve any problem.

Now, your two students are fighting for your honor, locked in a fierce battle. Let's see how you handle it!

"This is... heading to Tianwu Academy?"

Seeing that she didn't want to say, Zhang Xuan knew asking was useless. He looked at the route they were taking, puzzled.

The path they were on led straight to Tianwu Academy.

Wasn't she talking about watching a show?

What were they going to the academy for?

Curious, he followed behind. As soon as they entered the academy, he immediately sensed something was off.

"Why is no one here?"

It was noon, and the academy should have been bustling with people, but there wasn't even a ghost in sight.

"It's already started... Let's hurry!"

Her expression tightening, Princess Mo Yu hurried toward the competition platform.

The fact that everyone on campus had vanished could only mean one thing: they had all gone to watch the excitement!

Whether it was Teacher Zhang or President Liu Cheng, both were renowned in the royal city; their students' competition was bound to attract everyone's attention.

Seeing her rush ahead anxiously, Zhang Xuan followed curiously and soon saw countless people gathered around a competition platform, bustling with excitement.

"Is someone competing? Could it be the dean is about to duel? Otherwise, why would so many people gather?"

Blocked by the crowd, he couldn't see what was happening inside, but seeing so many people packed here, Zhang Xuan speculated.

For so many students to be gathered here, aside from the dean level, he couldn't think of anyone with such appeal.

"It seems Teacher Zhang is superior; his student is more impressive!"

"Not necessarily. Teacher Liu has only taught for four days and achieved this effect; I think that's even more remarkable!"

"This Zhao Ya is really beautiful. From today on, she's my goddess!"

"I didn't expect Mu Xueqing to be so formidable either. Sword intent... that's sword intent, comprehended at such a young age—too strong..."

...

Arriving at the edge of the crowd, before he could enter, he heard discussions all around.

"Teacher Zhang? Teacher Liu? Zhao Ya? Mu Xueqing?"

Stunned in place, Zhang Xuan felt as if struck by lightning, his eyes widening as many things connected: "Could it be... they are the ones sparring?"

On the night Zhao Ya was injured, Mu Xueqing was also injured.

Both seemed to have been hurt by someone and had agreed to continue fighting.

Originally, in his view, the chance of them meeting was very slim; students taught under different identities were unlikely to know each other, so he hadn't considered this possibility.

Never in his dreams did he expect that not only had they met, but they were also fighting!

Was it real?

He quickly looked toward Mo Yu, only to see her glancing back with a smug expression, seemingly delighted at his discomfort.

His heart tensed, and ignoring her, he swiftly dashed forward to find a suitable spot, and indeed saw clearly the two people sparring on the platform.

Who else could it be but Zhao Ya and Mu Xueqing!

Whew!

Just as he recognized the two, he saw Zhao Ya's Pure Yin constitution in motion, her long sword severing the opponent's blade light and striking down heavily.

Mu Xueqing... was in imminent danger!

"Stop!"

Whoosh!

A figure flashed, using the Heavenly Path Movement Technique, he instantly passed through the crowd and appeared on the competition platform.

...

Thinking she would surely lose this time, Mu Xueqing was waiting with her eyes closed when she heard a gust of wind, and then a sturdy figure stood before her.

"Teacher..."

Her eyes reddening, Mu Xueqing could no longer hold back.