"Blade Intent!"
This unfamiliar yet captivating term invigorated Ye Tian, a spark igniting in his eyes as if he grasped something elusive, though it slipped away too quickly for complete comprehension.
"Yes! It is indeed Blade Intent. During my travels in Blood Jade City, I heard from the local warriors that certain extraordinary geniuses can comprehend Blade Intent even at the Warrior Master level," Ye Feng exclaimed, his face alight with excitement. "And you, Ye Tian, are merely at the Eighth Level of Warrior."
"To understand Blade Intent at the Warrior Master level signifies an unparalleled genius…" Ye Tian was taken aback, his eyes suddenly brightening as he realized why Ye Feng was so animated.
"Ye Tian, look! This scroll contains tales about Blade Intent!"
At that moment, the elder of Baiwu Pavilion rushed over, his expression mirroring Ye Feng's boundless enthusiasm as he handed the ancient parchment to Ye Tian.
Ye Tian eagerly accepted the scroll, scrutinizing its contents with rapt attention.
"While the average Warrior Master who comprehends Blade Intent is considered a rare genius, you, Ye Tian, are a prodigy among prodigies… Haha!" The elder's face radiated joy.
Beside him, Ye Feng nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, Ye Tian surpasses them all! He not only comprehended Blade Intent at the Warrior level, but he is also only sixteen years old, far exceeding those in their twenties and thirties."
They could hardly contain their elation, for this revelation was even more thrilling than Ye Tian becoming a Warrior Master.
The village of Ye Family was on the verge of producing an extraordinary figure; perhaps one day, Ye Tian would gain renown across the entire Divine Continent.
"Blade Intent…"
At this moment, Ye Tian's gaze was completely absorbed by the ancient scroll. Lines of clear script unfolded before him, chronicling the experiences of a formidable warrior.
"What is Blade Intent?" The first line of text filled Ye Tian with anticipation, echoing the very question he wished to ask.
"Once, a junior inquired about this, and I told him: Blade Intent is the soul of the blade, just as a person must possess a soul to be considered alive. Likewise, for a blade to 'live,' it too must have a soul, which is precisely Blade Intent."
The soul of the blade? Blade Intent!
Ye Tian's eyes widened; this notion was profoundly mystical. In his past life, he would have dismissed such an idea as the ramblings of a charlatan draped in a Daoist robe.
Yet now, feeling the immense power of the warriors on the Divine Continent, he understood that this world was filled with marvelous and astonishing phenomena, and perhaps Blade Intent was one of them.
He continued reading intently.
"That junior later asked me another question: after ten years of studying the blade, why could he not comprehend Blade Intent or sense the soul of his blade? I smiled and replied: The blade itself has no soul. Only by understanding Blade Intent and imbuing it onto the blade can one grant it a soul. This step is exceedingly challenging; many spend their entire lives without achieving it, except for those with extraordinary talent in the way of the blade."
"How can one know if they have grasped Blade Intent?" the junior pressed on. I said: When you feel that the blade in your hand and you have become one, as effortless as wielding your own arm, then you have crossed that threshold and comprehended Blade Intent."
As Ye Tian reached this part, the light in his eyes blazed even brighter; he was finally convinced that he truly comprehended Blade Intent.
As he continued reading, excitement surged within him.
"How powerful is Blade Intent? Hehe, a junior once asked me this, but instead of answering, I pointed my blade toward the distant Tiandou Peak and cleaved it in half. Then I said to him: Do you see this? He was left speechless, instinctively nodding. I smiled and added: I have inscribed my destructive Blade Intent upon that strike. From this day forth, there will be fewer than five warriors capable of ascending Tiandou Peak on the Divine Continent."
"Feng Wudi… Year 5382 of the Great Wilderness Era, on an autumn night!"
Hmm? Great Wilderness Era? Isn't it the Divine Calendar now?
Could this Feng Wudi be a figure from ancient times?
Ye Tian furrowed his brow.
This account concluded here, but below, Ye Tian noticed a brief note that instantly widened his eyes in shock.
"Feng Wudi, a legendary Sword Saint from thirty thousand years ago during the Great Wilderness Era, hailed as the most invincible warrior closest to the Martial God level. The junior who sought his counsel later became the first Blade Emperor, Duan Tianxiang."
"Tiandou Peak bears the remnants of Senior Feng Wudi's destructive Blade Intent. Even after thirty thousand years, this intent remains immortal, accessible only to those above the Martial King level."
"This is the legend of Tiandou Peak, enduring through the ages for tens of thousands of years, and we are in awe!"
Ye Tian slowly closed the scroll, his eyes trembling with astonishment.
The first Blade Emperor, Duan Tianxiang!
The legendary Sword Saint, Feng Wudi!
The legend of Tiandou Peak… lasting for thirty thousand years, Blade Intent immortal!
Ye Tian was utterly engulfed in shock; the tale of Tiandou Peak had left him profoundly impacted. Such powerful Blade Intent, such formidable warriors—this was the true world of warriors, this was the authentic Divine Continent!
At that moment, Ye Tian yearned deeply for the world beyond.
Living in such a vibrant and majestic realm, how could one squander the opportunity without stepping out to explore?
Ye Tian felt his blood surging; he had never been so eager to escape this remote and impoverished land, never felt such exhilaration and enthusiasm.
"Ye Tian!" Ye Feng's voice broke through his reverie, prompting him to turn and face Ye Feng.
At this moment, both Ye Feng and the elder of Baiwu Pavilion were radiating excitement.
The elder smiled and said, "Ye Tian, you've read about the legend of Tiandou Peak, haven't you? This tale is quite popular on the Divine Continent; nearly everyone knows of it."
Ye Tian nodded, understanding how such a legendary story could spread across the Divine Continent.
While he might not fully grasp the powers of a Martial Saint or Martial Emperor, the fact that Feng Wudi could cleave Tiandou Peak in two with a single strike revealed just how formidable a Martial Saint truly was, capable of annihilating the world with a mere gesture.
Such beings are akin to gods!
Ye Tian trembled with anticipation, his gaze ablaze with determination; he felt his resolve to grow stronger solidifying.
"From this story, you should recognize how exceptionally talented those who comprehend Blade Intent are. Even that first Blade Emperor, Duan Tianxiang, took ten years to grasp Blade Intent after studying the blade, and how old are you now?" the elder of Baiwu Pavilion continued, utterly invigorated.
"Sixteen years old!"
The elder of the Baiwu Pavilion fixed his gaze on Ye Tian, excitement brimming in his voice. "At just sixteen, you have already comprehended the essence of the blade. You are destined to surpass the realm of martial masters. Do you understand what it means to transcend that level? While I cannot fathom what such a state entails, I do know that the lord of Blood Jade City is the only one within a thousand miles who has surpassed the martial master realm!"
Ye Tian was taken aback; he had not anticipated that the lord of Blood Jade City was a being who transcended the martial master realm. Yet, it made sense; the strength of Blood Jade City could not solely be attributed to martial masters, as many existed within the Blood Shadow Guard.
"Ye Tian, your talent surpasses our wildest imaginations. None of us can predict what achievements await you in the future, but one thing is certain: you will undoubtedly lead us out of this impoverished land!" Ye Feng approached, his eyes glistening with excitement as he stared intently at Ye Tian.
"Elder, Uncle Feng, I will not let your expectations go unfulfilled!" Ye Tian looked at his two esteemed elders, filled with palpable emotion, took a deep breath, and nodded resolutely.
"Indeed, we believe in you." The elder of the Baiwu Pavilion beamed with joy. Given Ye Tian's ability to grasp the essence of the blade, it was clear that ascending to the rank of martial master would be exceedingly straightforward for him. It was merely a matter of time; he eagerly anticipated how far Ye Tian might eventually soar, perhaps shaking the very foundations of the Great Yan Kingdom.
"Uncle Feng can hardly wait to witness the day you achieve renown across the realm," Ye Feng remarked with a smile.
"I trust that day will not keep you waiting for long!" Ye Tian responded with a slight smile, his confident demeanor evoking admiration from both Ye Feng and the elder of the Baiwu Pavilion. Who could have imagined that Ye Jia Village would give rise to such an extraordinary talent?
...
As time flew by, a month had swiftly passed. Ye Tian had made significant strides in his cultivation, yet he was still on the cusp of reaching the ninth level of martial artists.
This was not due to a lack of effort on his part; throughout the month, he had immersed himself in comprehending the essence of the blade, disregarding everything else, even slowing his training pace.
He spent his days with the Blood Blade, either practicing his sword techniques or honing his skills against ferocious beasts, each time striving to grasp the essence of the blade more fully.
It must be said that Ye Tian's talent in the path of the sword was indeed remarkable. After a month of diligent effort, he had learned to step into that wondrous realm at will, imbuing his blade with the essence of the sword.
As a result, his attack power reached astonishing heights. As a pinnacle eighth-level martial artist, a single slash from him could obliterate a ninth-level ferocious beast in an instant.
Moreover, his ability to strike from a distance made him virtually invincible among martial artists below the tenth level; even Ye Feng, who stood at the peak of the ninth level, could no longer contend with him.
Within Ye Jia Village, only the village chief, Ye Shi, who was at the peak of the tenth level, could rely on his formidable true energy to defeat Ye Tian.
Yet, everyone knew that once Ye Tian ascended to the ninth level, even Chief Ye Shi would no longer be his opponent.
With such a powerful leader of the hunting team, the days of the Ye Jia Village hunting squad improved considerably. Not only did they enjoy abundant harvests, but they also suffered no casualties.
"Clip-clop, clip-clop!"
On this day, a party of more than ten riders thundered down the distant mountain path, led by a burly man with a dark face, whose imposing presence immediately marked him as a formidable expert.
"Hmm? Someone's coming; that's…" A villager stationed at the gate of Ye Jia Village furrowed his brow as he observed the approaching group.
"It's the Black-faced Mad Tiger! What business do the Wang family villagers have in Ye Jia Village?" Another villager recognized the visitors, his expression tightening in concern.