Chapter 12
As Ye Chen descended from the Sword Graveyard, his heart was filled with emotion. After enduring the trials of this extraordinary inheritance, he gained an unprecedented understanding of swordsmanship, and the power coursing through his body had multiplied several times over. He knew that his path of the sword would now ascend to new heights, but he was equally aware that future challenges would only grow more perilous.
At the foot of the mountain, several disciples of the Xuantian Sect were anxiously waiting. Initially, they thought Ye Chen's entry into the Sword Graveyard was nothing short of a death sentence. Yet, to their astonishment, days passed without any movement. When Ye Chen finally appeared, all of them were stunned.
"He's back!" one outer disciple exclaimed in disbelief.
"How is this possible? That's the Sword Graveyard, a place even the inner elders dare not tread lightly. And he actually walked out alive?" another said, wide-eyed.
Ye Chen ignored their murmurs, his expression calm as he walked steadily toward them. His aura had become deeper and more profound, and his gaze carried a sharp intensity, like an unsheathed divine sword.
"Ye Chen!" A cold shout interrupted the silence. Li Haotian strode over with his entourage, his eyes locking onto Ye Chen with open hostility.
"You're alive? It seems you're quite hard to kill," Li Haotian sneered. "But today, your survival might not be guaranteed."
Ye Chen raised his gaze, his tone indifferent. "Are you planning to fight me?"
"Fight you?" Li Haotian smirked disdainfully. "Ye Chen, you're just a piece of trash who lucked his way up. What makes you think you can compete with me? Now, I'll show you the difference between a genius and a worthless nobody!"
Before his words faded, Li Haotian struck. His figure flashed like lightning, and the longsword in his hand shot forth, its light piercing the air like thunder toward Ye Chen's chest.
This attack was swift and fierce, showcasing Li Haotian's considerable skill. The surrounding disciples couldn't help but marvel at the display. But to their shock, Ye Chen didn't even move. He simply lifted his sword with a calm demeanor.
Clang!
The two swords collided with a deafening metallic clash. To everyone's disbelief, Ye Chen blocked Li Haotian's full-strength attack effortlessly.
"Impossible!" Li Haotian's face changed drastically, his eyes filled with shock. He could clearly feel the immense power emanating from Ye Chen—a power that defied everything he understood.
"There's nothing impossible about it," Ye Chen replied calmly, his voice carrying an undeniable weight.
Without any unnecessary movements, Ye Chen took a single step forward. In an instant, his sword intent erupted, a torrent of radiant energy that engulfed Li Haotian completely.
Boom!
Li Haotian was overwhelmed by the sword intent, flung several meters away. His sword fell from his hand, embedding itself into the ground. Struggling to stand, his face was pale with fear. "This… this is impossible! What did you do?"
Ye Chen looked at him coldly and said indifferently, "What you call a genius is nothing but a joke in the face of true power."
Li Haotian's followers were left frozen, their faces pale with terror. They had assumed Ye Chen was just an ordinary disciple with barely adequate skills, yet he had easily defeated a powerful figure like Li Haotian.
"I won't let you get away with this, Ye Chen!" Li Haotian spat venomously, his eyes burning with hatred. With the help of one of his followers, he limped away in haste.
Ye Chen watched him retreat, his expression calm. He didn't pursue; Li Haotian wasn't worth the effort.
At this moment, Ye Chen's focus was on one thing only: strengthening his power. The Sword Graveyard's inheritance was only the beginning, and a long path lay ahead.
That night, Ye Chen sat alone atop the mountain, gripping the inherited sword. Gazing at the starry sky, his thoughts swirled with emotion.
"Father, Mother…" he murmured softly, "I will avenge you. But before that, I need to become even stronger."
Closing his eyes, Ye Chen replayed the events within the Sword Graveyard in his mind. The battle with the giant and the baptism of endless sword energy had deepened his understanding of swordsmanship. While his cultivation had only recently advanced, his comprehension of the sword path had reached a whole new level.
"The inherited sword is merely a tool. True power lies in mastering my own swordsmanship," Ye Chen resolved. "Only by breaking all limits can I stand at the pinnacle of the sword path."
As the night breeze swept through, the mountain forest remained tranquil. Yet within Ye Chen, a raging fire of determination burned brightly.
From this moment on, every step he took would be toward the summit of the sword path. He understood that only by carving his name at the very peak of this world could he instill fear into the enemies lurking in the shadows!