Chapter 3: The Sword That Defies the Heaven
--
Jian Feng's breath was unsteady as he stared at the fragment of the sword before him. Despite being broken, it radiated an undeniable power—a force that seemed to resist the passage of time itself.
The stone pedestal pulsed with an ancient energy, sending waves of pressure through the underground chamber. It wasn't just a sword; it was a remnant of something greater—a lost legacy that had once shaken the very heavens.
His fingers hovered over the fragment for a moment. Then, with a deep breath, he grasped it firmly.
BOOM!
A blinding surge of energy erupted from the blade, and the world around him vanished.
---
When Jian Feng opened his eyes, he was no longer in the underground chamber.
Instead, he stood amidst a boundless ocean of swords.
Thousands—no, millions—of swords floated in the void around him. Some gleamed with divine radiance, others were cracked and worn, their edges dulled by time.
At the very center of this space, a towering golden sword stood embedded in the heavens, its sheer presence splitting the sky itself.
Jian Feng instinctively knew what this place was.
The Sword Domain.
A mythical realm that only true sword cultivators could glimpse, where the echoes of the greatest swordmasters in history lingered.
"Do you seek the path of the Eternal Sword?"
The whisper returned, deeper this time, resonating within his soul.
Jian Feng gritted his teeth. He didn't need to think. His answer was absolute.
"I do!"
As soon as the words left his lips, the golden sword trembled.
CRACK!
The void shattered. The swords around him howled, their edges vibrating as if singing a battle hymn. A massive surge of energy descended upon Jian Feng, crashing into his body like a celestial storm.
His spiritual sea roared as golden light flooded his meridians. His bones felt like they were being reforged in molten steel.
The sword fragment in his hand burned—not with heat, but with an unbearable weight, as if it contained the will of countless sword cultivators before him.
Jian Feng felt something awaken within him.
A technique. A path. A legacy lost to time.
---
As Jian Feng's consciousness returned to the underground chamber, his breathing was ragged. The sword fragment was now fused into his palm, its power no longer just an object—but part of him.
Memories that were not his own surged into his mind. The Eternal Sword Technique was unlike anything he had ever practiced before.
Unlike conventional sword techniques that relied on external force, the Eternal Sword was a path that defied the heavens themselves.
It was a cultivation method that fed upon the wielder's will—the stronger the resolve, the sharper the blade.
And its first form—
Heaven-Severing Strike.
Jian Feng's body trembled. If he had possessed this technique in his past life, perhaps… things would have been different.
He clenched his fists. This time, they will be.
With this technique, his path forward had changed forever.
---
Jian Feng sat cross-legged in meditation, guiding the newly awakened sword essence through his meridians.
Unlike before, when his spiritual roots had been weak and unresponsive, his body now absorbed energy at a terrifying rate. The residual power from the Eternal Sword fragment was transforming his foundation.
Hours passed.
Then—BOOM!
A surge of pure qi erupted from within him, shaking the entire chamber. His cultivation, which had been stagnant for years, finally broke through to the First Stage of Qi Refinement!
Jian Feng opened his eyes. A faint golden glow flickered within them. He could feel the difference—his body was lighter, faster, stronger.
He had truly taken his first step.
He exhaled slowly, steadying his thoughts.
This was only the beginning.
Now, it was time to rise.
---
Trivia:
The Concept of Sword Intent (剑意): Sword Intent is a higher understanding of swordsmanship, where a cultivator's will and emotions merge with the blade, allowing them to cut through objects—or even concepts—without direct contact. The strongest Sword Intent can defy the laws of reality.
Qi Refinement Stage: In many cultivation systems, the Qi Refinement realm is the foundation of all future growth. It involves absorbing the world's energy to strengthen the body, meridians, and soul, preparing for higher realms of power.