In the boundless space within the Field of Swords, Feng Yu had arrived before his greatest challenge, a narrow path that reached beyond the haze-filled horizon. On each side had different swords that stood erected, each giving a unique pressure by their towering sword qi, a force that made it feel as if the gravity in the region had increased by an alarming scale.
The thick mist clouded most of his vision, but the lights from the shimmering swords acted like torches that lit the way. Feng Yu peered at this with calm eyes recalling his first time here.
"It's still the same, no... it only feels that way," Feng Yu muttered as he eyed the surroundings as if uninfluenced by the pressuring force that pushed down against him.
As his eyes peered at the pathway, he noticed that shrouded by the haze were different humanoid silhouettes, standing at various positions, each grasping a sword in hand that emanated with energy. It was clear that while traversing the pathway, he would certainly need to withstand their onslaught.
I knew it would change for the Third Phase meant only for candidates, but I'd have failed instantly if I had to do combat while handing this gravity back when I started. Well, no matter, I suppose it's time to begin.
After wrapping up his thoughts, the easy-going look on Feng Yu's face changed to that of a serious one. His hair flowed around him while his dark-colored robes fluttered with the winds brought forth from his rising aura.
In that instant, his cultivation exploded in full power as his aura sent ripples through his surroundings, pushing away most of the haze in a 100-meter region.
When Feng Yu geared up for battle, Uncle Sword, who had manifested in the void, watched the trial from above. His child-like figure sat on his conjured chair as his eyes showed interest.
"Oho, so he's not using his bloodline power. It looks like he learned from his last mistake. Good, this is a trial for the sword, and sword only. Huhu... it won't take external influences lightly. Hmm, what's this? He's calling his sword. I wonder what kind of weapon he's bonded with?"
As Feng Yu could hear his words, he reached his right hand to his side and called out Black Lightning; its edge shimmered in a cold light as it flickered with dark lightning bolts.
Uncle Sword looked at Black Lightning with a tinge of surprise. He spoke to himself, "That sword... to think it possesses the Will of a Lightning Dao Source, and not just any kind, but the most sinister lightning of them all, the Dark Devouring Lightning. Where did he get such a weapon? Who could even craft such a thing?"
Uncle Sword was a bit curious about Black Lightning, but even as he remained intrigued, his eyes widened once more as Feng Yu reached his left hand outward, grasping for another sword.
What! So he's also a dual sword wielder, haha. Is this a curse? Or could it be what so many have called fate? He inwardly exclaimed, his eyes not leaving Feng Yu's arm for a moment, eager to see his second sword.
Soon, the rusted form of Crimson Ember appeared. It brought a slight disorder to the space as it burst into a cluster of sinister purple flames that scorched Feng Yu's hand the moment it appeared.
Feng Yu, who seemed to have expected it, grit his teeth to suppress the pain as he pushed most of his aura towards the weapon, forcing it to cry out like a beast. After a slight struggle between man and sword, calmness reigned as it retracted its wild flames and energy.
Feng Yu sighed as he stared at Crimson Ember with deep eyes with relief on his face. He didn't show any change in expression but pondered to himself.
You really are a pain, I can't even wield you with any ounce of my aura energies, but that's fine. I didn't take you out to use you but to let Uncle Sword have a look beforehand. For now, you can head back until we find a way to deal with that 'bastard' inside.
Not bothering to try his luck any longer, Feng Yu waved his hand, tossing Crimson Ember into his storage ring, before pulling out an average earth-grade sword. His entire aura became sharper with two swords in hand. His Sword Intent vaguely pulsed around his body when he stepped forward and charged through the pathway.
Unlike Feng Yu, who calmly let go of the former scene. Uncle Sword, who originally had a look of curiosity, now looked shocked before his face turned to sternness.
This boy... did he take it out only to show me? Quite an intelligent kid indeed, but I can't blame him. That sword... it is much, much more dangerous than that dark lightning weapon. It is a weapon with two wills, one of the fabled Destruction Dao Flames, a flame even rarer than the Sacred Flames. While the other is from a Divine Incarnation, the question is whose, what being exists within its blade?
Uncle Sword was perplexed, but he decided to wait until the trial's completion before questioning Feng Yu.
After about a day, Feng Yu had already sprinted a fair distance throughout the Path of Swords. Due to his vast increase in cultivation, his speed was now leagues beyond his days in the Body Training realm.
He was now traveling through the 190-kilometer region and was only moments from reaching the 200 out of 500-kilometer limit.
The pressure around him was astounding, but as if it didn't bother him, he darted onward like a bolt of lightning, his figure moving so rapid that he left behind flashes of red lightning streaks. Of course, though it seemed easy, it was undoubtedly far more challenging than how it appeared.
Following a swooshing sound, Feng Yu's ear's perked up as his red pupils glanced towards his left and right in rapid succession, noticing two incoming blurry figures.
In a flash, two humanoid structures appeared. They seemed similar to sword puppets made of stone with a glowing orb embedded in their forehead. Their stony faces had two indifferent eyes that glowed in bright colors as they held onto a sword that emanated with sword qi.
As if they didn't want to waste time, the moment they flanked Feng Yu, they leaped towards him, flashing about due to their high speeds as they chopped out two rays of sword light.
Feng Yu now found himself in the center of two terrifying waves of attacks. He sensed that the power behind both strikes was quite formidable as the cultivation of both of his attackers was also at the Sixth Tier True Foundation realm.
He slashed out his two swords with a pensive look on his face, using them to clash against the incoming energy. Upon contact, one of the sword rays wriggled against his first sword, vibrating as if trying to grind its way through its edge. As for the other. It increased the temperature of the other sword, turning the edge of the second blade red as if placed in a furnace.
I'm only at the start, and yet I must already face two types of Half Step Sword Intents. These sword puppets are no less than me in cultivation, and, along with their incomplete Sword Intent, they have increased their Battle Prestige to quite the degree.
Feng Yu had a slightly more serious look as he felt that the power from both blows just now was about at the Eighth Tier True Foundation realm. Naturally, even without his bloodline, he wouldn't fear such strength due to his inherent power advantages and superior Sword Intent.
As if to not waste any more time, he swung his two swords, repelling the sword rays in the direction of his assaulters. The sword puppets efficiently responded by slicing through their own attacks with their weapons. They then used the momentum from their strikes to push onward to Feng Yu, unphased by the pressures of the trials as they flickered towards him like rays of light.
Their swords swept towards Feng Yu's neck and heart, showing a ruthless intent. Yet, as if Feng Yu didn't mind it, he merely stared on with indifference as his grip on Black Lightning and his second sword increased.
Suddenly, his hair rose upward as a tinge of his Stage One Sword Intent erupted from his body, forcing both Sword Puppets to come to a halt in surprise.
Not even bothering to focus on their change, Feng Yu exhaled lightly, blowing out mist before he leaped forward and did a twist. With a twirling movement, he chopped his swords sideways, leaving behind two horizontal lines of sword qi that ran across the puppet's bodies.
A sharp cutting sound echoed as after a flash of light, his figure appeared a few meters ahead of the sword puppets with his swords held at his sides. The puppets behind him seemed to have been released from their bindings. They prepared to act once again, but a cracking noise sounded from their bodies before they could even move. They then fell apart into two severed pieces from their waist upward.
"It's hard, but not unbeatable. I can clear it even without my bloodline," Feng Yu said with a slight smirk as he glanced behind him for a little while before shaking his head and continuing onward.
In a flash, he used his Thunder Flash Steps to flicker towards the depths of the pathway, quickly crossing the 200-kilometer mark as he ventured onward, ignoring the pressure of the Third Trial.
Uncle Sword nodded in praise as he watched from afar; he couldn't help but comment as he glided up above, casually following behind.
"I was right. He's grasped Stage One Sword Intent; he isn't bad compared to those other talents. Still, I'm curious as to what kind of Intention he's comprehended. Every Intention has its boundary, and if he can grasp one of a top-class, his future will exceed most others. Heh, this kid is making an old thing like me so curious. I suppose I can get to see more when he arrives at 'that' place."
A sly smile came when he recalled what lay much further ahead in the Third Phase. He couldn't help but show a sinister look on his child-like face, creating an odd balance of innocence and mischief as he picked up his pace, gliding into the distance.
∞∞∞
It was already two days since Feng Yu's retreat into the special space. The scene remains as usual as the group easily avoids unnecessary conflict by soaring at the summit of the sky. The chaos only grew more as they flew by many areas locked in battle, but as they were in a hurry, they didn't bother to disturb them.
Miren Fei sat dutifully before Feng Yu's body in meditation. Now and then, she'd open her eyes to sneak a peek, but as she saw he wasn't conscious, she pouted in disappointment.
"Hehe, Sister Fei, what's wrong? Do you miss him so badly?" Tuzi Baoli teased with a mental transmission message.
Miren Fei blushed and glared at her before replying similarly, "Baoli, you better stop teasing me. If you're not careful of your affairs, that big lug Lang Kuang might just run away."
"He dares!" Tuzi Baoli shouted out loud, bringing a startle to the group.
Hui Ying, Dai Lin, and the others couldn't help but cast her a weird look, causing her to lower her head in embarrassment. Miren Fei snickered at this, not saying anything.
Tuzi Baoli bit her lips, glaring at Miren Fei before looking at Lang Kuang, who still sat in peaceful meditation. The latter trembled as if he was on ice. He opened his eyes and looked around but couldn't find the source. He felt perplexed.
"Miss He, how far are we from Easthaven?" Lang Kuang asked to ease his burden.
He Xiu, who now sat at the head of the carpet, opened her eyes to peer out in the distance. The clouds parted before her as she saw the sandy horizon, littered with sparse relics.
"We are still quite far from reaching the halfway point, so maybe around a few thousand kilometers, probably," she replied.
"Tch, that's so far. God, I'm getting bored up here," Lang Kuang complained.
The others paid him no mind, as they didn't seem to care for the distance. The journey seemed to continue to be one without obstruction, but soon, there was an anomaly.
A flash of red flames flickered above Feng Yu with a sharp cry, drawing everyone's attention. There, they saw the formerly hidden vermillion divine bird that had slept within his mental space. Its body was still in its miniature form as it perched upon his shoulders, looking quite adorable, but sadly, its expression was far from sweet and happy.
"Little Red, what's wrong? Why have you come out today?" Miren Fei asked as she reached her hand over to pet Scarlet.
Scarlet didn't receive her gentle gesture. Instead, it flapped its wing and angled its head upward, its eyes gazing at the dark clouds as it cried out, "Kaw!"
Miren Fei was confused at first, but soon, her face turned stern as she stared upward with an icy look. Even He Xiu, who controlled the carpet, couldn't bit knit her brows, casting her slights above.
"Looks like we've got company," Lang Kuang said as he cracked his knuckles, smiling.
"Haha, there's nothing better than a good battle to stretch one's muscles, isn't that so, Brother Lang?" Kong Jintian said as he cricked his neck muscles.
"Indeed," Lang Kuang responded with lively eyes.
Tuzi Baoli frowned at this, she wanted to laze around more, but it was only her wish. Unlike her, Toram and Tira also faced upward, sniffing with their noses; a dark power flowed over them as even Tiana had already taken out her daggers, sharpening their edge.
"Leon, how many did you count?" Myria asked as she leisurely floated on her misty cloud.
"About ten, what of it? Is there more?" Leon asked Myria curiously.
Myria had a smug look as she replied, "My senses tell me of dozens, and they're quite the bunch, I must say."
"Is that so? Heh, well, looks like we can have some fun," Leon replied as he grasped the handle of his Bright Hammer.
Hui Ying looked on in silence; he didn't intend to make a move until it was necessary. Dai Lin, who overlooked the situation, finally spoke, "They're coming. Ready yourselves."
"Right," the others responded as the air grew tense, shifting to a battle-ready scene.
In seconds, the clouds above parted as a series of bird cries sounded, followed by dozens of armored Desert Eagles. A group of men in dark uniforms were on their backs, their mouths covered by wrappings as they sported large curved sharp blades on their backs. A few even wielded unique bows with glowing arrows.
At their head was a person dressed similarly; the only difference was that he wore the Bandit Union crest on his uniform, his bearded face rough-looking as his stature was a bit bigger than most. If one looked at his bulky arms, one would see five blade-shaped disks that gleamed sharply.
When he arrived, he pointed toward the Void Rending Carpet, his eyes cold as he spoke with a sneer. "High Elder Yu was correct in his judgment, they would surely be passing one of these routes, and as we've found them, we are the lucky batch. Death Brigade, here my command! Surround the enemy and destroy them!"
"Yes, Brigade Leader!" The other Bandit Union Death Brigade members yelled as they controlled their Desert Eagles.
The eagles flapped their wings with sonorous roars, descending through the air as the bandits on their backs carried cold and ruthless expressions. It was a scene that would spell doom to many, but sadly, that was only the case for the ordinary group.
"Heh, shall we get down business," Dai Lin said with a flicker of lightning in his eyes, his body soon after exploding with his thunderous energy.
A series of colorful lightslit up the sky as everyone had unveiled their auras. The change startled theheavens and brightened the earth as they prepared to face their adversaries.
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