Chapter 475: Fifth Level of Sword Intent
While Yu Nianzhen was considering his options, he suddenly thought of his falling meteor sword art.
Since the challenge began, he frequently tried the falling meteor sword art but failed to defeat the opponent’s defence.
However, what caught Yu Nianzhen’s attention wasn’t the sword art itself but the idea behind it.
The rationale behind falling meteor was focusing power and attacking a small point of an opponent’s defence.
Although the falling meteor sword art was not powerful enough to break the diamond jade crystal defence, it gave Yu Nianzhen a starting point.
’What I need is a more focused attack.’ He thought.
Unfortunately, an idea was different from a solution.
Even with the idea, he still couldn’t think of a way to deal with the defence.
When Yu Nianzhen was at a loss, he remembered a conversation from more than five hundred years ago.
Back then, he and Jiang Yue went to the Ice Palace sect region to participate in the martial conference.
During their stay at an inn in Ice Palace City, Yu Nianzhen met a mysterious swordsman surnamed Zhen.
The swordsman guided him for a while, which helped Yu Nianzhen realise a more perfect sword domain.
Unfortunately, time was limited, and many things were left unsaid.
However, the swordsman once mentioned the levels of sword intent.
The first level was comprehending sword intent, and the second was condensing a sword seed.
For a sword cultivator, the sword seed was the bridge between his swordsmanship and the way of heaven. Without condensing a sword seed, a sword cultivator couldn’t seek the way of the sword.
After condensing a sword seed, it was easy to generate a sword domain in line with the way of heaven.
However, this was not the end of sword intent.
Back then, the swordsman also mentioned the fourth level of sword intent.
The fourth level was the domain sword.
Once a swordsman achieved this level, they could turn everything around them into a sword.
Although Yu Nianzhen had achieved this level, his mastery wasn’t perfect.
If his mastery of the fourth level of sword intent was more accomplished, he could turn Yu Shi’s defence into a sword and use it against him.
Unfortunately, that was currently out of the question.
With such awareness, Yu Nianzhen didn’t plan to do useless work.
Instead, he began focusing on the fifth level of sword intent.
According to the swordsman surnamed Zhen, none of the Cangxing sword cultivators had achieved the fifth level of sword intent.
However, Yu Nianzhen learned about it from a manual he found on the sealed battlefield.
From the manual, the fifth level of sword intent was the union of man and sword.
The union of man and sword produced an extremely domineering penetrative power.
If the manual was to be believed, it was the kind of penetrative force that could break a diamond jade crystal defence.
However, Yu Nianzhen had never tried it.
’I know the theory, but my swordsmanship and sword intent levels aren’t high enough. If I try it now, I may be injured, and the power I produce is not guaranteed.’ He thought.
’However, if I don’t try it, I will have to reveal my sword world and natal sword, which will put me at a disadvantage in the long run.’
’Most importantly, I can’t continue to waste time.’ Yu Nianzhen thought and immediately decided to try the union of man and sword.
’It would be good if sword master Zhen was here to guide me.’ He thought but was soon frozen in surprise.
Just then, he realised he had never seen sword master Zhen since they separated in Ice Palace City.
"Did he die in the Death Flower Ascension Front war?" Yu Nianzhen couldn’t help but wonder.
However, he soon focused his thoughts.
Although he felt it was a pity, life was impermanent.
Cultivators were against heaven and often died in unexpected ways.
The only thing he could do for Senior Zhen was heed his teachings and continue to work hard.
"Stand up." A spectator shouted angrily.
"What kind of fight is this? One hasn’t made a move and has been meditating since he stepped on the martial stage, and the other is attacking for a while and meditating for a while."
"Fellow Daoist Yu Shi is like an immovable vajra. His defence is too strong."
"Will mountain master Yu find a way to break the defence, or will the immovable vajra remain unmoved?"
"Mountain master Yu has held on for more than thirty years. If he loses now, no one will look down on him."
"Fellow Daoist Yu is a sixth-level reincarnation realm cultivator. Although his cultivation is suppressed, some things can’t be suppressed. It’s not unjust for mountain master Yu to lose to him."
"Are you so convinced the mountain master will lose? I still think he will win."
"What’s the use of being stubborn? Cangxing mountain master Yu can’t get past this hurdle."
"Who says he can’t? How many times have we doubted him, and when didn’t he slap us in the face? I have decided to never doubt mountain master Yu."
"Are you making sense? This fellow Daoist, please be reasonable."
"Is being reasonable worth spirit stones? I am going to support mountain master Yu."
"These female cultivators have lost their mind." A spectator muttered but had to shut up when one of the female cultivators who had ’lost their mind’ glared at him.
"Mountain master Yu seems to have thought of something." Someone said with barely concealed excitement.
On the martial stage, Yu Nianzhen had stopped meditating and was looking at Yu Shi, who still had his eyes closed.
"I have been wondering, doesn’t mountain master Yu have a proper sword?" A spectator suddenly asked.
This question was like throwing a rock into a stagnant pool.
It produced crazy ripples, and several voices rose up in discussion.
"Mountain master Yu is an accomplished swordsman who has comprehended sword intent. There is no way he doesn’t have a proper sword."
"At his level, he should have a natal sword." Another said.
"In that case, why is he using a wooden sword?"
"Are you stupid? He has been fighting for more than thirty years but hasn’t used a proper sword. Doesn’t it mean he has yet to use his full strength?"
"I don’t believe that. Mountain master Yu has almost died numerous times. If he was still hiding his strength, why didn’t he reveal it at those times?"
"You don’t know, swordsmen are insane. Their minds work in strange ways."
"Which of us doesn’t have armour and a shield, but look at sword cultivators..., how many wear armour and carry shields? Aren’t they all about using one sword to cut all defences? I can believe that mountain master Yu is still hiding his strength."
"There is another point." A spectator said in a solemn voice.
"What point?" Someone asked.
"Mountain master Yu has comprehended sword intent, and his level is not low. However, he has yet to use a sword domain. Even if he hasn’t comprehended the domain sword, I don’t believe he hasn’t generated a sword domain."
"This fellow Daoist has a point. It seems mountain master Yu is hiding more than we realised."
"As expected of mountain master Yu." Someone said, and no one argued.
Although the ordinary spectators just began to see Yu Nianzhen’s depths, most of the accomplished sword cultivators had long realised that the Cangxing mountain master was hiding deeply.
It was because of this they didn’t rush to challenge the man.
Instead, they chose to bide their time to wait for the best opportunity to challenge Yu Nianzhen.
However, it was not because they were scared and wanted to catch Yu Nianzhen at a disadvantage.
It was because they wanted a hearty fight.
Until Yu Nianzhen revealed his true strength, these sword cultivators would continue to wait on the sidelines.
In this way, they could have a good fight and leave no regrets.
"Mountain master Yu, do you have something to say?" Yu Shi suddenly asked.
Even with his eyes closed, he could feel Yu Nianzhen’s gaze.
Most importantly, the swordsman exuded a sort of assurance that had been absent since their fight began.
’What is he planning?’ Yu Shi couldn’t help but wonder.
However, none of his thoughts showed on his face.
No matter what Yu Nianzhen did, Yu Shi was assured of his defence.
If he didn’t take the initiative to weaken himself, he didn’t believe the Cangxing mountain master would break his defence.
"Fellow Daoist Yu should get ready; I am about to end the fight." Yu Nianzhen suddenly said, and the crowd went silent.
No one expected to hear such domineering words.
After all, they had all seen how Yu Nianzhen struggled in the past few days.
"Has he found a way?" Someone asked, confusion etched on his face.
"Even if he has, there is a chance it might not work. How can he be so arrogant?"
"This is mountain master Yu’s style. He is domineering and crushes his opponents with absolute strength."
"He is just an arrogant frog who doesn’t know the height of the world." A male cultivator sneered.
Hearing that, a female cultivator snorted, and her eyes filled with mockery.
"You are the frog." She said and arrogantly turned to look at Yu Nianzhen on the martial arts stage.
