Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

The Sword Net fell, crackling with Thunder Arcs, its aura overwhelming.

In a flash, seven swords converged to form a net that crashed down, leaving no room to escape.

Thunderbolt Piercing Clouds!

After unleashing the seven swords, Cheng Xianwu struck again.

This sword, however, pierced straight through the Void, aiming directly for Ling Fei's heart.

Clearly, this move was the follow-up to the Thunder Sword Net Transformation. The two were linked, designed to overwhelm an opponent and secure a swift defeat.

"The Thundercloud Thirteen Techniques! That's Senior Brother Cheng's signature art!"

"Such a relentless, unending assault... his opponent will be drowned in Thunder Essence. Once the Thunder Essence makes contact and disrupts his offense even slightly, defeat is certain. Ling Fei must have never witnessed the power of Senior Brother Cheng's Thundercloud Thirteen Techniques to dare fight him in close quarters. I'm afraid this is as far as he'll go in this spar."

The Cultivators below the stage broke into discussion.

"For Ling Fei to have this much skill is already quite impressive, considering he's just a Pill Master." Of course, others agreed.

In their eyes, it was a feat in itself that Ling Fei could even exchange a few moves with Cheng Xianwu.

After all, many among their sect dreaded facing the Thunder Sword.

'One attack is followed by another, relentless, with no chance to breathe. But my Sword Momentum is all about pressing forward without pause. I don't need to catch my breath. No matter how many follow-up moves he has, they're useless against me. I only need a single sword strike, one with unstoppable forward momentum, to press him until he has no moves left.'

His opponent's Sword Momentum was fierce and the air was thick with Thunder Essence, which carried a peculiar Power. Yet, Ling Fei's resolve only hardened, his gaze becoming incredibly clear.

His Heart Spirit was in a state of near-perfect clarity.

In his eyes, there was only his opponent.

In his heart, there was only that unstoppable forward Sword Momentum!

His earlier hesitation and apprehension had long since vanished like smoke.

Kill!

A glint flashed in Ling Fei's eyes. His Long Sword moved, slashing forward, almost completely ignoring the Sword Net descending from above.

At this moment, Ling Fei's entire Essence, Qi, and Spirit were focused into his sword.

Ling Fei was no longer deliberately channeling the True Dragon Mystical Technique, nor was he intentionally using any Sword Forms.

All that remained was a single, simple sword strike.

It was as if he had forgotten all the Mystical Techniques he had ever learned.

At this moment, Ling Fei's sword moved with his heart, flowed with his will, reaching a profound and wondrous Realm.

SWOOSH!

A flash of sword light from Ling Fei streaked across the Void like a graceful arc. It seemed to move slowly, but by the time one could admire its beauty, it had already crossed the distance, torn through the obstructing Sword Net, and, under the watchful gaze of the crowd, clashed with Cheng Xianwu's thrust.

Wherever the sword light passed, it ripped apart the Thunder Essence Sword Qi pouring from Cheng Xianwu's blade.

TING!

The tip of his blade then landed on Cheng Xianwu's Long Sword. A crisp sound rang out, as beautiful and moving as a musical note. But as the crowd was lost in the sound, Cheng Xianwu's wrist trembled. The Long Sword flew from his grasp as if from a heavy blow.

His opponent disarmed, Ling Fei's Sword Momentum shifted, and his blade swept toward Cheng Xianwu.

It was still the same simple, graceful strike.

But as the blade swept by, Cheng Xianwu felt as if he were suffocating.

A terrifying Sword Momentum enveloped him.

"This... How did his sword suddenly become so powerful?" Cheng Xianwu's eyes widened in astonishment.

At the same time, he shot backward in retreat.

"The sword moves with the heart. Ling Fei has found his Sword Heart." Below the stage, a glint flashed in Zhou Jian's eyes; he had understood Ling Fei's situation at a glance.

"'The sword moves with the heart? He found his Sword Heart?'" Hearing this, Huang Ping's brow furrowed. "A Sword Cultivator first comprehends Sword Momentum, then grasps Sword Intent, and finally masters it," he murmured. "Only by truly finding one's Sword Heart can they condense a Sword Intent Seed. Ling Fei actually found his Sword Heart in such a short amount of time?!"

"Once you find your Sword Heart, you can condense a Sword Intent Seed. At that point, you're considered a true expert of the Sword Dao!" Many disciples of the Martial Vein looked on with envy.

Without condensing a Sword Intent Seed, one could not be called an expert of the Sword Dao.

Nor could one advance any further on the path of the Sword Dao.

"Haha, to find one's Sword Heart in the middle of a battle is a rare feat. It seems this Ling Fei is a man of resolute character," Peak Master Cheng said with a smile.

"If his will weren't so firm, how could he have ever fused with the Celestial Fire?" Grand Alchemist Yuan Chun added with a smile.

"Indeed. Ling Fei's talent is extremely high. Combined with his mentality, it won't be difficult for him to become a powerhouse," Yuan Lang the Pill Master said, also smiling.

He was now filled with anticipation for Ling Fei's future on the path of Martial Arts.

Now, all that remained was to see just how far the young man's talent could take him.

At that moment, on the stage, Ling Fei slashed out, forcing Cheng Xianwu into a continuous retreat.

At the same time, endless Thunder Essence erupted from Cheng Xianwu's body, flowing around him like a Sword River in an attempt to shield himself.

SWOOSH!

But by the time the river of Thunder Essence had formed around him, Ling Fei's sword had already torn it asunder.

However, a glint appeared in Cheng Xianwu's eyes. The Thunder Essence Sword Qi inside him roared and transformed into countless blades of light that shot toward Ling Fei.

After mastering Sword Intent, experts of the Sword Dao could reach a state where their Willpower could manifest the Gang Yuan Sword Formation.

In moments of crisis, it allowed them to escape danger.

But...

Facing such a powerful attack, Ling Fei showed no sign of stopping.

His sword light cut through the Void, shattering the streams of Thunderous Sword Light one by one.

BANG! BANG!

Wherever his Sword Qi passed, the nearby Thunder Swords shattered.

Thus, the crowd watched as Ling Fei's sword drew ever closer to Cheng Xianwu.

Cheng Xianwu now clearly had no strength left to resist.

"This..." Seeing this, everyone below the stage was stunned.

Cheng Xianwu was now at a complete disadvantage!

"I... I concede!" As the blade of light slashed toward him, Cheng Xianwu could only concede, his face a mask of helplessness.

He had been full of confidence when the duel began, but the combat power Ling Fei had just unleashed far surpassed his own.

WHOOSH!

When Cheng Xianwu's concession reached his ears, Ling Fei's Heart Spirit stirred, and he finally withdrew from that state of unstoppable momentum.

At the same time, his Sword Momentum faltered.

'The sword must press ever forward; the heart must be without fear.' His Sword Momentum paused, and Ling Fei stood still. A wise light shone in his eyes as his Heart Spirit continued to experience the feeling, the enlightenment, from moments before, gradually etching it into his very being.

'Miss Yurou once said that a Sword Cultivator can only condense a Sword Dao Seed and become a master of the Sword Dao after finding their Sword Heart. I was lacking that Sword Heart before, buzzing around like a lost fly trapped within its own world. Naturally, I was unable to condense a Sword Intent Seed.'

At this moment, Ling Fei's many previous points of confusion became crystal clear.

His understanding of the Sword Dao had clearly reached a new Realm.

"Ling the Pill Master is truly a genius. I am utterly convinced by my defeat today," Cheng Xianwu said, taking a deep breath and clasping his fists.

He was truly and utterly convinced; the arrogance he had shown Ling Fei earlier was completely gone.

"You're too kind. Brother Cheng, your Thunder Sword is also overwhelmingly powerful and truly intimidating. With another step forward, you will surely become a great expert of the Sword Dao," Ling Fei replied, clasping his fists as well.

The power of the Thunder Sword was truly unforgettable.

If he hadn't suddenly found his Sword Heart, winning would not have been so easy.

"Another step forward?" Cheng Xianwu's gaze sharpened as he muttered, "Indeed, it's time I took another step forward."

He too had gained much from this battle.