Chapter 96 - 83: Yuqing Sword Technique Fourth Level
"Yuqing Sword Skill, First Move: Frost," consumed one era of Heavenly Marrow.
"Yuqing Sword Skill, Second Move: Sword Control with Thought," consumed five eras of Heavenly Marrow.
These were the levels Gu Wen had already reached, typically used only for defense and dealing with enemies far weaker than himself. The greatest limitation of the Sword Intent was its huge consumption, making it unsustainable as a regular tactic against enemies. The greatest advantage, however, was its difficulty to defend against.
With Gu Wen’s current strength, he feared no armies and could cope even when deeply entrenched in heavy-armored troops. But when it came to killing efficiency, the Flame Spear was no match for Sword Intent, because heavy armor did offer some defense against spear energy.
A casual spear thrust could break through, but a thread of spear energy from the heart could hardly penetrate fine steel.
Sword Intent does not exist in the material sense; under a single sword strike, all becomes illusion.
Gu Wen had just broken through two levels of the Yuqing Sword Skill, and according to the military classification of their weaponry skill levels, the first three levels dealt with swordsmanship and Sword Qi, focusing on the application and condensation of Sword Intent. From the Fourth Level onward, one enters into the realm of images, then further to gods, and one step further to dharma forms,
Cultivation paths all lead to the same destination; no matter the sect, all ultimately seek the profound mysteries of Daoist Skill, among which turning dead matter into living beings is the most mysterious.
To endow one’s Daoist Skill with spirituality, to turn decay into the miraculous, this is the essence of Intent, God, and Form.
"Yuqing Sword Skill, Third Move: Condense the Heart into a Sword, Hand Without a Sword, Heart as the Sword,"