Chapter 168: Legacy of the Sword Heart (14)

"Lucent Sword Heart?"

The Demigod's two consecutive exclamations instantly made Ji Liushuang the center of attention once more.

Not only had she comprehended it so early, but her type of sword intent was the kind that would even astound the Dean. She truly lived up to the title of genius!

And her performance over the past two days... thinking about it now, she had been keeping far too low a profile!

Many people subconsciously turned to look at Yuan Xin.

The difference in their levels was immediately obvious.

'Girl, the name of your technique is quite dangerous!'

Fu Qian studied Ji Liushuang as well, musing inwardly.

'However, it is also very fitting.'

Clear, transparent, and completely unbeguiled—she had seen straight through his disguise at a glance.

He could only say that she was looking more and more like his target.

Of course, the prime suspect was still Li Weixuan.

Fu Qian cast a glance at the newly advanced Demigod.

He hadn't advanced a moment sooner or later, choosing to level up right as Fu Qian was executing his mission. Based on past task experience, it was hard to say this was unrelated.

Still, even a task runner had to be reasonable. Indiscriminate killing was not his style.

At present, neither Li Weixuan nor Ji Liushuang appeared to be heinous villains; he saw no immediate need for containment.

Instead, it was the now-dead Ruan Shuo who had caused the most bloodshed.

'For now, I will be quietly observing changes, ready to deliver a fatal strike at any moment.'

Fu Qian swiftly formulated his action strategy.

...

"Listen to me."

Having finished expressing his sentiments, Li Weixuan turned to face the crowd.

"During my absence, you all did very well—better than I expected."

"I am delighted to see the students of my Sword Comprehension Institute so driven and eager to improve."

"Comprehending sword intent can be encountered but not sought. It is often a combination of understanding and fortuitous timing, so those who haven't grasped it yet should not lose heart."

"I believe that everyone has gained some insights over the past few days. Later today, after I finish digesting the gains from my advancement, I will share some of my own comprehensions here for your reference."

What an excellent teacher! The very first thing he did after advancing was hold a major lecture.

Fu Qian quite admired Li Weixuan's dedication, glancing at Ji Liushuang in passing.

'Teacher Li gains a point. You need to work harder, girl.'

The moment Li Weixuan finished speaking, the surroundings instantly erupted into thunderous cheers.

Although it was a pity that their sword comprehension had been interrupted, having the opportunity to listen to a Demigod share his insights made it completely worthwhile!

...

The news of Li Weixuan emerging from seclusion undoubtedly caused a massive sensation across the Academy.

Having meditated in isolation for a long time and breaking through to the Demigod Realm in a single stroke, his ascension as the Academy's next Dean was an absolute certainty.

And he was going to publicly share his cultivation insights?

Before the sky even turned dark, the area outside the Sword Pavilion was already teeming with people.

Li Weixuan had specifically emphasized that this session was not limited to the Sword Comprehension Institute; all members of the Academy were welcome to attend.

Thus, people rushed over from almost every branch. Fu Qian even spotted the assorted oddities from the Apocalypse Branch.

Evidently, a living Demigod was far more attractive than a Demigod's corpse.

...

"It seems you won't be taking in that student after all!"

On the outskirts of the Sword Pavilion, Naya, dressed in casual clothes, smilingly poked fun at Fu Qian.

"Given the current situation, you had better lay low. The Sword Comprehension Institute just gained a newly advanced Demigod, and it's impossible for Li Weixuan to return without hearing about what you've done."

"Although the hearing ultimately determined that your actions were appropriate, you did beat and kill people from the Sword Comprehension Institute. I'm afraid it will be very difficult for him to have a favorable impression of you."

"Uh-huh!"

Fu Qian remained noncommittal to Naya's advice, casually surveying the vicinity on his own.

Li Weixuan hadn't been in a hurry to have anyone collect the ring of swords surrounding the Sword Pavilion. Instead, he left them planted where they were, forming a massive circle around the structure.

Even though the lecture hadn't officially started, the interior of the sword circle was already packed with students from the Sword Comprehension Institute.

People from the other branches had nothing to complain about regarding this, simply gathering around the outer edge of the sword circle.

Meanwhile, a temporary platform had been erected atop the Sword Pavilion for Li Weixuan to use shortly.

"Isn't this Professor Fu Qian?"

Right at that moment, an uninvited guest sauntered over.

Jian Jingzheng had completely swept away his previous lethargy; his tone was brimming with the exhilarating relief of finally being vindicated.

With all the members of the Sword Comprehension Institute inside the sword formation, this man had obviously gone out of his way to find him. It seemed he had been suppressing quite a bit of frustration earlier.

"I thought a great talent scout like you wouldn't have time to attend."

"Among three people walking together, there is always one who can be my teacher. A Demigod's cultivation insights are extremely precious."

Facing Jian Jingzheng's sarcasm, Fu Qian replied casually.

'Not attend? Are you joking?'

Li Weixuan's public sharing of insights had gathered practically every potential target in one place. How could he possibly miss such a perfect opportunity for observation?

Theoretically speaking, if he just tossed a weapon of mass destruction into the center of the sword formation later, his task would be guaranteed to be completed.

At that moment, thunderous cheers erupted from the front as Li Weixuan's figure appeared atop the Sword Pavilion.

With the gentle evening breeze blowing, Li Weixuan sat casually, his robes fluttering around him. He looked just like an immortal descending from the heavens.

He didn't waste any time. After signaling for the students to quiet down, he immediately began to recount the results of his recent closed-door cultivation.

The comprehension of cultivation, the tempering of sword intent.

Abandoning obsessions, holding fast to one's original heart.

Overall, this was indeed a highly refined cultivation method, devoid of any extreme or unorthodox elements.

The students listened, enraptured, while Fu Qian simply frowned.

'No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem like an evil technique at all!'

Reaching an exciting point in his lecture, Li Weixuan casually waved his hand. A mottled longsword from the sword circle flew up and landed straight into his grasp.

The next moment, the rust-covered ancient sword let out a sharp hum as lightning flickered across its blade.

Although it wasn't his own intrinsic sword intent, as a Demigod, Li Weixuan could easily capture the lingering aura on the sword—the very thing the students had been trying to comprehend—and stimulate it for all to see.

This sight set the students' hearts racing, leaving them completely invigorated.

Casually tossing the longsword aside, Li Weixuan beckoned again, and another sword flew over.

...

With every successive stimulation of sword intent, Fu Qian noticed that the crowd from the Sword Comprehension Institute was also undergoing a continuous transformation.

For those who had already comprehended their sword intent, their auras rapidly became pure and condensed. Even Ji Liushuang grew increasingly ethereal.

Even the students who had yet to grasp sword intent had faint ripples of mental energy surging around them.

For a time, the entire sword formation was filled with brilliant, diverse displays of power.

'Full of youthful vigor, and their unity of will forms a fortress!'

Fu Qian watched, sighing with emotion.

The motivational effect of a Demigod was simply too strong!

Wait!

The very next moment, Fu Qian's brow furrowed slightly as he tried to grasp a fleeting flash of inspiration—a highly bizarre thought.

Taking a deep breath, Fu Qian raised his head and looked at the members of the Sword Comprehension Institute once more.

Was it possible...

That the Legacy of the Sword Heart wasn't Li Weixuan, wasn't Ji Liushuang, and wasn't any single person who had comprehended sword intent?

But rather, it referred to this very scene unfolding before his eyes?

Everyone was performing their own actions and everyone had their own thoughts, yet they were entirely unified.

The Legacy of the Sword Heart was what manifested after they all gathered together.

It was also the concept of sword intent itself.

Every person who comprehended sword intent was a bee, and the Legacy of the Sword Heart was like the Swarm.

It would expand and it would grow, yet it wasn't any specific, individual bee.

Therefore, the death of any single individual would not affect its existence.

The instant this thought entered his mind, Fu Qian realized that Ji Liushuang had turned her head back from within the crowd, her eyes completely empty and hollow.