Chapter 384 - 178: Divine Demons, True Masters, and Arhats as Food to Cultivate the Supreme True Intent; A Helping Hand and an Inhuman Act

Chapter 384: Chapter 178: Divine Demons, True Masters, and Arhats as Food to Cultivate the Supreme True Intent; A Helping Hand and an Inhuman Act

HUFF! HUFF!!

A Sword Intent like a violent gale and furious waves erupted, creating an aura that seemed capable of tearing everything apart. A visceral, heart-pounding terror instantly welled up from deep within Ji Xiu.

It was no exaggeration to say.

That dense Sword Intent, with its crisscrossing strands tearing through the air, completely enveloped the entire Sword Casting Platform...

If any Powerful Martial Artist or Qi Cultivation Grandmaster were caught in its core,

they would have been shredded to pieces in an instant. The entire scene was like the most terrifying meat grinder imaginable!

But Chen He reacted even faster.

In the same instant that Xu Longxiang launched his surprise attack on Ancestral Master Wang Xuanyang, Chen He, sensing that something was wrong, reacted. His muscles bulged, his back straightened once more, and with a resonant CRACK! CRACK! from his spine, he shot to his feet!

With unparalleled power, Chen He braced himself against the mountain-like pressure. As if grabbing baby chicks, he snatched up his first disciple, Qin Zhuo, and his third disciple, Yuu Zhai, tucking one under each arm.

Then, grabbing Ji Xiu beside him, he took a great leap and frantically retreated to the front of the Ancestral Hall, barely escaping the clash of the ’Sword Domain’ at the center!

Even so, the surrounding giant trees and stone steles were sliced to bits, shattering into a ceaseless spray of wood chips and stone fragments!

"Master, save me! Master... I was wrong!"

The Purple Mist Disciples who had been present were already scared out of their wits. They had fled long ago, not daring to linger, ever since Xu Longxiang beat Weii Changkong until he coughed up blood and declared the end of their School.

The only one left on the field was Qiao Qi—the Celestial Blade Rebel from the Tea Lineage—whom Ji Xiu had swiftly captured.

As Wang Xuanyang erupted with Sword Intent, forming a ’Sword Domain’ that completely enveloped the Sword Casting Platform,

Ji Xiu, Qin Zhuo, and the others had been whisked out of the danger zone by the quick-reacting Chen He.

Only Qiao Qi remained. He could only watch helplessly as he was completely enveloped by the dense, overflowing Sword Qi. A chill ran through him, paralyzing him, and he couldn’t help but look at Chen He, his heart filled with terror.

But by then, Chen He was already standing before the Ancestral Hall. His gaze was cold; he didn’t even spare him a glance.

A moment later, Qiao Qi’s figure was completely submerged, leaving not even a speck of dust behind.

Only then did Chen He’s expression finally grow complicated.

"Your Ancestral Master’s Sword Dao Attainment... his realm is already heaven-reaching."

"Your Master probably just sensed something was amiss and wanted to test the waters. I doubt even he expected it to cause such a commotion."

Ji Xiu, still reeling from the situation, couldn’t help but ask:

"Senior Master, what do you mean?"

Gazing at the field, now completely shrouded by the ’Martial Saint True Intent’ and the ’Domain of Sword Qi’ and impossible to see into, Chen He deliberated for a long moment. As if he had made a decision, he slowly began to speak:

"Just as Cultivation has the ’Nine Great Limits,’ the Martial Arts of swords and sabers also have higher and lower levels. They often complement one’s Cultivation."

"Sword Force, Sword Stance, and Sword Gang—these are the ’Mortal Blade.’"

"Even if you learn a Secret Martial art and master the three levels of Grandmaster, School-Founding, and True Sect, you have merely entered the hall of mastery."

"But in this vast world, you still couldn’t be called top-tier. At most, you’d only be a pillar of the mainstream."

"But..."

"If you can take one more step beyond that!"

"You will have achieved an ’Ultimate Skill’!"

As Chen He said this, his eyes burned with intensity.

This reminded Ji Xiu of his own ’Martial Saint Plaque,’ which contained the remnants of a so-called ’Ultimate Skill.’

"What is an ’Ultimate Skill’?"

Ji Xiu couldn’t help but ask.

"To break through to the Dragon and Tiger Realm, you need both your ’Divine Soul’ and your physical body to reach their peak. You must cultivate both spirit and essence to their absolute limit."

"I have been building my strength for many years and have reached the Peak of Leakless. The reason I have yet to form the Dragon and Tiger Qi is because my Divine Soul attainment is insufficient."

"An Ultimate Skill, on the other hand, is something only an expert of the Dragon Tiger Realm can even begin to research."

"If a Dragon Tiger Expert can comprehend a ’Martial Saint’s Ultimate Skill,’ it is equivalent to possessing the foundation for a Title."

"In other words, a Martial Saint’s Ultimate Skill itself represents a Martial Artist’s most fervent conviction, also known as a ’Martial Dao Will.’"

"If you can cultivate your own ’Martial Dao Will’..."

"...then from that day forward, even if your body and Divine Soul are utterly annihilated, as long as a remnant of your Will survives and lingers between Heaven and Earth, you might one day be able to return!"

Chen He didn’t elaborate further, but his meaning was already crystal clear.

In other words, what he was saying was...

’Ancestral Master has already cultivated his Sword Intent to the level of a ’Martial Saint’s Ultimate Skill’ and has given rise to his own ’Martial Dao Will’!’

’So even though he isn’t lucid and is in a confused state, he was still able to instinctively resist the moment the Dragon Elephant Martial Saint struck!’

The speaker may have been unintentional, but the listener read deep into his words.

Ji Xiu subconsciously reached up to touch the Sword Plaque on his back. A storm raged in his heart, and the corner of his mouth twitched...

’A Martial Saint’s Ultimate Skill... it isn’t some kind of True Skill, but rather...’

’...the Martial Dao Will left behind by a Martial Saint!?’

’So I can even get an advance on something like this?!’

’Compared to that, requirements like mastering the Great Five Decline Celestial Saber and fulfilling some kind of contract or condition all seem insignificant.’

The concept represented by the Ultimate Skill and the Martial Saint True Intent was even more shocking to him.

’If one really reaches that level...’

’...then how is that any different from an alternate form of being ’Immortal and Undying’!?’

"Senior Master, are you saying that for Senior Chen Danding, since a remnant of his Martial Saint True Intent still exists, there’s a chance in the future that...?"

Before he could finish, Chen He gave a wry laugh, his expression then turning melancholic.

"It’s easy to say, but it’s nowhere near that simple."