Chapter 27: Rudimentary Sword Intent

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Rudimentary Sword Intent

For the first time, the flat-chested loli was completely lost, questioning her very existence.

Soul Beasts possessed Soul Energy Skills, making them far stronger than ordinary Secret Realm Creatures. If nothing else, within this secret realm, one was worth as much as a Soul Energy Item or a piece of equipment.

After all, turning in the corpse of a Soul Beast was enough to gain entry to a settlement for rest.

But all of that had been settled by a single strike from Li Heng!

Bai Shasha’s thoughts were in turmoil.

As for Li Heng, after he slew the Frost Spider, his Cyan Blade Longsword hung loosely at his side. The "craving" in his heart had not dissipated with the spider’s death. At the same time, his mind was still replaying the transformation of his last sword move and its incredible speed.

The more he replayed it, the more Li Heng felt he was lacking something. But he had already exhausted all the potential of his basic Swordsmanship; there was nothing more to be gained from it.

Unless he learned a new style of Swordsmanship!

’Otherwise... situations like the one just now—where the sword takes the lead, swinging into action before my mind even has a chance to think—will only happen more and more!’

At this thought, Li Heng suddenly understood what he was craving—a new style of Swordsmanship.

’To get faster and stronger, I have to keep learning the sword!’

[DING! Your comprehension of Rudimentary Sword Intent +1]

’Wait! That’s it? This is Rudimentary Sword Intent?’

Li Heng had always been filled with curiosity and reverence for the term "Sword Intent". When he first transmigrated, he chose to practice basic Swordsmanship simply because he thought swords were the coolest.

’But now, I’ve comprehended Sword Intent just by wanting to learn and master a new style of Swordsmanship?!’

’Isn’t that a bit anticlimactic?’

But despite his inner complaints, Li Heng was very happy. This meant his strength had likely improved again, and in the rather mysterious direction of Sword Intent.

"Li Heng! I couldn’t help at all this time. I’m sorry, I held you back."

Just as Li Heng was calming down and savoring his joy, Bai Shasha suddenly walked over. With utmost sincerity and gravity, she lowered her head and apologized.

The flat-chested loli’s voice pulled Li Heng’s attention back to the present.

Hearing Bai Shasha’s apology, Li Heng didn’t think she had anything to apologize for. In truth, he had just gotten lucky, suddenly reaching a state of "Rudimentary Sword Intent" that allowed for a one-hit kill. Otherwise, they would have certainly had to fight it out for a while.

Besides, this was a Soul Beast that used poison. Li Heng was already in the Soul Pupil Realm, and he only dared to attack directly because his strength and agility were higher than the Frost Spider’s. Otherwise, with 13 agility and a poison attack, who could possibly handle that?

Li Heng completely understood the flat-chested loli’s situation. After all, Bai Shasha wasn’t even in the Soul Pupil Realm yet. Expecting her to react instantly was asking too much.

"Don’t worry about that. We’re a team! As for this spider, even though it didn’t drop anything, it should count as a Soul Beast. We can take it to the settlement later."

Seeing Li Heng’s magnanimous attitude, Bai Shasha didn’t dwell on it. She picked up the dead Frost Spider from the ground and used a leg strap to tie it to her school uniform trousers.

While Bai Shasha was tying up the Frost Spider, Li Heng put his Cyan Blade Longsword back into his Space Stone and took out his standard-issue exam Longsword.

Finding it a hassle to keep switching weapons, Li Heng decided he would put on an act the next time they encountered a Soul Beast, creating a pretext to officially use the Cyan Blade Longsword from then on.

After collecting themselves, the two set off once more.

Bai Shasha didn’t ask Li Heng how he had just executed that incredible sword move. Although she was curious, she chose to respect his silence and didn’t press the matter.

’Besides, there’s no need to overthink it. It must be the result of his own hard work.’ Bai Shasha just couldn’t imagine what kind of effort, what kind of training, could lead to such rapid progress!

’The growing gap between me and Li Heng must be because I’m not trying hard enough!’ she thought with increasing conviction.

And so, after a moment of quick reflection, Bai Shasha set a small goal for herself: she would break through to the Soul Pupil Realm during this trip to the Falling Flood Dragon Icefield Secret Realm!

Li Heng was oblivious to the fact that the flat-chested loli beside him was busy creating her own internal drama. He simply continued to cautiously explore the Icefield, remaining on high alert.

Based on their encounter with the Frost Spider, Li Heng figured that getting a good score on this secret realm’s mock college entrance exam was not going to be easy.

A Soul Beast with relatively high stats had appeared in the very first area. On top of that, Li Heng was very eager to see if he could find a Dungeon in this secret realm.

Drawing on his experience from recording Wolf King Mountain, Li Heng speculated that the "recording point" was likely in the Ice Lake District.

This was a vast Icefield, and now Soul Beasts had appeared. If the Icefield Area was populated exclusively by Soul Beasts, then the journey to the Ice Lake District would be incredibly difficult.

However, this apprehension didn’t linger in Li Heng’s mind for long before it began to dissipate, as he and Bai Shasha encountered a new Secret Realm Creature.

Snow Leopard: Hungry

Level: 9

Tier: Unranked

Strength: 8

Agility: 8

Spirit: 5

Soul Energy: 9

’Thank goodness this Icefield isn’t filled with nothing but Soul Beasts!’

When Li Heng saw this Snow Leopard, despite it being in a state of hunger, he still felt a sliver of relief.

A beast in a state of starvation, driven by its primal desire to survive, would surely have incredibly ferocious opening attacks.

In fact, when this Snow Leopard saw Bai Shasha and Li Heng, although its eyes were bloodshot and it could barely contain its ravenous hunger, it didn’t attack. Instead, it kept its eyes locked firmly on Li Heng.

"This one’s mine!"

Even though the Snow Leopard hadn’t attacked, Bai Shasha still stepped forward. The encounter with the Frost Spider had left her feeling ashamed and defeated.

It was as if she had a belly full of frustration with no way to vent it, and this Snow Leopard had appeared at the perfect moment. She had no intention of letting this opportunity slip by.

So, gripping her Wolf Claw Curved Saber, Bai Shasha took a step forward. For both the Snow Leopard and Bai Shasha, this was an opportunity.

One sought to vent her frustration and prove herself.

The other sought to satisfy its hunger.

The girl and the leopard moved almost simultaneously. Curved saber and sharp claws clashed in an instant. The Snow Leopard’s strength was slightly greater, forcing Bai Shasha to take a step back. However, she used the backward momentum, dropping her body lower as her Wolf Claw Curved Saber followed the downward arc.

After the blade dipped, it swung up at an odd angle, slicing directly toward the Snow Leopard’s foreleg with even more force than before.

The fight was over in an instant. With its foreleg severed, the Snow Leopard no longer posed a threat.

This proved that Bai Shasha’s strength was more than enough when dealing with ordinary Secret Realm Creatures; she could at least handle one in a one-on-one fight without issue.

After taking care of an ordinary Secret Realm Creature, Bai Shasha seemed to have regained some of her confidence. The lost and bewildered expression she wore earlier was gone.

However, the Icefield Area was simply too vast. After finishing off the Snow Leopard, the two suddenly realized they had to make a choice.