Chapter 170 - 113: The Nascent True Intent Is Hard to Sever, Zhang Su Slays an Embracing Pill with a Single Sword

Ouyang Yin’s Spirit Sword Seed was like a raging sea, yet it could not shatter the faint glimmer of light in Zhang Su’s mind.

For that faint glimmer was the Martial Dao True Intent Prototype!

Zhang Su had already found the path to forging Martial Dao True Intent.

The fusion of two Divine Intents had advanced his Martial Dao True Intent progress by one percent. This was, in fact, the Martial Dao True Intent Prototype.

However, this sliver of the Martial Dao True Intent Prototype was still incredibly weak.

So weak that it offered no boost to Zhang Su’s combat strength.

Yet, a prototype of True Intent was still True Intent!

Martial Dao True Intent was a higher form of spiritual power.

Never mind a thirty-year Spirit Sword Seed—even one nurtured for a hundred years would find it impossible to destroy a True Intent Prototype. That was just a fool’s dream.

When Ouyang Yin unleashed his thirty-year Spirit Sword Seed, he was shocked to see the light slowly returning to Zhang Su’s eyes.

Zhang Su seemed to have already snapped out of it.

Ouyang Yin’s heart sank.

It had only been an instant.

From the moment he drew his sword to now, only a blink of an eye had passed.

’How could Zhang Su possibly withstand the sword he had nurtured for thirty years?’

He didn’t understand.

This was beyond his comprehension.

"That was... a terrifying spiritual assault."

Zhang Su spoke.

"A sword nurtured for thirty years is truly remarkable. Had it been a Gang Force Martial Artist, I doubt even they could have withstood that thirty-year strike of yours."

He paused, his eyes landing on Ouyang Yin’s face.

"Unfortunately for you, you met me..."

Zhang Su now understood just how critical that one percent of progress in his Martial Dao True Intent was.

Even at just one percent, it was still a Martial Dao True Intent Prototype.

Against anyone else, this strike from Ouyang Yin would have been fatal.

But his opponent was Zhang Su.

Even a sword nurtured for thirty years was powerless against him.

The True Intent Prototype was like a great mountain, standing firm and unmoving against the assault of the Spirit Sword Seed.

’How could this be?’

Ouyang Yin’s pupils contracted.

A storm of shock raged within him.

’This was the sword he had nurtured for thirty years!’

’Thirty years of accumulation.’

’He had poured all his energy into the Sword Nurturing Skill.’

’All for this one strike today.’

’And yet, this strike had failed to kill Zhang Su.’

Ouyang Yin didn’t know what was happening.

He had lived for many years and seen countless masters, but never had he witnessed anyone withstand the spiritual assault of a sword nurtured for thirty years.

This wasn’t normal.

However, despite his shock, Ouyang Yin quickly steadied his nerves and calmed down.

Even without the Sword Nurturing Skill, he was still an Embracing Pill Martial Artist.

Crucially, he now held a sword in his hand, and he could use his Swordsmanship!

The Sword Nurturing Skill was only one of his assets, not his entirety.

He was an Embracing Pill Martial Artist from Hidden Sword Manor, and at his core, a Swordsman.

Thirty years ago, when he roamed the Jianghu, he had relied not on the Sword Nurturing Skill, but on the sword in his hand and his full-body Pill Force.

The Sword Nurturing Skill was merely a Secret Technique he cultivated later to reach an even higher level.

Though the Sword Nurturing Skill had failed, he still had his Pill Force and his Swordsmanship.

For a Swordsman, the difference in strength between having a sword and not having one was like heaven and earth.

Without a sword, Ouyang Yin could only rely on his fists. While his Pill Force could generate terrifying power, that was not his area of expertise.

With a sword, he could unleash the full potential of his Pill Force.

"Zhang Su, I have never underestimated you. I was even willing to sacrifice the sword I’ve nurtured for thirty years... I never expected you to withstand it. I have miscalculated."

Ouyang Yin’s voice was calm.

"But even without the Sword Nurturing Skill, I am still a Peak of Danjin Martial Artist. Killing you will not be difficult!"

That Ouyang Yin could adjust his mindset so quickly proved he was no ordinary Martial Artist.

He pointed his sword at Zhang Su.

Pill Force circulated within him. A terrifying power surged from his Dantian, pouring through his limbs and into every fiber of his being, finally converging in the right hand that gripped the sword.

"Pill Force..."

Zhang Su nodded.

He had witnessed the power of a Danjin Martial Artist before.

Each of Ouyang Yin’s three punches had contained terrifying power.

The difference between Pill Force and Huajin was one of quality.

"A Danjin Martial Artist is indeed strong!"

Zhang Su said slowly.

"But just now, you unleashed a strike thirty years in the making, and it failed to kill me. I, too, have a strike. I wonder if you can withstand it?"

He paused, looking at Ouyang Yin with a calm gaze.

"This strike of mine does not kill nobodies. The only person to die by it so far was Dugu Jian of the Five Elements Sect. He was the only Martial Artist I had ever met whose Huajin was comparable to Pill Force."

"And now, you may be the second..."

Ouyang Yin’s pupils contracted sharply.

"Dugu Jian of the Five Elements Sect?"

Ouyang Yin had never heard of Dugu Jian. After all, he hadn’t left Hidden Sword Manor in thirty years.

He had long since stopped caring about the affairs of the outside world.

But the Five Elements Sect was a Major Sect, as renowned as the Guiyuan Sect and Medicine Valley.

It was one of the most powerful factions in the Jianghu.

Moreover, the Five Elements Sect specialized in combat, and every one of its disciples was a powerful fighter.

’For Zhang Su to deem his Huajin comparable to Pill Force, Dugu Jian must have been a top genius of the Five Elements Sect.’

’Yet even a genius like that couldn’t withstand a single strike from Zhang Su?’

’Then just how terrifying was this strike of Zhang Su’s?’

SWISH.

Ouyang Yin made his move.

He didn’t foolishly wait for Zhang Su to draw his sword.

He chose to strike first to gain the upper hand.

In the struggles of the Jianghu, it was kill or be killed.

Ouyang Yin’s figure flickered, and he lunged forward like a phantom.

With his Pill Force circulating at its absolute limit, his speed was astonishing.

This time, he unleashed the Swordsmanship of Hidden Sword Manor.

Hidden Sword Manor was famous for its Sword Casting, but its Swordsmanship was by no means weak.

The technique that had made Ouyang Yin famous in his youth was a set called the Hidden Blade Swordsmanship.