Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 264 - 231: Blessed Spiritual Heart, Nascent Form of Martial Intent

Chapter 264: Chapter 231: Blessed Spiritual Heart, Nascent Form of Martial Intent

"The Zhao Family actually didn’t intercept us?"

Even after leaving Yunshan Town by fifty li, they still hadn’t encountered anyone blocking the official road.

The expected battle of revenge also did not occur.

Zhou Ping’an was slightly surprised.

"Actually, it’s not strange, according to the brothers on the mountain, Yuan Ganglie from Ziyun Peak is also quite reputable among the nine true disciples of the sect."

Lin Huaiyu let out a long breath.

Speaking of which, although Cloud Water Heavenly Sect isn’t the type of Daoist Sect she had imagined, privately, there are many unpleasant things within the sect, but overall, she still considers it quite decent.

At least, openly, it still maintains the demeanor of a righteous sect.

The underhanded deeds behind the scenes...

It could only be said that there is no pure land under heaven.

One can’t expect everyone to be good.

Therefore, she actually doesn’t want to fight to the death with the disciples of Cloud Water Sect, engaging in mutual slaughter.

"The only explanation is that the deterrent power of our master is actually not small, being known for his protection outside, also capable of deterring others."

Zhou Ping’an didn’t care whether that Ziyun Peak’s true disciple had a good or bad reputation.

Reputation, after all, is just a persona that is cultivated.

Just like when he first met Zhao Fangjing in Yunshan Town.

That kid’s reputation was very shiny and bright.

Who wouldn’t envy the Zhao patriarch for having such a promising son? Not only was he strong in martial arts, but among the inner sect disciples of Cloud Water Sect, he was also a standout.

Moreover, he cared for his fellow townspeople, acting chivalrously, and when others were in trouble, he was known for generosity and justice, practically a reborn Lord Mengchang.

But what kind of person was he in private?

Not seeking profit, but seeking fame, in the end, he still had desires; it’s just not something others considered useful.

When it was time to make a ruthless move, he was not the least bit lenient.

Therefore, Zhou Ping’an didn’t hesitate to kill.

Even knowing that this guy had a brother-in-law who was a true disciple of Cloud Water Sect, he never thought of sparing his life.

Either do nothing, or do it thoroughly.

If it hadn’t been for a barely perceptible sense of crisis in his heart, as if a thorn was on his back,

And if there hadn’t been a need to hurry, he might have even visited the Zhao Family on his way down the mountain to clean up all the threats.

With a blade in possession,

the intent to kill arises...

To be human is to change with time, step by step becoming who we are.

"Perhaps, this is what growing up is about."

Thinking back to when he had just graduated, he was clear and foolish, just like the tens of thousands of naive students stepping into society, unscathed.

Less than a year has passed.

He had already experienced numerous battles, his heart had chilled like iron, he even started to think about wiping out entire clans.

It was unimaginable.

"But, it doesn’t matter, whether it’s the me of yesterday, or the me of today, isn’t it still me?"

Thinking of the past year’s experiences.

Zhou Ping’an’s spirit felt cleansed like washed water, clear and transparent, feeling the True Qi within his body livelier by a third, flowing wherever his intent took it, without any obstruction.

This made him more deeply aware of the slowly strengthening True Qi within his body.

The so-called True Qi, transformed from one’s own Qi-Blood essence, naturally carries a personal brand.

At its initial formation, though its power has increased greatly, the nature of its strength has greatly improved from the Blood Element period,

its control still holds a certain stiffness.

It’s not so easy to command as like lifting one’s hand or wishing it.

Only by thoroughly integrating spiritual power into True Qi, can one truly grasp the essence of one’s True Qi, understanding the ethereality of Qi, the ultimate softness of water...

As he rode on horseback, inspired by a thought, he flicked his fingers slightly, and a fine, elongated blade appeared in the air, its sword movements lingering, Ninth Turning of Wave Subduing, spinning rapidly around his body...

Only after executing the ninety-one styles of Wave Subduing Blade Technique then absorbing them back into the Laogong acupoint and integrating them into the meridians, did they rest motionlessly.

Feeling the remaining True Qi inside his body, he found that the recent practice had consumed much less than when he initially succeeded in cultivating True Qi.

Almost negligible.

"How did you do that?"

Lin Huaiyu rode beside him, her eyes shining brightly.

She admitted that she had cultivated True Qi before Zhou Ping’an.

However, when she used her True Qi, it was always straightforward and without variation, and she couldn’t morph them into various forms.

Not to mention the True Qi she used, the potency consumed could return to her body.

If so, wouldn’t that greatly increase the staying power in battle?

With the same level of cultivation and the same level of True Qi, lasting times twofold, even more than tenfold longer than others.

That would indirectly mean having a much higher cultivation level.

"No secret, just proficiency..."

Zhou Ping’an chuckled lightly.

Lin Huaiyu only lowered her guard entirely during such moments.

Her usually unchanging and plain face would become expressive.

"Always playing the wise guy..."

Lin Huaiyu gave him an unimpressed look, tilted her head to think for a while, wrinkled her brows tightly, and only after advancing a further fifty steps on her horse, she initiated, "Just now when I saw you maneuvering the blade shape for so long without dissipating, I gathered it wasn’t just a trick.

Only the mind... the mind controlling the True Qi, with spirit gathered so follows the form. Therefore, what you used must be the power of intent."

Saying this, Lin Huaiyu was even more surprised.

Her large eyes, sharp in black and white, looked incredulously at Zhou Ping’an, "Brother Zhou, did you actually start comprehending the rudiments of Sword Intent right when you had just cultivated True Qi?

Integrating True Qi into the will, understanding the essence of the cultivation technique, isn’t this the True Intent of Martial Path?"

"Ah, don’t mention it, but it indeed is..."

Zhou Ping’an was slightly stunned.

He hadn’t thought through that much just now.

Wasn’t it said that only after reaching the Eighth Refinement of Mortal Rank QI Perfection could one begin to touch upon the True Intent of Martial Path?

Could it be that from the Seventh Refinement one could start to enter the door of Martial Intent?

Master had never mentioned it.

Remembering that Su Lianxue wasn’t around,

he couldn’t ask for details.

Zhou Ping’an felt slightly regretful in his heart.

Regardless, whether the comprehension was correct or not, as long as there was an improvement in strength, it was a good thing.

Moreover, aside from Qi Refinement, he had made significant strides forward in Spirit Refinement and Body Refinement.

There was utterly no need to rigidly adhere to the Cloud Water Sect’s steps of cultivation without overstepping boundaries.

As long as one had insight, drawing parallels from unrelated things was always beneficial.

"Third Miss Lin is indeed extraordinarily intelligent."

Zhou Ping’an’s mind suddenly cleared, and he felt very cheerful as he smiled and said, "You see people so clearly. I am indeed a martial arts prodigy that appears once in a millennium.

Sword Intent is nothing more than the fusion of one’s spirit with Sword Qi. Spirit fuses with Qi, Qi fuses with the divine. With the sword in hand, expressing the intentions of the heart, this is Sword Intent."

"With the sword in hand, expressing the intentions of the heart."

Upon hearing these words, Lin Huaiyu’s eyes glazed over, and her cute and beautiful face also appeared slightly blank.

"Oh no, could Third Miss have been stupefied by the nonsense I spouted?"

Zhou Ping’an felt slightly panicky in his heart.

He had heard that some people, in their pursuit of Martial Arts truths, fixated too deeply and were unable to escape for their entire lives, ultimately becoming insane.

If by spouting nonsense he had led Third Miss astray, the joke would be too big.

"I understand now."

Just as Zhou Ping’an was still worried,

Lin Huaiyu suddenly chuckled softly, her eyes regaining their vivacity.

With a motion, she drew her hand across the air.

Light blue True Qi formed a sword shape, extending forward three feet.

In the whistling sound, the sword light flashed, transforming into waves of green water.

Before the momentum of the sword was exhausted, a pale blue seven-petaled flower suddenly bloomed within the green water.

The flower blossomed and fell.

As the petals scattered, strands of sword light layered upon one another, slashing in all directions with concentrated True Qi that sliced through the air with a sizzling sound.

This trifecta of changes in a single sword strike perfectly fused the Ninth Turning of Wave Subduing and Ninth Level Wave Stacking, creating illusions of green water waves while also blooming a Seven-petaled Tuberose.

"This..."

Yet, Lin Huaiyu still sighed in regret, "It’s a pity my spiritual power isn’t as formidable as Brother Zhou’s. Even if I can blend my intentions into the Sword Qi, it won’t last long, let alone retracting this True Qi.

You truly are a once-in-a-millennium prodigy, incomparable to a mediocre talent like me, I who have aspired too high, wishing to stand shoulder to shoulder with Brother Zhou..."

Zhou Ping’an suddenly felt a bit speechless.

What’s called a genius?

This young girl beside him was the real genius.

He simply had a Blessed Spiritual Heart and fused his spirit into the Sword Qi, practicing familiar Sword Techniques.

Yet, she listened to his few words and developed a formidable counter-move.

Though it might not harbor even a tenth of the power displayed by Master Su Lianxue’s Snow Ocean Sword Intent at that moment,

this extremely familiar spirit undeniably proved that Third Miss Lin was already on the correct path towards Martial Intent.

That is to say, she had already cleared the path from the Mortal Rank Seventh Refinement Circulation Realm right up to the Mortal Rank Ninth Refinement Intent Realm.

There were no more barriers.

Moreover, he had directly pierced through that barrier.

666.

Aside from inwardly exclaiming ’Awesome’,

Zhou Ping’an felt that there were no words sufficient to express the shock in his heart.

’I could only understand this because of the Karmic Fire Red Lotus Visualization Method and the Five Desires Demonic Cultivation which have purified my soul and quadrupled my spiritual power. But Third Miss has only practiced the Wave Subduing Blade Force and just condensed the Canghai Sword Pill...’

"Very good, excellent, Third Miss is indeed a teachable child, almost catching up to my senior brother with three times the effort."

Zhou Ping’an praised like an old master, giving a thumbs up.

He then hurriedly hastened his horse.

He felt it was necessary to reassess Lin Huaiyu’s intuitive understanding which might actually be quite high, only unable before to exhibit it due to a lack of subsequent Cultivation Techniques.

Having such a person by his side,

the pressure increased once again.

"Just three times? Might that be a little low?"

Lin Huaiyu was not at all upset but instead quite happy, believing that she had finally not been completely outpaced by Zhou Ping’an.

Who had ever seen, in just a little over a month, someone who had not even mastered the basics of Muscles and Bones and had control of their strength, attain the Realm of Mortal Rank Seventh Refinement?

Even legends wouldn’t dare to write it that way.

Yet, Zhou Ping’an had done it.

And, he did it right under her eyes.

Each step taken was extremely solid, and with each step, his realm grew profoundly and his combat power immensely formidable.

Staying with such a character was, frankly, as stressful as a mountain.

If she relaxed even a little, she might end up falling so far behind that she couldn’t even see his shadow.

This was what Third Miss thought.

Her mood grew even more urgent.

...