Chapter 103: Sword Intent vs. Sword Intent!

"What's going on? This formation, something's not right!"

Hu Yan Yong felt the murderous aura on the Nine Heavens Path and shuddered.

Feng Ruoqing frowned, "How can the third level have such a powerful presence?"

"Exactly! I was there when Mo Yuntian challenged the Nine Heavens Path that year, and the third level didn't have such a fierce sword intent."

"Could it be because Ye Yuan comprehended 'Heart Like Still Water'?"

Hu Yan Yong took a deep breath, "The formations on the Nine Heavens Path grow stronger with the challenger. Could it be that the Path's judgment of Ye Yuan surpasses Mo Yuntian? But he's only at the ninth level of Yuan Qi!"

"Though he's only at the ninth level of Yuan Qi, Mo Yuntian hadn't comprehended 'Heart Like Still Water.' It's said that he struggled quite a bit on the second level, far from Ye Yuan's ease."

"That's the only explanation. Let's hope Ye Yuan is alright."

No matter how they guessed, they would never imagine that the formation's power was Ye Yuan's own request.

Asking the guardian to fully activate the formation—Ye Yuan was likely unprecedented and would have no successor.

At the foot of the mountain, many disciples were forced back by the狂暴 sword intent. The originally full square now showed several distinct layers.

Those at the front were mostly Liquid Essence Realm disciples, who could still resist the erosion of the sword intent.

Behind them was a large empty space, beyond which stood the Earth-level disciples, and at the outermost were the weaker disciples.

Ye Yuan, at the center of the storm, showed no signs of discomfort from the狂暴 sword intent. With his hands behind his back, the wind stirred by the sword intent made his clothes rustle, yet he stood as firm as a pine.

But at this moment, Ye Yuan's demeanor was vastly different from usual. He seemed to have transformed into a sharp sword, resonating with the狂暴 sword intent from afar!

"Hmm? You have your own sword intent!" Lu Yan exclaimed in surprise, his voice coming from the void.

"Junior was fortunate enough to comprehend some sword intent, but it's far inferior to Senior You Wuyai's. I can only barely defend myself."

Ye Yuan was merely being modest; how could his Falling Blossom Sword Intent be inferior to You Wuyai's?

It was just that Ye Yuan's cultivation was low, and he deliberately restrained his sword intent to protect himself, so it didn't appear too ostentatious.

But in terms of the realm of sword intent, You Wuyai was merely an expert from the lower realm—how could he compare to Ye Yuan?

After all, when Ye Yuan created the Falling Blossom Sword, even Extreme Sword God King had praised it highly!

Lu Yan couldn't see through Ye Yuan's true strength and thought his sword intent was indeed weak, but Ye Yuan's monstrous talent still shocked him. No wonder Ye Yuan dared to arrogantly ask him to fully activate the formation—he had already comprehended sword intent!

"Good, then be careful! I'm about to attack!" Lu Yan's voice came.

Ye Yuan said calmly, "Senior, please go ahead and attack."

With that, Ye Yuan stepped forward amidst the countless sword shadows.

One step, two steps, three steps...

Ye Yuan advanced thirty-two steps, and the countless cyan sword shadows never fell but accumulated more and more.

Clearly, Lu Yan had driven these cyan sword shadows to their maximum number, waiting only for the thirty-third step to launch the attack.

With so many sword shadows falling, even steel would be ground into mud.

These sword shadows were condensed from sword intent, and under Lu Yan's control, their lethality was terrifying.

Previous challengers, including Mo Yuntian, had barely survived these sword shadows.

And the sword shadows Ye Yuan faced now were several times, even dozens of times, greater! Even a cultivator at the third step of the Liquid Essence Realm might not dare to claim they could escape unscathed!

But Ye Yuan, at this moment, was as calm as if nothing had happened, and without any hesitation, he took the thirty-third step!

As expected, the sky was filled with sword shadows raining down on Ye Yuan, threatening to turn him into a pincushion.

At that moment, Ye Yuan formed a sword gesture with his fingers, pointing at the sword shadows, and a faint, almost imperceptible sword aura shot toward them.

That faint sword aura was instantly engulfed!

Ye Yuan seemed not to give up resistance; his sword fingers traced a half-arc in the air, finally pointing to his right.

The next moment, an incredible scene unfolded!

The entire rain of sword shadows collectively curved in front of Ye Yuan, flew off to his right, and vanished into the void!

"What? You... how did you do that?" Lu Yan's startled voice came from the void.

Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Senior, I have some insights into the application of sword intent. These sword shadows, though seemingly powerful, are like rootless duckweed—scattered and lacking cohesion. By guiding them with my sword intent, they naturally deviate from their path. It's a clever method of using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds."

"Hiss... some... insights?" Lu Yan muttered to himself.

Such a feat was easy to describe but extremely difficult to achieve!

Even if one 'understood' sword intent well, let alone merely 'having some insights,' it would be hard to accomplish!

Lu Yan had immersed himself in the "Azure Firmament Purple Sun Sword Art" all his life and had a profound understanding of sword intent. Yet, if he had been in Ye Yuan's place, he might have managed it, but he could never have done it with such effortless ease!

Only then did Lu Yan realize how much water was in Ye Yuan's words "some insights."

Nevertheless, Lu Yan was completely reassured; he could now go all out with the subsequent formations. The stronger Ye Yuan was, the greater the hope for Youyun Sect's return to the Northern Domain!

On the second set of thirty-three steps, the number of sword intents decreased to a thousand.

This time, Ye Yuan used two fingers to divert the sword intents.

On the third set of thirty-three steps, the number of sword intents decreased tenfold again, to only a hundred!

This time, Ye Yuan used five fingers!

...

The sword intents of the "Azure Firmament Purple Sun Sword Art" grew fewer, while the number of fingers Ye Yuan used increased.

Clearly, though the sword intents were fewer, their power was several times greater than before!

"The 'Azure Firmament Purple Sun Sword Art' truly lives up to its reputation, possessing such power! My 'Falling Flower Drifting Sword' lacks offensive strength, but it is flawless for defense. Even so, a hundred of his sword intents forced me to use five fingers—truly formidable!" Ye Yuan praised inwardly.

In the blink of an eye, Ye Yuan had reached the final thirty-three steps!

At this point, only a single sword intent condensed before Ye Yuan!

And when Ye Yuan saw this sword intent, his expression became unprecedentedly solemn!

This sword intent was the true essence of the "Azure Firmament Purple Sun Sword Art"!

As before, Ye Yuan took a step, and this sword intent did not immediately activate but gradually became more solid.

"Ye Yuan, be careful! This sword intent is the pinnacle work of Ancestor You Wuya, with overwhelming power. Even if you have comprehended sword intent, you must handle it with caution," Lu Yan warned.

Ye Yuan said gravely, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior. I understand!"

Previously, the sword intents had been overflowing with sword aura, but this time, Ye Yuan could not sense even a trace of leaking sword aura!

This showed how condensed this sword intent was!

When Ye Yuan's foot landed on the nine hundred and ninety-ninth step of the Nine Heavens Path, this sword intent finally activated!