Inside his room on the flying ship, Bai Zihan’s breathing slowly steadied, unaware of the commotion he had caused.
He slowly opened his eyes, which shone with a cold, silver sheen—like blades hidden within his pupils.
Sword Intent!
Not just any Sword Intent—Intermediate Sword Intent.
Something that would take even the most gifted sword cultivators a hundred years of blood, sweat, and sheer luck to achieve.
He lifted his hand, and with a casual flick of his finger, a faint, nearly invisible silver arc flew out, slicing cleanly through a decorative vase on the shelf.
Swish!
The vase slid apart into two perfect halves, the cut so smooth that the pieces didn’t even fall apart until a gentle breeze from the room’s ventilation knocked them over.
“Hahaha!”
Bai Zihan couldn’t help but laugh, his excitement palpable.
“Intermediate Sword Intent… as expected of a System that can defy Heaven, it can even give me such a thing!”
He clenched his fists, feeling the sharp, almost tangible aura surrounding him.
Even without drawing his sword, his entire body now radiated a faint, deadly pressure—like a blade unsheathed.
He even felt like his mastery over the Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword Technique had reached a new level just by gaining Sword Intent.
“System!”
*************************
[ Host Info ]
Host: Bai Zihan
Age: 16
Cultivation Realm: Golden Core (Late)
Constitution: Supreme Dao Bone
Martial Arts: Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword (Greater Mastery)
*************************
“Indeed, Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword Technique has reached Greater Mastery from Minor Mastery.”
And it was achieved without a single bit of extra training.
Having Intermediate Sword Intent was a cheat for anyone using a sword as their weapon.
Not only did it increase the proficiency and power of his sword techniques, but it also enhanced his understanding of the Sword Techniques.
He couldn’t wait to try out his newfound power and see just how much stronger he had become.
Of course, he couldn’t test it on the flying ship—otherwise, he might even slice it in half.
Although the flying ship was reinforced with many enchantments and formations, Bai Zihan felt that with his current power, it was entirely possible for him to cut through it.
Though he thought that he was probably overestimating himself as even 10 Nascent Soul Realms couldn’t achieve that.
But he wasn’t going to risk it and test his power.
“Did we reach the Bai Clan?”
He had lost track of time while achieving Sword Intent. It felt both instantaneous and like many years had passed.
CRACK!
He opened the door, only to see many disciples guarding it.
???
(Did something happen?)
Bai Zihan thought, confused, completely unaware of the disturbance he had caused.
“Young Master, you are out!”
The disciples sighed in relief upon seeing Bai Zihan safe and sound.
“Did something happen? Why are you all here?”
He asked, still puzzled.
The disciples looked at each other, unsure of how to respond.
They didn’t know what had happened inside Bai Zihan’s room, and judging by his confused expression, even he wasn’t aware.
They were just following the Grand Elder’s orders to guard his room after the earlier disturbance.
“Young Master, it’s better to ask the Grand Elder. He ordered us to guard your room.”
One of the disciples replied.
(So even the Grand Elder got involved? Did achieving Sword Intent somehow cause a commotion?)
Looking at the disciples, it didn’t seem like they knew he had gained Sword Intent. But he was convinced that something must have happened.
He simply nodded and walked toward the Grand Elder’s room.
***
Knock! Knock!
“Come in!”
Bai Zihan stepped inside.
“Grand Elder, did something happen?”
He got straight to the point.
“Haha… Zihan’er, you’re here!”
Grand Elder Bai Ren’s voice was filled with affection, which made Bai Zihan feel a bit awkward.
Not too long ago, their relationship could barely be described as anything beyond blood relations.
But now, the Grand Elder was calling him “Zihan’er” like they were close.
The Grand Elder couldn’t be happier or more excited when he saw Bai Zihan.
“Do you know what kind of opportunity you just got?”
Grand Elder Bai Ren asked, his eyes practically shining.
“What do you mean?”
Bai Zihan asked, trying to play it cool.
“Hahaha… No need to hide it anymore. You gained Sword Intent, didn’t you?”
Grand Elder Bai Ren seemed to think Bai Zihan was trying to keep it a secret, just like how he had kept his cultivation and sword technique mastery hidden.
“How did you know?”
Bai Zihan was genuinely curious.
He was almost sure that he had caused some kind of commotion, but he didn’t think it would be this obvious.
“Haha… Don’t underestimate these old bones of mine. I once had a friend who once comprehended Sword Intent, and your room emitted the same Qi… perhaps even stronger.”
“But it was undoubtedly the same aura of one who has comprehended Sword Intent.”
Grand Elder Bai Ren explained, still smiling.
“So, did you achieve Sword Intent?”
He asked, leaning forward slightly with interest.
Bai Zihan nodded honestly. He had no reason to hide it.
Despite the rumors of him being secretive, he never actually liked hiding his strength.
It was their own misunderstanding and his rapid increase in strength that made it seem like he was always hiding his strength.
“Haha… As expected of the heir of the Bai Clan!”
Bai Ren laughed again, his joy almost infectious.
Bai Zihan wanted to comment that just a few months ago, many people didn’t even want him to be the heir of the Bai Clan.
But he kept that thought to himself.
After all, even he was aware that he had been lacking in many ways back then.
Bai Zihan watched the overjoyed Grand Elder, still feeling a bit surreal about how quickly things had changed.
Just a few months ago, he was practically the Bai Clan’s black sheep.
Now, the same elders who barely acknowledged his existence were practically lining up to sing his praises.
But Grand Elder Bai Ren’s next words snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Zihan’er, how about showing me that Sword Intent of yours?”
“Show you?”
Bai Zihan raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Do you want me to cut something with my Sword Intent?”
Bai Zihan asked, ready to do the same thing he did with the vase in his room.
“No, no!”
Bai Ren chuckled, a spark of excitement in his eyes.
“I want you to attack me with it.”
“Attack you?”
Bai Zihan blinked, momentarily stunned.
“Grand Elder, are you sure?”
“Haha, don’t look so worried.”
Bai Ren’s voice was full of confidence.
“I’m not some fragile old man who’ll shatter with one strike. Come at me with your full strength, Sword Intent included.”
Bai Zihan shook his head.
“Grand Elder, you misunderstood. That’s not what I meant. What I meant was would the Flying Ship even be able to withstand the clash? Wouldn’t this room be destroyed at the very least?”
Grand Elder Bai Ren grinned, waving his hand dismissively.
“You let me worry about that.”
“Well, if you say so!”
Bai Zihan was also intrigued about how powerful his attack would be now that he has Intermediate Sword Intent.
If Grand Elder was going to take responsibility, there wasn’t any reason to hold himself back.
Bai Zihan reached into his storage ring, and with a thought, a sleek, silver sword appeared in his grasp—a blade so polished it seemed to drink in the surrounding light.
Without hesitation, he channeled his Qi into the sword, and a cold, silvery sheen spread across the blade.
Grand Elder Bai Ren’s playful smile faded instantly, his eyes narrowing as he felt the overwhelming pressure.
His casual, relaxed demeanor was replaced with a sharp focus.
(This is… true Sword Intent!)
He thought it felt much more intense than years ago when his friend achieved Sword Intent and when he fought with him.
But he dismissed it as a flaw in his memory, believing it shouldn’t be much different—not realizing that his friend had only comprehended Basic Sword Intent, while Bai Zihan had achieved Intermediate Sword Intent.
But there was no way for Bai Ren to know this because, in his lifetime, he had never met someone who possessed Intermediate Sword Intent.
“Come, Zihan’er. Let me see just how powerful you have become!”
“As you wish!”
Bai Zihan’s eyes gleamed.
With a step forward, his figure seemed to blur, silver arcs of light trailing behind him like a river of swords.
“Nine Shadows Flowing Light!”
In an instant, his figure split into nine phantoms, each radiating a piercing silver glow.
The phantoms twisted and danced, merging into a single, massive silver blade that slashed directly toward Grand Elder Bai Ren.
The sheer pressure from the strike made the air howl, and the entire room trembled, its protective formation flickering violently.
But Grand Elder Bai Ren didn’t flinch.
Instead, his aura surged, and with a calm expression, he raised his bare hand.
CLANG!
The silver blade, radiating with Intermediate Sword Intent, crashed against Grand Elder Bai Ren’s bare palm.
Bai Zihan’s eyes widened in shock.
(He blocked it… with his bare hand?!)
But what stunned him even more was what happened next.
An invisible ripple spread out from Bai Ren’s palm, and Bai Zihan’s Sword Intent vanished instantly—swallowed whole by Bai Ren’s Qi.
Not a single ripple of destructive power escaped.
The vase on the nearby shelf didn’t even shake. The wooden walls, the delicate decorations—everything remained perfectly intact.
Grand Elder Bai Ren’s playful smile returned, his gaze filled with admiration.
“Haha, impressive! Truly impressive, Zihan’er!”
Bai Ren laughed, his voice booming with pride.
“Sword Intent at your age? That’s a heaven-defying talent!”
Bai Zihan took a step back, pulling his sword away, but his expression remained one of disbelief.
(Not even a trace of destruction… he just erased it?!)
In that moment, Bai Zihan realized just how much further he still had to go before he could even dream of calling himself invincible.
Even with all his recent power-ups, he was still far from being able to match even one of the Grand Elders of the Bai Clan.
And there were many who were stronger than Bai Ren in the Bai Clan itself!
For Bai Zihan, who had just gotten a massive power boost, it was a brutally humbling experience.
One he needed!