Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 353: Chapter 197: Wen Mingyan’s Sword Intent, Crushing

Although his martial arts cultivation was only at the sixth layer of the Marrow Refining Realm, in a true life-and-death battle, a typical seventh-layer practitioner would be no match for him. This is the terror of Sword Dao!

When sword momentum reaches the realm of Great Success, nearing Perfection, it allows Qian Wei to challenge an opponent a realm higher. For Wen Mingyan, who has comprehended Sword Intent, the terror is even greater.

Even before the blade was struck, Wu Gui and the other three felt immense pressure, as though a towering mountain was weighing down on them, slowing even the flow of power within their bodies.

”Hiss! The Peak Master is so powerful! Just his aura alone has subdued the four elders of the Thousand Poison Sect!”

The honorary elders of War God Peak all transformed into Wen Mingyan’s fervent fans at this moment, standing atop their bloodline flying beasts, cheering and urging him on. Some, overcome with excitement, nearly leapt off their mounts.

Outside the Scripture Pavilion of Spirit Pill Peak, a scruffy old man who had been snoring thunderously on a reclining chair suddenly woke up.

He looked toward the direction of War God Peak, furrowing his brows slightly. ”This aura... could it be that brat Wen Mingyan has comprehended Sword Intent?”

The old man lightly tapped the ground with his feet, effortlessly soaring several meters into the air to land atop the Merit Hall roof.

From here, he could clearly see the scene unfolding in the skies above War God Peak.

”The sword momentum has taken form—it is indeed Sword Intent! Excellent, excellent! It seems our Holy Pill Sect is about to produce yet another peak Marrow Refining powerhouse!”

The old man jumped down from Merit Hall, lay back on his reclining chair, and hummed a light tune, squinting his eyes as he drifted back to sleep.

At this moment, Wen Mingyan was brimming with high spirits, unable to restrain his boisterous laughter.

For years, he had been stuck at the realm of Perfect sword momentum, unable to find the opportunity for a breakthrough no matter how much he trained. But today, after watching Gu Sheng practice sword techniques for a day, a peculiar feeling arose within him. He integrated that fleeting sensation into his own sword momentum, and upon striking again, the once-illusory sword momentum began to take solid form!

The condensation of sword momentum—this is the realm of Sword Intent!

Above Wen Mingyan’s head, the immense Sword Intent coalesced into a massive, four-to-five-meter-long crimson greatsword.

The greatsword appeared astonishingly solid, almost tangible, radiating waves of red light and exuding ruthless killing intent.

With a single point of his longsword, the massive sword hovering above Wen Mingyan inclined, aiming its tip at Qian Wei!

Qian Wei, a swordsman himself, instinctively unleashed his own sword momentum in an attempt to counter the greatsword’s pressure. Yet, under Wen Mingyan’s Sword Intent, his sword momentum shattered like fragile glass, crumbling inch by inch!

”Ah!”

As his sword momentum was crushed, Qian Wei couldn’t help but vomit a mouthful of blood. Though they hadn’t even exchanged blows yet, he had already suffered significant injuries!

The physical injuries were secondary to the damage to his mental state. If he couldn’t dispel the fear of Wen Mingyan’s Sword Intent from his heart, his future in Sword Dao and martial arts would stagnate forever. But if he could overcome this fear, he might very well turn adversity into opportunity and awaken his own Sword Intent.

”Today, I’ll use the four of you to test the power of my Sword Intent!”

With a flick of Wen Mingyan’s longsword, the massive greatsword above his head accelerated into motion.

When Qian Wei saw the greatsword hurtling toward him, his expression changed drastically, as he felt the imminent threat of death.

”Help me!”

With a furious roar, Qian Wei poured all of his strength into his longsword and swung fiercely forward. A torrent of sword qi converged in an attempt to resist the greatsword. Unfortunately, his shattered sword momentum had reduced the effectiveness of his techniques to less than ten percent of their usual power. In an instant, the sword qi was easily obliterated by the greatsword.

Fortunately, at this critical moment, Qiu Kezhang and Ouyang Ling arrived in time. The two combined all their strength to create a round shield in front of themselves.

Wu Gui, whose cultivation was superior to the other three by an entire realm, had sharper instincts. He could clearly sense the terrifying power of Wen Mingyan’s strike and knew that if he didn’t intervene, Qian Wei and the others wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

Wu Gui swallowed a crimson pill, and instantly, his aura surged, elevating him to the peak of the eighth layer of the Marrow Refining Realm!

He raised his nine-ringed blade and, with a tap of his toe against his bloodline flying beast, shot forward, swinging his blade at the greatsword.

Wu Gui’s nine-ringed blade was a low-grade Dark Level treasure weapon, a rare and precious item even within the Red Cloud Prefecture.

When fully utilized, such a treasure weapon displayed remarkable power. Although the blade qi couldn’t condense into a physical form like Wen Mingyan’s Sword Intent, it manifested as the phantom of a purple-black lion.

The lion’s phantom was ferocious and awe-inspiring, exuding the regal aura of the king of beasts. Its mere presence sent chills down the spines of the disciples observing from War God Peak.

”Dark Night Lion Roar Slash!”

This was Wu Gui’s most powerful martial art, a low-grade Dark Level technique, and one of the Thousand Poison Sect’s prized ultimate skills.

Wu Gui had only recently mastered this technique and had intended to keep it hidden as a trump card for deadly encounters. Yet, he had been forced to reveal it now because of Wen Mingyan.

The lion phantom emitted a piercing roar, baring its fangs as it bit into the greatsword.

While the greatsword’s momentum slowed slightly, it still collided with the shield formed by Qiu Kezhang and Ouyang Ling.

The shield, imbued with all the strength of the two, lasted no more than three breaths before shattering completely, the immense force blasting the trio backward.

The lion phantom clashed violently with the greatsword, their energies entangling in mid-air and sending shockwaves that could even topple Golden Bone Realm warriors.

As Wen Mingyan watched the lion phantom entwine with his greatsword, he sneered coldly and flicked his longsword upward, spitting out a single word with chilling intent: ”Break!”

The crimson glow of the greatsword intensified several times over, unleashing an even greater wave of power that shattered the lion phantom completely.

With his martial art broken, Wu Gui suffered backlash, his energy suddenly disrupted, and plummeted straight toward the ground.

Luckily, their bloodline flying beasts had decent cultivation, comparable to the first or second layer of the Marrow Refining Realm. These flying beasts flapped their wings and intercepted Wu Gui and the others before they hit the ground, sparing them from severe injury due to the height of their fall.

After suppressing their injuries, Wu Gui and the others looked at Wen Mingyan with dark expressions. The aura around them, once formidable, had disintegrated. Especially Qian Wei, whose aura now fluctuated wildly, as though he might fall from his current realm at any moment.

”Old Wu, heaven has a path but you refuse to tread it; hell has no door but you barge right in! Since you came here representing yourself today, don’t blame me for being ruthless! I’ll do you a favor and reunite you with your son—when you reach King Yan’s court, don’t forget to speak well of me so he might grant me a few more years of long life for my good deeds.”

Wen Mingyan’s longsword quivered as the greatsword floated into the air once again, its aura becoming even more oppressive.

”Stop him! Don’t let him lose control and really kill them—it would be a disaster.”

Lu Junyi, who had arrived as soon as Wen Mingyan’s Sword Intent had been realized, remained hesitant to step in directly. Instead, he sent Qin Xue forward.

Qin Xue nodded, stepping up onto Lu Junyi’s Five-Colored Bird.

Thanks to Qin Xue’s frequent feedings, the bird was docile and easy to ride.

”Mingyan! That’s enough, stop now.”

”Huh? Why stop? That old Wu is too hateful—I’m not finished venting yet! Besides, he said he was here on his own behalf today, so it wouldn’t be a big deal if I killed him.”

While Wen Mingyan grumbled, he obediently retracted his strike. However, the greatsword formed from his Sword Intent remained suspended, still pointing at Wu Gui and the others.

Qin Xue patted Wen Mingyan’s back and turned her gaze to Wu Gui.

”Mr. Wu, how about ending today’s matter here? If this continues, I really won’t be able to hold him back. You know he’s a tough nut to crack—if he truly loses control, you all might not leave here alive.”

Although Wu Gui’s heart simmered with resentment, Wen Mingyan’s overwhelming strength left him with no choice. Even after consuming a pill to temporarily boost his strength, he was no match.

Before comprehending Sword Intent, Wen Mingyan could already contend with eighth-layer Marrow Refining practitioners. Now, it seemed he could even fight ninth-layer ones!

The situation was unfavorable, and despite his rage, Wu Gui didn’t dare to provoke further confrontation.

After all, Wen Mingyan was more of a madman at heart. Moments ago, Wu Gui had genuinely felt that Wen Mingyan intended to kill them.