Chapter 197: First Battle Against Xian Tian, Full Sword Intent!

Deep within the mountains, in a secluded valley, Lu Qing and Wei Shanhai stood facing each other, blades in hand.

Of course, both of their weapons were merely ordinary Hundred-Forged War Blades—not divine artifacts. After all, this was merely a sparring match, not a life-or-death duel.

“Lu Xiao Langjun,” Wei Shanhai glanced around the tranquil surroundings, praising, “this place is peaceful and open, truly an excellent spot for training.”

“This is where I stumbled upon during my herb-gathering trips,” Lu Qing smiled. “I occasionally come here to practice. It’s quite fitting.”

The side courtyard was too close to Jiu Li Village. The aura of a Xian Tian Jing powerhouse was terrifying to ordinary people. With so many elderly residents in the village, Lu Qing had chosen this remote mountain location to avoid frightening them.

Ma Gu surveyed the area, recognizing it instantly—it was the Nameless Valley where he’d once been pursued and saved by Lu Qing. Back then, Lu Qing had even fought alongside Xiao Li, slaying two disciples from the Tian Cang Sect.

Wei Zian, however, took no interest in the scenery. Standing atop the hill, his gaze locked onto the two below, brimming with anticipation. The moment they learned of this match, they’d stubbornly followed to witness it.

“Master,” Wei Zian asked, “who do you think will win—Lu Qing Doctor or the Ancestor?”

Ma Gu paused, hesitating. “I can’t say for sure.”

Logically, Lu Qing, though a Wu Dao Zong Shi, was still only at the Hou Tian Jing realm. Wei Shanhai, on the other hand, was a true Xian Tian Jing master. The gap in cultivation was immense—clearly, Wei Shanhai should be the stronger.

Yet somehow, Ma Gu couldn’t shake a deep instinct: this might not be so simple.

He’d known Lu Qing for a while now, and the boy had already defied expectations countless times, delivering one astonishing revelation after another. Even against a Xian Tian Jing opponent, Ma Gu still believed Lu Qing wouldn’t lose easily.

Wei Shanhai, however, had no such doubts. As a Xian Tian Jing master, he carried absolute confidence.

Yes, Lu Qing was an extraordinary martial genius—his future was boundless. But right now, he was still raw, still unformed. The chasm between Hou Tian Jing and Xian Tian Jing wasn’t something mere talent could bridge.

So, Wei Shanhai remained relaxed, observing Lu Qing with calm amusement.

“Lu Xiao Langjun,” he said, “how would you like to spar?”

“I wish to feel the true power of Xian Tian Jing,” Lu Qing replied. “Is that possible?”

“You’re certain?” Wei Shanhai blinked, surprised.

“Indeed,” Lu Qing said earnestly. “I respectfully request your teachings, Wei Lao Qian Bei.”

Seeing the sincerity in Lu Qing’s eyes, Wei Shanhai’s expression grew serious.

Then, he smiled again. “The strength of Xian Tian Jing isn’t something easily endured. How about this—I’ll suppress my power to the level of Hou Tian Jing. If you can push me to the brink, then you’ll truly understand what Xian Tian Jing is.”

Lu Qing considered this. It made sense. If he couldn’t even defeat a Wei Shanhai holding back, how could he hope to understand the might of Xian Tian Jing?

He nodded. “Agreed. Please, teach me.”

With a flick of his wrist, he raised his blade into a starting stance.

The posture was calm and profound—like still waters and towering peaks. Wei Shanhai’s eyes lit up.

“Excellent blade stance! Lu Xiao Langjun, your swordsmanship has already reached mastery. Truly, you’ve entered the hall of true artistry.”

Wei Shanhai, a master of the blade himself, felt a thrill at the depth of Lu Qing’s technique. Yet he didn’t move. He waited—patient, respectful. As a Xian Tian Jing cultivator, he held pride. He would not strike first against a Hou Tian Jing opponent.

Lu Qing understood this. He simply said, “I apologize,” then lunged forward in an instant.

As he closed in, his wrist flicked—his blade drew in a flash, a blade of frost-laced light slashing toward Wei Shanhai with terrifying speed.

The icy aura cut through the air, sending chills down Ma Gu and Wei Zian’s spines on the hill above. Their eyes widened in shock.

“That’s… that blade!”

Even Wei Shanhai, feeling the sheer force of that strike, was stunned. The power and precision of Lu Qing’s technique far surpassed that of any ordinary Swordsmanship Master.

He recalled Lu Qing’s battle two years prior—against Zhao Xiong, the top disciple of Wang Cangyi. At the time, Lu Qing’s cultivation was far behind Zhao Xiong’s, yet he had still managed to hold his ground through sheer skill.

Now, two years later, Lu Qing’s mastery had grown even further.

But Wei Shanhai was no ordinary man. A Xian Tian Jing master with deep expertise in the blade, he remained composed. Though surprised, his movements were swift.

A ripple of light danced across his blade as he carved a perfect arc through the air—returning the strike with equal force, timing his counter precisely at the peak of Lu Qing’s attack.

Strike for strike, strength against strength. He aimed to crush Lu Qing’s momentum head-on.

Clang!

The blades met. Instantly, a storm of flashing light erupted around the two fighters—dozens, perhaps hundreds of slashes in a single heartbeat.

Tremendous waves of martial energy exploded outward, swirling like a hurricane between them. Both men had chosen rapid, relentless offense—fast blades clashing in a furious exchange.

On the hillside, Ma Gu and Wei Zian watched in frozen horror, breathless with tension. They hadn’t expected such intensity from the very first exchange.

For ten breaths, the duel raged—blades flashing, energy surging, the air itself trembling.

Then—suddenly—the light faded.

A figure stumbled backward, retreating ten steps before regaining balance, eyes wide with shock, staring forward.

His robes bore several deep tears, stark and visible.

“What…? The Ancestor retreated?”

“Lu Qing brother won?”

Ma Gu and Wei Zian cried out in disbelief.

The one who had stepped back—was Wei Shanhai.

“Sword Intent…”

Wei Shanhai’s mind reeled. His heart pounded violently.

He swallowed hard, staring at Lu Qing in disbelief.

“Lu Xiao Langjun… You’ve entered the Sword Intent realm. You’ve awakened the complete Sword Intent?”

“I had a fleeting insight while practicing,” Lu Qing said calmly, sheathing his blade. His clothes remained untouched.

“Complete Sword Intent…?” Even though he’d suspected it, hearing Lu Qing confirm it sent a jolt through him.

“To achieve full Sword Intent at the Hou Tian Jing stage… Lu Xiao Langjun, you and your master truly possess monstrous martial insight.”

Old Doctor had once amazed Wei Shanhai by unleashing a sliver of Xian Tian Ling Yu Insight at the early Xian Tian stage, and later mastering Water and Fire Harmonization—achieving the rare feat of cultivating two Xian Tian Qi paths simultaneously. That had been shocking enough.

But now, Lu Qing—still below Xian Tian Jing—had already reached the same level of mastery.

After all, the Yi—the essence of one’s martial will—was profoundly mysterious. Even long-term Xian Tian Jing cultivators often failed to grasp their own unique Yi. Wei Shanhai himself had spent decades in Xian Tian Jing before finally forging his own.

And yet, this boy—still a youth—had already achieved the full Sword Intent.

If word of this spread, it would send shockwaves across the entire cultivation world.

More importantly, Wei Shanhai sensed something deeper: Lu Qing’s Sword Intent was even more profound than his own.

In the final exchanges, Lu Qing had completely dominated him. Though Wei Shanhai wielded his own Sword Intent to guide his blade, he couldn’t find a single flaw in Lu Qing’s technique. Instead, Lu Qing repeatedly exposed weaknesses in his own movements—cutting through his robes.

Had Lu Qing not held back, Wei Shanhai would have been wounded.

“Wei Lao Qian Bei,” Lu Qing asked, “shall we continue at the Hou Tian Jing level?”

“No need,” Wei Shanhai said with a bitter chuckle. “In terms of swordsmanship alone, I’ve already been bested.”

The words stung. He’d entered this match confident—believing that even the greatest genius couldn’t withstand the depth of a Xian Tian Jing master’s martial awareness.

Yet the one who had fallen… was him.

“Now, may I finally experience the true power of Xian Tian Jing?” Lu Qing asked.

“Of course,” Wei Shanhai said, quickly regaining composure. His expression turned serious. “But I must warn you—Xian Tian Jing power is not comparable to Hou Tian Jing. At this realm, cultivators refine Xian Tian Qi, drawing in Heavenly and Earthly Qi through their spirit. This Qi is profoundly mysterious, immensely powerful. When used to fuel techniques, its strength is staggering—far beyond anything Hou Tian Jing can achieve.”

“Same martial art, same technique—when wielded by a Xian Tian Jing cultivator, its power is at least several times, even tenfold, greater than when used at the Hou Tian Jing stage. The two are incomparable.”

“I understand,” Lu Qing replied, solemn.

Wei Shanhai’s point was clear: even if Lu Qing had slightly the upper hand in swordsmanship, if he unleashed Xian Tian Qi, the result would be utterly different. Power alone could overwhelm technique.

And with his own Sword Intent, Wei Shanhai could crush Lu Qing utterly.

But… had Wei Shanhai truly held back?

Lu Qing’s eyes gleamed with battle lust.

He wouldn’t know the true might of Xian Tian Jing until he faced it head-on. Only then could he prepare for what came next.

“Excellent! Indeed, a genius born in the era of great change—only someone with such courage could deserve the title of Qi Yun’s Heir.”

Wei Shanhai felt the fire in Lu Qing’s eyes and grinned, applauding.

Lu Qing smiled faintly. He cared little for titles like “Qi Yun’s Heir.” What mattered to him was his own strength—and the blade in his hand.

“Please, teach me!”

“Very well!”

As the word left Wei Shanhai’s lips, a surge of overwhelming pressure erupted from his body.

A torrent of Xian Tian Pressure, like a mountain of steel, crashed down upon Lu Qing.

On the hillside, Ma Gu and Wei Zian gasped. The force was so intense, their bodies sank into the earth, knees buckling. They stared in horror—Lu Qing was facing that pressure head-on.

They were far away, yet even a whisper of that pressure felt like a mountain crushing their bones.

How unbearable must it be for Lu Qing, standing directly in its path?

But then—astonishment.

Lu Qing stood firm, calm, unshaken. Not a single trace of strain showed on his face. The crushing pressure seemed to pass him by like a gentle breeze.

Wei Shanhai himself froze.

“Wei Lao Qian Bei,” Lu Qing called out, voice rising with confidence, “no need for such theatrics. Your aura and presence—useless against me.”

In the heat of battle, Lu Qing dared to boast.

“Then be careful!” Wei Shanhai growled, swinging his blade. A crimson blade of energy shot forth, slicing toward Lu Qing.

Lu Qing didn’t hesitate. He slashed upward.

Boom!

The energy blade shattered—too fragile to withstand the steel of a forged War Blade. But Lu Qing felt a jolt up his arm. The force was immense—his arm trembled, tingling with numbness.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

But Wei Shanhai wasn’t done. He struck again and again—three, four, five times—each with a different trajectory, weaving a deadly net of red energy blades.

“Can one’s flesh and blood, even at Hou Tian perfection, withstand attacks forged from Xian Tian Qi?”

Lu Qing’s mind raced.

Then—“Perfect Burst!”

As the thought flashed, his blood surged. A surge of raw, overwhelming power erupted from within.

In an instant, the red energy blades were severed—shattered in a storm of flashing steel.

Boom!

Lu Qing kicked the ground, shattering a boulder beneath his foot. In a flash, he shot forward like an arrow, closing the distance with Wei Shanhai.

Defense is a trap. To win, one must strike first.

He hadn’t reached Xian Tian Jing. He lacked long-range Xian Tian Qi attacks. His only chance was close combat.

“Using an Explosive Secret Technique? Excellent!” Wei Shanhai roared, ecstatic. He swung his blade down in a mighty cleaving strike—like splitting a mountain.

The pressure was unlike anything before. The air itself seemed to compress. The blade’s aura enveloped Lu Qing completely. Even before the strike landed, Lu Qing felt a suffocating weight—like drowning in an ocean of force.

This… is the true power of Xian Tian Jing?

The awe and dread in his heart only fueled his battle lust.

No fear. No hesitation.

Lu Qing swung his blade—again, meeting the storm head-on.

Another clash of steel.

This time, he chose to charge.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end