Chapter 201: Xie Tianheng's Sword Stance, Grateful to the Heavenly Predecessor

Chapter 201: Xie Tianheng's Sword Stance, Grateful to the Heavenly Predecessor

On Canglan Island, all eyes turned to Xie Tianheng, the Sword Cliff Lord, who exuded a formidable aura, ready to engage in a grand battle.

Moments ago, he had effortlessly slain numerous powerful experts from the Alliance of Heaven.

*How dare he make a move now?* Xie Lingfeng's face turned green, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. *What's gotten into my father? He's gone completely wild after emerging from his seclusion!*

The predecessor had just swept aside the members of the Alliance of Heaven, obliterating Half-step Heavenly and peak Grand Master realms with ease.

*And now he wants to challenge him?*

"Father, let me explain..." Xie Lingfeng was on the verge of tears.

"Scram, you brat." Xie Tianheng casually tossed aside his anxious son, who had rushed over.

Outside Canglan Island, several powerful experts from Sword Cliff caught Xie Lingfeng and backed away.

"Young Sword Lord, don't get too close. It would be disastrous if you were caught in the crossfire!"

"Yes, the Sword Lord must have gone crazy. You mustn't put yourself in harm's way. The position of Sword Lord awaits you."

Xie Lingfeng felt like spitting blood.

Li Xuan remained seated, his expression curious as he regarded Xie Tianheng. This father of Xie Lingfeng had a proud and unyielding spirit, and he was indeed talented in the way of the sword, possessing a wild and arrogant demeanor.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to show such disdain for the Alliance of Heaven's experts.

*His courage is admirable!*

"During my seclusion, I experienced a breakthrough, traversing a path that ancient and modern sword cultivators have never walked. I, Xie Tianheng, am the foremost sword cultivator throughout the ages, pioneering a new path in the sword's way.

"I admit that I am no match for you, but to temper my sword's path, I must draw my blade against the strong. Today, I dare to seek guidance from you, my predecessor!" Xie Tianheng declared, his expression proud and his voice resolute.

Li Xuan's curiosity was piqued. *What kind of sword path has Xie Tianheng comprehended? Could it be more powerful than the one I fabricated? How bold of him to claim to be the foremost sword cultivator throughout the ages!*

*And to even proclaim that he's pioneering a new path in the sword's way?*

"Then let's see how you intend to prove yourself as the foremost sword cultivator throughout the ages and a pioneer of the sword's way." Li Xuan said with a light smile.

"You won't be disappointed!" Xie Tianheng replied solemnly.

"Then, begin." Li Xuan remained seated, not even bothering to stand up.

*He intends to display his sword's path before me? Bold indeed!*

Xie Tianheng paid no heed to Li Xuan's casual attitude. This time, he had drawn his sword to test himself against a powerful opponent and temper the sword's path he had comprehended.

Boom!

Xie Tianheng raised his longsword, and in that instant, a sharp sword intent erupted from his body.

The sword intent grew stronger, shaking the heavens and the earth, converging on the longsword. At this moment, Xie Tianheng resembled a towering sword standing between heaven and earth.

The fierce and ruthless sword intent gathered without dispersing, forming a storm of swords!

Outside Canglan Island, the anxious Xie Lingfeng and the worried Sword Cliff experts were stunned.

*What kind of sword's way is this?* In the space between heaven and earth, a sword intent stood erect, unyielding and sharp, so fierce that even the might of a Half-step Heavenly realm couldn't shake it in the slightest!

"Sword Lord, what kind of powerful sword's way have you comprehended?"

"To pioneer a new path in the sword's way... No wonder the Sword Lord has gone crazy!"

The Sword Cliff experts were bewildered.

"What has my father realized? It feels so powerful!" Xie Lingfeng was equally astonished.

Li Xuan looked at Xie Tianheng with surprise. Indeed, this Sword Cliff Lord possessed extraordinary talent in the sword's way.

*He surpasses Xie Lingfeng!*

*Aside from Xu Yan, Xie Tianheng has the most outstanding sword's talent.*

Moreover, Xie Tianfeng had not reached the Half-step Heavenly realm but had peaked at the Grand Master realm.

Without taking that half-step, he relied solely on his fierce and ruthless sword intent, an incredibly powerful sword stance, to disregard the pressure of a Half-step Heavenly realm expert.

*No wonder Xie Tianheng is so arrogant.*

"I, Xie Tianheng, have comprehended the Sword Stance, using the sword to create a stance and the stance to empower the sword. This is a sword's path never seen before, a path that no one has ever walked.

"I, Xie Tianheng, pioneer a new path in the sword's way, and today, I seek guidance from you, my predecessor!" Xie Tianheng declared proudly, his aura exuding a sense of peerlessness.

Li Xuan smiled. Xie Tianheng had not comprehended sword intent or achieved clarity of the sword heart, but he had indeed grasped the sword stance, condensing the stance of the sword's way.

Using the sword to create a stance and the stance to empower the sword, this sword stance was vast and sharp.

At this moment, Xie Tianheng himself resembled a towering sword stance between heaven and earth!

*If it weren't for my appearance, creating an even more powerful sword's way, and Xu Yan's comprehension and realization of sword intent, Xie Tianheng would indeed be the pioneer of a new path in the sword's way,* Li Xuan thought to himself.

Xu Yan had already achieved clarity of the sword heart, thus comprehending sword stances, but he felt it was too weak and chose not to cultivate it. Instead, he directly contemplated the more potent sword intent!

Sword intent is formless, yet it can fathom the grand dao. Sword stances, in the end, do not belong in the category of sword cultivation; they are merely a more formidable set of killing sword techniques.

At least, that was how Li Xuan saw it.

"Although the sword stance is grand and appears overwhelmingly powerful, it is ultimately too insubstantial," Li Xuan shook his head. With a wave of his hand, he condensed the spiritual energy of the world into a sword.

"In my eyes, you have not yet entered the realm of sword cultivation. However, you have indeed surpassed countless sword cultivators, and your talent is extraordinary.

"This is sword intent. Only when the sword heart is clear can one enter the path of the sword and comprehend sword intent.

"Go ahead and give it a try. How much you can understand from this sword will depend on you."

As Li Xuan spoke, he waved his hand, and the sword, refined from spiritual energy, slashed towards Xie Tianheng.

A majestic sword intent surged forth, like a vast river.

"Sword intent?"

Xie Tianheng frowned. With a single sword strike, his powerful sword stance condensed into a giant sword, seemingly capable of slicing through anything!

However, when this overwhelmingly powerful sword stance came into contact with the sword intent, it was like a lump of oil falling onto a red-hot iron.

With a slight sizzling sound, it was easily broken apart.

"Impossible!"

Xie Tianheng was shocked.

"Slash!"

In that instant, Xie Tianheng's sword stance became even more ferocious as he executed the Myriad Rivers Sword Art. His sword stance was like an abyss, an endless torrent.

However, in the face of that sword, it had no defensive power whatsoever.

The sword stance, which he was so confident in that it could look down on the past and present, turned out to be so fragile.

"Sword intent?!"

For a moment, Xie Tianheng was stunned.

The more he attacked, the more he felt the profound power and mystery of sword intent. His sword stance seemed to be controlled by the sword intent, and it had no offensive power at all.

It seemed that sword intent could easily suppress sword cultivators who had not grasped sword intent!

Xie Tianheng was unwilling to accept this. The sword stance he had painstakingly comprehended during his seclusion turned out to be so inadequate?

He went all out, and his terrifying sword stance became even more potent, its momentum grander than that of a half-step Heavenly Realm expert.

"No matter how strong a sword stance is, it's ultimately like a gust of wind. A strong wind can blow down a tree or lift the roofs of houses, but it cannot move a boulder.

"However, sword intent can make a boulder turn to dust.

"The fact that you can comprehend sword stances shows that you are no ordinary cultivator. If you can condense your stance into intent and comprehend sword intent, then you will have truly stepped into the door of sword cultivation."

Li Xuan smiled lightly and offered his guidance.

Xie Tianheng's expression turned stiff, and his mental state became unstable. After emerging from his seclusion, he felt that he had embarked on a sword cultivation path that none had trodden before, pioneering a new path for future sword cultivators.

For a time, he looked down on everyone under the heavens.

But now, his path of the sword stance turned out to be so inadequate?

What kind of abstruse path was sword intent? He had never even heard of it, and in this strong expert's eyes, he hadn't even stepped into the door of sword cultivation?

"Thank you for your guidance, junior bids farewell!"

Xie Tianheng's mental state was about to collapse, and he quickly retracted his sword stance, his face stiff as he cupped his hands and bid farewell.

After speaking, he turned and left quickly.

"Father!"

Xie Lingfeng called out anxiously.

"Sword Lord!"

The powerful experts from Sword Cliff called out in surprise and quickly followed after him.

Only Xie Lingfeng was left, feeling flustered and embarrassed.

Embarrassed, Xie Lingfeng returned to Canglan Island and said, "Please forgive my father... He..."

For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Your father has quite a talent for sword cultivation. If he can emerge from this setback and given enough time, he will surely be able to enter the realm of sword cultivation and comprehend sword intent."

Li Xuan smiled and said.

Xie Lingfeng was a little surprised. He didn't expect the senior to have such a high evaluation of his father.

"You are not far from entering the realm of sword cultivation yourself. To comprehend sword intent, you can either take the slow path and spend a long time contemplating it, or you can wait for a moment of enlightenment, and you will be able to understand sword intent.

"However, you can start by comprehending sword stances first and then use those stances to condense sword intent. This would be a more straightforward path for you."

Li Xuan offered his guidance.

Xie Lingfeng naturally had good talent. He was not far from stepping into the realm of sword cultivation.

Sword intent was extremely difficult to comprehend; not everyone could be as monstrous as Xu Yan.

Xie Tianheng's appearance made Li Xuan realize how to lower the threshold for entering sword cultivation.

Cultivators could start by cultivating sword stances as a foundation and then use that foundation to contemplate sword intent. Even if they couldn't comprehend sword intent in the end, their strength would still greatly increase due to their cultivation of sword stances.

"Thank you, senior, for showing me the way!"

Xie Lingfeng bowed respectfully.

Without staying longer on Canglan Island, Xie Lingfeng left in a hurry, intending to comfort his father and learn the path of sword stances.

"Xie Tianheng, you're quite interesting!"

Li Xuan laughed heartily.

The same was true for Yan Country, Ziyun Country, and the various powerful forces left behind by their strong experts.

This rebellion had brought forth an unprecedented number of powerful experts.

Among them were the three major mysterious dark forces, including the Faceless Men, who had lost a Half-step Heaven Individual but still had two remaining—the Red-Robed and Purple-Robed individuals!

This caused a chill to run down the spines of many top-tier forces.

Even the declining Demon Sect displayed their profound foundation. All the remaining Demon Lords had made an appearance.

Furthermore, the infamous Demon Child from years past had also taken action, possessing strength that could be considered the pinnacle among Half-step Heaven Individuals.

With such a formidable lineup, gathering the might of countless Grand Masters, would the Martial Heaven Individual still be able to hold his ground?

Several figures returned to the imperial palace of Great Yue, looking disheveled and exhausted.

"What happened? Did you kill the Heaven Individual?"

The Great Yue Emperor and the group of powerful experts urgently asked.

The faces of those Grand Master martial artists were deathly pale, their bodies trembling slightly as they stood, their legs seemingly unable to support their weight.

"They're dead! All of them!"

One of them spoke with a quivering voice.

The Great Yue Emperor and the others felt their hearts sink, sensing that something was amiss with these individuals.

A foreboding feeling emerged in their minds.

"Who? The Heaven Individuals? Xu Yan? Meng Chong?"

The Great Yue Emperor's eyes held a glimmer of hope.

"All the Half-step Heaven Individuals and peak Grand Masters are dead!"

The Grand Master martial artist's voice continued to tremble.

The rest of them couldn't hold themselves up any longer and slumped to the ground.

"With a wave of his hand, he pushed aside everyone under the heavens, leaving none to stand against him, and..."

The speaker's voice trailed off as he collapsed onto the floor.

"And what?"

The Great Yue Emperor's voice began to shake as well.

Great Yue had lost one of their Half-step Heaven Individuals previously, and now even their strongest foundation had perished!

Their strength had plummeted in an instant, though the only consolation was that the other forces had also suffered heavy losses, allowing Great Yue to retain its position as the strongest country.

"Furthermore, that senior possessed the Martial Enlightenment Realm and fought against everyone without using his cultivation to suppress them... The Great Wilderness Martial Path is truly formidable."

The Great Yue Emperor and the others wore expressions of disbelief.

Not using his cultivation to suppress them, voluntarily lowering his realm to fight on equal grounds, and single-handedly defeating the Heaven Alliance?

Had the Martial Enlightenment Realm of the Great Wilderness Martial Path always been this powerful?

The Grand Master martial artist continued, "We were spared because of the senior's benevolence and virtue. He showed mercy to us, and this battle was not the Heaven Alliance defying the Martial Heaven Individual, but rather the Heaven Alliance rebels causing chaos in the inner domain's martial world and bringing disaster to the people.

"Their actions were outrageous and rebellious, challenging those above them and oppressing martial artists, stirring up conflict in the martial world and causing countless casualties.

"Even more despicably, they colluded with the Demon Sect, performing the evil act of sacrificing martial artists. Fortunately, the Martial Heaven Individual senior appeared and turned the tide, slaying the Heaven Alliance rebels.

"He restored peace and order to the inner domain and purged the martial world of corruption..."

The Great Yue Emperor and the others were stunned, their minds blank.

This was how the battle was being framed—the Heaven Alliance was being portrayed as an evil force that brought chaos to the inner domain, and the Martial Heaven Individual senior was the hero who suppressed this evil!

The Martial Heaven Individual senior was virtuous, noble, wise, and majestic...

The expressions of the Great Yue Emperor and the others turned gloomy as bitter smiles appeared on their faces. They understood that the Martial Heaven Individual senior was not concerned about the conditions of the various forces.

The Heaven Alliance must be portrayed as evil, and the Martial Heaven Individual senior must be the savior of the inner domain's people, a wise and majestic figure.

The truth and reality of the matter must be defined by the Martial Heaven Individual senior!

"Pass down the decree—condemn the Heaven Alliance rebels for bringing disaster to the people, sacrificing martial artists, distorting the truth, and colluding with the Demon Sect..."

The Heaven Alliance was being attributed with all sorts of heinous crimes.

"...We are grateful for the virtue, nobility, wisdom, and majesty of the Martial Heaven Individual senior, who saved the people of the inner domain by slaying the Heaven Alliance demons, restoring peace and order, and purging the martial world of corruption..."

A similar scene unfolded in Yan Country and Ziyun Country.

The remaining high-level experts from the various powerful forces also conveyed the message to their disciples, praising the Martial Heaven Individual's heroic deeds in saving the people of the inner domain.

As for the Gate of the Spirit Domain, it was merely an excuse used by the Heaven Alliance to cause trouble.

For martial artists below the Grand Master realm who had not truly witnessed these events, the story of the Heaven Alliance defying the Martial Heaven Individual took an unexpected twist overnight, leaving them bewildered.

Was this the truth?

The inner domain had unknowingly come close to a catastrophe, but fortunately, the Martial Heaven Individual senior appeared and vanquished the Heaven Alliance demons, saving the people of the inner domain?

However, with the three major countries and numerous top-tier forces all spreading the same narrative, expressing their gratitude to the Martial Heaven Individual senior, how could it be false?

For a time, middle and lower-tier martial artists were moved to tears, realizing that the Martial Heaven Individual senior had single-handedly saved the people of the inner domain and countless martial artists' lives.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end