After a hundred moves.
Jiang Lin thrust his sword, the golden-blue light at the tip condensed to the absolute limit.
Loren raised his sword to block.
“Clang!”
The moment the two swords collided, the sword intent at the tip of Jiang Lin’s blade erupted!
It did not diffuse; instead, it condensed into a single point, spinning frantically like a drill in an attempt to pierce Loren’s defense.
A flicker of surprise flashed in Loren’s eyes.
With a jolt of his wrist, the ice-blue longsword’s light surged, shattering Jiang Lin’s sword intent.
However, a tiny white dot remained at the point of impact on the blade.
It was a trace left by the sword intent piercing the defense.
“Not bad.”
Loren sheathed his sword and nodded slightly:
“This strike is starting to get interesting.”
Jiang Lin sheathed his own sword, panting, but a smile spread across his face.
He had finally found the knack for it.
“Rest for a moment, then we continue.”
Loren turned and walked toward the pavilion:
“That is all for today’s real combat. Starting tomorrow, we will spar for two hours every day.”
The following month was spent this way.
Jiang Lin’s daily life was disciplined and fulfilling.
In the early morning, he practiced his breathing technique to consolidate his foundation.
In the morning, he swung his sword tens of thousands of times to hone the condensation of his sword intent.
In the afternoon, he engaged in real combat sparring with Loren to learn the application of sword intent.
At night, he summarized his insights and adjusted his state.
Under Loren’s guidance, his sword intent grew at a rate visible to the naked eye.
From successfully condensing it once every ten strikes at the beginning, he could now succeed twice every three strikes.
From only being able to condense it at a single point on the sword tip, he could now coat the entire blade.
From residual traces as faint as mist, the will within the sword marks was now as solid as substance.
At the same time, his previously lacking real combat experience grew explosively due to his sealed right eye.
The 【Chronowalker's Evil Eye】 indeed allowed him to visually predict the trajectories of an enemy’s movements.
However, for attacks from behind, he could only rely on the perception of 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】.
Now, even without using the perception of 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】, he could judge whether an attack would come from behind based on his combat experience.
Furthermore, through this month of sword intent training, the power of all his sword-related skills had increased significantly.
The attacks he now imbued with sword intent were twice as powerful as before!
Now, even without relying on the sealed 【Chronowalker's Evil Eye】, he possessed the strength to defeat 4th-rank overlord-tier creatures!
This was equivalent to a mid-tier 5th-rank level.
And if he were to release the seal and enter his second form, he could move effortlessly among most 5th-rank creatures.
...
On this day, Jiang Lin sheathed his sword and stood still.
Before him, the surface of an ice pillar was covered in a crisscrossing web of sword marks.
The deepest one had cut completely through the pillar’s body.
At the edges of the cuts, the ice crystals appeared strangely translucent, with golden-blue light flowing inside as if they were not ice, but some kind of gemstone.
“That will do.”
Loren’s voice rang out:
“You have completed the stage of initial sword intent condensation.
“Next is the constant polishing of your sword intent.
“This requires the accumulation of time; it cannot be rushed.
“It will take roughly ten to several dozen years for your sword intent to reach full completion.
“Then, you can begin attempting to condense a Sword Soul.”
Jiang Lin was surprised to hear this.
It would actually take that long?
“But before that...”
Loren looked at Jiang Lin, his purple eyes deep and profound:
“I am going to take you to see something.”
“See what?”
Jiang Lin was puzzled.
Loren did not answer. He simply raised his hand and made a stroke through the air.
“Chila!”
Space was torn open like a piece of cloth.
Inside the rift, it was not darkness, but a vast and boundless starry sky.
Jiang Lin’s pupils contracted sharply.
He saw it.
On the other side of the rift was the infinite universe.
Stars were like sand, and the Milky Way was like a ribbon.
Further away, he could even see the magnificent colors of nebulas.
“This is...?”
Jiang Lin’s voice trembled.
Even having lived two lives, this was the first time he had seen the vastness of the universe so directly.
“Walking on air is a basic ability for those at the 7th rank and above.”
Loren said calmly:
“But to truly enter the starry sky with one’s physical body, one needs to be at least at the mid-level of the 9th rank.”
He stepped forward into the rift:
“Follow me.”
Jiang Lin hesitated for a split second before following closely behind.
The moment he stepped into the rift, a sensation of weightlessness washed over him.
There was no air and no sound—only absolute vacuum and cold.
Loren waved his hand, and an ice-blue light shield enveloped them both, isolating them from the cosmic radiation and low temperatures.
It also created an environment where Jiang Lin could breathe and hear sounds.
They hovered in the void, with a cerulean planet beneath their feet.
Jiang Lin looked down.
That was the world he had lived in for fifteen years.
Seen from space, it was as beautiful as a sapphire, its surface covered in the outlines of white clouds and continents.
The Northern Ice Field was merely an insignificant white speck upon it.
“Magnificent, isn’t it?”
Loren’s voice reached him through magic essence vibrations:
“But you should know that this world is nothing more than an ordinary life-bearing planet in the endless universe.”
He raised his hand and pointed toward the depths of the starry sky:
“Out there, among those countless stars, there are other planets that harbor life. Some civilizations are as brilliant as the star systems themselves, and some races are as powerful as gods.”
Jiang Lin followed his finger, seeing only endless darkness and starlight.
“Have you been to other planets, Master?”
“No.”
Loren shook his head:
“I do not have the coordinates for those planets. Simply crossing the void with my physical body to reach them would be very dangerous for me as well.
“Many unknown dangers exist in the universe: spatial turbulence, stellar storms, and even wandering void behemoths.”
He paused and looked at Jiang Lin:
“But you are different.”
“Me?”
Jiang Lin pointed at himself.
“You are an Apostle of God.”
Loren said slowly:
“Gods possess the coordinates to many planets.
“As an Apostle of God, you can travel to other life-bearing planets by carrying out the god’s missions.”
Jiang Lin’s heart jolted.
Carrying out divine missions to travel to other planets?
There was actually such a thing!
“Of course, that is for later.”
Loren withdrew his gaze:
“When your rank is higher, you can attempt to learn interplanetary teleportation arrays.
“That way, by setting up corresponding arrays on other planets, you can teleport directly.”
He looked at Jiang Lin and expressed his hope:
“When the time comes, if you have the chance, you could take me along.
“I would also very much like to see the scenery of other planets and the sword paths of other civilizations.”
Jiang Lin nodded heavily:
“If I have the chance, I will definitely take you there, Master.”
Loren smiled slightly and said no more.
The two remained in the void for about fifteen minutes.
Jiang Lin quietly watched the planet beneath his feet and the endless starry sky, a sense of indescribable shock and yearning rising in his heart.
This was the first time he had so directly witnessed the vastness of the starry sky and the insignificance of the world he resided in.
After a long time, Loren waved his hand:
“It is time to go back.”
The spatial rift opened once more, and the two returned to Shuangyu Feng.
On the ice terrace, the aurora was as constant as ever.
However, Jiang Lin’s state of mind was now entirely different from when he had left.
“Now that you have seen the starry sky, what are your thoughts?”
Loren asked.
Jiang Lin was silent for a moment before saying slowly:
“I feel my own insignificance, but... I want to reach a higher place even more, to see even further scenery.”
Loren nodded:
“Having such a heart is a good thing.”
He paused and then changed the subject:
“Your initial sword intent condensation is complete, and your foundation has been consolidated. Next, it is time to consider breaking through.”
Jiang Lin was startled:
“Breaking through?”
“After fusing with the Eternal Ice Soul, you have reached the peak of the 2nd rank. You are just a step away from the 3rd rank.”
Loren looked at him:
“Are you going back to the temple to ask the god for a breakthrough?”
Jiang Lin pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
He was in no hurry to break through just yet.
This was because his 【Trial of Blood】 was still stuck at "(2)".
If he broke through now, he would lose the mission opportunity for "【Trial of Blood (3)】".
In doing so, he would lose one chance to grow stronger.
Furthermore, it was time to upgrade his mount, the "Shadow of Blood".
Its level was currently still around the 1st rank.
Entering Planet Teluofuto this time would remove the restriction of only being able to summon one Blood Demon per day, and it was time to bring it up to his current strength.
He opened his system panel and looked at the description for 【Trial of Blood (2)】 again.
【Trial of Blood (2)】
【Requirement: Lead the Blood Demons to occupy Planet Teluofuto and turn the planet into a territory of the Blood Realm】
【Reward: Current level limit removed, "Crimson Slaughterer" title effect increased, eligibility to become the master of the Blood Realm, and teleportation permissions for the planet】
【PS: During the mission period, you temporarily possess two teleportation permissions for this planet, one for entry and one for departure. If you fail, you will permanently lose teleportation eligibility.】
He spoke directly to Loren:
“Disciple still has some things to complete.” Jiang Lin chose his words carefully, “And... Disciple might need to travel to another planet.”
“Another planet?”
A flicker of surprise flashed in Loren’s eyes.
Jiang Lin nodded, omitting the details about the system and the Trial of Blood:
“Disciple has obtained an opportunity to go to another planet. There may be something there that Disciple needs.”
Loren stood with his hands behind his back, his ice-blue robes shimmering with a faint light under the aurora. He was silent for a long time before saying slowly:
“Interplanetary teleportation is no easy task.”
“I do know of some powerhouses who possess drawings for interplanetary teleportation arrays.”
Loren looked at Jiang Lin.
“But that requires at least a 7th-rank level of spatial mastery and the precise coordinates of the target planet as an anchor to construct a stable teleportation channel.”
He paused:
“With your current strength, even if you obtained the drawings, it would be nearly impossible to set them up.
“Not to mention those drawings are extremely precious and difficult to obtain in the first place.”
Jiang Lin shook his head:
“Disciple has another method of teleportation that does not require the use of an interplanetary teleportation array.”
“Is it a mission from the god?”
Loren asked.
Jiang Lin shook his head:
“No.”
Loren was not one to pry into secrets.
Everyone had their own opportunities and paths.
“Go then.”
Loren turned to gaze at the starry sky.
“When you return, remember to show me what the sword paths of other planets look like.”
Jiang Lin bowed solemnly:
“I will not fail your expectations, Master.”
In the ice crystal pavilion on Shuangyu Feng.
Jiang Lin sat cross-legged on the ice terrace, checking his status one last time.
【Level】: 30
【HP】: 700,000
【MP】: 700,000
Skills: 【Ice Flower Nine Styles】, 【Eight Extremities Holy Sword】, 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】...
He also had a large supply of mana recovery and restoration potions prepared in his spatial ring.
Everything was ready.
He wondered if Little Black could be taken along...
Jiang Lin took a deep breath and sank his mind into the system interface.
【Trial of Blood (2)】
【Use teleportation permission to travel to Planet Teluofuto?】
The void trembled as a blood-red color permeated the air.
The teleportation process was entirely different from the long-distance teleportation arrays of the Court of Space.
However, it was somewhat similar to the teleportation for 【Trial of Blood (1)】 and when he went to the God-blessed Land.
Jiang Lin felt as if he had been thrown into viscous blood plasma, every breath carrying a rusty, metallic sweetness.
【Detected that the host is entering Planet Teluofuto for the first time】
【Automatically adapting to the local language system...】
【Adaptation complete. Mastered: Teluofuto Common Tongue】
The system’s notification flashed through his mind.
In the next moment, the sensation of solid ground returned.
Jiang Lin opened his eyes.
The aurora and snow of Shuangyu Feng had vanished.
In their place was a field of deathly silent ruins.
The sky was an oppressive dark red, like clotted blood.
There was no sun and no stars—only the eerie red light that occasionally peeked through the thick cloud layers, illuminating the earth like a vision of hell.
The air was filled with an indescribable odor.
It was like a mixture of rust, rotting meat, and some kind of cloyingly sweet floral scent that made him want to gag.
Jiang Lin stood in the center of a plaza that had mostly collapsed.
Beneath his feet were cracked, grayish-white stone slabs, with dark purple moss-like plants growing in the fissures. Around him were toppled statues, broken pillars, and the architectural remains of buildings half-buried in rubble.
Everything was covered in a thin, crystal-like substance that reflected a sickly luster under the dark red light of the sky.
【Arrived: Planet Teluofuto · Silent City】
【Mission Objective: Lead the Blood Demons to occupy this planet】
【Current Progress: 0%】
He clenched his right hand, but did not condense the Eight Extremities Holy Sword.
In a completely unfamiliar environment, rashly revealing his power might invite unnecessary trouble.
He took out the biological storage space containing Little Black and opened it to check.
He discovered that Little Black had not come with him.
...
On the other side, at Shuangyu Feng.
“Meow meow meow?”
Little Black looked around with a face full of confusion.
Hadn’t it just been put into the biological storage space by Jiang Lin?
How was it out again?
And where was that brat Jiang Lin?
Little Black looked around, then saw a tall figure standing beside it.
It was Jiang Lin’s master, Loren.
Loren rested his chin in one hand, looking at the spot where Jiang Lin had vanished, a thoughtful expression on his peerlessly beautiful and cold face.
Then, he turned his head and looked at Little Black, who had been kicked out, staring the cat in the eye.
Little Black looked warily at this person who had cast a charm spell on it the moment they met, while Loren reached out an evil hand and picked it up by the scruff of its neck.
“Meow meow meow...”
Loren: “Hey, I found a cat, guys!”
...
Back to the other side.
On Planet Teluofuto.
Jiang Lin concealed his aura, reducing his presence to the minimum.
The perception of 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】 quietly expanded.
Then, his pupils suddenly contracted.
The air here seemed to be "polluted".
It was not magic essence, it was not elements, and it was not any form of energy he knew.
Instead, it was a sticky, living-like "pollution" that permeated every inch of space.
They were like invisible tentacles, slowly writhing as they attempted to bore into his body.
...
Rate on N.U.
