Loren’s hand holding the teacup paused slightly.
“Severing the connection between the evil god and the world?” He raised his purple eyes, his gaze falling on Jiang Lin. “With your previous strength, you could at most fight a 5th-rank opponent above your level. How did you do it?”
“It wasn't by my own power alone.” Jiang Lin shook his head. “I relied on the Blood Demons. They are creatures I summon from the Blood Realm, and on that planet, I could summon them infinitely. I had them devour every Aberrant on the planet until their numbers exceeded five million.”
He raised his right hand, palm facing downward.
Blood-red color spread from beneath his feet, and a 3rd-rank peak crimson blood-wing rose from the crimson light.
Loren’s hand holding the teacup paused once more as his purple eyes fixed on the crimson blood-wing rising from the gore.
The crimson blood-wing hovered silently in the center of the pavilion, its bone wings folded. Its dark red eyes flickered with a ghostly, cold luster in the firelight from the fireplace.
It didn't attack; it simply waited in silence for an order.
Loren watched for a moment and nodded slightly.
“A fine creation. No soul, no self—a pure vessel for power. They will not betray, they will not fear, and they will not hesitate.”
Jiang Lin withdrew the crimson blood-wing, and the blood-red color receded into the floor like a tide.
“After severing the connection between the evil god and the world core, the pollution began to dissipate. The sky of that planet turned blue again, and the land began to regain its vitality. The people of Ember are rebuilding their homes on the ruins, and the breeding farms and farmlands are expanding.”
He paused, his voice calm.
“Five million Blood Demons stayed on that planet to protect the people. My mount, the Shadow of Blood, is devouring the evil god’s remains in space; it might take a long time to finish.”
“Your mount? Come to think of it, I haven't seen your mount yet.”
“Yes. It can copy my abilities and grows stronger by devouring other Blood Demons. It broke through the 3rd-rank limit on that planet and is now at the 6th-rank peak.”
A flash of surprise crossed Loren’s purple eyes.
“6th-rank peak... It’s stronger than you.”
“Yes,” Jiang Lin admitted frankly. “It is still devouring the evil god’s body. Since we were connected through the contract, some of that power fed back into me, which is why I was able to break through to the 3rd-rank peak so quickly.”
Loren set down his teacup, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop with a crisp sound.
“So, how is your current combat strength?”
Jiang Lin pondered for a moment, quickly evaluating himself in his mind.
A 3rd-rank peak physical body, 900,000 HP and MP, the soul-specific attack of the Eternal Ice Soul, the purification power of Holy Light, the blood energy boost from the Blood Realm, and the combat experience he had honed over the past few months on Planet Teluofuto...
“I should be able to win against most 5th-rank opponents. As for the 6th-rank...” He paused. “I would need to go all out.”
Loren nodded slightly, his expression unreadable in his purple eyes.
“Not bad. In three months, you went from the 2nd-rank to the 3rd-rank peak, and from being able to defeat the 4th-rank to contending with the 6th-rank. Even I could not achieve such growth at your age.”
“It's just that your disciple had good luck.”
“Luck is also a part of your strength.”
...
For the next three days, Jiang Lin did not leave Shuangyu Feng.
He sat cross-legged on the ice terrace, pushing his three breathing techniques to their limits. Bit by bit, he digested, absorbed, and integrated the combat experience and the explosive surge in power he had accumulated over the three months on Planet Teluofuto.
Holy Light magic, ice soul power, and blood energy—three completely different origins surged, intertwined, and collided within his body. With each cycle, they fused a little deeper.
In the morning, he swung his sword ten thousand times, polishing his sword intent until it was even more solid.
At noon, he engaged in practical sparring with Loren, honing his combat instincts under his master’s overwhelming sword pressure.
At night, he sat in meditation, looking inward at the Eternal Ice Soul that had completely fused with his soul, feeling the extreme chill within it that could freeze a soul.
Little Black lay on a nearby ice pillar, its amber cat eyes lazily watching the master and disciple.
After three days, its greatest impression was:
These two were not human.
One could soar from the 2nd-rank to the 3rd-rank peak in three months, with combat power approaching the 6th-rank.
The other was clearly just a human, yet he could break through his life shackles on his own and ascend to the 9th-rank despite the restrictions of so many gods.
“Meow, staying with you two makes me look like a total loser.”
Little Black let out a yawn, rolled over, and continued sunbathing.
On the morning of the fourth day, the aurora flowed across the sky, enveloping Shuangyu Feng in a dreamlike blue-purple glow.
Jiang Lin stood up from the ice terrace and stretched his muscles, his joints letting out a faint popping sound.
After three days of settling, the explosive power in his body had basically stabilized.
His 900,000 HP and MP were like two silent volcanoes—calm on the surface, but containing terrifying energy within that was enough to incinerate everything.
The fusion between the Eternal Ice Soul and his soul had deepened. Every movement he made could draw in the surrounding ice elements, as if he himself were a mobile glacier.
The blood energy brought by the possession of the Shadow of Blood had also completely integrated into his power system, forming a stable triangular cycle with the Holy Light and ice soul power.
He raised his right hand, palm up.
A wisp of golden Holy Light emerged, warm and pure.
A wisp of deep blue ice soul power coiled around it, its chill piercing to the bone.
A wisp of dark red blood energy flowed between the two, perfectly connecting them.
Three powers, three origins, currently achieved a delicate balance in his palm.
“Good.”
Loren’s voice came from behind.
Jiang Lin turned to see his master standing at the entrance of the ice crystal pavilion, his ice-blue robes shimmering with a faint halo under the aurora.
“Your power has stabilized.” Loren walked to his side, his purple eyes fixed on the three-colored glow in his palm. “What are your plans next?”
Jiang Lin withdrew his power and spoke after a moment of deliberation.
“Your disciple has another quest to complete.”
“What quest?”
“The Demon Lord Trial.”
An unexpected flash of surprise crossed Loren’s peerless face.
“The Demon Lord Trial? That is the ascension ceremony for the followers of the demon god. You are an apostle of god; how can you participate?”
Jiang Lin thought for a moment and decided not to hide it any longer.
“There is a Demon Lord Seed inside my body that I obtained a long time ago. It has been waiting for the right moment. Now, the time has come.”
Loren fell silent for a moment.
He didn't ask about the origin of the Demon Lord Seed, nor did he question Jiang Lin’s decision.
He simply nodded slightly.
“So, you are going to the demon territory to participate in that trial.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know the contents?”
“I have a general understanding. Participants will enter an alternate space called the ‘Abyss Corridor’ and hunt each other down to seize the other’s Demon Lord Seed to strengthen themselves. The final survivor completes the seed’s evolution and receives the demon god’s blessing.”
Jiang Lin paused and added:
“The mortality rate is very high, but the rewards are also very rich.
“Additionally, I have also received a mission from the gods to infiltrate the demons' ranks.”
Loren’s expression changed upon hearing this.
He hadn't expected his disciple to have so many identities.
It seemed he had still underestimated him.
He thought for a moment and said:
“When I was young, I also fought against powerhouses of the demons. Their Demon Lord Trial is even more cruel than the ascension of an apostle of god. In the Abyss Corridor, there are no rules, no companions—only the hunters and the hunted.”
His gaze fell on Jiang Lin.
“Are you sure you want to go?”
“I am.”
Jiang Lin answered without a hint of hesitation.
Loren stared at him for a moment and nodded slightly.
“Fine. Since you have decided, I will not stop you. But before that...”
He raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together to tap lightly in the air.
An ice-blue crystal the size of a fist emerged from the void and slowly drifted toward Jiang Lin.
The crystal was transparent throughout, with countless fine frost patterns flowing inside, writhing slowly like living things.
Even more bizarrely, a miniature sword array could be vaguely seen rotating slowly deep within the crystal, emitting a sharp intent that made one's heart skip a beat.
“This is the complete version of the 《Ice Flower Nine Styles》.”
Loren’s voice was calm.
“The abridged version I gave you before only went up to super-tier; the complete version is a King-tier sword technique.”
Jiang Lin reached out and took the ice-blue crystal.
The moment his fingertips touched the crystal, a bone-chilling cold surged into his body through his meridians.
It wasn't just cold; it contained a sharpness that was almost like a 'law,' as if invisible blades were moving through his body, scrutinizing every inch of his flesh and every wisp of his magic.
“The core of the complete 【Ice Flower Nine Styles】 lies in ‘Sword Intent Condensation.’”
Loren’s voice rang in his ears, as clear and cold as an ice spring.
“The abridged version only taught you to control the sword with intent, integrating sword intent into your attacks. The complete version goes a step further—condensing the sword with intent, manifesting forms with intent, and creating a domain with intent.”
He raised his right hand, palm up.
A wisp of deep blue light emerged from his palm and quickly condensed into a small, three-inch sword.
The small sword was transparent throughout, with countless fine frost patterns flowing inside. The blade was as thin as a cicada’s wing, reflecting a cold light under the aurora.
“This is Sword Intent Condensation.” Loren flicked his finger, and the small sword shot out, drawing an arc in the air. Wherever it passed, the air condensed into fine ice crystals. “Using sword intent as the bone and ice soul as the flesh, a physical sword is formed. It doesn't require you to hold it or manually manipulate it; with just a thought, it will appear wherever you want it to be.”
Jiang Lin stared at the small sword circling in the air, lost in thought.
“King-tier sword techniques focus on the application of ‘intent.’” Loren withdrew the small sword and continued. “At the super-tier and below, it is a matter of ‘technique.’ Moves, force application, and energy flow all follow fixed patterns and rules. But at the King-tier, ‘technique’ is no longer important; what matters is ‘intent.’”
He paused, his purple eyes fixed on Jiang Lin.
“Your sword intent is ‘Seeking Dao.’ The desire to become stronger, to break through, to see the end of the path. This will, this conviction, is your strongest weapon.”
Jiang Lin fell silent for a moment and nodded heavily.
“Your disciple understands.”
Loren nodded slightly.
“The complete 【Ice Flower Nine Styles】 is divided into nine styles, but the core consists of only three levels.
“The first level is Sword Intent Condensation. Condensing sword intent into a physical sword that can be controlled from a distance or divided into thousands.
“The second level is Sword Intent Manifestation. Sword intent is no longer limited to the form of a sword; it can transform into any weapon, barrier, or even creature you can imagine.
“The third level is Sword Intent Domain. Constructing a domain with sword intent. Within the domain, you are the rules.”
He raised his hand, and dense spots of ice-blue light appeared in the void, flickering like stars.
“Watch closely.”
Loren tapped his finger, and those spots of light all moved at once.
They rotated, intertwined, and converged, constructing a complex three-dimensional pattern in the air.
The pattern was like a miniature sword array, with every sword pointing in a different direction yet echoing each other to form a perfect whole.
“This is the prototype of a Sword Intent Domain.” Loren’s voice was calm. “Using sword intent as the foundation and ice soul as the guide, you construct a domain that belongs to you. Within the domain, your sword intent will be amplified several times over, while everything belonging to the enemy will be suppressed.”
He withdrew his hand, and the spots of light slowly dissipated.
“With your current level of sword intent, you should be able to master the first level, ‘Sword Intent Condensation.’ The second level, ‘Sword Intent Manifestation,’ will take time to hone. As for the third level, ‘Sword Intent Domain’...”
Loren glanced at Jiang Lin.
“Wait until your sword intent reaches at least the intermediate condensation level.”
Jiang Lin nodded and sank his consciousness into the ice-blue crystal in his hand.
The miniature sword array inside the crystal began to rotate, and countless pieces of information flooded into his mind like a tide.
Sword Intent Condensation, Sword Intent Manifestation, Sword Intent Domain...
Each level had detailed cultivation methods, sword intent flow routes, and dozens of dynamic diagrams.
The volume of information was staggering enough to be suffocating, but Jiang Lin already had enough experience.
He closed his eyes, organizing, categorizing, and memorizing the information.
Only after a full hour did he open his eyes.
“Have you memorized it?”
Loren asked.
“I have.”
Jiang Lin nodded.
Then, he looked at his system panel.
【Ice Flower Nine Styles (Superlative 0/32)】
He didn't hesitate and clicked it directly.
...
The ice plains were boundless, and the wind and snow raged.
Jiang Lin stood on an ice field he had never seen before.
The sky here was an eternal dark blue, with the aurora hanging from the heavens like frozen silk. The ground was made of deep blue ice that hadn't melted for ten thousand years, smooth as a mirror and reflecting his silhouette.
There was no Loren and no Little Black—only him and the longsword condensed from sword intent in his hand.
“The complete version...”
He whispered to himself and raised his sword.
The sword intent of the First Style · Frost Condensation was “Hide.”
Hiding the killing intent within sword moves that appeared light and nimble, like the first wisp of frost on a winter morning—silent, yet capable of freezing all life.
He swung his sword.
The sword moved without a shadow, with only a point of deep blue light flickering at the tip.
It was a trace naturally revealed when sword intent was condensed to the limit—not an intentional act, but a rhythm inherent to the sword momentum.
Jiang Lin swung his sword on the ice plains, over and over again.
Every time he swung his sword, his understanding of the sword intent deepened.
From barely being able to capture the traces of sword intent at first, to later being able to clearly perceive the flow of each intent, and finally being able to fuse the sword intent with his own insights into the way of the sword to form his own understanding.
This process was longer than he had expected.
The difficulty of a King-tier sword technique far exceeded that of a super-tier one; it wasn't just the difference in energy consumption, but a test of the swordsman’s realm in the way of the sword.
Without enough accumulation in the way of the sword, one would not be able to exert true power even if they learned the moves.
But Jiang Lin did not lack accumulation.
His limit-broken Basic Swordsmanship gave him the most solid foundation, his soul fused with the Eternal Ice Soul gave him an affinity for ice soul power, his three months of life-and-death combat on Planet Teluofuto gave him rich practical experience, and Loren’s guidance had raised his understanding of the way of the sword to a new level.
So when he swung his sword countless times in that mental ice field, and after staying there for who knows how many years, everything fell into place.
...
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