Chapter 64

"Quite bold, aren't you! Aren't you afraid I'll be so enraged that I kill you!"

After glaring at Zong Shou for a full moment, the giant saber owner finally let out a cold snort. "But at least you have some discernment and didn't lie to me. Indeed, my saber intent is too heavy-handed."

Zong Shou couldn't help but secretly relax, knowing he had passed this hurdle for now. Flattery wasn't always easy; sometimes, speaking the truth was better.

Then, the man's expression turned slightly dejected as he continued, "I comprehended the saber intent at the age of twenty and was hailed as the most talented saber master in the Central Cloud Continent. By the age of twenty-five, I had reached the Heavenly Rank, leaving all sects and schools in awe. I was the first in a thousand years, and I believed my saber path was unparalleled. However, after ten more years of hard cultivation, my saber skills not only failed to improve but regressed. My River and Mountain saber intent is even worse than when I first comprehended it. In three years, I will have to face that person in a decisive battle. What am I to do? I have already seen a hundred scenic spots. I doubt visiting other places will help. Could it be that I, Old Lei, am destined to be confined for fifty years, never to re-emerge? No, I can't bear the thought of losing face in front of so many people in three years. I might as well end my life now."

The man didn't seem to realize he was boasting. The more he spoke, the more sorrowful and dejected he became.

Zong Shou had planned to remain silent, thinking to himself that this man's name was Lei Dong, whom he had never heard of. During the Divine Emperor era, there were hundreds of notable figures in the Cloud Realm alone, and he couldn't possibly remember them all.

However, as the giant saber owner sighed and his aura became unstable, it affected Zong Shou's internal qi and spirit energy, causing them to surge and scatter.

A Heavenly Rank powerhouse's every breath could influence the world. Even a few sighs, with his aura slightly out of control, were enough to make Zong Shou struggle to bear it.

After a moment's thought, Zong Shou decided to divert the man's attention. After a brief pause, he shook his head and said, "If you realize your saber intent is too heavy-handed, then find a way to change it! What good does self-pity do?"

"Change?"

Lei Dong looked at him and then laughed. "Easier said than done. To you, a mountain is a mountain, and water is water. But to me, a mountain is not a mountain, and water is not water. How can I change? What do you, a mere martial artist, know?"

So that's it! Zong Shou's lips curled slightly, realizing this man had hit a martial arts bottleneck. Moreover, if he wasn't mistaken, this man was likely a solitary figure.

Ordinary martial cultivators naturally see mountains as mountains and water as water. But at Lei Dong's level, the mountains and water he saw were governed by certain principles, and he could see beyond the surface. This made his River and Mountain saber intent regress.

If he were a disciple of a major sect, with guidance from a master, he could easily overcome this obstacle. But Lei Dong was stuck at this step, unable to make progress.

After a moment's hesitation, Zong Shou decided to take a risk. Although he possessed vast martial experience from his previous life, revealing too much would only invite jealousy. The incident with the Lingyun Sect was a moment of anger, and the encounter with Zhao Yanran was unavoidable.

However, thinking back to the man's generous gift of the beast crystal, Zong Shou realized that someone who could appreciate magnificent landscapes and cultivate such a martial intent was not a calculating or narrow-minded person.

Zong Shou smiled helplessly. Fine, he would take a chance on Lei Dong's character and offer some guidance, perhaps forming a good connection. After all, this obstacle would likely be overcome in a few years anyway.

"How do you know I don't know? I don't know why you see mountains as not mountains and water as not water. But in my eyes, the mountain is still a mountain, and the water is still water, unchanged!"

Lei Dong frowned slightly, a mocking look in his eyes. He wondered if he had gone mad, discussing these matters with a fourth-rank martial artist who was not yet thirteen.

A half-demon child, no matter how skilled in swordsmanship, could hardly understand such profound martial arts.

However, Zong Shou suddenly walked to the giant stone with two saber marks. He then drew his Pine Pattern Wind Sword and slashed it next to the saber marks.

The stone was hard, and where the sword light flashed, sparks flew, leaving only a few white marks. Zong Shou didn't give up and continued to chip away at the stone with his sword.

Lei Dong found it amusing at first, like watching an ant trying to lift a grain of rice many times its own weight.

Gradually, however, his expression became serious, and he sat up straight, watching Zong Shou intently. He felt that every movement of this young man had deep meaning.

Even Yin Yang, who had stopped struggling, watched the stone with wide eyes. He was filled with doubt and suspicion, guessing that Zong Shou was trying to guide the giant saber owner. But how could that be possible?

The sword light was sometimes as heavy as a mountain and sometimes as fluid as water, with a majestic and grand aura that seemed to resonate with Lei Dong's River and Mountain saber intent.

Zong Shou continued to chip away at the stone until a shallow mark appeared. His sword was completely ruined, and he turned to smile.

"Your martial path must have reached a certain level. I, a mere martial artist, can't guide a Heavenly Rank martial master. However, I know that everything has an inner and outer aspect. Therefore, one must have a clear mind and remain unmoved by external appearances. When the mind is free from attachment, it can perceive the true nature of things. What is a mountain? What is water? All is natural. Do you agree?"

Lei Dong stood there, stunned. He remained silent for a moment, and then the spiritual energy in the world began to surge again. A fierce wind blew, and within a hundred feet, sand and stones flew.

Even the nearby river was forced to shift by the immense pressure.

Zong Shou secretly cursed, but he was prepared and had already leaped away to a distance of three hundred feet, next to Yin Yang.

After a few moments, Lei Dong let out a deafening laugh.

"Indeed! Everything should be natural. Even if I can see the true nature of things, what does it matter if my mind is attached? I see mountains as mountains and water as water!"

He suddenly reached out, and the ten-foot-long saber hummed excitedly as it came into his hand.

"What good does it do to look at these mountains and rivers? It's a waste of two years of my life, Old Lei!"

With a sudden slash, a saber beam over a hundred feet long shot through the air, crossing a hundred miles in an instant.

A distant explosion echoed, and a massive saber mark appeared on the Mirror Mountain.

Another slash, and the river was cut off, and the waterfall reversed.

The servants nearby seemed accustomed to this, but Su Chuxue's face turned pale as she watched in shock.

Is this the power of a Heavenly Rank?

Yin Yang's breath caught, and then a powerful aura erupted from him. A small storm of spiritual energy formed around him, subtly resisting the overwhelming intent.

Zong Shou was not surprised, knowing that Yin Yang was on the verge of a breakthrough. After being suppressed for so long and stimulated by the saber beam, breaking through to the Innate stage was inevitable. However, he felt no joy, covering his face, feeling somewhat ashamed.

After ten thousand years, the Mirror Mountain and the Falling Cloud Waterfall, one of the most famous scenic spots in the Eastern Cloud Continent, were indirectly destroyed by him. If he had known, he would never have said a word, even if it meant his death.

Lei Dong, after a moment of release, laughed again, all traces of dejection gone. He turned and first looked at Yin Yang, his face showing a hint of admiration.

"To break through to the Innate stage at this moment is a sign of great talent and good fortune! Your foundation is solid, and though you are older, it won't hinder your future cultivation."

Then, he glanced past Yin Yang and looked at Zong Shou again, his expression complex. He took a deep breath and said, "That crazy girl didn't misjudge this time. You truly have a sword intent that is already spiritual! Though your sword intent is not yet complete, you have grasped the essence of martial arts. What is your name, and where are you from?"

Zong Shou frowned slightly, then bowed respectfully and greeted him, "Zong Shou, the Crown Prince of Qiantian Mountain, greets you!"

PS: I apologize for the slow updates. The initial stock of chapters is exhausted, and writing four thousand words a day is already a stretch. If you've read my previous books, you'll know that I always strive to improve with each book, trying to write something better than the last. I know I'm not a genius at writing, so I can only put in the effort. I'm still adjusting, but I hope to speed up in the future. Like Junlin, it started slow, but the pace picked up later. I have no intention of teasing the readers. As for whether this book will be popular, we'll see.