Chapter 23

"Why can't I take the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword with me? If the original won't do, I can make a copy. Is that not allowed either?"

In the first floor of the Sutra Hall, Ling Dao had his eye on the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword. He did not expect the elder of the Sutra Hall to not allow him to take it away. If he had known, he would have memorized the entire Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword right there in the Sutra Hall.

"The Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword is impossible to cultivate. In the many years since the Heaven-Cleaving Sword Sect was founded, no one has succeeded in cultivating it. If you choose another martial art, you won't waste your time in vain!"

At his level, the elder did not consider Ling Dao a threat, and even Jiang Ren was not worth his attention. He suggested Ling Dao choose another one simply because no one had ever succeeded in cultivating the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword.

Ling Dao was fifteen years old and only at the Bone Tempering stage, clearly not of good talent. Those with superior talent couldn't cultivate the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword, let alone someone like Ling Dao. Even the elder couldn't see through the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword.

"Thank you for your good intentions, Elder, but I want to give it a try!"

Ling Dao really didn't look favorably upon other martial arts; only the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword was decent. The fact that no one in the Heaven-Cleaving Sword Sect had succeeded in cultivating it didn't scare him. Hadn't he easily broken the Heaven Martial Sword Formation, which no one had been able to break for thousands of years?

"As you wish!"

The elder of the Sutra Hall was just giving a friendly reminder. Since Ling Dao insisted on cultivating the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword, he didn't bother to stop him. He had seen too many people take the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword, only to return it after a short while.

Because of this, the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword didn't need a copy. Since no one could cultivate it, one original was enough. The elder of the Sutra Hall yawned and stopped talking. Ling Dao didn't stay any longer and left the place in large strides.

...

In the training ground, Ling Dao repeatedly swung his sword, trying to find the feel of the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword. Thunderbolt, fierce and domineering, with a grand and sweeping momentum, capable of splitting mountains and cleaving through the earth. Shadowless, extremely fast, formless and intangible, invisible to the naked eye.

Unfortunately, he couldn't grasp the essence. His sword techniques were either fierce and domineering or formless and intangible. A good Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword had been reduced to a Thunderbolt Sword and a Shadowless Sword, and he couldn't combine the two.

"Look, that's the kid who taught Zhou Xing and Su Lun a lesson. Two Blood Condensation Realm martial artists were defeated by him, a mere Bone Tempering Realm martial artist!"

"At fifteen, he's only at the Bone Tempering stage, a complete waste. It's said he's still cultivating the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword, which is utterly ridiculous. How many geniuses couldn't cultivate it, and he thinks he can?"

In the vast training ground, there were naturally a large number of Heaven-Cleaving Sword Sect disciples, mostly Outer Sect disciples. After all, Inner Sect disciples were already at the True Qi Realm and could go out to train. The training ground could be used for cultivation and sparring.

These people pointed and whispered about Ling Dao, but he paid no attention, focusing instead on cultivating the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword. Since teaching Zhou Xing and Su Lun a lesson, Ling Dao knew he would face many troubles, but what he needed most was to improve his own strength.

"Zhou Xing, is that the kid who defeated you?"

Next to Zhou Xing stood a tall and muscular youth, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a well-built physique. As soon as he spoke, the surrounding Outer Sect disciples made way for him, clearing a path.

"Zhou Xing actually invited Ninth Senior Brother. That kid is in trouble now. Ninth Senior Brother is ranked ninth in combat power among all Outer Sect disciples. How can that kid be his match?"

Among the Outer Sect disciples, there was naturally a ranking system. The tall and muscular youth was named Gao Bufan, one of the top ten powerful figures among the Outer Sect disciples. Zhou Xing could only invite Gao Bufan because of his relationship with Zhou Xinghe; otherwise, Gao Bufan wouldn't have bothered with him.

"Yes, Ninth Senior Brother, that's the kid! Last time, if he hadn't used despicable means, he wouldn't have been my match!"

Gao Bufan sneered. If Zhou Xing was truly confident that Ling Dao was no match for him, there would be no need to invite Gao Bufan personally. In fact, Zhou Xing was already afraid of Ling Dao and had no confidence in dealing with him.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it personally. He won't have a good time at all!"

Ninth Senior Brother Gao Bufan was a ruthless character. He didn't hold back when he attacked. That's why Zhou Xing invited him. If he could break Ling Dao's hands and prevent him from ever practicing swordsmanship again, it would be even better.

Gao Bufan sneered and walked towards Ling Dao. He was already at the peak of the Physical Body Realm, just one step away from the True Qi Realm. His single hand had a strength of five thousand pounds, extremely terrifying, which was why he was Ninth Senior Brother.

"Still not right, Thunderbolt, Shadowless, how do I make it the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword?"

Ling Dao frowned, lost in thought. He swung his sword again and again, but it still felt wrong, as if there was an invisible wall between the Thunderbolt Sword and the Shadowless Sword. If he couldn't break through this invisible wall, he would never be able to cultivate the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword.

The Heaven-Cleaving Sword Sect had been around for a long time, but no one had ever succeeded in cultivating the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword, showing just how difficult it was. Even Ling Dao was still lacking a key insight.

Gao Bufan stood not far from Ling Dao, but Ling Dao paid him no attention. Gao Bufan even coughed a few times deliberately, but Ling Dao didn't even glance at him. Ling Dao was completely focused on the Thunderbolt Shadowless Sword and didn't notice Gao Bufan at all.

"Hmph, kid, are you blind? Can't you see me? For this alone, I'll gouge out your eyes!"

After being ignored for so long, Gao Bufan finally couldn't take it anymore and said viciously. A mere Bone Tempering Realm martial artist, what right did he have to ignore him? He had come to cause trouble for Ling Dao, and now he had even more reason not to let him off.

"Get lost, don't disturb me while I practice my sword!"

All the Outer Sect disciples present were stunned. No one expected Ling Dao to speak to Gao Bufan like that. Gao Bufan was the Ninth Senior Brother among the Outer Sect disciples, extremely powerful, yet Ling Dao completely ignored him.

"What did you say? Say it again if you dare!"

Gao Bufan thought he had misheard. How could a mere Bone Tempering Realm kid dare to speak to him like that? He was naturally cruel, and ordinary Outer Sect disciples were extremely afraid of him. What was wrong with Ling Dao?

"I said, get lost and don't disturb me while I practice my sword! Got it? Then why don't you scram?"

Ling Dao's words made Gao Bufan so angry that he almost smoked from his nostrils. Gao Bufan roared and swung his fists, attacking Ling Dao!