In a state of enlightenment, Jian Jueshi paid no attention to his surroundings, only trying to digest his epiphany.
"Hum~~~!" the sound of swords keening sounded throughout the air.
Forming around his sword was something tangible, yet intangible. It was there but it had no form; it was formless, much like water, as it flows over rocks in a stream.
That formless power enveloping Jian Jueshi's sword was Sword Intent. Sword Intent heightens the capability of the sword. If the sword is fast, it makes the sword faster. If the sword is strong, it makes the sword stronger.
Although only Mortal Stage Sword Intent, it is still a big jump in combat power for Jian Jueshi. After all, each stage of Sword Intent has nine levels of mastery, each level granting a huge boost in strength.
On the surface it may seem that there is no cons to this magnificent power, but there is. Like cultivation, everything takes time. The only setback for this piece of power is time; it takes a long time to go up the levels of mastery.
The Sword Intent around Jian Jueshi's sword just enveloped it and surrounded the sword because of his lack of control. But with practice comes great control.
—
His state of realization lasted for almost two whole days. By the time Jian Jueshi opened his eyes, his arms were hanging limply by his side because of how many times he swung the sword during his comprehension.
"So that's how it is," he was thinking out loud. He organized his thoughts after comprehending a little bit of the Way of the Sword.
He realized you must strike out with intent. To strike without intent would be the same as aiming the sword at an enemy without the intention to kill them.
He realized that when he pulls his sword with the intention to kill, blood must the sword shed.
He also realized that if he willed his sword to hit his target, it would hit without fail as long as his will was strong enough.
What he comprehended was that to fight with the sword requires the will and intention to follow through with it, for a swordsman that strikes out without those would not be a swordsman at all.
A swordsman raises his sword for a reason, with intent, and with will. Without those things, he is but a child waving around the sword, a disgrace to the sword.
Because of his comprehensions, he vowed to use his sword correctly. To kill when he has the intention, to strike with his will simultaneously, and to raise his sword against others for a reason, like a true swordsman.
"Grrrrr~~~!" his stomach growled because of his lack of sustenance.
Looking down at his stomach, Jian Jueshi had a bitter smile on his face. After his stomach's plead for food, needless to say, he satisfied his hunger.
Now that Jian Jueshi had had some food, he thought back to that odd feeling of him enveloping his sword. It was like he himself did it, but yet, how was that possible?
"Hum~~~!" the sound of swords keening broke the silence. Suddenly, it felt like he had an extra limb on his body. His Sword Intent was birthed into the world again.
'What is this formless power? It feels like water, tangible, yet intangible. I can't see it but I know it's there. Like my back, I can't see it, but I know it's there' Jian Jueshi thought, unknowingly comparing the Sword Intent to his back.
'Maybe this is Qi!? But the elders said I'd never be able to sense Qi because of my nonexistent talent. What could it be then? Let me try absorbing it and circulating it through my meridians.' he was clueless about the unknown power.
Absorbing the power into his meridians, he tried to circulate it, such as in cultivation. Suddenly, an unbearable pain assailed his senses
"Arghh!!" Jian Jueshi screamed in agony, trying to keep with the circulation of the unknown power in his meridians, which he gave up after a couple of seconds.
With a cold sweat running down his forehead and back, he was taking deep breaths to try to calm himself.
'What the f*ck was that!? That f*cking hurt! Why'd it hurt so much!? I thought cultivation was supposed to be relaxing!' Jian Jueshi yelled in his mind.
Realizing he could summon the unknown power at will, he threw the experience to the back of his mind.
Needing to bathe because of all of the sweat he accumulated during his training, he walked up to his house to wash up.
He opened the door like usual when he got up to it, but for some reason, it flew off its hinges.
The only words that came to mind when he saw this was 'what the f*ck?'. He was at a loss as to why the door flew off the hinges like that. Maybe it was loose?
Jian Jueshi resolved to fix it in the morning, as it was night and was the least of his worries at the moment.
As he grabbed his wooden wash basin, it splintered because of his grip. Now Jian Jueshi was filled with questions as to why everything he touched was breaking. Maybe the wood was old?
Annoyed at everything breaking, he decided to bathe in the little pond that was in the front of his courtyard.
With this, Jian Jueshi got his peace and quiet, and got to take a relaxing bath as he watched the stars.
He soon fell asleep as he watched the stars, again drifting off into sleep, dreaming another odd dream.
—
In his dream, it was the same landscape as the others. But this time, there was an ancient voice, seemingly talking to nothing, as there was no one but the figure present.
"Jian Jueshi," it said, "you must grow stronger for you are destined for great things. To steer you into the correct path, I will impart upon you knowledge unknown to others," it told Jian Jueshi, giving him hope.