Chapter 4 - Acquiring Newfound Strength- Hellish Training? Not Difficult Enough.

Continuing his speech, the ancient voice said, "This knowledge consists of a type of cultivation technique. It is meant for sole sword cultivation. Meaning, you mustn't cultivate the ever-present Qi. Which is why it is unknown to others," shocking Jian Jueshi.

"This technique requires the user to circulate the Sword Intent of Mortal Stage through their meridians, much like regular cultivation, which circulates Qi through the meridians," the ancient voice stated.

"It must be Sword Intent of the First Mortal Stage because without the development and strengthening of the body through Qi circulation, the body would be too weak to withstand the energies running amok in the meridians." the ancient voice revealed, resulting in Jian Jueshi nodding his head in understanding.

The ancient voice then continued, saying, "All though Sword Intent is a formless power, seeming tangible, yet intangible, like Qi, it can strengthen the body. But unlike Qi, doing so with Sword Intent causes intense pain, yet it causes a bigger increase in strength than cultivating with Qi."

Listening intently, Jian Jueshi nodded continually and then froze. He realized he had already came into contact with Sword Intent. And he also realized he stumbled upon this technique unknowingly.

'It must be destiny for me to stumble across this technique and then have this dream,' Jian Jueshi thought, confident in his conclusion.

"You must get stronger for the obstacles-to-come than will try to keep you from your path, "the voice said, fading like the night to day.

With that, the dream ended, but this time, he didn't wake up with a jolt. He woke up with determination etched onto his face. Jian Jueshi then made up his mind to get stronger no matter how much anguish the technique causes him.

Getting out of the pond and putting some clothes on, Jian Jueshi sat on the grass with crossed legs and thought back to the feeling of his Sword Intent so as to summon it.

With the Sword Intent summoned, Jian Jueshi absorbed the power into his body and circulated it throughout his meridians, causing great pain to assault him.

Because of the tyrannical nature of the Sword Intent, it caused Jian Jueshi almost unbearable pain. But for the sake of growing stronger, he weathered through it.

For hours, he continued to bear the pain and keep consciousness. It wasn't until the first rays of dawn shown upon Jian Jueshi's face that he stopped circulating the tyrannical Sword Intent.

Gripping his hands into fist, there was a small explosion as a testament to his new found strength.

"Oh my God!" Jian Jueshi exclaimed, excited to feel how strong he has gotten.

Although it was only the first level of Mortal Stage Sword Intent, it still strengthened his body to a certain extent.

Each level of intent corresponds to three levels of cultivation through regular means. Since Jian Jueshi's Comprehension of the Mortal Stage Level One Sword Intent was only at the initial boundary, he could only rival an opponent at the Initial Boundary of the First level of Qi Gathering Realm after cultivating for more than a couple of hours.

The aforementioned Qi Gathering Realm is the first realm one enters when they embark on the path of cultivation. The Qi Gathering Realm, like all other realms, has nine levels, with three segments within each level.

Those segments are Initial, middle, and peak. If Jian Jueshi cultivates to the extent his Initial Boundary Level One Mortal Stage Sword Intent could get him, his body strength very well can rival a Initial Level One Qi Gathering Realm expert. Not to mention with his Swordsmanship, he could possibly rival an Initial Level Two Qi Gathering Realm expert.

With this technique of cultivating of Sword Intent, Jian Jueshi has stepped into a whole new real of strength, albeit through painful means.

Unsheathing his sword from his back, Jian Jueshi took up a stance to perform the eight basic strikes of swordsmanship.

"Swish~~~!"

"Hum~~~!"

The sounds of a sword slashing the air rang out eight different times, yet the strikes were so fast, that someone without a cultivation base would only see a blur.

After a second, the wind blew in the direction of each strike, with eight deep sword marks in the earth.

'What the f*ck!? Those strikes were too strong!' Jian Jueshi yelled into his mind. Each scar ran meters away from their original starting position, albeit getting more shallow the further away it reached.

The reason for this was because he willed his sword strike to go as far as possible. He also had the intent to gouge out the earth with these strikes, resulting in Jian Jueshi's sword remaining strong and true.

'I hope I get to thank that voice for helping me. Even though I stumbled upon that technique, I had no idea it strengthened me, which explains why everything I touched broke,' he thought, answering some of the questions he had earlier.

'I have definitely got to spare some weak Initial Boundary Level One Qi Gathering disciple. I do admit, though, I am just as weak.' Jian Jueshi thought to himself with intentions to test how much his strength has evolved

'But before that, I want to test and see how hellish my training is for me now. If it's not hard enough, I'll just have to up the difficulty until it is satisfactory,' he had a fire of determination shining in his eyes.

—

Hours passed, yet Jian Jueshi was not tired. He had already performed 9000 of the eight basic strikes, but he wasn't even sweating.

'Maybe I should get a weighted sword for training and get a gravity array installed into my courtyard. That'd really put a strain on my muscles, but it'd make me stronger,' he tried to figure out a way to take his 'hellish' training to the next level.

After bringing up his ideas, he left to go to the Palace Affairs building, which is where elders are stationed, to help disciples of the Sword Palace with their needs. He really needed to get stronger in any, and every way.