The sword pierced straight through his chest.
Hiss!!
The man gasped, mouth wide open as blood spilled down his armor. Lin Feng's blade glowed faintly, the tip protruding from his back.
"That serves you right," Lin Feng said coldly, yanking the sword free.
"Captain, we've killed them all," Huang Yin reported, his face still pale from the carnage.
Lin Feng exhaled slowly. "Casualties?"
"None, Captain. Since you took care of all the Xiantian experts yourself."
"Good," Lin Feng replied. "Prepare for another round. Their commander will be furious after this."
"Yes, Captain." Huang Yin saluted, his respect for Lin Feng now absolute.
Hidden in the crowd, the Lin Family Patriarch watched, trembling. This Lin Feng… he's far beyond me now. I have no hope of revenge.
---
Later that night, in a half-ruined building…
Lin Feng sat cross-legged in the moonlight, his body still faintly radiating energy.
"I've reached the third grade of the Xiantian realm after that battle," he murmured. "Now, I can face a seventh-grade expert… but there are still two eighth-grade commanders left."
He clenched his fist. It won't be easy.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of Fire Cloud City—
The enemy commander slammed his fist onto the table. "How dare he kill my men! We attack in three days. Prepare the army!"
"Yes, Commander!"
---
Back at the Lin Family Mansion…
"Captain!" Huang Yin burst into the room, breathless. "We've received intel from the spies planted in the enemy camp."
Lin Feng looked up. "What news?"
"The First Commander plans to attack in three days."
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. "The First Commander himself? What's his strength?"
"They have four seventh-grade Xiantian experts left—one less since you killed one. Three sixth-grade experts, twenty fifth-grade, and the rest are mortal realm soldiers."
Lin Feng's expression hardened. "Prepare the troops in advance."
"Yes, Captain."
After Huang Yin left, Lin Feng looked at his sword. "Three days… I need to reach the fourth-grade Xiantian realm before then. But that's nearly impossible, even with my six-star talent."
He closed his eyes, steadying his breath. "No… I won't give up. I'm the successor of the Sword of Destiny. With this sword in my hand, I'll fear no one — not even the heavens."
The moment his words fell, the heavens rumbled.
Thunder rolled across the sky as the sword in his grasp trembled violently.
A sharp sword cry echoed through the air. The weapon tore free from his hand and hovered before him, spinning in place. Energy surged outward in waves, blowing the surrounding walls apart.
Lin Feng's mind went blank as he slipped into a strange, profound state of awareness.
Time passed — a day, perhaps more.
When he finally opened his eyes, his aura was calm yet terrifyingly sharp. He reached out and gripped his sword.
The moment he slashed forward—
Boom!
The trees ahead exploded into splinters.
"I… I've done it," Lin Feng whispered, trembling with excitement. "I've become one with the sword. This is… sword intent!"
A deep, ancient voice echoed in his mind.
"It's only first-level sword intent. What's there to be so excited about?"
Lin Feng's eyes widened. "Who's there? Wait — there are different levels of sword intent?"
"Yes," the voice replied. "Sword intent is divided into ten levels. The first through fifth are mortal comprehension. The sixth marks the Arcane Level. That's all you need to know for now. Once you reach the Arcane Level, I'll tell you more."
It continued, calm yet commanding. "Learn to infuse your sword intent into every strike. It'll greatly enhance your power. Remember, there are many types of intent — fist intent, spear intent, blade intent, and so on."
Lin Feng nodded. "Understood."
He recalled his fight with Jiang Chen — the man's saber intent had overwhelmed him completely. "So that's what it was… intent."
The next morning, he stood in the clearing, his sword flashing through the air.
"Azure Sword Art — First Stance!"
"Azure Sword Art — Second Stance!"
Each strike carried the hum of intent, slicing through trees as though they were paper.
After a while, Lin Feng lowered his sword, sweat dripping from his chin but a faint smile curving his lips.
"I've learned to infuse sword intent into my attacks. They're much stronger now… I can even face an eighth-grade Xiantian expert."
Just then, Huang Yin entered the clearing.
"Captain, we're ready for tomorrow's battle. We have five hundred men — one hundred Xiantian experts, four hundred mortal realm soldiers."
Lin Feng nodded. "That's fewer than I hoped, but it'll have to do. You can go."
"Yes, Captain."
---
The day of battle dawned.
Outside the Lin Family Mansion, Lin Feng stood before his assembled forces, his robe fluttering in the wind.
"Today, we fight not for glory, but for survival!" His voice carried across the ranks. "Even in death, we will not yield! Kill those scum of the Evil Sect!"
"Fight to the death!" his soldiers roared.
"Kill those scum!"
"We have nothing to fear!"
Lin Feng nodded, a faint smile on his lips. Their morale is high. That's good.
"Captain!" Huang Yin called. "The enemy has arrived!"
Across the field, the First Commander appeared — tall, armored, exuding power. His gaze fell on Lin Feng.
"So, you're the one who killed my men." He frowned slightly. A third-grade Xiantian? Impossible.
Lin Feng's expression was indifferent. "I've killed so many, I don't even remember which ones were yours."
"Hmph! You've got guts, I'll give you that," the commander sneered. He turned to one of his men. "Go. Test his strength."
A seventh-grade Xiantian expert stepped forward, his killing intent sharp enough to cut stone.