"Soul power… body… and mind?" Wang Yan repeated thoughtfully, brows furrowed. "Master, I still don't fully understand. Are you saying that even one's mind can be used as a weapon?"
"Of course," Ye Feng replied.
He flicked his sleeve, and with a gentle wave of his hand, countless ancient swords flew out of his storage ring, hovering mid-air in a circle.
Each sword shimmered faintly, exuding an ancient, mysterious aura.
"These swords were once bestowed upon me by my master, Jian Dao Chen Xin," Ye Feng said. "Each contains a unique resonance—a consciousness forged through time and battle. When I awakened my Martial Spirit, they were my companions."
"Swords… with consciousness?" Wang Yan murmured, stunned. "If swords can think… then blades… spears… even intent—can they all be conscious? Consciousness…?"
He trembled slightly.
"Man and sword… become one…"
At that moment, Ye Feng's gaze turned sharp.
With a mere thought, the Xuanyuan Sword Spirit emerged behind him. His figure and the sword's spirit merged as one. He lifted his hand and pointed lightly in Wang Yan's direction.
A translucent sword slash materialized in midair—shimmering, ancient, and deadly. It wasn't formed from vitality. It wasn't a physical weapon. It was pure thought.
The sword strike tore through the air, warping space, leaving a pitch-black rift in its wake.
"No!" Ying Huanhuan gasped. Her heart leapt. She instinctively reached out, fear coursing through her. That sword strike… it would kill Wang Yan in an instant!
But Wang Yan didn't move.
He couldn't.
It wasn't fear that rooted him in place—it was awe.
That sword held no Qi, no Yuan power—only intent.
A destructive intent so pure it erased even the thought of resistance.
"So strong…"
The moment the strike neared, Wang Yan's will shattered under its pressure. He fell to his knees, eyes wide with shock.
And yet, just as the sword blade hovered ten meters above his head, the intent within it shifted. Like a waterfall of divine insight, it poured into his mind—not to destroy, but to enlighten.
Crash.
Wang Yan's knees hit the ground. His consciousness dimmed, then expanded.
He sat cross-legged and entered a deep trance.
"A bright one indeed." Ye Feng smiled in satisfaction.
Wang Yan's comprehension was beyond expectation. He didn't resist the force—he absorbed it. A teachable student with high potential. Such disciples were rare, and they saved their master no small amount of effort.
"Was that… martial arts?" Ying Huanhuan asked in disbelief, blinking at Ye Feng.
Ye Feng turned to her and narrowed his eyes. She quickly shut her mouth.
Just then, a cheerful voice echoed from outside the yard.
"Master, I'm back!"
Lin Dong entered with a wide grin. His punishment—cleaning the thousand steps—had ended with the trial's conclusion.
Lin Langtian's eyes followed Lin Dong closely.
Lin Dong's cultivation had soared thanks to Ye Feng's support. Lin Langtian couldn't help but think—If I had Ye Feng's backing… I'd surpass Lin Dong easily.
He stepped forward and lowered his head slightly.
"Young Master Ye," he said hesitantly, "I passed all three trials… May I now call you 'Master'?"
Ye Feng nodded. "Mm."
"Master," Lin Langtian asked, eyes gleaming, "what martial arts will you teach me?"
Lin Langtian was a tragic figure in the Martial Universe timeline. Born with great potential, he had once been the pride of the Lin family. But fate was unkind. His fortunes always fell just short—especially when compared to Lin Dong, who obtained the Ancestral Talisman.
If not for that, Lin Langtian may well have been the true son of fortune.
Ye Feng considered for a moment, then looked at the disciples gathered around him.
Those who passed the test included Wang Yan, Qin Shi, and Huang Pujing from the Great Yan Dynasty's noble families; Ying Huanhuan and Wang Yan from Dao Sect; Ling Qingzhu from Jiutian Taiqing Palace; Wu Yun from the Crazy Blade Martial Arts School; and Chi Hao of the Jiuli Tribe.
He had already guided Wang Yan toward the path of sword intent.
Now, it was Lin Langtian's turn.
Ye Feng glanced at Lin Dong.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
He lifted his hand and flicked a glowing object through the air.
"This is for you."
Whoosh.
A flash of light streaked toward Lin Langtian.
"Stone talisman?!" Lin Dong exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief.
Lin Langtian caught it instinctively.
The object resembled jade, yet felt like wood—or perhaps stone. Its material was beyond description, but it pulsed warmly in his palm.
"What… what is this?" Lin Langtian asked.
As a disciple of the Lin family, he had never come into contact with high-tier artifacts like the Ancestral Talismans. The item in his hand felt ancient—yet powerful.
Ying Huanhuan stepped forward and answered in a serious tone, "That's the Stone Talisman—second on the Ancient Divine Object Ranking. It was created by Fu Zu, the ancient war leader. During the war between heaven and earth, it crowned three kings before it was severely damaged and fell dormant. Now reawakened by the energy of the Primeval World, its artifact spirit is called Yan, and it holds the patterns of all eight ancestral talismans."
Her words stunned everyone present.
Even Ling Qingzhu's normally calm expression shifted with surprise.
The second-ranked divine item… given away like this?
Lin Langtian trembled. "Thank you, Master!"
"Place it against your palm," Ye Feng instructed. "Let it recognize you as its master. It will bond with your soul."
"Yes, Master."
Lin Langtian pressed the talisman to his hand.
The moment his skin touched its surface, the talisman began to glow. It melted into his palm and merged with his soul, a soft hum resonating in the air.
Beside them, Ying Huanhuan's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
She stepped forward, lips curled playfully.
"Master…" she purred, "what martial arts or treasures will you give me?"
Ying Huanhuan hadn't expected much when she joined the trial. She had come mainly to keep an eye on Wang Yan. But to her surprise, she had received immense benefits. Now, she couldn't help but feel curious about the man behind it all.
Ye Feng had revealed his true strength—wielding sword intent, manipulating soul consciousness, distributing divine artifacts with ease.
The Stone Talisman—second on the divine item list—had been gifted without hesitation.
Her heart stirred with anticipation.
Ye Feng, however, didn't answer immediately. He looked over the group again, his expression contemplative.
Each disciple must walk a different path, he thought. They cannot all be the same.
To shape unique cultivators, I must grant unique methods.
He sighed inwardly.
"Even though I am the God of Creation," he thought, "standing above the heavens… I still envy those great sects across the planes. Their techniques are endless, their methods vast. Meanwhile, the martial arts I possess… are too few."
A wry smile touched his lips.
Perhaps it's time I… gathered more.
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