"Green-Robed Swordmaster – Qin Tian?"
Spectating forces jolted in shock. On the Yellow Sand Continent, none were unaware of this name—the only sword cultivator in the Golden List's top five.
Qin Tian came from humble origins but was obsessed with swordsmanship from a young age, fanatically devoted to it. Roaming the martial world alone with his sword, he had no lovers or friends. At 40, he joined the Mysterious Emperor Academy, becoming the sole disciple of its Vice-Principal, a background nothing short of terrifying.
Seeing Qin Tian summoned, the crowd was stunned, wondering if the Supreme Emperor was an old friend of the Vice-Principal. Such a connection was unheard of.
"Bai Tian might escape…" The Supreme Emperor sighed inwardly.
He had no deep ties with the Vice-Principal, a Transcending Tribulation expert. Years ago, the Vice-Principal needed an item to forge a treasure sword, which the White Sand Dynasty possessed. The Supreme Emperor respectfully offered it.
In return, the Vice-Principal, not wanting to owe anything, granted vast wealth and a jade pendant to contact his disciple, settling the debt.
Rumor had it the Vice-Principal had long withdrawn from worldly affairs, focusing on profound swordsmanship, only emerging if the Mysterious Emperor Academy faced calamity. All external matters were handled by Qin Tian.
"Young Friend Qin Tian, please protect our Crown Prince, ensuring he can train at the Mysterious Emperor Academy…" The Supreme Emperor called out, his voice tinged with pleading.
After this battle, his strength would wane from the secret art's backlash, and the Bai Clan's power was nearly exhausted, teetering on collapse.
If Bai Tian could follow Qin Tian to the Mysterious Emperor Academy, he'd have immense growth potential, a chance to rise, seek revenge, and rebuild the White Sand Dynasty.
This was the Supreme Emperor's sole wish now.
Qin Tian didn't rush to reply, scanning the battlefield, his sword humming eagerly.
"The White Sand Dynasty has members studying at the Mysterious Emperor Academy, thus under its protection. Who are you, and why attack unprovoked?" Qin Tian spoke slowly, his voice resonating across the field.
Like the Saint Spirit Academy, forces with students at the Mysterious Emperor Academy were shielded, and the White Sand Dynasty was no exception.
"This is an internal conflict between the Hua Clan and the White Sand Dynasty, not for outsiders to meddle in. The Harem is my son-in-law's force, not outsiders!" Hua Ming, battling Yu Mu, said slyly, blocking the Mysterious Emperor Academy's grounds for interference.
"Old fox!" Yu Mu cursed inwardly, unable to refute Hua Ming's truthful claim.
Qin Tian nodded, turning to the battered Bai Tian, saying calmly,
"Come with me!"
His tone was casual, but his demeanor dismissed everyone, enraging Yan Yue Qi. Thunder-Flame surged, a Thunder-Flame Heavenly Hand tearing through the void.
"Even if you're Qin Tian, my husband wants Bai Tian dead. No one can stop it!"
Ji Ya and Ji Bing shouted coldly, their hands forming seals, ice spreading across the heavens, two techniques surging toward Qin Tian's head.
Facing three ferocious attacks, Qin Tian eerily closed his eyes.
A domineering, invisible aura erupted from him, his sword trembling excitedly, pressuring Yan Yue Qi and the sisters with an unseen force.
Hum hum hum!
Within ten thousand miles, sword-wielding spectators were horrified as their swords quivered in fear, flying skyward to bow toward Qin Tian, like subjects before a king.
"What's wrong with my sword?"
"I feel my sword trembling in fear…"
"I can't control my sword anymore!"
"My sword's quaking before Qin Tian…"
"It's… the legendary Sword Intent realm, like the Vice-Principal's. Qin Tian's comprehended it!"
Countless shocked voices echoed, hundreds of swords betraying their masters, flying to tremble before Qin Tian.
"Sword Intent?"
Yan Yue Qi's eyes shrank, Ji Ya and Ji Bing feeling heavy pressure, as if invisible sword qi rested on their throats.
"Slash!"
Qin Tian's aura surged, gripping his sword, unleashing three pure, sharp sword qi bursts, slicing through layers of void, cleaving the women's attacks in half.
"Sword Intent, Half-Step Integration?"
Tian Ye Yao, discerning Qin Tian's cultivation, was slightly shocked. After some time, he'd comprehended Sword Intent and neared Integration Realm, worthy of being her close rival on the Golden List.
The sight of Qin Tian's three slashes neutralizing the women's attacks stunned the crowd. The Harem's prior dominance was halted by Qin Tian's Sword Intent.
"Jin'er, what's that aura of Qin Tian? What's Sword Intent?" Lan An, noticing the shift, paused his pursuit of Bai Zhi, asking gravely.
Jin'er appeared on his shoulder, explaining,
"Sword Intent is a profound Sword Dao comprehension. When activated, it forms a sharp, dangerous aura, pressuring those around and boosting the wielder's attack power. Against ordinary sword users, it's supremely dominant, as their swords submit and fear the Sword Intent wielder, as seen in the sky…"
Lan An nodded, asking seriously,
"If Qin Tian, at Peak Void Refinement, fights a sword-using Early Integration cultivator without Sword Intent, who wins?"
"Qin Tian," Jin'er replied without hesitation. "Despite the cultivation gap, their sword would fear his Sword Intent, crippling their combat ability. Unless they also have Sword Intent, Qin Tian wins decisively!"
Lan An inhaled deeply, relieved Yan Yue Qi and the sisters didn't use swords, or their pressure would be greater.
Sword Intent was a trump card for sword cultivators, a bane to those without it. However, a vast cultivation gap could still crush Qin Tian without a sword.
Cultivation remained the foundation.
"Sword Intent varies in strength. Qin Tian's just entered this realm. Mu Zi Yin and Bing Lan Xi could catch up or surpass him…" Jin'er said casually, her memories holding countless terrifying Sword Dao cultivators, making Qin Tian's Sword Intent insignificant.
"I'll use my Emperor Intent to counter his Sword Intent! Bai Tian's life ends here!" Lan An grinned coldly, the Eight Desolate Heavenly Flame blazing, speeding toward Qin Tian.
"Ya'er, Bing'er, take Bai Tian's life. Yue Qi and I will handle Qin Tian!"
Laughing heartily, Lan An stood beside Yan Yue Qi.
Ji Ya and Ji Bing nodded, soaring to pursue Bai Tian.
Qin Tian's face hardened, his Sword Intent pressing toward the sisters, slashing a space-piercing strike.
Yan Yue Qi nodded at Lan An, her Thunder Scepter roaring, shielding the sisters, countering the terrifying slash.
"Heavenly Emperor Triple Transformation Art – Peerless Under Heaven!"
A majestic aura, like a supreme Heavenly Emperor, erupted from Lan An, clashing head-on with Qin Tian's Sword Intent.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The invisible auras collided fiercely, Qin Tian's expression shifting. He hadn't expected this late Spirit Transformation youth to counter his Sword Intent without yielding.
Space around them exploded, shockwaves spreading, neither gaining the upper hand.
"Who are you?" Qin Tian's face darkened, asking coldly, his expression wooden.
"Harem Master – Lan An!" Lan An smirked.
"Never heard of you!" Qin Tian shook his head, focusing his Sword Intent to crush Lan An.
"Haha, exhilarating!" Lan An, meeting someone matching his aura, unleashed Peerless Under Heaven at its peak, his golden hair flowing, eyes radiating authority, contrasting Qin Tian's calm.
"The cultivation gap's too wide. At the same level, your aura could crush his Sword Intent!" Jin'er concluded.
"Haha, no need to crush. I'll just suppress his Sword Intent, letting Yue Qi finish him!" Lan An laughed gleefully.
With his intervention, the Sword Intent's pressure on Yan Yue Qi vanished, her eyes brimming with confidence, swiftly forming a Flame-Thunder Golden Crow Strike.
"Qin Tian, taste my power!"
Yan Yue Qi was thrilled. Since meeting Lan An, her strength had neared the Golden List's top five, fueling her excitement.
"Hmph, troublesome lot!"
Qin Tian snorted coldly, shouting sternly,
"Spirit-Grade Technique – Sword Slash Heavenly Wind!"
A storm howled, swirling around him, converging into his blade, slashing at the Golden Crow Strike.
Space shattered layer by layer, the sword, infused with Sword Intent and tempest, struck the Golden Crow.
BOOM!
The Golden Crow exploded mid-air, unleashing a massive Spiritual Energy blast. Lan An hid behind a Wood Tortoise to avoid being blown away.
"Sword Slash Wall Wind!"
Qin Tian shouted coldly, his sword humming, slashing forward.
Countless winds formed a sturdy wall, shielding him from the explosion's force.
Yan Yue Qi, protected by her Golden Crow, emerged unscathed.
"Young Friend Qin Tian, save Bai Tian!" The Supreme Emperor shouted urgently, seeing Ji Ya and Ji Bing nearing Bai Tian's demise.
"Nosy old man!" Bai Suo Mai roared, her massive form glowing fiercely, resonating with the sun, moon, and stars, her mouth bellowing,
"Stellar Demon Suppression!"
Thousands of stars blazed, their stellar force combining into a terrifying beam piercing the heavens, crashing toward the Supreme Emperor, aiming to crush him.
"Wilderness Suppression Seal!" Hua Jue, covered in wounds, charged with fervent eyes.
"Die!" The Supreme Emperor roared, unleashing two Earth King Seals.
BOOM BOOM!
He neutralized Hua Jue's attack but struggled against Bai Suo Mai.
The Stellar Demon Suppression pierced the Earth King Seal, continuing toward his head.
"Immovable Mountain!" The Supreme Emperor paled, forming a towering mountain to shield himself, his Spiritual Energy nearly depleted.
BOOM BOOM!
The stellar beam shattered the mountain but dissipated into nothingness.
Bai Suo Mai's face paled slightly; it was her strongest attack, yet it couldn't kill the Supreme Emperor.
"Damn it, if I fought in the starry sky, I could use the Star-Devouring talent of the Star-Devouring White Serpent. The Supreme Emperor would be dead!" Bai Suo Mai muttered unwillingly. The stars were too distant for her to devour their power, only borrow it.
"Father, catch!"
The White Sand Emperor, cornered by Hua Qing Zhu, gritted his teeth, tossing the White Jade Seal to the Supreme Emperor.
The Supreme Emperor deftly caught the familiar treasure, his combat power surging, relentlessly pushing back Bai Suo Mai and Hua Jue.
"Fool!" Hua Qing Zhu coldly struck the White Sand Emperor's Dantian, shattering his meridians.
His face paled, feeling his Spiritual Energy dissolve, his body weakening drastically, roaring venomously,
"You crippled my cultivation? Kill me if you dare!"
"Spend the rest of your life as a mortal!" Hua Qing Zhu said indifferently, placing her hand on his head, swiftly extracting his Origin Soul.
With it in hand, he couldn't die, fulfilling her promise to Bai Lian Hua.
"Wind Sword Shadow!"
Before Lan An and Yan Yue Qi's shrinking eyes, Qin Tian's sword became a shadow, his form gliding eerily like the wind, passing through Lan An, leaving countless afterimages.
A profound movement technique outmaneuvered them both.
Reappearing, he grabbed Bai Tian, escaping Ji Ya's attacks.
"Lan An, Yan Yue Qi, we'll meet again…"