Chapter 95: Even If You Die, You Must Survive!
Yeop Hyeon never stopped.
From the Spirit Water Sword, an intense Battle Intent surged endlessly, shaking the entire cave.
Battle Intent? Sword Intent?
In truth, the two did not repel each other.
On the contrary, they were one and the same!
Yeop Hyeon was a sword cultivator, but in the broader sense, he was also a martial artist. As a sword cultivator facing an enemy, how could he lack Battle Intent?
Sword Intent was rooted in the sword, but its essence came from the person wielding it. Battle Intent was the same—the human heart was at its core.
Thus, whether Sword Intent or Battle Intent, both stemmed from the same source.
Until now, Yeop Hyeon had consciously tried to distinguish between Sword Intent and martial intent. But after trials and errors, he realized they could fuse perfectly without repelling one another.
The core of Battle Intent lay in the character for "battle" (jeon). And what was the purpose of grasping a sword? The same—"battle"!
Their cores were identical!
Above Yeop Hyeon's head, the Spirit Water Sword vibrated fiercely. The Battle Intent pouring from it was so abundant it seemed ready to fight the entire world alone.
At that moment, another realm of intent rose from the Spirit Water Sword.
Sword Intent!
As if announcing the shift from Battle Intent to Sword Intent, the sword let out a clear, resonant cry.
Battle Intent and Sword Intent did not fully merge, but neither did they push each other away. They coexisted within the Spirit Water Sword, acknowledging one another's presence.
Just then, Yeop Hyeon floated into the air and grasped the Spirit Water Sword. Battle Intent and Sword Intent enveloped his body.
Yet the two realms of intent harmonized seamlessly.
Yeop Hyeon slowly closed his eyes.
Battle!
If asked what Battle Intent was, the middle-aged man before him could answer with a single character: "battle" (jeon).
This "battle" shared a vein with the "momentum" (se) embedded in One Sword Determines Life and Death.
No matter who stood before him or how strong they were, if they sought to kill him, he had to fight back.
No!
He had to kill them!
This conviction was what Yeop Hyeon had lacked.
Sword Dao Conviction!
When thoughts align, the heart opens!
Yeop Hyeon's eyes snapped open. In an instant, the sword in his hand vibrated wildly before piercing the cave ceiling and vanishing into the clouds.
A tremendous aura swirled around Yeop Hyeon's remaining body in the cave.
At that moment, clouds gathered slowly around the cave entrance. A rainbow even bloomed across the sky above.
Heaven and Earth Phenomenon!
Inside the cave, the middle-aged man stared at Yeop Hyeon with wide eyes.
"Achieving the realms of both Martial Master and Sword Master at once... and triggering a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon... What extraordinary figure raised such a martial artist?!"
Martial Master!
Sword Master!
Yeop Hyeon had attained both realms simultaneously.
But it wasn't over.
A massive surge of energy exploded from within Yeop Hyeon's body.
This was the power of the mid-grade Mingjie sword intent he had swallowed last time. Back then, he had suppressed it for battle. But now, there was no need—and no way—to hold it back any longer.
The power of a single mid-grade Mingjie sword. It was terrifying.
Yeop Hyeon's entire body began to tremble violently.
Watching this, the middle-aged man furrowed his brow and muttered.
"It's this intense even before breaking through the realm?!"
The middle-aged man was once revered as a genius martial artist himself. Gazing at the bizarre phenomena unfolding around Yeop Hyeon, he recalled his own youth. He had gone through a similar process.
In that instant, Yeop Hyeon's trembling intensified.
The middle-aged man extended his hand solemnly toward Yeop Hyeon. The wild, spasming energies from Yeop Hyeon's body flowed into the man, gradually calming.
Soon, the composed Yeop Hyeon began absorbing the sword intent's power.
How much time passed? Yeop Hyeon suddenly opened his eyes wide.
Boom!
A tremendous energy vortex burst from his body.
At that moment, the middle-aged man asked Yeop Hyeon.
"You could have reached the Penetrating Nether Realm. Why did you stop?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"It's too early."
The middle-aged man looked at him curiously, then smiled.
"What do you mean?"
"I've only recently entered the Soaring Realm. Advancing to the next realm before solidifying this one would just make it hollow."
"Hah... It's rare for a young boy like you not to rush. You're right. Entering the Penetrating Nether Realm without mastering the Soaring Realm would be like a glittering but empty fruit. For an ordinary person, it might be fine to push through, but for a child with your solid foundation, tempering each realm thoroughly will lead to achievements others dare not dream of!"
Yeop Hyeon bowed deeply to the middle-aged man.
"Thank you for the advice!"
"Hahaha! In terms of realm, you're already on par with most Penetrating Nether Realm experts. When you truly reach that level someday, few in that realm will match you!"
The middle-aged man steadied his breath and continued.
"You've also learned how to condense Battle Intent and draw out its maximum power in martial arts. But I can't teach you other martial paths anymore, given your lack of a dantian."
Yeop Hyeon hesitated, then spoke.
"Anything will do. Please impart some wisdom."
The middle-aged man pondered, then replied.
"Whether sword cultivator or martial artist, everyone must hold to their true heart. The true heart is one's most honest, primal thought. As martial artists grow stronger, new ambitions arise. These changes can be good, but they often lead astray. Take a poor man who suddenly becomes rich—he might abandon his child and replace his wife. That's because he abandons his true heart."
The middle-aged man met Yeop Hyeon's eyes.
"So, always keep a measure in your heart—to gauge others and yourself."
Yeop Hyeon bowed again.
"I'll keep it in mind."
"Hahaha. One last thing: Your talents and nature aid your cultivation, but they could also hold you back. Those used to success often stray when things go wrong.
You sword cultivators often hear, 'When thoughts align, the heart opens.' Conversely, if thoughts don't align, nothing opens. But remember: never rush. The royal road of all paths is to walk slowly!"
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"I'll keep it in mind!"
At that moment, the middle-aged man opened his right hand, and a golden box flew toward Yeop Hyeon from somewhere.
Yeop Hyeon gave him a puzzled look. The man smiled.
"Open it."
Yeop Hyeon carefully opened the box. Inside was a jade plaque shaped like a dragon. Flipping it over revealed two golden characters.
National Scholar!
Yeop Hyeon's eyes filled with confusion.
"That's a status plaque for Jeoguk. Though you're not from Jeoguk, holding it lets you come and go freely. It contains the Dragon Gathering Formation. With your top-grade spirit stones, activating it will grant Dragon Qi, vastly enhancing your power and physical toughness."
Yeop Hyeon tucked the plaque into his bosom.
"Thank you!"
"Since you entered my secret realm today, we've formed a bond. Giving you this token of favor is only natural. Young one, I look forward to meeting again on a good day!"
With those words, the middle-aged man's body began to fade into transparency.
Moments later, he was gone from the chamber.
Yeop Hyeon turned and spotted two more boxes beside where the man had stood.
He didn't touch them and simply turned away.
A person shouldn't be too greedy.
Since the middle-aged man hadn't offered them, he couldn't take them.
After Yeop Hyeon left, the middle-aged man reappeared in the cave. Smiling at the two untouched boxes, he murmured.
"What a fine child... It's a pity he's not one of our Jeoguk people..."
Meanwhile, as Yeop Hyeon exited the cave, the sky spun, and everything blurred. Soon, his figure vanished from the spot.
How much time passed? Yeop Hyeon slowly opened his eyes. The scenery outside the secret realm came into view. Not far away, Ji Yuan Zhang and Gang Gu were rushing toward him.
Mu Yun Qi, arriving first, shouted.
"You idiot, we thought you were gone for good!"
"Had some business left. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Gang Gu approached.
"Glad you're safe. I'll head out then."
She started walking away but suddenly whipped around, yelling.
"Hey! Aren't you coming?!"
"..."
Mu Yun Qi chuckled at the scene beside him.
Soon after, Yeop Hyeon walked alongside Gang Gu to see her off.
Gang Gu broke the silence first.
"They won't give up so easily. No one knows what'll happen when you return to the Imperial City."
"It's my burden to bear."
"I want to help, but it's beyond my power now."
Yeop Hyeon grinned at her.
"Gang Gu, you've helped more than enough. I don't want you dragged into more danger. It wouldn't be good for you or the Kanguk imperial family."
Gang Gu stopped and stared intently at Yeop Hyeon's face. As he awkwardly tried to speak, she stepped closer, straightening his disheveled clothes.
"Survive no matter what. Even if you die, you must survive. Promise me!"
With that, Gang Gu walked away alone.
Her steps were so swift she vanished from Yeop Hyeon's sight in moments.
Standing there a while longer, Yeop Hyeon called out to Ji Yuan Zhang watching from afar.
"I'm heading to Changmok Academy!"
Ji Yuan Zhang stared silently.
Then Yeop Hyeon muttered low.
"To kill them all..."