Volume One: The Young Master of the Demon God, Chapter 24: Comprehending Sword Intent

Clang!

The sword energy collided with the golden sword. The blade trembled slightly before returning to stillness. As the light faded and the dust settled, the golden sword remained unscathed.

This was Qi Yu’s most powerful strike at his current cultivation level, exhausting nearly all his spiritual energy and pushing the Hanchan sword to its absolute limit, yet it hadn't even left a scratch on that blade.

Qi Yu gasped for breath, staring at the scene in disbelief.

Shen Yuntian smiled. "A decent strike, but it still lacks something. Little one, have you not yet found your own sword momentum?"

Qi Yu suddenly realized that the Sect Master was guiding him. His previous strike had indeed been his strongest, but it had lacked the weight of "momentum." In other words, it had been nothing more than brute force.

Sword momentum! Battle!

Qi Yu nodded slightly. "Thank you for your guidance, Sect Master!"

After recovering his spiritual energy, Qi Yu gripped the Hanchan again. An infinite fighting spirit erupted in his eyes, and a chilling, murderous aura began to radiate from his body.

Shen Yuntian glanced at him, surprised. "This unwavering fighting spirit... I have only ever sensed it in one other person."

Clang!

Spiritual power and fighting spirit poured madly into the Hanchan.

"Since you have grasped the momentum, do you still need the form?"

Qi Yu formed a seal with one hand. As his energy reached the threshold, his eyes gleamed with intensity. This strike would succeed! Augmented by his unyielding spirit, the power of this first move more than doubled.

"God-Slaying Sword Art, First Form!"

The air shrieked. Golden sword light overflowed, and boundless sword energy swept through the space like a storm, fueled by an earth-shattering fighting spirit!

Rumble!

The energy slammed into Shen Yuntian’s golden sword. This time, spiderweb-like cracks finally appeared on its surface, though it did not shatter. The rumbling continued until the energy dissipated, yet the golden sword remained whole.

Shen Yuntian nodded repeatedly. "Good. This strike is far stronger than the last; you have incorporated momentum. It is a pity, however, that it still falls short."

Qi Yu looked up, his breathing heavy, a sense of near-despair washing over him. The golden sword in Shen Yuntian’s hand was slowly returning to its perfect state.

"Little one," Shen Yuntian said, "your strike was sharp and your momentum grand, but do you know what is still missing?"

Qi Yu reflected, but eventually shook his head.

"Artistic conception," Shen Yuntian replied.

"Artistic conception?" Qi Yu asked, bewildered. "What is that?"

"It is the Sword Intent. That is something you must realize for yourself."

*Sword Intent... Sword Intent...* Qi Yu muttered to himself. He sat cross-legged. He only had one strike left; he could not waste it. He sank his consciousness into the Demon God Sword Domain.

"Sister Yaoyao," Qi Yu asked upon entering, "what is Sword Intent?"

"Do you remember what I told you when I first taught you the God-Slaying Sword Art?" Yaoyao asked.

Qi Yu recalled, "'The God-Slaying Sword Art is not about victory or defeat, but life and death. It focuses on the divine will...' The divine will?"

Yaoyao smiled. "Exactly! If you were to forget the forms of the God-Slaying Sword Art right now, would you be unable to swing your sword? I told you long ago: do not let yourself be trapped by fixed patterns. You must learn to adapt!"

*Adapt? Artistic conception, divine will, Sword Intent...* Qi Yu murmured. Could the Sect Master mean that his swordsmanship was heavy on form but light on intent?

If he continued this way, his path in the sword would only grow narrower. The path of the sword progressed from sword energy to sword form, then to sword momentum, and finally to sword intent. Perhaps there were even higher realms beyond.

The mountain one sees is not necessarily the highest; reaching the summit is not necessarily the end.

Qi Yu lowered his head, deep in thought. *Why do I swing my sword?* He looked at the giant sword in the center of the domain and, after a long gaze, he suddenly understood.

I swing my sword to see my mother! To wash away my father’s shame! To seek revenge! To strike back at those who once looked down on me and humiliated me!

If one strike could open the heavens and clear the clouds to reveal the sun, then I would draw my blade without regret!

Qi Yu’s eyes grew brighter. To cleanse this world of its filth and shadows, to return the heavens and earth to clarity—this was the path he pursued! If the heavens were unjust, then he would point his sword at the sky!

With this thought, Qi Yu gripped the Hanchan and began to practice the God-Slaying Sword Art. However, he did not follow the order of the forms; he moved erratically, swinging with abandon. His eyes were resolute, a raging fire burning within his chest, his fighting spirit soaring.

There was no spiritual energy coating the Hanchan, and no light flickered at its tip. From afar, it looked as though he were just dancing with the sword. Yet, upon closer inspection, one would be shocked to find that every move perfectly integrated both form and momentum. The sword light was hazy, moving with extreme speed.

*So, this is Sword Intent!*

Qi Yu snapped his eyes open and looked at the golden sword in the Sect Master’s hand.

Shen Yuntian smiled. "You have found a lead so quickly?"

Qi Yu nodded. "I would like to try."

Shen Yuntian agreed, holding out the golden sword. "Very well, unleash your final strike."

Qi Yu took a deep breath and placed his hand on the hilt. Nearby, the White-Clothed Deacon and Elder Jiang held their breath, terrified that Qi Yu might try to split the Demon-Sealing Tower in two, just as his father had done.

However, Qi Yu did not channel any spiritual energy into the Hanchan. He began to perform sword moves that were chaotic and disorganized, not at all like the technique of a sword cultivator. Shen Yuntian was deeply confused, wondering what the boy was doing.

After several sets of movements, the tower remained calm. No vibration occurred, and the two deacons began to relax. Qi Yu seemed tireless, chopping, slashing, and parrying over and over.

During the process, he even asked, "Sect Master, when you chose the path of the sword, could you tell me how many realms there are?"

"Seven," Shen Yuntian replied. "From shallowest to deepest: Sword Energy, Sword Form, Sword Momentum, Sword Intent, Sword Heart, Sword Soul, and Sword Domain. The momentum you realize determines your future intent. I have only reached the Sword Heart realm."

Qi Yu smiled. The Demon God Sword Domain within him was surely the highest realm! And since Yaoyao was the sword soul of that giant blade, it meant her original master was a peerless master of the sword.

Qi Yu’s movements became faster and faster, the light flashing just as it had when Yaoyao first demonstrated the forms to him. At this moment, there was only the sword in his heart and eyes. With this sword in hand, one could move mountains, suppress demons, command gods, and open the heavens.

Suddenly, Qi Yu stepped forward!

Though there was no sword energy, an ominous premonition stirred in the hearts of the deacon and the elder. Shen Yuntian’s expression darkened; he could not fathom the secret hidden within this strike.

Qi Yu stared at the golden sword, swinging his blade in what looked like a simple, unremarkable strike. It seemed as though he had cast every sword realm aside. Yet, the moment the blade descended, Shen Yuntian finally noticed the faint glimmer at the tip. It was as if he had discarded everything, yet contained it all within a single point.

"Hah!" Qi Yu let out a soft cry.

Clang!

The Hanchan and the golden sword collided with a crisp metallic ring.

Swish!

In an instant, Qi Yu’s face turned deathly pale. Every bit of spiritual energy in his dantian and the three meridians he had opened was instantly drained dry.

"What!" Shen Yuntian finally realized something was wrong. He pushed more force into the golden sword, feeling it tremble violently, unable to hold on.

With a crash, the golden sword shattered into pieces.

He had succeeded!

But as the golden sword broke, boundless sword energy erupted from the Hanchan, lashing out in every direction.

"Death intent!" Shen Yuntian gasped, looking at the young man. "Your Sword Intent is to exhaust everything until one’s life and path are extinguished!"

Qi Yu chuckled. "My sword momentum is 'Battle'—to charge forward, even if I must fight until I am exhausted and dead."

Rumble!

The entire Demon-Sealing Tower began to shake violently. Dozens of feet of sword energy left countless hideous scars on the sturdy walls. Fortunately, because of Qi Zhenming’s previous incident, the walls had been specially reinforced.

Inside the tower, the monsters roared incessantly. Elder Jiang immediately took out his sect transmission token and shouted, "Repair the formation! Start it up for me immediately! Not a single monster must escape!"

Swish, swish, swish!

The sword energy continued to rampage inside. Qi Yu remained pale. Within the Demon God Sword Domain, Yaoyao looked at the violently trembling giant sword in the center and fell silent.

Qi Yu said awkwardly, "Sister Yaoyao, I’m sorry. I borrowed some of your power, but I didn't expect it to be so strong!"

Yaoyao sighed speechlessly. "How did you discover you could borrow my power?"

"The highest realm of swordsmanship is the Sword Domain," Qi Yu replied. "Others might spend a lifetime failing to reach it, but I have one right here inside me!"

Yaoyao asked, "Then why did he say your Sword Intent was about 'life and path being extinguished'?"

Qi Yu replied, "I lied to him. I couldn't tell him I was borrowing the power of the Demon God Sword Domain, and besides, I’m not foolish enough to seek my own death!"

Yaoyao asked, "Then what is your Sword Intent, really...?"