Chapter 124 - 124 123 Wooden Man

124: Chapter 123: Wooden Man 124: Chapter 123: Wooden Man Lin Xuan looked at the other version of himself in front, a slight smile curling on his lips, “What is this again? Another Illusion Realm?” “No, I am you, a true existence!” that figure slowly said. “Is that so?” Lin Xuan’s aura suddenly changed, enveloped by Sword Intent as if he were a Sword God, powerful Sword Qi cutting through the ground, creating deep ravines as it rushed towards the figure. Inside his body, the nine Spirit Veins resonated, thick Spiritual Power clad the sword body, forming a seven-zhang-long Sword Qi, like a blue silk ribbon, slashing towards the illusion. Boom! Across him, that figure also released a heaven-shocking aura, seemingly about to cut through the Void. “Sword Intent!” Lin Xuan was shocked, he did not expect the other to also know this. “So intense, this Sword Intent seems even stronger than mine!” Lin Xuan whispered, “Could it be the real Sword Intent?” His Sword Intent was still at the Half-step Sword Intent stage, whereas the opponent might have surpassed this stage and entered the true realm of Sword Intent. That figure smiled faintly, lifting his right hand and then slamming it down, a similarly seven-zhang-long Sword Qi flew out, its aura even more fierce. Boom boom boom— The two Sword Qis collided, like a volcanic eruption, shockwaves rolling around, invisible energy attacking Lin Xuan. “Illusion Thunder Step!” Lin Xuan kept jumping, while Red Flame Protective Sword Energy condensed around him, offsetting the remnants of the Sword Qi. Whoosh! He gracefully landed, his eyes flashing orange light as he looked ahead. There, the figure stood quietly, the Sword Intent around him intensifying. “Kill!” Lin Xuan didn’t hesitate and charged again. The other version had the Bronze Bracelet and talisman paper, making it not very hard to obliterate the figure. But he didn’t use them, feeling faintly that this figure must be solved by his own strength, or else, even if he killed it, it might not be possible to get out. Lin Xuan transformed into a Golden Light, arriving instantaneously in front of the illusion, his Red Flame Greatsword stabbing out like a sudden burst. He used the Thunder Move Sword Technique, and so did his opponent; not only were their moves the same, but his opponent’s strength was even greater than Lin Xuan’s. “Gale Triple Stab!” Lin Xuan moved with the sword, turning into a blue long rainbow, bursting out like a gale, while the opposite figure also burst forth, turning into a hurricane. Ding ding ding! The Longswords intersected, sparking in the air, each clash sword tip to sword tip, dangerously intense. After three clashes, Lin Xuan decisively retreated. He realized the figure opposite was uncannily similar, not only using the same moves but also overpowering him with Sword Intent. “What should I do?” He kept pondering as the figure opposite launched an attack. Lin Xuan responded, their figures interchanging rapidly, in a blink, hundreds of moves had passed. “No, this isn’t right!” Lin Xuan dodged the Sword Qi, his body suddenly trembling. “If his Sword Intent were stronger than mine, I should be dead by now. But the situation is that neither of us can overpower the other!” Lin Xuan’s eyes gradually brightened, “I have been ensnared by his Illusion Technique from the beginning!” Inside him, Lord of Wine closely watched the battle, a smile emerging on his face when he saw Lin Xuan’s realization. “Defeat him, and you can condense the true Sword Intent,” Lord of Wine muttered to himself. Lin Xuan didn’t hear Lord of Wine’s words, but his thoughts aligned with Lord of Wine’s. “As long as I can condense true Sword Intent, I can defeat him!” Lin Xuan saw hope, “But how can I actually condense the true Sword Intent?” He had been stuck at the Half-step Sword Intent stage for too long, unable to breakthrough. “The opponent has the Mental Realm of Sword Intent, but not the power of Sword Intent, perhaps I can realize it from him.” Thinking this, Lin Xuan charged once more. This time, Lin Xuan not only sparred with that shadow but also used his Purple Spirit Eyes and Soul Power to continuously perceive the Sword Intent. Deciphering, verifying, absorbing, Lin Xuan was making rapid progress. Two hours later, the Sword Intent Seed within Lin Xuan emitted a tremendously bright glow, releasing a heaven-shocking aura, with the form of the Thunder Sword flickering in and out, stirring the winds and clouds in all directions. Lin Xuan felt a powerful force, as though a mere glance could annihilate everything. “Is this Sword Intent?” he asked, holding the sword in one hand, pointing diagonally at Heaven. With one swing, the air in front of him seemed to have been evacuated, and the shadow appeared to be frozen, unable to move. The golden sword light was incomparably sharp, as if it had cleaved the Void itself, slashing through. A huge Sword Mark passed over the ground, leaving a deep trench behind, and the shadow, which looked just like Lin Xuan, had blood seeping from its forehead and fell powerlessly. “You… you shouldn’t have killed me…” the shadow said weakly. “Hmph!” Lin Xuan snorted coldly, his eyes shooting out two beams of sword light, piercing through it directly. Boom! That voice completely lost hope, the glow from its body also disappeared, revealing its true form. A wooden figure fell on the ground, its head split into two halves with golden electric arcs jumping at the fracture. This battle had amazingly led me to comprehend the true Sword Intent, worthy of being called a trial path. Lin Xuan was extremely joyful, his combat strength had greatly increased, even if he were to face Ling Kun now, he could directly eliminate him! “Let’s go, the trial path is not yet over,” Lord of Wine reminded. Lin Xuan nodded and walked towards the Light Gate. Woosh! A flash of white light, and the scenery changed again. This was a cobblestone path, and up ahead was a vermillion gate, flanked on either side by various landscapes. “I’ll take charge of this challenge,” said Lord of Wine, “do as I say.” Under Lord of Wine’s guidance, Lin Xuan began to move forward. This process might seem bizarre to outsiders, but only Lin Xuan knew the dangers involved. Eventually, Lin Xuan safely completed the cobblestone path and entered the vermilion gate. Inside was a large hall, supported by four pillars, and at the front stood a stone statue, arrogantly solitary. It made no movement, yet it exuded a demeanor that seemed to dominate the world. Had it been an ordinary person, they probably couldn’t have withstood this aura, but Lin Xuan, having grasped Sword Intent, remained unaffected. Below the statue was a stone table that held two items, one was a stone token and the other was a key about the size of a palm. “That stone token must symbolize identity, and that key perhaps is a crucial clue to unlock some important place; you better take them first,” said Lord of Wine. Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan quickly stowed both items into his Storage Ring. “Although I do not know the senior’s great name, this trial path has indeed been hugely beneficial to this junior,” Lin Xuan spoke earnestly, then he bowed deeply. “Thank you, Senior!” Rumble-rumble— As if feeling Lin Xuan’s respect, the great stone statue’s aura surged, seemingly coming to life. “Destined one…” The deep voice resonated, echoing in the grand hall, and the air around seemed to solidify. Lin Xuan felt as though he was high in the sky, floating with the wind. In his eyes, there was a majestic figure, standing in the Void. As the sword moved, the wind followed. Although Lin Xuan didn’t yet understand the Mental Realm it conveyed, the apocalyptic vision shocked his soul. “Wind Emperor’s Sword…” the ethereal voice echoed in his ears.