Chapter 1071: Chapter 453: Swordsmanship Breakthrough—First Stage Mastery (Part 3)

A thousand sword glows devour and combine with each other, their number sharply reduced.

Nine hundred, seven hundred, five hundred... 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Eventually, all the sword glows, all the Sword Intent, all the induced Primordial Qi and Law comprehension, completely condensed and sublimated into—

Two hundred!

Merely two hundred, yet it seemed to be condensed to the extreme, formed from pure Sword Dao Law and the essence of heaven and earth—a refined azure-gold essence sword aura.

These two hundred sword auras hovered around Xu Ping, no longer circulating.

Instead, they were like a hundred silent ancient sword gods, emitting an aura of return to simplicity, yet powerful enough to make even Divinity Transformation cultivators tremble in fear.

Each sword aura seemed to contain a miniature world of Sword Dao within, its power highly condensed, and once unleashed, it would surely be earth-shattering!

The Sword Intent reached a major achievement—a hundred swords soaring across the sky.

Xu Ping slowly sheathed his sword, those hundred daunting essence sword auras quietly dissipated, merging into the void.

He felt the more harmonious, stronger, and more closely connected Sword Dao mood within him, his lips curved into a sharp and satisfied arc.

"Finally... It’s a major achievement!"

A satisfied arc slowly formed at Xu Ping’s lips, carrying the joy and confidence of years of hard cultivation finally bearing fruit.

After spending many years and taking advantage of the convenience offered by Divine Sense and Primordial Qi, he finally pushed this Sword Intent to the level of a major achievement.

"With my current Sword Dao cultivation, along with the Canghua Divine Wood Sword, my life treasure, if I give my all... I should be able to contend with Divinity Transformation cultivators like the Star Palace Saints!" Xu Ping was sure in his heart.

This wasn’t blind arrogance, but based on a clear understanding of his own Sword Dao’s power and the Divinity Transformation level’s strength.

Of course, he was also very clear-headed.

Contending maybe possible, but if it becomes a prolonged battle, he would likely still end in defeat.

The reason is simple, the foundation of Mana and the ability to sustain prolonged combat is his greatest shortcoming at the moment.

Divinity Transformation cultivators’ Mana, whether in quality or quantity, surpasses Nascent Soul cultivators, not to mention those veterans like the Dual Saints.

They can sustain high-intensity Divine Techniques for a long time, while Xu Ping, even though his Sword Dao touches divinity, after unleashing the peak power of ten sword strikes, his Mana would inevitably be on the brink of exhaustion.

Endurance doesn’t stand on the same level.

"If I truly want to defeat or even slay the Dual Saints, I would need to push this Sword Intent to the level of one-turn Perfection!"

Xu Ping’s eyes sparkled, as if seeing that ultimate realm, "Condensing a hundred swords into one, transforming it into the essence sword containing supreme Sword Intent!"

"When that sword strikes, Divinity Transformation cultivators like the Pleasure Demon wouldn’t be able to resist, a single sword would be enough to destroy their physical body!"

Thinking of that possible scene, even Xu Ping’s heart couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

But, he quickly calmed down. "Even so, completely annihilating a Divinity Transformation cultivator remains extremely difficult."

What makes Divinity Transformation cultivators most troublesome is the Nascent Soul’s teleportation technique.

Achieving a successful strike and destroying their physical body is easy, but preventing their Nascent Soul from escaping with essence through teleportation is immensely difficult.

Unless a trace of sword momentum is condensed, locking space under its coverage, solidifying all arts, the teleportation technique of Divinity Transformation Nascent Soul naturally becomes ineffective.

Only at that point can one truly talk about slaying Divinity Transformation.

Yet Xu Ping also understands that this requires cultivating Sword Intent to two-turns at least, to possibly touch it.

For him right now, it’s still far too early.

Just reaching one-turn major achievement, there’s still quite a distance to Perfection, not to mention the elusive two-turns.

Xu Ping’s mind stirred, and he opened the proficiency panel:

[Sword Intent (One-turn) Major Achievement: 1/1600]

...

"The next step is pursuing Perfection..."

"However, given my current progress, even with the assistance of Primordial Qi for comprehension, filling this 1600 proficiency points is not something that can be achieved in a short time."

"Thus, the focus of future cultivation must be adjusted, placing greater emphasis on enhancing my own realm, striving for an early breakthrough to Nascent Soul Perfection." Xu Ping thought to himself.

As long as Mana cultivation can elevate to Nascent Soul Perfection, with quality and quantity raised a notch, driving this major achievement Sword momentum will be easier and more sustained, providing more confidence against Divinity Transformation.

"And once reaching Nascent Soul Perfection, he can ’negotiate’ well with the Nine Nether Elder to plot a return to Nanchuan Realm and slay the Heaven-Suppressing Sect’s Cloud Thunder Celestial Venerable." Xu Ping’s eyes flashed with cold light.

Nanchuan Realm is the land of Divinity Transformation in his plans, the Heaven-Suppressing Sect is an obstacle that must be removed.

Previously, he might need to rely on the Nine Nether Elder, wary of his unfathomable means.

But now with his Sword Dao major achievement and Divine Sense reaching Divinity Transformation capabilities, he’s much less fearful of the Nine Nether Elder.

The improvement in strength has led to a change in mindset.

Xu Ping is confident that even if the Nine Nether Elder truly has any sinister designs, with his current strength, he could respond and even counteract.

Moreover, if he could go further and successfully cultivate the Nirvana Golden Body... By then, in terms of absolute strength and survival ability, he would once again experience a qualitative leap.

Thinking of that Body Refining Technique reputed to render the body indestructible, Xu Ping’s heart was filled with anticipation.

"I’d like to see, by then, what else the Nine Nether Elder might bring out to plot against me in secret,"

All confidence ultimately stems from strength.

...

With a breakthrough in Sword Dao, plans set in mind, Xu Ping felt his thoughts clear, his spirit pleasant.

He didn’t immediately immerse himself in another round of intense cultivation, opting for relaxation instead, his figure blurred, appearing in Duan Shuang’s refined and tranquil cave abode.

Soon, the sound of a melodic zither arose within Duan Shuang’s cave abode.

As time passed, the zither sound gradually became high-pitched and impassioned, akin to swords ringing across the skies, full of bold determination and a majestic momentum capable of slicing through all obstacles.

Eventually, after a peak that touched the heart, the zither music slowly calmed, returning to tranquil and distant.