The Sword Intent That Shook the Mountains

"Fellow cultivator Dario, did you doubt my words just now?"

Hektor’s calm voice drifted through the mountain wind like a quiet current beneath crashing waves. His aged eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward Dario, the faint smile on his face carrying hidden sharpness.

The atmosphere around the shattered mountain instantly became tense.

The clouds above rolled slowly, heavy and dark. Broken rocks still floated in the air from the earlier battle with the Inferno Swift Bird. The smell of blood and scorched earth lingered between the cliffs, mixing with the cold wind sweeping across the ruined battlefield.

Dario frowned and looked deeply at Hektor.

The shrewd old monster immediately understood something.

Hektor... this old fox... is standing on Leon’s side.

The realization made his gaze darken for a moment.

However, he was not afraid.

Even if he had to fight both Hektor and Leon together, he still possessed enough confidence to retreat safely. At worst, there would simply be some risk involved.

More importantly...

He had not come here for Leon.

His true objective was the mountain treasure hidden within the depths of the ancient forbidden land.

As for Leon...

Dario suppressed the killing intent flickering inside his chest.

There’s no rush.

Once I break through into the pinnacle Realm, even Mike won’t be my opponent anymore. At that time, killing this little brat will be no different from crushing an insect.

Thinking of this, the coldness in his eyes faded slightly.

"Haha..." Dario suddenly laughed softly, though the smile never reached his eyes. "Fellow cultivator Hektor, it’s not that I don’t believe you. But this title is simply too heavy."

His gaze shifted toward Leon.

The young master of the Amethyst Summit Division stood calmly atop the broken stone platform, black robes fluttering in the wind. Thin amethyst embroidery shimmered faintly beneath the gloomy sky. His shoulder-length black hair danced lazily behind him, and those strange purple eyes remained tranquil from beginning to end.

Dario’s eyes narrowed.

"I’m merely afraid," he continued slowly, "that Fellow cultivator Leon won’t be able to bear such praise."

The sarcasm hidden beneath his words was obvious to everyone present.

Even Harry Taylor, whose mind usually moved slower than everyone else’s, could hear the provocation clearly this time.

Leon merely smiled.

He neither denied nor accepted the title.

After all, from beginning to end, he had never personally claimed to be the most stunning genius in history.

The title had come from Hektor.

Not him.

Seeing Leon remain silent, Hektor stroked his beard and chuckled lightly.

"If Fellow cultivator doesn’t believe me..." he said meaningfully, "why don’t you personally test him and see whether this old man is lying?"

The moment those words fell, many nearby cultivators held their breaths.

Even Fairy Fiona’s beautiful teal eyes flickered slightly.

Was Hektor trying to provoke a direct clash?

Dario glanced sideways at him before sneering.

"There’s no need for me to test anything."

His voice grew colder.

"I’ve already heard about what happened yesterday. That Inferno Swift Bird merely suffered a sneak attack and let him succeed temporarily. Such tricks are unpresentable."

He paused deliberately before continuing.

"It’s nothing remarkable."

The surrounding crowd exchanged nervous glances.

Harry clenched his fists subconsciously.

This old bastard...

He’s clearly looking down on Senior Leon.

Dario’s gaze locked onto Leon again.

"Many years ago," he said calmly, "I personally experienced the swordsmanship of the Amethyst Summit Division. I already understand their techniques like the back of my hand."

A trace of arrogance appeared in his eyes.

"In terms of swordsmanship alone, the Amethyst Mist Swordsmanship is not some heaven-defying inheritance. Across the Forsaken Domain, countless sword arts can rival it."

The moment those words were spoken, the expressions of several Celestis Academy elders darkened.

Even Hektor frowned slightly.

After all, Dario’s statement was no longer merely targeting Leon.

He was directly belittling the inheritance left behind by Zeon himself.

"Oh?"

Leon finally spoke.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

The interest in his purple eyes slowly deepened.

"In that case..." Leon said softly, "your swordsmanship must be superb?"

Dario smiled faintly without replying.

But his expression already answered everything.

Back then, after suffering defeat at Zeon’s hands, he had secluded himself for decades specifically to study the Amethyst Mist Swordsmanship. Every movement. Every flaw. Every shift in Mana circulation.

He had analyzed it thoroughly.

He believed he already understood the sword art completely.

Unfortunately...

There was one thing he did not know.

Although Leon was Zeon’s successor and the master of the Amethyst Summit Division...

He had never truly relied on the division’s original inheritance.

The sword path Leon walked was entirely his own.

The moment Leon realized this old man was proudly lecturing him about swordsmanship...

He almost laughed.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Ever since mastering the Font Sword Art, he had never encountered anyone whose sword comprehension surpassed his own.

Now this old man kept revealing disdain toward the Amethyst Summit Division’s sword arts. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

How could Leon not become interested?

The excitement hidden deep within his eyes slowly surfaced.

"Since that’s the case..."

Leon stepped forward lightly.

The wind beneath his feet suddenly changed.

"Why don’t you give me some pointers?"

The instant those words fell—

Boom!

A terrifying sword intent exploded from Leon’s body.

The world trembled.

The surrounding vegetation within a hundred miles bent simultaneously as if kneeling beneath an invisible emperor.

The clouds overhead churned violently.

Sword intent surged into the heavens.

Sharp.

Ancient.

Dominating.

The air itself seemed to split apart.

Countless people instantly felt chills run down their spines.

Even Hektor’s pupils contracted sharply.

"This sword intent..."

Fairy Fiona’s breathing paused for a moment.

Her azure hair fluttered wildly in the violent wind as her beautiful teal eyes stared fixedly at Leon’s back.

At this moment, Leon no longer looked like a young cultivator.

He looked like an unsheathed divine sword capable of tearing apart heaven and earth.

Dario’s relaxed expression finally changed.

His pupils narrowed slightly.

What terrifying sword intent...

How could this be the sword aura of the Amethyst Summit Division?

No...

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Meanwhile, throughout the surrounding mountains, countless cultivators abruptly turned their heads toward the source of the pressure.

"What happened?"

"That sword aura..."

"My heavens—who released such terrifying sword intent?"

Within moments, streams of light shot through the skies from every direction.

More and more cultivators rushed toward the mountain like swarming tides.

The ground trembled continuously from their arrival.

Soon, the once-empty battlefield became densely crowded with spectators.

Even the ferocious beasts hidden in nearby forests began retreating instinctively under the oppressive sword aura.

Nobody dared approach recklessly.

Everyone stared toward the center of the mountain.

Toward the black-robed young man standing calmly amidst the storm.

A cultivator suddenly widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Isn’t this Amethyst Summit Division’s master, Leon?"