Cultivation Begins with Skill Points-Chapter 185 Sword Intent

"The task of fully connecting all acupoints is incredibly challenging. The innate acupoints are places where the natural and human realms intersect. Attempting to connect them successfully is akin to defying the heavens. If you fail, the backlash of True Qi can result in losing one’s Qi, turning the person into a cripple, or worse, exploding and leaving no remains. It’s truly a journey of nine deaths and one life, where life and death hang by a thread."

Yu Jinglei gazed deeply at Zhong Lin and said in a solemn voice, "The Innate Realm allows a lifespan of five hundred years. Though it seems like a long life, patiently nurturing the acupoints to store full True Qi takes at least a century. Moreover, mastering them in full requires tremendous opportunity and insight. One should not be impulsive or overly ambitious. The so-called ’Spiritual Origin Realm’ may well be uncertain, yet it must be approached step by step with diligence."

Yu Jinglei’s words also served as a reminder to Zhong Lin to properly cultivate in the Innate Realm without being greedy for what lies beyond, as it’s possible that after five hundred years, one might still be lingering in the Innate Realm.

There was nothing Zhong Lin could say; he could only nod in agreement.

"Alright, let’s not dwell on that. Now, I will teach you the ’Spiritual Heart Sword Technique,’ an Innate Martial Skill of the Sword Cauldron Sect, a supreme art with immeasurable power."

"Thank you, Sect Master."

Three hours later, Zhong Lin left the main hall.

"System."

Host: Zhong Lin

Strategy: Five Elements Mixed Essence Skill (Full Level)...

Skill: Spiritual Heart Sword Technique (Beginner)...

Miscellaneous: Alchemy: Fourth Grade Elixir (Full Level)...

Skill Points: ∞

The ’Spiritual Heart Sword Technique’ has already been formed in the ’Skill’ column of the system.

Returning to the Green Bamboo Courtyard, Zhong Lin went directly into the secret chamber. Instead of rushing to elevate the martial skill to full level, he sat cross-legged in meditation, absorbing Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.

After a while, Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes, with a slight frown between his brows.

"A circulation of True Qi through the Grand Circulation absorbs only a very limited amount of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. It’s but a drop in the ocean compared to the 360 acupoints in my body, no wonder the Sect Master said it would take a century to fill all the innate acupoints with True Qi."

"Even though small amounts accumulate over time and eventually become significant, the speed of progress is exceedingly slow. Though I have the ’Five Elements Mixed Essence Skill,’ a Cultivation Technique formed by merging six Heavenly Grade Skills, allowing somewhat faster progress than others, it will still likely take at least sixty years of arduous cultivation to be of any certainty."

If other Innate Strong People knew Zhong Lin’s thoughts now, they would surely cry.

Being able to reach the middle stage of the Innate Realm within sixty years would make other strong practitioners ecstatic if they knew.

"Unless I can find more Spirit Stones."

With a thought, a Spirit Stone the size of an egg was grasped by Zhong Lin.

This was the last one left; the others had been completely consumed at the First Grade.

As Innate True Qi circulated, the Spiritual Energy within the Spirit Stone surged like a tidal wave, rapidly being absorbed and refined by Zhong Lin. As its energy disappeared, the Spirit Stone turned into a pile of powder, scattered on the ground.

Feeling the Innate True Qi within his body exceeding that gained from a Grand Circulation, Zhong Lin silently sighed.

If there were enough Spirit Stones, the cultivation to the middle stage of the Innate Realm could be completed quickly.

Zhong Lin possessed the ’Silkworm Silk Strength,’ which excels at breaking through points and opening meridians, but the real challenge lay in filling each innate acupoint with Innate True Qi, which was indeed a painstaking endeavor.

Shaking his head, Zhong Lin no longer dwelled on these thoughts and focused on the system panel.

Upon reaching the Innate Realm, ordinary martial arts were nearly obsolete for him as they were not only weak in power but also inefficient in utilizing Innate True Qi. Only Innate Martial Skills like the ’Ground Seal’ could truly unleash the power of Innate True Qi.

"Although the ’Ground Seal’ is powerful, its methods are too simplistic. I’m curious about the ’Spiritual Heart Sword Technique.’"

"System, enhance it for me."

With a thought, skill points poured in, and the beginner level of ’Spiritual Heart Sword Technique’ transformed into a full level, flooding Zhong Lin’s mind with countless memories.

Sitting cross-legged in the secret chamber, the aura around Zhong Lin suddenly transformed. A piercing sword intent emanated from him, like a sword reaching towards the heavens. His complexion was as fair as jade, exuding an elegant aura, while his hair danced without wind, resembling an immortal. If anyone were present, it would sting their eyes, making it hard to gaze directly.

The ’Spiritual Heart Sword Technique’ is a sword skill, wherein mastery allows controlling the sword with the heart, the sword shifting with the mind. It can foresee the opponent’s moves and perceive the operational principles of all things in the world, reaching the ultimate realm of both sword insight and enlightenment.

Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes, a golden light flashed through them like a sharp blade, making one feel stung, impossible to look straight at.

"Is this Sword Intent?"

Zhong Lin made a grabbing motion in the void with his right hand. Clearly without using any True Qi, yet the long sword on the weapon rack not far away began to tremble continuously, then broke through the air, landing into Zhong Lin’s palm.

Holding the sword in his palm, he sensed a completely different feeling compared to before.

Previously, the sword was merely a weapon in Zhong Lin’s hand, an extension of his limbs. But now, this sword seemed to have gained life in his hand, even allowing him to sense its breathing.

Gripping the sword in his right hand, he swiftly swung in the void, the blade swirling around and creating a sword hum as it stirred the air. Though it was just a casual swipe without any Innate True Qi, the blade sliced the void, shattering even the intangible air, leaving a faint Sword Trace in the void.

"The ’Spiritual Heart Sword Technique’... Sword Heart Illumination, able to discern the operational principles of all things in the world, attaining the ultimate realm of both sword insight and enlightenment."

"Sword Intent... Sword Intent... Is this the Supreme Sword Skill the Master mentioned?"

"System, I truly underestimated your might; you’ve indeed given me a remarkable surprise."

Zhong Lin’s face displayed amazement and increasingly appreciated the system’s power.

When he first got the system panel, Zhong Lin would always complain about it because, though it offered endless skill points, it only added experience; to truly integrate skills into oneself, hard study and diligent practice were still necessary.

In the lower grades, nothing significant was felt, but as cultivation advanced with higher-level cultivation techniques and martial skills, the true power of the system panel became apparent.

The higher the level of the Secret Technique, the more it embodies the spirit and will of the Creator, which is the most precious Secret Treasure. Yet, the system panel enables Zhong Lin to directly reach the creator’s level, allowing him to personally experience where the ’Secret Treasure’ lies, just like the recently exerted ’Sword Intent’.

What is Sword Intent?

Sword Intent is a realm, a unity of form, spirit, emotion, and principle, an extension of the origin. It is a realm that countless swordsmen dream of achieving, an understanding that many strong practitioners spend a lifetime pursuing yet barely grasp its essence.

But now, under the interaction with the system, Zhong Lin has grasped this realm countless swordsmen long for, leaving him deeply astounded.