Sword Intent and killing intent are inherently one and the same, and the Border Guards are stationed at the frontier walls all year round, so their combat style is exceptionally relentless.

When the sword is drawn, blood must be spilled!

This time, as Ye Luo awakened his Spiritual Power, he did not acquire any Cultivation Techniques, but in reality, his strength had improved vastly!

For the Sword Intent he cultivated was not merely simple Sword Intent.

Within this Sword Intent, in fact, lies a complete set of secrets to the control of Spiritual Power.

Spiritual Power is omnipresent in this world, but why, when used properly, does it possess such formidable might?

The common people only know that Spiritual Power is the foundation of Cultivation and a guarantee of one’s strength!

However, very few delve into the study of Spiritual Power, for in the eyes of the world, Spiritual Power is just that—Spiritual Power—simply absorb and use it directly!

The so-called awakening of Spiritual Power is, in fact, a further reinforcement of the understanding of Spiritual Power.

Of course, in reality, the awakening of Spiritual Power by the Border Guards is but a control over Spiritual Power accumulated through prolonged combat.

However, this has opened a new door for Ye Luo to enhance his strength!

Increasing one’s realm is not the only way to improve combat prowess.

In fact, even within the same realm, enhancing control over Spiritual Power can also translate to stronger combat abilities!

Ye Luo quietly stood atop the altar, contemplating, undisturbed by anyone, for everyone knew that what one gains after awakening depends on their own comprehension abilities.

Approximately four hours later, Ye Luo had fully summed up his gains, and then, Li Long led Ye Luo out of the Hidden Arsenal Cave.

Ye Luo’s mission had officially begun!

Li Long first explained to Ye Luo the identity of the Demon Clan person he was to impersonate.

This Demon Prince, being the Demon King’s grandson, has a tyrannical nature and has offended many; and what’s more, this reckless youth actually attempted to infiltrate the Great Tang Empire!

Of course, this Prince has long been under the surveillance of the Border Guards.

"Ye Luo, be on the alert for mission updates at all times. This Prince’s identity is special. You are not the only candidate prepared to impersonate him, and all of you, before the Prince leaves the Great Tang, will be tested through various missions to determine who is the most suitable candidate. Be cautious, and should you fail, you should know what the consequences will be."

"Take these two Elixirs now, will you?"

Li Long handed Ye Luo two elixirs, and Ye Luo knew in his heart that they were probably not anything good, but sadly, he had no choice but to reluctantly consume them.

"The two elixirs you just took were specially concocted by our Border Guards. One of them can lie dormant in your body, slowly transforming it. This is to ensure that if you pass the test and accept the inner core of the Demon Prince, you could integrate it swiftly. Only by possessing the Demon Prince’s inner core will your identity not be seen through!"

"As for the other one, it contains the unique Nameless Poison of our Border Guards. Aside from us Border Guards, no one else can solve this poison. Every half year, we will send someone to provide you with the antidote that suppresses the Nameless Poison. If you fail to complete your mission, then don’t even think of receiving the antidote. As for the consequences, you should understand!"

What could Ye Luo say?

Circumstances overpower one’s will!

However, Ye Luo quietly took today’s events to heart. Ye Luo had no need for revenge, but sooner or later, he would return today’s humiliation to the so-called Border Guard of the Great Tang Empire, doubled!

"Alright, you can go back now. Remember, after you return to the Royal Academy, you must not tell anyone about the events of the past few days, not even your closest confidant! Also, those who passed the assessment with you this term will all become the personnel assisting you this time. Rest assured, we will keep a close watch on their movements. Should we discover any signs of treachery or incompetence to support you in completing the mission, they will be shown no mercy and killed!"

Li Long spoke with an ice-cold voice, as if killing these geniuses in his eyes was as trivial as crushing an ant!

In reality, that’s exactly what he did. In just a few short days, had there not been many who lost their lives at his hands already?

Ruthless and merciless, merely for the sake of a mission, he allowed hundreds to die senselessly!

What nonsense about a greater cause; even if it was true, that would be the business of those Border Guard members. What did it have to do with those ordinary students?

These people could have been safely enhancing their strengths at the Royal Academy. Once they graduated, they could inherit their titles to live a life of luxury, or travel the world, carving out their own legacies.

But merely due to the unlucky timing of their arrival, these people had to die in vain. Aside from the survivors like Ye Luo, nobody even knew how they died.

Returning to the Royal Academy once more, Ye Luo felt an air of unreality, yet he knew that the incident had indeed occurred, and he, Ye Luo, had been drawn into a tremendous conflict.

...

"Eh, Brother Ye Luo, you’ve finally returned. What’s going on with you guys? Why did you suddenly disappear for several days? The Academy explained that you went to a Secret Realm for a special assessment. So, how did it go? Did you pass the assessment?"

No sooner had Ye Luo returned than Yun Liancheng quickly came up to greet him.

Lu Yi and Nalan Rou did the same, with a look of concern in their eyes that was not at all concealed.

Ye Luo nodded and managed a forced smile, then headed towards his own room.

Yun Liancheng paused in surprise. He had been very curious about the assessment Ye Luo and the others had undergone, and was prepared to ask in detail upon Ye Luo’s return. However, he hadn’t expected that Ye Luo would head straight for his room without saying much.

Just as Yun Liancheng was about to further inquire, Nalan Rou stopped him.

"Perhaps he is tired. After all, not just anyone can enter a Secret Realm. It must have been many battles he went through these past few days," said Nalan Rou to Yun Liancheng.

Yun Liancheng thought about it and realized it made sense. The existence of Secret Realms was very special, always exceedingly dangerous. He hadn’t expected Ye Luo and his group to actually undergo an assessment in a Secret Realm this time!

With this thought, Yun Liancheng turned and left.

However, Nalan Rou stood outside the door of Ye Luo’s room, her hesitation apparent.

After all, Nalan Rou was the young lady of the Nalan Family, who had always single-handedly supported the Nalan Family, and her ability to read situations was naturally extraordinary. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Nalan Rou keenly sensed that Ye Luo was in a very bad mood, although she did not know the reason for it. But she could not simply ignore it.

It could be said that since the downfall of the Nalan Family, Nalan Rou’s only dependable ally was Ye Luo. And indeed, had it not been Ye Luo taking care of Nalan Rou and Nalan Chen during this time?

Furthermore, Ye Luo had even helped Nalan Rou avenge a great resentment that maybe she herself, with her own strength, would not have been able to confront!