"The way to defeat him is to comprehend True Martial Arts Intent before you have to face Hong Renjie directly in the third round!"
Little One said calmly.
Hong Yu was taken aback. "True Martial Arts Intent? What's that?"
Little One took a puff from his Big Smoking Pipe and began to explain...
The path of the Martial Dao is, in essence, a process of pursuing the Celestial Dao, a pursuit of the origin.
The Essence Realm tempers the physical body, laying a foundation to withstand the Power of Primordial Spirit. The Earth Soul Realm is for condensing one's Lifebound Primordial Spirit and connecting with the Primordial Veins, which grants Elental Power with various attributes. This stage is about adapting to and pursuing power. Beginning with the Celestial Soul Realm, the pursuit gradually shifts toward the fundantal nature of things.
Once one can glimpse the essence of energy, they can rge their Celestial Soul and Primordial Spirit.
This allows them to condense a Primordial Core, filled with Profound Mysteries, within their Middle Dantian.
At that point, one becos a Primordial Core Realm expert!
However, such experts are few and far between...
Comprehending the various Profound Mysteries of the Martial Dao from the world is incredibly difficult. Perhaps not even one in ten thousand Celestial Soul Realm experts can successfully comprehend these mysteries, condense a True Martial Primordial Core, and break through to the Primordial Core Realm.
If it were otherwise, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect wouldn't hold such a lofty position in the Fengyue Kingdom.
As for True Martial Arts Intent, it's actually a yardstick for asuring true Martial Dao Demon Fiends!
In the more developed and High Level regions of the continent, there are so Celestial Pride Sons—true Demon Fiends of heaven and earth—who comprehend True Martial Arts Intent while still in the Essence Realm. Even without the Power of Primordial Spirit, the boost from True Martial Arts Intent grants them the ability to challenge those at higher realms.
For example, an expert who has comprehended Mountain Collapse Fist Intent can unleash a punch like a landslide or a tsunami. The sheer overwhelming force alone is enough to make an ordinary opponent lose all confidence to fight back.
For instance, an expert who has comprehended Flowing Water Sword Intent wields their sword as smoothly as flowing clouds and water. Even without any specific Sword Techniques, the sheer fluid perfection of their Fast Sword, which is incomparably faster than normal, is enough to slay countless enemies.
True Martial Arts Intent can be divided into three stages.
The first stage: Montary Montum!
Montary Montum, as the na implies, is a stage where True Martial Arts Intent manifests as a kind of montum, a relatively abstract and ethereal aura.
For example, when masters clash, they can cause the earth to shake, the winds to howl, and the rain to fall without even making a move. This isn't just for dramatic effect. The power and presence of these masters are so astonishing that they can resonate with the world itself. Of course, such masters are typically beings who have surpassed the Primordial Core Realm.
The Second Stage: Solidification Intent!
Solidification Intent involves condensing the Montum comprehended in the first stage, causing it to beco tangible.
An expert who reaches this level can, for example, make their attacks feel like a charging Violent Dragon or create the imnse pressure of a mountain crashing down.
The outco of a battle between masters is often decided in a single instant!
For example, if two Sword Dao masters are in a life-or-death duel, at a critical mont, one master unleashes a Sword Intent of Solidification. If it causes their opponent to falter for even an instant, the tide of battle can be reversed in a flash.
As for the third stage, it is "Domain"!
If one's True Martial Arts Intent reaches this level, they can form a corresponding Domain. A Sword Domain, a Fist Domain, a Palm Domain...
"With your current strength, as long as you can comprehend the first stage, Montary Montum, and supplent it with the Spiritual Attack from your left eye, you just might be able to defeat Hong Renjie by catching him off guard!" Little One said.
Hong Yu nodded. "I understand. But where do I even begin to comprehend this True Martial Arts Intent?"
Little One spread his hands. "Sorry, kid. This god hasn't researched that in great depth. As for what path to choose for comprehension, or how to even sense the existence of that path, it's all up to you!"
"Okay!"
Hong Yu nodded.
Just then...
DONG!
A deep, resonant bell suddenly rang out.
Ninety percent of the more than ten thousand participants had been eliminated, leaving only one thousand experts who now opened their eyes in unison and rose to their feet.
Li Tie spoke calmly, "The first round of the assessnt is over. You are the experts who have been filtered through the cruel trials of the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm. I hope you will continue to strive for even better results in the upcoming second and third rounds."
"Yes, sir!"
The thousand experts, their vitality surging like rainbows, responded in unison. The sound shook the heavens.
「Among the crowd.」
Hong Renjie, Hong Long, Hong Gang, Guo Fei, Feng Xue Xin, Ling Tian, Tie Shou, Hong Yu... and the others scanned their opponents, their gazes filled with varying emotions—so with goodwill, so with cold intent, and others with pure, chilling killing intent.
"This second round is called the Celestial Nether Tower. Everyone, please follow !"
Li Tie led the thousand-plus people toward the grand palace of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect.
Before long, they arrived before seven Celestial Nether Towers.
The seven Celestial Nether Towers stood in a row. Each had seven layers and was over seven hundred ters tall.
Facing the Celestial Nether Towers, the crowd was struck by their imnse and magnificent scale. Faint, obscure energy fluctuations flowed around them. These fluctuations were incredibly peculiar, even more bizarre than those in the Cyan Cloud Secret Realm. Every wisp of this energy seed to resonate with the most fundantal essence within a person's body.
"There are seven Celestial Nether Towers in total. You will enter from the first one. Only after successfully clearing all seven layers will you be transported into the second tower..."
Li Tie explained in great detail.
The trial for this second round was to clear the Celestial Nether Towers. Each tower represented a different number of points. For example, the First Layer of the first tower was worth 100 points, the second layer was 200 points, and so on. If one cleared all seven layers of the first Celestial Nether Tower, they would earn a total of 2800 points!
The first layer of the second tower was worth 800 points, and the second layer was 900 points.
The points would continue to increase with each subsequent tower and layer.
"You will have seven days for each Celestial Nether Tower. This assessnt will conclude when ti runs out, or when all participants have exited the Celestial Nether Towers!" Li Tie announced.
HISS!
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
'So the trial ends only when every single participant is out. Doesn't that an Li Tie is absolutely certain that no one can clear all seven layers of all seven towers?'
"Alright, little ones, go ahead and fight to your hearts' content in the Celestial Nether Towers!"
Li Tie's voice bood.
Eager to begin, the crowd of experts rushed into the Celestial Nether Towers.
Li Tie stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling on Hong Yu, who was entering the tower at an unhurried pace. He frowned slightly and sighed. 'Poor little guy. I already tried to help you... It's a pity Hong Renjie is so resolute this ti. He won't rest until you're eliminated. Little one, you're on your own now!'
***
「Inside the Celestial Nether Tower.」
As soon as Hong Yu appeared, a booming voice echoed in his ears, "Welco, challenger. Welco to the first Celestial Nether Tower!"
"Who are you?"
Hong Yu asked with a frown.
"I am the Defender of the Celestial Nether Tower, responsible for guiding you through it."
The magnificent voice was not condescending; instead, it had an approachable warmth. "Inside this first Celestial Nether Tower, you will face Tier One Desolate Beasts: Blood Yellow Ants. On the First Layer, you must kill one thousand Blood Yellow Ants to advance to the second layer. The second layer requires two thousand, the third requires three thousand... As for the Seventh Layer, you must kill ten thousand Blood Yellow Ants to be considered cleared and advance to the second Celestial Nether Tower!"
"Ten thousand Blood Yellow Ants for the Seventh Layer?"
Hong Yu's expression changed slightly.
Blood Yellow Ants were Tier One Desolate Beasts. Slaying a single one wasn't difficult.
The difficulty, however, lay in facing them in swarms. Once their numbers surpassed five thousand, they beca a plague. A charging tide of countless Blood Yellow Ants could devour even Tier Two or weaker Tier Three Desolate Beasts, leaving nothing but bare bones.
"Do you wish to begin the challenge imdiately?"
the Defender asked.
Hong Yu frowned and took out his Breaking Army Spear. "Let's begin!"
"3... 2... 1..."
"Begin!"
The Defender's voice was as calm as ever as it spoke.
As the word "Begin!" fell, the flat ground before Hong Yu suddenly trembled violently. Imdiately after, a dense swarm of one thousand Blood Yellow Ants appeared in a packed group. Each Blood Yellow Ant was a ter long and half a ter tall. A thousand of them lined up side-by-side was a sight so dense it made one's skin crawl.
SCRAPE SCRAPE SCRAPE!
The Blood Yellow Ants writhed their bodies, moving with surprising speed. They constantly rubbed their sharp mandibles together, which were coated in a sticky saliva that was disgusting to look at.
'Dammit, I'll give it my all!'
Hong Yu gritted his teeth, raised his Breaking Army Spear, and charged forward.
He activated his Wandering Dragon Body Technique and dove into battle amidst the dense army of Blood Yellow Ants.
Hong Yu's Wandering Dragon Body Technique was a refined and improved version of the Seven-Star Step. Although it was still in its rudintary stage, its speed and agility were superior to the Seven-Star Step. With the aid of his Wandering Dragon technique, Hong Yu moved through the swarms of Blood Yellow Ants with ease.
A cyan light flickered in his left eye. Whenever a Blood Yellow Ant was about to attack, he would either pause for a split second or suddenly accelerate to evade it.
A sweep of his Breaking Army Spear would often take the life of a Blood Yellow Ant.
「Approximately three hours later.」
"Hah, die!"
Hong Yu leaped high into the air. He wielded his Soul-Devouring Spear with world-turning force, bringing it down heavily. He descended like a fiery teor, his speed and power pushed to their absolute limits.
BOOM!
The imnsely powerful spear strike slamd into the ground, making the earth roar.
A Spear Aura, like a rainbow streaking through the sky, shot toward the last Blood Yellow Ant, which was exceptionally large.
This Blood Yellow Ant was the king of the First Layer.
It was enormous, a full three ters long and one ter high, its entire body a blood-yellow color.
It abruptly raised its head, its sharp mandibles creating blinding sparks as they opened and closed with a SCRAPE SCRAPE sound. Its body vibrated at a high frequency, bobbing up and down, and even the air itself seed to react to these vibrations, creating a low HUMMM.
BANG!
The massive mandibles clashed with the Breaking Army Spear.
Hong Yu felt a jolt run up his arm; most of the force behind his blow had been deflected.
"Hm?"
His expression darkened. He gathered the power of his Lifebound Primordial Spirit from his Lower Dantian, his hands instantly swelling with power as he thrust the spear forward ruthlessly.
BOOM!
The Blood Yellow Ant King exploded. The first stage was successfully cleared.
But Hong Yu showed no sign of excitent. His eyes were narrowed, a cyan light flowing within his left eye as he replayed the rhythmic pattern of the Blood Yellow Ant King's final attack. This silence lasted for a full three hours. Finally, Hong Yu's eyes flew open, his face lit with ecstatic joy. "I've found it! I've finally found the path to comprehending True Martial Arts Intent!"
He glanced around, unable to hide his excitent. 'Seven days for each Celestial Nether Tower, which ans forty-nine days for all seven. What I lack most right now is ti. I can train here in the Celestial Nether Tower, so long as I clear the stages before the ti limit is up!'
His gaze beca distant and profound. The corners of his lips curved upward as if he could see Hong Renjie's arrogant face...
'Hong Renjie, just you wait! The day I comprehend True Martial Arts Intent will be the day I turn the tables on you!'
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