274: Chapter 274: Rebirth

"Whose subordinate is this, to be so valiant?"

"The younger generation truly surpasses the older!"

Xiao Ran's success gave everyone a shot in the arm.

If a young man at the Early Stage Void Refining could pass, why couldn't they?

Oh?

Why couldn't Zhao Tianxiong?

Of course, it's because he's weak!

Amidst the discussion, another Elder of the Zhao Clan at the Void Refinement Stage, Zhao Tianyun, stepped out.

He was Zhao Tianxiong's cousin, at the Middle Stage Void Refining, and his personality was much steadier than Zhao Tianxiong's.

He walked to the stone tablet, not rushing to go up, but carefully examining the stone carvings.

"The Sword Intent of these stone carvings is not unchanging."

Zhao Tianyun said slowly.

"They are imitating different Dao of the Sword schools; some are fast swords, some are heavy swords, some are tricky swords, and some are soft swords."

"As long as one finds the one that resonates with one's own Dao of the Sword, perhaps the pressure can be reduced."

He took a deep breath and stepped onto the stone steps.

The Sword Intent of the stone carving Sword Cultivator surged over again, but this time, Zhao Tianyun did not resist it head-on; instead, he released his own Sword Intent.

His Sword Intent was also Golden Weapon Sword Intent, but it was more delicate and gentler than Zhao Tianxiong's.

He did not use his Sword Intent to collide with the other; instead, he used his Sword Intent to guide and perform Fusion.

When the Sword Intent of the stone carving Sword Cultivator touched his Sword Intent, it actually weakened a little.

Zhao Tianyun felt a surge of joy and walked upward step by step.

But his speed was very slow; he had to stop at every step to adapt to the new intensity of the Sword Intent.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had ascended twenty steps.

After another cup of tea, he ascended another twenty steps.

His face grew paler and paler, and the beads of sweat on his forehead fell like raindrops.

"Tianyun, if you can't do it, retreat!"

Zhao Tianxiong shouted from below.

Zhao Tianyun did not answer.

He gritted his teeth and continued to walk up.

But he only reached the sixtieth step before he could no longer move.

The Sword Intent was too strong; his Sword Intent was like a small boat in a torrent of Sword Intent, ready to capsize at any moment.

He sighed and retreated from the stone steps.

"I have failed."

Zhao Tianyun's voice was very calm, but there was a trace of regret in his eyes.

"My Sword Intent is not pure enough. Sword Saint Li's Sword Intent cannot be deceived by tricks."

"One must have a sword in one's heart and a clear Sword Intent to pass."

In the crowd, several Deacons of the Sword Sect exchanged glances.

They were Sword Cultivators, and Sword Intent was their specialty.

If they couldn't pass, where would the Sword Sect's face be placed?

Jian Wuming was the first to step out.

He was a Late Stage Void Refining Deacon of the Sword Sect, having cultivated for eight hundred years, and held a very high status in the Sword Sect.

His Sword Intent was white, pure as snow, cold as frost, and it was comprehended from the Sword Tomb in the Sword Sect's Forbidden Ground.

"Let me try."

Jian Wuming walked to the stone tablet, did not hesitate, and stepped directly onto the stone steps.

The Sword Intent of the stone carving Sword Cultivator surged over; Jian Wuming closed his eyes and released his own Sword Intent.

White Sword Intent surged from his body and collided with the stone carving's Sword Intent.

There was no explosion, no roar; the two Sword Intents were like two rivers merging together, quietly becoming one.

Jian Wuming's body swayed, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

But his feet did not move, firmly nailed to the stone steps.

His Sword Intent did not weaken during the collision; instead, it was absorbing the essence of the stone carving's Sword Intent, becoming stronger and stronger.

He was comprehending the Sword Intent left behind by Li Qinglian, realizing a higher Realm of the Dao of the Sword.

One step, two steps, three steps... Jian Wuming walked up the stone steps.

His pace was not fast, but it was steady; every step landed in the center of the stone step without the slightest deviation.

His white clothes rustled under the impact of the Sword Intent, and the hem was cut in several places.

"This is what a Sword Cultivator should be!"

Someone in the crowd exclaimed.

Several Deacons of the Sword Sect watched with surging emotions.

They also stepped onto the stone steps one after another, but everyone's result was different.

Jian Wuhen, Middle Stage Void Refining, his Sword Intent leaned towards slaughter; he was forced to retreat after walking halfway, leaving a dozen sword marks on his body, dripping with blood.

Jian Wuying, Early Stage Void Refining, his Sword Intent leaned towards speed; he walked very fast, but only reached one-third before he was overtaken by a Sword Intent as fast as lightning.

A sword pierced his shoulder, and he had to retreat.

Sect Leader Jian Wuxin, Late Stage Void Refining, his Sword Intent leaned towards protection; he walked very slowly.

He walked two-thirds of the way before retreating.

Only one young Sword Cultivator at the Early Stage Void Refining, named Jian Wuhui, walked across.

His Sword Intent was a heart of sincerity, with no distracting thoughts, which instead resonated with the pure Dao in Li Qinglian's Sword Intent.

His pace was very light, like walking on snow, without a speck of dust.

Jian Wuming walked for an hour and finally disappeared at the end of the stone steps.

The square was silent.

"Jian Wuming has passed."

Gu Yue said in a low voice.

Zhao Tianxiong's face became even uglier.

Neither of the Zhao Clan's two Void Refinement Stage cultivators passed, but the Sword Sect had one pass; how would he explain this to the Old Ancestor when he returned?

The Yao Race side was also discussing heatedly.

Shi Yuntian of the Golden Lion Clan was the first to step out.

He was a Late Stage Void Refining Elder who had cultivated for a thousand years; his mane burned like flames, and his vertical pupils were full of Battle Intent.

He did not believe he couldn't pass.

"Watch me!" Shi Yuntian stepped onto the stone steps.

The Sword Intent of the stone carving Sword Cultivator surged over.

Shi Yuntian did not defend; he roared, and golden Demonic Qi erupted from his body, forming a golden shield around him.

Golden flames flowed on the shield; that was the innate Divine Ability of the Golden Lion Clan.

Golden Flame Body Protection.

The Sword Intent collided with the shield, erupting with a harsh friction sound.

The shield trembled violently, the golden flames suppressed by the Sword Intent, flickering on and off.

Shi Yuntian gritted his teeth and urged more Demonic Qi, and the shield brightened a little again.

But the Sword Intent was too strong, like countless invisible swords stabbing from all directions.

The cracks on the shield became more and more numerous and larger.

Shi Yuntian felt his Demonic Qi consuming rapidly, like a breached flood, unstoppable.

"Not good!"

Shi Yuntian's face changed drastically, and he turned and ran.

But just as he took a step, the shield shattered.

The Sword Intent surged over like a tide, swallowing him up.

"Ah!"

Shi Yuntian screamed, his body torn apart by the Sword Intent, turning into a mist of blood.

The square was deathly silent.

Everyone widened their eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.

A Late Stage Void Refining Elder of the Golden Lion Clan, just died like this?

In the blood mist, a golden light flashed.

The blood mist re-condensed, turning into a golden lion.

Shi Yuntian was alive again.

His aura was withered, his mane had lost its luster, and he had dropped from the Late Stage Void Refining to the Peak Soul Transformation Stage.

"A Substitute Death Talisman?"

Gu Yue narrowed his eyes.

"No, it is the Golden Lion Clan's Bloodline Divine Ability—Nirvana Rebirth."

Zhao Tianxiong's voice carried a trace of wariness.

"It can only be used once in a lifetime; he risked his life to pass the trial."

Shi Yuntian climbed up from the ground, staggered a few steps, and almost fell.

Several juniors of the Golden Lion Clan hurriedly supported him.

"I have failed."

Shi Yuntian's voice was hoarse, his vertical pupils full of exhaustion.

He glanced at the stone steps, a trace of unwillingness flashing in his eyes, but he did not try again.

He no longer had a second chance.