235: Chapter 235 Testing the Sword's Heart

The two people and the Dragon Ape left the inn, following the morning crowd as they exited the East Gate of Cangya County once again, heading towards the Jianming Mountains.

As they ventured deeper into the mountains, the crowd gradually thinned, but they occasionally encountered Martial Artists with impressive Auras moving in a hurry, heading in the same direction. It seemed they were all participants or spectators bound for the "Sword Testing Platform."

Following the guidance of the jade token, they deviated from the main path and proceeded along a more hidden, thorn-covered trail.

About an hour later, after passing through a strange bamboo forest filled with pale purple mist, the view suddenly opened up.

This was a massive platform situated on the mountainside, as if it had been leveled by a giant sword. The ground was smooth as a mirror, glistening with a faint metallic luster; this was the Sword Testing Platform.

Several broken stone pillars stood at the edge of the platform, covered in blurred sword marks and permeated with an ancient Sword Intent.

By now, dozens of people had gathered on the platform, standing in groups of three or five and keeping a vigilant distance from one another.

The arrival of Ye Tian and his companions did not attract much attention.

After all, a combination of a "Ningyuan Eighth Stage" Cultivator with a Ningyuan Realm follower and a pet seemed particularly conspicuous, yet also particularly... unremarkable, among this group of participants who were at least at the True Martial Realm.

"Hmph, the threshold for the Sword Testing Platform is getting lower and lower. Do even those walking their pets dare to come and join in the fun?"

A mocking voice rang out.

The speaker was a young man wearing a dark blue martial outfit embroidered with wave patterns, with a saber strapped to his waist. His eyes flickered with a shrewd and calculating air, and his cultivation was around the True Martial Realm Second Level.

He was followed by a few attendants dressed in similar attire with arrogant expressions.

Hou Xiaojie glared at him upon hearing this, but Ye Tian merely glanced at the man indifferently. Judging by his attire and Aura, he was likely from the local Gang, the "Yasui Gang."

This level of provocation was not worth getting angry over.

He took Hou Xiaojie to a quiet corner and stood there, silently observing the people in the area.

Most of the Cultivators gathered here were between the First and Third Levels of the True Martial Realm, with few above the Fourth Level.

Everyone wore different clothing, clearly coming from various regions and factions.

Some closed their eyes to rest, their demeanor steady.

Others had sharp gazes, constantly sizing up others and evaluating potential opponents.

Others gathered together to converse in low voices.

"Look, that's Wang Laosi, a hall master of the 'Yasui Gang.' He's here too!"

"I heard he got the short end of the stick at the Broken Sword Valley a few days ago and almost had his arm crippled by a counterattack from a Restriction. He still dares to come?"

"Who is that old man in the black robe next to him? His Aura is so cold and sinister!"

"Not sure, probably a helper he hired..."

Ye Tian also saw Wang Laosi. His arm was still bandaged, and his face was gloomy. He was standing with an old man shrouded in a black robe with a cold, sinister Aura. The old man's cultivation had actually reached the True Martial Realm Fifth Level!

Apart from these Loose Cultivators and members of small factions, the most eye-catching groups were a few parties whose Auras were clearly a cut above the rest.

On the east side of the platform, led by Jing Wutian, stood several young Cultivators.

Jing Wutian maintained his usual calm and indifferent appearance. His moon-white robe was spotless, and his posture was as straight as a pine tree. Although he did not hold a sword, he naturally exuded a sharp edge of the Dao of the sword that was truly impressive.

Three people stood beside him.

One could see Sikong Changhe holding a pitch-black spear. His tiger-like eyes contained authority, and his Aura was as imposing as a mountain. His cultivation had reached the Peak of the True Martial Fourth Level, not far off from Jing Wutian.

Another person was dressed in hazy purple gauze clothing, with a graceful figure. Her face was covered by a light veil, revealing only a pair of soul-stirring, limpid eyes, and faint colorful mist lingered at her fingertips.

This woman was the only one among the Five Heroes of Cangya who Cultivated poison arts: Ye Yiyi.

Her cultivation had also reached the True Martial Realm Fourth Level!

There was another person with an expression as cold as ice, clutching an ancient sheathed sword. The air within three feet of him seemed to freeze.

Although his cultivation was not as high as Sikong Changhe's, he had also reached the True Martial Realm Fourth Level, and his understanding of Sword Intent was far superior to other Martial Artists of the same rank.

These were four of the "Five Heroes of Cangya"!

Only the medical Cultivator Bai Zhiyun was missing.

A circle was left empty around them; no one dared to approach easily, as they formed an Aura of their own.

On the west side of the platform was a group of Martial Artists wearing uniform dark red leather armor. The leader was a middle-aged man with a resolute face and a thick, mountain-like Aura. His cultivation had actually reached the True Martial Realm Fifth Level. Judging by his attire and bearing, he was likely a commander from the Governors Mansion.

They were numerous and strictly disciplined, vaguely forming a stance of rivalry with Jing Family and the others.

In addition, there were some lone travelers or pairs with obscure Auras, who were clearly not to be trifled with.

"It seems this trial has attracted quite a few people," Ye Tian thought to himself.

The local Prodigies of Cangya County, the forces of the Governors Mansion, and experts among the Loose Cultivators who had heard the news from all over were gathered here; the waters were indeed very deep.

Just then, the space in the center of the platform distorted, and three figures appeared out of thin air!

The one in the center was an old man with white hair, dressed in a simple grey robe. His face was thin, his eyes deep, and he exuded no powerful Aura, yet he seemed to have merged into the entire Sword Testing Platform.

Standing on his left was the commander from the Governors Mansion.

On his right was a beautiful woman with an elegant temperament, wearing a smiling expression and a brocade dress; she was the head of the Jing Family.

As soon as these three appeared, the entire Sword Testing Platform instantly fell silent, and everyone's gaze focused on them.

The Grey-robed Elder scanned the entire area with a calm gaze and spoke slowly: "I am the guardian of this place. Today's trial has simple rules. The Sword Testing Platform contains residual ancient Restrictions, which can evolve into three stages to test your Foundation, Comprehension Ability, and combat power. Those who can pass two stages will gain the qualification to temporarily enter the core area of the ruins. Those who perform exceptionally well may be favored by the token holders and invited to travel together."

He paused and continued: "During the trial, life and death are up to fate. Now, those who wish to participate, inject your spiritual power into the token in your hands."

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of rays of light suddenly lit up on the platform.

Ye Tian also followed the instructions and injected a trace of True Yuan into the jade token from the Duobao Pavilion. The jade token emitted a soft white light, enveloping him, Hou Xiaojie, and the Mini Dragon Ape.

Clearly, this token also served the purpose of distinguishing participants from those they brought along.

The Grey-robed Elder nodded slightly. Without him making any movement, the entire Sword Testing Platform suddenly shook violently!

The seemingly chaotic sword marks on the platform floor suddenly lit up, emitting a brilliant radiance!

An incomparably massive Sword Intent shrouded the entire platform, and the sky seemed to dim slightly!

"The first stage, testing Foundation and Sword Heart! Walk along the sword marks and persist for one stick of incense without failing to enter the next stage!"

As the elder's voice fell, all the glowing sword marks on the platform transformed into countless fierce and peerless Sword Qi phantoms, crisscrossing and filling the entire space!

Each Sword Qi carried a different meaning—some sharp, some heavy, some light and agile, and some violent!

A terrifying sword pressure swept toward all the participants!

"Ah!" Almost the instant the sword pressure touched their bodies, seven or eight participants with weaker cultivation or weaker resolve screamed, spat blood, and were directly blasted off the platform. The light of their tokens dimmed, and they lost their qualifications!

The others also changed color one after another, each using their own methods to resist.

Some erupted with powerful True Yuan to form protective shields, some displayed exquisite movement techniques to shuttle through the sword shadows, and others released their own Sword Intent to counter it.

Ye Tian, being within the sword pressure, felt countless Sword Qi cutting at him like physical blades, and an invisible force went straight into his Sea of Consciousness, assaulting his mind!

He immediately activated the Star Qi Induction Art, protecting his whole body with True Yuan, while simultaneously unleashing his Divine Sense to block the Sword Intent that was assaulting his mind.

He possessed the Five Elements Sword Body, and his Physical Body had been tempered by the Dragon Elephant Art; although these Sword Qi were sharp, they could hardly truly harm him.

Ye Tian's footsteps were steady, like a rock, moving forward firmly amidst the raging sword shadows.

Hou Xiaojie followed closely behind him, barely holding on by relying on Ye Tian's protection, while the Mini Dragon Ape curiously looked around, seemingly unfazed by this sword pressure.

On the other side, Jing Wutian and the others appeared much more composed.

Jing Wutian was shrouded in a layer of pale silver sword Aura; wherever he passed, the Sword Qi would automatically avoid him, as if he were walking on flat ground.

Sikong Changhe danced with his long spear, his strikes like a dragon, shattering the incoming Sword Qi one by one, advancing like a hot knife through butter.

Ye Yiyi's movement technique was as eerie as smoke, her purple gauze fluttering. She could always dodge the Sword Qi by a hair's breadth, and occasionally she would flick her fingers to release a wisp of colorful mist, which could actually cause the Sword Qi to dissipate into nothingness.

Zhao Chengzhi did not unsheathe his sword, using only his scabbard to block. His movements were simple and sharp, and the Sword Qi would collapse as soon as it got close.

On the side of the Governors Mansion, the commander led his subordinates to form a battle formation. Their Auras were connected, resisting together, and they also stabilized their position.

Wang Laosi and the old man in the black robe were somewhat wretched. The old man kept shooting out streams of black Qi to erode the Sword Qi, while Wang Laosi hid behind him, facing danger at every turn. The look in his eyes when he glanced at Ye Tian actually held a trace of jealousy!

He did not understand why this "Ningyuan Realm" brat was so relaxed.

Time passed second by second; the sword pressure grew stronger and stronger, and the Sword Qi became denser and sharper!

People kept failing to hold on and were blasted out of the game.

The time of one stick of incense seemed exceptionally long at this moment.

When the last bit of incense ash fell, the light of the sword marks on the platform suddenly extinguished, and the terrifying sword pressure and Sword Qi phantoms instantly dissipated.

Of the original dozens of participants, now less than twenty remained standing on the platform, each with a pale face and unstable Aura, clearly having consumed a great deal.

Ye Tian let out a slight breath, his Aura steady.

This first stage mainly tested Foundation and willpower, which was quite easy for him.

He glanced at Hou Xiaojie beside him. Although the little guy's face was pale, his eyes were exceptionally bright. After this tempering, he seemed to have gained quite a bit.

The Grey-robed Elder scanned the remaining people and nodded: "The Foundation is passable, and the Sword Heart has begun to take shape. Rest for half a stick of incense, then prepare for the second stage."