248: Chapter 248 Illusory Sword Tempering the Heart

Ye Tian stood at the center of the pressure, feeling it most intensely.

That majestic Sword Intent surged against his Sea of Consciousness, attempting to crush his will and assimilate his sword Dao.

The Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art within his body circulated on its own, and the sword pill he had just initially refined also trembled slightly.

"I cannot resist it head-on; I must use my own Sword Intent to guide, neutralize, and fuse it!"

Ye Tian reached a sudden realization.

He did not release his full Sword Intent to form a barrier like Jing Wutian and the others; instead, he slowly closed his eyes, using the Illusory Sea Heart Sutra to protect the core of his Sea of Consciousness while his Martial Dao Will became steady and focused.

He proactively opened his mind and body, guiding that ancient Sword Intent to flow into him, using his own understanding of the sword Dao to perceive and absorb the sword Dao essence contained within this pressure!

His Sword Intent was agile and ever-changing, splitting light and transforming into shadows.

Meanwhile, this ancient Sword Intent was vast and majestic, containing the momentum of Ten Thousand Swords Returning to the Source.

Under Ye Tian's control, the two began to collide and blend.

Every collision deepened Ye Tian's understanding of the sword Dao.

Every fusion made his own Sword Intent purer!

He saw the heroic spirit of ancient Sword Cultivators roaming the world with their swords, the grand spectacle of countless sword Dao Geniuses competing here, and the various transformations of the sword Dao Origin...

This was a rare Opportunity for enlightenment!

Time passed bit by bit.

On the platform, Jing Wutian and the others were drenched in sweat, struggling to hold on; under the tempering of this pressure, their Sword Intent was indeed slowly becoming more solid, but the process was extremely painful.

Ye Tian, however, had entered a profound state. His surrounding aura gradually harmonized with the ancient pressure; far from being weakened, he felt as if his strength was rising like a tide.

Sikong Changhe gritted his teeth, glanced at the composed Ye Tian, and said, "This guy is truly a monster!"

A brilliant light flickered in Ye Yiyi's beautiful eyes as she thought to herself, "Eh? He can actually use this pressure to gain enlightenment?

His comprehension of the sword Dao and the strength of his will far surpass ours!"

Jing Wutian's heart was even more turbulent: "Using external force to temper himself... I cannot match him in such methods and courage!"

After about an hour, the pressure from the central stone platform began to slowly weaken and finally disappeared completely.

Phew—

As the pressure dissipated, Jing Wutian, Sikong Changhe, and the others let out a long breath almost simultaneously. Their breaths were ragged and their faces pale, clearly exhausted, but their gazes were sharper than before, indicating significant gains.

They all looked toward Ye Tian at the same time.

Ye Tian also slowly opened his eyes. Countless sword shadows seemed to flash and vanish within his pupils. His aura was restrained, but he gave off an even more unfathomable feeling.

After this tempering, his Sword Intent had become more refined. The Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art showed signs of a Breakthrough to a higher level, his cultivation was more stable, and his connection to the sword pill had become clearer.

Although he hadn't directly raised his Realm, his Foundation had been polished to an incredibly solid state, and his combat power had increased.

"Brother Ye, I am impressed!" Jing Wutian praised sincerely.

At this moment, he already viewed Ye Tian as an opponent he needed to surpass.

Ye Tian smiled slightly. "Brother Jing is too modest. Since you all persevered, your Sword Hearts will surely have improved."

Just then, the central stone platform changed once again.

The surface of the platform cracked open, and a stone tablet rose, engraved with several lines of ancient characters: "Once the Sword Heart is first tempered, one may ascend the Hanging Platforms."

"Four Auxiliary Platforms, each containing a unique Sword Rhyme."

"Ascend the Main Platform to see the true essence."

Next to the stone tablet, four glowing entrances appeared, each corresponding to one of the four rising Auxiliary Platforms.

"Four Auxiliary Platforms, each containing a unique Sword Rhyme?"

Sikong Changhe looked at the four smaller stone platforms. "Are there different trials?"

"It seems that to reach the central Main Platform and obtain the final Opportunity, one must first pass the trials of the Auxiliary Platforms,"

Jing Wutian analyzed. "Moreover, these trials seem to target different characteristics of the sword Dao."

Everyone's eyes flickered, clearly weighing which Auxiliary Platform to choose.

The Opportunity was right before them, but the competition had also become more direct.

Ye Tian felt the different fluctuations of Sword Intent faintly emanating from the four Auxiliary Platforms and had already made his decision.

His goal was naturally the central Main Platform.

And these Auxiliary Platform trials were precisely the steps leading to the Main Platform.

"Everyone, I shall take my leave first."

Ye Tian cupped his hands slightly toward Jing Wutian and the others. Taking Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape with him, he chose one of the Auxiliary Platforms with shifting Sword Intent and stepped inside.

He sensed that the Sword Rhyme of this Auxiliary Platform was compatible with his Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art.

Seeing this, Jing Wutian, Sikong Changhe, and the others also chose Auxiliary Platforms that matched their own sword Dao and entered the Light Gates.

When Ye Tian entered the Light Gate, the scene before him transformed into a space of Chaos and void.

Mist swirled around, obscuring heaven and earth. Only countless sword shadows, flashing with various colors, darted through the mist, colliding, vanishing, and being Reborn, demonstrating endless transformations.

The Sword Intent permeating the air was no longer as oppressive as the outside world; instead, it pointed directly at the heart, testing one's understanding of the essence of 'change' in the sword Dao.

"What a strange place!"

Hou Xiaojie's eyes widened as he watched the unpredictable sword shadows, feeling dazzled.

The Mini Dragon Ape also curiously reached out a claw to touch a pale blue sword shadow gliding past, but Ye Tian gently held him back.

"Don't move. The Sword Intent here is formless and targets the Divine Soul directly. Touching it recklessly might damage your mind."

Ye Tian warned with a solemn expression.

He could feel that the trial of this Auxiliary Platform was not a confrontation of martial force, but a tempering of one's sword Dao Comprehension Ability and Heart-Nature.

He sat cross-legged and said to Hou Xiaojie, "The two of you stay by my side. No matter what you see or hear, as long as my life is not in danger, do not disturb me."

He needed to immerse himself completely.

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

Hou Xiaojie nodded quickly and, along with the Dragon Ape, stood guard alertly on either side of Ye Tian.

Ye Tian closed his eyes, quietly circulating the Illusory Sea Heart Sutra. He proactively opened his mind, guiding the Sword Rhyme containing the true meaning of 'agile transformation' into his perception.

In an instant, he entered a world composed of pure Sword Intent!

Countless sword Daos surged toward him.

There was the 'Gale Sword Intent' that pursued extreme speed, traveling a thousand miles in an instant.

There was the 'Illusory Sword Intent' where reality and illusion coexisted, filled with numerous phantoms.

There was the 'Light-Splitting Sword Intent' that divided into ten thousand, like a downpour of rain.

There was the 'Cloud-Mist Sword Intent' that gathered and dispersed unpredictably, ethereal and hard to fathom.

...

All sorts of sword Dao essences regarding 'change' flowed through his heart.

Initially, these diverse Sword Intents made his mind waver, especially several that were similar yet not identical to the concepts of his Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art, which even triggered a conflict within his own Sword Intent.

He saw countless forks in the road leading to the Peak of the sword Dao, each full of temptation yet hiding a wrong path.

"Hold onto the original heart!

Ten thousand changes without departing from the source!

My sword Dao lies in splitting light and transforming shadows, in controlling complexity with simplicity, and in perceiving the Origin of change!"

Ye Tian held fast to his will, using the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art as his Foundation. He allowed the myriad Sword Intents to strike him, but he only absorbed the parts that aligned with his own path, integrating them into his sword Dao system.

At the same time, the ancient sword pill emitted a sword Dao Origin aura, helping him refine these external Sword Intents and filter out the dross.

This process was extremely dangerous. If his mind faltered, he could be assimilated by the chaotic Sword Intents—at best, his Sword Heart would be damaged; at worst, he would suffer Qi Deviation and be instantly shredded.

But if he could hold onto his original heart, he could use this to temper his Sword Intent.

Time slowly passed.

Ye Tian was completely immersed in his comprehension of 'change' in the sword Dao.

His understanding of the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art reached a deeper level than before.

He no longer just pursued the division and speed of sword techniques; he began to touch upon the laws and essence behind 'change.'

His Sword Intent underwent a transformation unknowingly, becoming less forced and more natural.

After an unknown amount of time, when Ye Tian felt his Sword Intent had been tempered to an incredibly condensed state, the surrounding Chaos began to slowly dissipate.

He opened his eyes. Countless sword shadows flickered and faded in his pupils before finally returning to tranquility, yet they appeared even deeper.

His aura became increasingly restrained, but the sword Dao sharpness he faintly emitted was even purer.

"Senior Brother, you're awake!"

Hou Xiaojie said with surprise, "It felt like you were sitting there for a very long time!"

Ye Tian smiled slightly, feeling satisfied with his gains.

He looked around and found that he had returned to the Auxiliary Platform.

In the center of the Auxiliary Platform, on the ground that was originally empty, a transparent crystal was now suspended, its colors constantly shifting and emitting a shifting Sword Intent.

"Is this... the reward for passing the trial?"

Ye Tian reached out and took the crystal. He could feel the pure Sword Intent contained within, which would be of great benefit in consolidating his insights.

He put it away.

Just then, the Auxiliary Platform trembled slightly, and a Light Gate appeared ahead, clearly the exit to the next location.