257: Chapter 257 Heaven-Defying Talisman, Comprehending Sword Intent, and Baffling Maneuvers

After seeing Nangong Duanyue withdraw his gaze, the corner of Lin Ran's mouth couldn't help but curl into a playful smile.

Although he didn't know why Nangong Duanyue hadn't attacked him, since he had arrived here, there would definitely be a fierce battle between him and Nangong Duanyue!

【Ding! Detected that the Host has triggered a new Heavenly Mandate Mission. Please make the following choice!】

【Option 1: Forgive others where possible; put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot!】

【Task: Go to the sword immortal stele, apologize to Nangong Duanyue, and declare that you will never again slaughter recklessly in the future!】

【Reward: 32,000 destiny points, one VIP seat at the Leshan Giant Buddha!】

【Option 2: How bold! You actually dare to glare at This Son of Heavenly Mandate? Can't tolerate it at all! Fight him!!】

【Task: Go to the sword immortal stele and kill Nangong Duanyue!】

【Reward: 32,000 mission points, one heaven-defying talisman!】

"heaven-defying talisman?"

Upon seeing the heaven-defying talisman in the reward for Option 2, Lin Ran's eyes lit up, and his heart fluttered.

This was the first time the System had rewarded this kind of thing, and just hearing the name sounded extremely high-class, didn't it?!

"I choose two!"

Lin Ran made his choice immediately.

Of course, he didn't go to the sword immortal stele to kill Nangong Duanyue right away; the nine statues of powerful figures before the sword immortal stele also contained significant Opportunities.

"Sword God Kongyue, when in the Divine Fire Realm, once fought three powerhouses of the Divine Bridge Realm with the Moon-in-World Sword Technique, and eventually rode the moon away after killing all three..."

Lin Ran looked at the first statue in front of him and discovered that it recorded the life deeds of this Sword Dao powerhouse.

"Sword God Kongyue, specialized in Sword Dao and comprehended the Bright Moon Sword Intent."

"This statue contains the Bright Moon Sword Intent of Sword God Kongyue; once the Bright Moon Sword Intent is comprehended, one's own strength can be greatly improved."

"But at the same time, this statue is also an obstacle; if one cannot contend with the Bright Moon Sword Intent, it is difficult to pass this statue."

Lin Ran pondered secretly in his heart.

He sat cross-legged before the statue of Sword God Kongyue, but he couldn't help but frown.

Although Sword Dao is only an Advanced Dao, below the Immortal Nine Paths, it is a very special Sword Dao.

Swords are ever-changing. Sword Intent is similarly ever-changing. The sword follows the heart's movement, and intent is born from the heart.

Everyone's Sword Dao and the Sword Intent they can comprehend are different.

The Sword Intents in this world are ever-changing and countless, and Sword God Kongyue's Bright Moon Sword Intent is merely one of countless Sword Intents.

Sword Intent does not distinguish between high and low; since it is born from the heart, it relies entirely on mental strength. The stronger the heart, the stronger the Sword Intent.

And mental strength is also divided into Ranks. They are the Clear-Mind Realm, Sole Realm, Selfless Realm, Hundred-Victory Realm, and Sovereign Realm!

But right now, what Lin Ran was worried about wasn't the mental strength Realm, but... He hadn't even comprehended his own Sword Intent yet, so what was the point of talking about mental strength Realms?!

"I Cultivate the Crescent Moon God Slaying Sword Technique; it wouldn't be bad if I could comprehend Sword God Kongyue's Bright Moon Sword Intent."

"However, is the Bright Moon Sword Intent the Sword Intent I want to comprehend in my heart?"

Lin Ran asked his inner self this question in his heart. He received the answer: No!

Lin Ran shook his head, temporarily casting aside these distracting thoughts, and began to calm his heart to comprehend the Bright Moon Sword Intent within the statue of Sword God Kongyue.

His innate bone, Aptitude, and Comprehension Ability were all maxed out. Before long, terrifying Bright Moon Sword Intent spread from his body.

"It's Sword God Kongyue's Bright Moon Sword Intent!!"

"Hiss—this person is so terrifying; he actually comprehended the Bright Moon Sword Intent so quickly?!"

"I know him! He is the Saint of the Feixian Sect in the Zhangming Emperor Realm, and also the nephew of the Kunlun Sect Sect Leader!"

"Is that Lin Ran who killed the Nangong Family Second Young Master not long ago?! I heard he also attracted a blood mark..."

"Bah! What blood mark? Sect Master Jiang has said that it is a token she used to summon Lin Ran back to the White Jade Capital. Lin Ran is someone from the White Jade Capital to begin with, so where does this talk of attracting a blood mark come from?!"

"If you dare to slander Lin Ran again, Sect Master Jiang will cut off your head!"

The young Prodigies were dumbfounded, whispering among themselves below.

Lin Ran slowly opened his eyes, every breath he took carrying the biting coldness of the Bright Moon Sword Intent.

Now, he only needed to condense this Bright Moon Sword Intent into a Bright Moon sword orb and take it into his heart to completely comprehend the Bright Moon Sword Intent.

However, he merely shook his head and walked towards the second statue of the powerful figure.

Seeing this scene, everyone was full of confusion, feeling somewhat baffled.

Lin Ran had already comprehended the Bright Moon Sword Intent to a great extent; he only needed to condense the Bright Moon Sword Intent emanating from his body into a Bright Moon sword orb and take it into his heart to completely comprehend the Bright Moon Sword Intent.

But why, at this final moment, did Lin Ran not complete this last step?! Wasn't this just messing around?!

Outside Spirit Sword Mountain, Jiang Yunxian, Su Xiyue, and others who saw this scene also had confused expressions, a trace of bewilderment flashing in their eyes.

To tell the truth, they also couldn't quite understand Lin Ran's operation; could it be that he didn't fancy the Bright Moon Sword Intent?

The second statue of a powerful figure was named Qing Changkong. The Sword Intent he Cultivated was the Vast Sky Sword Intent, claimed to be a Sword Intent that, when released with a single strike, would make all Daos empty.

Lin Ran sat cross-legged before Qing Changkong's statue, and it didn't take long before he had comprehended the Vast Sky Sword Intent to a great extent.

But just like with the Bright Moon Sword Intent, he merely comprehended it and condensed the Vast Sky Sword Intent into a Vast Sky sword orb. Immediately after, he walked towards the third statue of a powerful figure.

The third statue of a powerful figure was the Dark Sword Intent. Just like before, Lin Ran comprehended it with ease, then walked towards the fourth statue of a powerful figure.

Just like that, Lin Ran followed the same pattern. He passed statue after statue of powerful figures, comprehending the Sword Intent contained within them to a great extent, but he simply would not condense them into sword orbs.

The young Prodigies watching all around were already dumbfounded, forgetting to fight for Opportunities for a moment, and simply kept their gazes locked on Lin Ran.

"This guy..." Ma Xuanzhi's mouth twitched, and a deep sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

He was a Core Disciple of the Wentian Sect, specializing in Sword Dao, and prided himself on being able to fearlessly Face even Disciples of the Nangong Family in Sword Dao.

But now, facing such a Prodigy as Lin Ran, he felt some fear. Just based on this speed of comprehending Sword Intent, was Lin Ran even a normal person?!

That unknown young girl from Wuyou Tower looked at Lin Ran with eyes shimmering with flowing light. Such an unparalleled, peerless Prodigy with astonishing Aptitude—if she could abduct him back to Wuyou Tower to be her mountain-fortress husband, she would have so much Face in front of all her sisters!

Soon, Lin Ran arrived before the last statue of a powerful figure. And around his body, a full eight different types of Sword Intent were spreading, crazily intertwining to form the most terrifying sword wind, becoming a natural barrier for him that no one dared to approach.