169: Blade & Soul Metamorphosis

As Lin Yan was about to turn and leave, three sharp gazes locked onto him.

A sharp Aura erupted simultaneously from the three people chasing the Spirit Fish.

"This Junior Brother truly has good methods, seizing the treasure we were targeting as soon as he made a move."

"We have been chasing this Spirit Fish for a long time."

"Indeed, for you to pick up the spoils so easily, Junior Brother, is somewhat against the rules."

...Lin Yan heard this and gave a wry smile:

"Senior Brothers, please do not take offense. Treasures belong to those destined to find them... Besides, it is just one Spirit Fish. The Elder also said before that we are all fellow Disciples and should not ruin the harmony."

"If Junior Brother puts it that way, then this Senior Brother will have to offend you," one of them spoke up.

"In the Sword Washing Pool, we speak with our strength!"

"Forget it, since the three of us would have had to fight in the end anyway, let's just add Junior Brother and make it four."

"That makes sense. Let's not waste time then. We'll compete in pairs; the Spirit Fish goes to whoever is strongest."

In just a few words, they decisively agreed to have a contest.

"Fine, I have no objection. The winner gets the fish." Lin Yan also nodded in agreement.

"Chen Ming of the Gold Lineage, please advise!" His golden-flame red robes were like fire, and a hint of Geng Gold Evil Qi emanated from between his brows.

"Qing Wuhe of the Wood Lineage. I'll come and meet Senior Brother Chen."

Qing Wuhe was a woman, holding a green sword with dense vitality flowing around her as she faced Chen Ming.

A hint of battle-hungry excitement flashed in Chen Ming's eyes. A gold sword hummed in his palm, evaporating the surrounding water vapor into clusters of scorching bubbles.

The phantom of vines in Qing Wuhe's hand became entangled with her green wood sword. As the branches and leaves lashed out, they created bursts of piercing sounds, attacking Chen Ming.

The two quickly became locked in combat.

"Shen Ming of the Water Lineage!" The third person also announced his background. "Junior Brother, please advise!"

"Lin Yan of the Wood Lineage. Please advise, Senior Brother Shen." Lin Yan cupped his hands.

Hearing this, Shen Ming didn't waste any words. Holding a blue spiritual sword, his Foundation Establishment Peak cultivation erupted as the spiritual sword stabbed straight toward Lin Yan.

He not only emitted a sharp Sword Intent but also activated a Water Concept.

A water Dragon condensed around the blue spiritual sword, spiraling and pointing directly at the center of Lin Yan's brows.

Lin Yan stood still, but his fingertips quietly gathered the Blood Qi power of Foundation Establishment Perfection.

At the same time, the powerful Wood Spiritual Power in his Dantian surged and burst forth.

His Blood Qi rushed like a surging river, and the spiritual power throughout his body was pushed to the Peak.

Although his spiritual power cultivation was only at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, cultivation was not his shortcoming.

It could even be said to be a massive advantage.

He could feel that the spirit of the qinggang sword in his hand was already impatient. The green light flickered rapidly at the hilt, conveying a desire for battle.

"Pardon me," Lin Yan whispered, his body moving slightly.

As he moved, Lin Yan had already unfurled his Sword Intent, and the qinggang sword hummed as it stabbed out.

Executing the Six-fold Sword Intent, the wood grain on the sword's spine lit up in the undercurrents, turning into a greenish-gray stream of light.

Those who comprehend Sword Intent in the Foundation Establishment Realm are Geniuses, but there is a vast difference within the nine revolutions of Sword Intent.

Ordinary Cultivators can only reach the First-Revolution Sword Intent.

Prodigy Cultivators mostly stop at the Fourth-Revolution Sword Intent; any further, and their strength falls short.

Shen Ming was at this level.

Compared to Lin Yan's Six-fold Sword Intent, Shen Ming's Sword Intent was quite inferior.

Even with the assistance of the Water Concept, he was still instantly suppressed by Lin Yan.

"Such strong Sword Intent!" Shen Ming couldn't help but be shocked.

In a moment of distraction, he suddenly saw Lin Yan's long sword flash, appearing before him as if teleporting.

"How is that possible!" Shen Ming was startled by Lin Yan's swift sword speed and instinctively blocked with his sword.

"Clang!" The sound of clashing metal exploded in the water, causing the surrounding fish and shrimp to scatter.

Shen Ming only felt a surge of immense force coming through the sword blade, as his Blood Qi churned.

He retreated seven steps in the water before stabilizing himself. The hand holding the sword trembled slightly, and the web of his hand was already bleeding.

Shen Ming looked up in horror, only to see Lin Yan standing in the water with his qinggang sword, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground. The Blood Qi power around him flowed like a pale gold halo, and his Sword Intent remained condensed, giving Shen Ming the illusion that there was "no escape."

"A Body Cultivator... and at Foundation Establishment Perfection? What incredible speed!" Shen Ming blurted out, his eyes full of disbelief.

"And how is your Sword Intent so strong?"

He considered himself among the top Geniuses of the Inner Sect, yet he was suppressed in a single move.

He clearly remembered that Lin Yan had come from the outside; he wasn't one of those Sword Pavilion Direct Disciple Prodigies.

Lin Yan withdrew his sword and stood still, his Blood Qi power slowly receding. His tone was indifferent: "It was just luck."

"I am not as good as you..." Shen Ming said solemnly.

This scene fell into the eyes of the other two. At some point, the duel between Chen Ming and Qing Wuhe had stopped, and both were looking at Lin Yan with grave expressions.

Chen Ming murmured: "A Foundation Establishment Perfection Body Cultivator... and with such profound Sword Intent? Could this Lin Yan be... a Prodigy-level Direct Disciple?"

Qing Wuhe also frowned slightly. She was from the Wood Lineage, and although she didn't know Lin Yan personally, she had heard the name and knew a bit about him.

In her impression, he was a Disciple who had risen from the outer sect, with decent luck and talent.

He had great potential but was a rising star; he shouldn't be as good as her.

All three of them silently sheathed their swords.

Chen Ming walked up to Lin Yan, his tone carrying a rare hint of solemnity: "Junior Brother Lin's strength is extraordinary. This fish... indeed belongs to you."

Qing Wuhe also nodded with a smile: "We accept our defeat wholeheartedly. We hope for more guidance from Junior Brother Lin in the future."

Lin Yan cupped his hands in return: "You flatter me."

With that, the three turned and left.

No matter how many questions they had, now was not the time for chatting.

Every second in the Sword Washing Pool was precious and could not be wasted... After the three left, Lin Yan flicked his finger, opening his Storage Pouch. The Glazed Sword-Pattern Fish swam out slowly, hovering in his palm.

With a flick of its tail, it let out a clear cry like a sword's hum, and the sword patterns flickered accordingly.

Lin Yan carefully sensed the Aura inside the fish and found it no different from the Fourth-Grade Pool Water Essence.

The only difference was that this fish seemed to have developed some intelligence, becoming a unique kind of creature.

"Sword Spirit, look." Lin Yan's thought moved.

On the qinggang sword, the Sword Infant was already impatient.

"Master... Sword Spirit... wants to eat!"

Green light suddenly flared up, and the Sword Infant reached out a small illusory hand, lightly touching the fish's body.

In an instant, the fish's body turned into a stream of light and merged into the center of the Sword Infant's forehead.

Inside the Sword Infant, sword patterns and sword shadows swirled frantically, like a river flowing backward.

It glowed with intense green light, its body expanding rapidly, growing from the size of a thumb to about a foot tall.

The originally blurry facial features were quickly and clearly outlined in the green light.

The eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, the bridge of the nose was straight, and the lip line was distinct—it was actually no different from a normal person.

At that moment, the water in the surrounding Sword Washing Pool moved without any wind, forming a huge vortex.

An Origin power, far more ancient and pure than the essence, rose from the bottom of the pool, turning into blue-gold light rays that poured into the Sword Spirit's body.

Lin Yan frowned, not knowing what was happening.

"Master... Sword Spirit feels so comfortable..." The child's voice rang in Lin Yan's Sea of Consciousness, filled with satisfaction and liveliness.

Lin Yan felt slightly relieved.

"It doesn't seem to be a bad thing."}],