388: Chapter 388 Sword Heart Stone

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and added: "You can take turns, or you can do it together. You decide for yourselves."

Gao Feng stepped forward and carefully examined the sword heart stone. The cracks on the surface of the giant rock seemed random, but they actually contained a certain pattern; every crack was like a sword mark. He pressed his palm close to the stone's surface, and a sharp Sword Intent instantly emanated from within, making his fingertips tingle with numbness.

"Let's do it together." Gao Feng looked back at his teammates. "Everyone, sit down together so we can look out for each other."

A flicker of approval flashed in Elder Li's eyes, but he said nothing, simply stepping aside and signaling for them to begin.

Several people sat cross-legged in a semi-circle three feet in front of the sword heart stone. Gao Feng was in the center, with Lin Jingyu and Situ Lan to his left and right, and the back row consisted of Luo Li, Su Ning, Chu Lan, Tianxin, Yaoguang, and Lin Yue.

"Close your eyes, concentrate, and probe your Spiritual Sense into the stone," Elder Li's voice rang out.

The group closed their eyes simultaneously.

As soon as Gao Feng's Spiritual Sense touched the sword heart stone, he felt a cold, sharp edge pierce into his Sea of Consciousness like a sharp sword. That Sword Intent was incredibly sharp, carrying an unquestionable dominance as if it wanted to completely tear his consciousness apart!

He let out a muffled groan, the veins on his forehead bulging.

The intensity of this Sword Intent far exceeded the description of "bearable for a Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator" in Venerable Xuan Yang's records. Venerable Xuan Yang had said that the Sword Intent of the sword heart stone was roughly equivalent to the full pressure of a first-level Golden Core Cultivator, which shouldn't be difficult for Gao Feng, who was at the third level of the Golden Core stage. But what he felt now was clearly the intensity of the Middle Stage!

It wasn't an illusion. The others also showed expressions of pain at the same time.

Lin Jingyu's brow was furrowed, his teeth clenched; Situ Lan's face turned pale, her lips trembling slightly; Luo Li's fingers curled unconsciously, and the flowing sound zither almost slipped from her lap. Chu Lan's body swayed even more, as if she were about to collapse.

Someone had tampered with it. Gao Feng understood instantly—the Conservatives had stimulated the Sword Intent, increasing its power by at least thirty percent. This wasn't a normal assessment; it was deliberate sabotage. But now was not the time to investigate; he had to steady his mind.

He took a deep breath, and the Star Battle Body within him began to operate automatically. Purple starlight flowed through his Meridians like a layer of armor, protecting his Divine Sense from being torn apart by the Sword Intent. At the same time, he silently activated the "War Gods Unity" intent from the War God Art, treating that sharp Sword Intent as a force to be integrated through Fusion, rather than an enemy to be resisted.

The Sword Intent remained sharp and domineering, but Gao Feng's Sea of Consciousness gradually stabilized.

However, while he could hold on alone, the others might not.

Luo Li's breathing became rapid, and her Sea of Consciousness teetered under the impact of the Sword Intent. The flowing sound zither on her lap vibrated slightly, but she couldn't play a complete note. Tianxin's face was so pale it was almost bloodless; her Talisman hadn't even been activated before she was suppressed by the Sword Intent, unable to mobilize her Spiritual Qi. Yaoguang's healing power couldn't be deployed in her Sea of Consciousness at all, because healing required a clear Divine Sense, and hers was being torn apart.

Lin Jingyu was a Sword Cultivator and had the strongest resistance to Sword Intent, but his expression was also grim. He gritted his teeth and held on, his hands forming sword seals as he tried to use his own Sword Intent to counter the one in the stone. The two Sword Intents collided in his Sea of Consciousness, erupting in invisible shockwaves that made his body shudder.

At this rate, they wouldn't last the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Gao Feng opened his eyes and looked at Luo Li: "Luo Li, play."

Luo Li gritted her teeth, her fingers struggling to reach the strings. The first note was intermittent, almost drowned out by the Sword Intent. She didn't give up, plucking the strings again; this time, although the music was faint, it clearly reached everyone's ears—the Pure Heart Melody!

The Pure Heart Melody was a basic piece from the Tianyin Pavilion. Luo Li had been playing it since she was seven and knew it by heart. At this moment, she poured all her Spiritual Qi and all her concentration into this simplest of melodies. The music was like a clear spring, slowly flowing into everyone's Sea of Consciousness, washing away the anxiety and fear brought by the Sword Intent. Everyone's breathing gradually leveled out.

Tianxin seized this opportunity to take out eight "Tranquility Talismans" from her sleeve and stick them one by one onto everyone's backs. The moment the Talismans were applied, a cool aura flooded their bodies, their minds cleared slightly, and the pressure of the Sword Intent weakened accordingly.

Su Ning's hands moved slowly in front of her, and silver Space Power seeped from her fingertips, forming a thin buffer barrier around the sword heart stone. That barrier didn't block the Sword Intent; it just softened it—like placing a few stones in a turbulent river; though the water still flowed, it was no longer so fierce.

Chu Lan took out several "Mind-Settling Leaves" from her robe and gave them to everyone to hold under their tongues. The leaves were cool and slightly bitter, capable of stabilizing the mind. She also took a small bottle of concentrated Spiritual Qi liquid from her Storage Pouch and put a drop in everyone's mouth. Their Spiritual Qi recovered somewhat, giving them the confidence to resist the Sword Intent.

Yaoguang did not directly counter the Sword Intent; instead, she transformed her healing power into a gentle halo that enveloped everyone. That halo couldn't directly resist the Sword Intent, but it could repair the minute damage the Sword Intent caused to their Divine Sense, preventing them from breaking down during the prolonged ordeal.

Lin Yue didn't have any expertise in Divine Sense, but he did the simplest and most practical thing—he activated his Protective Jade Pendant, extending its shield to surround everyone. Although that shield could only block physical attacks, the power of the Formation contained within the jade could also buffer external Spiritual Qi fluctuations to some extent, including the Sword Intent.

With everyone working together, the pressure from the sword heart stone was dispersed bit by bit. Gao Feng's Sea of Consciousness became more and more stable, and he even had the energy to perceive the essence of that Sword Intent—it was an extremely pure Sword Intent, with no fancy variations, only an indomitable determination. It was a Legacy Sword Intent left by the ancestors of the Heavenly Sword Sect, rather than a mere test. If one perceived it with their heart, they could even grasp the true essence of the Dao of the sword from it.

Time passed in silence.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn usually passes in a flash, but now it felt as long as a year.

Luo Li's music never stopped, even though her fingers were already worn raw and blood stained the strings. Tianxin's Talismans were applied one after another to everyone's backs, her Spiritual Qi more than half consumed.

Su Ning maintained the buffer barrier, her face turning paler and paler. Chu Lan distributed the last few Mind-Settling Leaves to everyone, leaving her own mouth empty.

Yaoguang's healing halo grew dimmer, but she persisted and refused to stop. Two of Lin Yue's Protective Jade Pendants had shattered, and he unhesitatingly took out the last one to activate.

Lin Jingyu had closed his eyes at some point, his body trembling slightly, but a faint, almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of his mouth—using his talent in the Dao of the sword, he had actively taken on the majority of the Sword Intent's impact from the sword heart stone.

Although that sharp Sword Intent was powerful, under his guidance, most of it surged toward him, and the others only bore the afterwaves. He used his own Sword Intent to block the fiercest attacks for his teammates.

Situ Lan noticed Lin Jingyu's actions and silently adjusted her position, moving closer to him and using her own Sword Intent, which also focused on fast sword techniques, to share some of the pressure with him.

Two incense sticks later, Elder Li's voice rang out: "Time is up."

The group opened their eyes simultaneously and let out a long breath. Chu Lan almost fell over but was supported by Yaoguang; Luo Li's fingers were still on the strings, the blood from her fingertips having already congealed; Tianxin's Talismans were exhausted, and she leaned against Su Ning's shoulder, panting; Su Ning's face was deathly pale, her forehead covered in cold sweat; Lin Yue's last jade pendant had also shattered, but he grinned; Yaoguang leaned against Lin Yue's back, too exhausted to speak.

Gao Feng stood up and cupped his fists toward Elder Li: "Elder Li, did we pass?"

Elder Li's gaze swept over them, his eyes filled with a complex expression. He looked at the sword heart stone, then at these eight young people who, though exhausted, were still standing. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.

"Since the establishment of the sword heart stone, Disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect have always faced the trial alone, resisting the Sword Intent with their individual strength. Those who can pass alone are the elite of the Heavenly Sword Sect." He paused. "For several of you to Cultivate as a team and break through the trial together—this is the first time since the founding of the Heavenly Sword Sect."

There was no mockery in his tone, only emotion: "To be honest, the members of the Conservatives secretly increased the power of the Sword Intent; I knew about it. I didn't stop them because I also wanted to see what the people from the Wuxiang Sect were truly capable of. It seems now that your ability lies not in your individual Cultivation, but in... your mutual trust."

He closed the ledger in his hand, wrote a few lines, and then looked up: "You have passed the first trial. The second trial is tomorrow; today, you may go to the guest quarters to rest."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Chu Lan was so excited she wanted to jump up, but she almost fell because her legs were weak, only to be caught by Lin Yue.

Just as Gao Feng was about to lead the group away, Elder Li suddenly lowered his voice: "Wait a moment."

Gao Feng stopped and looked back.

Elder Li stepped closer and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: "The ninth trial is the Sword God Platform; that is the highest level of assessment in the Heavenly Sword Sect. The Conservatives might tamper with things there, so be careful. I have said all I can; the rest is up to you."

Having said that, he turned toward the sword heart stone and didn't look at Gao Feng again.

Gao Feng stood there, looking at Elder Li's back. He didn't ask further questions, but simply cupped his fists in a salute and then led his teammates toward the guest quarters.

On the bluestone road, the setting sun stretched their shadows very long. In the distance, the main peak of the Heavenly Sword Sect stood like a long sword piercing the sky in the twilight, silent and majestic.

Luo Li asked softly: "What did Elder Li say to you?"

"The ninth trial might be dangerous," Gao Feng didn't hide it. "He told us to be careful."

"The ninth trial is still a long way off," Lin Yue said nonchalantly. "Let's get through the ones in front of us first. Today, if it weren't for everyone working together, I definitely wouldn't have been able to hold on alone."

Chu Lan nodded: "Me too. That Sword Intent was too strong; my Spiritual Sense was almost torn apart."

"It wasn't almost," Tianxin said, speaking more than usual. "You nearly fainted three times just now; it was Luo Li's music that pulled you back."

Chu Lan looked at Luo Li in surprise. Luo Li smiled slightly and didn't explain.

Yaoguang said softly: "Senior Brother Jingyu is the biggest contributor. He bore most of the Sword Intent alone; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy for us."