500: Chapter 500 Repeating the Same Mistake

"The Silver-scaled Flood Dragon Bloodline... can actually refine Sword Intent?"

Waves of shock surged within her heart.

This was something she had never heard of.

The Bloodlines of the Water Clan are mostly characterized by flexibility and change, which naturally clash with the fierce and sharp Dao of the sword, let alone refining Sword Intent—it was like using water to quench fire, which should have been mutually incompatible, leading to mutual destruction.

Yet, the truth lay right before her eyes.

This Bloodline Power had not only refined the Sword Intent, but had also perfectly combined the unstoppable sharpness of the Sword Intent with the flexibility and change within the Bloodline, forming a completely new power she had never seen before.

That power... even made her feel a faint sense of threat.

"Could this... be my Opportunity?"

A glint of light flashed in the Silver-scaled Woman's eyes, and the extinguished spark in her heart was reignited.

---

The other survivors were in various states.

A Cultivator from the Stone Clan had skin that had turned an ashen white, its surface covered in cracks, like a stone statue about to shatter.

Yet his aura was steady; clearly, during the baptism just now, he had chosen the dumbest but safest method—using the Stone Clan's unique petrification Divine Ability to stubbornly withstand the impact of the Sword Intent.

Though he looked in a wretched state, his actual injuries were the lightest.

A Cultivator from the Wind Clan had a body that had become semi-transparent, as if he might dissipate into the wind at any moment.

This was the aftereffect of the Wind Clan's secret technique, the 'Wind Transformation Art'—though it could greatly reduce physical damage, it placed an immense burden on the Divine Soul.

Currently, he sat cross-legged there with his eyes tightly shut, doing his utmost to stabilize his nearly collapsing Divine Soul.

Cold sweat slid down his cheeks, each drop laced with faint traces of blood.

There were two others from different clans, each with their own life-saving methods. Without exception, however, they were all severely injured, their auras withered, requiring time to recover.

No one dared to truly relax.

Because they all knew—this was only the first trial.

Next, there were still the one hundred and eight Sword Master Peaks, as well as the legendary sword spirit of the heaven and earth wandering dragon sword.

If they did not recover as quickly as possible now, once the next trial began, they would likely be the first batch to be eliminated.

"I must heal my injuries as quickly as possible."

This was the consensus of all the survivors.

---

However, when they barely managed to raise their heads and look at the other two figures not far away—

Everyone was stunned.

Those were Jian Tanghuang and Jianzi.

Jian Tanghuang had already stood up.

Her red robe was exceptionally eye-catching at the edge of the dark Sword Mountain, like a fire reignited amidst the ashes.

Not only did the Sword Intent around her not weaken from the baptism just now, but it had instead become more condensed and sharper.

The crimson Sword Qi flowed across her body, sometimes transforming into a phantom of a Phoenix crying out to the heavens, and sometimes turning into countless tiny sword beams, agile and dangerous.

She rolled her wrists, her bones making crisp popping sounds as if every inch of her muscles and bones had been reforged.

On the surface of her skin, there was an extremely faint crimson halo, flickering in and out of view.

This was the sign of Sword Intent entering the body and achieving perfect Fusion with oneself.

"She actually... really absorbed that Sword Intent?"

The Silver-scaled Woman's pupils constricted sharply, waves of shock surging in her heart.

She had personally experienced that kind of pain.

She knew how violent and difficult to control that Sword Intent was.

Even after exerting all her strength, she had only barely preserved her life under the impact of the Sword Intent, unable to even guide it, let alone absorb it.

Yet Jian Tanghuang had not only absorbed it, but had also refined it, allowing the Sword Intent to achieve perfect Fusion with herself.

This gap—

Was simply too vast.

So vast that it made her feel suffocated.

A sense of powerlessness welled up in the Silver-scaled Woman's heart.

But soon, this powerlessness was replaced by an even stronger fighting spirit.

"If she can do it, so can I."

She swore silently in her heart. Her fingers clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms until blood seeped out.

---

As for Jianzi's state—

It was even more incomprehensible to everyone.

He was still sitting cross-legged.

His white sword robe was completely spotless, without even a single crease, as if the world-destroying baptism of Sword Intent just now had been nothing but a gentle breeze to him.

The sheathed longsword in his arms still lay quietly, showing no sign of unsheathing.

He hadn't even... lost his breathing rhythm.

His expression was as calm as ever, as if he were merely resting with his eyes closed.

"How is this possible..."

The Stone Clan Cultivator muttered to himself, his throat dry.

He prided himself on having defensive power that ranked in the top three among everyone, yet in the baptism just now, he had still been forced to use his petrification Divine Ability to barely survive.

Yet this Jianzi—

Was actually completely unscathed?

Not just unscathed.

The aura on his body even seemed to have become stronger.

Although the change was subtle, everyone present was a Prodigy with terrifyingly sharp perception.

They could clearly perceive that the Concept of 'Nothingness' lingering around Jianzi—

Had become more harmonious.

More profound.

And also more... terrifying.

If the previous Jianzi was a sharp sword hidden in its sheath, with its edge restrained but its presence still felt—

Then the current Jianzi was as if both the sword and the sheath had vanished.

Leaving behind only a stretch of nothingness. A void.

You clearly saw him sitting right there—white clothes, longsword, clear features.

Yet your perception told you: there was nothing there.

This extremely contradictory feeling made everyone's hair stand on end.

It was like being targeted by an invisible ancient Vicious Beast, or staring into a taboo that shouldn't exist.

"Just what is this person's background?"

Deep wariness flashed in the Wind Clan Cultivator's eyes. His 'Wind Transformation Art' was best suited for perception, yet at this moment, he could perceive nothing—at the place where Jianzi sat, even the wind bypassed him.

They were not that they hadn't investigated Jianzi's background.

But the information they obtained was pitifully scarce.

They only knew that he came from some ancient sword Dao Legacy and was the 'Jianzi' of this generation.

Other than that, there was nothing else.

No battle records, no background, and even his real name was unknown.

But that was such a person who had behaved so calmly during the baptism of Sword Intent just now—

So unfathomably deep.

---

The Red-horned Youth looked at Jianzi, then at Jian Tanghuang, a wave of powerlessness rising in his heart.

When he arrived, he had prided himself on being a once-in-a-century Genius of his clan, one of the few with the highest hope of attaining the Dao of a Sword Immortal in this generation.

But now—

Compared to Jian Tanghuang and Jianzi, he felt like a frog at the bottom of a well.

Having absolutely no idea how high the heavens were or how deep the earth was.

"There is always someone better, and there are always heavens beyond heavens."

He smiled bitterly, but his gaze immediately became resolute again.

"However, I haven't lost yet. The path of the sword is not a competition of a single moment, but of a lifetime. It remains to be seen who will have the last laugh."

---

Just as everyone was harboring their own thoughts—

Jianzi slowly opened his eyes.

These were eyes as calm as an ancient well. Deep, distant, without a single ripple.

Yet if anyone dared to meet his gaze—

They would feel a shudder originating from the depths of their Soul.

As if all of their secrets, all of their thoughts, and all of their deepest fears and desires—

Had been seen through by these eyes.

Jianzi did not look at anyone.

He merely lowered his head and glanced at the longsword in his arms.

The corner of his mouth hooked up slightly into an almost imperceptible curve—

Then, he stood up.

His movements were neither hurried nor slow. His white sword robe swayed gently.

His entire being was like a sharp sword that had finally been unsheathed.

Though his sharp edge was restrained, that invisible pressure still caused everyone's breath to freeze.

---

"Not bad."

A grand thought resounded in everyone's minds.

It was still that cold and ruthless tone.

But this time, everyone could hear an almost imperceptible trace of... satisfaction?

"Seven survivors, two have refined the Sword Intent and forged the foundation of Sword Bones."

"Compared to the past, acceptable."

The words 'Compared to the past' made everyone's hearts tighten.

The past?

Could it be that people had been here before? Or had this Legacy trial of the Ten Thousand Sword Graveyard been opened more than once?

But no one dared to ask.

Because that grand thought continued:

"The first trial has passed."

"You may enter the Sword Mountain."

"The coordinates of the one hundred and eight Sword Master Peaks have been manifested in your Seas of Consciousness. Choose one peak to ascend and undergo its trial; those who obtain the Sword Master's recognition may receive the Legacy."

"Life and death are your own responsibility; Opportunities are for you to seize."

"Go."

As the voice fell, the grand thought receded like a tide, vanishing without a trace.

But everyone could feel—

The ubiquitous pressure of the Sword Intent within the Sword Mountain had not dissipated.

It was merely no longer targeting them.

Instead, it permeated between heaven and earth like air.

---

A brief silence.

Then—

"Go!"

The Red-horned Youth was the first to react.

He stood up abruptly, ignoring his injuries, and looked into the depths of the Sword Mountain with bloodshot eyes.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, one hundred and eight points of light were clearly visible. Each point of light corresponded to a Sword Master Peak, emitting a completely different aura of Sword Intent.

He sensed for a moment—and suddenly locked onto a direction.

There, a Sword Intent as blazing as fire and incomparably domineering was calling out to him.

Producing a strong resonance with the Bloodline Power within his body.

"This is... the Legacy of the Flame Sun Sword Lord!"

He growled, wild joy flashing in his eyes.

The Flame Sun Sword Lord—a peerless powerhouse from the primordial era who had attained the Dao through the fire sword Dao. His Sword Intent was violent and blazing, capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas, making it a match made in heaven for his Red-horned Clan Bloodline.

If he could obtain this Legacy, his strength would surely advance by leaps and bounds, and he might even hope to surpass the Old Ancestor of his clan to become a new generation's sword Dao Supreme.

"This Legacy is mine!"

The Red-horned Youth thought no more. His body transformed into a streak of red light, and he dashed into the Sword Mountain without looking back.

The other survivors also recovered their senses one after another. Each sensed the coordinates of the Sword Intent within their Sea of Consciousness, searching for the Sword Master Peak that was most compatible with them—

And then they scrambled to fly towards them.

With Opportunity before them, no one wanted to fall behind.

The Silver-scaled Woman glanced at Jian Tanghuang, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. In the end, however, she did not speak, turning to sweep towards another direction—

There, a bone-chilling yet water-flexible Sword Intent was waiting quietly.

Producing threads of resonance with her Bloodline and Cultivation Technique.

---

Within moments, only two people remained at the edge of the Sword Mountain.

Jian Tanghuang and Jianzi.

Jian Tanghuang crossed her arms, tilting her head to look at Jianzi with a hint of playfulness in her eyes:

"You're not going?"

Jianzi looked at her calmly: "What about you?"

"Me?"

Jian Tanghuang chuckled.

She cast her gaze into the depths of the Sword Mountain—where clouds and mist surged, and Sword Intent rolled like a tide.

"Of course I'm going. The Legacies of one hundred and eight Sword Masters are not something one can encounter anytime. And..."

She paused, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes:

"I'm also quite interested in the sword spirit of the heaven and earth wandering dragon sword."

Jianzi did not speak.

Jian Tanghuang glanced at him, suddenly leaning in slightly closer, lowering her voice:

"Hey, the Sword Intent you refined just now... is of the 'Nothingness' attribute, right?"

Jianzi raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Stop pretending."

Jian Tanghuang curled her lips.

"Almost no one in the entire sword Dao world can cultivate that Concept of 'Nothingness'. Although I don't know your background, I can feel that the Sword Intent on you is very special. It is very similar... to the aura of this Sword Mountain."

Jianzi fell silent for a moment.

He said indifferently: "A coincidence."

"A coincidence?"

Jian Tanghuang sneered, clearly not believing him. However, she did not press further, only patting Jianzi on the shoulder:

"Forget it, everyone has secrets. But—"

Her tone suddenly became serious.

"If in the end, we both have to contend for the heaven and earth wandering dragon sword, I won't show any mercy."

Jianzi looked at her.

The corner of his mouth hooked up slightly:

"Likewise."

Jian Tanghuang was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

Her laughter was as crisp as the chime of a sword, echoing in the mountains and lingering for a long time.

"Good! Then let's see who gets the Legacy first!"

Before her voice even faded—

Her entire body transformed into a crimson sword light, soaring into the sky!

She swept rapidly towards the depths of the Sword Mountain. Wherever the crimson sword light passed, a scorching trail was left in the air, sizzling like a hot iron passing over silk, lingering for a long time.

---

Jianzi stood in place, watching the crimson sword light disappear into the clouds and mist.

Then, he lowered his head and looked at the sheathed longsword in his arms.

The longsword trembled slightly.

As if it were telling him something.

"I know."

Jianzi said in a low voice. His voice was very soft, as if he were only speaking to himself:

"The aura here... indeed feels very familiar to me."

He raised his head.

His gaze penetrated the clouds and mist, looking towards the deepest part of the Sword Mountain.

There—

The clouds and mist were at their thickest.

The Sword Intent was at its most violent.

As if something were slumbering.

Or as if something were waiting.

"heaven and earth wandering dragon sword..."

Jianzi murmured this name. A complex glint flashed in his eyes—

As if remembering some events from a very, very long time ago.

So long ago that even he himself thought he had forgotten.

Then—

He stepped forward.

He did not transform into a sword light, nor did he fly or dash.

He simply walked step by step, as if taking a stroll, heading towards the depths of the Sword Mountain.

Yet his steps, which seemed slow—

Weirdly crossed a distance of thousands of feet in an instant.

As if the space beneath his feet were giving way to him.

His white clothes fluttered in the wind.

The longsword in his arms hummed softly.

This figure gradually disappeared into the clouds and mist in the depths of the Sword Mountain.

Leaving behind only a faint lingering charm of Sword Intent—

Slowly dissipating in the air.

---

At the same time.

Deep within the Sword Mountain. Atop one of the one hundred and eight Sword Master Peaks.

This place was completely different from the outskirts.

There were no Sword Remains, nor any decay. There was only pure, extremely condensed Sword Intent, covering the entire peak like a physical substance.

The mountain body was densely carved with Sword Scars. Each Sword Scar contained the lifelong comprehension of an ancient Sword Master—

A normal Cultivator would fall into an Epiphany with just a single glance—

Or go mad.

At the summit of the peak.

A white-clothed figure stood with his hands behind his back.

This was a person whose face could not be seen clearly.

His entire body was shrouded in a hazy layer of sword light, as if he might dissipate at any moment, yet also as if he would exist for eternity.

He lowered his head, looking in the direction of the Sword Mountain's outskirts.

Although separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, and blocked by endless Sword Intent—

His gaze still seemed to penetrate everything.

Falling upon that figure in the plain-colored sword robe.

"This era..."

He spoke softly. His voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken for a very, very long time.

Like a rusty sword rubbing inside its sheath.

"Has Revered Master's plan... succeeded?"

The sword light trembled slightly.

As if in excitement.

Or perhaps in a sigh.

Then, the white-clothed figure slowly dissipated—

Turning into countless points of light and merging into the mountain peak.

Leaving behind only a faint sigh, dispersing in the mountain wind.

"I hope... we will not repeat the same mistake."

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