34: Sword Pool Baptism

Cheers like mountain calls and sea tsunamis echoed above the square for a long time.

Ye Chen stood in the center of the arena, his green robes fluttering slightly as he calmly accepted the countless gazes—some fanatical, some in awe, and some complex. The title of champion was well-deserved.

On the high platform, Elder Liu Qingfeng spoke with a smile, his voice gentle yet clearly spreading across the field: "Ye Chen, step forward to receive your reward."

Ye Chen did as instructed, his steps composed.

Liu Qingfeng waved his sleeve, and three streaks of light flew toward Ye Chen. One was a heavy cloth bag containing five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones; one was a jade bottle emitting a dense medicinal fragrance containing three Fourth Grade "kaiyuan pills," which had miraculous effects for Kaiyuan Realm Cultivators breaking through minor sub-realms; the last was an ancient-looking bronze token with Sword Qi contained within, the front engraved with a vigorous character for "Sword."

"This is the 'Sword Pool Token'," Liu Qingfeng said solemnly. "With this token, you may enter the Sword Pool beneath Myriad Sword Peak to receive a baptism. Remember, within the Sword Pool, Opportunity and risk coexist. How much benefit you gain depends entirely on your own fortune."

"Thank you, Elder!" Ye Chen took the rewards, especially that Sword Pool Token; it felt warm and cool to the touch, and he could clearly feel the majestic Sword Intent contained within.

A wave of envious exclamations rose from below the stage. A Sword Pool baptism was an Opportunity that countless Sword Cultivators dreamed of!

The award ceremony concluded, and the Minor Competition officially came to an end. However, the discussions about Ye Chen only grew more intense. As a newcomer, he had swept through powerful enemies all the way to the top. The strength and potential he displayed made everyone realize that the status quo of the Outer Court was about to change.

Ye Chen did not linger in the square. After receiving his rewards, he headed straight back to the Ding-Character Courtyard.

He needed to first digest the gains from this Minor Competition and adjust his condition to its Peak before heading to the Sword Pool.

Inside the quiet room, Ye Chen sat cross-legged. First, he took stock of his gains: five thousand Spirit Stones and three kaiyuan pills were a massive fortune, enough to last him a long time.

But the even greater gain was the insights and Breakthroughs during the battles. Luminous Sword Heart had given him a brand-new understanding of his own Sword Dao, causing his combat strength to take a qualitative leap.

"Currently, my cultivation is at the Kaiyuan Realm Second Level. With the Qingyuan Sword Foundation and Luminous Sword Heart, my true combat strength is enough to rival an ordinary Kaiyuan Realm Fifth Level or even Sixth Level. But facing an Inner Court Genius like Lin Hong at the Kaiyuan Realm Seventh Level, it is still not enough," Ye Chen calmly analyzed his situation.

"The Sword Pool baptism is the key!" He turned his gaze toward the bronze token. "I hope to use this Opportunity to take my cultivation and Sword Intent a step further!"

He did not immediately take the kaiyuan pills to push his Realm. Instead, he chose to consolidate his existing cultivation and thoroughly stabilize the Realm of Luminous Sword Heart.

Three days later, having adjusted his state to its Peak, Ye Chen left the courtyard and headed toward the mountain that pierced the clouds like a sharp sword deep within the academy—Myriad Sword Peak.

Myriad Sword Peak was one of Tianfeng Academy's Forbidden Grounds. Usually shrouded in clouds and mist with Sword Qi soaring to the heavens, ordinary Disciples could not get close at all. Holding the Sword Pool Token, Ye Chen passed through without hindrance and arrived before a cave entrance sealed by a powerful Restriction at the base of the Peak.

The cave entrance was ancient, with two large characters engraved above it in a flamboyant style—Sword Pool! Within the writing, there was an infinite Sword Intent that made one's Divine Soul tremble just by looking at it.

Sitting cross-legged at the entrance was an old man with white hair and beard, his aura as calm as an ancient well. His eyes were closed, as if he had merged with the surrounding rocks.

Ye Chen stepped forward and respectfully handed over the Sword Pool Token: "Disciple Ye Chen has come with the token to request entry into the Sword Pool for baptism."

The old man slowly opened his eyes. They were a pair of eyes that seemed to contain an endless sea of swords. His gaze fell upon Ye Chen, and a flicker of surprise flashed through them: "Luminous Sword Heart? To have such a Realm at such a young age... Go in. Remember, the longer you persist in the Sword Pool, the greater the gains. But if you cannot endure it, do not force yourself; otherwise, the Sword Intent will devour your body, and your Divine Soul will be extinguished."

"Disciple understands," Ye Chen replied solemnly.

The old man formed a hand seal, and the invisible Restriction at the entrance rippled like water, revealing a passage only wide enough for one person. A pure, sharp, yet ancient and vicissitude-laden Sword Intent instantly surged from within the cave!

Ye Chen took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The scene before him suddenly opened up. It wasn't a pool as he had imagined, but a massive underground space. In the center of the space was a "pool" about a hundred feet wide, but it wasn't filled with clear water. Instead, it was filled with silver Sword Qi so dense it was like a liquid! This Sword Qi flowed slowly like mercury, colliding and blending with each other, making soft hissing sounds and emitting a sharpness that made one's scalp tingle!

Around the pool stood countless ancient swords of various shapes. Some were complete, some were broken, some were rusted, and some shone with cold light... They surrounded the central Sword Qi pool as if in worship, together forming this Sword Domain.

Even the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi here carried a sharp attribute. Inhaling it into the body felt as if countless tiny sword blades were scraping against the Meridians.

"What terrifying Sword Intent!" Ye Chen was inwardly alarmed. The Sword Qi in this Sword Pool was even purer and more domineering than what he had felt at the edge of the Myriad Worlds Sword Tomb!

He did not hesitate. Following the instructions of the old man guarding the cave, he walked step by step to the edge of the Sword Qi pool, then sat cross-legged and submerged his legs into the silver liquid Sword Qi.

"Chiii—!"

The moment of contact, an indescribable agony, like billions of steel needles piercing in at once, surged frantically into his body through his legs! It wasn't just Physical Body pain, but a tearing sensation that acted directly on the Soul!

Ye Chen let out a muffled groan, his face instantly turning pale and veins bulging on his forehead. He felt his flesh, Meridians, bones, and even his Divine Soul being frantically sliced and tempered by this violent Sword Qi!

He dared not be careless and immediately circulated the Qingyuan Sword Foundation with all his might, guiding the Spiritual Qi in his body to resist and absorb the incoming Sword Qi. At the same time, the Immovable Rock Guarding Heart Sword Intent was fully activated to guard his mind, resisting the pervasive impact of the Sword Intent.

"Endure! I must endure!"

Ye Chen gritted his teeth, his consciousness remaining clear amidst the intense pain. The Luminous Sword Heart Realm played a huge role at this moment, allowing him to clearly perceive every single change in himself and precisely guide the direction of the Sword Qi tempering.

Time passed bit by bit.

Every breath felt as long as a year. The agonizing pain surged in waves like the tide, testing the limits of his will.

Blood droplets began to seep from his skin, but they were quickly evaporated by the sharp Sword Qi. His Meridians became wider and tougher through repeated tearing and repairing. His bones emitted an overburdened humming sound, yet under the grinding of the Sword Qi, they also began to faintly glow with a metallic luster.

But the biggest change came from his Sword Intent.

Within the Sword Pool, there were Sword Intent imprints left behind by countless Senior Sword Cultivators. At this moment, these imprints seemed to be activated, turning into invisible thoughts that struck Ye Chen's Divine Soul.

There was the violence of "Slaughter Sword Intent," the heaviness of "Protection Sword Intent," the transcendence of "Carefree Sword Intent," and the majesty of "Sovereign Sword Intent"... Myriad Sword Intents flowed through his heart like a revolving lantern.

If it were an ordinary Cultivator, their Divine Soul would likely have been thrown into chaos by the impact of these diverse and violent Sword Intents. But Ye Chen's Luminous Sword Heart was like a clear mirror, reflecting everything without being stained by dust. He did not blindly absorb these Sword Intents; instead, using his own sword heart as a guide, he discarded the dross and took the essence, constantly verifying and perfecting his own Sword Dao.

Flowing Wind Fleeting Shadow became more agile and unpredictable, while Immovable Rock Guarding Heart became more stable and solid. Even that trace of "Extinction" Sword Intent seemed to be nourished and became more condensed after sensing certain ancient Sword Intents in the Sword Pool that carried the meaning of "The End" and "Return to the Void."

After an unknown amount of time, Ye Chen felt that his endurance had reached its limit. The boundless pain began to turn numb, and a wave of weakness came from his Divine Soul.

Just as he was considering whether to withdraw, a sudden change occurred!

The qingfeng sword he had been carrying on his back suddenly emitted an unprecedentedly intense hum! The scabbard could not restrain its excitement, and the dark-green blade popped out three inches on its own. An ancient and hungry intent spread out from the blade!

At the same time, from the deepest part of the Sword Qi pool, a dark-gold Sword Qi that was even purer and more ancient—having been dormant for an unknown number of years—seemed to be summoned. It slowly rose like a waking hidden dragon and coiled toward Ye Chen... or rather, toward the qingfeng sword on his back!

"This is?!" Ye Chen was deeply shocked. He could feel an extremely longing emotion coming from the qingfeng sword, as if it had met a long-lost relative, or like a hungry traveler seeing a gourmet feast!

That dark-gold Sword Qi did not bring pain like the other silver Sword Qi. Instead, it carried a warm and heavy power, actively merging into the qingfeng sword and feeding back into Ye Chen's body through the blade!

In an instant, Ye Chen felt his fatigue and injuries being rapidly repaired. His Physical Body and Divine Soul, which had reached their limits, seemed to be injected with a brand-new vitality! The cultivation Bottleneck began to loosen, and his Sword Intent insights soared frantically!

"The qingfeng sword... actually has a connection with this Sword Pool?!"

Ye Chen was both surprised and delighted. No longer hesitating, he fully guided this dark-gold Sword Qi to temper his body and nourish his Sword Intent!

He was immersed in a mysterious Realm, forgetting time... When he opened his eyes again, a dark-gold sword light seemed to flash through them. He felt the Spiritual Qi in his body—surging endlessly and several times purer and more powerful than before—as well as the various Sword Intents in his Divine Soul that were more condensed and seemed to have physical weight. A smile couldn't help but appear on his lips.

Kaiyuan Realm, Third Level Peak!

His Sword Intent cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds!

And the qingfeng sword in his hand had also undergone subtle changes. The dark-gold patterns on the blade were clearer and more complex, as if they had come to life, emitting a restrained and profound majesty.

The gains from this Sword Pool baptism far exceeded his expectations!

However, just as he was preparing to leave the Sword Pool, his Divine Sense moved slightly, catching a trace of obscure and cold killing intent coming from outside the cave entrance Restriction.

"Lin Hong... have you finally lost your patience?"

Ye Chen's gaze turned cold as he gripped the qingfeng sword in his hand.

A new storm has already arrived.