225: Thanks to the grace of preaching, he broke through four realms in a row and was promoted to the fifth level of Qi Refining!

On the high ground, Zhang Chen’s binoculars fell to the ground, but he didn’t notice.

His mouth slightly agape, he muttered, “One Sword Severing the Flow… This is what Cultivation is all about!”

“No wonder the Cultivation System is listed as the most difficult level; without luck, resources, Comprehension Ability, and hard work, one truly cannot cultivate.”

Among the rat swarm, the few largest Rat Generals finally felt fear.

They shrieked in terror, no longer directing the attack, but instead turned and fled.

With their commander fleeing, the entire rat tide instantly collapsed.

The remaining mutated giant rats scattered and fled like headless flies.

Chen Beixuan slowly sheathed his sword, his face a little pale.

That single sword strike had drained all of his Spiritual Qi and mental energy.

But he felt the Sword Intent within his body, smooth as jade and endlessly flowing.

He had found his Dao.

On the city wall, Xu Yanyan nodded in satisfaction.

“This Disciple is teachable.”

The Lord had entrusted him to guide this child, and now it seemed this unpolished jade truly understood with just a hint.

“Li Chenran, consolidate the Formation, gather the remaining enemies and annihilate them.”

“Grandmaster Talisman Maker Mo Chen, use the Lightning Summoning Talismans to send them off.”

“Master Beast Tamer Sun Qing, let the Archers fire at will; don’t let a single one escape.”

Three commands were issued in an orderly fashion.

With a wave of Li Chenran’s hand, the labyrinthine Formation shifted again, driving and gathering the scattered rat swarm back into a few specific areas.

Grandmaster Talisman Maker Mo Chen threw out several purple talismans, and above the sky, dark clouds gathered, lightning snakes danced wildly, then transformed into thick bolts of lightning, striking down upon them.

Arrows from high in the sky continuously harvested the stragglers.

Chen Beixuan sat cross-legged beside the sword mark, silently adjusting his breathing to recover.

Although he had expended a great deal, after this battle, both his state of mind and his understanding of the Sword Dao had reached a completely new level.

As long as he was given enough time, his strength would undoubtedly experience a leap.

Xu Yanyan and his group stood leisurely on the city wall, commenting.

“Master Li, your Void Realm Engraving Formation technique is truly becoming more exquisite; you must teach me sometime.” Grandmaster Talisman Maker Mo Chen stroked his beard, looking at Li Chenran with envy.

Li Chenran remained expressionless, indifferently saying, “If your Talisman Dao can advance further, you will naturally understand through analogy.”

“You, your words are still so unsparing.” Grandmaster Talisman Maker Mo Chen shook his head helplessly.

Master Beast Tamer Sun Qing, standing nearby, looked at the scorched ground below and couldn’t help but mutter, “What a pity, so much good Spirit Beast fodder, all turned to charcoal by this lightning, what a waste.”

Xu Yanyan merely smiled without speaking, his gaze occasionally sweeping over a certain corner of the battlefield.

At the center of the battlefield, everyone’s focus was on the figure sitting cross-legged.

Around Chen Beixuan, a small vortex of Spiritual Qi had formed at some point.

The Spiritual Qi floating between heaven and earth was frantically pouring into his body.

The Frost Sword in his hand emitted soft hums, as if rejoicing for its master.

Xu Yanyan pulled his attention back, quietly watching him, a smile of satisfaction in his eyes.

“Comprehending the Dao through battle, condensing his innate Sword Intent with a heart of protection. This child’s Foundation is already solid.” He whispered to Li Chenran beside him.

Li Chenran nodded, speaking sparingly: “The unpolished jade has revealed its sharpness.”

Just then, the Aura around Chen Beixuan surged dramatically!

Boom!

An invisible Sword Intent, centered on him, shot up into the sky, tearing a hole in the clouds!

His Spiritual Qi, guided by the Sword Intent, broke through several layers of barriers, entering a completely new Realm with irresistible force!

【Notification: Your territory resident ‘Chen Beixuan’ has gained a large amount of experience and an Epiphany in battle, comprehended ‘Protective Sword Intent’, and successfully Breakthrough to Qi Refining Fifth Rank!】

【Name: Chen Beixuan】

【Race: Human Race】

【Rank: Lv5 (Qi Refining Fifth Rank)】

【Spiritual Qi: 0 / 3500】

【Loyalty: 95】

【Talent: Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root】

【Physique: Innate Sword Physique】

【Skill: Protective Sword Intent (Beginner)】

【Description: A Cultivator who has found his Sword Dao; his future is limitless.】

Chen Beixuan slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them.

He could feel that the Spiritual Qi within his body was several times more abundant than before.

More importantly, his connection with the sword in his hand had become much closer.

It was as if the sword had become a part of his body.

He stood up and walked in front of Xu Yanyan, without extra words, just solemnly and deeply bowing.

“Thank you, Sir, for your guidance.”

This bow came from the bottom of his heart.

He knew that without Xu Yanyan’s few pointers, without that “preaching” that directly faced his Origin, he might have had to grope for ten, even decades, to find his direction.

Xu Yanyan accepted his bow calmly, smiling, “The path is one you forged yourself; I merely helped clear a little mist.”

“The road ahead is still long; remember, do not forget the original intention you set today.”

“Disciple, I will remember.”

…

On the high ground, Zhang Chen slowly lowered his binoculars and let out a long, heavy breath.

He picked up the communicator, trembling as he connected to He Yongping’s dedicated line.

“Reporting… Major General…” His voice was hoarse from extreme shock and excitement.

“The battle… has temporarily ended.”

On the other end of the communicator, in H City, North District, at the command center, He Yongping excitedly stood up from his chair.

“That fast?!” he roared into the communicator, “What’s the casualty situation? How much damage to the territory’s city defenses?”

In his and the staff’s estimation, even if Mo Yan’s territory could hold out against this unprecedented rat tide, it would surely be a tragic victory, with potentially more than half the Soldiers casualties.

But Zhang Chen’s report completely overturned his perception.

“Reporting Major General…” Zhang Chen’s voice still trembled; he tried to calm himself and organize his words, “The territory… zero casualties. The city wall… completely intact.”

“What?!”

He Yongping felt like his ears were malfunctioning.

Zero casualties?

What kind of international joke was this?!

That was a beast tide composed of tens of thousands of mutated giant rats!

And you’re telling me zero casualties?!

Even if you brought the Dragon Kingdom’s most elite brigade there, they wouldn’t dare make such a guarantee!

“Zhang Chen! You explain yourself clearly! What exactly happened?!” He Yongping’s tone became incredibly serious.

Zhang Chen reported everything he had seen on the high ground, in detail and exactly as it happened.

From Chen Beixuan, a single Sword Cultivator, leaping off the city wall like a Heavenly God descending, unleashing a slaughtering frenzy among the rat swarm.

To Xu Yanyan and his group ascending the city wall, changing the winds and clouds with a flick of a finger, the entire battlefield played in their hands.

And then that earth-shattering, ghost-wailing, supreme grace of a single sword strike that cleaved a chasm and directly collapsed the rat tide.

All the staff and officers who heard Zhang Chen’s report were frozen in place as if under a spell, their faces filled with daze and bewilderment.

Their worldview, at that moment, was shattered and then forcibly reshaped.

After a long while, He Yongping finally found his voice; he picked up the strong tea on the table and drank it all, the scalding tea clearing his chaotic mind a bit.

“Cultivation System… This is the true Cultivation System…” he muttered, a terrifying glint flashing in his eyes, “We underestimated it before.”

He had always thought that Cultivators were powerful because of their individual strength.

A high-Rank Cultivator might be able to fight one against a hundred, or even a thousand.

But he had never imagined that the Cultivation System could evolve such a perfect form of warfare!

Formation Masters controlling the battlefield, Talisman Masters providing long-range bombardment, Beast Tamers suppressing from the air, and a mysterious “teacher” who could instantly buff the entire army with a word, as well as a Sword Cultivator whose single sword could stand against a thousand troops and ten thousand horses…

This was a complete, clearly divided, well-coordinated war machine!

Even stronger than recruited Soldiers!

“More than just underestimating…” The bespectacled staff officer smiled bitterly, pushing up his glasses, “Major General, our previous understanding of Cultivation was like a frog in a well. We thought the sky as big as the well’s opening was the entire world.”

He Yongping’s excitement lasted less than ten seconds before quickly cooling down.

“No.”

Everyone was stunned, looking at him in confusion.

He Yongping stared at the red area representing the rat tide on the holographic map.

“You’re celebrating too early.”

“Zhang Chen, tell me, was this beast tide organized?”

“Yes! Very clearly! Their attacks, stacking, and feints all showed strong tactical prowess!”

“Alright then.” He Yongping pressed, “Since it was organized, where are their generals? Where is their king?!”

“In any premeditated war, the commander will not die easily, nor will they easily show themselves.”

“Now the vanguard has been crushed, but their king, the true mastermind, where is it?!”

He Yongping’s words were like a basin of ice water poured over everyone’s head in the command center.

Yes, the true mastermind, the highest-Rank, most intelligent Rat King, had not yet appeared!