Not a blade of grass will be left

Su Ye took all of this in, a plan already forming in his mind.

The trio continued flying forward. Below them were continuous sword-shaped Peaks, each stabbing into the clouds like sharp blades; the mountain bodies were steep and devoid of any vegetation. Occasionally, Divine Sword Peak Disciples could be seen practicing their swordsmanship on several platforms, their sword light crisscrossing and harmonizing with the astral winds of heaven and earth.

“Senior Brother, how much further is it?” Lin Waner fished a bag of candied fruit out of her Storage Pouch and asked while eating.

Su Ye looked straight ahead, his Divine Sense already spread out for a thousand miles. In the northwest direction, he sensed an extremely pure Geng-Gold Qi, as well as a familiar Sword Intent—it was the Aura of Li Changfeng, the first Disciple of Divine Sword Peak.

“Almost there.” The corners of Su Ye's mouth curled up slightly. “Once we cross that highest sword Peak ahead, we'll reach 'Narrow Sky'. That kid Li Changfeng should be guarding that sword nurturing grass right now.”

“sword nurturing grass?” Lin Waner's eyes lit up. “Is it that legendary Spiritual Plant that can nourish the sword heart and enhance one's comprehension of the Dao of the Sword?”

“Exactly.” Su Ye nodded. “This grass grows in places of extreme metal; it sprouts after a hundred years and forms leaves after a thousand. Sword patterns naturally grow on every leaf. To a Sword Cultivator, it's a treasure a hundred times more precious than Spirit Stones.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of desire flashed in Lin Qianxue's beautiful eyes, but she quickly restrained her emotions. She knew very well that such a Heaven And Earth Treasure must be guarded by a powerful expert.

Noticing her expression, Su Ye smiled and said, “Junior Sister Shallow Snow, don't be anxious. Although this item isn't perfectly compatible with your Ice Spirit Root, if refined with special techniques, it can help your sword heart progress further. Today, your Senior Brother shall retrieve it for you.”

He spoke casually, as if that thousand-year Spiritual Plant was already in his pocket.

Lin Qianxue's heart warmed as she said in a low voice, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“We're family, no need for formalities.” Su Ye waved his hand, then changed the subject. “However, that Li Changfeng is no simple matter. This person is known as the 'sword maniac', and his Heartless Sword Intent has already reached the Transcendent level. Although he's only at the Golden Core Sixth Layer, his true combat power is enough to threaten the Early Stage Nascent Soul Stage.”

“Then does Senior Brother have confidence?” Lin Waner stopped eating her candied fruit, looking a bit worried.

Su Ye gave a light laugh, a look of disdain flashing in his eyes. “If it were half a month ago, it might have taken some effort. But now...”

He didn't finish, but the gold light faintly circulating around his body said everything—after the preliminary Awakening of the Supreme Bone, his strength had undergone a qualitative leap.

As the three spoke, they had already flown over the last sword Peak.

The scene before them suddenly opened up.

It was a massive valley that looked like it had been split down the middle; the mountain walls on both sides were over ten thousand feet high and smooth as mirrors, as if truly cleaved by a single sword strike. The narrowest part of the canyon only allowed one person to pass through. Standing at the entrance, one could only see a single line of the sky—this was the origin of the name 'Narrow Sky'.

And right now, deep within the canyon, the Geng-Gold Qi was so dense it had almost condensed into substance, flowing through the air as pale gold mist.

“We're here.” A sharp light flashed in Su Ye's eyes. “Come, let's meet our sword maniac Junior Brother.”

II. Confrontation at Narrow Sky, Swords Drawn

Inside Narrow Sky, the astral winds were even more piercing than outside.

Every gust of wind here seemed to have been compressed and tempered by the canyon, its sharpness comparable to the slash of a Low Grade spiritual sword. An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be sliced into a thousand pieces in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Deep in the canyon, within a crevice in the rock wall.

A small grass, entirely emerald green and no more than three inches tall, grew quietly. It had a total of nine leaves, each shaped like a sword; pale gold halos flowed within the leaf veins, as if countless miniature Sword Qi were circulating inside. This was the thousand-year sword nurturing grass, a supreme treasure that Sword Cultivators dreamed of.

Three zhang in front of the sword nurturing grass.

Li Changfeng sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly shut.

He wore a set of coarse hemp clothes washed to a pale white and straw sandals on his feet; he had no decorations on his body, appearing as simple as a mountain woodsman. Only the door-width profound iron heavy sword on his back proclaimed his identity as a Sword Cultivator.

At this moment, he was circulating the Divine Sword Peak's secret 'Heartless Sword Art'.

With every breath, the surrounding Geng-Gold Qi was slowly drawn into his body. After circulating through his Meridians once, it seeped out from his pores, transformed into more refined Sword Qi to temper his Physical Body. This was his daily mandatory task—using the body as a sword and Qi to temper the form.

“Another half hour.”

Li Changfeng opened his eyes, the cold light in them like electricity, leaving two shallow white marks on the rock wall.

“At the third mark of the hour of the Wu, when the sun is directly overhead and the Yang Qi is at its Peak, the Geng-Gold Qi will reach its zenith. At that time, the nine leaves of the sword nurturing grass will fully unfurl, and its efficiency in absorbing Sword Intent will be at its highest—the perfect time for harvesting.”

He looked at the sword nurturing grass, a rare ripple of emotion appearing on his cold face.

For this grass, he had waited here for three months.

Every day he endured the bone-scraping pain of the astral winds, using his own Sword Intent to nourish this grass and establish a connection with it. Now that the day of maturity had finally arrived, as long as he refined it, his Heartless Sword Intent could sever the last trace of worldly attachment and reach the Realm of 'Heart and Sword as One'.

At that time, even if he faced a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, he would have the strength to fight!

Thinking of this, a surge of heat rose in Li Changfeng's heart.

But just then—

Buzz!

The heavy sword on his back suddenly vibrated violently, the scabbard and blade rubbing together to produce a piercing metallic hiss.

Li Changfeng's expression changed abruptly.

This was a crisis warning unique to Sword Cultivators—the Sword Heart's Warning!

A powerful enemy was approaching! And they came with malice!

He stood up abruptly, his right hand gripping the sword hilt in a reverse hold, instantly entering a combat state. At that moment, he no longer seemed like a person but an unsheathed sharp sword, its edge fully exposed and brimming with Killing Intent.

His gaze was deadlocked on the entrance of Narrow Sky.

They were here!

Rumble—

It wasn't the sound of footsteps, but the sound of an Aura crushing down.

Like a prehistoric giant beast barging into a forest, causing all beasts to panic and ten thousand trees to bend. That Aura was domineering, flamboyant, and completely undisguised, as if announcing to the whole world: I am here, everyone move aside!

“Is Divine Sword Peak's Little Li-zi here?!”

“Your Senior Brother has come to see you!”

A hearty voice filled with playfulness exploded within the canyon, echoing off the mountain walls on both sides to form a continuous reverberation.

“Here—here—here—”

“See you—see you—see you—”

Li Changfeng's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

He was all too familiar with this voice—the current Eldest Senior Brother of Taichu Holy Land, the first Disciple of Purple Bamboo Peak, the Prodigy who possessed the Supreme Bone, Su Ye!

“Why would he come here?” Alarm bells rang in Li Changfeng's heart. “Could it also be for the sword nurturing grass?”

Just as the thought arose, three figures appeared like ghosts ten zhang in front of him.

The leader was dressed in white, his face so handsome it didn't seem mortal, with a half-smile on his lips—it was indeed Su Ye. To his left, a young girl in a goose-yellow dress was blinking her large eyes, looking around curiously; to his right, the female Sword Cultivator in snow-white clothes stood quietly, her temperament as cold as snow.

“Su Ye.”

Li Changfeng spat out two words, each sounding as if it were dipped in ice.

“This is a place guarded by generations of my Divine Sword Peak; outsiders are not welcome. Please leave.”

He spoke decisively, leaving no room for negotiation. Simultaneously, the Golden Core within him rotated frantically, and his Heartless Sword Intent erupted fully; his entire person seemed to transform into a heaven-reaching giant sword, the sharp sword pressure causing even the astral winds in the canyon to stall.

This was a warning and a demonstration of power.

However, Su Ye acted as if he didn't feel a thing, even sizing up the surroundings with great interest.

“Tsk tsk, this place isn't bad.” Su Ye walked forward a few steps with his hands behind his back as if taking a stroll. “astral winds for Body Tempering, Geng-Gold for sword nurturing—it truly is a treasure land for Sword Cultivators. No wonder Divine Sword Peak has produced sword geniuses for generations.”

He spoke sincerely, and Li Changfeng's expression softened slightly, but his vigilance did not diminish in the slightest.

“But—” Su Ye changed the subject, his gaze falling on Li Changfeng as he shook his head and sighed. “Junior Brother Li, you're being too much of an outsider. I just came from the Lava Cave, and Junior Brother Ye Yan was very enthusiastic; he insisted on giving the crimson flame sword to my Junior Sister as a meeting gift.”

He paused, a look of pained disappointment appearing on his face. “How come when it's your turn, there isn't even a polite word? Your Senior Brother traveled all this way, and I can't even get a cup of hot water?”

On Taichu Square, the eyelids of the Elders watching the battle through the water mirror twitched collectively.

Enthusiastic? Giving a sword?

You call that giving?!

Ye Yan is still in the Lava Cave mining in his red underwear!

Although Li Changfeng didn't know the details, he instinctively felt something was wrong. He said in a deep voice, “I have no friendship with you, nor is there a need for pleasantries. There are only swords here; if you want to fight, then draw your sword.”

As he finished speaking, the heavy sword emerged another half-inch!

This time, the terrifying Sword Intent condensed into substance, forming visible transparent ripples around Li Changfeng. It was caused by the Sword Intent being so dense that it distorted the light.

The astral winds in Narrow Sky seemed to receive a summons, beginning to swirl around Li Changfeng to form a Sword Qi storm three zhang in diameter. Within the storm, debris was instantly ground into powder, and countless sword marks an inch deep were left on the rock walls.

This was Li Changfeng's Domain—Heartless Sword Domain!

Within this Domain, the power of his sword moves would increase by thirty percent, while the opponent's Spiritual Qi circulation would be suppressed.

Facing such might, Lin Waner subconsciously took half a step back, hiding behind Su Ye. Lin Qianxue's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her right hand already pressing on her sword hilt, her ice Sword Intent ready to erupt.

Only Su Ye remained smiling, even reaching out to brush off non-existent dust from his lapel.

“Junior Brother Li.” Su Ye sighed, like an Elder looking at a stubborn child. “This temper of yours needs to change. It's true that Sword Cultivators should rather break than bend, but being too rigid makes it easy to suffer losses.”

As he spoke, his gaze bypassed Li Changfeng and fell upon that sword nurturing grass.

Then, Su Ye's expression suddenly became extremely dramatic—first shock, then pain, and finally turning into an indignant frustration at someone failing to live up to expectations.

“Oh! Junior Brother Li! You are so muddled!”

This loud shout left even Li Changfeng dazed.

“I... what's wrong with me?” Li Changfeng asked subconsciously.

Su Ye pointed at the sword nurturing grass, his finger trembling. “Look! Look at this poor Spiritual Plant! The leaves are yellowing, the stem is wilting, and the Spiritual Qi is dissipating—it's clearly suffering from severe depression!”

He took a few quick steps forward, completely ignoring Li Changfeng's Sword Domain, and squatted in front of the sword nurturing grass to examine it closely, shaking his head and sighing from time to time.

“What a waste of God's gifts! A complete waste!”

Li Changfeng looked back at the sword nurturing grass—it was emerald green and dripping with life, its nine sword-shaped leaves unfurled and strong, with Geng-Gold Qi flowing like a Dragon in its veins. Where was there even a hint of 'yellowing and wilting'?”

"Su Ye!" Li Changfeng finally reacted, realizing he had been played. His anger instantly flared up. "Stop talking nonsense here! How could I not know the state of the sword nurturing grass!"

Su Ye stood up with a serious expression. "Junior Brother Li, this is where you are wrong. Spiritual Plants have spirits; their state isn't just about the surface, but more about their essence, energy, and spirit!"

He pointed at the sword nurturing grass, then at Li Changfeng. "You keep a deadpan face all day, brimming with Killing Intent, waving that broken sword around here. This little grass is oppressed by your Sword Intent every day, living in fear. How could it not grow crooked?"

"You are abusing a Spiritual Plant! You are committing a crime!"

Li Changfeng trembled with rage, veins bulging on the hand holding his sword.

He had been obsessed with the Sword Dao his whole life and was not eloquent. Where had he ever seen such a talent for twisting black and white?

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!" Li Changfeng repeated twice before barely suppressing the urge to draw his sword and strike. "Su Ye, you clearly covet the sword nurturing grass. Why bother with such ridiculous excuses!"

He took a deep breath, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a resolute Sword Intent.

"In that case, let us fight."

"Let me see just what kind of power the Supreme Bone truly possesses!"

3. Catching the Heavy Sword with Two Fingers, Overturning Perceptions

"Clang—!"

The profound iron heavy sword was fully unsheathed.

It was a massive sword six feet long, one foot two inches wide, and three inches thick. It was pitch black, without edge or blade, with only two ancient seal characters carved on the body: Heartless.

The moment the sword emerged, the winds and clouds within the Narrow Sky changed color.

All the astral winds seemed to find their master, frantically converging toward the heavy sword, winding, compressing, and tempering on the blade, finally forming a layer of pale green wind astral. This layer of wind astral was incomparably sharp; everywhere it passed, tiny black cracks appeared in space.

Li Changfeng held the sword with both hands, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground.

His Aura climbed to its Peak at this moment. His cultivation of the Golden Core Sixth Layer erupted without reservation, and Spiritual Qi surged into the heavy sword like a river breaking a dam. The blade began to hum, low at first, then high-pitched, finally turning into a sword whistle like a Dragon's roar.

"Heartless Sword Art, Third Form—"

Li Changfeng spoke one word at a time. With each word uttered, the sword's momentum grew stronger.

"Sever... Mortal... Ties!"

The moment the last word fell, he moved.

There were no fancy footwork or complex sword moves, just a simple vertical slash.

But this slash seemed to drain all the Spiritual Qi within a hundred feet, even distorting the light. The heavy sword drew a perfect arc in the air. Before the sword arrived, the sword pressure reached first—the ground cracked open with a boom, and a gully over a fathom deep and ten fathoms long spread forward, pointing directly at Su Ye!

Everywhere the sword astral passed, the air was completely evacuated, forming a brief vacuum. Rubble on the rock walls on both sides fell, turning into powder from the Sword Intent before even hitting the ground.

This strike was the essence of Li Changfeng's lifelong Sword Dao.

The Heartless Sword Intent severed mortal ties and cut off the seven emotions and six desires, leaving only the purest slaughter.

Facing this strike, Lin Waner's face turned pale. If not for Su Ye's Spiritual Qi shield protecting her, she might have been injured internally by the sword pressure. Lin Qianxue's beautiful eyes were wide open, staring fixedly at the trajectory of this strike—as a fellow Sword Cultivator, she could better appreciate the terror of this blow.

That was not a contest of skill, but a crushing of will.

A Sword Cultivator's will is better broken than bent, moving forward with indomitable force!

However, Su Ye still stood in place.

He even had the leisure to tidy his sleeves.

The heavy sword slashed down with the momentum to destroy heaven and earth. Before the sword astral arrived, Su Ye's robes were pressed tightly against his body by the fierce wind, and his black hair danced wildly.

Three fathoms, two fathoms, one fathom... the sword's edge was less than three feet from the top of Su Ye's head!

At this critical moment, Su Ye moved.

He did not dodge, did not retreat, and did not even draw a sword.

He merely slowly raised his right hand and extended his index and middle fingers.

Those two fingers were as translucent as jade, with a faint golden light flowing beneath the skin, like sunlight sealed within the finest mutton-fat jade. Amid the violent momentum of the heavy sword's descent, these two fingers appeared so tiny and fragile.

A trace of doubt flashed in Li Changfeng's eyes, but the sword's momentum had already been unleashed; there was no possibility of taking it back.

"Seeking death!" He snorted coldly in his heart, urging his Spiritual Qi again, and the sword astral surged by another thirty percent!

The next moment—

"Ding!"

A crisp metallic vibration exploded within the Narrow Sky.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

All the observers—whether it was Lin Qianxue and Lin Waner on the scene, or the Elders and Disciples on the Taichu Square—witnessed an unforgettable scene:

Su Ye's two seemingly fragile fingers had lightly and skillfully pinched the edge of the heavy sword!

Not the spine, not the flat of the blade, but the sharpest edge imbued with the strongest sword astral!

The imagined scene of fingers being severed did not appear.

The imagined scene of Su Ye being blown away did not happen.

That profound iron heavy sword, weighing three thousand catties and imbued with Li Changfeng's lifelong cultivation, just stood still in mid-air. The pale green wind astral on the blade spun frantically, cutting at Su Ye's fingers, yet it couldn't even leave a single white mark.

"This... this is impossible!"

Li Changfeng's pupils shrank suddenly, and a storm of shock rose in his heart.

This strike of his combined Heartless Sword Intent, Golden Core Spiritual Qi, and the triple power of astral wind tempering; its power was enough to split a small mountain! Even a Body Cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage wouldn't dare to take it head-on with their Physical Body, let alone using just two fingers!

But the reality was right before his eyes.

Su Ye had not only caught it, but he had done so effortlessly.

Those two fingers of his didn't seem to be made of flesh and blood, but forged from eternal divine metal. No matter how sharp the sword astral was, he remained unmoved.

"Junior Brother Li."

Su Ye spoke, his voice calm, even carrying a hint of a smile.

"Your sword is too stiff."

As he finished speaking, a golden light flashed from his fingertips.

"Buzz—!"

An indescribable vibration force was transmitted through the body of the heavy sword.

That was not a confrontation of Spiritual Qi, nor a contest of Sword Intent, but a higher level of power—the Innate power belonging to the Supreme Bone!

Li Changfeng only felt his tiger's mouth go numb, and then his entire right arm lost all sensation. The life-bound heavy sword that had accompanied him for twenty years flew out of his hand uncontrollably for the first time.

But before he could even be shocked, something even more perception-shattering happened.

Su Ye hand flipped his wrist and actually used those two fingers to pinch the blade, swinging the three-thousand-catty giant sword in a full circle in the air!

Yes, he swung it!

As easily as a child playing with a wooden sword!

"A sword is not used like this."

Su Ye held the hilt—this time with a normal grip—and looked at Li Changfeng calmly.

"Being too rigid will only hurt others and yourself. In this world, what is too rigid is easily broken, and what is too strong will be humiliated. Junior Brother Li, you've become foolish from practicing the sword."

Before Li Changfeng could recover from the blow of having his life-bound sword taken, he heard Su Ye continue:

"Today, Senior Brother will teach you a move, what is called a 'soft sword'."

Soft sword?

Just as this thought flashed through Li Changfeng's mind, he saw Su Ye move.

It wasn't a slash with the edge, nor a thrust with the tip.

Instead, he used that broad blade to slap him horizontally, like a slap to the face!

This slap was without form or technique.

One could even say it wasn't a sword move at all, but pure humiliation!

But as it happened, the speed of this slap was extremely fast, and the power was extremely great!

Li Changfeng wanted to dodge, but his body couldn't keep up with his thoughts—Su Ye's presence had already locked onto him. It was a suppression originating from the level of life itself, making it difficult for him to even move a finger.

"Bang—!!!"

The blade slapped solidly against Li Changfeng's face.

Loud.

Crisp.

It echoed endlessly within the narrow Narrow Sky.

Li Changfeng was sent flying horizontally like a broken kite, drawing an arc in the air before crashing heavily into the right rock wall.

"Boom!"

The rock wall shook violently, and a human-shaped crater appeared instantly, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading from the edges. Rubble fell, and dust filled the air.

Li Changfeng slid down from the crater and sat slumped on the ground.

There was a clear sword-shaped mark on his face, red, swollen, and purple. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, mixed with two broken teeth.

His head was buzzing.

It wasn't the pain of injury, but the bewilderment of having his perceptions overturned.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What just happened?

The Sword Dao I've practiced hard for twenty years, the Heartless Sword Intent I'm so proud of, the Sword Cultivator combat power that allows me to challenge higher levels... in front of Su Ye, it's as laughable as a child playing house?

He didn't even use a sword move!

He just used my sword to swat me like a fly!

"Pfft—"

Li Changfeng spat out another mouthful of blood, this time from anger.

At this moment, Su Ye's voice rang out again, terrifyingly calm:

"Junior Sister, while you're at it, go and rescue that 'depressed' little grass. Every moment it stays here is another moment of torture."

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

Lin Qianxue was already prepared. Hearing this, her figure moved like lightning, instantly appearing beside the sword nurturing grass. Her hands formed seals, and icy Spiritual Qi flowed from her fingertips, turning into a thin layer of frost that enveloped the roots of the sword nurturing grass. Then, she carefully removed the entire plant from the rock crevice.

Her movements were as smooth as flowing water, clearly showing she had been prepared for a long time.

"Waner, don't just stand there," Su Ye shouted again.

"On it!"

Lin Waner had been waiting impatiently. Like a cheerful little rabbit, she hopped in front of Li Changfeng, crouched down, and revealed an innocent smile:

"Senior Brother Li, are you okay?"

Li Changfeng looked up blankly and saw a pair of clear, large eyes.

Then, he felt a chill on his body.

"Oh my, the material of your clothes is too rough, the friction coefficient is too high, it affects your sword-drawing speed. Junior Sister will keep them for you and give you a good set later!"

*Pat.* His outer robe was stripped.

"These boots won't do either. The soles are too thick, so you can't feel the ground vibrations. How are you supposed to predict the enemy's movements? Take them off, take them off!"

*Swish.* His boots were pulled off.

"A Storage Pouch! Senior Brother Li, you are truly too kind, knowing that I've been short on money lately and even specially preparing a gift!"

*Swoosh.* The Storage Pouch tied to his waist was snatched away.

Li Changfeng finally came to his senses, but it was already too late.

Now, he was left with nothing but a pair of white underpants, shivering in the biting astral wind.