Chapter 144: The Wordless Jade Tablet

After the trials of the preceding stages, all the cultivators understood in their hearts that what this Sage's Secret Realm tested was not one's speed of advance. Rushing forward blindly on one's own was by no means a good thing.

Just like the Demeaned Demon Battlefield and Wuyang Village, both required the cultivators to unite as one heart in order to pass. If one were to act alone, there would be not the slightest hope of success.

Emerging from the Sword Cemetery, the cultivators gathered in groups of twos and threes to press forward together.

Zhou Qi was incomparably happy to have obtained the Canglan Sword. Although it possessed no formal rank, judging by the imposing momentum with which it had struck down the Holy Son just moments ago, this sword was unquestionably formidable.

Huangfu Xiu wanted to draw closer to Shui Bing, only to find that Shui Bing had joined forces with Dao Fan, Li Xing, and the others. His expression darkened, filled with matchless dejection.

Even without Zhou Qi, he feared he would never again be able to walk side by side with Shui Bing. The Holy Maiden of the Xianxia Sect was required to maintain her pristine purity. Should he stubbornly insist on remaining with her, his Golden Core might very well shatter once more.

"Sigh," he let out a long breath, wondering when he had become so prone to excessive anxiety over gains and losses, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to a suave young master who spent his days probing people's hearts.

"Junior Brother Zhou, it has been many years since we parted. I wonder how your progress in the Dao of Alchemy fares?" Jiang Yiyi asked, flying her sword over to Zhou Qi's side, a sight that caused Li Xing's eyes to burn with fiery rage.

"Senior Sister, why not wait until these matters are concluded, and we can find a secluded place to discuss it thoroughly?" Zhou Qi smiled.

"I want to go too. I never imagined you were hiding your depths so well, and that you would actually end up seizing it." Gao Shiyu also figured out that Zhou Qi had very likely obtained the Saint's Mansion of the Medicine Immortal, and she stepped forward to muscle in.

Zhou Qi felt a massive headache coming on and said with a troubled expression, "Why don't we discuss it separately? For the three of us to go together would violate the precepts of the Medicine Immortal."

"Hmph, I can tell you have ulterior motives. Are you planning to take advantage of these discussions to win over the Holy Maiden?" Gao Shiyu said with dissatisfaction. *You saw my body, yet you still intend to seduce the Holy Maiden—what an absolute scumbag.*

Jiang Yiyi's face flushed red. "Junior Brother Zhou, is that truly what you are planning?"

"Don't listen to her nonsense. I am still young and understand nothing of such things. I merely wish to purely share my own insights on alchemy with my two senior sisters," Zhou Qi hurriedly explained.

"Pfft," Gao Shiyu scoffed, looking utterly unconvinced.

The dejected Huangfu Xiu witnessed this scene and said to Huangfu Rou beside him, "Little Rou, stay away from Zhou Qi."

Huangfu Rou gave him a sidelong glance. "My heart is set entirely upon the Dao; I have no interest in anything else. As for you, I can see you are already sinking deep into this. The conflict between Shui Bing and Zhou Qi is irreconcilable—let's see what you will do."

"Sigh..." Huangfu Xiu sighed, feeling even more crestfallen.

According to the ancient map, the next trial in the Sage's Secret Realm was the Wordless Jade Wall. Wondering what use this Wordless Jade Wall might have, Zhou Qi sought counsel from Jiang Yiyi and Gao Shiyu. Both stated that it should be related to the Sage's Sword Intent, causing Zhou Qi's anticipation to grow ever stronger.

Travelling alongside two great beauties caused numerous male cultivators to burn with envy and jealousy, especially Li Xing, whose eyes looked as though they were about to spew fire. Yet, recalling his pact with the others, a cold sneer involuntarily crossed his face. *Let you be arrogant for a little longer.*

Finally, a precipitous cliff appeared before the crowd. Upon the cliff face hung a massive, incomparably smooth slab of stone. The moment the cultivators cast a glance at it, their minds were thoroughly captivated.

There was nothing whatsoever inscribed upon the stone wall, yet it ensnared everyone's consciousness. From the very first instant they laid eyes upon it, they found themselves utterly unable to tear their gazes away.

Could this be the Wordless Jade Wall?

The crowd was overjoyed, one by one observing it with meticulous care.

Zhou Qi followed the others' example, scrutinizing the jade wall. At first glance, the smooth stone wall seemed to contain boundless mysteries, waiting for him to explore.

Upon a second look, however, the jade wall seemed to spring to life, with a figure dancing with a sword within its depths. That swordsmanship was infinitely profound, its sword intent piercingly sharp.

Unconsciously, the crowd began to mimic the movements of the person within the jade wall.

"Pfft!" A cultivator spat out a mouthful of blood, abruptly realizing he had been injured by the sword intent.

"Pfft..." More cultivators vomited blood. The shadowy figure within the jade wall seemed to possess demonic allure, enchanting the crowd while inadvertently leaving them wounded by the sword intent dwelling inside.

"Everyone, do not follow the figure inside to practice the sword forms! Simply comprehend the sword intent bit by bit. A sword immortal's techniques may appear simple, but they embody the profound principles of the Great Dao—they are not something we can currently execute. Forcibly mimicking them will cause you to be struck by the power of the Sword Dao," Jiang Yiyi anxiously reminded them.

Zhou Qi was startled. He had almost failed to restrain himself from joining in the practice. It seemed the sword immortal's original intention was for everyone to comprehend the sword intent, not to learn superficial forms and stances.

Prompted by Jiang Yiyi's warning, the crowd snapped back to their senses. Ceasing their imitation of the stances within the jade wall, they began to ponder the sword intent itself.

The figure within the jade wall simply thrust its sword toward the crowd. Everyone felt as though a bloodthirsty celestial sword had locked onto them, and an overwhelming torrent of sword intent came roaring down upon them.

The cultivators present collectively vomited blood, feeling utterly wretched. With such powerful sword intent, how was one supposed to comprehend it?

If one could neither look nor learn, how could one fathom the sword intent of a sword immortal?

Numerous cultivators pondered this, consecutively sitting cross-legged to ruminate on the method of comprehending sword intent.

Sword intent and killing intent—what difference lay between the two?

Having cultivated killing intent, could one practice sword intent in the same manner?

Sword intent was the artistic conception of the sword, a realm attained by the wielder. It was the unprecedented level of comprehension a swordsman achieved regarding the sword.

Killing intent could kill people; when practiced to a high realm, sword intent could likewise inflict harm. Much like the sword immortal's sword intent, it was a type of momentum generated by communicating with the Dao of heaven and earth.

A sudden flash of insight struck Zhou Qi's mind. Since killing intent manifested in myriad forms, sword intent naturally did as well.

The sword immortal's sword intent encompassed all things. Any attempt to forcibly comprehend it now was bound to fail; this was tied not only to one's current realm but also to one's horizons and knowledge—it had nothing to do with innate talent or comprehension.

As the saying went: "Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles," serving to admonish people to achieve the unity of knowledge and action. Sword intent was no different; forcibly comprehending sword intent superior to one's own realm would inevitably result in injury.

"I ought to choose a single strand of sword intent to comprehend," Zhou Qi muttered inwardly.

The sword was an instrument of slaughter. It could thrust, hack, sweep, wrap, draw, intercept, wipe, flick, strike, hang, prop, and block.

Regardless of the sword techniques used, the ultimate result was invariably to kill.

Was his sword meant for killing? Zhou Qi shook his head. Although the sword was a lethal weapon, its purpose naturally varied depending on the wielder. His sword should be danced for the sake of those he cared about, and for his own ideals and goals. Such sword intent should not take killing as its objective, but solely protection.

Since he had cultivated a protective killing intent, his sword intent should naturally center around defense. Zhou Qi cast a silent glance at the Canglan Sword that had chosen him. Perhaps he lacked the unyielding, forward-charging bloodlust of a true swordsman, which was why other swords had rejected him.

The Canglan heavy sword was different. It lived to protect and fought for defense. This was probably the true reason the sword immortal had placed it within the Sword Cemetery: the sword immortal's regret was failing to guard Wuyang Village, and the sword immortal's goal was to slay foreign races and protect humanity.

The sword intent he sought to comprehend should be precisely this.