After annihilating Luosha Gate, Lin Feng did not engage with the reinforcements from the Wu Ji Demon Sect. He suppressed his enemies with his sword intent and made a swift departure.
It wasn't that he feared their numbers; he simply didn't want to reveal his identity.
He had learned some basic information about Qian Dao Xiong, the Great Elder of the Wu Ji Demon Sect, from Leng Hanshuang.
For someone to hold the position of Great Elder, their strength was beyond question. If a battle broke out, his identity as a disciple of the Shenxiao Sword Sect would inevitably be exposed.
Then, suspicion would surely fall upon him.
After all, aside from his sword intent, everything he knew had been taught to him by Su Mubai.
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The Wu Ji Demon Sect and the Shenxiao Sword Sect had been rivals for many years; it was safe to say they knew each other very well.
Without the absolute confidence to silence everyone by killing them, Lin Feng chose a temporary retreat.
There would be plenty of time to deal with the Wu Ji Demon Sect later; there was no need to rush. By daring to command Luosha Gate to make a move on Su Mubai, they had already earned a spot on Lin Feng's kill list.
As for the survivors from Luosha Gate, they were utterly crippled. Leaving them alive would be a fate more agonizing than death.
A demonic power like the Wu Ji Demon Sect would not provide for the useless.
While the major powers within Lizhou had their eyes on Lin Feng, he had already slipped back to Gucun Peak.
But he could no longer afford to slack off as he had before.
In one month, he had to go to the Jiuyou Secret Realm to find the Red Spider Lily for his Master.
It was crucial to use this time to increase his strength.
Previously, Lin Feng had always felt that as long as he was part of a top sect like the Shenxiao Sword Sect and didn't provoke anyone, he would be fine. Living alone on Gucun Peak wasn't bad; at least he could live a long life.
But Su Mubai's grievous injuries taught him that the Shenxiao Sword Sect was not invincible, and even this place was not truly safe.
To live a long life, one had to stand at the very top of the food chain.
Shenxiao Sword Sect, Gucun Peak.
Lin Feng sat cross-legged and motionless under a large tree, his eyes closed.
If any Sword Cultivator were to witness this, they would be overcome with envy and shock.
Lin Feng had entered a profound and mysterious state known as Sword Comprehension.
The key reason Sword Cultivators were so feared in the world of cultivation, capable of routinely defeating opponents of a higher level, was precisely this: Sword Comprehension.
It was a vital component of a Sword Cultivator's combat prowess, arguably even more important than advancing one's cultivation realm. With each new level of comprehension, their attack power would skyrocket.
From lowest to highest, the levels were Sword Force, Sword Intent, Sword Domain, and Sword Dao.
Each level was further divided into four stages: Incipient, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Ultimate.
Only those with exceptionally high talent in the Sword Dao could ever hope to grasp it.
Lin Feng was currently at the second realm of Sword Comprehension: Sword Intent.
Furthermore, he was at the third stage of Sword Intent: Major Accomplishment.
Once he comprehended Ultimate Sword Intent, he would have a chance to grasp the Sword Domain.
Sword Comprehension was the very foundation of a Sword Cultivator's ability to fight beyond their rank, but it was not something that could be achieved through sheer will alone.
In Lizhou, the vast majority of rank-and-file Sword Cultivators could spend their entire lives and only ever grasp Incipient or Minor Accomplishment Sword Force.
Those who reached Ultimate Sword Force were exceedingly rare, and those who comprehended the second realm, Sword Intent, were as rare as a phoenix feather. As for the third realm, Sword Domain, no one in Lizhou was known to have reached it, let alone the final Sword Dao.
For Lin Feng to have comprehended Sword Intent in his twenties meant his talent for the Sword Dao was terrifyingly high.
If he were willing to reveal his abilities, he would instantly become one of the Shenxiao Sword Sect's most prized disciples, his name echoing throughout Lizhou.
Previously, Lin Feng had believed in relying on a powerful backer for an easy life, so he had never been particularly diligent about his cultivation.
But now, things were different.
His Master was still in a coma. And while he had avenged him, he still needed to go to the Jiuyou Secret Realm to find the Red Spider Lily.
The Jiuyou Secret Realm opened only once a century, and each time, it was a bloodbath.
Countless factions vied to enter and seize the fortuitous encounters within.
Lin Feng dared not pin all his hopes on the Shenxiao Sword Sect.
He suspected the Wu Ji Demon Sect might lay a trap within the Jiuyou Secret Realm, waiting for the Shenxiao Sword Sect to walk right into it.
The two rival powers knew each other inside and out, but he was a variable the Wu Ji Demon Sect could never predict.
Therefore, Lin Feng had to increase his combat strength as much as possible before entering the Jiuyou Secret Realm.
For a Sword Cultivator, the fastest way to improve one's combat effectiveness was not through raising their cultivation realm, but through Sword Comprehension.
Cultivation required slow, patient accumulation and could not be rushed, but a breakthrough in Sword Comprehension could happen in a single moment of enlightenment.
If Lin Feng could take one more step and reach the third realm, the Sword Domain, then forget about the Jiuyou Secret Realm—he would have enough power to do as he pleased anywhere in Lizhou.
Half a month later.
Gucun Peak, beneath the thousand-year-old tree.
"Huuu..."
Lin Feng opened his eyes. As he exhaled a turbid breath, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
He had spent half a month in Sword Comprehension, and while his Sword Intent had advanced from the Major Accomplishment stage to the Ultimate stage, he had failed to grasp the Sword Domain.
This left him rather dissatisfied.
He had finally gotten serious for once, and he still hadn't achieved his goal.
If any other Sword Cultivator knew what Lin Feng was thinking, they would probably die from sheer frustration.
To advance from Major Accomplishment to Ultimate Sword Intent in just half a month, earning the right to attempt to comprehend the Sword Domain—what kind of monstrous talent did that require?
Such a speed of comprehension was unheard of in all of Lizhou, yet he was actually dissatisfied?
Truly, comparisons are the thief of joy.
Although he had failed to grasp the Sword Domain, Lin Feng had a faint feeling that he was on the cusp of it. All he needed was the right catalyst.
But there was no telling when such a catalyst might appear.
"Sigh... If only I could go to the Sword Tomb for my comprehension!" Lin Feng muttered with resignation. "The conditions here are just too poor. It'll be too difficult to grasp the Sword Domain here. I'd have a much better chance in the Sword Tomb."
The Sword Tomb he spoke of was the place where the Shenxiao Sword Sect interred its swords. It housed the blades of countless past masters since the sect's founding, among them many famous and powerful weapons.
The Sword Tomb was a holy land for Sword Cultivators and the ideal place for Sword Comprehension.
As the Senior Brother of his generation, Lin Feng should have been the most qualified person to enter the Sword Tomb.
Unfortunately, he had always concealed his true strength and talent, rendering his title of "Senior Brother" essentially meaningless within the Shenxiao Sword Sect.
He had never even participated in a single one of the sect's grand competitions.
And it was through these competitions that one earned the right to enter the Sword Tomb.
Thus, Lin Feng could not get in.
Unless he revealed his talent for the Sword Dao to the Headmaster and the other high-ranking Elders. If he did, he was guaranteed to gain the sect's full attention. He wouldn't just be allowed into the Sword Tomb; they would probably let him live there.
But for now, Lin Feng had no intention of doing that.
With the memories of his past life, he held one conviction above all else: keeping a low profile was the only true way to live a long and peaceful life.
Since he couldn't enter the Sword Tomb, his only option was to focus on the Jiuyou Secret Realm.
It was said to be filled with all kinds of rare treasures and heavenly materials. Opening only once a century, it attracted countless factions who fought to claim its riches.
Of course, entry into the Jiuyou Secret Realm was restricted: one's bone age could not exceed one hundred years.
Anyone older who tried to enter would be instantly obliterated by the realm's natural forces.
In other words, a person could only enter once in their entire life.
This restriction greatly hindered the major powers from simply plundering the realm.
The age limit of one hundred years was enough to keep many of their strongest experts at bay.
Moreover, no power would dare send all of its carefully cultivated geniuses inside. A total wipeout would be a catastrophic disaster.
Yet, every time the Jiuyou Secret Realm opened, there were tales of lucky souls who found world-shaking opportunities, their power soaring overnight and stunning the world. This inspired countless cultivators under the age of one hundred, even those with mediocre talent, to want to try their luck. What if they stumbled upon a rare treasure? Wouldn't that completely change their fate?
Lin Feng, however, had no interest in other treasures. His sole objective was the Red Spider Lily.
He was confident that if he cultivated diligently, he could surpass most of the geniuses in Lizhou even without the aid of any treasures.
The days passed one by one.
Gucun Peak remained a forgotten corner of the sect. Even when the Shenxiao Sword Sect held its grand ceremonies, this place was always overlooked.
Lin Feng, for his part, was happy with the quiet.
If not for what had happened to Su Mubai, he would have been content to stay here forever.
With no worries about food or drink, he could enjoy the scenery and even have a barbecue now and then. What could be better?
Why go out and risk his life in endless battles?
There were reasons Lin Feng chose to take the easy path.
First, his experiences on Earth had taught him that the tree that stands tallest is the first to be struck by the wind; he didn't want to attract attention.
Second, he felt no real sense of belonging to this world. It all felt like a dream, one he might wake up from at any moment.
There were very few people he truly cared about.
His Master, Su Mubai, and his junior sister, Su Xiyao, undoubtedly held the top two spots.
They were his reverse scale—to touch them was to court death.
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