劍意覺醒

林睿軒 stare, his eyes wide with surprise. "You... don't need them?"

The young cultivator known as Sword Will nodded, his expression serene. "Indeed, for me, one sword is enough. I have no need for others."

Understanding dawned upon Lin Fan, and he hesitated before nodding. "Then thank you, junior brother."

Sword Will smiled faintly, "What is there to be grateful for? Brother Lin is too formal."

Lin Fan chuckled, then turned his gaze to the elderly cultivator. "How do I make these nine swords acknowledge their new master?"

The elder cultivator instructed, "Extend your sword intent and see."

Lin Fan complied without hesitation, unfurling his sword intent with a swift movement. In an instant, a formidable sword aura emanated from his body, a wave of deadly intent swirling around him.

The elder cultivator's brow arched in a faint frown at the intensity of Lin Fan's sword intent, which bore an uncanny resemblance to his own.

"Excellent, excellent, and excellent," he repeated, clearly impressed with the youthful cultivator's prowess.

Suddenly, the nine flying swords emitted a resonant hum and began to tremble violently. In an instant, they transformed into a series of dazzling streaks of light, shooting straight into Lin Fan's head through his brow.

Lin Fan felt the presence of the nine swords within his spiritual consciousness and couldn't help but break into a smile. He was overjoyed by the acquisition. The flying swords were excellent stealth weapons; in future battles against foes, he could use them to deliver surprise attacks, potentially dealing decisive blows.

At this moment, the elder cultivator spread his hand, revealing a delicate painting within his palm. Both Lin Fan and Sword Will looked upon it with curiosity, sensing an untold power in the artwork.

The elder cultivator glanced at them and smiled. He then opened the painting, revealing a figure clad in black standing atop the heavens, brandishing a long sword. Opposite the black-clad figure were countless beings, each fixated upon him with an expression of fury. Upon closer inspection, it was evident that these beings were deeply resentful, as if they held the black-clad figure responsible for their plight. Yet, the black-clad man remained unfazed, his hands resting casually behind his back, his expression calm and composed.

Lin Fan and Sword Will examined the painting carefully.

The elder cultivator explained, "This painting was acquired from a secret realm, and it cost me dearly to obtain it."

Curious, Sword Will asked, "Saggio, what is so special about this painting?"

The elder cultivator sighed, "I don't know."

"Pardon?"

Lin Fan and Sword Will exchanged puzzled glances.

The elder cultivator nodded, "Indeed. When I got it, there was nothing out of the ordinary about this painting."

Lin Fan commented, "That can't be true. I feel that this painting is something extraordinary."

The elder cultivator chuckled, "It is extraordinary. Otherwise, why would I have kept it all this time?"

He sighed deeply, "Alas, perhaps there is no destiny between me and this painting."

He turned to Sword Will, "This painting is yours. Perhaps you have more affinity with it."

Hesitating, Sword Will glanced at Lin Fan, ready to speak when Lin Fan interjected, "I have already received those nine swords, so this painting is yours."

Sword Will smiled, "Thank you, brother."

Lin Fan waving away any courtesy, "Don't be so formal."

With a hearty laugh, Sword Will replied, "You are mistaken, junior brother."

Lin Fan shook his head with a smile, saying nothing more.

The elder cultivator rolled up the painting and handed it to Sword Will. "Take it."

Lin Fan nodded without hesitation and reached out for the painting. As he did, the artwork suddenly burst with an overwhelming aura of sword intent, causing the entire realm to tremble.

Outside the wooden cottage.

Xiao Lan stared at the cabin, an expression of seriousness on her face. "What's going on?"

Gu Xun'er also looked on with a grave expression.

Su Chen's gaze was calm, his eyes showing no disturbance. However, when the sword intent had emerged, he felt a fleeting unease. He murmured, "An aura beyond the realm of the gods..."

Then, his lips curled up into a faint smile, "Interesting."

Inside the wooden cabin.

The elder cultivator's brow furrowed as he watched Sword Will. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and shook his head, "It seems I truly have no affinity with this painting."

Sword Will, now with his eyes closed, opened them and found himself in an entirely different place. He looked around in confusion, his brows furrowed, realizing that his surroundings mirrored the scene depicted in the painting.

Suddenly, a black-clad figure appeared before him. The man was handsome, with white hair at his temples, appearing like an ordinary person. Simultaneously, rifts opened in the space, spilling forth millions of powerful beings, each exuding a terrifying aura.

At the forefront stood a middle-aged man in a blue robe, his expression one of fury as he glared at the black-clad figure. Sword Will was silent, reflecting on the scene for a moment before murmuring, "Could I have been transported into the painting? Yet, why didn't they notice me? Could it be... they can't see me?"

From a distance, the black-clad man watched the middle-aged man with an impassive expression. "You all are quite troublesome."

The middle-aged man roared, "You dared to murder the Young Master of the Bai family! You are doomed!"

The black-clad man cast a profound glance at the middle-aged man, but said nothing.

"Attack!"

The middle-aged man gave the order, and immediately, millions of attacks targeting the black-clad figure were unleashed, an overwhelming force that shook the heavens and the earth.

Black-clad man rested one hand on his back and held his sword in the other, watching the mass of attackers with a faint smile. "Why do you always have to kill?"

With a cold look in his eyes, the temperature of the entire realm plummeted. Even Sword Will shivered involuntarily.

Then, the black-clad man slowly raised his hand and made a casual swing. The movement was ordinary, like any swordsman striking a casual blow.

A sharp, piercing sound echoed, and the millions of attackers were suddenly frozen in place, their expressions filled with confusion and endless fear.

In the next instant, an invisible sword intent sliced directly through the millions of attackers, halving them in two!

In a flash, the bodies of the severed attackers tumbled to the ground, a sight that was both shocking and terrifying.

Observing this, Sword Will's throat constricted, a touch of fear rising within him, mingled with disbelief. How could millions of foes be cut down so effortlessly?

He looked at the black-clad man, his eyes wide in astonishment. How can someone be so powerful?

As this thought crossed his mind, the black-clad man turned his gaze upon Sword Will and smiled. The moment the man's eyes met his, Sword Will's expression froze, and he stood rooted to the spot, frozen in place.