Chapter 626 - 626: Seven Bombardments

Why does sparring with others improve one's strength?

Because you can learn things from your opponent that you lack, and it allows you to see your own strengths and weaknesses more clearly.

Right now, Chu Qingyun's cultivation of the Sword Dao was stuck on fusing his Thunder Sword and Lightning Sword techniques.

Therefore, what he needed most was an opponent who could wield Thunder Sword Intent!

An opportunity like this was incredibly rare.

"I am ready!"

Chu Qingyun gripped his Thunder Shock Sword, mobilized all the Primordial Power in his body, and said to the man.

The moment his voice fell, a vast amount of dazzling, blinding thunder began to gather in the Sea of Thunder and Lightning directly above his head.

A moment later, the brightest cluster of all converged right there.

Then, a bolt of thunder shot out, like a sharp sword, stabbing straight toward Chu Qingyun.

The hundred-meter distance was crossed in an instant.

The bolt of thunder was above Chu Qingyun's head in the blink of an eye.

Fortunately, Chu Qingyun was well-prepared and didn't panic.

Chu Qingyun mobilized all the Primordial Power in his body, pushed his Lightning Sword to its absolute limit, and swung his sword to meet the bolt of thunder.

An unprecedented violet light flared from the Thunder Shock Sword.

With a strike like this, Chu Qingyun was confident he could slay any Level 9 Martial Spirit he had ever seen!

However, when his fully-powered Lightning Sword faced the true Thunder Sword Intent, it shattered on contact, instantly blasted to smithereens!

'It's... it's that strong!'

Horror filled Chu Qingyun's heart.

But in the next instant, the bolt of thunder had already traveled down his Thunder Shock Sword and slammed violently into his body.

SPURT!

Chu Qingyun immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. His entire body convulsed, and only by using his longsword as a crutch did he manage to stay half-kneeling on the ground instead of collapsing completely.

'Ferocity and speed, perfectly combined... So this is the true Thunder Sword Intent...'

In that instant, many things flashed through Chu Qingyun's mind.

The passage from the final chapter of the Thunder Sword Manual, his own insights into the Thunder Sword Intent, and the feeling he had when he first unintentionally unleashed Sword Intent...

He seemed to have grasped some clues about many things that were previously unclear and incomprehensible. He was starting to get a feel for it.

"Alright, this firsthand experience should be of great help to you in comprehending the true Thunder Sword Intent..."

As the man spoke, he was about to raise his hand to disperse the Sea of Thunder and Lightning above.

But just then, Chu Qingyun abruptly raised his head. "Senior, wait! I want to experience it again!"

"Experience it again?"

The man frowned. "Although I've weakened this Sword Intent considerably, its power is still immense for someone in the Martial Spirit Realm."

"Being greedy for quick success and ruining your body just to cultivate Thunder Sword Intent is not a wise decision."

Leaning on his Thunder Shock Sword, Chu Qingyun slowly stood up and said, "Rest assured, Senior. I have my own plans."

After all, Chu Qingyun had mastered the First Layer of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sacred Form's Inner Chapter, making his body comparable to that of an ordinary Human King Realm expert.

He had only spat blood and nearly lost his footing because he was caught off guard by the heavy blow. In reality, the injuries he sustained, both internal and external, were far less severe than one might imagine.

The man studied Chu Qingyun for a moment but did not refuse his request.

He believed that someone who could reach such a level in the Sword Dao at such a young age, while only at the Level 9 Martial Spirit Realm, was certainly no brainless, reckless fool.

"If that's the case, then as you wish."

"Get ready. The second one is coming."

The moment the man finished speaking, dazzling bolts of thunder once again converged in the Sea of Thunder and Lightning above them. Then, another sword-like bolt of thunder streaked through the air, instantly descending upon Chu Qingyun's head.

"Thunder Sword!"

This time, however, Chu Qingyun unleashed his Thunder Sword, sending a ball of thunder from his longsword to meet the attack.

Without a doubt, Chu Qingyun's ball of thunder was instantly shattered and overwhelmed.

The descending bolt of thunder struck him once more, knocking him to a half-kneeling position on the ground, his body covered in crackling arcs of electricity.

Experiencing it firsthand again advanced Chu Qingyun's comprehension of the Thunder Sword Intent by another step.

Many aspects became much clearer to him.

Soon, he stood up once more. "Senior, I'd like to go again!"

"Fine."

A hint of astonishment was in the man's eyes, but he said no more. He controlled the Sea of Thunder and Lightning, and another bolt of thunder crashed down toward Chu Qingyun.

And although Chu Qingyun resisted with all his might, he was once again knocked to a half-kneeling position.

"Again!"

BOOM!

"One more time!"

BOOM!

...

In total, Chu Qingyun endured seven bombardments from the true Thunder Sword Intent.

After being blasted to the ground by the final bolt of thunder, Chu Qingyun could finally hold on no longer. His arms trembled so violently he couldn't even grip his sword, and he collapsed face-first onto the ground with a THUD.

At this moment, his body was a tattered mess, with many areas scorched black or bleeding from the thunder strikes.

Even many of the meridians within his body had been torn and destroyed by the Thunder Power that had invaded him.

To allow Chu Qingyun to genuinely feel the true Thunder Sword Intent, maintaining a certain level of the Intent's power was essential. Therefore, injury was inevitable.

However, despite his severe injuries, Chu Qingyun's eyes were exceptionally bright.

Experiencing the attacks of the Thunder Sword Intent firsthand had given him a more direct feel for it and a much deeper understanding.

From those seven bombardments, Chu Qingyun had found the key to fusing his Thunder Sword and Lightning Sword.

The first step is always the hardest.

This was especially true for cultivating the Sword Dao. The most dreaded situation was the one Chu Qingyun had been in before: having no feeling or clue whatsoever about how to fuse the two sword techniques.

He wanted to work hard but couldn't even find a direction!

But now, the key to their fusion had been found.

As long as he continued in this direction, through persistent comprehension and arduous practice, he would definitely be able to master the true Thunder Sword Intent.

After collapsing to the ground, Chu Qingyun did not pass out.

He forced himself to stay conscious, took out the best Healing Elixir from his Storage Ring, and tossed it into his mouth. Then, he struggled to sit up cross-legged on the ground and began refining the Elixir, directing the Elixir Power to heal his wounds.

'To comprehend the Thunder Sword Intent, he actually forced himself to endure seven bombardments... This little guy is certainly a bit crazy, and resilient too.'

'But for a mere Level 9 Martial Spirit to withstand seven strikes... his body is quite strong. He must have had some fortuitous encounters.'

'I hope you can also comprehend the Thunder Sword Intent before you reach the Martial King Realm... Just don't follow my old path...'

'The Sword Inquiry Stone... When will I ever be able to shatter this Sword Inquiry Stone...?'