Several breaths passed before he slowly withdrew it. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face. "I see."
Nearby, Jian Ling observed him quietly. "You gained something."
It was not a question.
Li Yan nodded. "A different perspective."
Jian Ling's expression remained calm. "That is the purpose of the Insight Hall."
Her gaze moved across the countless platforms scattered throughout the chamber. "It does not teach techniques. It teaches understanding."
Li Yan looked around the hall once more to find the next insight. Afterward, Li Yan remained within the Insight Hall and continued exploring its inheritances.
Some Sword Intents pursued speed above all else. Others sought overwhelming power. Some specialized in defense, while others focused on deception, patience, assassination, or control.
Each path possessed its own strengths. Each path carried its own limitations.
And with every Insight Echo he experienced, Li Yan's understanding of swordsmanship deepened further.
Gradually, a simple truth became increasingly clear. There was no strongest Sword Intent. Only swordsmen capable of bringing out the full potential of their chosen path. Without realizing it, Li Yan became completely immersed in the process.
Time passed unnoticed.
Outside the treehouse, daylight faded and night descended upon the ancient forest. Moonlight filtered through the branches and entered through the windows, casting pale silver patterns across the wooden floor.
Li Yan remained seated beneath the Qi Gathering Array, his eyes closed as his consciousness wandered through the Insight Hall.
Then a subtle wave of Sword Aura spread from his body. The aura expanded briefly before stabilizing once more.
The countless insights he had accumulated throughout the hours finally converged.
For months, he had remained at the Peak Stage of the Sword Practitioner Realm. The foundation was already complete. What he lacked was a deeper understanding that could push him beyond the bottleneck.
The Insight Hall had provided exactly that.
The various Sword Intents had broadened his perspective and revealed possibilities he had never previously considered.
The final barrier quietly broke. His Sword Intent advanced naturally. From the Practitioner Level (Peak-Stage)… To the Earth Level (Low-Stage).
No dramatic transformation occurred.
No violent eruption of power followed.
Only a deeper understanding of the Sword Path and a more stable Sword Intent than before. For Li Yan, that was more valuable than any temporary increase in strength.
*****
After leaving the Insight Hall, Li Yan returned to the familiar circular hall of the Sword Tower once more. Ancient lamps illuminated the surroundings with a steady golden glow, while countless swords remained embedded within the stone platform at the center of the hall.
His gaze naturally settled upon the final accessible door.
The Trial Arena.
Of the three halls currently available to him, this was the one he had anticipated the most.
Knowledge could be studied. Insights could be comprehended. But the sword itself existed for battle. Without testing one's understanding through combat, everything else remained incomplete.
A faint fluctuation appeared nearby as Jian Ling emerged beside him. "You intend to enter?"
Li Yan nodded. "Naturally."
Then he looked toward the ancient spirit. "Is there a problem?"
"There is no problem." Jian Ling's gaze rested on the door.
"However, under normal circumstances, disciples entered the Trial Hall with their physical bodies. The Trials Arena was designed for real swordsmen wielding real swords because, other than swordsmanship-based attacks, no other attacks or techniques are allowed."
A brief pause followed. "The tower currently resides inside your Spiritual Consciousness and lacks sufficient power to transport your physical body."
Li Yan listened quietly.
"Your consciousness may enter," Jian Ling continued. "The trial mechanisms allow that, which is used by the Eternal Sword Sect's elders and leaders. You will still be able to wield your Sword Intent and participate in the trials, but certain limitations will exist."
Li Yan asked, "What kind of limitations?"
"You will discover them soon enough."
Li Yan accepted the explanation without further questioning.
The tower had already exceeded his expectations several times. If restrictions existed, he would learn their nature firsthand.
His gaze returned to the doorway. "Then let's see what the Trials Arena has for me."
A trace of amusement appeared in Jian Ling's eyes. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
Li Yan chuckled. "I'll do my best."
Without further hesitation, he stepped through the doorway. The transition felt different from the previous halls.
The surrounding space distorted briefly before the tower's interior disappeared completely. When his vision stabilized, he found himself standing beneath an open sky.
Li Yan immediately looked around. A vast stone arena stretched before him.
The platform extended so far into the distance that its boundaries were difficult to see. Ancient sword scars covered the ground in every direction. Some cuts were shallow. Others appeared deep enough to split mountains.
The air itself carried a faint Sword Aura.
It was not oppressive.
Rather, it felt as though generations of battle had become permanently etched into this place.
Li Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. "A separate space?"
"Correct." Jian Ling appeared beside him once more. "The Trials Arena contains multiple combat domains."
Her gaze swept across the enormous battlefield. "This is the lowest-level trial domain."
Li Yan nodded. The place resembled a battlefield more than a training ground. There were no decorations. No spectators. No distractions.
Everything about the arena existed for a single purpose—combat.
As Li Yan examined his surroundings, a figure gradually materialized several meters away. It was the projection of a young man dressed in simple gray robes.
The figure stood motionless. Neither attacking nor speaking. At the far end of the arena, a massive black monument rose into the sky.
Ancient characters slowly illuminated across its surface.
[New Trialist Detected.
Trialist, unleash your Sword Intent and attack the Projection to determine your Qualification.]
Li Yan read the message before turning toward Jian Ling. "So the trial begins with an evaluation?"
Jian Ling nodded. "It is more than an evaluation. The tower must determine your current level before assigning appropriate trials."
Her gaze shifted toward the projection. "It also serves as practice. This will be your first time wielding Sword Intent entirely through your Spiritual Consciousness."
Li Yan nodded in understanding. That was reasonable. He turned his attention toward the motionless projection.
Taking a slow breath, he extended his hand—a sword formed within his grasp. Unlike a physical weapon, it was composed entirely of Spiritual Energy, yet it felt no different from a real blade.
Li Yan adjusted his stance. Then he closed his eyes. Several moments later, they opened again. A subtle change occurred.
The air around him became heavier. His Defiant Judgment Sword Intent quietly emerged. The newly advanced Earth-Level Intent immediately revealed its differences.
His Sword Intent no longer possessed the sharp instability of the previous level. It felt grounded. Stable. Immovable.
Like a mountain standing in judgment, even Li Yan found himself slightly surprised by the change. The advancement within the Insight Hall had strengthened his understanding more than he expected.
It had deepened the very foundation of his Sword Intent.
Without hesitation, he swung his sword. He did not move from his position.
The blade cut through the air. A crescent-shaped slash of around five meters wide immediately separated from the sword and surged forward.
The attack traveled several meters in an instant. It carried neither overwhelming speed nor dazzling brilliance. Instead, it possessed an unmistakable sense of weight.
Like a descending mountain, the slash struck the projection directly across the chest. A deep wound appeared.
Moments later, the projection restored itself completely.
At the same time, the characters on the black monument shifted.
[Current Qualification: Outer Disciple
Sword Intent: Earth-Level (Advanced Stage)
Eligible Trial Skips: 21
Trial #1-3: Sword Apprentice Level
Normal - Hard - Nightmare
Trial #4-6: Sword Practitioner Level (Beginner Stage)
Normal - Hard - Nightmare
Trial #7-9: Sword Practitioner Level (Intermediate Stage)
Normal - Hard - Nightmare
Trial #10-12: Sword Practitioner Level (Advanced Stage)
Normal - Hard - Nightmare
Trial #13-15: Sword Practitioner Level (Peak Stage)
Normal - Hard - Nightmare
Trial #16-18: Sword Earth Level (Beginner Stage)
Normal - Hard - Nightmare
Trial #19-21: Sword Earth Level (Intermediate Stage)
Normal - Hard - Nightmare
To Skip Eligible Trials: Attack the Projection
To Begin From Trial #1: Attack the Arena Ground]
Li Yan studied the monument carefully.
"Outer Disciple." Then his gaze shifted downward. "And I can skip twenty-one trials."
Jian Ling nodded. "According to the standards of the Eternal Sword Sect, your current Sword Intent qualifies you as an Outer Disciple."
Li Yan was not surprised by that. What interested him more was the option to skip. "Should I skip?"
Jian Ling shook her head. "I do not recommend it."
Li Yan looked toward her. "Why?"
She replied, "Because skipping trials grants no rewards."
That answer immediately caught his attention. "Rewards?"
Jian Ling nodded. "The Eternal Sword Sect rewarded disciples for completing trials. Every successful challenge grants Sword Merit Points."
Li Yan listened carefully.
"Sword Merit Points served as the internal currency of the sect. Before its destruction, disciples used them to exchange for techniques, inheritances, resources, and privileges."
Her gaze shifted toward the distant monument. "Most of those options no longer exist. However, the Knowledge Hall remains within the tower to exchange."
Li Yan's eyes brightened slightly. "You mean I can exchange Sword Merit Points for knowledge?"
Jian Ling nodded, "Knowledge, Sword techniques, records beyond your current authority, and other inheritances that become available as your status rises."
Li Yan immediately understood the value. The knowledge, Sword techniques, records, and inheritances of the Eternal Sword Sect weren't small things.
Anything preserved within the tower would be extraordinarily valuable. Skipping trials suddenly seemed far less appealing.
A faint smile appeared on his face. "Then why would I skip them?"
Jian Ling looked at him, and a trace of approval appeared in her eyes.
Li Yan looked toward the arena. "If there are rewards to earn, I might as well start from the beginning."
Then a thought suddenly struck him. "Wait, it's showing that my Sword Intent is Earth-Level (Advanced Stage)? But I just reached the Earth-Level (Beginner Stage)."
Jian Ling replied casually, "Your Sword Intent is still at the Earth-Level (Beginner Stage), yet because your Sword Intent is a fusion of two concepts, it lets you unleash more power than a normal Sword Intent."
"The tower evaluates combat effectiveness and powers, not the actual stage."
Li Yan was still shocked. "Still, it's a difference of two whole stages."
Jian Ling didn't comment as Li Yan raised his sword once more.
Defiant Judgment Sword Intent flowed through the blade, and a stable Sword Aura wrapped around its edge.
Without hesitation, he swung downward.
A crescent-shaped slash shot across the arena and struck the stone ground several meters away.
The arena trembled lightly.
Dust rose into the air before quickly settling once more, revealing nothing but a scar carved into the ancient stone.
At the same time, the projection standing nearby dissolved into particles of light. The massive monument changed. New lines of text appeared across its dark surface.
[Trialist Selected: Begin From Trial #1]
Several more lines followed.
[Trial Purpose
- Test Sword Intent Understanding
- Test Combat Application
- Test Swordsmanship Proficiency]
[Warning
- Death is Impossible
- Pain is Not]
Li Yan chuckled. "That is reassuring."
Jian Ling's expression remained unchanged. "You may reconsider that opinion later."
The smile on Li Yan's face paused for a moment.
For some reason, hearing those words from Jian Ling made the warning feel significantly less comforting.
His attention returned to the monument.
A final line appeared.
[Trial #1 Begins in 30 Seconds]
As the countdown started, the arena itself responded. Sword Qi gathered from all directions. Silver light condensed near the center of the battlefield.
Gradually, another figure emerged. This time, the projection differed from the previous evaluation target.
The young man wore simple white robes and carried a plain sword. Nothing about his appearance stood out. Yet the moment Li Yan examined him, his expression became more focused.
The projection possessed no cultivation aura. No Qi fluctuations. No Spiritual pressure. The only thing that could be sensed was Sword Aura.
Pure Sword Aura.
Li Yan studied the projection carefully. The aura surrounding the sword was steady but weak, clearly below the level of Sword Intent.
A moment later, he understood. This projection had not awakened Sword Intent. It remained within the Sword Apprentice Level.
Nearby, Jian Ling watched him. "You seem confident."
Li Yan shrugged. "I came here to train."
His gaze remained fixed on the projection. "If I lose, which is impossible against this projection, I gain experience. If I win, I move forward. Either outcome has value."
A faint nod appeared from Jian Ling. "A reasonable answer."
With that, her figure vanished from beside him and reappeared near the monument. The projection slowly raised its sword.
At the same time, the monument was illuminated again.
[Trial #1
Opponent: Sword Apprentice's Projection
Difficulty: Normal
Victory Condition: Defeat Opponent]
A countdown appeared beneath the information.
[Fight Begins in 10 Seconds]
The arena fell silent. Neither side moved. Li Yan calmly adjusted his grip on the sword formed from Spiritual Energy. His breathing remained steady.
The projection stood motionless. The countdown continued.
9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2…
1…
[Fight Begins]