Chapter 19: A Sudden Enlightenment, Ascending Straight to Swordmaster

Lingyun Sword Peak!

Jiang Yueli sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, surrounded by overwhelming sword intent that seemed to merge her very being with the path of the sword.

At this moment, her mind was filled solely with the profound essence of swordsmanship—her own path of the sword.

Endless visions flashed through her mind, each depicting breathtakingly exquisite sword techniques.

Every strike and form carried a unique aura and rhythm, evoking an indescribable awe.

One sword could cleave mountains!

One sword could sever seas!

One sword could split the sky!

One sword could raze cities!

...

Over and over again, each sword stroke and form was an expression of the way of the sword, each with its distinct interpretation.

These visions were insights into the path of the sword.

In this instant, Jiang Yueli had fully comprehended the true meaning of swordsmanship.

The sword was not merely a weapon held in hand but a manifestation of will, an overwhelming momentum.

It was the Dao within the heart!

Boom!

Suddenly, Jiang Yueli’s eyes snapped open, her aura surging explosively as wild sword qi ravaged in all directions.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The thunderous clashes of sword qi erupted, tearing apart the surrounding walls and sending clouds of dust billowing into the air!

"Now, I have grasped 981 strands of sword intent, reaching the realm of Great Sword Cultivator! A single strike can destroy a small mountain!"

Jiang Yueli’s face glowed with excitement, her beautiful eyes flashing with dazzling brilliance like precious gems.

Within mere hours, she had ascended from a novice sword cultivator to the Great Sword Cultivator realm—a terrifyingly rapid advancement that proved her incredible talent, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy of the sword path.

"Yet, despite this, I am still far from what my master described: a single blade cutting through the sun, moon, and stars; a single leaf severing the three thousand great Dao."

"I must continue to strive!"

Recalling her master’s words on the ultimate sword path, Jiang Yueli’s fighting spirit ignited anew.

Though she had comprehended much sword intent, it was still far from enough; she needed to grasp even more.

With that, she suppressed the restlessness in her heart, calmed her mind, and once again immersed herself in the study of the sword Dao.

...

“Two hours have passed, yet Li Tianyuan shows no sign of movement. Could he really have fallen asleep?”

“Indeed, he doesn’t show even a trace of enlightenment.”

Meanwhile, inside Lingxiao Palace, the scene was quite different.

Everyone looked at Li Tianyuan in the arena, shaking their heads in doubt.

Some elders advised Master Taixuan to stop waiting and wake Li Tianyuan, lest they waste everyone’s time.

At this moment, Taixuan himself was uncertain, questioning whether he had been mistaken.

After all, when someone enters the state of Dao enlightenment, gradually grasping the mysteries of the great Dao, resonance should form, surrounding their body with the Dao.

Yet at this moment, Li Tianyuan’s aura gave no sign of such a response—it was truly strange.

Another half hour passed before someone could no longer wait and approached to wake him.

But as he neared, an immense surge of sword intent suddenly barreled toward him like a raging flood.

He hastily retreated, yet was still blasted backward.

Everyone was stunned, none expecting Li Tianyuan to suddenly unleash such overwhelming sword intent, powerful enough to repel even a late-stage Divine Transformation elder.

All eyes turned toward Li Tianyuan in astonishment.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

A chorus of sharp intakes echoed, rising and falling like the hum of a great machine.

Surrounded by sword intent that coalesced into countless blades, it seemed as if everything nearby would be torn to shreds.

“Buzzing!”

The void trembled, emitting sword chants that twisted and flowed like dragons and serpents entwined.

A majestic aura spread, enveloping all present.

At this moment, Li Tianyuan stood like a sword immortal, dominating the heavens and earth with unparalleled majesty.

“This is the embodiment of sword intent—he has truly achieved enlightenment!”

An elder exclaimed in shock.

“Moreover, these sword intents have formed ‘momentum’; he is nearly reaching the level of sword momentum!”

Another sword cultivation expert elder spoke, his tone still brimming with astonishment.

As a sword cultivator himself, he knew how extraordinary it was to reach the stage of sword momentum.

The power of momentum was elusive and rare!

It was the pinnacle realm pursued by all sword cultivators.

“What? Sword momentum? This... how is this possible?”

“Could it be that Li Tianyuan’s sword cultivation has already reached the stage of ‘Sword Heart Enlightenment,’ the domain of the Sword God?”

“Heavens! He’s barely over thirty, isn’t he?”

“A Sword God in his thirties—unimaginable!”

One after another, voices of shock echoed, faces filled with disbelief.

Especially Yuchi Xing and Han Fengchen, who had hoped to see Li Tianyuan falter, now stared wide-eyed as if witnessing a ghost.

Though not sword cultivators themselves, they understood the difficulty of the sword path—it was harder than scaling the heavens.

From subtle understanding to profound mystery, then to ‘Sword Heart Illumination,’ only then could one reach ‘Sword Heart Enlightenment’—a chasm nearly impossible to cross without years of immersion.

Not only was deep accumulation required, but also supreme sword talent; without it, no amount of time would suffice.

In the entire Lingxiao Sacred Land, the number of Sword Saints at the ‘Sword Heart Illumination’ stage could be counted on one hand.

As for Sword Gods at the ‘Sword Heart Enlightenment’ stage, they were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Only those born with innate sword physiques—genius prodigies—and those ancient, fossilized beings who had lived for centuries possessed such a foundation.

For Li Tianyuan to reach ‘Sword Heart Enlightenment’ in his thirties was unheard of, beyond all previous knowledge.

Yet the facts were before them, undeniable.

Even Master Taixuan, accustomed to great storms and upheavals, was momentarily stunned, clapping his hands with amazement.

“Excellent! Outstanding!”

“Nine years in hiding, silent until now, but when he strikes, he astonishes the world!”

“Achieving enlightenment in one stroke and ascending straight to Sword God—truly a hero born of youth!”

“From now on, Lingxiao Sacred Land has gained another Sword God, and such a young one at that!”

Master Taixuan laughed heartily, his eyes full of pride and excitement.

At this moment, his excitement surpassed even Li Tianyuan’s breakthrough.

For he knew well how rare such a young Sword God was—only a handful in a thousand years.

This meant Li Tianyuan’s future potential would surpass all expectations, reaching unimaginable heights.