Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 292 The Sword of Heaven and Earth and the Unity of the Five Elements
"Greetings, Dean!"

Inside a side hall of the Nine Heavens Sword Academy, Zhou Ling bowed to Dean Gong.

"sit down!"

Dean Gong nodded slightly and pointed to the grand master's chair beside him.

After Zhou Ling took his seat, an assistant served him spiritual tea.

After taking a sip of spiritual tea, Zhou Ling got straight to the point and stated the purpose of his visit.

"Dean, it's like this. I have just comprehended a Five Elements Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent, but since the Five Elements Sword Technique I cultivate does not record this Five Elements Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent."

"I haven't fully figured it out yet."

"That's why I've come to ask the dean for some advice!"

"The Five Elements and Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent!"

Upon hearing this, a look of surprise appeared on the beautiful face of the Palace Dean who was looking at the jade book.

"I thought you'd been busy with the Heavenly Crafts Bureau lately and would have fallen behind in your swordsmanship training, but I didn't expect you to have entered the second step of the third realm so quickly?"

Dean Gong's tone carried a hint of doubt.

It should be noted that Zhou Ling had only just comprehended the three realms of swordsmanship and achieved the unity of man and sword in June.

Now, only half a year has passed, and he has already reached the second step of the third realm.

This pace is truly astonishing.

This talent truly makes him a potential swordsman who can reach the fifth realm.

Even though she had good talent in swordsmanship, it still took her nearly two years to go from the first step to the second step.

"This is all thanks to the Dean's Sword Shadow Jade. It allowed me to enter and spar with the Dean, which is why I've made such progress!"

Zhou Ling said modestly.

He also flattered the dean.

However, this is also a very significant fact.

If it weren't for Dean Gong's help, his swordsmanship wouldn't have improved so quickly.

"These five elements and myriad phenomena are precisely the path I cultivate for the Heaven and Earth Sword Technique."

"However, due to my personal attributes, I haven't fully grasped it!"

Dean Gong smiled and spoke.

She was quite satisfied with Zhou Ling's attitude.

She has now reached a crucial point in both her magical cultivation and her swordsmanship.

In terms of swordsmanship, once you reach the third realm and fourth step, it is very difficult to advance further.

Similarly, one must also break through to the peak of the Golden Core stage in terms of cultivation.

The Five Elements Sword Intent that Zhou Ling comprehended provided her with considerable inspiration for understanding the Sword of Heaven and Earth.

"Dean, does this Five Elements Myriad Phenomena still fall under the category of Five Elements Sword Intent?"

Zhou Ling continued to ask.

Within the Sword Shadow Jade, he learned that Dean Gong's Second Step of Evergreen Trees was somewhat similar to his own Five Elements Myriad Phenomena.

That's why he asked that question, since the sword intent condensed from the Five Elements is no longer just within the scope of the Five Elements Sword Intent.

"The so-called Five Elements are the foundation of all things in the universe. The Five Elements generate and restrain each other, cycle and interact, and are endlessly regenerating."

"And this Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent, simply put, is just one of the five elements generating each other."

"The Five Elements give rise to all phenomena, and the Five Elements give rise to all laws."

"The Five Elements unite as one, all laws converge into one, and heaven and earth unite as one!"

Dean Gong looked thoughtful and shared some of his insights into the Five Elements Sword Dao with Zhou Ling.

Dean Gong holds Zhou Ling in very high regard.

The goal is to train Zhou Ling to become a fifth-realm sword cultivator.

This is an extremely difficult task.

After all, there are only a handful of sword cultivators at the fifth level in the entire Dao Alliance.

Moreover, each of them is a key figure in the Dao Alliance.

Every sword cultivator in the Nine Heavens Sword Academy aspires to become a fifth-realm sword cultivator.

But only a handful of people can reach that level.

Just like the Taoist academy today, there are many sword-wielding practitioners who are naturally gifted in the art of swordsmanship.

Reaching the second realm of swordsmanship is easy, and while the third realm is somewhat difficult, it is not insurmountable.

But things are different when you reach the fourth realm.

While the sword body allows for a better understanding of the rules of heaven and earth, the four realms of swordsmanship and the unity of heaven and earth require one to comprehend one's own sword intent.

This requires exceptional talent and a stroke of luck.

When she first met Zhou Ling, she sensed that he possessed such potential.

Now that Zhou Ling is asking, she won't hide anything.

Then her jade hand moved.

Strands of cyan sword energy shot out.

These wisps of sword energy were all different; some were as sharp and graceful as willow catkins; some were as fierce and powerful as sword energy tigers; and some were swirling and howling, orderly and disciplined.

"This is the Evergreen Sword Intent that I condensed during my time in the Three Realms of Swordsmanship."

"It is called Evergreen Sword Intent, but it can condense into various other different sword intents."

Looking at the sword energy flowing in the air, Dean Gong explained to Zhou Ling.

Do you know why different sword intents can be condensed from the original sword intent?

Perhaps to give Zhou Ling a more intuitive understanding, Dean Gong asked a question after gathering his sword energy.

It took her two years to comprehend the Evergreen Sword Intent.

Unless they were master and disciple, she wouldn't have been able to share her insights into sword intent with Zhou Ling.

However, she did not have the intention of making Zhou Ling her disciple.

In the academy, she had several talented Foundation Establishment disciples, but she felt that none of them could compare to Chen Ling in terms of talent.

Of course, even if they are her disciples, she will not easily teach them this sword intent.

After all, the cultivation of sword intent must be in harmony with one's own sword intent.

However, Zhou Ling's Five Elements Sword Intent and her Sword Intent were extremely compatible.

She also knew that Zhou Ling's insights came from her own sword intent, and every time Zhou Ling made progress, it gave her a great sense of accomplishment.

"Isn't this the sword intent I originally cultivated, a natural extension of my understanding?"

Zhou Ling thought for a moment and then replied.

The Five Elements Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent he deduced was mainly evolved from the Five Elements.

Therefore, he felt it was an extension of his original sword intent.

Just like how his Fiery Cloud Sword Intent and Water-attribute Ripple Sword Intent merge to form an Ice-Fire Sword Intent, which can unleash more than 30% of the power of the original two sword intents.

It can even condense an Ice and Fire Sword Domain, possessing fire clouds, ice seals, and stacked attack attributes.

This has a huge advantage when dealing with large-scale battles.

"That's not wrong either; most sword cultivators will take one of two paths."

"One type is to follow a sword intent all the way to the end. This kind of sword intent can be continuously sublimated. With a sword in hand, one can transform heaven and earth and all things."

"All things in heaven and earth must follow my sword intent."

"The condensed sword intent is powerful enough to suppress the power of other rules!"

"This is my Falling Leaves Sword Intent!"

As Dean Gong spoke, she moved her jade hand, and the evergreen sword energy surrounding the sky suddenly condensed, transforming into a faint blue sword light.

A blue light enveloped the entire hall.

At the same time, Zhou Ling witnessed a miraculous scene.

"Buzz!"

"Buzz!"

The next moment, the Five Elements Sword in his storage ring began to emit a long, resounding sound.

There was an urgent desire to fly out of the storage ring.

Even the Five Elements Sword nurtured in his dantian seemed to resonate with him.

This filled Zhou Ling with horror.

What's happening here?
It should be noted that the Five Elements Sword is his natal sword, connected to his aura.

Without his consent, no one else could use it at all.

After all, one's natal sword possesses spirituality.

How could this happen?
He looked at Dean Gong with a face full of doubt.

I never imagined that Dean Gong's swordsmanship had reached such a terrifying level. It seems that in my duel with her in the Sword Shadow Jade, each sword shadow probably didn't even reach 60% of my fighting power.

"Dean, what kind of sword intent is this?"

Zhou Ling asked, his face full of amazement.

"This is my fourth step of Falling Leaves Sword Intent!"

"It possesses a trace of the aura of the Heaven and Earth Sword."

"Once unleashed, everything else around will be transformed into the sword intent of falling leaves!"

"This is my sword, the sword of heaven and earth!"

Seeing the look of surprise on Zhou Ling's face, Dean Gong smiled and said.

At this point, Dean Gong moved her hand, and the cyan sword energy flowed back into her hand.

She has only just touched the threshold of the Heaven and Earth Sword Technique and can only unleash it for a few breaths.

The surrounding atmosphere suddenly changed, and the calm and tranquility returned to normal.

Zhou Ling, at this moment, seemed to still be immersed in the mysterious state of that sword strike.

After a quarter of an hour, Zhou Ling finally exhaled, came to his senses, and said with a look of admiration, "The Dean's swordsmanship is truly amazing!"

"Where the mind goes, there is sword intent!"

Just now, he felt as if he were enveloped by a green sword aura.

The surrounding sword energy exuded a mysterious pattern.

It was this mysterious and unstoppable sword intent that triggered the resonance of the Five Elements Sword.

"This is one way of swordsmanship training; the other is to transform one sword into myriad forms."

"This kind of swordsmanship has reached the point of being able to do whatever one wants; wherever the sword intent passes, it can be transformed into sword intent."

"The wind, clouds, grass, and trees in the world can all be transformed into a part of the sword intent."

"This level of swordsmanship is similar to your current Five Elements Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent."

Seeing that Zhou Ling seemed to have gained some insight, Dean Gong looked satisfied and continued to speak to him.

Zhou Ling looked enlightened, then asked, "Dean, which of these two sword intents is superior?"

"It's hard to compare them; each has its own advantages."

"Although my Falling Wood Sword Intent can condense into a sword domain, it is still a wood-attribute sword intent."

"If it is confronted by a powerful metal-based sword intent, its power will be reduced."

"But the sword intent with all attributes has no such concerns!"

Dean Gong continued.

Zhou Ling listened attentively; he had only just come into contact with these two sword attributes himself.

Originally, he only practiced the Five Elements Sword Technique and did not pay much attention to other sword techniques and sword intents.

After all, his primary identity is that of a weapon refiner, and only secondarily a sword cultivator.

There are significant differences between the two.

Sword cultivators primarily focus on practical combat to expand their skills.

The weapon refiners provide logistical support.

Therefore, once one reaches the third realm or higher in swordsmanship, their knowledge in this area becomes limited.

The only person I associate with these days is Dean Gong, a master of swordsmanship.

As for his master, aside from teaching him the Five Elements Sword Technique, he rarely discussed matters related to swordsmanship.

The main reason for giving him the Five Elements Sword Technique was to complement the Five Elements Qian Yuan True Technique.

"So, the Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent is stronger?"

Zhou Ling spoke up.

Looking at Zhou Ling, Dean Gong took a teacup, sipped his tea, and smiled noncommittally.

"That's not the understanding."

"Although the sword can manifest in all forms, it can also condense the sword intent from various other fields."

"It can condense a sword domain that has a suppressive effect on the opponent."

"But to reach this point, it takes a lot of time to comprehend other sword intents."

"This requires not only amazing talent, but also amazing luck to achieve."

"Therefore, only a very small number of sword cultivators follow this Myriad Manifestations Sword Path!"

After hearing this, Zhou Ling's eyes widened and his face lit up with joy. His Five Elements Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent was so powerful!

This means that once I master the Five Elements Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent, my combat power will increase significantly.

"Dean, wouldn't my Five Elements Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent become even more terrifying when it enters the fourth realm?"

Zhou Ling asked again.

After all, the four realms of swordsmanship require one to comprehend one's own sword intent.

So, to which category of sword intent does my Five Elements Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent specifically belong?
Dean Gong shook his head. "It's not that easy. Although the Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent is powerful, comprehending the four realms of sword intent is much more difficult than mastering the single-attribute sword path!"

"Because once you've grasped many other sword intents, it becomes extremely difficult to comprehend a unique sword intent!"

Dean Gong continued his introduction.

In the practice of single-attribute swordsmanship, everything is done step by step, with each type yielding its own reward, which is accumulated continuously.

This could potentially lead to a qualitative change.

Thus, one can comprehend one's own way of the sword.

The Myriad Manifestations Sword Path is somewhat unconventional; although it contains many sword intents, it is not easy to condense them into one's own essence.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling frowned, realizing that his hopes had been dashed.

If it's difficult to reach the fourth realm of swordsmanship, is there any point in cultivating the Five Elements Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent?

However, Dean Gong wasn't saying there was no chance.

It's just that it's difficult.

With the [Illusionary Realm Simulation], as long as one's spiritual cultivation reaches a certain level, one can naturally deduce it as well.

"But you don't need to worry!"

Seemingly sensing Zhou Ling's worries, Dean Gong smiled and said...

"You have cultivated the Five Elements Sword Technique and comprehended the Five Elements Sword Intent."

"This situation naturally gave rise to the Five Elements Myriad Phenomena Sword Intent."

"If we can achieve the unity of the five elements in the future, then we may reach the realm of the sword that unites heaven and earth!"

"There are records of this in the Nine Heavens Sword Academy."

"There are sword cultivators who have achieved the One Sword of Heaven and Earth by unifying the Five Elements."

"This is why I have always used the Five Elements Sword Intent to temper my own swordsmanship!"

Hearing this, Zhou Ling breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there was a chance, there would be no problem.

"Dean, does the academy currently possess a cultivation method that unifies the Five Elements?"

Zhou Ling asked again.

Dean Gong shook his head. "We can only obtain this at the main hospital."

"With your current cultivation level, there's no rush."

"I'll figure out a way for you after you get to the third step!"

"Thank you, Dean!"

Zhou Ling bowed and thanked him.

Although it is possible to deduce the scenario using the [Illusionary Realm Simulation], it consumes too much of one's spiritual energy.

If there is something readily available, then you can avoid a lot of detours.

"I'll be leading a team to the main hospital for a competition soon, and I'll ask you about it then!"

Dean Gong continued.

With Zhou Ling's monstrous talent in swordsmanship...

Entering the third step, she felt it might not take more than a year.

Therefore, we should prepare what needs to be prepared for him as soon as possible.

Then, as if remembering something, he said, "You can come with me to the main hospital competition this time."

"A competition at the main hospital?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling was taken aback.

At the Nine Heavens Sword Academy, he was already an inner court instructor, so naturally he could no longer participate in any competitions.

I wonder why Dean Gong sent him there?

But soon, Dean Gong explained to him the situation regarding going to the main hospital.

(End of this chapter)