A Man in the Snow: Starting with a Sword Challenge to the Northern Liang Prince's Palace

Chapter 205 Realm Advances Again

Ye Yun stepped onto the covered bridge again.

I come here every day.

He chose this place to seek enlightenment because it is closest to the swordsman.

It is closest to the origin of swordsmanship.

Ye Yun closed his eyes and sank his mind into his sea of consciousness.

The sword intent bestowed by the swordsman still flowed deep within his brow, like a mighty river that traversed his entire sea of consciousness.

The river water is not water, but sword intent, countless insights into the way of the sword, and traces left by countless sword cultivators over the past ten thousand years.

Ye Yun was completely absorbed in it, like a dried-up sponge, frantically absorbing those sword intents.

Time passed, I don't know how much.

The sword core within his body suddenly trembled.

It was a golden pill, nestled deep within his dantian, the foundation of his swordsmanship cultivated in the Snow Cave Heaven.

This sword core accompanied him across two worlds, experiencing destruction and reconstruction, and now it has finally become active again.

Deep within the sword core, a celestial sword is awakening.

The immortal sword was extremely small, almost invisible to the naked eye, yet it contained world-destroying power. It hovered silently in the center of the sword core, surrounded by countless tiny sword shadows. At this moment, it began to communicate its sword intent with Ye Yun.

An ancient and boundless sword intent surged from the immortal sword, merging with the sword dao essence bestowed upon it by the sword wielder.

Ye Yun was startled.

Sensing this aura, the three natal flying swords within his body flew out on their own and circled around him.

Golden light, purple clouds, and the cage—the three swords rang out in unison, emitting a deep hum that resonated with the sword essence within his sea of consciousness.

The buzzing sound grew louder and denser, until finally it transformed into a long howl that soared into the sky.

On the covered bridge, the light of swords flashed.

All the cultivators within the Lizhu Cave Heaven sensed this sword intent. Some were horrified, some were greedy, and some were terrified. But no one dared to approach; the sword intent was too strong, so strong that it extinguished even the slightest desire in them.

Ye Yun was completely unaware of the changes in the outside world.

His consciousness had sunk into the world of sword heart, where earth-shattering changes were taking place.

The Reincarnation Sword Technique operates on its own.

The first layer, "Return of Light," is the first layer of sword intent he comprehended after Park Sak's death.

By reflecting on the past, one can discern traces of the opponent's sword techniques and anticipate each of their attacks. This sword intent becomes increasingly refined under the nourishment of the origin of swordsmanship.

He closed his eyes and seemed to see the traces of countless swordsmen's moves in the world, like ribbons of light unfolding before his eyes.

The second level, "Reflection," replicates the opponent's sword moves, using their own methods against them.

This was a skill he had comprehended while battling countless sword cultivators in the Snow Cave Heaven. He had now mastered this sword intent. He no longer merely copied it, but understood the principles behind each sword strike and made it his own.

The third level, "Rebirth," involves showing mercy with the sword, leaving a chance for life, and also leaving behind karma.

This is something he gradually came to understand after arriving at the Sword Qi Great Wall. At this moment, he finally understood the profound meaning of the three words "leaving behind karma": killing is easy, saving others is difficult.

A single sword strike ends a life, but it cannot resolve the karmic consequences. A true master of the sword is not the one who has killed the most, but the one who understands cause and effect best.

The fourth level, "Nirvana," is the rebirth after the sword shatters, growing stronger with each battle. This was something he comprehended five years ago during his seven-day seclusion at the Sword Qi Great Wall. Now, this level has reached its pinnacle.

His three natal flying swords can shatter and regenerate countless times in battle, each rebirth stronger than the last. As long as he has a breath left, the flying swords will never perish.

After the four layers of sword intent had finished circulating, Ye Yun's heart gradually calmed down.

But the calm is only temporary.

The fifth layer of "cause and effect" begins to manifest.

Ye Yun's consciousness suddenly plunged into a strange space. There was no sky, no earth, only countless thin threads.

The silk threads crisscrossed, densely packed, extending to infinity. Each thread emitted a faint light, some bright, some dim, some breaking, and some joining together.

Cause and effect line.

This is the manifestation of all cause and effect in the universe.

Ye Yun understood immediately.

He tried to touch one of the causal threads with his sword intent. That thread connected a withered branch to a large tree; the withered branch had fallen from the tree—this was cause and effect.

Ye Yun pointed his fingers like a sword and made a light slash.

The cause-and-effect line is broken.

The withered branch instantly turned to dust.

It wasn't destroyed by the sword intent, but rather its "existence" was erased.

Because its causal relationship with the tree has been severed, its past, present, and future no longer exist.

Ye Yun's heart trembled violently.

The sword of cause and effect does not sever the physical body or the soul, but rather the rules, destiny, and entanglements.

With a single sword strike, one severs all connections between a person and the world.

Ye Yun's hand trembled slightly.

No, that's not right.

By severing the cause and effect, Park She truly vanished. What he needed to do was not to sever it, but to reshape it.

What he wants to sever is the cause and effect of "death," and to continue the cause and effect of "life." This is a thousand times more difficult than simply cutting it off.

But at least, he saw a possibility.

Ye Yun took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement. He knew that with his current cultivation level, he simply couldn't do such a thing.

Forcing an attempt will only result in a backlash from cause and effect, leading to a gruesome death.

He needs to be stronger.

Ye Yun composed himself and continued to immerse himself in the insights gained from swordsmanship.

Three feet in front of him, the sword domain was initially formed.

This is a supernatural power that he naturally comprehended during his enlightenment.

Centered on him, within a three-foot radius, his sword intent formed its own small world. Within these three feet, his sword intent was the rule, his will was the law, and anyone who entered his sword domain had to endure the suppression of his sword intent.

Although it is only three feet long, it is the foundation of his swordsmanship.

In the future, these three feet will become three zhang, three zhang will become thirty zhang, and thirty zhang will become three hundred zhang.

One day, his sword domain will cover the heavens and the earth, and in the blink of an eye, all things will become swords.

That is the true pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Ye Yun sat cross-legged on the covered bridge for seven days and seven nights.

On the seventh day at dusk, he opened his eyes.

The sword intent flickered in his eyes, hinting at the cycle of reincarnation. That image of reincarnation was like an eye, slowly turning deep within the pupil, looking at the past, the present, and the future.

His cultivation level improved once again.

Moreover, he used his own sword energy to refine his body, strengthening his physical body to the limit of human potential.

At this moment, his physical body was no less than that of any martial artist. With a single punch, mountains crumbled and the earth trembled; with a single step, the entire world shook.

But he knew that wasn't enough.

The road ahead is still long.

He suddenly remembered something.

On the seventh day of his enlightenment, he vaguely sensed a murderous intent within the Lizhu Cave.

Ye Yun frowned slightly.

Just as he was about to think it over, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura coming from under the covered bridge. The aura was as vast as the sea, yet as gentle as water.

The swordsman.

She didn't show herself, but Ye Yun knew she had been watching from the shadows.

He turned around, faced the direction of Jianlin, and bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

A faint sword cry echoed from the forest of swords, serving as a response.

Ye Yun straightened up, turned around and walked down the covered bridge.

He should go back to his small town.

There are people he needs to watch over there, and there are causes and effects he needs to deal with.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back.

But Ye Yun knew that the sword intent was still there.

She has always been there.

Ye Yun withdrew his gaze and strode away.