Chapter 205 Trial Completed: Half-a-Step Above the Sword Concept Rank
Chapter 205 Trial Completed: Half-a-Step Above the Sword Concept Rank
"I guess it's time for this technique of mine to make its debut," Arthur smirked.
In response, Arthur released a vibrant five-colored flame.
"What is that?" The girl questioned as she sensed danger from the flame.
Arthur stared at the girl with pointed ears, ready for her response to his multicolored flame.
The forest around them seemed to hold its breath in anticipation.
"You've got some tricks, I see," she said, her tone shifting from arrogance to genuine surprise. "But let's see how well you fare against this!"
With a flick of her wrist, the girl summoned another horde of spirit beasts, each formed from intricate runes.
The forest floor trembled as the multitude of creatures advanced towards Arthur.
Arthur took a deep breath, focusing his energy.
The Five Elemental Concept surged within him, and he brought his palms together, weaving the elemental powers into a compressed, swirling fireball.
'Fire, Wind, Wood, Metal, Ice concepts... fuse!'
A terrifying aura emanated from the compressed five-colored flame.
"Let's end this," Arthur muttered to himself.
The five-colored fireball shot forth like a comet, streaking across the forest.
*Kaboom!*
Upon impact, it exploded in a burst of radiant energy, consuming the spirit beasts in a dazzling display.
*Swoosh!*
The shockwave echoed through the trees, leaving behind only a scorched crater where the once-formidable array of spirit beasts had stood.
The vibrant flames danced triumphantly, casting an ethereal glow across the battlefield.
The girl, initially confident, stood in awe of the aftermath. "Impressive," she admitted, a begrudging respect in her eyes.
"You're not so weak, it seems."
Arthur, couldn't help but smile.
"Well, I am happy to entertain you. Let's continue."
She shook her head, "No need, you are qualified to proceed."
"Wait, that's it?" Arthur was surprised.
"You're not going to attack back?"
Her demeanor shifted, a subtle melancholy entering her gaze.
"This spirit body of mine isn't what it used to be. I can't unleash much power. There are still matters I need to attend to, and I'll be seeing you soon, Arthur."
Before he could respond, the scenery around Arthur transformed.
The vast forest vanished, replaced by a stage floating above a serene lake, surrounded by four imposing mountains.
"Well, that was fast," he commented as he didn't hear the regular, 'Do you wish to continue,' words from the guardian.
'I guess he got impatient or something,' Arthur thought.
*Swish!*
A young man appears on the stage seated cross-legged with a sword resting on his lap.
'A sword practitioner?' Arthur thought.
The man's eyes were concealed by a blindfold.
He spoke with a calm assurance. "I'm glad someone has finally reached this level.I sense the aura of a sword on you."
"Let us battle with our swords. Let me see what kind of swordsman you are."
Arthur tightened his grip on his sword, the resonance of the sword spirit within him intensifying.
The blindfolded swordsman unsheathed his blade, a profound aura emanating from him.
Without further words, they engaged.
The clash of swords echoed across the tranquil lake as Arthur unleashed a torrent of sword strikes.
The blindfolded swordsman, however, moved with a grace that defied his lack of sight, countering each attack with precise elegance.
The battle reached a crescendo as both warriors prepared for their ultimate moves.
Arthur gathered his energy, the power of his sword physique was activated, its power coursing through him.
In a swift motion, he unleashed a devastating sword technique, the blade carrying the weight of his determination.
The blindfolded swordsman responded in kind, a whirlwind of sword energy converging into a singular, powerful strike.
The collision sent shockwaves across the lake, creating ripples that distorted the reflection of the mountains.
As the echoes of their clash faded, Arthur and the blindfolded swordsman stood, locked in a tense standoff.
The blindfolded swordsman broke the silence. "You've got potential, young man. Now that the warm up is over, let's end this in one move. What do you say?"
"I agree," Arthur nodded.
This opponent gave him a sense of danger.
'The way he moves his sword is like an extension of himself. He must have achieved man and sword as one.'
That was the dream of all swordsmen.
'I should be able to achieve that level soon,' Arthur thought confidently.
He hadn't made time to practice the sword much but he had a special sword physique that was the best for mastering the Sword Dao!
At this time Arthur released his Sword Martial Spirit.
*Boom!*
A purple-gold light shot into the sky and the blindfolded swordsman's eyebrows raised in disbelief as Arthur summoned his Astral Martial Spirit.
The Heavenly Dao Sword Astral Soul.
The ethereal sword materialized, its brilliance illuminating the battleground.
The swordsman, in shock, stammered, "An Astral Soul at this level? Impossible!"
Arthur held the Heavenly Dao Sword Astral Soul with unwavering confidence.
Unlike conventional Martial Spirits that served as boosts, Astral Souls could be directly used in battle and were typically associated with immortals.
The swordsman, recognizing the profound power before him, summoned his own martial spirit—a vibrant green sword.
Arthur noticed that the martial spirit had no indication of its rank.
"An unranked Martial Spirit?" He asked.
"Not unranked, I just destroyed its rank," the swordsman smiled.
"Why?" Arthur asked curiously even though he couldn't understand how a man can destroy the rank of his martial spirit.
Although he can increase his martial Spirit rank and Sun Wukong's Martial Spirit increases in rank as he grows stronger, directly destroying a martial spirit's rank is another matter all together.
The swordsman fused his martial spirit with his physical sword, amplifying his strength.
He spoke with determination, "I'll use greater strength than planned. You've proven to be strong enough for that technique."
Arthur nodded, preparing for the imminent clash.
He held the astral sword on his hand and unleashed the Heaven Severing Sword Technique which he had modified.
Then a devastating technique that cut through the air like a divine force was released.
The swordsman responded with his own formidable technique.
"Pure Sword Light!"
The clash between the two swordsmen generated shockwaves that reverberated through the landscape.
*Boom!*
The sheer force of their attacks split the serene lake beneath them into two, and the mountains in the background suffered the same fate.
A terrifying sword intent kept the lake split, and unable to return to normal.
As the energy of their collision settled, the swordsman looked at the damage done to this spirit body.
He was already vanishing!
Meanwhile, Arthur remained unharmed.
The swordsman, upon seeing the signs of damage, acknowledged Arthur's strength. "You wield a powerful sword, don't let it down. I miscalculated. You have already reached half a step above sword concept."
With that, the swordsman vanished into thin air, leaving Arthur standing amidst the aftermath of their intense clash.
The lake remained permanently divided, serving as a testament to the power unleashed in that single, decisive move.
"It was actually this battle that helped me breakthrough," Arthur whispered.
'But you forgot to tell me what kind of swordsman you think I am,' Arthur thought.
*Swish!* Nôv(el)B\\jnn
In the blink of an eye, Arthur found himself in a grand hall, facing the Guardian.
The Guardian's expression, usually stoic, now holds a hint of solemnity.