After staring fixedly at Zong Shou for a long moment, the master of the giant blade let out a cold snort, "However, you do have some discernment. You haven't misled me with empty words; my blade intent is indeed too heavy-handed."

Zong Shou secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had temporarily passed the test. Compliments weren't easily given, and sometimes the truth was better spoken.

Then he heard the man speak again, his expression turning slightly dejected. "I, Lei Dong, comprehended blade intent at twenty. I was hailed as the number one genius blade master in the Central Cloud Continent. By twenty-five, I had reached the Heaven Rank, leaving all sects and factions utterly astonished. I was the first in a thousand years, boasting my blade mastery surpassed all heroes. Yet, after another decade of arduous cultivation, my blade skills have regressed instead of advanced! My Mountain and River Blade Intent is inferior to when I first grasped it. In three years, I am scheduled to have a decisive duel with that person. What am I to do? I have already visited a hundred famous mountains and scenic waters. Looking at more places is likely useless. Am I, Old Lei, destined to be self-sequestered for fifty years, never to emerge again? No, rather than wait for three years only to be humiliated in front of so many people, I might as well end my own life now."

The man spoke without seeming aware of his boasting. The more he spoke, the sadder and more dejected he became.

Zong Shou had planned to remain silent, thinking this man was named Lei Dong, whom he had also never heard of. The heroes of the Divine Emperor era—just in the Cloud Realm—numbered over a hundred recognizable names; how could he possibly remember them all?

However, as the giant blade master sighed, the surrounding vital energy became unstable. This turbulence agitated the blood and energy within Zong Shou, causing his spiritual energy to surge erratically.

A Heaven Rank expert's every breath could influence heaven and earth. At this moment, just a few sighs and a slight loss of control over his aura were almost too much for Zong Shou to bear.

With a swift thought, Zong Shou decided to divert the man's attention. After a brief pause, he shook his head and spoke, "Since you recognize that your blade intent is too heavy-handed, then find a way to change it! What good is self-pity?"

"Change?"

Lei Dong looked up at him, then let out a short, mirthless laugh. "Easier said than done! You see the mountain as a mountain, and the water as water. I see the mountain as not a mountain, and the water as not water. How can I change it? What can you, a mere Martial Master, possibly know?"

So that was it! Zong Shou’s lips instantly curled up slightly. He understood that this man had encountered a martial arts bottleneck. And if he wasn't mistaken, this fellow was likely a recluse.

Ordinary martial cultivators naturally see the mountain as a mountain and the water as water. But at Lei Dong's level, the mountains and waters in his sight carried certain inherent Laws; he could already perceive what lay beneath the surface appearance. This perception was causing his Mountain and River Blade Intent to become abnormal and regress.

If he were a disciple of a major sect, he would easily cross this hurdle with guidance from his master. But Lei Dong was stuck at this step, unable to make any progress.

He paused slightly, seeming about to speak but holding back. Although he possessed the vast martial experience of his previous life, revealing too much would only invite jealousy. The incident at the Lingyun Sect was due to being blinded by anger, and in front of Zhao Yanran, it was unavoidable.

But when he thought about the beast crystal this man had gifted him earlier, someone capable of comprehending such magnificent mountain and river ideals could not be a person of deep scheming or narrow-mindedness.

Zong Shou still offered a helpless smile. Forget it; he would gamble on Lei Dong's character and offer guidance just this once, considering it a way to forge a good connection. Besides, this particular obfuscation would likely only take this fellow a few years to unravel anyway.

"How do you know I don't understand? I don't know why you see the mountain as not a mountain and the water as not water. But in my eyes, the mountain is still a mountain, and the water is still water; there is no change!"

Lei Dong frowned slightly, a mocking look in his eyes. He wondered if he had gone mad, discussing such things with a fourth-rank Martial Master under the age of thirteen.

What could a half-demon child, even one skilled in the sword, possibly comprehend about such profound martial arts?

Yet, Zong Shou suddenly walked toward the massive stone inscribed with the two blade marks. He drew his Pine Pattern Wind Sword, swung it out, and slashed next to the existing marks.

The giant stone was hard. Where the sword light flashed, sparks erupted, leaving only a few white scratches. Zong Shou was not discouraged; he continued to hack at the stone with his sword.

Lei Dong initially watched, finding it amusing, like watching an ant trying to lift a grain of rice several dozen times its own weight.

Gradually, his gaze grew heavy. He sat up straight, composed himself solemnly, and stared at Zong Shou. He felt that every single movement the youth made held profound meaning.

Even Yin Yang, struggling in the distance, stopped resisting and watched the rock intently. His eyes were filled with alternating shock and suspicion, sensing vaguely that Zong Shou was guiding the giant blade master. But how was that possible?

And then, the sword light would suddenly become heavy as a mountain, then flow like water, the magnificent aura it exuded seeming almost identical to his own Mountain and River Blade Intent.

He continued to carve the stone with his sword until he had etched a shallow mark on the giant rock. Only when Zong Shou’s sword was completely ruined did he turn back and smile.

"Your martial path must have reached a certain realm. As a mere Martial Master, I cannot guide a Heaven Rank Martial Venerable. However, I know that everything has an inner aspect and an outer appearance. Therefore, one must clarify the heart and see the true nature, remaining still, unswayed by internal or external forms. With the heart not dwelling anywhere, the heart gives rise to itself. What is mountain? What is water? All is natural when the true heart remains unmoved. Do you agree?"

Lei Dong stood frozen on the spot. He remained motionless for a long moment, and then the heaven and earth spiritual energy began to surge uncontrollably again. Gale-force winds swept out, stirring up dust and gravel within a hundred feet.

The nearby great river was even pressed aside by the immense force, diverting its flow.

Zong Shou secretly groaned. Luckily, he had been prepared and leaped away early, arriving three hundred feet away near Yin Yang.

A few breaths later, Lei Dong let out a deafening, wild laugh.

"Indeed! Everything should be natural. Even if one can see the inherent face of all things, what of it? My heart dwelled upon something, so I saw the mountain as a mountain and the water as water!"

He suddenly beckoned, and the ten-foot-long blade buzzed excitedly and flew into Lei Dong's hand.

"What use is looking at this damn mountain and damn water? It wasted two whole years of Old Lei's time!"

He abruptly unleashed a slash. A blade light stretching over a hundred feet ripped through the air, instantly crossing a hundred miles.

A distant 'boom' echoed, and a massive scar was carved into Mount Mingjing.

Then came another slash, casually aimed at the ground. Immediately, the great river was cut off, and the waterfall reversed its flow.

The few servants nearby were fine, seemingly accustomed to this. But Su Chuxue behind them turned deathly pale, staring blankly at the scene.

Was this the might of the Heaven Rank?

Yin Yang's breath hitched. Then, in the next instant, an even more powerful aura erupted. The surrounding spiritual energy also formed a small vortex, subtly resisting the overwhelmingly powerful intent that was sweeping over them.

Zong Shou was unsurprised. He knew Yin Yang had been on the verge of a breakthrough. After being suppressed for so long and then stimulated by that blade light, advancing to the Innate realm was a natural progression. However, he felt no joy at this moment; he covered his face with both hands, feeling too ashamed to face anyone.

After ten thousand years, Mount Mingjing and Luoyun Waterfall—one of the East Lin Cloud Continent's most famous sacred sites for mountain and water scenery—was indirectly ruined by him. If he had known this, he would never have said a single word, even if it cost him his life.

Lei Dong vented for a short while, then laughed several times, all traces of dejection gone. He turned back, first glancing at Yin Yang with a hint of admiration on his face.

"To actually break through to the Innate realm at a time like this! Truly excellent potential and good fortune! Your foundation is deep; even though you are older, future cultivation will not be hindered."

Then, he deliberately bypassed Yin Yang and looked back at Zong Shou, his expression exceptionally complicated. He then let out a long breath. "That mad girl this time was not mistaken. You have indeed achieved Spirit-Awareness of the Sword Intent! Although your Sword Intent has not fully formed, you have grasped the essence of the martial dao. Little brother, may I know your name and origin?"

Zong Shou frowned slightly, then bowed deeply with solemnity, re-presenting himself. "I am Zong Shou, heir of Mount Qiantian. I pay my respects, Senior!"

PS: I've been reprimanded in the review section for slow updates, so I apologize here. However, my current reserves of written drafts are depleted, and even writing four thousand characters a day is strenuous. If you have read my previous books, you will know that Pioneering Wilderness strives for improvement with every book, always attempting to write a story surpassing the last. I know I am not a genius writer; I can only improve bit by bit through effort. I haven't adapted yet, but things should speed up later, perhaps? Like Jun Lin, it started slow, but the pace picked up later. In short, there is absolutely no intention of stringing readers along. As for whether this book will sell... hehe, we shall see. C