Volume One: The Young Man Enters the World Chapter Fifty-Four: The Sword Trial

After eating, Fang Tian closed the door and summoned his consciousness into the space within the sword.

He called for Old Tian, asking him to accompany him in testing the sword.

Old Tian appeared before Fang Tian, and with a nod, signaled that Fang Tian could begin.

Fang Tian gripped the Cold Feather Sword before him, channeling spiritual energy into the blade. At the fractured part, the influx of energy made it glow with a dazzling pale blue light, even brighter than it had been in the Spirit Artifact Pavilion. It was clear that Fang Tian was preparing to unleash his full strength.

“Old Tian, I’m making my move,” Fang Tian said earnestly.

Old Tian swept his robe, calm and unruffled, smiling as he replied, “Go ahead.”

Spiritual energy surged through Fang Tian’s body as he concentrated, pouring more of his power into the sword. The brilliance radiated, filling the surrounding space.

As the blade absorbed more energy, Fang Tian’s body began to actively draw in spiritual power, like a stream flowing, enhancing the might of the Cold Feather Sword.

Energy entered his body, the sword gathered that energy, cycling endlessly.

Old Tian watched, quietly surprised. He realized Fang Tian wasn’t using any of the three moves of the Frost Sword Technique, nor his self-created Flying Snow Drift. This was a completely new sword technique.

“Could it be that little Tian…?” Old Tian murmured.

Fang Tian shouted, “Old Tian, here I come!”

His body and sword became one, the Cold Feather Sword emitting a brilliant blue light, like a bolt of lightning, flashing to Old Tian’s side in an instant.

Old Tian raised his hand to block, effortlessly neutralizing Fang Tian’s full-strength strike.

A moment later, the swirling spiritual energy dissipated. Fang Tian sheathed his sword, somewhat resigned—his all-out attack had been easily deflected.

“Old Tian, even that couldn’t make you take me seriously. It’s truly difficult,” Fang Tian sighed.

“Little Tian, your Cold Feather Sword is excellent. Among the young, you are already very strong,” Old Tian replied with a gentle laugh.

“When will I finally be able to exchange moves with you, Old Tian? It feels like my cultivation is lagging behind; no matter how powerful my techniques and weapons are, their effect is limited,” Fang Tian lamented.

“True, cultivation is a gradual process. Though techniques and weapons come in different grades, their effectiveness always depends on the user’s strength.”

“But they do help. Right now, with the sword’s support, your power is at least at the seventh level of Spirit Gathering Realm.”

“Seventh level…? Old Tian, are you saying I can surpass four levels?” Fang Tian was astonished; he hadn’t expected his strength to have changed so much since leaving Red Leaf Town.

“Yes, little Tian. Judging by the cultivators I’ve observed, at least within the Zhao Dynasty, you can achieve this.”

“So if I can do it, others can as well?”

“Yes, you’ll encounter them as you learn more about this continent.”

“Old Tian, do you mean my situation is common?”

“There are many prodigies like you. The heirs of powerful factions have cultivation talents that are no less than yours.”

“So that’s how it is. In that case, I’m not much after all,” Fang Tian realized his current position.

Though his talent might still count for something in this northern land, once he reached the continent’s center, he’d fall behind others without extra effort.

“Little Tian, a cultivator contends with the heavens and with himself. Your talent is remarkable, but you must devote yourself to cultivation if you wish to become truly powerful.”

“I understand, Old Tian. I will never give up in my quest for strength,” Fang Tian declared firmly.

“That’s good. Little Tian, the technique you used earlier was a new move, wasn’t it?” Old Tian was still curious about Fang Tian’s earlier display.

Fang Tian grinned sheepishly, scratching his head.

“Old Tian, your eyes can’t be deceived. It’s indeed a new move. I fused the three forms of the Frost Sword Technique together. Haven’t thought of a name yet.”

“Remarkable, the younger generation truly surpasses the old!” Old Tian chuckled, then swept his robe and vanished.

After Old Tian left, Fang Tian recalled the move he’d just performed, wanting to try it again, but found his energy nearly depleted—he was powerless to repeat it.

“It seems I can only use that technique in critical moments,” he thought.

His next plan was to find a place to ask about matters beyond the Zhao Dynasty, lest he remain lost and confused.

From Old Tian, he’d learned that in this far north, growing stronger was extremely difficult. The more remote the region, the thinner the spiritual energy, limiting how far one could advance. To break through, he’d have to move ever closer to the continent’s heart.

For now, the spiritual energy in the northern lands was still enough for Fang Tian’s cultivation, but he could feel progress slowing as his level rose; eventually, he’d hit a wall. He couldn’t stay here long—he needed to head somewhere with denser energy.

As for the spiritual energy within the sword’s space, it was identical to that of the outside world.

Old Tian had explained that the sword’s space assimilated with the outside; whatever the spiritual energy was outside, so it was inside. The only difference was the flow of time.

He also told Fang Tian that the true power of the Heavenbane Sword was still beyond his grasp; only upon reaching the Spirit Seed Realm could he begin to wield it, and full mastery required ongoing cultivation.

This dispelled Fang Tian’s hope of becoming a supreme expert just by training within the sword’s space.

Once his spiritual energy had recovered, Fang Tian stopped. Leaving the sword’s space, he saw that night had already fallen outside.

“I didn’t expect to spend so long in the sword,” he remarked.

He lay on his bed, thoughts drifting over recent events, slowly slipping into sleep.

As dawn broke, in a tent north of Wufeng City, Qi Heng looked at several of his subordinates and spoke, “Listen, I called you here to find Deputy Commander Qi Liang for me. He left Wufeng City without informing me and has been gone for too long. Find out where he went and what he’s been doing.”

The subordinates replied in unison, “Yes, Commander!”

“Go, and be quick,” Qi Heng waved them off.

They immediately left the tent and set about investigating Qi Liang’s whereabouts.

After they departed, Qi Heng sat down, took a sip of water, and set the cup aside, gazing at its rim with a vague sense of unease.

A nagging thought that Qi Liang might be in trouble kept surfacing in his mind.

“I hope I’m just overthinking,” Qi Heng muttered to himself.

Meanwhile, Fang Tian woke, tidied himself up, and prepared to seek out a place where he could gather information, and also to explore Wufeng City.

Yesterday, after obtaining the Cold Feather Sword, he’d been preoccupied with testing its power and hadn’t visited any other parts of the city.

He didn’t dawdle, heading straight downstairs and out into the street.