The first form of the Jade Clear Sword Technique: Frost Blossom, consumes one year of Tian Sui.
The second form of the Jade Clear Sword Technique: Controlling the Sword with Thought, consumes five years of Tian Sui.
This was the level Gu Wen had previously reached, generally used only for defense and to strike down enemies much weaker than oneself.
The greatest limitation of the Heart Sword is its enormous consumption, making it unsuitable as a conventional means of combat; its greatest advantage, however, is its difficulty to defend against.
With Gu Wen's current strength, he was not afraid of armies and could handle heavy armored formations.
But in terms of killing efficiency, the Zhao Lie Spear could not compare to the Heart Sword, as heavy armor also had a certain defensive capability against spear qi.
A casual thrust could break through, but a thread of spear qi was difficult to penetrate fine iron.
The Heart Sword does not exist in the material realm; beneath one sword, all is illusion.
Gu Wen had just broken through to the second level of the Jade Clear Sword Technique.
According to the military's classification of weapon techniques, the first three levels pertain to sword techniques and sword qi, focusing on the application and refinement of the Heart Sword.
Starting from the fourth level, one enters the realm of imagery, further advancing to the divine, and then to the Dharma form.
Cultivation may take different paths, but ultimately, all sects and schools pursue the profound principles of the Dao, with the transformation of inanimate into animate being the most mysterious.
Endowing one's own Dao with spirituality, transforming decay into the miraculous—this is the essence of intention, spirit, and form.
The third form of the Jade Clear Sword Technique: Condensing the Heart into a Sword, with no sword in hand, using the heart as the sword.
This allows one to condense sword intent into a sword, avoiding the predicament of being unarmed, consuming ten years of Tian Sui.
The fourth form of the Jade Clear Sword Technique: Jade Clear Sword Intent.
Based on the already sword-like Heart Sword, it further refines into sword intent, with power exceeding three times that of the previous forms, sufficient to injure those at the sixth level of Dao Foundation, consuming twenty years of Tian Sui.
Originally intended to enhance the Dao Foundation with thirty-two years of Tian Sui, it was suddenly consumed down to only two years of Tian Sui.
For Gu Wen, this was a necessary expenditure; if the True Lords all took action, then there would be no more for him, nor any time for his growth.
This was about securing the soil for his survival and development, and thirty-two years of Tian Sui was insufficient to break through to the fourth level of Dao Foundation, with a long way to go before perfection.
"Is this... sword intent?"
Ao Tang's gaze was astonished; he keenly sensed the trace of white in Gu Wen's eyes, belonging to the sword intent of the Jade Clear Sword Technique.
"When did you master the Jade Clear Sword Intent?"
Gu Wen nodded and said, "I fortuitously broke through a few days ago."
He did not mention how his sword techniques were, so the time he claimed was naturally a casual fabrication.
"Is it really true?" Ao Tang took two steps forward, still somewhat incredulous, "You usually cultivate both Dao Foundation and spear techniques, as well as sword techniques. Learning so many things is already a sign of genius; if you excel in two, you are a prodigy. How could you possibly have sword intent?"
Gu Wen replied without a blush or a racing heart, "This is talent! Otherwise, how could I compete with those sect prodigies? They have cultivated for decades or even centuries, while I have only been at it for a short time?"
All cultivation methods ultimately revolve around comprehension; the vast majority of cultivation follows the paths laid down by predecessors, with some moving quickly and others slowly.
Gu Wen felt that there was nothing wrong with moving a bit faster.
After all, others had been cultivating on the mountain since childhood, emerging from millions to become cultivators, then from tens of thousands to become geniuses, and finally from hundreds to thousands of geniuses to emerge as prodigies.
Isn't my fate my own?
I am fate, and fate is me.
If Gu Wen had no talent at all, or if his talent were extremely poor, then the Tian Sui required might be in the hundreds or thousands.
Beside him, Yu Hua was slightly stunned for a moment, then felt there was no issue, saying, "I heard that Xiao Yunyi comprehended sword intent in just a month while practicing the Qing Liu Sword Technique at Broken Sword Mountain. You have been cultivating for half a year; comprehending sword intent is quite normal."
No, how is this normal?
Ao Tang said quietly, "Others only practice the sword, while you have too many things to learn."
A person's energy is limited, and one's talent should also be limited.
"A mediocre person may spend their entire life unable to touch sword intent, while a prodigy can comprehend it in a month. Why can't Gu Wen achieve sword intent in his spare time?"
Yu Hua paused, then looked at Ao Tang, her voice slowing as she said, "Guardian, you are only at the eighth level of Dao Foundation, and yet you compare yourself to him. Isn't that self-deception?"
"Ah!"
Ao Tang gasped, retreating two steps as if two knives had pierced its heart of Dao.
It wanted to refute something; Gu Wen's displayed talent was truly beyond its comprehension.
But upon reconsideration, if Gu Wen were viewed as the 'future sect master,' everything seemed to make a bit of sense.
However, Yu Hua's words were too hurtful, making it difficult for this old thing to accept in an instant.
Yu Hua ignored the heart of Dao that was shattered in Ao Tang, turning to Gu Wen and saying, "This matter will be left to you; I will provide you with all the assistance you need."
"I need pills that can accelerate the cultivation of Dao Foundation, the more the better."
Gu Wen looked inward at his fate and learned that the fifth level of the Jade Clear Sword Technique, Sword Intent Frost Blossom, required forty years of Tian Sui.
The content of the scripture was intricate, ultimately resulting in a power that was double that of the fourth level.
He predicted based on his own combat experience, using the power of the Zhao Lie Dharma form as a comparison.
It could likely slay ordinary sixth level Dao Foundation experts, capable of cleaving a heavy armored soldier in half.
A full-powered sword could reach five zhang, slaying all within five zhang of the soul.
The consumption was three times that of the Zhao Lie Spear, while its power was only one-third of the Zhao Lie Spear, but the efficiency of slaughtering mortal armies was extremely high.
Further down, the sixth level of the Jade Clear Sword Technique, Jade Clear Sword God, required eighty years of Tian Sui.
The seventh level, Jade Sword Dharma Form, required one hundred sixty years of Tian Sui.
The eighth level, Jade Sword Extreme, required three hundred twenty years of Tian Sui.
The ninth level pertains to Dharma powers, which Yu Hua did not give herself, as she had not learned it either.
Dharma powers do not have specific cultivation methods; one can only comprehend them through remnants of Dao rhythms.
Gu Wen needed to reach the seventh level of the Jade Clear Sword Technique to condense the Jade Sword Dharma Form to ascend Tian Quan Mountain.
There was a gap of three levels in between, requiring a total of two hundred eighty years of Tian Sui to cross from the fourth to the seventh level.
This was eighty years more than condensing the Primordial True Spirit's Yuan Shen, and following a step-by-step cultivation approach would not suffice.
The only way was to seize that thousand jin of spiritual material.
"Guardian, give all the pills that can accelerate Dao Foundation cultivation to Gu Wen."
Yu Hua did not hesitate at all; regarding the Immortal Medicine, although Ao Tang's heart was in agony, it still emptied its entire savings.
It advised, "The spiritual materials from the Immortal Land are special and can indeed accelerate cultivation, but don't take too much at once to avoid a shaky foundation."
"I understand."
Gu Wen simply weighed it a bit; the pills Ao Tang provided weighed a full jin.
If they were all the size of Longhu Pills, there should be thirty of them.
Moreover, the pills Yu Hua had previously taken out were at least worth one year of Tian Sui; the Sanqing Dao Sect had prepared only top-quality pills for her.
Ao Tang sighed, "All my gains from this trip have been invested; you must not drop the ball. If you fail, you can only force your way through. Flattening the Tian Quan Mountain Sword Pool is no less than killing the Dao Lord Emperor."
It could only lament its ill fortune, as if seeking the Immortal Medicine would incur heavenly wrath.
From the Dao Lord Emperor learning of the Immortal Medicine's whereabouts and annihilating the Gu family, to the Gu family's descendants rising and returning to orthodoxy, things had never gone according to the Dao Sect's plans; they never got what they wished for.
Now, the Immortal Medicine might be in the Sword Washing Pool, and judging by the surrounding phenomena, it was highly likely.
Although only the Di Ting could ascertain the Immortal Medicine's location, it did not mean that only Yu Hua could obtain it.
Even if it was just a possibility, they had to go in.
"After this expenditure, others will undoubtedly take action... sigh!"
"Will my friend die?"
Gu Wen slightly raised his head; he knew Yu Hua would shorten her lifespan, but it seemed that the implication was that if Yu Hua acted this time, she would die.
Yu Hua shook her head and replied, "No, I will only fall into weakness. You need not feel pressured, for this is not your burden to bear. Regardless of the outcome, the Dao Sect will ultimately protect you. Even without me, your talent is sufficient for the Dao Sect to safeguard you."
Weakness meant being besieged; the current peace was built upon Yu Hua's deterrence.
Gu Wen's expression darkened slightly, but he said nothing; aside from successfully ascending the mountain, it was indeed not within his responsibility.
But with all the True Lords taking action, could he still gather the fate required?
Fortunately, he was not entirely without opportunities to turn the tide—enhance his strength, seize the thousand jin of spiritual material, and ultimately ascend the mountain.
(End of Chapter)