Chapter 1135: Nurturing the Sword
Lin Feng remained silent, acknowledging the old man's words. Both were at the Venerable realm, but the power of the Essence they comprehended varied in strength and could not be compared. Even Essence Crystals of the same grade had completely different values. For instance, the Life Essence Crystal that Feng Xuan had taken out on Nine Dragons Island last time was countless times more precious than ordinary Essence Crystals.
Furthermore, at the same cultivation level, those who had comprehended multiple types of Essence power would naturally surpass those who had only comprehended one type. This was inevitable. Therefore, the gap between Venerables could be even greater.
"Do you know how to define a genius among Venerables?" the old man asked Lin Feng with a smile. At this moment, the old and the young seemed to have forgotten about the Sword Servants and were instead discussing the Dao and resolving doubts here. Lin Feng himself was unconsciously drawn in by the topic. With the old man's guidance, he was naturally willing to listen.
"Naturally, it is those who comprehend powerful Essence and multiple types of Essence who possess greater talent," Lin Feng replied.
"That can be said, but it is not entirely so. The power of Essence is not necessarily better the more you comprehend. You must be able to control it. A genius has a low cultivation level but strong Essence power; an ordinary person has a high cultivation level but weak Essence power. Therefore, when you reach the Venerable realm, even if some people are older but have a lower cultivation level, they cannot be underestimated. There are extraordinary individuals who comprehend Essence for a hundred years without improving their cultivation realm. They remain silent until they make a stunning move."
"For example, I have heard of someone who comprehended the Essence of Life and Death. He attained the Dao in a single morning and sat in meditation for a hundred years. When he emerged, his cultivation was merely at the Second Layer of the Venerable Martial Realm. Everyone looked down on him. However, in a single battle, he effortlessly killed those at the mid-rank Venerable Martial Realm and could even fight those at the high-rank Venerable Martial Realm. This was because he had comprehended the Eighth Layer of Life and Death Essence. With a single thought, he could seize life and death. The moment he made his move, the world was shocked. From then on, his cultivation advanced rapidly, soaring all the way until he proved the Dao and became an Emperor. Nothing could stop him, and he shook the universe. This is what is called a genius!"
A Second Layer Venerable Martial Realm cultivator comprehending the Eighth Layer of Life and Death Essence, making a move that shocks the world with a single strike!
Lin Feng's heart trembled. This kind of person was a monstrous prodigy, a late bloomer. That was probably the term for such a person. Perhaps at that time, many geniuses would have looked down on him, but later they would realize how terrifying he truly was.
"It's a pity that the people of the Sword Pavilion don't understand. They blindly pursue power without analyzing and comprehending the source of that power. Sometimes, it only backfires. They pursue powerful sword techniques, try to forge powerful sword weapons, and even attempt to create Sword Servants, but they do not pursue the essence of the sword. They have gradually strayed from the path of the Skyless Sword Emperor of the past."
The old man shook his head and sighed, his gaze melancholy. "In the past, the Skyless Sword Emperor spent three years sharpening his sword, seven years comprehending the sword, and ten years nurturing the sword. The moment he used his sword, his name shook the world!"
Three years sharpening the sword, seven years comprehending the sword, ten years nurturing the sword. What did this mean?
Seeming to see Lin Feng's confusion, the old man continued, "The Skyless Sword Emperor was a peerless genius. For three years, he extensively read ancient texts, honed his sword techniques and forms, and practiced swordsmanship. After three years, he had mastered countless sword techniques. However, he resolutely chose to abandon the sword. From then on, for seven years, he never held a sword. He only comprehended the sword, comprehended sword techniques, sword forms, and the Sword Dao Will. After seven years, the Sword Emperor took up the sword again, but not to wield it to kill. Instead, he spent ten years nurturing the sword."
"What does nurturing the sword mean?" Lin Feng asked, seeking clarification.
"This brings us back to the starting point, back to the Venerable realm. When you reach the Venerable realm, the path ahead is not wider but narrower. This is because Venerables must rely on comprehension. They must control the power of Essence. Some people have weak comprehension. For example, if they control a common Fire Essence, then when they use attack power of other attributes, its power will be much weaker. You must understand that powerful offensive methods all have their own attribute limitations. If you comprehend Fire Essence, you can only unleash the strongest power by using fire-attribute offensive methods. But if you obtain a life-seizing great technique of another attribute, even if you know it is extremely powerful, you cannot unleash its power."
"On the other hand, those who control several types of Essence power have much fewer limitations and can use more powerful offensive methods."
"Throughout history, among sword cultivators, if one is unparalleled in the sword Dao, they will surely shake the world and make people extremely wary. Therefore, many people fear powerful sword cultivators. However, truly powerful and unparalleled sword cultivators are too rare. In the past five thousand years, only the Skyless Sword Emperor has dominated the Eight Wastelands alone. Although the Sword Pavilion has the shocking sword techniques left by the Skyless Sword Emperor, it has never produced a truly powerful sword cultivator again. In fact, each generation is worse than the last."
"Why can powerful sword cultivators be so terrifying that countless people fear them? Because the sword is the supreme among weapons. You will notice that, unlike other Sacred Artifacts, swords rarely have special Sacred Mark Essence power carved into them to create attacks, such as Devouring Essence power, Sound Wave Essence power, and so on. The sword has no peculiar attributes. It only has its own spirituality. For example, the demonic sword you had earlier possessed a demonic nature."
Lin Feng thought deeply. Indeed, his sword did not have special attack power like other Sacred Artifacts. For instance, the Curse Scepter could cast curses, and the Sky-Sealing Banner could seal the void.
"The sword does not need to be endowed with special attacks. That would be a useless sword," the old man said again. Then, he said to Lin Feng, "Try using this sword!"
Lin Feng's expression stiffened. The sword the old man was pointing at was the Skyless Sword, that peerless divine weapon. The old man was actually asking him to try using that sword.
"Little fellow, go over there!" the old man called out to the Skyless Sword, leaving Lin Feng speechless. Little fellow...
The Skyless Sword hummed, then slowly moved forward, actually coming in front of Lin Feng.
The corner of Lin Feng's mouth twitched slightly. He tremblingly reached out his hand. The sword circled around him, startling Lin Feng so much that he shuddered. Fortunately, the Skyless Sword did not enter his body in the end. Instead, it came before him and slowly descended into his hand. At this moment, a powerful sense of confidence suddenly surged in Lin Feng's heart. Holding this sword, he felt as if he could command all the powerful forces of heaven and earth, as if he was omnipotent.
"So terrifying!" Lin Feng's heart shook violently. This feeling was too marvelous. Moreover, he felt a trace of familiarity with the sword, which should be due to the spirituality of the demonic sword that had been devoured.
"Do you feel as if you are omnipotent, as if you can unleash any terrifying power? Now, try to draw upon the power of Lightning Essence and launch an attack," the old man said with a smile. Lin Feng waved his hand, and instantly, an extremely terrifying bolt of lightning burst forth from the sword. The purple lightning was blinding, causing Lin Feng's heart to twitch slightly. He then abruptly withdrew the sword's momentum.
"So terrifying! I can actually unleash Lightning Essence?" Lin Feng's expression stiffened. He knew very well that this Lightning Essence was not something he had drawn upon.
"Now try using Ice power!" the old man said again. Lin Feng's brows shot up, and a sharp aura burst forth. With a thought, the sword's intent surged. Before the sword even struck, ice spread everywhere, threatening to freeze the Sword Grave.
At this moment, Lin Feng knew there was no need to test further. With a single slash of his sword, he could freeze heaven and earth. This was the power of Ice Essence.
"Do you want to try other Essence powers as well? For example, Space Essence!" The old man's smile grew even richer as he continued speaking to Lin Feng.
"No need," Lin Feng shook his head. He knew that with a single thought, he could trigger a Space Essence attack.
"Do you understand now?" the old man asked.
At this moment, the sword in Lin Feng's hand flew out, leaving his control, causing Lin Feng to smile wryly.
"The sword contains the power of various Essences, so there is no need to forge the sword into a specific type of attack method."
The old man nodded and said, "That's right. Those Sacred Artifacts and the like, although some are very powerful, contain a specific, powerful attack method. But the sword, the supreme among weapons, is different. It can possess various Essence divine abilities, but the prerequisite is that you yourself must be strong enough. That is why powerful sword cultivators are feared."
"The Essence within the sword is not something the sword inherently possesses, is it?" Lin Feng replied. It seemed that the old man in front of him was also a lover of the sword, which was why he held the sword in such high regard, believing it to be the supreme among weapons.
"Therefore, the Skyless Sword Emperor spent ten years nurturing the sword, surpassing the combined time he spent sharpening and comprehending the sword." A hint of heartfelt obsession flashed in the old man's sickly eyes as he said, "Nurturing the sword means nurturing the Essence of the Five Elements of heaven and earth, nurturing Space Essence, nurturing Lightning Essence. Once nurtured, you can wield your sword and unleash countless offensive methods without any restrictions. You can create all kinds of terrifying attacks. As long as you have enough comprehension, eventually, the sword can even nurture the person."
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