# Chapter 657: Three Powerful Sword Intents
The Divine Marks could automatically conceal themselves, making it impossible even for Saints to discover them.
Just how high was the White-Haired Old Daoist's cultivation? How could he see the Divine Marks and also determine that Zhang Ruochen had triggered four divine resonances?
If he could see through the Divine Marks, could he also see through Zhang Ruochen's true appearance?
Zhang Ruochen was extremely nervous, though his face still appeared calm and composed.
The White-Haired Old Daoist turned around and waved his hand, saying, "Lin Yue, since you have obtained three sword intents, whether they belong to the three founding ancestors or not, you must make good use of them. Withdraw now! Prepare well for the upcoming sword dao competition. If you have time, you can try to explore the Ancient God Mountain. There, you should be able to gain some benefits."
Hearing the White-Haired Old Daoist call him "Lin Yue," Zhang Ruochen immediately relaxed, knowing that the other party would not make things difficult for him.
But... why didn't the White-Haired Old Daoist expose him on the spot?
Could it be that the White-Haired Old Daoist trusted him so much that he didn't suspect he was an infiltrator from the Black Market or the Demon Sect?
Zhang Ruochen was puzzled, his mood mixed with various emotions. He walked out of the Upper Clarity Palace and followed a tree-lined path toward the direction of the Purple Cloud Spirit Mountain.
He thought to himself: "The Liangyi Sect truly hides dragons and crouching tigers. With my current transformation technique, I can fool Half-Saints and Saints, but I cannot deceive some ancient monsters with heaven-defying cultivation. I must continue cultivating the Formless Formless Thirty-Six Transformations and cultivate the First Transformation to the Great Perfection stage to ensure I leave no flaws at all."
When Zhang Ruochen returned to Purple Cloud Spirit Mountain, Xun Hualiu, ignoring his injuries, was waiting outside the courtyard where he lived.
Beside Xun Hualiu stood a rather obese young man. His round belly seemed ready to burst through his Daoist robe.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at him. He could roughly guess that this person was Mu Jiji, "Fatty Mu," one of the Three Swordsmen of Passion. Xun Hualiu had mentioned his name in front of Zhang Ruochen.
Xun Hualiu's expression was very serious. "Brother Lin, I heard you signed up for the sword dao competition of the Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation?"
The Three Swordsmen of Passion had once made an oath: whoever had the highest cultivation would be the boss.
Previously, Mu Jiji was the first to break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm, so he was the boss.
But now it was different. Lin Yue could even defeat a Saint-Transmitted Disciple of the Fish-Dragon Third Transformation, so his cultivation naturally surpassed Mu Jiji, who was at the Fish-Dragon First Transformation, making him the true boss of the three.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "That's right."
Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji exchanged glances, both seeing the bitter smiles on each other's faces.
Although they knew Lin Yue's current cultivation was powerful, they didn't think he was strong enough to defeat a cultivator of the Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation.
But now that Lin Yue was the boss, they didn't dare say much.
Zhang Ruochen led the two into the courtyard, entered a study, and sat down. His gaze fixed on Xun Hualiu. "I made a bet with Gai Hao. If you lose to Pang Long in the sword dao competition, I'll lose a Sacred Sword to him."
"Pfft!"
Xun Hualiu had just sat down and taken a sip of tea when Zhang Ruochen's words startled him. He spat out all the tea, spraying it all over Fatty Mu's face.
"Cough, cough! Brother Lin, Boss Lin, don't joke like that, okay? How could I possibly defeat Pang Long? And you're betting a Sacred Sword? That's too risky! If you really have so many treasures, why not give the Sacred Sword to Junior Sister Han Qiu? That might just win her heart." Xun Hualiu said with a mournful face.
Mu Jiji also felt that Lin Yue's approach was too crazy. "Boss Lin, although Xun Hualiu and Pang Long are both at the Fish-Dragon First Transformation, the gap between them is not small at all. Betting a Sacred Sword would just be giving Gai Hao an easy win, wouldn't it?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "I'm doing this because I have a certain degree of confidence. Now, there's still about a month until the sword dao competition. As long as Xun Hualiu's cultivation can break through to the Fish-Dragon Second Transformation, defeating Pang Long won't be difficult."
"Making a Fish-Dragon First Transformation cultivator break through to the Fish-Dragon Second Transformation in one month is simply impossible." Mu Jiji immediately shook his head.
Zhang Ruochen's lips curled slightly, and he tapped his fingers on the table. "If you were complete strangers, I naturally wouldn't force you. But since we can meet, it's a kind of fate. I'm just giving you an opportunity now. How you choose is still up to you."
Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji both felt that Boss Lin's words seemed to carry another meaning.
Meeting is fate? Isn't that just nonsense?
After thinking for about a quarter of an hour, Xun Hualiu was the first to make up his mind. "I'll say it again: as long as I can break through to the Fish-Dragon Second Transformation before the sword dao competition, I'll do whatever you ask. I'll risk my life to help you win the bet."
Mu Jiji laughed. "In that case, the Three Swordsmen of Passion can't be without me."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Good. Since you've made up your minds, I'll do my best to help you. The fact that you could cultivate to the Fish-Dragon Realm at such a young age shows that your foundations aren't bad. On the contrary, you're more outstanding than many so-called geniuses. As long as you can achieve three things, defeating Pang Long won't be difficult."
Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji asked in unison, "Which three things?"
"First, improve your physique. You must at least cultivate a type of precious body."
"Second, change your cultivation technique. You must at least cultivate a King-rank technique."
"Third, temper your will. You can no longer indulge too much in women and lust."
"I've already prepared the Five Elements Spiritual Treasure, 'Black Water Liuli Crystal,' for you. As long as you can refine it, it will be equivalent to ten years of bitter cultivation, and you can also cultivate the Water Spirit Precious Body."
"I've also prepared a King-rank technique for you. You just need to convert from your current cultivation technique."
"As for supervising your cultivation and helping you temper your will, I've also found a teacher for you. Xiao Hei, I'll leave them to you from now on."
Xiao Hei?
Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji both looked toward the door, wanting to know what kind of divine being Boss Lin had invited.
A lazy voice sounded in the hall: "Isn't it just making them break through to the Fish-Dragon Second Transformation in a month? For this Emperor, it's completely unchallenging."
The two withdrew their gazes and stared at the table nearby, their eyes wide with surprise. They found that the one speaking was the black fat cat lying on the table.
What ability could a cat have?
Xiao Hei didn't waste words. With a kick of his legs, he shot out like a black streak of light, striking Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji each with lightning speed.
The two screamed, crashed through the wall, and rolled out into the courtyard.
"This Emperor has sealed the meridians of you two. From now on, each of you will carry a hundred thousand jin of weight and run twenty laps around Purple Cloud Spirit Mountain first."
Xiao Hei rushed out, stood on the steps, and roared fiercely.
"A fat cat dares to ambush your Flower Lord... ah..."
Xun Hualiu seemed to want to resist, but Xiao Hei slapped him flying with a claw. He spun seven hundred and twenty degrees in the air before crashing to the ground with a thud.
Outside, a series of beating sounds rang out, along with the miserable cries of Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji. In the end, it completely turned into the two begging for mercy.
Zhang Ruochen had confidence in Xiao Hei's abilities. After leaving the Black Water Liuli Crystal and two technique manuals, he took out the Cosmic Divine Wood Map and entered the Scroll World.
"What is the origin of these three sword intents?"
Sitting beneath the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, Zhang Ruochen placed his hands on his knees, withdrew his spiritual power completely, and sank it into his Qi Sea, beginning to investigate the three sword intents.
The three sword intents had transformed into three surging currents, shuttling through his Qi Sea, revolving around his Sword Intent Heart.
Each current was about thirty to forty li long and a hundred meters wide, like a great river.
"Such profound sword intent."
Zhang Ruochen carefully controlled his Sword Intent Heart, turning it into the form of a small figure, trying to absorb the three massive currents.
But his Sword Intent Heart was too weak compared to the three sword intents. Instead, it was sent flying by the impact of one of the sword intent currents.
Although his Sword Intent Heart had been struck by the sword intent current, Zhang Ruochen discovered that it had only suffered minor damage.
On the contrary, at that moment, a flash of inspiration appeared in his mind. The sword dao obstacles he had previously been unable to understand gradually became clear.
Zhang Ruochen observed carefully and discovered a phenomenon that surprised him greatly.
Just now, when his Sword Intent Heart was struck by the sword intent current, it developed tiny cracks. Those cracks were actually absorbing the sword intent current to repair the damaged Sword Intent Heart.
"I understand! The three sword intent currents are like three teachers. As long as I'm not afraid of hardship and don't fear being struck by the currents, I can learn the sword dao knowledge within the sword intent currents."
The three sword intent currents were not only teaching Zhang Ruochen sword dao knowledge but also tempering his Sword Intent Heart, making it stronger and purer.
With only a month until the sword dao competition, Zhang Ruochen's time was relatively tight. So, he used his powerful spiritual power to start multitasking.
On one hand, he controlled his Sword Intent Heart to learn sword dao from the three sword intent currents.
At the same time, he took the Black Tortoise Sacred Blood, refining the blood qi and sacred qi within it to improve his cultivation realm.
Time flew by quickly. In the Scroll World, two months soon passed.
Zhang Ruochen refined one drop of Black Tortoise Sacred Blood, raising his cultivation to the middle stage of the Fish-Dragon Fourth Transformation, and cultivated Sword One to the fifth layer.
...
Another two months passed.
Zhang Ruochen refined the second drop of Black Tortoise Sacred Blood, further improving his cultivation to the late stage of the Fish-Dragon Fourth Transformation, and cultivated Sword One to the sixth layer.
...
Another two months passed.
Zhang Ruochen refined the third drop of Black Tortoise Sacred Blood, raising his cultivation to the peak of the Fish-Dragon Fourth Transformation, and cultivated Sword One to the seventh layer.
(To be continued.)