Sword aura differs somewhat from sword intent.
Sword intent starts with one’s own will, forming a barrier of intent that enhances a sword’s power, a kind of innate talent.
Sword aura, however, involves infusing power into the sword while absorbing the momentum of heaven and earth.
Momentum is like an object: if placed half a foot from the ground and dropped, it causes little impact upon hitting the earth.
But if that same object is dropped from high in the sky, its fall creates a tremendous impact.
The same object, without any additional human force, produces different levels of power. This is borrowing the natural momentum of heaven and earth, the momentum of gravity.
Sword aura is just that, incorporating the momentum of heaven and earth, allowing attacks to surpass one’s own exerted strength.
This is a form of harnessing the way of heaven and earth, something touched upon by higher realms of cultivation, rarely comprehended at this stage.
Even before striking, sword aura creates immense pressure, like a heavy object hanging above one’s head.
“Sword aura, Jian Wuqu has actually comprehended sword aura!” Zi Gong exclaimed in shock.
The Zi family members were stunned; they had no idea Jian Wuqu had mastered sword aura. In his earlier fight with Zi Hui, he hadn’t even used it.
“Worth of a super sect’s genius, this Jian Wuqu is truly remarkable,” Lin Xiao thought, marvelling at Jian Wuqu’s increasingly powerful sword aura.
But marvel or not, he still intended to kill!
Even if Jian Wuqu had comprehended sword aura and possessed great strength, it couldn’t deter his fighting spirit.
In a critical life-and-death duel, there was no room for fear or distraction.
He had never feared any opponent!
“Thunder Three Forms!”
With a silent resolve, Lin Xiao activated the third form of Thunder Three Forms. Holding his sword aloft, his aura surged skyward.
Instantly, dark clouds churned, waves roared, and rolling black clouds surged from all directions, darkening the heavens.
Terrifying pressure poured from the rolling black clouds, enveloping the entire martial arena.
The Zi family members were shocked, some trembling. The black clouds seemed to contain world-destroying energy.
Even Jian Wuqu, brewing his sword aura, was stunned. Lin Xiao had another powerful attack?
“Faint Heavenly Thunder, I am its master!”
Lin Xiao’s long hair whipped about, his aura towering. With a thunderous shout, a deafening roar exploded from the black clouds. Rolling thunder poured from the sky, rushing into the sword in his hand and surging into his body.
“What, drawing heavenly thunder into his body?”
Everyone was horrified, including Zi Gong and the Zi family elders, who were deeply shocked.
Heavenly thunder was a form of celestial energy. Lin Xiao, a youth not yet twenty, could summon it and channel it into his body for his own use?
If any of the young cultivators present were struck by this thunder, they’d likely be reduced to ashes.
Just how strong was Lin Xiao’s physical body?
Even Zi Jinchen and others who had seen Lin Xiao fight on the stage were stunned. Clearly, Lin Xiao hadn’t revealed all his talents back then.
His trump cards were each more formidable than the last.
“Thunder Judgment!”
With a booming shout, Lin Xiao swung his sword downward. A deafening thunderclap rang out, and rolling heavenly thunder, like a raging river, surged toward Jian Wuqu.
“Die!” Jian Wuqu roared, his sword aura peaking. He unleashed a sword technique, and an unmatched sword beam shot forth.
The dazzling sword beam, carrying terrifying sword aura, amplified its power to a fearsome degree, colliding with the rushing thunder.
“Boom!”
A thunderous explosion, like the roar of the heavens, erupted. A blindingly bright light burst forth, illuminating the surroundings. Vast waves of energy exploded, surging in all directions, with terrifying energy fluctuations and overwhelming pressure blanketing the area.
The countless onlookers trembled; the collision of their powers was too immense. If not in the sky, many would’ve been swept away.
The energy from the clash surpassed anything seen from Eighth Stage Martial Venerable power.
Amid the rolling energy and fluctuations, both Lin Xiao and Jian Wuqu were thrown back.
Their strike was evenly matched.
The crowd was shocked again. The power of Lin Xiao’s summoned thunder was so strong that it matched Jian Wuqu’s Eighth Stage Martial Venerable power infused with sword aura.
This was Jian Wuqu’s first true strike.
Their equal strength meant that Lin Xiao, with a lower cultivation level, had a more terrifying talent.
Jian Wuqu was both shocked and furious. A direct disciple of one of the eight super sects, Lingjian Sect, a genius adored by all, when had he ever lost to a peer?
Being ambushed and injured by Lin Xiao’s strange technique had already enraged him.
If it was just a surprise attack, he could accept it, but now, Lin Xiao had matched him with real strength.
And this strike relied on Lin Xiao’s energy, summoning thunder to match him, without using his mid-tier Fifth Grade spiritual power.
In other words, Lin Xiao, with only Fourth Stage Martial Venerable power, matched his Eighth Stage power. For someone invincible among peers, this was both shocking and unacceptable.
Glaring coldly at Lin Xiao, Jian Wuqu raised his sword, brewing his sword aura again. Vast energy surged from his dantian, flowing through his meridians and pouring into his sword.
“Sss!”
As his energy peaked, a faint earthy glow bloomed around Jian Wuqu’s dantian. A sharp white sword phantom appeared above his back, radiating terrifying momentum.
The white sword phantom seemed ready to pierce the heavens, making Jian Wuqu appear as if he were transforming into a sword, exuding sharpness.
“Low-tier Earth phenomenon, Sword Phenomenon!”
Lin Xiao’s heart jolted. He hadn’t expected Jian Wuqu to possess a low-tier Earth phenomenon, and a rare, sharp Sword Phenomenon at that.
The Sword Phenomenon not only greatly boosted strength but also enhanced sword cultivation talent, making sword techniques even more powerful.
The Zi family was shocked. Jian Wuqu’s brother, Jian Tianjiao, was known for his mid-tier Earth phenomenon.
They hadn’t known Jian Wuqu also had a low-tier Earth phenomenon, though less than Jian Tianjiao’s, it was still exceptional.
In the entire southeast region, it was among the top talents.
In his earlier fight with Zi Hui, Jian Wuqu hadn’t used his low-tier Earth Sword Phenomenon.
Clearly, Jian Wuqu’s combat power against Zi Hui was even stronger than shown. Feeling the combined might of the low-tier Earth Sword Phenomenon and sword aura, Lin Xiao’s expression grew grave. The vast energy in his dantian surged, instantly reaching its peak.
