Shi Lang and the people paid respects to the monument of Long Junshi. Lei Wang sighed and said, “Countless geniuses of the Dragon Sword Sect have visited this place over the years, but none of them managed to comprehend the real sword art left behind by Senior Lightning Shura.”
Shi Lang gazed at the markings of the carving. From a distance, it appeared to be finely carved. However, standing just a few meters away, the terran realized that was false. The marks on the stone were not fine but crude to his sight.
They did not look like sword art to him. This discovery confused him because he could sense a strong sword aura radiating from the monument. He realized something when he looked back at the stele before him.
He asked, “Senior, I have a theory.”
All the elders turned to look at him, and Lie Wang nodded for him to continue.
Shi Lang took a deep breath and said, “Senior, I think the lower part of this monument has nothing to do with swordplay. This is just a crude expression of grief.”
The people were surprised, and Long Shan asked, “Why do you say that?”
Shi Lang said, “The dragon body represents Ancestor Long Jinshu. The thickness of the body and the features of the dragon head and softer and gentle. It is a feminine body. The sword energy in the surroundings is dull because the sword is hidden behind the coiling dragon.”
The elders opened their eyes wide, and Lie Wang asked, “But if that is the case, then we should not feel anything. This whole place is sealed with a dynamic array.”
Shi Lang smiled and said, “Senior, that stele is not within the range of the array barrier. If you look at the edge of the stone, you will know what I am trying to say.”
The people gazed at the edges of the stele and could not help but shiver. Shi Lang said, “The sword intent that tames everyone with bad intentions toward the Dragon Sword Sect comes from the stone sword that hides behind the coiling dragon. As the poem said, the dragon restrains the heaven-slaying sword.”
Lei Wang looked at the monument and said, “Elders, shall we all go and confirm this theory?”
The elders exchanged glances and then nodded. Long Shan asked with spirit communication, “Xiao Lie, what about Shi Lang? You would not be intending to take him along, would you?”
Lei Wang nodded and replied, “Elder, it is not the time to think if he is from the same sect on not. He practices the same sutra as Senior Lightning Shura, and his understanding of the sword is not shallow. Technically, he is the disciple of Senior Lightning Shura. He also made us realize the meaning of the stele and the secret behind the sword’s intent.”
Communication was made with all the elders; while some agreed with Lei Wang, some were unsure. Lei Wang said, “If what he said was true, we will be indebted to him. Do you think anything else can pay this debt off? Also, he is just one young man. If he comprehends anything, we can ask him not to spread it and keep it to himself so that the foundation of our sect is not weakened.”
The people exchanged glances, and they nodded. They were aware of Lei Wang’s character. This man would never owe a favor to anyone. After they discussed it, they agreed, and Lei Wang said, “Shi Lang follow us up.”
Shi Lang was shocked and asked, “But Sect Leader, this is the sacred monument of your sect. How can I?”
The elders thought he would be eager to climb the monument, but his reaction surprised them. These people were old enough to know if someone was lying or being honest. One of the elders said, “Xiao Lang, we, the Dragon Sword Sect, are not stingy with talented people like you. Without you, we would not have discovered this monument’s truth.”
Shi Lang was still hesitant, and Lei Wang said, “If you feel like this is a favor from us, then I would ask you to repay us later. Do not worry, and it will be something that you can do.”
Shi Lang thought about it, and owing a favor in exchange for such an opportunity was not bad. He nodded and bowed to the elders and thanked them. The people turned their heads to the monument, and Lei Wang said, “Flying is forbidden so we will climb along the dragon’s spine.”
The terran nodded and waited for all the elders to move before he followed them. He was the junior. How could he climb before the elders? Shi Lang climbed slowly, and he did not rush. The elders may be old, but they were the top experts. Climbing this monument was easy for them, and they could have just rushed along the spine at full speed. However, that was not the case.
They walked slowly in respect of the two seniors. Shi Lang followed them slowly and calmly. He was observing every single detail that he captured on the monument. As he moved ahead, the carving quality enhanced, and it was something that surprised him. As the quality improved, the sword’s intent became stronger.
After three hours, when the elders reached the top, they could sense the intent of the sword radiating from the hilt. They did not notice the intent from the edges of the sword blade that were visible on the way.
Suddenly, Long Shan turned his head and found that Shi Lang was missing. He exclaimed, “Where is Shi Lang?”
The Elder said, “First brother, he is meditating below.”
Lei Wang asked, “Twelveth elder, do you think he got an epiphany?” 𝑂𝔳𝓛xt.𝓒𝒪𝐦
The Elder shook his head and said, “Xiao Wang, he is only meditating and comprehending the feeling he got from looking at the blade.”
The elders shook their heads, and Long Shan said, “If he is meditating on his own after watching the sword edge, then he must have obtained some inspiration. Do not disturb him. Let us cultivate and try to comprehend the intent here.”
Lei Wang said, “The intent here is so strong that if not for the cultivation we had. It would have injured us all significantly.”
The elders nodded, and one of them said, “To think that kid will be able to see through the mystery.”
The people nodded and sat down with their legs crossed. They formed a circle on the center of the sword, but they could not hold on for long. The sword’s intent was pressuring them.
…
Shi Lang meditated for an hour, then took out his sword, which trembled. The sword resonated with the sword’s intent. The young man stroked the reed of his blade and said, “Do not worry. There is a lot of ground left to cover.”
The sword calmed down. Shi Lang stroked the reed of the blade and walked forward. After a few steps, his sword shivered again. He raised his eyebrow and mumbled, “Fine, let us see what we can do.”
The terran decided to swing his sword, and gradually the sword wind began to condense around the blade. After a few minutes, he froze, his eyes changed, and he said, “Lightning.”
The blade was covered in lightning, and he kept swinging his blade. After a few minutes, the lightning aura from the sword condensed too. He smiled and said, “Hmmm, it seems like the original sword art has improved again.”
…
Shi Lang moved ahead and after an hour. The blade of the sword became more evident. The terran stopped. It was not that he wanted to move forward, but he could not move forward. The sword’s intent was emitting pressure on his body.
He tried to move forward, but the sword intent left a cut on his face. He stopped. The terran could not help but gulp and mumble, “Senior, you did not wish to make things easier for anyone, did you?”
The resistance was not because he was weak but because he could not understand the intent of the sword intent left behind by the Lightning Shura. Shi Lang did not wish to comprehend the skillset of others. He practiced the same sutra but did not wish to be limited.
Thinking about this, he began to radiate his own sword intent against the intent of the monument. Then he tried to walk forward again, but the pressure was too much for him. He could not understand why the elders were easily allowed to pass through. Shi Lang blamed it all on his low-cultivation base.
He thought, ‘Since you will not let me advance, I shall clash with you.’
His sword intent began to grind against the monument and Shi Lang began to comprehend the process. He was going to use the clash of the two powers as a whetting stone to make his swordplay even better. He intended to make his intent so sharp that even the Lightning Shura would not hold a candle before him.
This monument was not an opportunity, but a trigger that flamed his pride.