Hearing Qin Chu speak of Heavenly Sword Mountain, Lin Qing's eyes lit up, then dimmed again, because he had only just begun to Cultivate, and Sword Intent was still quite far from him.
Qin Chu got busy. Lin Qing didn't leave; he stayed and chatted with Qian Xun. In the evening, Qin Chu and Qian Xun took him for a small drink before sending him back to the City Lord's Mansion.
Back at the Alchemist Guild, Qin Chu told Qian Xun that he would be heading to Heavenly Sword Mountain tomorrow, leaving Qian Xun to decide for himself.
"Boss, chatting like this is no fun. If you're going to Cultivate Sword Intent, then I'm naturally going too," Qian Xun said.
Qin Chu nodded and returned to his room.
Back in his room, Qin Chu took out the Vermilion Bird Stone and began to Cultivate. The Vermilion Bird Stone was a great help to the flames within his body. After absorbing the energy from the Vermilion Bird Stone, the flames were no longer as weak as they had been at the start.
What Qin Chu didn't know was that while he was Cultivating, a figure stood outside the pavilion, staying for quite a while before leaving.
After Cultivating all night, Qin Chu woke up in the morning, practiced his sword for a while, and then he and Qian Xun went to find Liu San.
"Brother Liu San, I'm going to Heavenly Sword Mountain to Cultivate. It will be at most a month, at least twenty days. If the Guild Master and Elder Chu ask, please inform them, Brother Liu San," Qin Chu said to Liu San.
"Understood, I'll keep that in mind. Be careful!" Liu San nodded. He knew Qin Chu was a Sword Cultivator, because Qin Chu was different from other Alchemists; even when wearing an Alchemist's robe, he still carried a long sword on his back.
Leaving the Alchemist Guild, Qin Chu and Qian Xun departed Heavenly Sword City and headed for Heavenly Sword Mountain.
"Within Heavenly Sword Mountain, is it the Sword Intent left by two peerless sword masters, or is there a peerless divine sword? Boss, which possibility do you think is more likely?" Qian Xun asked Qin Chu.
Qin Chu shook his head. He hadn't thought about this question, mainly because it was irrelevant to him. Once he reached Heavenly Sword Mountain, his mind would only contain the two words: Sword Dao.
Many Sword Cultivators gathered at the foot of Heavenly Sword Mountain, but many didn't recognize Qin Chu and Qian Xun anymore. Every Sword Cultivator would Cultivate for a period, then leave for a while, because constantly activating and tempering Sword Intent consumed a lot of mental energy. However, a few had seen Qin Chu and Qian Xun, and their Cultivation routines were similar to theirs.
Under the surprised gazes of the crowd, Qin Chu and Qian Xun entered the Stele Inscription area.
Upon entering the Sword Intent impact area, Qin Chu and Qian Xun activated their protective Sword Intent.
After advancing some distance, Qian Xun stopped and began to meditate and Cultivate, while Qin Chu continued forward.
To the shock of the onlookers, Qin Chu entered the Level 4 Sword Intent impact area, then continued to advance.
When he reached an area with greater pressure, Qin Chu stopped, took a Spirit Yuan Pill, and began to Cultivate.
On the third day after Qin Chu left, Elder Qin, dressed in black robes, appeared at the Alchemist Guild. After inquiring about Qin Chu and Qian Xun's situation from Liu San, he left the Alchemist Guild and went to Heavenly Sword Mountain.
At the Lin Mansion, Lin Hanyue gave his son some pointers on Cultivation.
"Qing'er, why haven't you been out these past few days? Cultivation is important, but you should also relax when it's time. Isn't Qin Chu a very good friend?" Lin Hanyue said to his son.
"He's not at the Alchemist Guild. He went to Heavenly Sword Mountain. Alchemy is something he plays with in his spare time from Cultivation; what he truly pursues is the Dao of the Sword," Lin Qing said.
"So, that means his time at the Alchemist Guild was a process of nourishing his mind," Lin Hanyue pondered.
Lin Qing nodded, "It should be! His Sword Intent foundation is very deep; I don't know how he Cultivated it."
"Qing'er, you just started a little late. From now on, you won't be inferior to anyone!" Lin Hanyue said to Lin Qing.
After guiding Lin Qing in Cultivation for a while, Lin Hanyue called his personal guards and arranged for a few of them to go to Heavenly Sword Mountain, to closely monitor Qin Chu and report any developments to him immediately.
Inside Heavenly Sword Mountain, after sitting down cross-legged, Qin Chu continuously released Sword Intent, colliding it with the Sword Intent released by Heavenly Sword Mountain, using the latter to temper his own Sword Intent.
People Cultivating in Heavenly Sword Mountain, some left, some arrived...
On the Saint Martial Continent, there are many Sword Cultivators! As Sword Cultivators, they all come to Heavenly Sword Mountain, but many stay on the periphery; there aren't many people in the Level 3 Sword Intent area; even fewer in the Level 4 Sword Intent area; in the Level 5 Sword Intent area, there are only a few scattered figures, and as for the more Advanced areas, Qin Chu doesn't know the situation.
This day, a battle broke out outside Heavenly Sword Mountain. A Saber Cultivator appeared, wanting to use Heavenly Sword Mountain's Sword Intent to strengthen his own Saber Intent. This angered the Sword Cultivators, as it was a desecration of Heavenly Sword Mountain, a Holy Land for Sword Cultivators. The Sword Cultivators attacked, but were defeated one after another, because this Saber Cultivator who came to Heavenly Sword Mountain was very strong.
Qin Chu stood up and looked back at the battle beyond the Stele Inscription. As a Sword Cultivator, he couldn't help but care about the conflict between saber and sword. It was just that his strength was insufficient; if he were strong enough, he would have also intervened.
After another Sword Cultivator fell, a black-robed Elder appeared.
Seeing this black-robed Elder, Qin Chu's heart trembled, because he recognized him; the black-robed Elder was Elder Qin of the Alchemist Guild.
Elder Qin looked at the gray-robed Saber Cultivator, and killing intent appeared in his eyes. Just as he was about to draw his sword, Lin Hanyue appeared.
"Elder Qin, there's no need for you to act; I will handle this matter!" Lin Hanyue shook his head at Elder Qin.
"Heavenly Sword Mountain is the Heavenly Sword Mountain for all Cultivators in the world. Why can only Sword Cultivators enter?" the gray-robed Saber Cultivator said coldly.
"You are correct, Heavenly Sword Mountain is the Heavenly Sword Mountain for all Cultivators in the world, but once other Saber Intent, Spear Intent, etc., appear, it will make Heavenly Sword Mountain's Sword Intent become violent, which harms others! From the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan, I don't want to escalate the conflict, so retreat now!" Lin Hanyue said.
"What if I don't retreat? You know my identity, and you still want to fight?" the gray-robed Elder said coldly.
"If you don't retreat, I will kill! Don't try to scare me with the Blazing Thunder Holy Clan. The rules of Heavenly Sword Mountain are recognized by all forces in the Central State. If your Blazing Thunder Holy Clan wants to cause trouble, then you will be the public enemy of all Sword Cultivators in the world," Lin Hanyue said coldly.
With a cold snort, the gray-robed Elder retreated. Lin Hanyue had arrived too quickly, and he didn't get the chance to enter Heavenly Sword Mountain and experience the Sword Intent.
Nodding to Elder Qin, Lin Hanyue left two guards, then departed. Elder Qin, carrying a long sword, then entered Heavenly Sword Mountain.
Elder Qin stopped not far from Qin Chu's position.
Qin Chu cupped his fists at Elder Qin. An Elder of the Alchemist Guild was a Senior.
To Qin Chu's surprise, Elder Qin also cupped his fists at him. This was against the rules, because no Senior would return a bow to a Junior.
Qin Chu wanted to say something, but Elder Qin had already entered the Level 5 Sword Intent area!