Chapter 697: The Spirit of Battle Intent!
Xiao Ze drifted through the ocean of battle intent, its overwhelming force pressing against him as he contemplated its nature. His success in walking so easily through this sea of raw power was due entirely to his prior victory against the Great Daluo Army.
Without that battle to establish his authority, even approaching the sea of battle intent would have resulted in immediate rejection. Commanding it so seamlessly now would have required a much longer period of grinding effort and adjustment.
The battle intent responded to Xiao Ze's will, manifesting as spears and ancient seals already reaching the limits of what an ordinary commander could achieve. This level of control aligned with the principle described in the bamboo slip: "To control with power."
But Xiao Ze knew that achieving the pinnacle of a war formation master required more than brute force. To truly excel, one had to control it "with the heart."
When Xiao Ze attempted to immerse himself fully into the battle intent, however, he found the task unexpectedly difficult. Though he understood the path intellectually, taking the first steps proved far more challenging than he had anticipated.
Even so, Xiao Ze remained patient. With natural talent in battle mastery and insights gleaned from the original story, he steadily sought his way forward.
Battle intent was an enigmatic force, born of the wills of countless warriors and empowered by its fusion with spiritual energy. While it appeared unified on the surface, each strand of intent carried its own independent will.
To integrate with the ocean of battle intent, Mu Chen, the protagonist of the original tale, had chosen to abandon his spiritual defenses entirely, allowing the intent to wash over him and fuse with his being. Xiao Ze took a different approach: instead of submerging himself in the battle intent, he allowed the ocean to integrate into him.
The waves of intent washed over Xiao Ze's body, clashing with his soul in an attempt to erode his will. However, shielded by the protective power of the Primordial Tree, his soul was unshaken, enduring the relentless torrent with ease.
As the intent swept through him, Xiao Ze began to understand the principle of "controlling with the heart." By connecting with each strand of intent, he steadily gained their recognition and respect.
Unlike Mu Chen's path of immersion, Xiao Ze's method allowed the intent to enter and merge with his spirit different paths, yet ultimately converging toward the same goal.
Two days passed. The five commanders, standing outside the sea of battle intent, exchanged glances of mounting anticipation.
"Could he truly achieve the status of a war formation master?"
Xiao Ze's rapid progress had stunned them all, leaving them to question their own expectations. His natural talent bordered on the impossible, leaving them in awe.
Just then, a ripple of energy spread through the air. The commanders turned to see a black clad figure approaching.
"Greetings, Lord Domain Master!"
They immediately knelt in deference as Mandala arrived, her golden eyes scanning the ocean of battle intent.
"Report Xiao Ze's progress," she commanded.
Grand Commander Feng Huo stepped forward, bowing deeply. His voice carried an unrestrained reverence.
"Lord Xiao Ze quickly established his authority by defeating the Great Daluo Army in battle. He then entered the ocean of battle intent to begin his mastery. In mere hours, he achieved a level of control equivalent to our own."
Mandala's golden eyes narrowed slightly as a faint smile graced her lips.
"Just as I thought," she murmured. "This one's talent in formation mastery whether for spirit arrays or war formations is unparalleled. Even with a broken slip as his guide, he's progressed so quickly."
Her thoughts were interrupted by another commander stepping forward, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Lord Domain Master, are you certain this is Xiao Ze's first time encountering battle intent? His progress is beyond comprehension!"
The other commanders nodded in agreement. From the way Xiao Ze had fumbled at the start, it was clear he had no prior experience with battle intent. Yet his rapid advancement defied all logic, leading them to question their own instincts.
"Could he have hidden his true experience?" one of them wondered aloud.
Mandala's gaze swept over them before she answered lightly, "He is indeed a newcomer to battle intent. Xiao Ze came from a lower realm he couldn't possibly have encountered anything like this before."
Her words sent shivers down their spines.
Not only was Xiao Ze an unparalleled talent in battle formations, but his ability as an alchemist was also astonishing. His refined pills had already caused a stir across the entire Daluo Territory.
Now, the commanders realized, the mysterious alchemist whose pills they had heard so much about was none other than Xiao Ze the man who had singlehandedly defeated their entire army.
Before their astonishment could settle, a powerful surge of energy erupted from the ocean of battle intent.
Their eyes snapped toward the shifting waves, sensing something extraordinary brewing within its depths.
Boom!
The ocean roiled violently, massive waves crashing together as a sharp, oppressive aura began to rise.
Mandala's expression shifted, her golden eyes narrowing as she murmured, "A spirit of battle intent… This man's potential as a war formation master is truly limitless."
From the tumultuous waves, an enormous, thousand meter long sword slowly emerged. Its ethereal form pulsed with an unyielding energy, radiating an aura of unmatched sharpness.
The sight left the commanders in stunned silence, their mouths agape.
Feng Huo finally found his voice, his words escaping as a hoarse whisper:
"A… spirit of battle intent?"
Within the ocean, Xiao Ze opened his eyes, gazing at the massive blade before him with a hint of surprise.
Though he had skipped many intermediate steps, he had successfully condensed a spirit of battle intent.
"This…" Xiao Ze thought, a faint smile curling his lips. "It seems I now meet the minimum qualifications to become a war formation master."
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