Qian Renxue drifted gracefully into the eye of the wind.
The Light Sword traced a holy arc, like the first rays of dawn breaking.
A deeper smile curled at the corner of Li Zhexian's lips.
His sword momentum shifted abruptly—its sharpness withdrawn, transforming into a breeze as soft as silk winding around the fingers.
Ding—
The tips of their swords touched lightly, releasing a clear, jade-like chime.
The intent of the wind wrapped around the Light Sword like azure silk; divine radiance shone upon the traces of wind like golden brocade.
Blue-gold brilliance danced together in that instant, weaving a dazzling tapestry within the wind's eye at the mountain hollow.
The two danced as one!
Li Zhexian's figure flowed like drifting wind and swirling snow.
Wherever his sword pointed, the wind condensed into ribbons, encircling him and Qian Renxue as they drifted together in an ethereal dance.
His eyes were bound with black silk.
His spirit had already merged with the rhythm of the wind.
That feeling of "unfettered freedom, following the heart's desire" resonated completely as they danced in unison.
Li Zhexian seized the jade gourd of Wandering Spirit Wind Essence, tilting his head back for a mouthful.
The pure essence of wind surged through his body.
His robes swelled as though he might ride the wind skyward at any moment.
"Qian Renxue, catch!"
He tossed the jade gourd casually.
It arced gracefully through the air, falling toward Qian Renxue.
Her eyes glimmered; without pausing the swing of her Light Sword, she extended her slender hand and caught it securely.
Her swanlike neck tilted back, and the clear wine flowed into her red lips.
In that instant—
Her golden hair billowed, her skirt whirled.
Feathers, condensed from her radiant Spirit Power, drifted gently from her body.
The very next second—
Those feathers of light were swept up by Li Zhexian's wind.
Together with the ribbons of wind, they coiled around the two of them.
This scene—
It was truly dreamlike, ethereal.
The two exchanged a knowing smile, yet their sword momentum suddenly quickened.
Wind and light danced entwined.
At times soaring skyward like a pair of phoenixes in harmony;
At times circling and weaving like twin blossoms blooming from the same stem.
Fierce gales softened into ribbons around their fingers; violent winds transformed into gentle murmurs—making the sword dance within the wind's eye seem all the more otherworldly and elusive.
As their dance reached its height, their minds resonated as one.
Li Zhexian spun, tracing a circle.
Qian Renxue's Light Sword followed like a shadow.
Their twin swords met at a single point.
Zheng—!
A heavenly resonance rang out.
In that instant, all sounds fell silent.
Robes froze mid-flight, light and wind suspended in stillness.
The two figures leaned together gracefully, their sword tips lightly touching.
Li Zhexian's black silk fluttered, while Qian Renxue's jade-like face bloomed with a rosy glow.
A single meeting of swords!
As though dawn itself broke open!
Li Zhexian's heart was clear as a mirror.
The Sword of Wind Intent—finally complete!
"A sword bound by no form, for wind itself is formless…"
Li Zhexian's Qinglian Sword, still crossed against the Light Sword, suddenly spun and drew away.
The movement was as ethereal as wind brushing a willow's tip.
A streak of azure sword qi detached from the Qinglian Sword.
Soundlessly, it merged into the flowing wind within the mountain hollow.
It drifted serpentine and subtle, carried by the breeze, brushing across jagged cliffs.
Without a sound, a sword mark quietly appeared on the stone face.
The scar of the sword flowed naturally—
Like vines climbing stone, like a stream slipping through crevices.
It perfectly matched the veins of the mountain stone, extending along the wind's original path.
Qian Renxue gazed at the sword mark, her eyes flashing with brilliance.
This sword—formless, unfettered, one with nature.
Li Zhexian sheathed his sword and stood tall.
The black silk over his eyes no longer merely served as a blindfold.
Seventy-two streams of airflow poured into his ears, and heaven and earth unfolded before his senses with piercing clarity.
The mountain breeze caressed him gently.
As though offering congratulations for the birth of a new sword.
Li Zhexian raised his hand, fierce winds twining meekly around his fingers.
"Qinglian Sword Song, Third Form—Formless Wind, is complete."
Qian Renxue stepped forward gracefully.
Returning the jade gourd of Wandering Spirit Wind Essence, her lips curved into a breathtaking smile. "Congratulations. At last, this sword has become yours."
On the ridge above the hollow—
Feng Bailong, startled awake, perceived the sword mark that perfectly fused with the intent of wind. Shock rippled across his weathered face.
He had bound his eyes with black silk for years, listening to the wind.
He believed he had tempered his heart into a still pond, unshaken by anything.
But Li Zhexian—had shaken him to the core.
It had only been a few days.
Yet this youth had already comprehended the Sword Intent of Wind?!
"Such sword talent…"
"Truly terrifying beyond compare!"
The next morning.
The disciples of the Wind Sword Sect, during their morning cultivation, quickly noticed something.
—Li Zhexian had not gone to the forbidden wind's eye.
They exchanged glances, suspicion stirring in their hearts.
But with Feng Buyu present, none dared voice their speculation.
After a few exchanged looks, they finally pushed one among them forward to ask Feng Buyu, who was practicing his sword:
"Senior Brother Buyu…"
"Why hasn't Li Zhexian gone to the wind's eye today?"
"Hm?"
Feng Buyu looked up.
Toward the path leading to Li Zhexian's residence.
Indeed, the figure who appeared every morning without fail was absent.
His brows knit together.
Recalling yesterday's torment when he went to the wind's eye to listen—pain like his flesh was being stripped from bone—he shuddered even now.
Yet Li Zhexian had endured it from dawn to dusk for days on end.
"Brother Zhexian must be nearing his limit…"
Glancing at the surrounding disciples, Feng Buyu said in a low, steady tone:
"If we had even one-tenth of Brother Zhexian's diligence, our swordsmanship would certainly advance by threefold!"
"Mind yourselves. Back to practice—at once!"
Even as he spoke—
A disciple suddenly pointed toward the far end of the winding stone path.
"Senior Brother Buyu, it's Li Zhexian!"
All turned at once.
Sure enough—
At the path's end, the white-robed youth walked side by side with a beautiful girl.
Li Zhexian had stayed up late last night comprehending the sword, so he had woken up a little late today.
Instead of going to the forbidden wind eye, he and Qian Renxue went directly to the Wind-Eroded Sword Stele Forest.
Feng Buyu led the disciples to greet them.
Looking Li Zhexian up and down, he couldn't help asking:
"Brother Zhexian, you… you're not going to the wind's eye today?"
Li Zhexian smiled and shook his head.
"No."
"As I thought… even Brother Zhexian…"
Feng Buyu sighed inwardly, once again despairing at the difficulty of comprehending the sword at the wind's eye. He spoke to comfort:
"Brother Zhexian, think nothing of it."
"Sword comprehension at the wind's eye is not something achieved overnight."
"That you persisted day and night for so long is already remarkable."
"Stay longer at the Wind Sword Sect, and in time, you will certainly realize the Sword Intent of Wind."
Li Zhexian only smiled faintly, saying no more.
Instead, he raised his eyes to the towering stone pillars before him, over twenty meters high and wide enough to require several men to encircle.
"Brother Buyu, you once said these pillars can measure the power of sword techniques?"
Feng Buyu was slightly startled.
"That is so, but…"
"These Wind-Eroded Stone Pillars, due to their special material and years of tempering by fierce gales—"
"They are most sensitive to the strength of wind-attribute sword techniques."
"Brother Zhexian, you…"
Li Zhexian's gaze gleamed.
"Perfect."
"I wish to test… the wind sword technique I comprehended last night."
Those words—
Feng Buyu and the disciples' eyes widened.
A wind sword technique… newly comprehended last night?!
Could it be… Li Zhexian had already attained the Sword Intent of Wind?!
Feng Buyu's tongue went stiff, his voice breaking:
"Brother Zhexian, you… you've comprehended it?!"
Li Zhexian nodded with a smile.
The Sword Stele Forest fell into utter silence.
Countless disbelieving gazes fixed upon him.
The news swept through the Wind Sword Sect like wildfire.
Three hundred disciples, more than a dozen elders—all surged toward the Sword Stele Forest.
At that moment—
A gentle breeze stirred.
With a mystical chime, a figure in gray robes drifted down from the sky.
It was none other than Feng Bailong.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
Feng Bailong's sleeves swept lightly.
A soft surge of wind lifted the gathered disciples to their feet.
His black-silk-bound eyes turned toward Li Zhexian, a smile on his weathered face.
"Congratulations, young friend Zhexian, on attaining your Sword Intent."
"This old man waits with eager eyes—
"To witness the edge of your newly comprehended sword."