Chapter 304 - 207: Became Famous

Chapter 304: Chapter 207: Became Famous

When Huang Zifeng and Lin Zhen saw Xie Yuan stagger onto the tenth-tier stone platform, they both wore looks of astonishment.

’Lin Cheng, a man with a resolute will, had retreated at the ninth tier, falling all the way back to the seventh. And yet Zhang Shan, the one with the lowest cultivation, has actually made it to the tenth tier?’

Huang Zifeng hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Junior Brother Zhang, you mustn’t force yourself. Even if you can make it onto the platform, quietly trying to comprehend the Sword Intent is another matter entirely. Pushing too hard will likely be counterproductive."

"He’s right, Junior Brother. The Sect Leader said that if you have to use all your strength just to get up here, you won’t have the energy to protect yourself during your comprehension. Take a moment and feel it out. Do you really have strength to spare?"

Lin Zhen added her own reminder.

Hearing this, Xie Yuan put on a pained expression. He grimaced and closed his eyes, pretending to assess his condition for a long while.

Just as the two of them thought he was about to retreat in the face of this difficulty, he opened his eyes and said with firm resolve:

"Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I feel like this is the perfect spot for me to comprehend."

Upon hearing this, Huang Zifeng and Lin Zhen both grunted, then exchanged a look, momentarily speechless.

Lin Zhen said with a hint of admiration:

"It seems Junior Brother Zhang’s talent is truly extraordinary."

Huang Zifeng had also been starting to see Xie Yuan in a new light, thanks to both the trial and his current performance. However, the moment he heard Lin Zhen’s admiring sigh, he inexplicably swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. Instead, what came out was:

"Hmph. This is a suitable spot for you two. I’m heading up."

With that, Huang Zifeng leaped directly and effortlessly onto the eleventh tier.

Standing on the tenth tier, Xie Yuan could feel that the sword wind here was indeed much stronger than before.

’Looks like it’s a new level of difficulty every nine tiers, which fits the significance of the number nine.’

’But... is this really a place where someone at the External Training realm can stand securely and comprehend Sword Intent? And some can even reach Tier Nineteen?’

Xie Yuan was a little skeptical.

But then he recalled his conclusion about the new stratum every nine tiers, and he nodded slightly.

After all, Lin Zhen had made it up here too, and she seemed to be fine.

In reality, however, his perception of the sword wind was rather dull, so to him, the Sword Intent here didn’t feel like anything special.

As for Lin Zhen, she was only able to make it this far because she had impatiently consumed the Treasure Medicine she’d gotten from the ruins right after returning. With her talent, this boosted her cultivation enough that she could barely manage to climb two extra tiers.

Normally, even if an External Training cultivator could make it to the tenth-tier platform, they would find it difficult to even stand firm, let alone sit down to quietly comprehend the Sword Intent.

Watching Huang Zifeng leap from platform to platform, leaving behind a dashing silhouette before quickly disappearing around a bend, Xie Yuan felt an itch to move as well.

’Forget it. I can’t be the one to stick out...’

’But it’ll be fine as long as *I’m* not the one sticking out...’

So, Xie Yuan turned to Lin Zhen, giving her a look brimming with encouragement.

"Senior Sister, are you going to keep climbing? I bet you can make it higher!"

Lin Zhen was hesitant. For her, this spot was already perfectly suitable.

Yet, under Xie Yuan’s inexplicably intense gaze, she suddenly felt as if she hadn’t climbed high enough. As if swept up in some unseen current, she felt an urge to climb several more tiers.

Lin Zhen suppressed her sudden eagerness, carefully assessed her condition, and then nodded.

"I’ll try one more tier."

With that, she exhaled, centered herself, and took a light leap through the fierce wind. She landed on the eleventh tier, her expression turning slightly grim.

"This is my limit. I’ll stay here."

After speaking, she looked down at Xie Yuan, only to find his eyes filled with disappointment. Her expression stiffened, and she snapped, a mix of shame and anger in her voice:

"Junior Brother Zhang, what’s with that look on your face?"

"Oh, it’s nothing. The eleventh tier is already amazing."

"That’s not what your face says."

"Well, I honestly thought Senior Sister could go up a few more tiers. Maybe even all the way to Tier Nineteen."

Xie Yuan said with a foolish grin.

"T-Tier Nineteen?"

Lin Zhen felt the bone-scraping sword wind and said through gritted teeth:

"If you’re so good, then you go up! Otherwise, shut your mouth!"

Seeing that Lin Zhen truly was at her limit, Xie Yuan stopped egging her on, lest his words backfire and she actually got hurt. Besides, the girl had a mind of her own; she wasn’t the type to be goaded into overextending herself by just a few words.

He pondered for a moment, then leaped to the eleventh tier with apparent difficulty. After a reluctant glance upward, he sat down cross-legged beside her.

"Guess this is as far as I go... I’ll keep you company, Senior Sister."

Lin Zhen stared blankly as Zhang Shan sat down beside her. Her small, delicate face was filled with astonishment as she couldn’t help but ask:

"Junior Brother, are you sure you’re not forcing yourself?"

"Just like Senior Sister. This is perfect for me."

Xie Yuan said with a determined expression, though his eyes were already casually scanning the sword marks in the surroundings.

"Alright, then..."

Lin Zhen felt a prickle of indignation at being matched by the simple-looking Zhang Shan, especially since this truly was her limit.

She cleared her throat.

"Junior Brother Zhang, if you can’t hold on, remember not to force it. You need to save enough stamina to get back down. And remember, what’s important is the experience of comprehension, not how long you stay."

"Okay, Senior Sister Lin. I understand."

Xie Yuan replied, then sat down cross-legged beside her and closed his eyes, sensing the biting gales that swirled and howled around the Sword Peak.

Lin Zhen found herself staring at Xie Yuan’s face, examining it closely. Just as a strange look entered her eyes, Xie Yuan suddenly opened his and asked in confusion:

"Senior Sister Lin, what are you looking at?"

"N-Nothing."

Lin Zhen’s face flushed. She quickly looked away, her heart thumping rapidly. She was inexplicably astonished.

’The moment he opened his eyes... why... why didn’t he look as dazed as usual? He looked a little... a little like...’

Xie Yuan, unaware of Lin Zhen’s strange thoughts, gave her a couple of odd looks before closing his eyes again.

This time, his mind quickly sank into a meditative state, sensing the sharp, whistling sword wind all around him.

[Black Celestial Book: (102/500)]

’It went up by one point already.’

Xie Yuan was delighted. ’This place really is different!’

On the Sword Peak, the Sword Intent was far more intense than in the Sword Cave.