Chapter 119 - 89: Even If a Golden Core’s Might Is Like the Sea, I Will Still Draw My Sword to Test Its Edge. May I Ask... Is This Sword Sharp?

Chapter 119: Chapter 89: Even If a Golden Core’s Might Is Like the Sea, I Will Still Draw My Sword to Test Its Edge. May I Ask... Is This Sword Sharp?

"I said... kneel."

BOOM!

In an instant, Lu Chen felt the coercive pressure crashing down on his body. This terrifying weight immediately shattered the Magic Sword supporting him.

SHATTER!

Without the sword’s support, Lu Chen staggered. He crashed heavily onto the ground.

Seeing Lu Chen finally succumb, a satisfied expression appeared on the Black Rock King’s face. However, this satisfaction was short-lived. Lu Chen, who should have remained sprawled on the ground, actually climbed back up. With immense difficulty, he stood before the king once more.

"You..."

The Black Rock King was finally shocked as it watched the youth rise again. It could clearly sense that Lu Chen’s body had long surpassed its limits. There was hardly a single intact bone left in his body; he could fall apart at any moment. His eyes had completely lost their sight due to the overuse of his Pupil Skill.

But even so, Lu Chen stood up. How could he stand? Why did he still want to stand?!

The Black Rock King fell silent as it looked at Lu Chen’s blinded eyes and blood-soaked cheeks. With its vast experience, the creature quickly discerned what power was supporting the youth’s revival. If it guessed correctly, this Human Race Cultivator’s eyes possessed a special effect capable of copying others’ Techniques. Right now, he was relying entirely on the copied Hundred Battles Body of the Gold-devouring Ant-man to regain his footing.

Even if he had paid the price of his eyesight to do so. Even if he could only stand for a few brief seconds. But those few seconds were enough to command absolute pride. After all, let alone someone at the Qi Cultivation Stage, even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage would find it nearly impossible to achieve this in its presence.

And naturally, paying such a massive price wasn’t just so Lu Chen could stand.

THUD...

Dragging his heavy, battered body, Lu Chen slowly walked toward the Black Rock King, guided purely by his remaining senses. Although there was merely a distance of ten paces between them, these ten steps became the longest journey he had ever taken in his life. At this moment, it felt as if he were carrying a massive mountain on his back; every movement demanded every ounce of his strength. With every step, he could feel his vitality slipping away.

Lu Chen didn’t know why he pushed himself to such an extreme. It was obviously just a simulated exam. He was obviously only facing a historical phantom. But for some reason, he refused to kneel. He absolutely refused to bow out in such a suffocating, humiliating manner.

Even if the might of a Golden Core is as vast as the ocean, I will still draw my sword... to test its edge!

Dragging his thoroughly depleted body, Lu Chen finally reached the Black Rock King. Although the overuse of his Cyan Lotus Pupils had rendered him completely blind, his hearing allowed him to sense the creature’s presence standing right before him.

"This distance... should be enough to draw my sword, right?"

Under the Black Rock King’s silent gaze, Lu Chen suddenly began to laugh. The next second, he channeled every last drop of his Spiritual Power to ignite his Sword Intent.

The phantom of a scarred, battered Flood Dragon materialized before the Black Rock King. Looking at the illusion, the king’s expression remained indifferent. Even if this Flood Dragon were in its prime, it could casually slap the beast to death. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, facing this battered phantom now brought a faint, indescribable palpitation to its heart. It wasn’t that the Flood Dragon posed any physical threat, but rather that the look in its eyes... made the king feel a trace of unease.

It was a sheer determination to fight tooth and nail, even knowing the task was utterly impossible.

As the Black Rock King watched in silence, Lu Chen slowly raised his right hand. Substituting his fist for a sword, he swung it at the creature with agonizing difficulty.

The strike was not only slow but completely devoid of power. Let alone a Golden Core Stage Evil Object like the Black Rock King, this punch wouldn’t even be able to scratch an ordinary Evil Object. Knowing this, the Black Rock King didn’t entertain a single thought of dodging. It simply watched as Lu Chen’s blood-stained fist landed against its chest.

TAP!

The impact merely smeared a spot of blood against the Black Rock King’s chest. It caused absolutely no harm.

But Lu Chen didn’t seem to care. With this strike, he never sought to physically wound the Black Rock King. What he sought... was merely an answer for his own heart.

Lifting his head to face the towering figure, a faint smile laboriously surfaced on Lu Chen’s pale face.

"May I ask... is this sword sharp?"

The Black Rock King looked down at the blinded, entirely drained youth. Finally, it spoke.

"Overestimating your capabilities. Utterly... ridiculous!"

As those words fell, the massive black mountain hovering above their heads crashed down, completely engulfing them both...

***

On the sports field, Lu Chen pulled the Holographic Helmet off his head and let out a long exhale.

He looked down at his right hand, seemingly reflecting on that final sword strike he had delivered to the Black Rock King. Practically speaking, the strike was exactly as the king had described—an overestimation of his own capabilities that didn’t change the outcome in the slightest. But to Lu Chen, that strike symbolized so much more.

Because compared to the insurmountable gap between Qi Cultivation and Golden Core, the distance between himself and the absolute pinnacle of the Sword Dao... was infinitely greater. If he didn’t even dare to draw his sword against a Golden Core Stage Black Rock King, what right did he have to speak of reaching the pinnacle of the Sword Dao?

All living beings are like mayflies; what do they all seek in this fleeting life...

Since a lowly mayfly like him wished to witness the absolute peak of the Sword Dao, he first had to take that crucial step forward.