Chapter 615

"Oh, alright." Tang Luo agreed, then asked as if remembering something, "How can I leave the Outer Sect and become an Inner Sect disciple?"

"Inner Sect disciple?" You Tiangang laughed. "As long as you achieve Golden Core within a month, I'll guarantee you become an Inner Sect disciple. If not, you'll just stay under me and properly temper yourself for a year or so."

"Mm." Tang Luo nodded and turned to leave.

The next month passed without incident.

You Tiangang specially ordered that Tang Luo need not participate in any training; a genius, naturally, had privileges.

The time had already arrived at the agreed-upon day, one month later.

You Tiangang hummed an unknown little tune as he walked toward Tang Luo's private residence — closed-door breakthrough, after all, definitely required solitude, free from outside disturbance.

Behind him followed several Golden Core sword cultivators; they could tell You Tiangang was in a very good mood.

He would soon have another genius disciple sharing the Sword Intent of Power; to You Tiangang, once a general, Tang Xuanzang was an uncarved piece of jade who would become the best soldier under his command!

How could he not be happy?

"Still talking about a month. Not a single reaction so far — look, young people really shouldn't boast." You Tiangang arrived before the tightly shut door and said to the several Golden Core sword cultivators behind him.

It looked like a reprimand, but it actually wasn't at all.

Those several sword cultivators also laughed along with a couple of flattering lines, though envy was inevitable in their hearts.

Although they were all Golden Core, these Golden Core cultivators would remain at this level for life; Nascent Soul was basically hopeless.

You Tiangang, however, held Nascent Soul in hand and had Avatar within sight; adding the Sword Intent of Power, if he achieved Spirit Severing sword cultivator in the future, he could even be used as half a Void Refining sword cultivator.

They dreamed of becoming You Tiangang's disciple.

He reached out, but You Tiangang, originally intending to push the door open, stopped: "Tang Xuanzang, the agreed time is up; hiding is useless! Come out!"

"General's noble righteousness!"

"General cherishes talent." The several Golden Core sword cultivators all flattered in succession.

Why not just push the door — because he was still worried about disturbing that Tang Xuanzang, if he really was in closed-door breakthrough.

"Scram, a bunch of good-for-nothings who only know how to flatter." You Tiangang laughed and scolded, clearly very pleased.

Just then, the tightly shut door opened with a "creak."

Tang Luo's calm face, and his conspicuous white hair, appeared before You Tiangang.

You Tiangang said, "How is it? Now you know the height of heaven and depth of earth?"

His tone unconsciously carried a trace of regret he himself hadn't even noticed.

Deep in his heart, he also harbored a bit of hope for a miracle.

"What?" Tang Luo was a little puzzled.

"You didn't..." You Tiangang froze for a moment, carefully sizing Tang Luo up and down, and asked, "What breath-concealing technique did you cultivate?"

Among sword cultivators, seeing through cultivation base isn't especially easy.

But Golden Core looking at Foundation Establishment can still tell.

Yet now, You Tiangang actually couldn't make out the cultivation base of the Tang Xuanzang before him.

"No, there's such a sword technique?" Tang Luo asked.

"No, there isn't..." You Tiangang felt his speech becoming a bit halting. "You really broke through to Golden Core?"

"Mm." Tang Luo nodded. "It was pretty easy, so I incidentally tried Nascent Soul. But Nascent Soul is a bit harder; I tried a few times and it still doesn't quite work right now."

"... Nascent Soul?"

"I'm currently late Golden Core." Tang Luo stepped back, and "Sword Yuan surged" on his body; the aura belonging to Golden Core fully manifested.

Late Golden Core!

You Tiangang's eyes widened: "Wait a minute!"

Late Golden Core — didn't that mean his cultivation was exactly the same as his own!

"Oh." Tang Luo re-converged his aura.

You Tiangang looked at the man before him, whom he could already no longer see through, with the calmest tone he could muster: "You're saying you spent a month, broke through from late Foundation Establishment to early Golden Core, then broke through to mid Golden Core, and now you're late Golden Core?"

"Right."

"... You were originally Golden Core to begin with!"

You Tiangang's body suddenly erupted with grim Sword Intent; the sword at his waist was already gripped in his hand.

Battlefield-born, he disliked the detached sword-control and flying swords; he preferred gripping his own waist sword and piercing through the enemy's body.

"No, originally Foundation Establishment." Tang Luo was very steady.

"You think this dignified Golden Core sword cultivator would believe your ghost talk!" You Tiangang pointed his sword at Tang Luo.

Tang Luo laughed: "Want to fight? Fine." As he spoke, Xuan Bian appeared in his hand, turning into a hammer.

Seeing that giant hammer, You Tiangang's eyelids couldn't help but twitch.

"You all fall back." You Tiangang ordered without turning back; the several Golden Core sword cultivators retreated.

"Come!"

You Tiangang's eyes brimmed with fighting intent; he raised his hand and unleashed a move.

Savage Mountain Peak!

The sword art that originally mobilized power, combined with his Sword Intent of Power, condensed berserk sword qi — forget Savage Mountain Peak, even Shattering a Mountain with One Sword could be done.

Facing You Tiangang's one sword.

Tang Luo raised his hand; the Xuan Bian hammer in his hand "stabbed" out, plain and unremarkable.

Again using a hammer as a sword.

Sword tip and hammer collided; berserk power spread out, Tang Luo's small hut was instantly torn apart and pulverized, and sword marks appeared one after another on the ground beneath his feet.

Damage caused by sword cultivators is like this, carrying cutting and tearing effects.

The several Golden Core cultivators hurriedly retreated even farther; this imposing manner, this destructive power, was simply like a Nascent Soul sword cultivator dueling.

"Good."

The two sides clashed swords, evenly matched, when Yu Tiangang let out a loud shout, his sword trembling in his hand as he swept aside Tang Luo's "King's Hammer" and slashed toward Tang Luo's arm.

Though described as a slicing motion, combined with the surging sword essence, it was no different from a chop.

The deflected hammer rebounded with even greater speed, not only shattering the sword in Yu Tiangang's hand but also sending his entire body flying.

Yet this flight was intentional on Yu Tiangang's part; he used the impact to create distance from Tang Luo, instantly soaring into the high sky.

Then, man and sword plunged downward together!

Sword essence enveloped his entire body, forming a massive sword that howled as it fell!

Tang Luo gripped the Profound Transformation Hammer, planted his foot, and surged upward to meet the giant sword.

They collided in midair; the giant sword shattered, Yu Tiangang lost his balance and tumbled backward in a spin.

Tang Luo landed heavily, his feet sinking into a large crater, nearby houses tilting and collapsing in disarray.

"Leave it to me! It's rare to meet someone who can match me in combat!"

Yu Tiangang steadied his stance and shouted loudly.

Around them, Golden Core sword cultivators had arrived, along with Nascent Soul sword cultivators; hearing Yu Tiangang's words, they all ceased fighting.

Tang Luo flew into the high sky, gazing at Yu Tiangang.

"Again!" Yu Tiangang laughed.

In truth, he had merely feigned an attack on Tang Luo earlier; after all, advancing from late Foundation Establishment to late Golden Core in just a month was truly absurd.

He hadn't expected Tang Luo to fight him without falling behind in the slightest.

His soaring battle fervor could no longer be contained—let us fight fiercely to our hearts' content first!

The tremendous roar echoed near the Qing Tian Sword Gate, sounding like the clanging of iron being forged.

Judging by the scene alone, it seemed much the same—hammer and sword continuously colliding, no dodging, only the clash of force.

Pure offense, no defense whatsoever.

In an extremely short time, their hammer and sword collided dozens of times; had it not been for the Nascent Soul sword cultivators nearby constantly intervening to suppress the shockwaves,

the outer sect training grounds and camp below would likely have become a pile of ruins.

"Huu——"

Another collision sent Yu Tiangang flying backward; he steadied himself in midair.

Tang Luo stood firm, his hair dancing in the wind; what had been an evenly matched battle now clearly showed the tipping of the scales toward victory.

"Wait."

Yu Tiangang's aura fluctuated, he panted, "How—how are you not tired?"

"Tired?" Tang Luo shook his head. "I don't feel it. Continue."

"Wait wait wait!" Yu Tiangang shouted loudly, "No more fighting, no more fighting—there's something wrong."

"Oh." Tang Luo was easygoing; he voluntarily landed on the ground, even re-storing the Profound Transformation.

The surrounding Nascent Soul sword cultivators exchanged glances—what exactly was going on?

Yu Tiangang made a gesture, indicating he would handle the matter, then stepped before Tang Luo and asked, "You really aren't tired?"

"Not tired." Tang Luo said.

"That makes no sense." Yu Tiangang sheathed his sword, stroked his chin, his face puzzled.

Given his Golden Core cultivation, he could actually store his sword within his body, and this was even his natal flying sword, yet Yu Tiangang remained accustomed to wearing his sword at his side.

"Is there something strange?" Tang Luo asked.

Yu Tiangang said, "Come with me."

The two quickly departed, leaving behind a group of sword cultivators staring blankly, utterly confused about what had happened.

Yu Tiangang brought Tang Luo to his residence: "You know, although the Sword Intent of Force is powerful, it has a flaw that could be said to be insurmountable—a weakness, perhaps?"

"Should I know that?" Tang Luo countered.

"If you truly possess the Sword Intent of Force, then you should clearly feel it." Yu Tiangang said, "Activating the Sword Intent of Force consumes an enormous amount."

Half of Golden Core sword cultivators, when facing evenly matched opponents, would surely exaggerate if they claimed to fight for three days and three nights, but battling for several hours would certainly pose no problem.

Yet Yu Tiangang cannot do so; when he draws his sword, it is immensely heavy and immensely strong, but at the same time, the consumption is enormous.

Within the time it takes to burn half an incense stick to one full incense stick, his sword essence will be exhausted.

Earlier, when Yu Tiangang and Tang Luo clashed, as time passed, he already began to feel his strength waning.

Meanwhile, Tang Luo showed no flush or breathlessness, as if nothing had happened.

This detail caught Yu Tiangang's attention, prompting him to stop.

It was absolutely not because he felt he could not win.

"So you're saying you have zero endurance?" Tang Luo asked.

"What do you mean I lack endurance!" Yu Tiangang shouted in rebuttal, "It's the nature of the Sword Intent of Force, and for matters that could be settled with a single sword strike, who needs ten or even a hundred strikes?"

"Is that the Sword Intent of Force lacking endurance?" Tang Luo said, "I feel nothing of the sort."

"That makes no sense." Yu Tiangang pondered in confusion, "Then why exactly?"

"Perhaps, he is not the Sword Intent of Force."

A voice came from afar.

Yu Tiangang's expression turned serious; he opened the door and stepped out, bowing respectfully: "Silkworm Cocoon Ink Elder."

Before him stood a man with a head of white hair, youthful in appearance, looking like a teenager, his frame slightly slender.

Yet the weathered maturity in his brow and eyes could not be concealed.

"No need for excessive courtesy." Ink Elder appeared easygoing, glanced at Tang Luo, and said, "I think he may not be the Sword Intent of Force."

"This, he clearly matches me exactly……" Yu Tiangang said, though his confidence seemed lacking.

Back then, Elder Mo confirmed that his sword intent was the extremely rare Power Sword Intent.

He even gave many suggestions, which helped Yu Tiangang greatly.

As for the Power Sword Intent, Yu Tiangang now dares to say that he is certainly not inferior to Elder Mo, after all, he specializes in it.

But in terms of breadth, even ten thousand Yu Tiangangs combined would still fall far short of Elder Mo.

Elder Mo looked at Tang Luo, who remained calm amidst honor or disgrace, with appreciation and anticipation in his eyes, and said: "I think your sword intent is stronger than the Power Sword Intent, a kind of sword intent never seen before, unprecedented in history!"