The Art of Chaotic Divinity

"Excellent! Truly a teachable talent!"

The longer the Great Desolation Sword Saint watched Ling Feng, the more satisfied he became. Only someone of Ling Feng's caliber was worthy of inheriting everything he had spent his life mastering.

Then came the eightieth strike.

***

The ninetieth strike!

Clang!

As their swords collided once again, Ling Feng's eyes suddenly lit up. It felt as though a flash of brilliance had streaked through his soul. At last, he had achieved enlightenment.

At the same moment, the aura surrounding him underwent a complete transformation.

"Hahaha! Well done, kid!"

The Great Desolation Sword Saint laughed without restraint. "Hahaha! Well done, kid! You've exceeded even my expectations. By the ninety-first strike, you've already stepped into the Domain of the Sword!"

This time, the Great Desolation Sword Saint no longer referred to himself as this Sword Saint. Instead, he simply said "I." This subtle change showed just how completely he had accepted Ling Feng.

With eyes filled with sincere gratitude, Ling Feng bowed deeply. "Senior, thank you for your guidance."

That battle had been less of a trial than a lesson. The Great Desolation Sword Saint had held nothing back, teaching him with everything he knew.

Without that guidance, advancing from a three-meter Forbidden Zone to the Domain of the Sword might have taken him another ten years, perhaps even longer.

The Great Desolation Sword Saint smiled faintly. "That was your own talent. If you and I had lived in the same era, your brilliance would have eclipsed mine. You would have overshadowed every genius of that generation and every martial practitioner would have lived beneath your shadow."

He chuckled and added, "Now I actually pity those born in your era. Standing before them is an insurmountable heavenly barrier."

Ling Feng rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Senior, you flatter me."

Receiving such praise from a legendary expert naturally left him feeling a little pleased.

"Whether I'm flattering you or not, I know exactly what I'm saying," the Great Desolation Sword Saint said. He stared at Ling Feng with wide eyes, almost as if he wanted to see what this young man was made of and continued, "I think I understand now why you were willing to give up the Ancestor-Dragon bloodline. With your talent, you're already superior to the tiny trace of Ancestor-Dragon bloodline that I obtained. If you had truly absorbed that drop of Ancestor-Dragon blood, who's to say which bloodline would have devoured the other?"

Ling Feng smiled awkwardly. "Uh..."

That was true. The Great Desolation Domain Dragon's bloodline might not necessarily have been able to devour the Blood of the Emperor.

The Great Desolation Sword Saint took a slow breath before asking,

"What is your name?"

Ling Feng answered respectfully, "This junior is Ling Feng."

Toward the senior who had helped him break through to a higher realm of the Sword Dao, he felt nothing but heartfelt respect.

The Great Desolation Sword Saint nodded. "Ling Feng. I'll remember that name. But it seems you haven't inherited anyone else's Sword Dao. Do you intend to forge your own path?"

"I do," Ling Feng said and nodded firmly as his eyes shone with unwavering determination."I know it's an incredibly difficult road, but I believe I can walk it."

The path ahead was filled with countless hardships. Even so, with the Eye of the Emperor allowing him to learn from countless schools of swordsmanship, he believed he could create a Sword Dao that belonged to him alone.

If he failed... Then it would only prove one thing. He simply wasn't strong enough.

Seeing the unwavering conviction in Ling Feng's eyes, the Great Desolation Sword Saint approved of him even more. He laughed heartily. "Good! Very good! A self-created Sword Dao isn't necessarily the strongest. But the strongest Sword Dao will always be one that was created by its own master. Kid, I like you!"

The Great Desolation Sword Saint smiled openly before letting out a quiet sigh. "It's just a pity that I fell too soon. I won't live to see the day you stand at the very peak."

Ling Feng smiled. "A person's life isn't measured by its length. Besides, Senior has already created a Sword Dao of your own. That's an achievement only one person in ten thousand could ever accomplish."

The Great Desolation Sword Saint laughed louder than ever. "Hahahahaha! If only you had been born tens of thousands of years earlier, or I had been born tens of thousands of years later. The moment we met, we'd have become kindred spirits." I'd have insisted on becoming sworn brothers with you!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became. Suddenly, he grabbed Ling Feng's arm and said, No, no. I'm only a remnant soul. I can't represent my true self. In that case, becoming sworn brothers with you shouldn't be a problem. Come on, Little Brother Ling! Let's become sworn brothers today!"

Ling Feng's lips twitched. "Senior... I don't think that's appropriate..."

The dignified, immortal-like image of the Great Desolation Sword Saint shattered completely. "What's inappropriate about it?"

The Great Desolation Sword Saint glared at him and asked, "Do you dislike me because I'm too old? Or because I'm only a remnant soul?"

"N... No!"

"Then let's do it!"

The Great Desolation Sword Saint pressed a hand onto Ling Feng's shoulder. Then he knelt beside him and declared loudly, "Heaven above bear witness! I, the Great Desolation Sword Saint, hereby become sworn brothers with Little Brother Ling, Ling Feng! We ask not to be born on the same day of the same month in the same year. But we pray to die on the same day of the same month in the same year!"

"Senior... but haven't you already..." Ling Feng looked like he was about to cry. Is this Great Desolation Sword Saint really this unreliable? Shouldn't he at least consider his own situation? He's already dead!

The Great Desolation Sword Saint grinned sheepishly before patting Ling Feng on the shoulder. "...That does sound a little problematic. Forget the details!" Come on, Little Brother. I'll show you something first."

Ling Feng could only shake his head with a wry smile. The Great Desolation Sword Saint no longer looked like the lofty, transcendent expert he had first imagined.

Even so, Ling Feng found himself admiring the man's straightforward personality. At the very least, he was genuine. There was nothing false or pretentious about him.