Chapter 102: Sword Energy- Power, Speed, Soft, and Hard

In the big market filled people walking around talking, and whispering 

"Hey, did you hear that young master Xiao refuses to be the young patriarch of the family?"

"Yeah, I also heard that. I don't what happened but he seems to be like an awakened genius. His cultivation has reached the second level of the Awakening Stage. I also heard that he has awakened unknown rank Martial Spirit. I was shocked to find that there were no stars on its hilt, so many people thought it would be trash Martial Spirit but every time, he summons his Martial Spirit the whole surrounding get affected."

"That's crazy, right? How can someone change so much in so little time."

They were near, an ancient-looking Chinese building but it was designed beautiful covered with pretty flowers, and many mythical beasts drawing. Suddenly, a large sound came from the house. The wooden windows got blown into pieces.

"Boom"

A crazy sword aura spreads wild, slashing and cutting everything in its path into the pieces. A young man with a handsome face, wearing a green Tang Suit (especially Chinese dress). His hair was long, tied in Chinese style looking very elegant. He was holding a golden sword in his right. He had a smile on his lips when he says "Finally now I am able to hold you."

Today, Xiao Zhen entered the last level of the Awakening Stage. Awakening Stage is divided into three sub-stages, the First being the Martial Spirit Awakening Stage. Second, being the Innate Ability Stage, and finally is one Martial Spirit stage.

Awakening Stage is different from other states; here person not only awakens his Martial Spirit but also attributes in his Spiritual Roots. Normally, a person also awakens his bloodline but only if they have. 

Xiao Zhen has awakened Supreme Sword Martial Spirit with unknown origin. He also awakened sword attributes in his spiritual roots which increased his understanding of swords. Not only that but he also got powerful enlightenment on the sword which made him walk on a real swordsman path.

At first, he was very confused why would such a powerful sword spirit be awakened by him? But later he understood this through Supreme Sword. He found his own destiny has slowly changed as he cultivates more, and all of this has a relationship with Fei. His own understanding was also increasing due to the contract.

Though every time, they cultivate one-fourth of spiritual energy is absorbed by the contract but compared to the gains such a small loss was nothing great. He also created forty dragon force threads in his dantian. 

"Swoosh" Suddenly, a sharp metal ripped through the air slicing towards Xiao Zhen.

As for Xia Zhen, his eyeballs moved to watch the blade ripping towards him. He moved his right hand, which was still holding his Martial Spirit. Does he intend to see how powerful is his sword? He draws his sword, rotating in; his sword blocked the enemy blade with a cross.

"Ding"

Only then he saw a complete sword, silver in color, and very fast. Both of their swords collide and created sparkles around them. The person who attacked was wearing black cloth and covered his face with a black cloth. Only his black eyes and black hair was seen. Seeing his attack blocked so easily, the man in black cloth frowned. 

He tried to push Xiao Zhen with force but he couldn't. So he decided to retreat some meters. He made a hoarse sound "As expected of genius, you can never imagine their power but you are still going to die."

Xiao Zhen smiled, and withdraws his martial spirit, holding an iron sword; he said "Please kill me"

"Hey, are you really courting death?" An assassin said in a hoarse voice but his voice contained anger in it. He was truly angry at the moment because of his enemy act.

"Swordsman expects nothing but a life and death battle in each fight. Either he dies or his enemy, but if he dies then he is not a great swordsman. As for my sword, I am a sword why would I need something better than me." Xiao Zhen didn't laugh only smiled and swings his sword in the air.

"Oh! Then show me something about your swordsmanship" Assassin, howled and his legs sprinted towards his enemy. Sword in his hand fluttered in the air sliced towards Xiao Zhen at a fast speed.

"Twin Swords, Cross Sword"

His sword was so fast; it even created a shadow near it that looks exactly like his own sword. Both swords made a cross and slashed at Xiao Zhen though only one sword was landing a hit at Xiao Zhen.

"Let me show you, my sword progress." Xiao flapped his palm in the air creating a tremor around him, with his action small sword made out of sword energy were condensed that flown towards Twin Swords. These tiny swords made out of sword energy broke the image of the Twin swords before its attack land on Xiao Zhen. (Sword Energy = Sword Qi)

The moment his second sword disappeared, his attack failed so he forcefully stopped himself. Unexpected to him, Xiao Zhen didn't take this perfect opportunity to attack him. He sighs a relief, then his face suddenly changed remembering the previous scene, his voice shuttered "How—can you reach Sword Energy Realm. It's impossible. At most you should have reached Sword Intent Realm. How could you?"

He was terrified, he never thought of fighting someone who has reached the sword energy realm. Anyone who has reached such a realm is already at the top of the Zhen Qi dynasty. Without any hesitation, he tried to flee. But suddenly Xiao Zhen's voice reached his ear.

"Why do you want to run away? It's not like I'm going to kill you. You have no bad Karma even though you are an assassin. This piqued my interest. As assassin kills many people, and you also have killing intent gathered by killing people but you have not bad Karma. This surprised me, so the only explanation is 'you are not a bad person'." 

Xiao Zhen's words stopped him; he looked at Xiao Zhen face deeply, and finally asked with a solemn expression, "How do you know?" If another party truly knows him then he will kill him even if he dies.

"Don't worry. I know nothing about you but recently, I got a very interesting ability that can let me see through the truth of this world including your Karma. You don't know anything about the Karma but I want to ask, what drives you so crazy to kill a good person even though you have never killed a good person in your life." Xiao Zhen didn't care about his words; he made an indifferent expression and asked.

This made the assassin silent, he knows the truth. He also knows Xiao Zhen is a good person after all he was the first one to reach a stone village and save those common people who literally have no connections with cultivators. That was the life they choose, even though many of them could cultivate.

So he very silent but he didn't intend to tell truth. Without any hesitation, he fled. Seeing him leaving, Xiao Zhen didn't stop him but helplessly shakes his head. He doesn't want to be very nosy in others matter but this time he felt very different. His inner thoughts were telling him to go. 

Finally, he sighed. He released sword energy around his foot, and he disappeared in the blink of an eye. This move was something he created after gaining a vast amount of knowledge sword. This move was called Sword Steps. In this sword move, he uses his sword energy to increases his speed to the extreme. 

It's like Speed Intent but without intent. In fact, he has reached sword energy without reaching the sword intent realm. As for why only he knows. His sword energy has a speed attributes but this looks nothing like speed intent because this speed was possible only due to spiritual energy that was converted into the sword energy.

While speeding up silently, he thought 'I reached sword energy realm without entering sword intent realm. If this gets out then everyone will be shocked but truth is, the first realm of the sword is Sword Energy. As for Sword Aura, if you are born to be swordsmen then you don't have to practice it, just realize it. Previously I wasn't born to be a swordsman but thanks to boss, I changed my destiny.'

'For now, I have gained two innate abilities from Supreme Sword. First is Sword Eyes, and the second is Life and Death Sword. I got Sword Eyes at the Innate ability stage so I'm a little familiar with it, and according to the description, these sword eyes are upgraded with my sword realm. And one day I will be able to see everything in this world. But Life and Death Sword, I know nothing about it.'

'Now I have reached the third stage of Sword Energy. Sword Energy is a mixer of four attributes such as Power, Speed, Soft, and Hard. Among these, I have only gained some insight into Speed and little on Power. As for Soft and Hard, I truly don't know anything about it.

Power gives true power for the offense in my attacks, Speed provides fast reaction and fast movement for me. As for the sword, I am a sword, one with a sword. So increasing my power and speed will be enough. As for Soft and Hard, I only know they make sword moves swift and rigid respectively. It seems I need some opportunities, fortunately, after five days I can enter Secret Realm.'

Xiao Zhen thought with little expectation in his heart but his words as truth. He realized one truth 'People do not choose weapon; Weapon chooses them.' This is the same with Fei even though he hasn't realized it yet.