Chapter 112 Fifth-Level Sword Concept

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"1st level Earth concept..."

Arthur stood as he felt the increased connection that he felt with the earth beneath his feet.

He sensed that with this connection, he could somewhat manipulate the earth to an extent.

With that understanding, he wasted no time and raised his hand upwards.

*Grun!*

An earth wall was formed by his actions, and although the wall was less than a meter tall it at least signified Arthur's comprehension of the elusive earth concept.

Concept: It was the next level after one fully comprehends the intent of a dao.

When the comprehension of an element surpasses intent and reaches the level of concept, the cultivator gains the ability to manipulate and 'construct' said element.

Arthur sent the earth wall down with a thought.

*gan!*

He thought about what he could do now with his new ability and closed his eyes to concentrate.

'Although I am only at the first level, I can still construct...'

What it means to construct an element is that the cultivator uses his elemental concept to call on the element's essence that fills the atmosphere.

Then he would combine and condense said elements.

Arthur stretched his hand and concentrated deeply. He needed some amount of time to get it done as his concept level was too low.

But soon, tiny specs of yellow light appeared around his palm and began to rotate above Arthur's hand.

Slowly, these specs of light began to fuse and Arthur said, "Fuse."

His words seemed to quickly the fusion and in an instant, something miraculous happened as with a flash of yellow light, all the lights fused and in their place was a floating tiny rock.

'Success!'

With the manipulation of earth's essence energy in the atmosphere Arthur made a rock.

This was just the start.

As long as his comprehension of the Earth increases he would be able to create greater and more powerful things.

And at a sufficiently high level, he could make rocks that are as hard as metal.

Arthur was distracted for a second and the rock in his hand suddenly dissolved into dust.

At the moment he can not make a permanent construct of the earth but it was a start.

'This isn't all...'

Arthur entered a meditative state again as he recalled the feeling he got from practicing the Sword Dance Techniques.

The sword dance technique had a very high insight into the five elements that it was based upon.

The understanding within had helped Arthur unlock the next level of intent for those five elements.

'Fire.'

Arthur commanded and fire elemental essence fused above his palm and a tiny flickering flame was formed.

'Water.'

Blue specs of light condensed from water's elemental essence and a big drop of water was formed.

'Wind.'

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A small rotating mass of air was formed.

'And...lightning.'

*crackle!*

Violet sparks of electricity echoed in the silent plain as a violet-colored tiny lightning bolt appeared above Arthur's hand.

'With this, I have taken the next big step in the comprehension of the elemental dao.'

'Now that I know how it feels, it will be much easier to advance the others.'

Arthur still had to advance his comprehension of the six other essence energies in his cores.

After the pleasant breakthrough, Arthur returned to beneath the tree and picked up the other manuals.

And continued his study of sword techniques.

"Next..."

Sword Control Technique.

The sword control teaches one how to establish a connection with many swords and control them using just a thought.

It was an obscure method that fuses the cultivator's unique essence energy signature, and also for mental control.

But Arthur did not need to use his essence energy as he had something better.

He has spiritual power.

With his spirit power, he could use the real sword control technique which only needed him to leave a mental imprint on the swords.

He can imprint on as many swords as he can handle.

Arthur brought out ten identical swords from his storage ring and lined them up in front of him.

One of the requirements to practice this technique is that the swords used must be a set.

It was very hard to see a sword set of ten identical swords and Arthur would have to get a custom-made set if he wanted more swords.

'But this will do for now.'

Arthur studied the manual and quickly understand the technique it used to leave an imprint on the sword.

Within a short amount of time, ten swords began to float in front of Arthur as he controlled them with spiritual power.

"Next, is the array."

Now that Arthur could control the swords as easily as breathing, the next thing was the sword array.

The sword control technique would be bland if all it did was control a bunch of swords.

So it came with a sword array that can be used to attack and defend at the same time.

....

Time passed and Arthur finally mastered the technique.

"The Revolving Sword Array!"

The ten swords flew around Arthur as though without any specific movement pattern.

They appeared chaotic but there was a barely noticeable pattern around them.

This technique helped Arthur cover his blind spots. And was a very hard one to defend against as its attacks were practically unpredictable.

After that, Arthur looked at the next sword art: The False Sword Domain.

He found out that it requires some knowledge of runes before he could practice so he dropped it for now.

He picked up the Heaven Severing Sword Technique.

It also had a requirement that he had yet to fulfill which was having comprehended Sword Concept up to the sixth level.

Arthur studied it because it had insights into the sword that will help speed up his breakthrough.

Days passed and became weeks and Arthur closed the Heaven Severing Sword Technique.

"Hah..."

He let out a breath which was accompanied by a powerful sword aura.

When this aura appeared, all the grass within fifty meters of Arthur we're suddenly cut into two.

"Fifth-level sword concept."

Arthur didn't know exactly how much had passed and decided to check up on Luke and the others before resuming his training.

With a thought, he left the world within the Serene Palace Painting but not before he sensed the figure hidden behind a tree watching him go.

'Cora...'

At this point, he discovered that even Cora could not sense his spirit power.

He chalked it up to the fact that his soul was more powerful, or that it was an effect of the soul gem.

'This will be very useful,' Arthur thought as he appeared in the hall in his assigned apartment.

With this discovery, he could keep his spirit power activated around him at all times and no one in the sect would be able to sense it.

'Even those old men wouldn't be able to...'

Arthur was glad about this discovery as it wasn't like this before. So he concluded it had to be an effect of the Soul Gem.

"A welcome development indeed."

At this time he sensed that no one was around.

He had allowed the three young men to train at his place instead of theirs so he was expecting to meet at least one of them.

'Oh, here they come...'

Arthur's spirit power scanned outside and extended to the surroundings and 'saw' Luke and the other two approaching.

"Damn it! Those Blood Sword Faction members are taking it too far!" Sun Wukong complained.

"Don't worry about it. When Master returns they will be taken care of. I am sure he has a plan." Luke's tone was calm as he spoke but even he wasn't so happy.

The members of their faction have been facing harassment everywhere in the sect.

Especially the recently joined inner court members.

While lamenting on the current situation, they entered the hall and sound Arthur seated within.

"Master, you're back!" Luke said happily.

"Thank the heavens, now we can probably take some effective actions against them." Balor was of the same belief that Arthur had a solution.

Arthur was a bit surprised at how much confidence they had in him.

"What happened?" He questioned to get detailed answers.

It turns out that the members of his faction were being harassed wherever they went.

The Blood Sword Faction was oppressing them at every turn.

And the worst part of it all was that recently, the groups of the Invincible Sword Faction that went to train in the mountains and hunt Spirit Beasts, were ambushed many times and a lot of them sustained serious injuries.

Arthur frowned a bit at the last information.

"This means that they have finally begun to use the spies that they planted in our faction," Arthur said.

"Yes, Master."

"I see. Well, in that case, stop all activities to train in the mountains. I will transfer some contribution points that will be enough to purchase healing medicines from the alchemy for those who are injured."

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