Chapter Fifty-Three: Supreme True Intent

But that is merely the ordinary world of the martial realm—the world in which common people live. Above this layer exists yet another, inhabited by masters, grandmasters, and powerful factions.

Take the realm of the False Elixir, for example. Who among the average martial folk even knows of its existence? In their understanding, the pinnacle is the Heaven-Man Grandmaster, and achieving the Innate stage already makes one a formidable figure.

Yet, in truth, within this second tier of the martial world, the Innate stage is insignificant. Its status is little better than a Postnatal practitioner among the common ranks. Even a Heaven-Man Grandmaster barely qualifies as an expert, while the true elite are those who reach the realm of the False Elixir.

Those without strength, background, or fortune—the ordinary denizens of the martial world—will never know of this. It is not that such knowledge is deliberately sealed away; rather, for these people, attaining the Innate level would already be a lifetime’s achievement, and to reach the Heaven-Man stage would be a stroke of ancestral fortune, bringing honor to their family.

For nearly all within this stratum, the Heaven-Man stage is the ultimate goal; beyond that, ninety-nine percent have no chance. Thus, whether they know of higher realms is irrelevant—the knowledge is of no practical use to them.

More importantly, compared to the first layer, the second is vastly harsher. In the ordinary martial world, a Heaven-Man is an unrivaled master. But in the upper echelons, he is but a mere foot soldier.

When the Calamity of Demons descends, Heaven-Men become fodder, False Elixir practitioners are the true warriors, and the ability to endure the calamity hinges on them. In this sphere, the fall and demise of a Heaven-Man is all too common.

Yet in the lower world, one rarely hears of such a master’s downfall. To put it plainly, this veil of secrecy serves as a shield. When the warriors of the second tier are nearly spent in the struggle against the calamity, it is the lower world that must replenish their numbers.

To put it vividly, the second-tier martial world is the front line, while the first is the reserve force—its purpose is to nurture the embers of hope.

Within the lower world, martial intent is divided into lower, middle, and upper grades. But in the higher world, while the lower ranks remain the same, above the upper grade exists yet another level: Supreme Intent.

This transcends even the true inheritors of sects; it is the seed from which one might reach the False Elixir stage. To cultivate Supreme Intent requires talent, fortune, and technique—none may be lacking.

Historically, anyone who attained Supreme Intent—so long as they survived—eventually reached the False Elixir stage. This is, aside from the legendary Island of Peerless Masters, the only other path known to advancement, the sole one in existence.

Yet sadly, to achieve Supreme Intent is unimaginably difficult. Centuries may pass without a single success—there are simply too few, and the odds are minuscule.

Thus, even knowing of this path is of little use. Among all the sects, only the sect leader is privy to this secret; none else are aware that above upper-grade intent, there is Supreme Intent.

The fear is that the young and arrogant, upon learning of this higher state, might recklessly attempt to condense it, wasting precious years of cultivation and ultimately ruining themselves.

Over time, talent would be squandered in vain pursuit of Supreme Intent; then, when the Calamity of Demons arrives and there is no reserve of fighting strength, how could one resist?

So, all the great powers of the martial world tacitly agree to hide this knowledge—never recording it, lest it be seen and spread. With their current circumstances, Supreme Intent is simply beyond their means.

If not for the Calamity of Demons, it would not matter. But since the calamity is a reality, such risks cannot be taken. Even so, to prevent this hard-won path from being lost, it is passed down by word of mouth from one sect leader to the next.

Nonetheless, though the knowledge is hidden, cultivating Supreme Intent is still possible. As long as one’s foundation is solid, the basics thoroughly mastered, and with sufficient talent—if one does not rush to advance, but completes the full path in the Postnatal stage—then, when breaking through to Innate and condensing intent, there remains a chance of forging Supreme Intent through sheer depth of foundation.

Was Zhou Yi’s foundation solid enough? Without question—two centuries of accumulated inner strength, refined to a higher quality; the Mountain-Supporting Saber at its limit; physical strength a hundred times that of ordinary men; divine force at tenfold. If such a foundation is not considered strong, what is?

Mountain Intent—Supreme Intent—suppresses a foe’s hundred years of inner power, and doubles one’s own strength.

This was what Zhou Yi sensed as he communed with his Innate True Intent.

There could be no doubt—what he had condensed was Supreme True Intent, beyond even the upper grade, and its effect was entirely worthy of the name.

To suppress an opponent’s hundred years of inner strength—this alone would be enough to drain the power of most, not just among the Innate, but even some Heaven-Men.

But this was not the aspect of his Innate True Intent Zhou Yi valued most. What he prized was the second effect: doubling his own strength.

This was not a fixed amount but a percentage increase.

This effect could be considered powerful or not, depending on the user—one’s original strength determines the effect. The greater the base, the greater the increase; the weaker, the less.

Is Zhou Yi’s strength great? Undeniably so. If his power is not considered formidable, whose could be?

Granted, this is relative—within the Innate realm, Zhou Yi is easily among the top three, if not the strongest.

For him, the second effect of this True Intent far surpasses the first.

Currently, he possesses two hundred years’ worth of inner power, equivalent to four hundred years for an ordinary practitioner. With the amplification of his True Intent, that becomes four hundred years—equal to eight hundred years’ worth.

Eight hundred years of inner strength—what does that mean? Even without other factors, Zhou Yi’s inner power alone would allow him to subdue most in the world.

Even against Heaven-Men, he felt that with his saber techniques, inner power alone would let him overpower a whole faction.

If he then adds the first effect of his True Intent—suppressing a hundred years of inner power—he reaches nine hundred years. With the strength of his Mountain-Supporting Saber, it would not be an exaggeration to say he is now akin to a thousand-year-old demon.

A monster with a millennium of inner strength!

“A thousand years of inner power…” Zhou Yi marveled. In such a brief span, he had acquired the equivalent of a millennium’s worth.

Not long ago, he was still fighting for a single Autumn Leaf Ganoderma, which could increase his strength by sixty years. Yet in the blink of an eye, he had reached this level.

The world changes so swiftly—Zhou Yi could only sigh in both awe and secret delight.