Cultivating with Top Enlightenment

He looked somewhat surprised.

Indeed, the Blade Demon lives up to his reputation. From the flourishing Blade Intent, one could tell that this Blade Intent is unparalleled, possessing an eerie demonic essence, as if the blade had its own life.

"However... it's still half a step away from the realm where everything can become a blade. It seems my guess was right; he's challenging the world's strongest to perfect his Blade Intent and then use it to enter the Martial Saint Realm?"

Ning Qi felt eager to try.

This was a formidable opponent, one that the likes of the Heart Inquiry Sword couldn't even hold a candle to.

Perhaps battling such a strong opponent could yield him some gains, shortening his time to step into the Celestial Human Realm.

Since the Blade Demon was already here.

He was probably about to issue a challenge.

But quickly, Ning Qi was taken aback.

He saw the Blade Demon slowly retract his gaze, and the once flourishing Blade Intent on him gradually retracted. His dark pupils carried a joyous gleam, that of 'meeting a soulmate over wine', 'a worthy opponent has arrived'.

He grinned silently.

It was the battle between True Man Tianjian and the Heart Inquiry Sword that spread across the world and inspired him to gain enlightenment through combat. Originally, he had placed the Sun Chasing Sword King as the final target, the ultimate battle, but upon seeing the True Martial Sword Stele today, he realized he had greatly underestimated this True Man Tianjian.

"Such Sword Intent is unparalleled. Even my Demon Blade Intent falls short by half a measure. Such an opponent is worthy of my full strength!"

The Blade Demon was intensely fervent.

He had already considered retreating.

Not out of fear of True Man Tianjian, but because he felt a senseless battle should be avoided. He wasn't at his peak state yet and needed to present his strongest self to fight this unparalleled swordsman he had never met before, out of respect for both sides.

He turned around.

And walked away slowly.

No one knew the Blade Demon had been here.

Ning Qi looked slightly bewildered.

He had been prepared for a battle but hadn't expected the Blade Demon to retreat. But after a moment's thought, Ning Qi understood the Blade Demon's intentions.

He chuckled silently, not taking it to heart.

Whenever the Blade Demon decided to come would not affect him. But since he chose not to challenge at this moment, in two months' time, he himself would also be far different than he was now.

"However... he glanced in my direction earlier. Did he notice me? Or was it just instinct?"

Ning Qi shook his head slightly, and then also departed gracefully.

If there is no battle, so be it. Going home for enlightenment is a pleasant affair as well.

No one knew that True Man Tianjian and the Blade Demon had already quietly confronted each other in the shadows once.

At this moment.

As the Blade Demon departed, the Blade Intent subsided. The True Martial Sword Stele returned to tranquility, and many were left puzzled, not knowing what had transpired. Numerous speculations remained baseless, unable to be verified, leaving them with no choice but to continue contemplating the Sword Stele.

...

Several days passed.

The Blade Demon had yet to make an appearance at True Martial Mountain, leaving some who were calm originally unable to figure out what was happening.

"What's going on? Has the Blade Demon decided to retire to the woods?"

"Or, do you think it's possible that the Blade Demon simply doesn't want to challenge True Man Tianjian right now? After all, even though True Man Tianjian ranks fourteenth on the Celestial Being List, the whole world knows his strength is not just limited to being fourteenth."

This speculation abruptly ended two days later.

Everyone was stunned.

Simply because.

The Blade Demon appeared again, but not at True Martial Mountain; instead, he challenged the twelfth-ranked Night King Blade Venerate on the Celestial Being List.

This time.

Finally, someone withstood the Blade Demon's first strike, though only for one more hit.

For a time, the world was in an uproar, filled with excitement.

They realized that the Blade Demon had skipped over True Man Tianjian, which suggested what?

It indicated that in the Blade Demon's mind, True Man Tianjian was stronger than the Night King Blade Venerate.

"This is obvious; it shows the Blade Demon is challenging from the weaker to the stronger in order."

"But do you think the Blade Demon decided to bypass True Man Tianjian from the start, or only after reaching True Martial Mountain?"

"I think it was a decision made after reaching True Martial Mountain."

Some noticed certain clues.

Firstly, there was the mysterious manifestation of Sword Intent from the True Martial Sword Stele a few days back.

Then, this time, the interval between Blade Demon's challenges was unusual, significantly longer than before.

With these conjectures,

True Man Tianjian's loyal supporters became agitated instantly.

"It seems the Blade Demon has decided to regard True Man Tianjian as the ultimate opponent! This indicates that in his heart, True Man Tianjian is the true first swordsman!"

The supporters of the Sun Chasing Sword King naturally disagreed.

The two sides argued fiercely, yet neither could convince the other.

Thusly,

Amidst the attention on the Blade Demon's challenges, a new anticipation grew—who would be the final opponent chosen by the Blade Demon.

Concerning this,

Ning Qi merely shook his head with a laugh.

To him, none of this mattered.

He knew the Blade Demon wouldn't come to challenge for a while, so he focused on refining his spirit, aiming to step into the Celestial Being Realm within two months.

...

Time passed quietly.

More than half a month went by again.

The Blade Demon challenged the tenth-ranked Proud Heaven Sword on the Celestial Being List. The strength of those ranked in the top ten was clearly on another level; the Blade Demon delivered five strikes, while Proud Heaven Sword countered with three swords, but ultimately was severely injured and retreated.

The Blade Demon's momentum was more resplendent than the sun at noon.

Everyone's eyes were on him, and the feast of duels between unparalleled masters kept the entire Great Yan in a constant uproar.

At this point,

only the eighth-ranked Divine Wind Blade Venerate, the sixth-ranked Vast Sea Sword Sect, and the fifth-ranked Sun Chasing Sword King, along with True Man Tianjian, were left, totaling just four matches. But so far, no one had seen the Blade Demon's full strength.