Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 422 - 397: Sneak Attack on Tai’a Academy

All around Qin Qing, countless strands of Sword Qi burst forth in an instant.

This Sword Qi, formed by the explosive condensation of Spiritual Power, was fused with Sword Intent that seemed almost tangible.

"Splash!"

Surrounding Sword Qi, like a tide, converged toward him, constantly colliding with the Sword Qi around Qin Qing.

The pressure grew more and more immense.

But Qin Qing’s gaze remained resolute, pushing the Blood Burning Secret Technique to its limit!

"Qin Qing..."

Liu Hongxue, held in Qin Qing’s arms, was momentarily distracted, staring blankly at his steadfast face.

Finally—

Qin Qing took that step forward. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He broke through the layers of Sword Qi’s blockade and entered the core region of the Sword Cleansing Celestial Pond.

The dense layers of Sword Qi that had surrounded them vanished in an instant.

On Qin Qing’s body, six or seven bloody holes from the swords appeared.

His arms, legs, and abdomen were all wounded.

"Qin Qing, are you crazy?"

Liu Hongxue looked at Qin Qing with a mix of reproach and anger. It was for her that Qin Qing had taken such a great risk.

Even just now, a few strands of Sword Qi had nearly cost Qin Qing his life.

"Heh heh..."

Qin Qing grinned and said to Liu Hongxue, "I promised to bring you into the Sword Cleansing Celestial Pond for a baptism, and since I promised, how could I not deliver?"

In that moment, Liu Hongxue couldn’t help but feel stirred.

Is this what it meant to keep one’s word?

"Qin Qing, thank you."

Liu Hongxue whispered softly.

"Thank me for what? Didn’t you say before, between us, there’s no need for that word!" Qin Qing chuckled and then said, "Alright, make good use of the time, and undergo the baptism!"

"Okay!"

Liu Hongxue nodded.

Without another word, she found a spot and quickly settled down to meditate.

Qin Qing also refocused, immersing his mind once more in cultivation.

Though they were in water, for these Martial Artists, there was no difference between being in water and being on land; they didn’t need to breathe even if submerged for extended periods.

At this Realm, they could completely satisfy the body’s needs by absorbing and refining the Spiritual Energy from heaven and earth.

Soon, that mysterious power enveloped Qin Qing once again, seeping into his body and continuously cleansing and purifying his Physical Body and Divine Sense.

"What exactly is this power?"

Qin Qing was puzzled by this force, as it was unlike any he had encountered in his cultivation.

It was entirely different from cultivating Spiritual Power.

"It’s somewhat similar to Spiritual Power, but it’s not Spiritual Power... It’s more like a higher form of power than Spiritual Power!"

"What on earth is this power?"

"Could it be... the power that Master once mentioned, beyond that of the Martial Saint?"

Qin Qing recalled that not too long ago, his master Zhu Jirong had told him about higher levels of power that existed beyond the Martial Saint.

These levels of power exceeded Qin Qing’s understanding of the Martial Arts.

"Perhaps it is a power of that higher level..."

Qin Qing’s mind raced with thoughts, but he quickly dismissed them.

Currently, he was only a Martial Cultivator in the Golden Core Realm. Above him lay the Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, and the Cataclysmic, and he hadn’t even reached the Martial Saint of the Cataclysmic Realm, so contemplating higher realms of power was unnecessary.

What mattered most now was the Sword Pond baptism.

Qin Qing and Liu Hongxue soon entered the state of baptism...

Countless baptismal forces surged into their bodies.

Meanwhile, in Qin Qing’s mind, more and more strands of Sword Intent kept appearing...

Qin Qing’s Divine Sense was also operating at its utmost, as he was rapidly comprehending these strands of Sword Intent.

During this time, within his body, the Sword Intent originally acquired from ingesting the Sword Fruit also began surging into his mind at this moment.

The portion of Sword Intent brought by the Sword Fruit was noticeably milder than that which was flowing in from the outside, perhaps because it had been consumed through the Sword Fruit.

Similarly, this part of Sword Intent was also much easier to comprehend.

As Qin Qing continued to comprehend each strand of Sword Intent, his Golden Core was also growing continuously.

The Golden Core can only grow by comprehending the True Intention, thus advancing.

Therefore, Qin Qing’s cultivation was also rapidly advancing.

"Humming..."

Finally, with a tremble in the void.

Around Qin Qing, layers of ripples silently spread out.

Within his Dantian, that Golden Core also began to radiate a fourth color!

This signified that Qin Qing had entered the Golden Core Fourth Realm!

In the One-Line Sky, Qin Qing, because of his comprehension of the True Intention of the Sword Dao, had directly advanced from the first level of the Golden Core Realm to the third, and now, he had broken through once again!

From the third level of the Golden Core Realm, he ascended to the fourth level.

Although it was only a minor realm, it meant stepping into the middle stage from the preliminary stage of the Golden Core Realm.

His own strength had inevitably been greatly enhanced.

"Sigh..."

Qin Qing exhaled softly, forming a bubble in the water.

When he was at the third level of the Golden Core Realm, he could instantly kill Wu Aonian of the Lion Eagle Sect; now, facing Wu Aonian, there was even less suspense.

Qin Qing continued to receive the baptism.

The baptism of Sword Intent was a tremendous boon for a Sword Cultivator like him, allowing for direct enhancement of cultivation!

However, just at this moment.

A sudden sense of danger enveloped Qin Qing.

Qin Qing abruptly opened his eyes and his entire body darted to the side.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh..."

Right where Qin Qing had just been, three beams of sword light slashed past rapidly, trailing behind them.

Not far away, a figure stood there, staring coldly at Qin Qing.

It was Ouyang Xi!

The genius disciple of Tai’a Academy, Ouyang Xi...

The one who had just made the move was none other than Ouyang Xi.

Qin Qing’s cold eyes swept towards Ouyang Xi.

He had not expected Ouyang Xi to strike at him.

After all, they were currently in the midst of the Sword Pond Baptism.

Opportunities like the Sword Pond Baptism could be said to come once in a thousand years, yet Ouyang Xi had forsaken such an opportunity, choosing to strike at Qin Qing at this moment.

However... Although Qin Qing had not anticipated it, he was not completely unprepared.

Maintaining vigilance against external dangers is a state that a Martial Cultivator must always keep.

Therefore, despite the swiftness of Ouyang Xi’s attack just now, it had been evaded by Qin Qing!

Ouyang Xi’s eyes also flashed with surprise as she watched Qin Qing, not expecting him to dodge her attack while in a state of cultivation.

Immediately after, she wielded her hand again and a Flying Sword flew from her grip, accompanied by more than a dozen clusters of Sword Qi, reflecting dazzling lights in the water, and making another lethal approach towards Qin Qing.

Qin Qing quickly channeled his Spiritual Power, his Martial Soul manifested, and the Blood Burning Secret Technique erupted directly!

The Qing Ming Sword in his hand instantly let out a howl, a series of Sword Qi beams meeting Ouyang Xi’s.

By now, Qin Qing was certain that Ouyang Xi must have been acting under orders to attack him.

"Tai’a Academy, Zhao Wuji, Zheng Yuanhai... Are you trying to utterly annihilate me and completely extinguish the hope of Wind-Fire Academy in the battle of Tianyong?"