To truly comprehend the essence of swordsmanship, one must engage in practical training, and even real combat.

Of course, to cultivate a sword technique to the point of grasping its true sword intent is extremely difficult—not everyone can achieve it; it depends on individual talent.

Those with high aptitude may, through diligent practice, possibly comprehend the true sword intent. Those lacking in talent may never achieve it, no matter how long they train.

William Harper’s talent in swordsmanship... is almost monstrous!

Just by practicing the sword technique in his mind, William Harper’s mastery of the Gale Sword Technique already far surpassed that of David Cooper, who had trained for much longer.

With actual training, his mastery of the Gale Sword Technique advanced by leaps and bounds. William Harper seemed to be the very embodiment of swordsmanship, a peerless prodigy born for the sword. In just one day, he had already cultivated the Gale Sword Technique to its peak.

After only three days, William Harper had completely mastered the Gale Sword Technique and comprehended the ‘True Meaning of the Gale’ within it.

When William Harper grasped the true meaning of the gale, not only did his Gale Sword Technique reach perfection, but when he applied the true meaning to himself, he felt as if he had become a gust of wind, his speed becoming incredibly swift.

Once a sword technique is cultivated to the level of true sword intent, there is no longer any distinction between upper and lower parts. Even without practicing the lower part of the Gale Sword Technique, William Harper’s mastery was no weaker than if he had combined both parts, and was in no way inferior to any advanced sword art.

At the back of the Seventh Peak, William Harper sheathed his sword, calmed his mind, and sensed the cultivation within his body.

In just three days, the strength of the sword energy within William Harper had increased significantly, and his cultivation at the fourth level of the Condensing Origin Realm was now extremely solid.

This was closely related to his complete mastery of the Gale Sword Technique. For a swordsman, cultivating a sword technique to the level of true sword intent is also a form of cultivation.

“I need to train in more sword techniques and comprehend more true sword intents. That way, I can greatly accelerate my cultivation speed!” William Harper thought to himself.

At Ancient Sword Sect, there are rules for outer disciples’ martial arts training: at each stage, you can only practice one sword technique for free!

If you want to learn more sword techniques, you can! Make contributions to the sect and exchange contribution points for them.

Sect contribution points can only be earned by rendering meritorious service or completing tasks for the sect. William Harper currently had none.

“I’ll go find Mentor Sarah Bennett and see if I can learn more sword techniques first, and make up the contribution points later!” William Harper muttered to himself.

Right now, William Harper was in a period of rapid cultivation growth. Spending time on sect tasks would be too much of a waste, and besides, his current strength... wasn’t great enough—doing sect tasks would be too dangerous!

On the way back from the rear to the front of the mountain, Henry Clark stood in the path, blocking William Harper.

When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred.

As soon as their gazes met, they sharpened, and invisible sword energy seemed to clash in the air.

“William Harper, you even survived the Fall Sword Cliff—you really are hard to kill!” Henry Clark stared coldly at William Harper for a while and said.

William Harper also stared coldly at Henry Clark. On the Seventh Peak, William Harper was not afraid of Henry Clark making a move. Besides... with his current strength, even though Henry Clark was at the seventh level of the Condensing Origin Realm, William Harper no longer feared him at all.

“Henry Clark, your best chance to kill me has already passed. Next time... it’ll be my turn. I wonder if you’ll be so lucky!” William Harper said calmly, looking at Henry Clark as if he were already dead.

“Heh heh...”

Henry Clark let out a cold laugh. He was quite displeased that William Harper hadn’t died and had instead experienced a sudden surge in cultivation, but he forced a smile and said:

“You won’t get that chance, William Harper. Since I couldn’t finish you off, I’ll just leave you for my brother to deal with. Heh heh... At the end of this year, are you going back to Autumn Leaf City?

If you don’t go back, my brother will take your sister as his concubine and then swallow up the Yang family. From then on, Autumn Leaf City will be ruled by the Ma family. If you do go back, my brother will be waiting for you in Autumn Leaf City, and it will become your grave.

My brother is already a third-level Blood Transformation Realm expert, and there’s not much time left until the end of the year. Time is short—even if you’re a peerless genius, you can’t possibly catch up to my brother. So, will you go back or not?”

“I will go back! But you won’t be around to see it!” William Harper replied calmly. Henry Clark was momentarily stunned—what did he mean by ‘won’t be around to see it’?

William Harper strode forward like a sharp sword, unstoppable, walking straight toward Henry Clark: “You won’t live to the end of the year. I will kill you! Wash your neck and wait!”

William Harper walked right past Henry Clark without stopping, leaving Henry Clark staring at his back in shock, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

Chapter 13: Condensing Mountain Sword Technique

“William Harper, do you need something from your mentor?” Sarah Bennett looked at the young man before her, her eyes full of comfort and admiration.

In her first year as an outer sect elder, she became the swordsmanship mentor of the Seventh Peak, just in time to be responsible for William Harper’s cohort.

Sarah Bennett had personally witnessed the brilliance of William Harper’s perfect sword talent when he first entered the sect, as well as his decline over time.

Once, Sarah Bennett had high hopes for William Harper, hoping to teach a genius swordsman. But her hope turned to despair—until recently, when she once again saw hope in William Harper.