The next morning, the Heavenly Sword Palace was more crowded than ever.
News of the first round had spread throughout the sect overnight. Disciples who had missed the opening battles hurried toward the Heavenly Arena, hoping to witness the next stage of the tournament.
The arena mountain seemed alive with movement.
Thousands of cultivators gathered along the stone stands, their conversations buzzing with excitement.
"Did you hear about yesterday's matches?"
"That masked swordsman defeated Guo Ming in a single strike."
"And Lin Feng… three moves to defeat Zhao Liang."
"I think both of them might reach the later rounds."
Rumors circulated endlessly.
Yet the disciples who had actually witnessed the battles knew something deeper was happening.
The tournament had revealed more than simple strength.
It had revealed true sword cultivators.
At the center of the arena, the massive stone tablet once again displayed the names of the remaining participants.
Only half of the original competitors had advanced.
Those who remained stood quietly in the participant area.
Each of them carried the aura of a powerful swordsman.
Lin Feng stood calmly near the edge of the platform, observing the arena.
The morning sunlight illuminated the ancient battlefield.
Sword scars covered the stone floor, each one a silent record of battles fought over countless years.
Lin Feng's hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword.
His breathing was slow and steady.
A sword cultivator's greatest weapon was not merely the blade itself.
It was the heart behind the sword.
Moments later, a powerful presence descended upon the arena.
The Grand Elder had arrived.
Behind him stood several members of the Elder Council.
The atmosphere instantly quieted.
Thousands of disciples fell silent.
The Grand Elder stepped forward and raised his hand.
"Today…"
"…the tournament enters its second stage."
His voice echoed clearly across the arena.
"The Sword Intent Trial."
The moment those words were spoken, a ripple of excitement passed through the crowd.
Many disciples leaned forward eagerly.
The Sword Intent Trial was one of the most important stages of the Heavenly Sword Tournament.
Unlike normal duels, this trial tested something deeper than strength.
It tested the will of the sword cultivator.
The Grand Elder gestured toward the center of the arena.
The stone floor suddenly trembled.
A large circular platform slowly rose from the ground.
Ancient runes glowed across its surface.
At the center of the platform stood a tall stone pillar covered in countless sword marks.
A faint pressure radiated from it.
Even the spectators in the stands could feel the sharp aura in the air.
The Grand Elder continued calmly.
"This pillar contains the accumulated sword intent of past masters of the Heavenly Sword Palace."
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Some of those masters had lived hundreds of years ago.
Their sword intent was legendary.
"To pass the trial," the Grand Elder said, "you must walk from the edge of the platform to the pillar at the center."
"Only those whose sword hearts remain unshaken will succeed."
A murmur passed through the remaining participants.
They could already feel the pressure radiating from the platform.
For weaker cultivators, even standing near it would be difficult.
The Grand Elder raised his hand again.
"The trial begins now."
The first participant stepped forward.
A young disciple with a confident expression.
He walked onto the circular platform.
At first, nothing happened.
But after a few steps
His body suddenly trembled.
The pressure of countless ancient sword intents descended upon him.
Invisible blades seemed to surround him from every direction.
The disciple clenched his teeth and forced himself forward.
Five steps.
Ten steps.
Then suddenly
He collapsed to one knee.
Sweat poured down his face.
"No… I can't…"
A moment later, he staggered backward and stepped off the platform.
A disappointed sigh spread through the crowd.
The trial had barely begun.
Yet someone had already failed.
More disciples stepped forward one after another.
Some managed to reach halfway.
Others collapsed almost immediately.
The invisible pressure was terrifying.
Even spectators watching from the stands could feel the faint edge of the ancient sword intent.
High above the arena, the elders watched quietly.
One of them spoke softly.
"This trial always reveals the truth."
Another elder nodded.
"Only those with strong sword hearts can endure this pressure."
As the trial continued, several powerful disciples finally began stepping onto the platform.
Han Qiu was among the first.
The Ice Sword Prodigy walked forward calmly.
The moment he stepped onto the platform, frost-like sword energy spread around him.
The invisible pressure attempted to suppress him.
But Han Qiu continued walking steadily.
Ten steps.
Twenty steps.
Thirty steps.
Finally, he reached the pillar at the center.
The crowd erupted with cheers.
"Senior Brother Han Qiu passed!"
"He's incredible!"
Han Qiu simply turned and stepped off the platform without speaking.
Soon after, Yun Mei stepped forward.
Her movements were graceful yet firm.
Despite the overwhelming pressure, she reached the pillar as well.
More strong disciples followed.
One after another, the true geniuses of the sect revealed themselves.
Finally
Lin Feng stepped forward.
Several disciples immediately began whispering.
"That's Lin Feng."
"Let's see how far he goes."
Lin Feng walked calmly toward the platform.
The moment his foot touched the stone surface
The pressure descended.
Thousands of ancient sword intents pressed toward him.
Each one carried the will of a past master.
The invisible blades surrounded him from every direction.
Most cultivators would feel fear under such pressure.
But Lin Feng's expression remained unchanged.
His sword heart was steady.
His breathing calm.
He took a step forward.
Then another.
The pressure increased.
But Lin Feng's sword intent quietly spread around him.
Not aggressively.
Not violently.
Simply… steadily.
It was like a calm river flowing against the storm.
The ancient sword intents pressed down harder.
Yet Lin Feng continued walking.
Ten steps.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Soon, he reached the center pillar.
A faint ripple spread through the ancient stone.
High above the arena, several elders exchanged glances.
"That boy…"
"…passed too easily."
Lin Feng rested his hand briefly against the pillar.
He could feel countless sword wills lingering inside it.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Yet none of them rejected him.
After a moment, he turned and walked off the platform.
The spectators watched him with new respect.
But the trial was not finished yet.
One final participant stepped forward.
The masked swordsman.
The arena fell quiet again.
Everyone watched carefully as he walked onto the platform.
The ancient sword intent immediately surged toward him.
For a brief moment
The pressure in the arena seemed to intensify.
But the masked swordsman didn't slow down.
His steps were smooth.
Calm.
Almost effortless.
He walked directly to the center pillar.
Without hesitation.
Without resistance.
It was as if the ancient sword intents… avoided him.
A chill spread through the crowd.
Even Lin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.
Something about that man's sword aura was strange.
Very strange.
The masked swordsman rested his hand against the pillar briefly.
Then he turned and stepped off the platform.
The trial was complete.
High above the arena, the Grand Elder looked down at the remaining participants.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"The true tournament…"
"…begins now."