Chapter 1268: Strong Saber Domain
Lan Chaofeng explained, “Don’t think that it is strange. Ying Zongtian, whom you know, also underwent three Sovereign Tribulations at the same time, gaining the strength to fight against Primes. Back then, the Thunder Emperor did so as well. However, my baleful aura is too heavy, and I overestimated myself.”
Xiao Chen said quickly, “Senior, don’t worry. When this junior manages to become a Martial Emperor in the future, I will definitely help you look for divine medicines that can increase your lifespan.”
Smiling, Lan Chaofeng said, “Just the intent is enough. There is no need for you to worry about this matter. I am the clearest about my situation. I called you over for another reason.”
“What is it?”
“Show me your Saber Domain.”
Although Xiao Chen did not know what Lan Chaofeng wanted to do, he still obeyed the instruction. “Senior, please move back a little.”
“Boom!”
With a thought, thousands of stands of saber lights shot out from Xiao Chen’s body, forming long sabers flickering with electricity and buzzing endlessly.
With the strong saber intent melded with them, the sabers gave off a sharp aura, nearly piercing through space.
If someone weak stood in front of Xiao Chen now, that person would be pierced full of holes by this sharp aura.
Xiao Chen was like a ruler within the Saber Domain. Anyone he cast his eyes on would feel fear. Now, he gained a trace of the intangible grace of a Saber Sovereign.
“That’s it?”
Lan Chaofeng, who was in the air, smiled coldly. Then, he took a step forward. “Ka ca! Ka ca!” The many sabers in Xiao Chen’s Saber Domain shattered, turning into electricity and scattering.
This greatly startled Xiao Chen. How could this happen?
It looked like the Saber Domain would collapse at any moment. Mental Energy surged continuously in his sea of consciousness, turning into many sabers and continuing to shoot out from his body, maintaining the Saber Domain and preventing it from crumbling.
However, that still was not enough. Every time a saber came out of Xiao Chen’s body, it would immediately shatter. Eventually, the speed of formation could not keep up with the rate of shattering.
When the Saber Domain collapsed, Xiao Chen vomited a mouthful of blood and took three steps back, feeling dizzy.
Suddenly, fine rain started falling from the sky. As Lan Chaofeng walked over, step by step, the rain obscured him, blurring Xiao Chen’s vision.
Xiao Chen could not clearly see what it was that approached—a man or a saber.
He raised his hand to wipe his face. However, he was horrified to discover that there was blood on his hand. Only at this moment did he realize that his entire body was covered with wounds.
Every drop of rain that fell from the sky contained a boundless saber intent. Every drop of water was a murderous saber.
As the dagger twirled between Lan Chaofeng’s fingers, the rain suddenly stopped just as Lan Chaofeng arrived in front of Xiao Chen.ChapterMid();
This startled Xiao Chen awake. “This is Senior’s Saber Domain?”
A dagger was a short saber. Strictly speaking, the domain comprehended through a dagger was naturally considered a Saber Domain.
[TL Note: The word for saber in Chinese literally refers to all single-edged blades. Even the kitchen knife is written with the same character.]
“Looks like you are not dumb. This is indeed my Saber Domain.”
“But why…”
“You mean to ask why I did not use it during our exchange, right? You managed to create an opportunity and caught hold of the opening extremely precisely. If I really forcefully used it, I would only be able to use it at full power. You would have died on the spot.”
This explanation shocked Xiao Chen. To think that a Saber Domain could be used that way! This was a great eye-opener.
“Your Saber Domain cannot even be considered to be at a foundational state. It is rough and full of openings. Even if I did not comprehend a Saber Domain, there are still hundreds of ways to break it.”
With a quick thought, Xiao Chen suddenly realized why Lan Chaofeng brought him here. He quickly bowed and performed a cupped-fist salute. “Would Senior please give me some pointers!”
Lan Chaofeng smiled without saying anything. He did not rush to agree to Xiao Chen’s request but sought information, instead. “I can teach you. However, you have to tell me what other trump cards you have.”
Xiao Chen smiled back, abashedly. “To tell the truth, this junior still has an Emperor Grade Secret Treasure. That five-colored starlight that descended from the sky was actually a peak strike from this junior’s Secret Treasure.”
This revelation stunned Lan Chaofeng somewhat. Then, he half-scolded-half-laughed, “You little fellow. Indeed, you still have a trump card. One hundred strands of Primordial Energy, a rudimentary lightning Saber Domain, and an Emperor Grade Secret Treasure. That Five Poison Sect old man got tricked by you. Hahahaha!”
Lan Chaofeng suddenly stopped laughing and changed the topic. “It’s fine that you tricked him. However, why did you trick this old man as well?”
Lan Chaofeng alternated between happy and angry. His emotions seemed to change on a whim. Xiao Chen simply found him unfathomable and did not dare to respond.
“Your heart is really black. However, your comprehension ability is decent. I’ll teach you a move or two, then. Let me ask you first: what is a Saber Domain? If you do not give me a satisfactory answer, I will not teach you anything,” Lan Chaofeng said.
Xiao Chen felt helpless in his heart. Weren’t you the one who said to attack however I wanted back then?
However, Xiao Chen only said those words in his heart. He still had to think about how to answer Lan Chaofeng’s question.
What is a Saber Domain?
When a beginner bladesman comprehended saber intent, that was just an intent. It could be felt but not grasped, invisible. When it advanced to a saber soul, it took on a form and could be clearly seen in the sea of consciousness.
However, when the saber soul advanced to Saber Domain, it reverted to formlessness and turned even more ethereal. It was like a vague world. It could not be seen, touched, or felt, but just by looking, one could be sure of its existence.
With a thought, a Saber Domain could be immediately formed. Furthermore, it came out of the body abruptly.
However, Xiao Chen could not say what exactly a Saber Domain was. After thinking for a long time, he could not figure out how to describe it.
Lan Chaofeng looked at the frowning Xiao Chen and revealed a teasing smile as he waited for Xiao Chen’s answer.
“I don’t know.”
After thinking for a long time, Xiao Chen simply could not come up with an answer, so he spoke honestly.
This admission stunned Lan Chaofeng. Then, he smiled and said, “Little fellow, you are really honest. If you came out with a lengthy theory, arguing for it with an air of infallibility, I would have immediately turned away and left. The answer I was seeking was that you do not know.”
Xiao Chen felt somewhat stupefied. This works as well?
“Is that true? Senior, please don’t lie to me.”
Lan Chaofeng smiled and said, “Why would I lie to you? Saber Domains are ethereal and formless. Even I cannot clearly say what it is. If you could explain it when you just comprehended it, I really would not know how to teach you.”
When Xiao Chen heard that, he entered deep thought. Lan Chaofeng’s words were like an epiphany.
“The lightning Saber Domain should not be used the way you did, like you were a hedgehog wrapping yourself in it. I will teach you how to bring it from outward power to subtlety. As for how much you can comprehend, that would depend on your capabilities.”
Although Lan Chaofeng said that, the gaze he directed at Xiao Chen brimmed with anticipation.
Perhaps Lan Chaofeng saw a shadow of his past self in Xiao Chen and was not willing to let this youth fall to the same end as him.
“Outward power to subtlety?” Xiao Chen asked dubiously.
Lan Chaofeng nodded and replied, “That’s right. Right now, your grasp over the lightning Saber Domain stops at the level of outward power. You need subtlety. What is subtlety? Simply put, it is to make it such that others cannot see your saber but can feel its presence, to feel your Saber Domain.
“For example, my water Saber Domain. With a thought, silent rain appears. There is no saber light to be seen, but the saber is everywhere.”
Xiao Chen immediately understood. “That is to say, I need to hide my saber lights in the lightning of my Saber Domain.”
“That’s right. That is the direction. However, it is not as simple as you said. What you need to do is take all the outward power and merge it into space. It is not simply hiding the saber light in the lightning. Instead, it is to hide the power in the space. With a thought, the lightning strikes, filling the sky with saber intent. It would be everywhere, ready for use.”
With a thought, the lightning strikes, filling the sky with saber intent. It would be everywhere, ready for use!
Xiao Chen felt like he was enlightened with perfect wisdom. Everything seemed to become clear. Lan Chaofeng opened up a great door that Xiao Chen had never seen before for him.
“Let me show you the difference between the two.”
Lan Chaofeng extended his finger and prodded Xiao Chen’s forehead.
Instantly, scenes flashed in Xiao Chen’s mind, forming a coherent series of images.
In these images, Lan Chaofeng hovered in the air with his long hair flying about wildly in the strong wind. A sharp, short saber giving off a cold light floated beside him.
He radiated boundless power. His entire being seemed to merge with the Saber Domain around him. When Xiao Chen saw this, it shook his mind. This power was too sharp.
So strong!
This Saber Domain brought out Lan Chaofeng’s power to its limits. Xiao Chen asked himself how he would fare against it and concluded that he would be at an immediate disadvantage.
However, Xiao Chen kept feeling something was wrong. Although this power was strong, it was far from comparable to that silent rain from before. It could not compare to the shock he experienced as Lan Chaofeng walked over, step by step, in the rain.
I understand now. Senior is providing me with objective examples of the difference between subtlety and what came before it. Indeed, one can see the difference only with a direct comparison.
The scenes flowed on with Lan Chaofeng continuing to fight endlessly. Xiao Chen watched carefully, not willing to miss a single detail.
In the battles before Lan Chaofeng achieved subtlety, when he won, he chopped off the heads of all his opponents. However, he would always suffer some injuries as well.
That Saber Domain looked very strong and terrifying. However, his opponent always found an opportunity to break away and continued to injure Senior Lan.
In the battles after achieving subtlety, Lan Chaofeng still won every battle. However, he stopped getting injured. The sky filled with saber intent, truly omnipresent.
“Have you understood yet?” Lan Chaofeng asked as he retracted his hand.
Xiao Chen nodded. “I have not completely understood yet. However, I know what Senior is trying to express. With just power but not a perfect grasp, the opponents will always be able to find an opening. Only when the Saber Domain has no openings, becoming omnipresent, can one make the opponent feel true terror.”
“That’s right. Saber Domain, Saber Domain. The emphasis is not on saber but the domain that comes after.”
Inspiration flashed in Xiao Chen’s mind. “Senior, does that mean that the later cultivation of the Saber Domain touches on the state of space?”
Revealing a gratified smile, Lan Chaofeng said, “It looks like a hint is all that is needed. However, the state of space is vast and deep, not something you can delve into right now. Minor Heavenly Martial Emperors can only skim the surface, Greater Heavenly Martial Emperors touch on the foundations, and only Sovereign Martial Emperors can achieve Small Perfection.
“The few peak Sovereign Martial Emperors of the Kunlun Realm all possess a high mastery of the state of space. However, there is no need for you to dwell on it right now. Just focus on bringing your Saber Domain from outward power to subtlety. Continue to watch. I will show you my water Saber Domain one more time.”
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While Lan Chaofeng coached Xiao Chen, Lan Shaobai and Mo Chen did not remain idle. They secretly dealt with the various aspects of the ceremony for the Dragon’s Gate’s reestablishment.
The time was already fixed. All they awaited was Xiao Chen’s approval, and they could announce it to the world.
On the other side, the news of Xiao Chen having a battle to the death with a Martial Emperor elder of the Five Poison Sect circulated quickly in the entire Western Sea.
After that, this news started to spread throughout the Heavenly Starry Ocean at an incredible pace, then reached the Kunlun Continent.