When did Chen Chang'an comprehend the sword intent

"Magnificent!"

"Absolutely breathtaking!"

"Indeed, since the founding of No-Return City, when has such a scene ever occurred?"

"Perhaps only Chen Chang'an could stir up such a spectacle."

No-Return City was a place many longed to enter, as it stood as a rare sanctuary amidst the chaos of the region.

No one wanted to leave—entering and exiting cost a thousand mid-grade spirit stones each time.

But today, every person in No-Return City who could step outside had rushed out, driven by a single purpose: to witness the birth of a Purple Gold Medal holder firsthand.

Fifty kilometers outside the city, in a vast open area, the surroundings were already packed with a sea of people.

At the center, a ten-kilometer radius had been enclosed by a barrier—this was today's battleground.

Yet when the crowd saw the fighters inside, everyone was stunned.

"Th-this… is the City Lord’s Mansion really going this far?"

"No way? They sent these ten? They’ve truly abandoned all shame."

"Damn, this is too much! Even if they don’t want Chen Chang'an to get the Purple Gold Medal, they didn’t have to make it so blatant."

"Even Wei Fengtang is among them. How can Chen Chang'an possibly win?"

Wei Fengtang, the overseer of the Medal Battleground, had reached the seventh level of the Void Comprehension Realm. The other nine were all at the fifth level of the Void Comprehension Realm.

Against these ten, victory was impossible for Chen Chang'an. Even surviving an hour would be no easy feat.

"With this lineup, Chen Chang'an is in for a brutal fight."

"They might as well have sent the three Commanders—those are the City Lord’s confidants, all at the peak of the ninth level of the Void Comprehension Realm."

"Yeah, but I guess even the City Lord knew that sending them would be too shameless."

"After all, the original rules weren’t like this. But since the City Lord himself set the rules, no one can really object if he changes them."

"Do you think Chen Chang'an will curse up a storm when he sees this?"

"Curse? If it were me, I’d want to kill them all."

"Ah, what can you do? On their turf, you play by their rules. Even a prodigy like Chen Chang'an is no exception."

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, Chen Chang'an swiftly flew in from the distance, arriving at the battleground in the blink of an eye.

When he saw the ten opponents inside, his expression remained calm, as if this outcome didn’t surprise him at all.

After stepping into the barrier, Chen Chang'an focused on Wei Fengtang—the other nine were unfamiliar to him.

"It seems City Lord Asura truly holds me in high regard."

"This lineup is quite impressive," Chen Chang'an said with a faint smile.

"Chen Chang'an, this was all arranged by the City Lord. We had no choice in the matter."

"Have you thought this through? If you proceed, you’ll face the combined assault of all ten of us."

"You’ve already achieved a hundred consecutive wins with the Platinum Medal. Losing here wouldn’t tarnish your reputation."

"If you want to back out now, there’s still time," Wei Fengtang said with a smile.

Back out?

That had never been Chen Chang'an’s style.

"If I recall correctly, lasting an hour also counts as a pass, right?"

Huh?

Lasting an hour?

Wei Fengtang’s heart suddenly jolted. How had he forgotten such a crucial detail?

Could it be that Chen Chang'an was confident he could withstand their combined assault for an hour with just his physical resilience?

"But today, I’m really not in the mood to waste time."

"Besides, I’ve been curious to see just how far my true strength reaches."

"Gentlemen, are you ready?"

The moment these words left his mouth, Wei Fengtang and the others paled. What did he mean? Had Chen Chang'an never used his full strength before?

Had he been holding back all along?

"Such arrogance! A mere first-level Transcendent Realm brat, and you think you’re invincible?"

"Don’t underestimate him. Remember, he one-shot Yan Xiong."

"Hmph, so what if he killed Yan Xiong in one move? I could do the same."

"Then doesn’t that mean his strength is on par with yours?"

"Even if that’s true, so what? He’s facing ten of us. You think he can defeat all of us in a single strike?"

While the other nine seethed with anger, Wei Fengtang grew excited. His mission this time was to uncover Chen Chang'an’s true capabilities.

"Chen Chang'an, make your move."

"Let everyone see just how strong you really are!" Wei Fengtang grinned.

"Very well."

Before his voice even faded, a terrifying sword intent erupted from Chen Chang'an’s body.

In an instant, Wei Fengtang and the others were struck with horror. The sheer force of this sword intent was overwhelming—it made their hearts tremble with fear.

"Holy shit!"

"How does he have sword intent?"

"Since when did Chen Chang'an comprehend sword intent?"

Even Da Huang, who wasn’t physically present, was dumbfounded. With its keen perception, it could sense everything happening as clearly as if it were there.

And that was precisely why Da Huang was so stunned. It had been with Chen Chang'an the entire time—when had he secretly mastered sword intent?

"Senior Da Huang, what’s wrong?" Gu Xian'er asked curiously.

"You… do you know when Chen Chang'an comprehended sword intent?"

The question left Gu Xian'er speechless. She had only been following Chen Chang'an for a short while—if Da Huang didn’t know, how could she?

"Never mind, asking you was pointless. Of course you wouldn’t know."

Da Huang sighed in resignation. Then, Wu Mingdao, standing nearby, muttered absentmindedly,

"Maybe… for some people, comprehension isn’t even necessary."

After saying this, Wu Mingdao froze, scratching his head sheepishly.

"Ah, my old condition must be acting up again."

In his mind, his tendency to blurt out cryptic remarks was a lingering effect of his past mental affliction.

Da Huang didn’t comment, but it agreed—Chen Chang'an was too monstrous. The things that happened around him defied all logic.

"He won."

The two words from Da Huang sent a jolt through Gu Xian'er. Won?

Already?

Back on the battlefield outside No-Return City, Chen Chang'an hovered mid-air. Below him, Wei Fengtang and the other nine lay defeated.

The surroundings were dead silent. No one had expected this outcome.

What was that sword energy that shot into the heavens? Why had the battle ended the moment that blinding light flashed?

What exactly had happened inside the barrier?

Apart from Wei Fengtang and the other nine who had experienced it firsthand, the spectators were utterly bewildered.

"Chen Chang'an… won?"

"I thought... I thought Chen Chang'an would be locked in a fierce battle, but he just won like that?"

"Shouldn't I be excited? Why do I feel nothing at all? Why?"

"Is Chen Chang'an determined to turn his legend into an eternal tale? That was a ninth-level Void Comprehension Realm expert, a powerhouse at the seventh level of the Void Comprehension Realm!"

"Hah! Chen Chang'an truly lives up to his reputation as a god among men."

"Still, haven’t any of you noticed something?"

"What is it?"

"Chen Chang'an cultivates the Sword Dao, but has anyone ever seen him wield a sword?"

Hmm?

The moment these words were spoken, the surrounding crowd froze. Indeed, from beginning to end, Chen Chang'an had never once drawn his sword.

Could it be...

"He’s still hiding part of his strength?"