Talented Martial Hero
Chapter 61 The Black Cliff Of Sword Intent

Elsa was startled by Darren's strength. It was completely beyond what she could have imagined."Darren, how could you..." she stammered, still grasping with the reality of the situation. "How couldyou become so powerful?" Elsa's eyes were wide open with astonishment and perhaps evenadmiration.

"Elsa, let's replace a place to have a conversation,” Darren said calmly. "I also have some questions foryou." He was not surprised at Elsa's shocked expression as she watched him.

"Sure." Elsa responded. She kept her eyes at Darren as if she was looking at a god that had justflown down from heaven.

They walked slowly and sat down in a relatively quiet place where no one would bother them."Darren, you surprise me. Normally, you would have been seriously injured by now with yourtraining. You were supposed to discontinue cultivating once you ate those seeds. However, youhave grown stronger. Have you found some kind of counterbalancing method?"

Elsa continued without waiting for an answer, "Not to mention, those disciples rescued by a masterof Wonder Realm in the Barren Wasteland said that you were killed by a fiend. How did you manageto escape safely?”

Elsa looked at Darren eye-to-eye. Somehow Darren was mysterious to her. Where did his powercome from?

"Those two seeds injured my meridians. But as for the reasons why my strength improved..." Darrenpaused. He was unwilling to say more, for he could not afford to disclose his secret to anyone.

"I understand," Elsa said and did not push him for the answer. "You must have travelled your ownjourney. But the blade intent seed and the sword intent seed are still threatening your life, aren'tthey?"

"Maybe." It was challenging to explain everything explicitly. There were many reasons for this, notleast of which was the need to keep his secret safe. So Darren chose to give an answer that wouldsound believable.

"They like to talk irresponsibly when it comes to fiend killings," Darren said. "I also managed toescape from the fiend's cave with the help of a master of Wonder Realm. Then I returned home toheal myself. That's why I returned to limen Sect late." He watched her, checking to see if she wouldaccept his lie. He would not tell the truth about his fiend feature, his transformation and the bronzecoffin.

Elsa nodded at Darren's seemingly reasonable explanation. It was pure curiosity that drove her toask him her questions. She did not intend to interrogate him.

Darren went on to describe the details about the dangerous moments when the fiend chased afterhim. Elsa was frightened upon hearing these.

"It must have been terrifying.” Else could imagine how horrible it would be to undergo a fiendattack.

"It does not matter now that I have survived it. No reason to dwell on the past,” Darren said with acalm smile. "Elsa, now let me ask you. How could those idiots harass you like that? The School ofBlade Skill will bear heavy consequences if you tell Elder Thomas about it."

Elsa smiled bitterly, and her expression froze upon hearing this.

"Would he lift a finger to help me? I will not tell him. He only cares about talent and capability. He isindifferent to someone like me, who is a good-for-nothing. Ha-ha."

"Is there a misunderstanding between you and Elder Thomas, Elsa? Could you tell me about it?"Darren was curious.

Elsa's eyes grew sad as she looked away. She shook her head and sighed faintly. "It's not worthtalking about. Darren, you should know what he is like. He examined your talent before you joinedus. That day he was very delighted and wanted to teach you in person. But how did he treat youwhen he found that you lost your talent?"

"Elsa, do you mean that your talent was in a higher rank than the ninth level of Yellow Degree?"Elsa held her breath and looked up at Darren with a nod. It seemed she had not intended to revealthis to him.

"You are smart. You found the hidden secret when others would have taken the opportunity tocomplain about my father. Yes, I was treated the same way as you were. He changed completelyafter my talent was damaged. Heh."

"I care more about the truth.” Darren moved closer to her. "Could you tell me how that happened,Elsa?"

Elsa hesitated for a moment before she continued. "Alright. Let us talk about it then, since we'vealready come this far. Do you want to hear about the first half of my life?"

Darren nodded. The two began to chat.

They spoke for hours upon hours until the sun dropped below the horizon and the moon rose highoverhead, casting its silvery light across earth against a tranquil night.

Darren poured out his soul, describing his childhood and the many humiliations he suffered. Thebitter past was especially touching on such a silent and peaceful night. Elsa, normally a strong-willedgirl, could not help but wipe away tears several times throughout his story.

Yet Elsa's experience was equally tragic.

She had performed outstandingly when her talent was in the Black Degree. But an accidenthappened three years ago when she traversed Black Cliff of Sword Intent. It damaged her talent. Hercultivation base regressed, and she had been unable to regain her standing ever since. There wererumors about a diabolic beast's treasure in the Barren Wasteland that could cure her of her ailment.So she went there in the hope of replaceing the treasure.

But she realized it was a ridiculous task once she arrived at the wasteland. How could she fight adiabolic beast when she could not rival even a normal one?

"Elsa, you said your talent was damaged when you accidentally went to the Black Cliff of SwordIntent. Where is it?"

Elsa had told Darren that she found a piece of a holy sword three years ago. The holy sword piecetook her to a place called the Black Cliff of Sword Intent. She nearly died there.

"It is a long story. The place is related to sword intent. You will be taken to the Black Cliff once youtint the sword piece with your blood essence. There you will encounter the inheritance test.” Elsefished out a small wooden case from her pocket and opened it. A tiny piece of the sword with thesize of fingernail lay in the case.

Darren felt a strange power moving across his body the moment the case opened. The internalforce of sword in his meridians responded and raced wildly.

"It's strange. I feel a strong force of the sword skill." Darren could not restrain himself.

"Yes, that is the force of the sword intent. It is the supreme evolution of the sword skill," Elsaexplained. "The inheritance test of the Black Cliff of Sword Intent is related to sword intent.”

"The inheritance test of the Black Cliff of Sword Intent... What exactly does it entail?" asked Darren."Ho-ho." Elsa shook her head and smiled bitterly, clearly remembering her tragic experience at thecliff. "It is dangerous. I would rather you didn't know about it. Let us talk about something else.

I thought it was a treasure. But look at what it has brought me." Elsa stared at the sword piece withan intensive hatred in her eyes.

Darren, however, was eager to hear more about the Black Cliff of Sword Intent. His instincts told himhe needed to know more. He wanted to pursue his question. But then he felt two strong powersapproaching.

"Who is there?" Darren exclaimed loudly.

"Ha-ha. So it is you, little bastard. What treasure are you two talking about? Turn it over to meimmediately or face the consequences.”

A figure stepped slowly into the moonlight. It was none other than Dalton, the son of Elder Alan ofthe School of Blade Skill. Dalton was one of the few foes Darren had engraved in his mind.