Chapter 222 : Zhi Chi Sword
Chapter 222: Zhi Chi Sword
Zhou You made a move, and Fang Yong followed suit. The two cooperated with extreme tacit understanding. They both knew that if they failed to seize the Demonic Sword this time, there would only be one outcome.
“I knew it!”
Luo Zhouwu saw how they threw their lives aside, the purple intent in his eyes deepened a little more. He let out a sigh, suddenly flung out the Demonic Sword in his hand, and shouted loudly, “Catch it!”
The Heaven’s Path Alliance’s 《Heart of Heaven Art》 emphasized comprehension of the Heavenly Dao, ultimately cultivating a heart aligned with heaven. Before reaching the Divine Repository Realm, it was extremely easy to be polluted by something like a Demonic Artifact.
This Demonic Sword was extremely fatal to him. Once polluted, all of his cultivation would be ruined.
It was said that barefooted men feared not those wearing shoes.
Zhou You and Fang Yong were barefoot, while he was the one wearing shoes.
Thus, he chose to throw away this burning hot potato.
……
“This time I’m doomed—”
Qian Jiu saw two of the Sovereign Manor’s guards pouncing at him. At once, he felt his hands and feet turn icy cold. He could not even defeat one of them, and with two attacking together, he feared he would be killed in just a single exchange.
At this very moment, he heard a loud shout, “Catch it!”
A Refined Steel Sword flew over. He subconsciously stretched out his hand to catch it.
The moment he grasped the sword hilt, a grand voice echoed in his mind, “Do you desire power?”
That voice carried an indescribable temptation, stirring up his deep yearning for great power. Coupled with the perilous situation he was in, he did not even think before making his choice, “I want power, I want overwhelming power!”
Boom!
A mighty and boundless power surged from the sword into his hand, instantly replacing his original life-bound artifact, fusing with him completely.
This sword replaced his treasured blade and became his new life-bound artifact.
The process was completed in an instant!
At this moment, the two Sovereign Manor guards had already lunged at him.
Qian Jiu slightly raised his hand, and a terrifying Sword Qi shot out, killing the two shadowy figures outright.
He was stunned. “This… what power is this?”
With just a casual strike, he was dozens of times stronger than before. These two monsters, whose strength far surpassed his own, were just killed by him like this…
“Too strong!”
Such a sudden turn of events was beyond everyone’s expectations.
Zhou You had already pounced over, ecstatic as he cried out, “Xiao Jiu, hand the Demonic Sword to me.”
“Yes—”
Faced with his master’s authority, Qian Jiu subconsciously prepared to hand over the sword. But just as he extended it, his expression suddenly changed. He abruptly pulled back his hand, retreating several meters away.
Zhou You roared angrily, “Xiao Jiu, you won’t even listen to your master now?”
“I can’t!”
Qian Jiu shook his head desperately, his face full of terror as he said, “This sword has already become disciple’s life-bound artifact… If I give it to you, disciple will lose his life…”
A life-bound artifact, as the name implied, was connected to one’s very life. If it was taken away and the connection erased, naturally, the wielder would not survive.
Since the Demonic Sword had become his life-bound artifact, naturally, it could not be given to anyone.
Zhou You’s gaze turned incomparably dark.
Fang Yong also came over, looking to his senior brother, waiting for his decision.
……
Chen Ming had already quietly recovered from his injuries by now. At his side, Zhou Yilan had also taken care of the remaining “small monsters.”
Seeing the situation turn like this, he could not help but admire Luo Zhouwu’s decisiveness, actually sending the Demonic Sword into Qian Jiu’s hand.
The power that burst from Qian Jiu just now had already reached the level of First Grade, making him exclaim in his heart: this 《Nine Nether Grand Art》 was simply too broken!
Qian Jiu was originally just at the entry stage of Third Grade, yet the moment he grasped the Demonic Sword, his cultivation instantly soared to First Grade. It was simply absurd.
He finally understood why the Heaven’s Path Alliance and Six Doors Authority had to suppress this Demonic Artifact. As long as it was obtained by someone cultivating the 《Nine Nether Grand Art》, their cultivation would instantly rise to First Grade.
Far too broken.
No wonder Zhou You and Fang Yong were willing to risk their lives to sneak in here, just to seize the Demonic Sword.
Now that the Demonic Sword was in his disciple’s hand, what would Zhou You do?
Zhou You spoke, “Xiao Jiu, your cultivation is too low to wield the sword’s full power. To escape from here, we must rely on this sword’s strength. Hand it to me, I will not refine it into my life-bound artifact, believe me.”
After Qian Jiu’s expression flickered several times, it finally twisted into ferocity. “Master, forgive disciple, but I cannot entrust my life and fate into your hands.”
Zhou You shouted, “Xiao Jiu, don’t be bewitched by it.”
Qian Jiu shrank his neck slightly. His master’s accumulated prestige still lingered, causing fear to flash across his face. But moments later, his gaze turned ruthless again. “Master, you cannot deceive me. You want to snatch it by force, is that it? I’m not afraid of you now. Come on then…”
“Xiao Jiu, calm down—”
“No one can take my treasure!”
Qian Jiu suddenly let out a sharp scream, his eyes filled with madness. The Refined Steel Sword in his hand flared with light, slashing toward Zhou You.
A Sword Qi suddenly appeared in front of Zhou You, striking him and blasting him flying.
“And you too!”
Qian Jiu swung again, slashing toward Fang Yong.
Fang Yong’s expression changed. He instinctively raised his hand, blocking the Sword Qi that had appeared out of nowhere.
“Go die, all of you, go die!”
Qian Jiu looked completely deranged, each slash faster than the last, the space before him trembling.
On the other side, Zhou You leapt back up, shouting angrily, “Xiao Jiu, you’ve gone mad!”
“It’s you who’s mad, trying to seize disciple’s life-bound artifact. You are unworthy of being my master—”
Qian Jiu roared, one against two, enveloping Zhou You in his Sword Qi as well.
……
“What sword art is this?”
Chen Ming stared dumbfounded. Qian Jiu’s Sword Qi completely defied the laws of physics, ignoring even basic logic. He could not even see how the other party was doing it.
At his side, Zhou Yilan said calmly, “That is the divine might of the Zhi Chi Sword.”
“Zhi Chi Sword?”
Chen Ming gasped. In the First Pavilion of the World’s Divine Sword Ranking, the “Zhi Chi Sword” ranked third. It was said to have been forged by an ancient mighty being, embodying the concept of “a step away yet worlds apart.” It was an extremely rare peerless divine weapon with spatial attributes.
However, this sword had been lost for many years.
Who would have thought that the “Zhi Chi Sword” had become the Demonic Sword of the Nine Nether Sect.
It must have been refined into a life-bound artifact by some Demon Venerable, becoming the sect’s holy relic.
Originally, this sword already held spatial divine powers, capable of ignoring space itself, leaving enemies defenseless. Now infused with demonic nature, it had become even more terrifying.
Not far away, Luo Zhouwu, having successfully shifted the burden, watched the chaos like a bystander. He took this chance to expel the invading demonic force from his flawless “Heavenly Heart.”
One had to admit, his maneuver was vicious, instantly turning master and disciple against each other.
Even Luo Zhouwu himself was secretly shaken. The might of the Demonic Sword was even more terrifying than the rumors claimed.
A mere Third Grade martial artist, upon grasping the Demonic Sword, had his strength skyrocket, actually suppressing two powerful First Grades single-handedly.
If this Demonic Sword had fallen into the hands of any other First Grade, he would have been doomed today.
As it was now, he was more than happy to watch the spectacle.
But where was Zhong Danyang?
……
“Hahaha—”
Qian Jiu, seeing that his overwhelmingly powerful master and uncle joined forces yet still could not defeat him, let out an ecstatic, crazed laugh. “Want to seize my sword? Dream on. You will all die by my hand…”
However, though Zhou You and Fang Yong were suppressed, killing them was no easy feat.
After all, once reaching First Grade with the 《Nine Nether Grand Art》, the body itself gained traits of a life-bound artifact, making one very difficult to kill.
Zhou You had been pierced through by Luo Zhouwu’s sword earlier. If it were any ordinary First Grade, they would have been heavily injured. Yet he was still leaping about, only somewhat weakened, showing just how tenacious his life was.
Failing to finish off the two, Qian Jiu grew impatient. Suddenly, he noticed his senior brother and senior aunt watching the battle from the side. He recalled how his senior aunt had only saved his brother earlier, withholding aid from him. Rage surged within him. “You die too!”
He swung his sword toward Zhou Yilan.
“Not good!”
Chen Ming saw the movement of his hand. He wanted to save her, but no matter how fast he was, he could not be faster than the “Zhi Chi Sword.” The Sword Qi seemed to appear directly before Zhou Yilan’s chest.
Just as it was about to cut her down, a sword flew from the side, barely blocking the Sword Qi.
Squelch!
Even so, Zhou Yilan was pierced through the chest by that Sword Qi, collapsing to the ground, her body convulsing.
“Junior Sister!”
“Beast!”
Zhou You and Fang Yong simultaneously let out heart-wrenching roars. With a thunderous boom, their Sword Domains unfolded, blocking all of Qian Jiu’s Sword Qi outside.
Seeing their junior sister injured, they were now ready to fight to the death.
……
“Are you alright?”
Chen Ming rushed over, lifting Zhou Yilan up. He was about to use the 《Mysterious Wood True Art》 to heal her when suddenly, a white pearl flew out from her chest, radiating a soft glow. Under its light, the wound through her chest healed rapidly.
This healing speed was far more domineering than his 《Mysterious Wood True Art》.
Moments later, the white pearl flew back into Zhou Yilan’s mouth, though now much dimmer. Clearly, this method consumed immense energy.
Her face was pale, as if her vitality had been injured. She weakly said, “I’m fine. How goes the battle?”
She struggled to sit up, gazing at the fight between Qian Jiu and the two.
With their junior sister injured, Zhou You and Fang Yong had unleashed true fury, their Sword Domains suppressing Qian Jiu.
But then, the Demonic Sword in Qian Jiu’s hand lit up with a green light, forming a domain-like aura of its own. For a time, Zhou You and Fang Yong were unable to subdue him.
Chen Ming glanced at Zhou Yilan, wondering if, in her heart, she hoped her two senior brothers would win, or lose.
Perhaps only she knew.
He sighed, “The might of the Demonic Sword is truly terrifying.”
At that moment, more “small monsters” rushed out from the manor’s rear.
Chen Ming was speechless. Could this never end?
Once one wave died, another came.
With Zhou Yilan just recovering from her grave injury and her strength not yet restored, these “small monsters” could only be handled by him.
Casting a glance at the intense battle among Zhou You and the others, he did not hesitate further. Drawing the Phoenix Cry Sword, he shielded Zhou Yilan behind him.