Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior

Roar!

Amidst a high-pitched cry, Su Mu felt the Red Flame Spear in his hand vibrate incessantly. He released the five fingers of his right hand, and in an instant, the Red Flame Spear flew out, hovering in mid-air.

An image over three meters tall of a Flame Fire Eagle emerged from the body of the spear, formed from the weapon spirit during the spiritual infusion of the Flame Fire Eagle Essence Blood. As Master Lin Ruoshui mentioned, every treasure artifact has the potential to transform into a higher grade.

However, this current weapon spirit is not considered an artifact spirit. As Su Mu learned from three masters, only Upper Three Grades of spirit treasures can give birth to a true artifact spirit, with even an independent and complete consciousness.

The Flame Fire Eagle spirit now is merely the residual feeding instincts of a demon beast’s essence blood after a spiritual infusion. Thus, the Red Flame Spear can absorb and devour blood by killing enemies.

Up to now, the Red Flame Spear has slain as many as two Sixth-Grade Martial Artists, several Seventh-Grade, and numerous martial artists below the Seventh Grade. The Sixth-grade ones were the Protector of the Black Mountain Army, whose name Su Mu did not know, and Gongsun Xin, the Incense Master of Taiping Dao.

Originally, the Red Flame Spear was very close to Seventh Grade. Now, after destroying numerous strong enemies and absorbing blood, it has finally broken through the shackles leading to Seventh Grade.

The third artifact pattern on the Red Flame Spear completes slowly under the nourishment of blood. The three patterns glow brilliantly, emitting a white beam.

The Flame Fire Eagle phenomenon then soared along the beam, tearing through the night. With wings spread, the dark and eerie Taiping Manor shone as bright as day.

Su Mu slightly raised his head to look at the Red Flame Spear circling above, contemplating the idea of using the Fire Sparrow Blood to nourish the Red Flame Spear.

After this battle, Su Mu increasingly realized the extraordinary nature of the Fire Sparrow, not only because the Fire Sparrow Force greatly restrained such vile things as the Wraith General.

"The Fire Sparrow Blood seems to help me perceive the illusory things hard to see with the naked eye!"

Su Mu’s eyes were not exactly refined by the Fire Sparrow Blood, but merely had some broken veins. Thus, when healed, he absorbed a small portion of Fire Sparrow Blood, benefiting his eyes.

Even so, after completely healing, Su Mu could not only perceive intangible spiritual forces but also see the Wraith General, which Gongsun Xin’s reaction indicated was not visible to the ordinary eye.

With quick contemplation, Su Mu made a decision to reserve a third of the jar of Fire Sparrow Blood, as it might serve a greater need in the future.

Moreover, even if he fed the Fire Sparrow Blood to the Red Flame Spear now, it couldn’t advance further to Sixth Grade.

At this moment, Su Mu cast his gaze deeper into the manor. After Gongsun Xin’s death, his ears clearly heard the sounds of painful wails from deeper within the manor.

Clearly, there were Taiping Dao followers deeper in the manor whom Su Mu suspected were guarding the depths. These individuals were now alarmed by the phenomena of the Red Flame Spear’s advancement, rushing in like a tide.

Unrushed and calm, Su Mu used his palm power to draw Gongsun Xin’s headless corpse close. First, he took the ancient lotus-engraved ring off Gongsun Xin’s palm.

Infusing a trace of attribute power, the ring slightly brightened, but Su Mu’s attribute power was rejected by a spiritual force.

"Good thing, it’s truly a Sumeru Ring, I’ll keep it for now."

Then Su Mu searched the wandering corpse of Gongsun Xin but found nothing, unsurprised since with the Sumeru Ring, it was natural to store belongings inside it.

After completing this, Su Mu casually tossed Gongsun Xin’s corpse aside.

He then strode towards the severed arm and the purple Bone Banner. Seeing Su Mu approach step by step, Zhao Qing showed little fear, seemingly knowing his death was certain.

"Sir, well-killed! I know where Gongsun Xin’s treasures are hidden... I can lead you there, just for a swift end."

"Alright."

Taking the small banner, Su Mu nodded lightly to Zhao Qing, feeling somewhat surprised by the unexpected joy. He immediately took out a pill and stuffed it into Zhao Qing’s mouth to stop the bleeding, then picked him up like a chick.

Soon, the first batch of Taiping Dao followers emerged, only to be stunned at the sight of the headless corpse. All were dumbfounded, displaying immense fear and disbelief, not daring to advance a step.

"The Hall Masters are dead, and the Incense Master... also dead?"

"What? Both the Hall Master and Incense Master died?!"

Those Taiping Dao followers coming from the depths were trembling violently, a look of terror on their faces.

"Roar!"

The Flame Fire Eagle phenomenon circling the sky flapped its wings, shooting into the Red Flame Spear like a meteor. Instantly, the inscriptions on the spear seemed ignited, flowing with crimson brilliance.

Crimson light flowed, making the Red Flame Spear appear more dominant and flamboyant than before, its fiery cloud patterns resembling clusters of flames.

Su Mu reached out, clenching his fingers as the Red Flame Spear returned to his hand. Amidst the gun’s hum, the surrounding air transformed into surging heat waves, like a whale spewing mist.

"Leave none alive!"

With the Red Flame Spear in hand, Su Mu did not hesitate, directly charging into the midst of Taiping Dao followers. The newly advanced Seventh Grade Red Flame Spear conveyed an excited emotion, vibrating constantly in Su Mu’s hand.

A blade birthed must see blood!

Against these mere Eighth-Grade Taiping Dao followers, Su Mu didn’t even use the Seven Dominating Spear Forms, casually sweeping out in a horizontal strike. Instantly, over a dozen martial artists’ flesh and bones broke, their bodies severed at the waist, limbs flying.

Despite his attack, Su Mu remained unstained by blood, yet the scalding blood splashed all over Zhao Qing, who merely shuddered, his expression turning quite calm, having shifted from a state of sheer terror to complete numbness.