Sword Sovereign of the Celestial Emperor-Chapter 261, Dark Forest

Fire Dragon Fruits are Sixth Level Spirit Fruits with the primary effect of replenishing the spiritual power within a True Dao martial artist. Given the extent of Chu Ming’s current dantian, a single Fire Dragon Fruit could elevate his cultivation to the peak of the True Dao Third Layer, saving him two months of arduous training.

Handling the Fire Dragon Fruit with utmost care, Chu Ming placed it in his Storage Ring and continued to survey his surroundings. Besides spirit stones and spirit medicines, only a few yellowing cultivation techniques were left in the stone chamber. Chu Ming leafed through them gently, discovering that they were merely Profound Level techniques. He placed them all in his Storage Ring before leaving the Shadowless Sect.

On the back of the flying demon beast, Chu Ming examined Mo Xu’s Storage Ring and those of the four elders of the Shadowless Sect. He discovered forty thousand middle-grade spirit stones and three million lower-grade spirit stones, most of which were found in Mo Xu’s ring.

Sitting cross-legged on the flying demon beast, Chu Ming retrieved the Fire Dragon Fruit from his Storage Ring. The fruit was brilliantly vibrant, with an outer glow shimmering on its surface.

Chu Ming’s mouth slightly opened, and the Fire Dragon Fruit instantly turned into a torrent of heat, entering his body. Silently reciting the incantations of the Fifth Layer of the "Pure Essence Sword Qi Technique," Chu Ming began to refine the fruit. Torrents of spiritual power surged into his dantian, continuously absorbed by it. Under these conditions, Chu Ming’s aura slowly elevated, while an imposing sword momentum erupted from his body.

Half a day passed in this manner. By then, most of the Fire Dragon Fruit had been refined within Chu Ming, and his cultivation level had transitioned from early to late True Dao Third Layer, continuing to rise.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

In an instant, as if drawn by some force, the "Pure Essence Sword Qi Technique" within Chu Ming began to operate according to the pathways of the Sixth Layer, incredibly swiftly.

Boom!

The Sixth Layer of the "Pure Essence Sword Qi Technique" was achieved!

In the very moment the "Pure Essence Qi Gong" entered the Sixth Layer, all the spiritual power from the Fire Dragon Fruit had been completely refined, leaving not a trace.

Whoosh!

Chu Ming slowly opened his eyes, and two beams of bright light shot out, resembling sharp swords, causing the air to shimmer!

With the technique reaching the Sixth Layer, the sword energy within Chu Ming’s dantian became even sharper and began to solidify vaguely. At the same time, the quantity and quality of his spiritual power increased by thirty to forty percent.

Buzz!

Activating the Sixth Layer of the Pure Essence Sword Qi Technique, Chu Ming was enveloped by a mystical white emblem. Within this emblem, slender strands of sword qi spun, intersecting and creating an impression of invulnerability.

"This must be Protective Spirit Essence."

Chu Ming murmured to himself, gently drawing out the Blue Red Sword and fiercely slashing it against the Protective Spirit Essence. He immediately felt a force-dispelling effect, as though he had struck cotton. The actual force transmitted to his body was only about thirty percent, easily resisted by his physical body.

Standing up from the back of the flying demon beast, Chu Ming looked toward the ground below. After a day of flight, the Dark Forest lay beneath him. Reluctantly, Chu Ming turned back.

Another half day passed before Chu Ming arrived in the sky above the Dark Forest. The forest, near the Beiling Kingdom, was home to numerous demon beasts, primarily of the Fifth and Sixth Levels. However, certain hidden spots might also harbor Seventh Level beasts.

Whoosh!

Chu Ming lightly patted the flying demon beast on its head, and it descended rapidly toward the ground.

Thud!

Chu Ming leapt to the ground, gazing into the Dark Forest’s depths. The trees in the Dark Forest were entirely black, exuding a sinister aura, with intertwined branches densely packed.

Rumor had it that a Guiyuan Realm expert had entered the Dark Forest, never to return.

Cautiously, Chu Ming ventured into the Dark Forest. Even he had to maintain constant vigilance in this unfamiliar environment.

North Nether Tigers were high-tier Sixth Level demon beasts, with combat strength between the True Dao Eighth and Ninth Layers. Although they were easily slain, the search process was rather time-consuming.

Chu Ming spent an entire day searching the Dark Forest. He had covered most of the forest’s peripheral areas but found no trace of the North Nether Tiger. However, he had slain many ordinary Sixth Level demon beasts.

"Something’s not right, there’s a scent of blood in the air!"

Chu Ming frowned, his powerful soul force making his senses exceptionally keen. The slightest disturbance around him couldn’t escape his notice.

"Who’s there? Show yourself!"

Chu Ming’s right hand gently gripped the Blue Red Sword as his eyes swept the surroundings before settling on a pitch-black treetop. The crown was dense, entirely concealed by leaves.

Thump, thump, thump...

As soon as Chu Ming spoke, the dark crown burst apart, its leaves turning to dust. A shadowy figure slowly emerged from the treetop, with subtle fluctuations around it, blending stealthily with the surroundings.

"An assassin from the Nether Night Association?"

Fixing his gaze on the forked sword in the shadow’s hand, Chu Ming asked coldly. If memory served, this was the third assassination attempt by the Nether Night Association. A flash of cold light gleamed in his eyes at the thought.

The shadow remained silent, immediately splitting into multiple illusions and charging at Chu Ming. The forked sword’s tips gleamed with cold light, appearing out of nowhere, aimed straight at Chu Ming’s face.

Clang!

Chu Ming’s right hand flicked, and the Blue Red Sword instantly unsheathed. Its tip shattered the forked sword’s illusions, scattering light all around as it collided with the assassin’s forked sword. The impact generated an intense burst of sparks, making the assassin retreat abruptly with a flicker of shock in his eyes.

According to his intel, though Chu Ming was marked as a King Level disciple of the Celestial Travel Sect, it failed to specify his actual strength. To repel him with a single strike suggested Chu Ming’s power was at least at the late stage of the True Dao Ninth Layer, even peaking. With such strength, the assassin still had a palpable chance of success, though.

Swoosh!

Chu Ming steadied his stance, extending his left index and middle fingers. Twin sharp beams of sword light shot from his fingertips, slicing swiftly toward the assassin, catching him off guard.

Buzz!

The assassin’s eyes turned cold, a sudden wisp of black mist enveloping him, brimming with a dreamlike quality.

Hiss, hiss!

The black mist was highly corrosive. The sword light entering the mist rapidly dissolved into pure spiritual power, dissipating into the air.

Frowning slightly, Chu Ming recognized that the mist was some special martial technique, proving a significant challenge. Just then, the assassin attacked again, a dark shadow piercing through turbulent wind waves, aiming for Chu Ming’s chest.

Chu Ming promptly raised his sword to block.

"Something’s not right!"

The sourc𝗲 of this content is free(w)𝒆bnov(𝒆)l