Chapter 168: Chapter 151: Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword

In the backyard was a quiet training ground, surrounded by various rare trees that filled the air with the fresh fragrance of a forest. The crisp, pleasant chirping of birds could be heard from time to time. In a coastal, flatland city like this, such an environment was practically a paradise. Clearly, the former Lord City Lord had been a man who knew how to enjoy life.

Ling Xiao stood quietly in the middle of the ground. Above him, the starry sky was magnificent, its countless stars twinkling like gentle eyes. The night air carried a hint of coolness, creating a deeply pleasant sensation.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi absorbed during the Foundation Establishment Stage could be directly converted into Spiritual Power. However, the Spiritual Power storage capacity in the Early Foundation Establishment Stage was very small. Fortunately, this world had abundant Spiritual Qi, allowing Ling Xiao to compensate for his body’s Innate deficiencies. It was so abundant, in fact, that he was unknowingly on the verge of breaking through to the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage.

For Ling Xiao, the next level was the Fusion Stage. The so-called Fusion Stage occurred when the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi accumulated in his Dantian increased until it could no longer be contained. It would then impact the Dantian, and all the Spiritual Qi would surge out, travel along his meridians, and fuse with them throughout his body! Once that happened, the Spiritual Power within Ling Xiao would be virtually omnipresent, and he would reach an entirely new realm!

In his previous life, it had taken him fifty years to go from the Foundation Establishment to the Fusion Stage. Considering the insufficient Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the Cultivation Realm back then, Ling Xiao’s progress had been remarkably fast!

But in this life... Ling Xiao closed his eyes, sensed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi around him, and slowly began to absorb it. Suddenly, a sword appeared in his hand. The sword scabbard shot off on its own, and the red blade gave off an eerie glow in the darkness.

Ling Xiao focused his mind, calmed his breath, and extended his Divine Sense to touch the eerie, crimson sword. His Divine Sense proceeded cautiously. The moment it made contact with the blade, it felt a sharp prick, as if from a needle, and he instantly retracted it. A happy smile touched Ling Xiao’s lips. ’It seems... it really is!’

’I can’t believe I’ve actually encountered Demon Blood Meteorite Iron, something I’d only ever heard about in legends. And what’s more, someone even managed to forge it into a sword. Could this be fate...? Was it waiting for me?’

Demon Blood Meteorite Iron was documented in the tales of wonder from the Shushan Scripture Pavilion. According to legend, during the Ancient Era of Gods and Demons, Great Demons roamed the lands. Their Demon Power was as vast as the ocean, and they possessed the strength to move mountains and fill seas!

It was said that when two powerful Great Demons fought, their every move could shatter the heavens and sunder the earth—they were nearly capable of destroying an entire planet! However, as powerful as the Demon Race was, there was also the Divine Race to keep them in check. The two races were natural adversaries, and every war between them resulted in countless casualties...

However, there were countless wonders in the world. One was a type of Meteorite Iron from the depths of the galaxy that would occasionally fall to the earth. This Meteorite Iron was refined by the powerful members of the Divine Race and Demon Race into various magical artifacts, which served as auxiliary tools in battle! These artifacts all possessed earth-shattering power!

There was another kind of Meteorite Iron... one that had absorbed the blood of the Demon Race, turning it crimson. It emanated a Demon Power that could make one tremble! If this type of Meteorite Iron was forged into a magical artifact, it would possess even greater might!

Because a single drop of a Great Demon’s Essence Blood could grant an ordinary mortal world-altering power!

Of course, these were just legends. Ling Xiao had seen neither Meteorite Iron nor a Great Demon. The Cultivation Realm was starved of Spiritual Power; forget Meteorite Iron, even a decent piece of Cold Land Refined Iron was a rare sight, let alone something out of a myth.

The very first time Ling Xiao saw the crimson-glowing sword in the Demon Sword Master’s hand, he was stunned by its powerful demonic aura. A storm had raged in his heart. As far as he knew, there were no Cultivators in this world. Although many strange races existed, in Ling Xiao’s eyes, they were no different from the Beast Cultivators in the Cultivation Realm. If beasts could cultivate immense Magical Power, then the existence of intelligent Beastmen was not so difficult to comprehend. There was nothing strange about it. But Ling Xiao had never heard of a Demon Race existing in this world. The previous owner’s memories included some legends about demons from the abyss, but those were just fabricated stories.

But at this moment, Ling Xiao stared intently at the eerily glowing sword in his hand. A ripple-like red halo flowed across its surface like blood. Upon closer inspection, the blade was covered in countless dark patterns, as if they were a natural part of it. The sword seemed to possess its own spirit; as if sensing Ling Xiao’s focus, its eerie red light flickered, adding to its uncanny aura!

’What a treasure! This is truly a treasure!’ Ling Xiao muttered to himself. ’I just wonder... who could have discovered Demon Blood Meteorite Iron and actually managed to forge it into a sword! Whoever could forge Demon Blood Meteorite Iron must have been quite powerful, but he clearly didn’t understand this material. How could a divine object like this be forged using mortal methods?’ A smile played on Ling Xiao’s lips. ’Even though I don’t have the strength to reforge you now, sooner or later... I will let you shine with dazzling brilliance! I will restore you... to your true form!’

As if sensing Ling Xiao’s resolve, the eerie red sword in his hand suddenly erupted with brilliant red light! The light enveloped the entire training ground, including Ling Xiao’s body!

Ling Xiao felt no fear at all; in fact, the joyful surprise on his face only grew more intense. ’This sword... has a Sword Spirit!’

Ling Xiao felt a strong urge to throw his head back and laugh. Flying swords with Sword Spirits! Back in his day, there were no more than three in the entire Cultivation Realm! The founding patriarch of Shushan had left one behind. After the patriarch ascended, the sword remained, where it was enshrined and worshipped as if it were the patriarch himself! Unless Shushan faced a grave crisis, no one was permitted to wield it!

To have obtained such a divine object so easily from a Demon Sword Master—how could Ling Xiao not be ecstatic!

’That Demon Sword Master must have had no idea of this sword’s true value. And this Demon Blood Meteorite Iron Sword... it probably disdained to be used by him in the first place! Otherwise, how could it have fallen into my hands so easily? A Divine Sword with a Sword Spirit would rather self-destruct like a Cultivator than submit to a master it deems unworthy!’

Ling Xiao released his grip. The Demon Blood Meteorite Iron Sword hovered in mid-air, its tip pointing toward the sky. The red light receded, and the blade shimmered with an iridescent luster. It was a spectacular sight!

"Brother Jian, although I don’t know your history, now that you have met me, I will see to it that your name becomes known throughout the world! My current strength isn’t enough to satisfy your needs, but please rest assured, I will increase my power as fast as I can to make you... a true Divine Artifact!"

Having said this, Ling Xiao bowed three times to the sword. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Then he added, "From this day on, your name shall be the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword! If you are willing, return to my hand!"

The sword let out a CLANG in the air, a sound like a dragon’s roar. It flared with brilliant light once more, then, like a receding tide, all the light flowed back into the blade. The sword... the last trace of red vanished, and it reverted to an ordinary longsword, identical in appearance to a Hundred-refined Steel Sword. It then fell from the air and landed right in Ling Xiao’s hand!

Ling Xiao was suddenly filled with inspiration. The sound of Feng Ling’s zither music echoed in his mind. He gave the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword a gentle shake, and a melodious, bell-like tone rang out. Another shake, another chime!

Gradually, a complete set of sword skills formed in Ling Xiao’s mind! It was as if someone were demonstrating them right inside his head. Ling Xiao’s body began to follow the movements. At first, his actions were clumsy and awkward, and the sounds were choppy and simple. But soon his movements became fluid, the stances grew faster and faster, and the sounds blended into a continuous piece. One moment, it sounded of clashing spears and armored horses, like thousands of troops in battle—a stirring melody that made the blood boil. The next, it was hauntingly sorrowful, enough to move one to tears!

At the entrance of the training ground stood a beautiful figure. Her long, white robes seemed sacred and noble under the starlight. Long hair draped over her shoulders, and her skin was supple, smooth, and flawless as jade. Her star-like eyes were wide with disbelief as she watched Ling Xiao practice his swordplay, utterly dumbfounded by the sounds his blade produced.

’This man... did he actually comprehend a sword skill from my music? Impossible! Absolutely impossible... No one is that much of a genius, learning a sword skill without even seeing a manual! Or... did he know it all along? But... he was so clumsy just a moment ago, and he’s getting more and more proficient. Don’t tell me... he really did just figure it out?’

’Heavens!’

Feng Ling was shocked by her own conclusion, her face a mask of disbelief. ’To think such a genius exists in this world!’ Not only could he, a Great Sword Master, completely suppress her, a Sixth Rank Mad Swordsman, but he could also comprehend a Rhythm Sword Skill just from listening to her music for a few days!

What Feng Ling found hardest to accept was that Ling Xiao’s sword skill... no matter how she looked at it, seemed more complete and more powerful than her own!

Feng Ling was utterly crushed. Dejected, she turned to leave quietly.

She had been drawn here by the sounds piercing the quiet night. After spending some time at the Viscount’s Mansion, Feng Ling had already come to accept the reality that she had temporarily lost her strength. Here in the mansion, while no one particularly cared about her, no one bullied her either. As long as she didn’t try to escape, she was free to wander most of the estate.

"So? How does this sword skill compare... to yours?" Ling Xiao’s calm voice sounded from behind her.

Feng Ling shuddered. Ever since she was a child practicing this sword skill with its unpleasant-sounding name, her father would tell her with a proud expression, "Ling’Er, there may be countless experts and many Advanced Sword Skills and Techniques on this continent, but when it comes to being unique, this Saint-level Sword Skill passed down through our family is one of a kind! In the future, you’ll understand just how incredible it truly is..."

’One of a kind? Incredible?’ A desolate expression crossed Feng Ling’s face. She stopped in her tracks but didn’t turn around. In a low voice, she asked, "Are you trying to mock me, Viscount Lingxiao?"

------------------------

Alright, here’s the update. Friends, please check your accounts, and if you have any monthly tickets... please vote for Xiaodao! Because I don’t have a stockpile of Chapters, I can only try my best to be consistent, but I promise the daily updates won’t stop!

Also, to my friends reading this elsewhere, if you are able, please come to Qidian Chinese to support the official release. A deep bow of thanks! (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com for more Chapters and to support the author and official publication!)