And Ling Xiao could indeed feel a demonic aura emanating from this Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul. It was highly likely that it had once been tainted by the blood of a demon! Or perhaps it had been used by a member of the Demon Race! The former possibility was greater. That would explain why the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword was so excited.

Ling Xiao had always wanted to reforge the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword, but back then his strength had been insufficient, and he lacked high-quality materials. Now, however, at the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage, Ling Xiao was just barely strong enough to reforge it.

That was why he was so excited to have obtained this Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul, a Top-Grade Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure.

However, there was one question that had always perplexed Ling Xiao. ’Where in this world did the Demon Race come from?’

When Ling Xiao was in the Cultivation Realm, he had read in some miscellaneous records about events from the Ancient Era. It was said that powerful Demon Race cultivators could tear through space and travel to other planes.

’Could it be that there were once traces of Demon Race cultivators on this Canglan Continent?’ Ling Xiao wondered. ’In the Cultivation Realm of my time, the Demon Race had already vanished, leaving behind only some Beast Cultivators with a Demon Race bloodline. Those Beast Cultivators were often exceptionally powerful—even formidable Cultivators were generally unwilling to provoke them.’

However, as a Cultivator, he had an instinctual and highly sensitive reaction to a demonic aura, much like an ordinary human’s ability to sense a chilling draft. Cultivators had a very sensitive reaction to demonic auras.

Ling Xiao looked at the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul in his hand. In truth, any so-called Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul was far older than ten thousand years; they usually had a history of tens of thousands of years, or even longer.

Ling Xiao used his Spiritual Power to carefully probe the inside of the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul. To his delight, the Spiritual Qi within it was unimaginably abundant and, moreover, still in a chaotic state. That was the best news of all!

Once the spirituality of a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul formed its own sentience, someone with Ling Xiao’s level of strength would be completely unable to refine it. It was like an Immortal’s magical treasure; the treasure itself could take on a human form, and the higher its grade, the higher its intelligence.

Come to think of it, those magical treasures were all actually refined from various kinds of Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Souls!

Sensing the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword in his ring growing increasingly restless, Ling Xiao waved his hand and summoned it.

As soon as the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword appeared, it immediately hovered in mid-air, its tip pointing toward the ground. The blade began to vibrate slightly, and the sound of a dragon’s cry emanated from it.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul began to tremble in Ling Xiao’s hand, as if it were terrified.

Ling Xiao, however, remained unmoved. All Spiritual Objects possessed a natural instinct for self-preservation, much like how leaves curl under the scorching sun. With a flick of his hand, Ling Xiao tossed the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul into the air. The Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword suddenly erupted with a powerful, scarlet radiance that enveloped the spirit soul.

Ling Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands rapidly forming various hand seals. Layers of powerful energy surrounded the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword and the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul, while a barrier created by the seals enveloped the entire room.

...

Deep within the small island, in a very ordinary thatched hut, sat a benevolent-looking old man. The hut was immaculate, with only a single cushion on the floor where he sat. He had white hair but a youthful face, and upon closer inspection, one could see a faint resemblance to Song Qi.

He sat there with his eyes closed, perfectly still. The area for miles around the thatched hut had been designated as forbidden ground for many years, and no one had ever entered. Even Song Qi, the current leader of the Sea Domain Song Family, hadn’t set foot in here for decades.

Just as Ling Xiao’s Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword unleashed its light to envelop the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul, the old man’s eyes snapped open. Two powerful streams of Spiritual Power, as if tangible, shot from his eyes toward the hut’s wall.

They instantly pierced two finger-sized holes through the bamboo wall. The old man, however, seemed not to notice. A look of astonishment appeared on his face as he opened his mouth and muttered in a deep, ancient voice, "What a powerful aura, and it carries the power of destruction!"

As he spoke, his body vanished from the thatched hut without any perceptible movement. The old man circled the island in the air, moving as fast as lightning, but he could no longer sense the aura. Puzzled, he quietly approached the building where Song Yi was staying.

Song Xi, the ancestor of the Sea Domain Song Family, had been in seclusion for many years. Many of his descendants had never even seen him. But in truth, he wasn’t always a recluse. He would occasionally come out for a stroll to see if everything in the family was normal. When Song Mingyue was young, she had been fortunate enough to see the Ancestor once. It was when the Sea Domain Song Family was attacked by the Deep Sea Poison Dragon. That Tier Eight Magical Beast had thrown the entire island into chaos. At the time, Song Yi had not yet suffered from qi deviation, but even ten Sword Emperor experts couldn’t control the Tier Eight Magical Beast from the deep sea.

At the critical moment, the Ancestor had taken action. With the help of the ten Sword Emperors pinning it down, he slayed the Deep Sea Poison Dragon. For many years after, no High-Tier Magical Beast dared to approach the island, which brought peace to the Sea Domain Song Family.

Song Xi focused his senses and closed his eyes, listening to the voices inside. He had just seen the large crowd outside Song Yi’s small building and his heart had tightened. ’Could it be that my great-grandson didn’t make it?’ he had thought. But upon listening, he was relieved. His great-grandson had actually woken up!

Although he hadn’t recovered his strength yet, it was already a miracle!

Relieved, Song Xi flickered and vanished on the spot. No one noticed that the Ancestor had just come over to eavesdrop...

...

Madam Song had now composed herself and was feeding her husband lotus seed congee one spoonful at a time. The now-conscious Song Yi, for his part, seemed completely unconcerned about having lost all his power and was thoroughly enjoying his wife’s care.

Song Mingyue had been waiting by the side for a long time but hadn’t found a chance to speak. After finishing a bowl of congee, Song Yi looked much more energetic. Ling Xiao had already said that as long as he didn’t overeat, he would be fine. Because of Song Yi’s originally powerful constitution, his bodily functions were still normal and hadn’t been greatly affected, despite being bedridden for several years.

Song Yi glanced at his beautiful young wife, a gentle smile touching his lips. "Actually," he said, "over these past few years, I could hear everything you all said to me. I just couldn’t speak or react. Occasionally, my mind would become clear, but I’d fall back into a stupor soon after. But I could always hear you talking! So, Xiaoyue, it’s been hard on you, all for my sake."

Song Mingyue said softly, "As long as you’ve recovered, Father, Yue’Er doesn’t mind any suffering!"

Song Yi shook his head slightly. "Three years has been enough time for me to think about many things. The problems you’re worried about... you don’t need to worry anymore. Even without my strength, as long as I can live another day, I will live it happily. It’s much better than lying in bed, half-dead!"

Song Qi nodded from the side. "Yi’er, since you have such a mindset, your father can finally rest assured. Over these years, this mother and daughter have suffered a great deal because of you. Since you already know, I won’t say more. I’ll have the people outside disperse in a moment. After a few days, when you’ve rested well, you can go out and see everyone. They’re all worried about you!"

"I understand, Father!"

Song Yi said naturally with a gentle smile.

Song Mingyue was delighted to see the change in her father. But when she left the room with her mother, she noticed that the smile on her mother’s face was very strained. "Mother," she asked, "Father’s awake. Aren’t you happy?"

Madam Song stroked her daughter’s head and said softly, "Silly child, do you think your father is the kind of person who would be content with being ordinary? I’m not afraid of anything else, I’m just afraid he’ll do something foolish!"

"Ah..." Song Mingyue was stunned. She had originally planned to tell Ling Xiao to do his best to find the medicinal ingredients, but that it was fine if he couldn’t. But after hearing her mother’s words, she suddenly felt that her father’s behavior was indeed strange.

’Song Yi, who once possessed the power of a Tier One Peak Sword Emperor, had suddenly been reduced to an ordinary person. Forget three years—even after thirty years, the memory would be heartbreaking and something to brood over. How could he possibly act so normal?’

Song Mingyue said anxiously, "Mother, what do we do then? If Father tries to forcefully circulate his power... that’s... that’s life-threatening!" As Song Mingyue spoke, her eyes reddened. "Ling Xiao also said that the chances of finding those medicinal ingredients are minuscule..."

Madam Song sighed softly. "For now, the only thing we can do is have you go and plead with that Ling Xiao. Didn’t you say he wants to build a city? Our family will foot the bill. It seems there are also many hidden families with designs on him. We’ll send your Thirteenth and Fourteenth Grandfathers to the Mortal World to help guard his home! And then, you go with him to search for those medicinal ingredients. Whatever he asks for, agree to it..."

"Mother..." Song Mingyue’s face flushed slightly. "What are you implying?"

Madam Song smiled gently. "That boy Ling Xiao may be from the Mortal World, but he’s backed by a powerful and mysterious family. His character is good, too. Mother likes him very much!"

"What’s it got to do with me if you like him?" Song Mingyue blinked and said, "Besides, I’m his Brother Song!"

Madam Song shook her head with a wry smile. "I’ll stay at home and keep a closer eye on your father, and I’ll try my best to persuade him. So, you just do as I said. I believe that when your grandfather—that old man—finds out, he’ll also support your mother’s decision."

Song Mingyue nodded. The thought of Ling Xiao calling her Brother Song was a little amusing, but when she thought of her father’s situation, her heart clenched again.

...

Ling Xiao’s hand seals became faster and faster, leaving a constant stream of afterimages in the air. The Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul was suspended above the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword, and like a melting block of ice, drops of Spiritual Liquid... dripped continuously onto the horizontal blade!

When the very last drop had completely merged with the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword, the sword unleashed an incomparably powerful aura! A brilliant light flared! If Ling Xiao hadn’t sealed the room, everyone on the island with a cultivation at the Sword Sect realm or higher would have likely sensed it!

The Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword circled in the air a few times, letting out a series of draconic cries before returning to Ling Xiao’s hand. Its brilliance receded, and like a mischievous child who had eaten its fill, it lay obediently in Ling Xiao’s palm, perfectly still.

Ling Xiao looked at the blade of the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword again. The complex inscriptions and markings on it had become incredibly clear!

Like the blood vessels in a human body, they covered both sides of the blade. At that moment, Ling Xiao could clearly feel the Demon Blood Red Lotus Sword’s sense of attachment to him!

Just like a pet’s attachment to its owner.

Ling Xiao was overjoyed. Stepping on his flying sword, achieving Sword Flight... he knew that day was just around the corner!