Born to Die

The flames on the Shadowless Sword burned fiercely. What was originally just a thin layer of fire covering the sword's body had now surged to over a foot high. Li Mu's entire body's skin had also transformed from its previous crimson to a dark red, with sparks hidden beneath the skin flickering as if alive.

Just moments ago, when he had decided to risk everything, the golden vortex in Li Mu's dantian, filled with firelight, spun faster and faster under the urging of the Innate Art. The Pure Yang core hidden within the vortex was directly crushed under immense pressure. A majestic torrent of Pure Yang power surged out like a mountain flood, coursing through his meridians to every part of his body.

This was a move born from desperation, a choice to burn all bridges. Li Mu had already confirmed that the speed at which the golden vortex stripped the Pure Yang core was insufficient to defeat the Ice Serpent's beast soul, which was also fighting with all its might. The Pure Yang power he had obtained through pills was ultimately limited in duration; he had no advantage in a war of attrition. Once the Pure Yang core was depleted, he would face certain death.

During this battle, Li Mu had also considered if he could achieve a breakthrough during combat like Hao Meng. However, after several attempts, he found he still couldn't execute the fourth stance of his family's sword style—Sword Intent Horizontal and Vertical. Even after consuming Immortal Grade pills, granting him an immense amount of usable power, he still felt a veil separating him from this fourth stance, within reach but impossible to break through.

Similarly, regarding the Innate Art, he had been searching for a way to enter the second level for the past six months. This mysterious cultivation technique, passed down through the Li Family, he had mastered to Perfection in the first level almost immediately after his transmigration, as if it were a cultivation method tailor-made for him. Yet, he hadn't expected this second level to be like a chasm, preventing him from crossing for so long.

The stagnation in martial arts techniques and cultivation methods had prevented Li Mu from breaking through to the Core Formation Realm, which had almost become a persistent worry. Over time, the more anxious he became to break through, the less he could grasp the essence of the next level of his cultivation techniques and martial arts. This created a vicious cycle; if it continued, even the foundation of his cultivation, his Dao heart, might be affected.

This was also the reason Li Mu wanted to achieve a breakthrough through alchemy. He aimed to escape the confines of the two cultivation techniques he practiced and find an alternative path to enhance his control over the world's elemental energy, thereby achieving breakthroughs in the Innate Art and his family's sword style.

However, such attempts at breakthrough required time, and the current Li Mu had no time left.

He pushed the Innate Art to its absolute limit, condensing a vast amount of elemental energy. Li Mu directly crushed the Pure Yang core, which was now only half its original size. The instantly released power surged into his meridians, and pain washed over him like a tide. The agony of his meridians feeling like they were about to burst was beyond Li Mu's imagination.

"Damn it! I always heard childbirth was the most painful experience in the world. I wonder if my current state is comparable."

Struck by pain to the point of nearly losing consciousness, Li Mu forced himself to stay awake. With the explosion of Pure Yang power, he felt an unprecedented strength. Along with it, his confidence returned—the belief in forging ahead, in being invincible.

"Having shattered the Pure Yang core, I probably have at most ten breaths left. This might be my last strike in this world."

Feeling the explosive energy within him, Li Mu's gaze towards his enemy was incredibly firm. If his life was truly to be but a fleeting meteor in this world, then he would make that brief light shine even brighter.

With Li Mu unleashing his full sword technique, the Flaming Shadowless Sword carved trails of fiery sword shadows in the night. A thrust, a slash, a chop. At this moment, Li Mu was incredibly focused. The powerful flames and Sword Intent forced the Beast Armor to retreat step by step. His Frost Armor also seemed to be nearing its limit, with dense, spiderweb-like cracks covering its entire surface. The Ice Serpent was also struggling to hold on.

"Nine breaths, eight breaths, seven breaths. Not enough, still not enough! This power isn't enough to defeat it in one go. There's no time!"

The Ice Serpent's cunning gave Li Mu a headache. It had seen his sudden burst of power and abandoned all offensive tactics, concentrating almost all its frost energy on the armor's defense. Now, the Beast Armor only needed to endure Li Mu's burst period to easily claim victory.

"I'll go all out! If I don't succeed, I'll die trying!"

As the medicinal effects were about to wear off, Li Mu's eyes widened in fury. With a roar, he took a step forward, his Shadowless Sword shifting rapidly. The powerful Sword Intent, wrapped in rolling flames, completely sealed off the surrounding area. He was going to force a breakthrough to the fourth stance of his family's sword style—Sword Intent Horizontal and Vertical—despite the realm difference.

Li Mu's mind was incredibly clear, devoid of any distractions. There was only one thought in his mind: this sword strike must succeed. All his strength and belief were poured into this single sword strike without reservation. The world's elemental energy and fire elements intertwined, unleashing unimaginable power.

This was the fourth stance of the Li Family Sword Style, but it was also Li Mu's unique Sword Intent Horizontal and Vertical. Executed with Pure Yang power as a medium, this strike illuminated the entire forest like a fleeting glimpse of a swan, instantly dispelling the darkness and gloom. Simultaneously, it completely engulfed the terrified Ice Serpent's Beast Armor.

Within the flames, the Frost Armor melted continuously. The Ice Serpent tried to reabsorb frost element to repair its armor but found that there was no frost element left in this space. Li Mu's sword strike had sealed the entire area. The Pure Yang flames finally broke through the armor's defense. The Beast Armor's mortal human body could not withstand such high temperatures. With a wail, the once invincible Beast Tamer, along with the Ice Serpent's beast soul, turned to ash.

"Hoo... hoo..."

After unleashing that world-shattering sword strike, Li Mu felt all the energy within him drained. The effects of the Immortal Grade Pure Yang Sky Burning Pill also ran out at this moment. A vast sense of emptiness and burning sensation swept through every cell of Li Mu's body. Without the protection of the medicinal effects and the assistance of elemental energy, his fragile body could not withstand the backlash of the residual Pure Yang power.

"No wonder they say only cultivators in the Nascent Soul Realm can consume these Immortal Grade pills. The residual power is simply too much for someone like me, who hasn't even reached the Core Formation Realm."

Looking at the Beast Armor's corpse scattered by the gentle breeze in the forest, Li Mu's consciousness could no longer stay awake. He collapsed onto the ground, his skin turning an abnormal reddish-brown. This was a side effect of overusing Pure Yang power. With his current broken body, he could not resist the backlash of this power.

The aura of life began to dissipate, and the scenery before his eyes blurred.

"Damn it, this is it for me."

After a self-mocking remark, Li Mu's consciousness sank completely, and an endless darkness enveloped him.