A colossal root tore up from the earth, like an ink-black dragon entwined with the corpses of gods and demons. Its rootlets dangled, each bearing a skeleton that still writhed faintly.
"The Death Root," Su Changqing said.
"The tenth fragment is locked inside its core."
A speck of emerald light shone between his brows. The Seed of Creation awakened, and vitality poured out like a tide. Wherever the emerald light fell, death qi dissolved inch by inch.
The Death Root convulsed violently, its rootlets curling like snakes.
"Creation..." A voice came from deep within the root's core, like bones grinding against bones.
"Heir to the Sword Lord, you dare dig up my roots?"
A pitch-black skeleton squeezed out of the root's core, his eye sockets hollow and death qi coiling around him.
"I am the Death Puppet King, guardian of the root under the True Lord. I have been pinned to this place for an epoch."
The Death Puppet King stepped forward and lashed his White Bone Divine Chains at Su Changqing's face like a whip. Su Changqing struck the chains with his sword, breaking off a section, but death qi churned at the break and a new section grew.
The Death Puppet King spread his arms. Hundreds of millions of White Bone Divine Chains poured out, slithering along the ground like a swarm of snakes. Their tips rose high, all locking onto Su Changqing.
"I have guarded this root for an epoch, and never let anyone touch its core."
Sword in hand, Su Changqing took a step forward.
"Then today, you'll make an exception."
Sword light surged, striking straight for the Death Puppet King's throat. The Death Puppet King raised a skeletal palm to meet it. The blade pierced his palm bones and lodged halfway through.
The Death Puppet