Evil Sword Immortal
The news of Zhao Feng's death, like a poisoned arrow, was carried by the relentless north wind for three days and nights, piercing through the clouds for miles—the wind still carried the stench of blood from Carefree Peak, sweeping across the Northern Wilderness, stirring up grass clippings, on which still clung to undried blood droplets; it dampened the miasma as it brushed past the Southern Rainforest, the miasma itself tinged with killing intent, and finally, like a thunderclap, it slammed into the Sandalwood Incense- scented Council Hall of the Zhao Family Ancestral Land.
The gold paint on the twelve Coiled Dragon Pillars inside the hall was already peeling, and the patterns on the dragon scales were covered with a century of dust, yet they still exuded the majesty of the Aristocratic Clan family. The auspicious clouds carved on the pillar bases now appeared somewhat ferocious under the candlelight. A deathly chill enveloped the entire hall, and even the candlelight trembled slightly, casting distorted and long shadows of everyone on the walls, like struggling ghosts.
In the center of the long Rosewood table lay a fragment of the Clan Suppressing Dragon Talisman. The fragment, no bigger than a palm, gleamed dimly in the candlelight. Fine lines, torn by sword intent, remained at the broken edge, the depths of which seemed to hold lingering Spiritual Qi, now murky, like a scabbed but still bleeding wound. On the table lay a blood-stained letter, the last words of Zhao Feng's accompanying disciple. The edges were soaked in blood, wrinkled and illegible, the handwriting barely legible. Only the last few words, "No corpse remains intact under Ren Xiaoyao's sword," were forcefully pierced, the ink tinged with blood, filled with despair and resentment.
"Bang!" Zhao Lie, the Lineage, slammed his fist on the table. His muscles, beneath his black brocade robe, were taut like a drawn bow. His knuckles turned white from the force, and blood seeped from between his fingers, dripping onto the Rosewood and leaving a small, dark mark. His already burly face now appeared even more ferocious, the veins on his forehead throbbing, his eyes bloodshot as if spitting fire. "Ren Xiaoyao! My Zhao Clan's century-old foundation, from the Mysterious Iron mines of the Northern Border to the thousand-year-old medicinal gardens of the Southern Border, which power dared to show the slightest disrespect? When our clan members walk outside, who doesn't respectfully address them as 'Young Master Zhao' or 'Elder Zhao'? And now they've fallen at the hands of you, you brat—my son, Zhao Feng, if it weren't for protecting those newly initiated disciples, how could he have been distracted and taken advantage of by you, ending up with No Existence? This is an irreconcilable hatred! If I don't grind you to dust and ensure your soul is never reincarnated, I, Zhao Lie, swear I am not human!"
The eight Clan Elder below stood with their heads bowed, their white beards trembling slightly. The atmosphere was as still as iron, and even their breathing was unusually clear. The eldest elder, who sat at the Dragon Head Cane of the left, leaned on a dragon-headed cane. The jade at the top of the cane had lost its luster in the shadows, turning grayish. The sound of the cane striking the ground was particularly jarring in the silent hall, each sound like a blow to the heart. He tremblingly took out a Black Jade Token from his sleeve—the token was pitch black, cold to the touch, as if holding a block of ice. Twisted sword patterns were engraved on it, with black energy seemingly flowing within the patterns. As one approached it, a bone-chilling coldness spread from the fingertips, as if to penetrate to the marrow, making one shiver involuntarily.
"Clan leader, things have come to this. Ordinary cultivators are no match for Ren Xiaoyao." The First Elder's voice was hoarse, carrying a barely perceptible fear. His Adam's apple bobbed as if he were suppressing something. "Ren Xiaoyao was able to kill Zhao Feng and destroy the Clan Suppressing Dragon Talisman, showing that his sword intent has reached a transcendent level. Ordinary Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators simply cannot get close to him. Only by asking the ' Evil Sword Immortal ' to intervene can we have a sliver of hope." He paused, swallowed, as if recalling the terrifying scenes from the rumors, "This man has no fixed abode, yet he was able to single-handedly slaughter three sects and five factions—" Last year, the entire Green Wood Sect was wiped out, and the bluestone of the mountain gate was stained purple by his Sword Qi Sword Qi, a stain that hadn't faded for half a year. Last month, the Cloud Glow Sect leader led seven elders to besiege him, but even their swords were drained of their power by his sword energy, leaving them as Scrap Iron. The seven elders were even devoured by his Sword Qi, unable to even enter the cycle of reincarnation. It's rumored that his Sword Qi can absorb the spiritual power of the dead; anyone who dies by his sword has no chance of reincarnation. "If we use half of the Zhao Clan's treasure as bait, plus that batch of Thousand-Year Black Iron and ninth-grade spirit medicine found in the Far North Ice Plains, we can definitely persuade him to take Ren Xiaoyao's head."
Zhao Lie stared at the Black Jade Token, a fierce glint in his eyes, tinged with a desperate madness. He grabbed the token, its sharp edge digging painfully into his palm, but he felt no pain. He slammed it heavily on the table, the token striking the Rosewood with a dull thud, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker again. "Pass down the order! Immediately inventory the storerooms and prepare the Thousand-Year Black Iron and ninth-grade spirit medicine —and that Thousand-Year Snow Lotus that can save lives too! Have the Third Elder personally lead a team, carrying the token, to search for him at Black Wind Stronghold, a place frequented by the Evil Sword Immortal. They must find him within three days! I want Ren Xiaoyao to know that killing a Zhao Clan will be repaid with a life!"
Three days later, the Mist Valley at the foot of Carefree Peak was shrouded in a thick black fog. This fog was not the usual morning fog in the mountains, but rather had an eerie stickiness. Each wisp seemed to writhe like a living thing—it touched the Green Moss on the cliff face and instantly turned it black. The Green Moss withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even the withered grass in the cracks of the rocks turned to ash and scattered with the wind. In the stream at the bottom of the valley, a black film appeared on the surface of the water. Fish under the black film floated to the surface with their white bellies, and soon rotted into a pool of black water, emitting a pungent, fishy smell. Even the pebbles at the bottom of the water were stained black.
A Mysterious Black Figure emerged from the mist. He wore a long robe embroidered with dark gold sword patterns, the hem of which trailed on the ground, yet not a speck of mist touched him, as if the mist itself was deliberately avoiding him. With each step, the surrounding mist condensed into tiny ice particles as if encountering ice, the particles making a soft rustling sound as they landed before quickly dissipating into black mist, leaving small black marks on the ground. He was tall and straight, his face hidden beneath the wide brim of his hat, revealing only a section of his pale chin and pale lips. It was almost transparent, devoid of any blood color. Though there was no sword in his hand, a pale purple Sword Qi swirled between his fingers—this Sword Qi was not formed from ordinary spiritual energy, but rather shimmered with an eerie luster, resembling pus on rotting flesh. When it swept across a ten-foot-high rock, the rock was instantly slashed with a smooth cut, the cut surface charred black, as if scorched by a raging fire, and faintly echoing the wails of the dead. The sound was delicate and shrill, as if countless wronged souls were trapped within the Sword Qi, never to be released, sending chills down one's spine.
"Ren Xiaoyao, come out and face your death!" The Evil Sword Immortal's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling intent that pierced the heart. It echoed through the valley like thunder, causing rocks to fall from the cliffs on both sides. The rocks silently melted into the black mist, leaving no sound, as if swallowed by the mist. He raised his hand and grabbed, and dozens of purple sword shadows appeared in the air—the sword shadows were long and sharp, their edges shimmering with an eerie light. The sword shadows intertwined to form an impenetrable net, with black mist emanating from the mesh. The Sword Qi Sky-Rending Strike at the edge of the Sword Net tore through the air, making a "sizzling" sound. Even space itself seemed to be cut with tiny cracks, from which faint black energy seeped out, enveloping Ren Xiaoyao's secluded bamboo house.
On the bluestone slab in front of the bamboo house, a few newly sprouted Orchid Grass still remained, their leaves so tender they seemed to drip with moisture, shimmering with a faint green light. Yet, they were now bent low by the oppressive force of the Sword Net, their leaf tips drooping to the ground, not daring to let even a drop of dew fall, as if they would be swallowed by the Sword Qi the moment they touched the ground. Just as the Sword Net was about to touch the bamboo house, a layer of pale blue spiritual light suddenly shone forth—the light was as gentle as flowing water, yet carried an inviolable majesty. Fine ripples spread across the surface of the light, firmly protecting the bamboo house, preventing even a wisp of black mist from seeping in.
Ren Xiaoyao stood outside the spiritual light. His white robes stood out like snow in the black mist, a few strands of mountain grass still clinging to the hem, the grass still fresh and green, yet he showed no signs of dishevelment. In his hand he held a long sword, pure white, its blade gleaming with a warm light, as if carved from thousand-year-old mutton-fat jade, the very "Carefree Sword" forged from the "Carefree Sword Embryo." The cloud patterns on the sword flowed slowly under the spiritual light, as if a gentle breeze had passed by, and a faint Spiritual Qi emanated from the patterns. Even the surrounding black mist was forced back several feet, revealing the verdant grass beneath his feet. The dewdrops on the grass blades reflected the light, exceptionally clear, like scattered pearls.
"Evil Sword Immortal, you have no relation to the Zhao Clan, why wade into this mess for a few treasures?" Ren Xiaoyao pointed his sword at the ground, the blade wreathed in wisps of spiritual light. Wherever the light passed, the black mist dissipated into wisps of green smoke, and the stench in the air lessened. "If you leave now, I will pretend that today's events never happened. You have cultivated for hundreds of years, and your current level of cultivation is truly remarkable. It would be a pity if you fell into the Demonic Dao because of momentary greed."
The Evil Sword Immortal chuckled, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes beneath his hat brim. His gaze was as if he were looking at a presumptuous child. The Purple Sword Energy between his fingers suddenly surged, almost dyeing the surrounding air purple, and the chill in the air intensified. "I only recognize treasures, not people. Ren Xiaoyao, you were only able to kill that fool Zhao Feng by sheer luck, relying on your sword intent. Do you really think you're so powerful? Today I'll show you that you might not be able to withstand three of my sword strikes." Before he finished speaking, his figure vanished abruptly, leaving only a faint black shadow—his speed was astonishing, so fast that even the air couldn't react, leaving only a brief vacuum trace, within which a faint Purple Sword Energy lingered.
The next second, he appeared behind Ren Xiaoyao. His right hand formed a sword finger, and the Purple Sword Energy between his fingers condensed into a blade several inches long, carrying a strong Evil Qi as it pierced towards Ren Xiaoyao's back. As the sword Sword Qi tore through the air, a piercing shriek echoed, the sound like countless ghosts wailing simultaneously. Even the surrounding light seemed to be distorted, and a deep trench cracked open in the ground, from which black mist seeped out. Within the mist, countless phantoms struggled, some missing limbs, others with festering faces. These were the ghosts being devoured by his Sword Qi, still emitting desperate wails, their voices fragmented and shrill, unsettling to those who heard them.
Ren Xiaoyao reacted with lightning speed. His toes lightly touched the bluestone slab, and his body floated several feet to the side like a willow catkin. His movements were so light they seemed weightless. The hem of his robe swept across the grass, catching a few dew-kissed leaves. The leaves swirled in the air before slowly falling, landing on the grass still carrying a faint Spiritual Qi. At the same time, he swung his sword in a backhand motion, the Carefree Sword drawing a pale blue arc— Sword Qi poured out like flowing water, carrying the fresh Spiritual Qi of the mountains, colliding with the Evil Sword Immortal's Purple Sword Energy.
A deafening roar echoed through the valley. Where the two Sword Qi collided, ripples spread through the space, like a boulder thrown into water. The ripples dispersed much of the surrounding black mist. Debris flew everywhere, crashing against the cliff face with resounding thuds, shattering the rocks. The ancient pine tree on the cliff, already lush and its trunk so thick it took two people to encircle it, was instantly reduced to dust by the aftershocks of the Sword Qi, leaving not a single speck of wood behind, only a wisp of smoke carrying a faint pine scent, which was quickly swallowed by the black mist and vanished.
Ren Xiaoyao felt his arm go numb and his spiritual energy fluctuate slightly. He couldn't help but frown—this Evil Sword Immortal was several times stronger than Zhao Feng. In particular, the evil energy in his Sword Qi seemed to be corrosive. When it touched his Carefree Sword Intent, it made his sword intent slightly sluggish, like ink mixed into clear water, which was difficult to dispel. Even the circulation of spiritual energy in his body slowed down by a fraction.
Seeing his attack miss, the Evil Sword Immortal's eyes flashed with surprise, followed by a cold laugh, tinged with excitement as if he had found an amusing toy. "Interesting. Better than that idiot Zhao Feng. Not a waste of my time." He rapidly formed hand seals, his fingers flying, releasing wisps of black energy that condensed into eerie runes in the air. He muttered obscure incantations— the Incantation Syllables which were strange, like the wailing of ghosts and wolves, unsettling the listener and causing the surrounding black mist to thicken. His Purple Sword Energy suddenly surged, transforming into a giant sword tens of meters long, hovering in mid-air, blotting out the sun and casting shadows over the entire valley.
The giant sword was covered in eerie runes, which flickered and emitted a chilling, malevolent Evil Qi. The air itself seemed to thicken, making it difficult to breathe. Countless Black Chains, as thick as arms, emerged from the ground, their surfaces covered in barbs that gleamed with an eerie green light, clearly coated with a deadly poison—the "Corrosive Heart Poison" specially crafted by the Evil Sword Immortal. Once it touched flesh, it would travel through the blood vessels to the heart, causing the victim to turn into pus in excruciating pain, leaving not even bones behind. As the chains moved, they dragged deep grooves into the ground, from which black smoke rose. The smoke carried a pungent odor, instantly withering even the toughest grass roots, turning them into black powder that scattered into the air, filling the entire valley with a foul stench.
Ren Xiaoyao dared not be careless. He held the Carefree Sword horizontally in front of his chest, and the "Carefree Sword Intent" around him suddenly surged, transforming into a pale blue light shield. The light shield revealed the Mountain and River Phantoms —majestic peaks pierced the clouds, with clouds and mist swirling among them, and faint birds could be seen flying in the mist; the rushing river surged and raged, the waves crashing against the rocks, making a "whoosh" sound, carrying an Artistic Conception of Inclusive of Heaven and Earth, firmly protecting him, and the surface of the light shield was also shimmering with a faint spiritual light, like a thin veil.
The Black Chains struck the light shield, emitting a sizzling, corrosive sound, like a branding iron burning flesh—the sound was extremely piercing. Ripples spread across the surface of the light shield as the evil power of the runes continuously eroded the sword intent. The color of the light shield gradually faded, from emerald green to pale blue, and then from pale blue to almost transparent. Even the Mountain and River Phantoms on it became blurred, the outlines of the peaks gradually disappeared, and the waves of the rivers became calmer, as if it might shatter at any moment.
Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth, his spiritual power surging wildly into the Carefree Sword. The sword's light intensified, and the cloud patterns on its surface became increasingly clear, as if a gentle breeze flowed between the lines, emitting a soft "humming" sound. He swung the sword fiercely, unleashing a Green Sword Energy tens of feet long— the Sword Qi roared like a dragon towards the Evil Sword Evil Sword Immortal's purple giant sword. The air was filled with a refreshing Spiritual Qi, a stark contrast to the Evil Sword Immortal's Evil Qi, like a ray of Warm Sun in the cold winter, instantly dispelling the surrounding gloom. Even the black powder on the ground was swept up by the Sword Qi and dissipated in the air.
"Clang—" The Green Sword Energy collided with the purple greatsword, producing a deafening metallic clang that echoed through the valley. Even the water droplets in the distant stream were shaken and suspended in the air, refusing to fall for a long time. The water droplets reflected the light of the Sword Qi, like sparkling gems. The purple greatsword was struck by the Sword Qi, and the runes on its surface instantly dimmed, as if all its power had been drained. The greatsword trembled slightly, and small cracks appeared on its blade, from which black mist seeped, as if it were about to collapse.
The Evil Sword Immortal's expression changed. He hadn't Ren Xiaoyao's sword intent to be so powerful, even able to shake the giant sword he had refined with evil magic and absorbed the spiritual power of countless dead souls. He suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood —the Essence Blood was dark red, viscous like paste, and turned into black mist upon landing, swirling in the air without dissipating, carrying a faint bloody smell. The Essence Blood landed on the purple giant sword, and the giant sword instantly regained its luster, even shining brighter than before. The runes on the sword body flickered with an eerie light, the chains became thicker, and the eerie green light on the barbs became even more dazzling, even the air seemed to be corroded by poison, becoming distorted.
"Today I'll show you the consequences of offending me!" the Evil Sword Immortal roared, his voice hoarse and crazed. He thrust his hands forward, and the giant sword, carrying destructive force, pressed down on Ren Xiaoyao. The runes on the sword emitted a buzzing sound, as if cheering. The black mist in the air grew thicker and thicker, unable to penetrate even the sunlight. The entire valley was plunged into darkness, leaving only the runes on the purple giant sword flickering in the darkness, like pairs of peering eyes, exuding a chilling killing intent that sent shivers down one's spine.
Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat. He could clearly sense that this purple giant sword contained extremely strong evil power. If he were hit, not only would his physical body be torn apart, but his spiritual power would also be eroded by the evil power. That evil power was like a maggot clinging to his bones; once it touched him, it would continuously devour his spiritual power and spread along his meridians. At that point, it would be extremely difficult to remove, and he might even be devoured by the evil power and fall into the Demonic Dao.
He took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and pushed the "Carefree Sword Intent" to its limit. In an instant, the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth converged on him like a tide—the mountain stream stopped flowing, water droplets floated in the air, refracting a faint light, like sparkling pearls; the grass and trees on the cliff stopped trembling, the leaves tilted towards Ren Xiaoyao, and the Spiritual Qi in the veins of the leaves overflowed from the leaves, turning into a faint blue stream of energy that swirled around him; even the Spiritual Qi in the distant clouds was drawn in, turning into streams of pale blue energy that surged from all directions, entered his body, and made his whole body glow with a faint spiritual light.
The Carefree Sword gleamed with a brilliant light, a soft yet gentle glow, like the first rays of morning sunlight. The cloud patterns on the sword flowed slowly, as if a gentle breeze were blowing, carrying a Artistic Conception unrestrained freedom. The spiritual light on the sword grew stronger and stronger, almost illuminating the entire valley. Even the purple runes in the darkness appeared somewhat dim, and the black mist gradually dissipated under the illumination of the spiritual light.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within them, as dazzling as stars. He raised his Carefree Sword high—at that moment, the entire valley seemed to fall silent, leaving only the buzzing sound of flowing Spiritual Qi. Even the black mist stopped churning, and the Evil Qi in the air weakened. Then, he brought his sword down heavily.
This sword strike, though lacking a deafening sound, carried a power that pierced through all things. The pale blue Sword Qi, like a streak of light, sliced through the darkness with incredible speed, its trajectory impossible to discern. Wherever the sword Sword Qi passed, the air rippled gently. The black mist dissipated completely, revealing the sunlight in the sky. The sunlight bathed the valley, dispelling the last trace of chill and revitalizing the grass on the ground. The runes on the purple greatsword shattered instantly with a cracking sound, like porcelain breaking. The greatsword crumbled inch by inch, transforming into countless purple specks of light that vanished upon hitting the ground, leaving not a trace of Evil Qi. The Black Chains, touched by the Sword Qi, also turned into wisps of black smoke, disappearing as soon as they were exposed to the sunlight, leaving only a faint, fishy smell in the air, which was quickly diluted by the Spiritual Qi, becoming fresh and clean.
The Sword Qi continued forward, slashing towards the Evil Sword Immortal. The Evil Sword Immortal's face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with disbelief, terror, and resentment. He instinctively tried to retreat, but his feet seemed nailed to the spot, every muscle trembling. He could clearly feel the power of heaven and earth contained within the Green Sword Energy energy enveloping him with an invisible pressure—not a brute force restraint, but a suppression of the "Dao," causing the evil power within his body to instantly lose its vitality, like ice and snow encountering the scorching sun, even the Purple Sword Energy at his fingertips rapidly dimming.
"Impossible! I've cultivated for three hundred years, refined the spiritual power of thousands of dead souls, how could I be defeated by a mere brat like you!" The Evil Sword Immortal roared, his voice distorted with fear. He abruptly reached for his Storage Bag at his waist, trying to retrieve his last life-saving "Soul Erosion Bead," but the moment his fingers touched the pouch, he was struck by the aftershock of the Sword Qi. With a "whoosh," his sleeve instantly turned to ashes, and a pale blue sword mark appeared on his arm. No blood flowed from the wound, but wisps of black energy seeped out along the mark—the evil power forcibly stripped away by the sword intent, twisting and dissipating in the air.