170. Heaven-Burning Strike

"Hate, hate, hate! Even if I cannot enter the Reincarnation and am forever condemned to become a ghost, I will still seek revenge!" The black spirit roared fiercely, and at the same time, its body swelled up like an inflating balloon, quickly growing from the size of a ping-pong ball to more than half a person's height.

Upon closer inspection, one could vaguely discern traces of the 'Altar Master' who had died at Song Shuhang's hands. However, the resemblance to the 'Altar Master' had dwindled to only about 50%.

This is clearly Resentment Spirit formed from the curse the 'Altar Master' cast on Song Shuhang before his death. However, this Resentment Spirit was shattered by Song Shuhang himself once, and then swallowed by the Pekingese Doudou several times, yet the curse still hasn't disappeared?

This time, Pekingese Doudou wasn't with Song Shuhang. And because Song Shuhang had exhausted too much of his mental energy, he couldn't even maintain his mental skill, 'Vigilance'.

The cursed Resentful Ghost slowly took shape, grinning maliciously as it extended its sharp claws and viciously clawed down towards Song Shuhang's throat. With this claw strike, five bloody holes would definitely be left in Song Shuhang's throat.

Just as the sharp claws were about to pierce Song Shuhang, a pure white spirit suddenly emerged from Song Shuhang's Heart Aperture —it was the Golden Shield Spirit Ghost with whom Song Shuhang had made a pact.

The pure Spirit Ghost was only the size of a fist, while the black Resentful Ghost was now half the size of a human.

However, the Spirit Ghost was not afraid at all. It suddenly opened its mouth and sucked hard at the Resentful Ghost.

A bizarre scene unfolded: the Spirit Ghost, like a whale sucking in water, its mouth resembling a 'Purple-Gold Gourd can trap people inside,' swallowed the black Resentful Ghost whole!

"Burp~" The Spirit Ghost let out a satisfied burp, and even its size increased slightly. Then, it yawned and shrank back into Song Shuhang's Heart Aperture.

Song Shuhang smacked his lips in his sleep, feeling like he was having a wonderful dream... He turned over and continued his sweet dream.

That was a beautiful dream.

This time, in his dream, Song Shuhang became an ancient person again.

He had an innocent and carefree childhood with loving parents. However, when he was six years old, he contracted a strange illness that defied all medical treatment. His father took him everywhere seeking medical help, but his strange illness persisted.

In the end, his parents sent him to a dilapidated Daoist temple dozens of miles away from home, where a Daoist priest in a bright red robe took him in.

This Daoist priest in his fiery red robe was no ordinary person, but a deity. In the dream, Song Shuhang began to live with him, drinking bitter medicine every day and practicing strange boxing techniques with the priest.

Two years later, he had recovered from his illness and even gained some superhuman powers.

Then, two years and three months later, the Daoist priest in the fiery red robe led Song Shuhang from his dream to the foot of a towering tree.

"My name is Master Scarlet Firmament, and we are destined to be connected. Watch closely!" the Daoist priest in the fiery red robe said with a light laugh. Then, he stood under the giant tree, broke off a branch, and began to perform on the spot.

He was also imparting some kind of martial arts technique incantation.

That must be an unparalleled sword technique, but Song Shuhang couldn't understand it.

As the Daoist priest used his swordsmanship, his figure became increasingly blurry, and he would often skip over parts of the sword... Furthermore, the incantations or techniques he taught were explained in another language, which sounded like a complete misunderstanding to Song Shuhang.

But in the dream, 'he' seemed to see very clearly and listen with rapt attention.

After the Daoist priest in the fiery red robe finished his demonstration, he chuckled and asked, "How much have you memorized?"

"Ninety percent," the 'he' in the dream replied honestly.

"Not bad, ninety percent is enough for you to condense a Golden Core and embark on the path to the Great Dao. Your future fortune depends on your own efforts." Daoist Scarlet Firmament smiled and gently stroked the head of the 'him' in the dream.

In the dream, 'he' smiled shyly, vaguely sensing that the Daoist priest seemed to be saying goodbye?

Daoist Scarlet Firmament affectionately stroked his head, then squatted down in front of him, wanting to say something to him.

Suddenly, the Daoist priest looked at the 'him' in his dream with a puzzled expression.

Song Shuhang could feel that Daoist Scarlet Firmament's gaze was as deep as the universe, seemingly penetrating through the 'him' in his dream, directly traversing countless times and years, and staring at Song Shuhang himself behind the 'him' in his dream!

Song Shuhang felt a chill run through him, as if his entire being had been seen through!

"I see, how interesting! How interesting!" Daoist Scarlet Firmament.

Then, the Daoist priest stood up again and picked up the branch.

Then, Daoist Scarlet Firmament switched to another language and began to recount a ritual in a new language.

This time, the 'he' in the dream couldn't understand a word because it wasn't a language he was familiar with; he had never heard it before.

But... Song Shuhang understood!

"When I first Dao Initiation the Master Scarlet Firmament, I relied on a set of 'Flame Blade' techniques, which are common in the Cultivator World. This was the foundation of my cultivation. Now, I will pass on this 'Flame Blade' technique that belongs to me to you. Although it is just an ordinary sword technique that can be found everywhere, I hope you will not think that I am stingy."

Song Shuhang had a strange feeling—that the Daoist Scarlet Firmament in his fiery red robe was not speaking to the 'him' in his dream, but rather speaking directly to him through the 'him' in his dream!

"Time is limited, so I will demonstrate for you once." Daoist Scarlet Firmament continued to swing the tree branch in his hand, using it as a knife. With a flick of his wrist, he swung out a knife.

In an instant, Song Shuhang felt as if the heavens and earth were ablaze.

The tree branch in the Daoist priest's hand seemed to be surging with endless flames, flames that could burn anything and never go out!

As the blade fell, flames engulfed the world, burning away all its splendor! Even the lofty heavens were ablaze with fiery red clouds.

There were no incantations or techniques for swordsmanship; there was only the Saber Intent behind this single strike! This one strike was a complete swordsmanship technique!

When Song Shuhang faced this knife, he felt his whole body burning hot, his mouth dry, and his blood almost dried up!

However, I gained many insights.

Although Daoist Scarlet Firmament couldn't see Song Shuhang, he seemed to know that Song Shuhang had already grasped a lot. He laughed and flicked his hand, turning the branch in his hand into ashes.

Moreover, the towering tree behind him also turned to ashes and disappeared.

The 'he' in the dream was dumbfounded.

The Daoist priest in the fiery red robe let out a soft whistle, his steps steadily ascending into the sky. Without relying on any external force, he traversed the air, rising higher and higher until he finally disappeared.

In the dream, 'he' knelt respectfully and kowtowed three times.

Then... the scene in the dream changed, and it was many years later.

In the dream, 'he' had grown up. At this time, he carried a blue short sword on his back and wore the same style of Daoist robe as Master Daoist Scarlet Firmament, but he changed the color to cyan.

The cultivator in the blue Daoist robe, a rogue cultivator, Li Tiansu!

The dream ended there, and Song Shuhang opened his eyes... Day had broken.

The time is 6:03 AM. July 2nd, Tuesday, sunny.

Song Shuhang sat up in bed.

"Was it a dream?" As he spoke, he realized he was soaked in sweat!

"It's not a dream... Then, is it the 'memory' of that rogue Li Tiansu?" Having had a similar memory before, Song Shuhang immediately realized.

That 'Li Tiansu' must be the rogue cultivator who flew over and dropped two pieces of equipment when I was contracting Spirit Ghost, right?

When Senior White asked the rogue cultivator's name, Song Shuhang heard the reply, "Rogue cultivator, Li Tiansu."

But why are the memories of this rogue Li Tiansu, appearing in his mind?

Is it a spirit ghost? The spirit ghost seems to have absorbed some energy from when Li Tian was shaping the Dao, causing a mutation. Then, when the spirit ghost synchronized with him, it allowed him to 'see' this memory?

As he was pondering, Song Shuhang looked down and saw the ring on his finger again— Ancient Copper Ring.

It was one of the one or two items left behind by Li Tian after he was transformed into a Daoist.

"Is this ring not because of the Spirit Ghost, but because it holds the memories of its former owner? Is that why I had that dream?" Song Shuhang asked again.

When Song Shuhang recalls that dream, the most vivid memory is of the Flame Blade taught by that 'Master Scarlet Firmament'.

Master Scarlet Firmament said that it was just a 'Flame Blade' that could be seen everywhere in the Cultivator World.

However, when Master Scarlet Firmament unleashed a Flame Blade, the Undying Fire that seemed to burn everything, even the sky itself—was it really just an ordinary 'Flame Blade'?

That was an absolutely Heaven-Burning Strike!

Immediately, Song Shuhang became restless. Master Scarlet Firmament had taught him this 'Flame Blade' technique; should he try it out and see if it was a 'dream' or Li Tiansu's 'memory'?

Song Shuhang ran quickly to the safe, opened it, and took out the divine sword that he had obtained from Ba Qianjun, the sect Ba Qianjun 'Moon Saber Sect'.

The sword is named Overlord Shatter. It is three feet and three inches long, incredibly hard, and has undergone some magical changes after being burned by the Tribulation Fire.

Carrying the knife, Song Shuhang ran to the fifth-floor rooftop.

Having learned his lesson from the 'Three-Star Fire-Control Fan' incident, he dared not act recklessly in the room.

"Give it a try, no one will see anyway. Just pretend I'm daydreaming." Song Shuhang took a deep breath, recalling the way Master Scarlet Firmament used the 'Flame Blade' in his mind.

He also spun the blade, his Blood Qi surging and boiling in his Heart Aperture and Eye Aperture, before unleashing a slash...

Impressive presence, and cool pose!

However, no flames appeared.

There wasn't even a spark, let alone a Mars.

"Haha." Song Shuhang chuckled dryly.

Am I... still dreaming?

Or perhaps he needs to practice diligently to master this 'Flame Blade' technique?

"Since I have free time every day, I might as well set aside some time each day and practice this Flame Blade technique occasionally," Song Shuhang decided.

If one could unleash a torrent of flames with a single slash like Daoist Scarlet Firmament, that would be truly formidable.

"I won't think about it anymore, let's focus on cultivating. I still need to attend classes diligently these next few days." Song Shuhang stretched his limbs.

Then, he first put the treasured sword 'Overlord Shatter' aside and began to practice the <Vajra Foundation Fist>, and then used the <True Self Meditation Scripture> to guide his Blood Qi into the Third Aperture 'Nose Aperture'.

The Three-Aperture Nose Aperture, is even more difficult to open than the Eye Aperture. Without external assistance, it would take at least two years.