Termination of Contract

"This is not right!" Profound Heaven Sword Intent exclaimed. "Where did Ink Bamboo Mountain get so many righteous cultivators! It's understandable if they obtained scattered ancient texts from my Beichen Sword Sect, after all, our Beichen Sect's sword techniques are the best in the world and admired by all! But the Five Lightning Arts of the Divine Firmament Sect are secret transmissions of disciples of the Three Mountains and Nine Heavens! They are secret arts that are taught only to direct disciples and never to outsiders. How did Bamboo Mountain get their hands on them!

And that move just now! Did they take me for a fool! That was clearly the Blood God Sword Technique of the Demonic Cult! A secret transmission of a sect on par with the top three, and a disciple at the Foundation Establishment realm, who is stuck at the perfect completion stage, can actually use it? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Even Profound Heaven Sword Intent, who was usually arrogant, looked utterly shocked. The surrounding cultivators who were attacking were even more so. Their initial thought of "Ten against one, with the odds so heavily in our favor, how could we possibly lose!" turned into "Hiss! This young man is terrifyingly powerful! He absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

At that moment, the three Nascent Soul generals from the north stopped pretending. They waved their spears and halberds, and their armies, riding on three dark clouds, with gleaming blades and rolling electric energy, descended upon them, encircling the treasure ship and setting up a grand battlefield formation!

Meanwhile, Nangong Wushuang no longer dared to act rashly. She raised her fire-tipped spear and stood ready. The brothers with square faces and thick eyebrows also brought out their Vajra Cudgel magic treasures. Coupled with Zhou Sheng's jade ruler and Fajie of Taitai Mountain's golden alms bowl, five Nascent Soul magic treasures shone brilliantly like five scorching suns amidst the sky-obscuring dark clouds. They illuminated the Zhen Gui Sword Fighting Arena, which was shrouded by the clouds.

However, it took them being ambushed and two of them being injured before they finally reacted, which was rather...

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent stated, 'Magic treasures are consumed with each use, let alone in a deadly sword fight. If they are stained by blood, it's not unusual for them to be damaged. These people initially came to join the fun and weren't willing to pay the price to fight on the front lines. It was Xiao Yao who was too heavy-handed, protecting the Foundation Establishment Realm disciples so fiercely that he even killed unacquainted Nascent Soul rogue cultivators. He scared them. Alas, what a pity, what a pity. Fighting for a moment of pride like this means you won't gain any advantage by drawing your sword again!'"

Never mind how tense and vigilant the Nascent Soul true cultivators were. The battle on the Zhen Gui Jade Tablet had also reached its climax.

Li Fan watched the scene of the sword fight from afar, his mood as heavy and gloomy as the killing-intent-filled dark clouds.

Yu Danian went to his death with a sigh of relief.

In fact, just like Zheng Hua and Wang Tanzhi before him, Yu Danian had also hidden his ultimate trump card. Without any preamble, he took a pill to boost himself to the Golden Core realm, directly transforming into a three-headed, six-armed being. Wielding six wooden swords, their blades flashing and their Dao aura solemn, he leaped forward.

As for Lü Daolian, he was already scared stiff. He let out a piercing scream, clutching the sword wound on his face, and cowered on his leopard, wailing. He looked like a little girl seeing a cockroach.

In any other situation, such a weakling would have been killed by Yu Danian on the spot.

But this was a sword fight, and the Seventeen-Jeweled Canopy had already been activated. It was only because Wang Tanzhi had preemptively placed the blood sword beneath Lü Daolian's feet as an ambush that he was able to succeed in his sneak attack.

And now, Yu Danian with his three heads and six arms, his swords flashing, unleashed a barrage of slashes against the Seventeen-Jeweled Canopy. The five elements Dao Qi surged, sparks flew, and the nine layers of banners and streamers were battered, rising and falling precariously.

But it was all in vain.

After Yu Danian completed his entire sword technique, even with his attacks multiplied by six, and despite his transformations showing greatly increased cultivation and immense strength, capable of dealing tons of explosive damage, it was still as Profound Heaven Sword Intent had said: "Give up, it's completely useless."

The canopy, though it seemed to shake violently under Yu Danian's chaotic sword strikes, only had one layer of its banners and streamers broken! And it was only temporarily broken. The jewels on the canopy flickered, and it was actually absorbing spiritual energy, regenerating new banners and streamers from the inside. The Nine-Nine Treasure Canopy, self-generating and inexhaustible, was an indestructible protective treasure as long as it held.

To be honest, the fact that Yu Danian could complete his sword technique and break one layer of the canopy was only because Lü Daolian was completely panicked and hadn't reacted yet.

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent stated, 'That pointed-faced fellow is not useless. At the Foundation Establishment Realm, he doesn't need many tricks to be sufficient. Even though his spirit has been injured, he can still control his artifacts and beasts simultaneously. Even if his cultivation technique is peculiar, he is undoubtedly a rare genius in this world. His spiritual sense is definitely far beyond his peers, otherwise, why would his sect protect and dote on him so much? Host, if you can survive this, do not judge people by their appearance and become careless.'"

If I can survive...

Li Fan's expression was solemn. Yes, the disciples of Ink Bamboo Mountain might be fearless, or they might have astonishing talents and secret techniques, but even if they used all their honed trump cards now, they would still not escape death.

The five Nascent Soul cultivators were already on high alert, their eyes fixed on Yao Xuanzhou, leaving no room for further opportunities.

And the Nangong family's celestial soldiers had already set up a net, making escape no longer easy.

What to do? One magic treasure couldn't be broken no matter what. By the time that fellow surnamed Lü reacted, two more senior brothers might die. What to do...

Li Fan frowned, his mind in a mess, completely unable to sort out his thoughts.

Just then, someone suddenly pulled him.

It was Fuling.

"Which number did you draw?"

She had also changed into a Daoist robe, removing all the adornments from her hair and face. Her face was bare, her black hair tied up in a crane's crest, and she wore a black robe over it. She held a green-patterned iron sword in her hand, looking exceptionally refreshed.

She reached out and pulled Li Fan to the side of the ship, rubbing her fingers together to reveal her bamboo slip. "There shouldn't be anyone after me, right? Trade with me."

Li Fan glanced at it. Slip number 33.

Li Fan looked up at her and smiled, "Fuling sister, since ancient times, who has not died? What's the point of trading back and forth?"

Fuling glared at him. "What nonsense are you talking about? I've lived for so many years, how old are you! If I don't take care of you and just watch you go to your death, how can I face the young lady's entrustment? Hurry up and trade. Wait a moment, perhaps the sect will come to rescue us, and there might still be a glimmer of hope."

Li Fan looked at her. "Fuling sister, don't you want to see Zhang Jiugao again?"

Fuling was stunned for a moment, lost in thought. "...With this kind of thing happening, it's better if at least one person survives. It's fine if we don't meet."

If at least one person survives...

Li Fan was silent for a moment, then turned to look at the sword fighting stage.

Lü Daolian had finally snapped out of it. In his rage, he screamed and counterattacked, actually throwing another Heaven-Turning Seal from his embrace towards Yu Danian.

It was just a small, square seal made of amber, no bigger than an index finger. But when thrown, it was like a pressing mountain. With each strike, it broke Yu Danian's arm, crushed his head, shattered his tibia, and made him spew blood.

But Yu Danian, spitting blood, his eyes wide with rage, still endured the onslaught of the magic treasure, showing no intention of retreating. He continued to slash his sword towards the canopy.

No, it wasn't a chaotic slash. He was enduring the damage, trying to reduce the number of layers on the canopy as much as possible, to give his junior brothers behind him a sliver of a chance to survive.

Li Fan looked again at slip number 33 that Fuling had handed him.

A certain person surnamed Ju once said, "What the mouth says, the body must do."

So he took out his purple jade golden-capped fine-mouthed gourd, poured a handful into his sleeve, and held it. He stuffed the rest into Fuling's hand. She was startled. "Qingyue! What are you doing!"

Li Fan smiled. "Nine Revolutions Profound Womb Purple Gold Pill. Fuling sister, please distribute it to the senior brothers."

Fuling looked at his expression and knew he wasn't being polite. Normally, she would never accept such a thing, but at this time...

On the dueling stage, Yu Danian had already had his limbs broken, beaten into a bloody mess and on the verge of death. Yet Lü Daolian was still roaring maniacally, smashing down again and again, splattering blood. He gave Yu Danian no quick end, purely venting his panic and rage.

Such a scene was unfolding before their eyes. If only there was one more Nine Revolutions Golden Core, perhaps there would be a sliver of hope for a comeback. The lives of so many fellow disciples on the ship might depend on this single pill.

The matter was too grave. Fuling momentarily forgot about exchanging lot numbers and nodded at Li Fan with a complex expression, then hurried off to distribute the pill among the disciples on the ship.

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states... Holy crap! Host, what are you doing! Are you crazy! Don't get carried away!'

We're all on the same boat. At a time like this, there's no need to hold back. If we die, we die together; if we live, we live together. Would you rather keep it clutched in your hand, benefiting those in the Immortal Palace? Let them find it on our corpses for a surprise? Better to have it distributed among ourselves!

And the system, if I kick the bucket, what happens to Profound Heaven Sword Intent and Kun? Can I terminate the contract now?

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, Qingyue, what are you doing!'

'Kun states, ?'

'System determines Profound Heaven Sword Intent as a temporary contract with a native soul fragment. If the host dies, it will perish with them and the contract can be terminated.'

'System determines Kun as a contract reward. If the host dies, it will be repossessed by the system and the contract cannot be terminated.'

Fine, forget Kun. I'll terminate the contract with Profound Heaven Sword Intent. Sword Intent, go and contract with Yao Xuanzhou. He's probably a suitable successor according to your peculiar standards, right?

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, you damn brat!'

Hesitation leads to disaster. Sword Intent, don't you want to restore Beichen Sword Sect and avenge your sect's destruction?

What's the use of following him anyway? Right now, Li Fan is only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. He wouldn't last a single toss of a "bridal ball" from the opponent. Is the chance of survival greater by following him, or by waiting for these burdensome disciples to all die, and then fighting our way out with Yao Xuanzhou?

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, ...'

If you old geezer and I die here together, there will be no more Beichen Sect in the world.

Then, Li Fan felt a sharp pain in his right palm. A silver leaf drilled out from his palm. Moments later, Yao Xuanzhou ahead trembled all over, literally shaking his body, and abruptly turned to glare at Li Fan.

His turn startled the surrounding cultivators, who immediately retreated another ten feet, raising their magical treasures in defense.

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent contract terminated.'

Is that so.

Li Fan let out a long breath.

He wasn't being selfless. It was just that he had gotten familiar with Profound Heaven Sword Intent. Since there was no hope of survival anyway, he might as well help it out.

At least this way, it could be considered repaying a little of the life-saving favor when Profound Heaven Sword Intent blocked a sword light for him earlier, right? Unfortunately, he couldn't do anything more.

Now, he could do some things without any reservations.

Li Fan turned and walked towards the ship's cabin, stopping before Lu Xing, who was leaning against the doorframe, gazing up at the dueling stage with a lost expression.

The young woman glanced at him faintly, flipped over the lot number she held, and showed it to Li Fan. "Sixteen. I quite like this number. Not changing."

Li Fan nodded. "Patriarch Lu Family, Qingyue, I have a request."

Lu Xing nodded expressionlessly. "Any last words? Feel free to speak. If I survive, I'll do my best to fulfill it for you."

"Who said I'm going to leave any last words?" Li Fan stared at her, his gaze burning. "Not only do I not plan to die, I intend to kill them back. However, my move is world-ending. I'm afraid it might annihilate our allies along with the enemy when I use it, so I need to clarify a few things and prepare. I ask you to put aside past grievances and lend me a hand."

Lu Xing shifted her gaze from the jade tablet, now smeared with the flesh and blood of her fellow disciples, and fixed her eyes on the young man before her. In his eyes, which seemed to flicker with fire, she clearly saw a reflection of her own madness.

She nodded. "Alright, I'll help you."

And so, they walked side-by-side into the ship's cabin. Behind them, Master Yao and his fellow disciples' voices, devoid of emotion, could be heard.

"Next match."

"Ink Bamboo Mountain disciple Sun Yang requests guidance!"