Lion Guardian

Unlike the cycle, every "legendary weapon" bestowed immense power upon its wielder, whether wicked or righteous.

Those unable to accept that power were often controlled by it instead.

But without exception, possessing such a sword could turn even a cripple into a powerhouse. And now, the one wielding it was the Lion Guardian. Its strength was easy to imagine.

Lin Luo watched silently from above for a moment... then leaped down.

Another familiar archway...

Through the vast space beneath it, he could see part of an island extending out from the coast.

At the very center stood a withered tree. Before it was a massive boulder, with a small round opening exposed in its center. Perhaps that had once been the sheath of the Grafted Blade Greatsword.

Beneath the boulder crouched a gigantic Lion Guardian, its eyes shut tight. Its right claw gripped the greatsword firmly. The crimson blade was covered in dark red scabs of blood—whether from Castle Morne's servants, from itself... or from those Scaled Misbegotten. Perhaps it was all of them.

But from today onward, that sword would belong to Lin Luo.

"Drip... drip..."

Lin Luo circled around the enormous jellyfish before him, his boots making a rhythmic sound as they stepped through the water.

His right hand slowly reached behind his back and drew a dark crimson katana.

If Moonveil Katana felt like a faint chill, then the aura of this blade was endless killing intent.

This was the Bloodfinger Old Man's sword—Corpse Mountain Blood Sea.

Why had he brought this blade? Simple. The Lion Guardian was weak to fire.

Lin Luo lightly gripped the sword as the scent of blood surged into his nostrils, bringing him an unexpectedly pleasant sensation.

The dozen or so steps vanished in the blink of an eye. Just as Lin Luo's right foot crossed beneath the archway, the Lion Guardian's tightly shut eyes opened.

Its two bloodshot lion eyes fixed on Lin Luo. Nearly tangible killing intent radiated from its pupils, a pure aura of slaughter.

"..."

Lin Luo said nothing. He extended his right hand slightly, pointing Corpse Mountain Blood Sea at the Lion Guardian. An invisible aura spread from him, profound and unfathomable, causing the Lion Guardian to freeze for a moment.

"Roar!..."

The Lion Guardian roared in fury. It had been shown up by a mere human. That was something it could not tolerate.

Though the Lion Guardian was enormous, its powerful limbs made it incredibly agile.

In barely one or two blinks, it had pounced toward Lin Luo. Its huge body slowly expanded before his eyes, its gaping maw carrying countless odors—blood, rotting corpses...

The Grafted Blade Greatsword in its right claw suddenly slashed toward Lin Luo's waist.

Judging from the force behind that strike, if he failed to evade it, he would likely be cut in half at the waist.

Lin Luo swiftly drew his sword and held it vertically at his waist, blocking the incoming Grafted Blade Greatsword. Immense force traveled through Corpse Mountain Blood Sea.

Lin Luo's entire body slid several meters across the ground along with the incoming greatsword. The two deep tracks on the ground were enough to show just how powerful that blow had been.

"Hahaha! Now this is satisfying!"

Lin Luo suddenly burst into laughter, blood vessels standing out in his eyes.

"Very good! My strength, which had been stagnant for so long, has finally improved!"

Lin Luo excitedly licked his lips. It was not because the enemy before him was particularly powerful. Rather, compared to before, this Lion Guardian should now possess its true strength... then would those demigods have grown stronger as well?

"Roar!"

Another furious howl came from the Lion Guardian. It was clearly enraged that the human before it had blocked its strike.

Its steel-like sharp claws slashed fiercely at Lin Luo.

Lin Luo chuckled and shifted his body slightly backward. The lion claw grazed past the tip of his nose.

Yet a strangely human smile appeared in the Lion Guardian's eyes.

Using the momentum of its swinging claw, it leaped up, spun half a circle in midair, and brought down the greatsword in its right claw. The sound of it tearing through the air made it clear that the strike was powerful and unstoppable, not something to be blocked head-on.

However... Lin Luo was different. He smiled. No, rather than a smile, it was as though his muscles were slowly being pulled by a weightless force. The expression was horribly unnatural...

Corpse Mountain Blood Sea remained held across his chest. Facing this strike, Lin Luo still chose to take it head-on.

"Crack..."

A sound came from Lin Luo's right shoulder—the sound of bone breaking.

If one could, they would have wanted to see Lin Luo's expression. Would it be one of regret and pain...?

However, it was not. It was only that same eerie smile as always.

Lin Luo snorted coldly and abruptly lowered his right arm.

"Crack!"

That was the sound of bone resetting.

At the same time, as Lin Luo's right shoulder sank, the Lion Guardian's greatsword followed through and chopped downward.

The sudden impact and release caused the Lion Guardian to abruptly lose its balance. Its gigantic body toppled violently to the right, its huge claw scraping a massive trail across the ground.

"Boom!"

That was the sound of the Lion Guardian hitting the ground. With its center of gravity suddenly thrown off, even its astonishing leg strength could not keep it standing.

"Heh heh..."

Lin Luo chuckled softly and grabbed the Lion Guardian's tail with his left hand...

Feeling the distinct touch on its tail, the Lion Guardian was immediately filled with humiliation and terror.

It was just a human. What was he trying to do?!

The Lion Guardian tried to climb up from the ground. Its powerful tail exerted force, intending to teach this human who did not know his place a lesson. At the same time, the greatsword in its right claw slashed toward Lin Luo once again.

However, Lin Luo had already seen through all these little movements. Having "run this dungeon so many times," he understood the Lion Guardian better than its own mother did.

Lin Luo seized the Lion Guardian's tail. His palm looked tiny compared to the lion tail, yet it clamped down like an iron vise, gripping it tightly.

And facing the Grafted Blade Greatsword slashing toward his leg, Lin Luo did not even blink.

His right foot rose, then came down.

"Bang!"

No one knew just how much force was behind Lin Luo's kick. The greatsword slashing at him was pinned beneath his foot, dust flying everywhere as only the Lion Guardian's pained cry rang out.

"Heh... You think you deserve to wield this sword?"

Lin Luo suddenly exerted force with his left hand. The Lion Guardian instantly felt itself suspended in midair. A sensation of weightlessness struck it as the scenery before its eyes rushed backward.

That was right. Lin Luo had flung it away with one hand—the enormous body slammed into the massive boulder behind it, and waves of sharp pain shot through its limbs.

"Awoo~ Roar!"

The Lion Guardian let out a pained howl, but beneath that pain could be heard fury—and killing intent toward Lin Luo!

The Lion Guardian lying on the ground slowly climbed back up, its body crouching low to the earth. Its original beastly nature had likely been awakened.

"Hiss... Roar!"

The Lion Guardian roared furiously and made a similar move again, except this time, it was faster and stronger!

Unfortunately, Lin Luo would not give the Lion Guardian another chance to hurt him...

Lin Luo closed his eyes. His right hand spun Corpse Mountain Blood Sea in a flourish, gradually bringing the katana diagonally before his left arm as he leaned his body slightly forward.

The Lion Guardian charged forward. From that posture, it intended to bite Lin Luo's head clean off.

Lion and man were less than half a foot apart. At that moment—Lin Luo swung his sword.

Following the sound of the wind, four words could be heard: "Corpse Strewn Across the Field..."