Floating World Bead

Chapter 22: Floating World Bead

The poisoning incident involving the Three-Wither Flower was the first formal offensive Ning Ye launched after entering the Black and White Divine Palace.

Looking back many years later, Ning Ye actually felt regret.

Although the method was clever and the details handled perfectly, there were many problems with the overall direction. Most importantly, he had implicated the innocent.

Were there any innocents in the immortal sects?

That was hard to say.

From a broad perspective, every immortal was guilty; from the day they came into existence, they had been sucking the blood and sweat of the lower classes, contributing nothing to society, like a swarm of greedy bloodsuckers.

But from another perspective, this was the trend of the world, something that could not be changed by individual will. Among the many people he poisoned, there were always some who might not have wished for things to be this way.

Precisely because of this, such actions were actually too dark.

It was just that at this time, Ning Ye had not yet realized this problem. The hatred in his heart for the Black and White Divine Palace was already overflowing. His plan was less about dealing with Chen Changfeng and more about a vent for his rage; Chen Changfeng was merely a catalyst, or perhaps an excuse.

Rationally speaking, this was wrong. Meaningless slaughter would only create danger for himself and might even cause him to fall into an abyss of sin.

But emotionally speaking, it was necessary.

With the constant accumulation of hatred and his own precarious situation, if there were no channel for release, he would sooner or later be crushed or even driven to madness.

The current Ning Ye was a man trapped in the game, thinking every moment of revenge, safety, cultivation, and power. There were too many things he had to face; to lecture him on humanity, on not letting hatred cloud his reason, or on only pursuing the primary culprit while leaving others alone, was laughable.

Only when he stood on high one day, looking down at all living beings and looking back at the past from outside the game, would he feel a trace of helplessness and regret.

Yet even so, if he were to do it all over again, he still would.

Different positions, different states of mind.

The current Ning Ye was—even if there is a ten-thousand-foot abyss ahead, I shall still go.

Today, while Ning Ye was still in bed, Zhang Liekuang appeared in his room for the first time in history.

Seeing Zhang Liekuang arrive, a look of shock appeared on Ning Ye's pale face, and he struggled to sit up.

Zhang Liekuang stopped him, and an invisible force pressed him back onto the bed: "Your poison wounds have not yet healed, there is no need for formalities."

"Thank you, Master."

Zhang Liekuang said, "I also bear responsibility for this poisoning incident."

A few days ago, Ning Ye had broken through to the third level and was entitled to receive some medicinal pills according to the rules. No one expected him to be poisoned that very night, nearly losing his life, which was why Zhang Liekuang spoke this way.

Ning Ye hurriedly said, "How would this disciple dare to blame Master? It was a villain acting in the shadows; I simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Zhang Liekuang gave a faint grunt. Although he kept saying he was responsible, there was not a hint of guilt on his face. He simply tossed a small manual over and said, "This talisman scripture is something I obtained from the Lieque Sect. Since you survived this time, it is thanks to your cultivation of the talisman path. Take this scripture to make up for your deficiencies."

Zhang Liekuang did not cultivate the talisman path, so the scripture was useless to him. But having wiped out the entire sect, he had simply gathered their wealth along the way. Whether it was useful or not, he took it all, and at this moment, he was just doing a casual favor.

This talisman scripture was of no use to Ning Ye, as he already knew most of the talisman techniques within—the Heavenly Mechanism Sect's talismans were far more comprehensive than these. However, it did have one benefit: it greatly increased the number of talisman techniques he could use publicly.

He put on a look of pleasant surprise: "Thank you, Master."

Zhang Liekuang wore his usual deadpan face: "If you weren't so happy, I would be even happier."

Others might not understand the meaning behind his words, but Ning Ye understood perfectly.

Zhang Liekuang had been obsessed with the blade and intoxicated by the extreme his entire life. Even though his disciple had saved his own life through the talisman path, he still did not want the talisman path to distract him.

He hurriedly said, "My Killing Heart Blade has already had a breakthrough."

"Oh?" Zhang Liekuang was stunned: "When?"

"Yesterday," Ning Ye replied.

Yesterday? Weren't you still lying in your sickbed yesterday?

Ning Ye said, "This disciple was accidentally poisoned and felt immense hatred for the poisoner. With the intent to kill in my heart, I gained some insight into the Killing Heart Blade."

"Draw your blade against me."

"This disciple would not dare to harbor killing intent toward Master."

"Then draw it against this." Zhang Liekuang had already taken out a crystal-clear precious bead; within it lay the wonders of creation, with the floating world and its common people vaguely visible.

"Floating World Dharma Bead?" Ning Ye was stunned.

The Floating World Dharma Bead was a magical treasure capable of creating illusions. It was a treasure of the illusion system, and illusion, like the talisman path, was one of the foundations supporting mechanical arts.

Ning Ye also knew illusion techniques, and they were among the best he had learned back in the Heavenly Mechanism Sect because they were fun. The Refraction Art was a branch of the illusion system. The method he used to place mechanisms inside living bodies utilized the Refraction Art. Back in the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, Ning Ye had often used this technique to tease Qing Lin and Xin Xiaoye. Although both Qing Lin and Xin Xiaoye were stronger than him, he had always managed to trick them successfully.

This was because illusion was not just about the technique, but about the heart.

Master, you have this item but don't give it to me, instead giving me a piece of trash scripture? That's going too far, isn't it?

Unfortunately, Zhang Liekuang had no intention of being generous. He activated the Floating World Bead, and a mass of dark light and shadow immediately formed.

"Just treat it as the person who poisoned you," Zhang Liekuang said.

The one who poisoned him was Ning Ye himself, so naturally, he couldn't summon any hatred, and the killing intent was hard to manifest. But Ning Ye focused his mind and imagined the scene of Yue Xinchan destroying the Heavenly Mechanism Sect. Hatred erupted in his heart, and his killing intent surged wildly.

He was clearly lying on his sickbed, suffering from a severe illness, but at this moment, an aura burst forth from his body.

The Seven Kill Blade: to kill a person is to punish their heart; to slay the enemy, one spares not even one's own body!

This is a technique that best stimulates one's own potential; it could be said that every battle requires an explosive surge of power, and if one does not explode, it is not the Seven Kill Blade.

As long as one can survive, the cultivation speed of the Seven Kill Blade can be extremely fast.

The next moment, Ning Ye used his hand as a blade and slashed toward that mass of shadows.

The shadow was originally an illusion with no substance, but when Ning Ye's Killing Heart Blade landed upon it, the image let out a shrill shriek as if it had gained real life, its light and shadow shifting in unpredictable, infinite ways.

At the same time, the body of Zhang Liekuang shifted slightly toward the Floating World Bead, and the residual force of the blade strike landed on Zhang Liekuang's arm.

"Master!" Ning Ye was shocked.

Zhang Liekuang waved his hand casually, stopping Ning Ye: "It is fine, I did it on purpose."

As he spoke, he closed his eyes slightly, sensing this strike from Ning Ye.

After a moment, Zhang Liekuang said: "Very good. The killing heart is fierce and sharp, pressing forward with courage, advancing without retreat, a single strike to kill... it has indeed reached a certain level of proficiency. It seems that you have not allowed your combat will to diminish because of your study of the talisman path. Keep it up!"

"Yes!" Ning Ye replied, though his gaze remained fixed on the Floating World Bead.

Zhang Liekuang noticed his look: "You want this item?"

"Yes!" Ning Ye said loudly: "This disciple is bold enough to hope to purchase this treasure."

"Purchase?" Zhang Liekuang snorted: "Am I that short of spirit stones?"

Ning Ye froze.

Zhang Liekuang said: "You are my disciple. If a master were to sell treasures to his own disciple, wouldn't that be a laughingstock to the world? It is not that I am unwilling to give it to you, but with your current strength, you are not yet capable of controlling this treasure. Most importantly, the path of illusion is even more detrimental to the Seven Kill Blade than the talisman path; it will affect your state of mind."

Ning Ye said loudly: "Master, you misunderstand. This disciple wishes to use the Floating World Bead to cultivate the Killing Heart Blade."

"Oh? How would you cultivate it?"

Ning Ye replied: "Just like I did just now: conjure enemies, let the killing heart arise naturally, hone my spirit, and practice the blade technique diligently."

"Is that so." Zhang Liekuang pondered for a moment, then tossed the Floating World Bead to Ning Ye: "It is yours. However, in three months, I will test you. If you cannot reach the level where your killing heart is guided by your will and you see only the enemy and not yourself by then, then draw your blade and end your own life."

Ning Ye replied loudly: "I will certainly not fail Master's orders!"

Zhang Liekuang had already turned and left.

Watching his back, Ning Ye muttered: "Killing guided by the heart, seeing only the enemy and not myself... heh, that really is a high standard and strict requirement."

Killing guided by the heart, seeing only the enemy and not myself refers to the level of the Killing Heart Blade. Once cultivated to this stage, the Killing Heart Blade can be considered basically complete, and one can then cultivate the second kill: the Body Killing Blade.

The Seven Kill Heavenly Blade is divided into the Killing Heart Blade, Body Killing Blade, Qi Killing Blade, Momentum Killing Blade, Killing Intent Blade, Killing God Blade, and the final Heaven Killing Blade. Each realm has two kills, and the final Heaven Killing Blade must be performed at the Immaculate Realm; it is precisely because of this that even Zhang Liekuang has yet to master it.

To reach the completion of the Killing Heart Blade within three months is no small demand; it means Ning Ye's blade path must progress even faster than his cultivation base.

This was likely because Zhang Liekuang was unhappy that his talisman path level was so high, and thus made this demand.

However, for Ning Ye, this was not a difficult task.

The Killing Heart Blade focuses primarily on the will. Ning Ye is in the Black and White Divine Palace, where everywhere he looks are enemies; there is no need to force it, for the killing heart arises naturally. If he cultivated with his full heart, he could succeed in a month.

Ning Ye was not in a hurry to progress; he just did not want Zhang Liekuang to place too many expectations on him, and more importantly, he needed to clear time for himself.

At this moment, after fiddling with the Floating World Bead for a while, Ning Ye put it away.

He looked at the sky outside; the night was already deep, and Ning Ye chuckled twice.

He lay on the hospital bed and whistled softly, looking as if he were excited about obtaining the treasure, but in an old tree far away, the motionless Ground Rat Puppet suddenly flickered its ears, then whoosh, it burrowed into the ground.