Floating World Bead

Floating World Bead

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

Years later, when he thought back on it, Ning Ye actually regretted it.

Though his methods had been rather clever and the details handled perfectly, there had been many problems with the bigger picture. Most importantly, he had implicated the innocent.

Were there innocents among the Immortal Sects?

That was hard to say.

From the big-picture perspective, every immortal was guilty. From the moment they came into existence, they had sucked the blood and sweat from the lower classes, contributing nothing to society. They were like a swarm of greedy bloodsuckers.

But from another perspective, this was the tide of the world, something no individual could change. Among all those he had poisoned, some might not have wanted things to be this way.

For that reason, his actions had been rather too dark.

At the time, however, Ning Ye had not yet realized this. His hatred for the Black and White Divine Palace had long since overflowed. His plan was less about dealing with Chen Changfeng than venting his fury; Chen Changfeng was merely the spark—or, rather, an excuse.

Rationally speaking, it was wrong. A meaningless slaughter would only put him in danger and might even drag him into an abyss of sin.

But emotionally, it was necessary.

His hatred kept accumulating, and his own position was precarious as a tower of eggs. Without an outlet, sooner or later the pressure would crush him—or drive him mad.

Ning Ye was still caught up in the game. Every moment, he thought of revenge, safety, cultivation, and growing stronger. There were too many things he had to face. To speak to him then of humanity, of not letting hatred cloud his reason, of pursuing only the chief culprit and sparing everyone else—that would have been laughable.

Only one day, when he stood at a height from which he could look down upon all living beings, and stepped outside the events of this world to look back on the past, would he feel a trace of helplessness and regret.

But even so, if he could start over, he would still do it.

Different positions, different states of mind.

The Ning Ye of today was simply this: Though ten thousand zhang of abyss lay ahead, I would still go.

Ning Ye was still in bed that day when Zhang Liekuang appeared in his room—for the first time, in a rare break from the norm.

Seeing Zhang Liekuang, surprise appeared on Ning Ye's pale face, and he struggled to sit up.

Zhang Liekuang stopped him. An invisible force pressed him back onto the bed. "Your poison wound hasn't healed. No need for formalities."

"Thank you, Master."

Zhang Liekuang said, "I bear some responsibility for your poisoning."

A few days earlier, Ning Ye had broken through to the third layer and, according to the rules, could claim some pills. But that very night, he had been poisoned and had nearly lost his life. That was why Zhang Liekuang said this.

Ning Ye hurriedly replied, "How could this disciple blame Master? Some villain struck from the shadows. I was simply caught in the crossfire."

Zhang Liekuang gave a faint grunt. Though he kept saying he bore some responsibility, there wasn't a trace of remorse on his face. He simply tossed over a small booklet and said, "I got this talisman manual from the Lieque Sect. You survived this time in large part because you know the Talisman Dao, so I'll give it to you to make up for what you lack."

Zhang Liekuang did not practice the Talisman Dao, so the manual was useless to him. But after wiping out the sect, he had plundered its wealth while he was at it, taking everything, useful or not. Now he was casually using it to do someone a favor.

The manual was no use to Ning Ye, since he already knew most of the Talisman Dao techniques in it—the Heavenly Mechanism Sect's talismans were far more comprehensive. Still, it had one benefit: he could now openly use a much wider range of talisman techniques.

He put on a delighted expression. "Thank you, Master."

Zhang Liekuang's face remained as stiff as a corpse's. "You'd make me happier if you weren't so pleased."

Others might not understand what he meant, but Ning Ye did.

Zhang Liekuang had devoted his life to the Blade Dao, obsessed with the blade to the point of intoxication. Even though his disciple had survived thanks to the Talisman Dao, he still didn't want it distracting him.

Ning Ye hurriedly said, "This disciple has made some progress with the Killing Heart Blade."

"Oh?" Zhang Liekuang was taken aback. "When?"

"Yesterday," Ning Ye replied.

Yesterday? Weren't you still lying in bed, sick as a dog?

Ning Ye said, "After I was unexpectedly poisoned, I hated the person who poisoned me. With killing intent in my heart, I gained some insight into the Killing Heart Blade."

"Strike me."

"This disciple wouldn't dare harbor killing intent toward Master."

"Then strike this." Zhang Liekuang took out a crystal-clear bead. Creation swirled within it, and the countless living beings of the Floating World could just barely be seen.

"The Floating World Dharma Bead?" Ning Ye exclaimed.

The Floating World Dharma Bead was a magical treasure that could create illusions, a treasure of the illusion arts. Like the Talisman Dao, illusion arts were one of the foundations of mechanism arts.

Ning Ye knew illusion arts, too. In fact, they were among the fields he had studied best at the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, because they were fun. Refraction Art was a branch of the illusion arts. His method of placing mechanisms inside living people had relied on Refraction Art. Back at the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, Ning Ye had often used this art to play tricks on Qing Lin and Xin Xiaoye. Although both of them were stronger than him, he had still managed to fool them time and again.

That was because illusion arts were about more than technique; they were also about the heart.

Master, you have this thing and won't give it to me, but you give me a lousy talisman manual instead? That's going too far, isn't it?

Unfortunately, Zhang Liekuang showed no sign of generosity. He activated the Floating World Bead, and a mass of shadowy light took shape.

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

Ning Ye had been the one who poisoned himself, so he couldn't summon any hatred for the culprit. Killing intent would not come. But he focused his thoughts, imagining the scene of Yue Xinchans destroying the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, and hatred surged in his heart as his killing intent went wild.

He was clearly lying in bed, gravely ill and unable to rise, yet in that moment, a powerful aura burst forth from within him.

The Seven Kill Heavenly Blade was a blade that killed people and destroyed their hearts. To slay the enemy, it spared no regard for oneself!

This was a cultivation art that could best unleash one's potential. In battle, it could trigger an explosive burst of power every time—if it didn't, it wouldn't be the Seven Kill Blade.

As long as one survived, the Seven Kill Blade could be cultivated at an astonishing speed.

The next moment, Ning Ye made a blade with his hand and chopped at the mass of shadow.

The shadow was an illusion, without substance. But when Ning Ye's Killing Heart Blade fell upon it, the image let out a shrill, piercing howl, as though it had come to life. Light and shadow shifted, changing in ways impossible to predict.

At the same time, Zhang Liekuang shifted slightly toward the Dharma Bead. The aftershock of the blade's force struck his arm.

"Master!" Ning Ye cried in alarm.

Zhang Liekuang waved a hand, stopping him. "It's fine. I did it on purpose."

As he spoke, he closed his eyes slightly and began to feel out Ning Ye's strike.

A moment later, Zhang Liekuang said, "Very good. Your killing intent is fierce; you charge forward without hesitation, never retreat, and strike for the kill. You've clearly gained a measure of skill. It seems you haven't let your combat will slacken because you're practicing the Talisman Dao. Keep it up!"

"Yes!" Ning Ye replied, though his gaze still lingered on the Floating World Dharma Bead.

Zhang Liekuang noticed where he was looking. "You want this?"

"Yes!" Ning Ye said loudly. "This disciple dares to ask to buy the treasure."

"Buy it?" Zhang Liekuang snorted. "Do I look short on spirit stones?"

Ning Ye was speechless.

Zhang Liekuang said, "You're my disciple. If a master had to sell a treasure to his disciple, wouldn't the whole world laugh at him? It's not that I'm unwilling to give it to you; it's that your current strength isn't enough to control it. More importantly, the path of illusion arts is even more detrimental to the Seven Kill Blade than the Talisman Dao. It would affect your state of mind."

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

"Oh? How?"

Ning Ye replied, "Just like I did a moment ago. I can use it to conjure up an enemy, summon killing intent, temper my spirit, and practice my blade."

"So that's how." Zhang Liekuang pondered for a moment, then casually tossed the Floating World Bead to Ning Ye. "It's yours. But I'll test you in three months. If you can't cultivate the Killing Heart Blade to the point where you can kill at will, with no enemy before you who can shake you, then draw your blade and end your own life."

Ning Ye answered loudly, "I won't disgrace your command!"

Zhang Liekuang turned and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Ning Ye murmured, "Kill at will, with no enemy before you... Heh, now that's a high bar."

"Kill at will, with no enemy before you" referred to the level of the Killing Heart Blade. Once cultivated to this stage, the Killing Heart Blade could be considered complete, and one could begin practicing the second kill: the Body Killing Blade.

The Seven Kill Heavenly Blade consisted of the Killing Heart Blade, Body Killing Blade, Qi Killing Blade, Momentum Killing Blade, Killing Intent Blade, Killing God Blade, and, finally, the Heaven Killing Blade. Each realm had two kills. The final Heaven Killing Blade could only be wielded in the Immaculate Realm. For that very reason, even Zhang Liekuang had yet to master it.

Reaching mastery of the Killing Heart Blade within three months was no small demand. It meant Ning Ye's skill in the Blade Dao would have to advance faster than his cultivation.

Zhang Liekuang had probably seen how skilled he was in the Talisman Dao and, feeling displeased, set him this challenge.

But for Ning Ye, it wasn't difficult.

The Killing Heart Blade placed the greatest emphasis on resolve. Here in the Black and White Divine Palace, everywhere he looked, he saw enemies. He could summon killing intent without even trying. If he devoted himself to training, he could master it in a month.

Ning Ye wasn't in a hurry to improve. He simply didn't want Zhang Liekuang to have too high expectations of him—and, more importantly, he needed to make time for himself.

He toyed with the Floating World Bead for a moment, then put it away.

He looked at the sky outside. Night had fallen. Ning Ye chuckled softly.

Lying in bed, he whistled under his breath. He looked as though he was excited to have obtained a treasure, but far away, inside an old tree, the motionless Ground Rat Puppet suddenly twitched its ears a few times, then darted into the earth.