Mo Fenghuang’s face turned pale with fright. Surrounded by Feng Zikang’s sword light, she watched the yellow aura corrode everything, turning the lush grass and trees on the mountain into ashes!
“Corrupting Death Qi! What potent Dead-Ruin Qi!”
Feng Zikang’s expression was grave as he struggled to keep his sword light from falling.
The Dead-Ruin beast, even as an infant, was detestable. Not only did it symbolize death and destruction, but it also emitted this Corrupting Death Qi, which withered vegetation and decimated livestock upon contact.
And today, the Death Qi unleashed by this Nascent Soul stage beast was a hundred times more potent.
Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Feng Zikang dared not touch even a speck of it. One could only imagine the unimaginable difficulty facing the Great Arcanist at the center of that yellow cloud.
However, the Dead-Ruin beast was also suffering immensely. It was pierced by several flying swords, and the Great Arcanist had blown a gaping hole in its chest. Though it desperately urged forth the Corrupting Death Qi, burning its own vital essence, it was clearly at the end of its tether. The final victor remained uncertain!
The Great Arcanist managed to hold on, yet his expression was strangely serene. He suddenly exposed a weakness, allowing the Corrupting Death Qi to invade and instantly envelop his entire body!
The Dead-Ruin beast rejoiced, preparing to lunge in for the kill. But in that momentary slackening of focus, the Great Arcanist suddenly transformed into a crimson light, spun once more, and with the speed of lightning, severed the Dead-Ruin beast’s head!
The Corrupting Death Qi that had infiltrated his body had no effect on him whatsoever!
“Impossible!”
Feng Zikang’s expression shifted. “This Great Arcanist! He isn't alive!”
As the Great Arcanist sliced off the Dead-Ruin beast’s head, blood sprayed wildly. The blood-light that had just dissipated instantly diffused again, tightly wrapping around the Dead-Ruin corpse, beginning to erode and backlash!
This was the final stage of the Celestial Burial Blood Sacrifice Great Art!
“Let’s go, quickly!” Feng Zikang tugged at Mo Fenghuang. The chance to profit from this situation was gone. The only sensible course now was to flee while the Great Arcanist was preoccupied with them.
“Leave?” A faint, sorrowful sigh echoed from the air above.
“Can you leave?”
The Great Arcanist shuddered, shaking off the Corrupting Death Qi that had wrapped around him. His face was ashen as he slowly floated near Feng Zikang.
Feng Zikang gave a cold smile, standing firm with his blade.
“Great Arcanist, your goal for today has been achieved. Why insist on keeping me? Though you defeated the Dead-Ruin beast, you surely suffered hidden losses. Why push yourself?”
The Great Arcanist shook his head. “You see clearly, but you don’t grasp the crucial nature of today’s events. I don’t care if you came to rescue this girl, or why you are here. Since you witnessed what happened today, you cannot be allowed to live.”
His tone was flat, yet chillingly indifferent.
“Trying to silence witnesses?”
Feng Zikang sneered. “That depends on whether you have the capability. The Dead-Ruin essence blood has already been drawn into the Celestial Burial Blood Sacrifice formation. If you don’t push the Nine Dragons convergence to recast your body, are you not afraid this endeavor will fail?”
Seeing that the Dead-Ruin Qi had no effect on the Great Arcanist, it was evident he was an inanimate object. If so, why did he go to such lengths? Was it truly to reconstruct his physical form?
The Great Arcanist let out an astonished laugh. “Is that what you believe? Unfortunately, it would be better if everyone thought that way…”
He sighed. “But those old fools in the Three Sects and Nine Schools are not simple. Once they hear of the Celestial Burial Blood Sacrifice and the Nine Dragons convergence, they will surely realize something.” If the news of his re-emergence became known, it would be a momentous event. Could those old cronies stand by idly?
“Therefore, to prevent those fellows from harassing him before his strength is fully restored, I must send both of you to your deaths!”
The Great Arcanist wasn't resurrecting himself. Based on his words, he intended to revive a powerful, malevolent demon. Otherwise, why would he worry about interference from the Three Sects and Nine Schools?
“If others knew…”
Feng Zikang offered a wry smile. This was the first time his identity as a righteous military cultivator had caused trouble. He personally cared little if a fearsome demon emerged—he was, after all, an incarnation of the Formless Heavenly Demon. Who would he report this to? But because of his status as a disciple of Longhu Mountain’s Military School, the Great Arcanist was certain he would report back to his sect, meaning that even if the resurrection succeeded, the Great Arcanist would face relentless pursuit from the established powers.
With Mo Fenghuang present, he couldn’t simply unmask himself to explain this to the Great Arcanist.
“Actually, I am also a great fiend whom the Three Sects and Nine Schools wish to destroy quickly. We are all on the same side.”
This proposition was too absurd.
“So, it’s truly a fight, then?”
Sword light danced around Feng Zikang; his expression was serious.
The Great Arcanist stared at the sword energy surrounding him, finding it strangely familiar. A flicker of surprise and confusion crossed his face.
“This sword art…”
“The Great Star Extinction Sword Art! I request the Arcanist’s guidance!”
Feng Zikang’s aura did not wane as he wielded his light.
The Great Arcanist’s face changed. “Great Star Extinction… Great Star Extinction…”
He muttered to himself, as if recalling something but unable to grasp it, looking deeply frustrated.
Feng Zikang’s heart stirred slightly. Observing the Arcanist’s peculiar behavior, expressions, and actions, he seemed like a lost soul, incomplete.
Did this Great Star Extinction Sword Art have some connection to him?
Regardless, the Great Arcanist’s memory was clearly fragmented. Although he felt a strong familiarity with the sword art, he couldn't recall its origin.
If that were the case…
Feng Zikang revealed a look of playful amusement. For a Formless Heavenly Demon, powerful experts burdened by such internal gaps could never be truly invulnerable.
A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes as he raised his sword slightly!
The Great Arcanist gasped suddenly.
Feng Zikang could distinctly feel the intense shock emanating from him, though he couldn't fathom the reason.
“This… this sword…”
The Great Arcanist mumbled, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Is this sword yours?”
The Arcanist’s tone remained flat and cold, but the tension in his expression and the slight trembling of his fingers betrayed that this calm was far from his true state.
“Indeed,” Feng Zikang nodded. He didn’t mind exchanging a few words; the more chaotic the Arcanist’s mind became, the more opportunities Feng Zikang would gain.
“This… what is this sword called?”
The Great Arcanist pressed urgently. Seeing this sword was like encountering a long-lost relative!
Feng Zikang smiled faintly.
“This sword is called the Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword!” He paused, observing the look of astonishment on the Arcanist’s face. “I never slay the nameless traveler; I only take famed swords to warm my belly. Have you ever heard that phrase?”
“Blasphemy!”
The Great Arcanist suddenly shut his eyes, his face contorted in agony. His body writhed. Feng Zikang seized the opportunity, launching a streak of sword light that sliced across the Arcanist’s shoulder where his arms had been. With a sharp zheng, the Great Arcanist cried out, suddenly retreated, and vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.
“Fled? He fled?”
Mo Fenghuang could scarcely believe her eyes. This Great Arcanist, who had just effortlessly overpowered a Nascent Soul beast and then severed its head, had been wounded and forced into retreat by a single strike from Feng Zikang?
Had Junior Brother Zikang become this powerful?
Let alone her, Feng Zikang himself was deeply puzzled.
But he knew one thing for certain: the Great Arcanist had not retreated because of that one wound. He had lost both arms fighting the Dead-Ruin beast and remained unhurried.
Whether his own meager strike had caused any real injury was questionable, and even if it had, why would the Great Arcanist flee over such a minor wound?
The only explanation was that it related to the Great Star Extinction Sword Art and the Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword he wielded. Upon recognizing the sword art and the sword, the Arcanist became strangely agitated—perhaps recalling memories from the past?
“Could he be the creator of the art?”
Huo Zhongguang was trapped in the True Man Realm. If he were here, having seen the figure who left the illusion in the Profound Realm, he might have recognized the creator of the Great Star Extinction Sword Art.
But Feng Zikang shook his head. Although the Great Arcanist possessed the aura of a sword master, he didn't seem like the grand master capable of creating the Great Star Extinction Sword Art.
Regardless of the unresolved mysteries, there was pressing business at hand.
“Junior Brother Zikang, what are you doing?”
Mo Fenghuang asked in confusion as he suddenly rode his sword toward the Dead-Ruin corpse enveloped in blood-light.
Feng Zikang smiled faintly. “Since the Great Arcanist has left, the essence blood of this Nascent Soul beast cannot go to waste. Since he no longer needs it, I shall gladly accept it!”
With a gentle guidance, the crimson blood-light transformed into a continuous, thin stream, flowing toward the center of Feng Zikang’s brow.
His brow emitted an eerie glow, as if a hole had opened there, absorbing all the essence blood!
“Junior Brother!”
Mo Fenghuang was horrified, unsure what this strange technique was, yet afraid to disturb him.
Feng Zikang calmed his spirit, focusing intently on absorbing the essence blood released by the Nascent Soul beast’s backlash to strengthen his body, grow his Demon Seed, and slowly gestate his demonic fetus.
He had been in the Foundation Establishment realm for a long time, and his Demon Seed was already mature.
This was the perfect opportunity to nurture the demonic fetus using the essence blood of a Nascent Soul beast!
He just didn’t know if the Great Arcanist would return. He dared not waste a moment; every drop absorbed meant one step closer to strengthening himself!
His face turned blood-red, and his body began to swell strangely.
His gaze sharpened with a terrifying brilliance.
Mo Fenghuang was stunned, covering her mouth, unsure what this scene before her signified, yet unwilling to interrupt.