The sheer essence of the Nascent Soul beast was instantly flooded into Feng Zikang, the Qitian Burial Blood Teeth spinning to reduce the demonic beast to pure vital blood in an instant. The Grand Master, who should have received this essence and directed it into the Nine Dragons Convergence, suddenly departed, leaving the spoils entirely to Feng Zikang.
He hadn't anticipated such a sudden turn of fortune—a case of 'the moon darkens, yet a village appears.' Though he couldn't fathom why the Grand Master fled so abruptly, he knew this was an opportunity not to be missed.
The vital blood poured continuously through the rift on his forehead, leaving him feeling utterly blissful, as if ascending to immortality.
He certainly wouldn't waste this essence of life; he channeled it all at once into the nascent Demon Seed that had already formed, waiting for it to take root, sprout, and transform into the Demon Fetus!
Mo Fenghuang trembled as she witnessed it all, paralyzed by terror and uncertainty.
What in the world was happening?
The anomaly in Feng Zikang was unprecedented in her knowledge. She didn't recognize the evil Heavenly Burial Blood Sacrifice Formation, but she could clearly see that Feng Zikang seemed to be plundering the vital essence being refined and violently expelled by the Nascent Soul beast.
But why would a cultivator desire such a thing?
Unless it was something inherently evil...
Mo Fenghuang forcefully halted her spiraling thoughts. Surely not?
She trusted Feng Zikang completely. He had once slaughtered the entire thirty-six Mangcang Labyrinth alone for Mo Li. How could such a loyal and principled man possibly practice any sinister cultivation path?
"It must just be the Nascent Soul beast's vital blood, serving some other profound purpose," Mo Fenghuang staunchly reassured herself.
Vast. Endless. These were the only words Feng Zikang could find to describe the power and vital essence of the Nascent Soul beast.
If a cultivator or beast at the Core Condensation stage was already beyond his reach, the Nascent Soul stage was an entity he couldn't possibly challenge. Even with the beast trapped within the Heavenly Burial Blood Sacrifice Formation, Feng Zikang knew he stood no chance against that beast named Sangluan. The fact that the Grand Master could maneuver against it and finally slay it spoke volumes of his might.
To think that in the end, he benefited inexplicably was truly bizarre.
Stimulated by the ceaseless flow of vital blood, the Demon Seed slowly expanded, tentatively stretching out four limbs, resembling a tender infant gradually taking shape.
The Demon Fetus!
The path of demon cultivation begins with a single thread of demonic thought in the Sea of Consciousness, gradually tempered into a Demon Seed, which grows into the Demon Fetus. As the incarnation of the Formless Heavenly Demon, Feng Zikang directly possessed a Demon Seed and bypassed the initial stage of mortal demonic thought cultivation.
With the Demon Fetus gestating, it was akin to a Dao cultivator establishing a foundation; he had truly begun the great path of demon cultivation. All manner of unimaginable demonic arts could now be unleashed through the Demon Fetus.
Feng Zikang had delayed taking this final step for a long time.
Although his foundation was long-established and his own cultivation methods were sufficient to sustain it, he had continuously tempered and purified the Demon Seed until this very day.
Today, possessing nearly infinite Nascent Soul vital blood as nourishment for the gestation of the Demon Fetus, he naturally did not hesitate!
"Pop!"
With a soft sound, the head of the Demon Fetus emerged. It was shaped like a tiny infant, curled into a ball, quite endearing, yet utterly black, possessing a strange, unsettling beauty.
"It's done!"
Feng Zikang was overjoyed. Just as he was about to summon the Demon Fetus to test the power of his new cultivation, a roar echoed from the distance: "Impudent junior! How dare you ruin my great work!"
The Grand Master had returned!
Feng Zikang made an instant decision, swinging his sword to sever the connection drawing in the immeasurable vital essence. Now that the Demon Fetus was complete, this beast blood could at best only further purify it; its primary role was over.
At this critical juncture, absolute focus on the impending battle was paramount!
Why did he leave only to return?
Feng Zikang understood neither why the Grand Master had left nor why he had returned, his expression now stern, as if nothing unusual had transpired.
The Grand Master strode forward. All his previous injuries were completely healed; even his two severed arms had regrown perfectly. Feng Zikang clicked his tongue in surprise. He recalled that it had taken him several months of recuperation for his own legs, which had been pulverized into pulp, to recover. What miraculous elixir had the Grand Master consumed to heal so completely in less than half an hour?
"Did he go off to treat his wounds?"
Feng Zikang shook his head; it made no sense. Given the Grand Master's strength, even without both arms, he still held over seventy percent advantage against Feng Zikang. He could have easily finished Feng Zikang before healing, rather than losing so much vital essence to inadvertently benefit Feng Zikang's Demon Fetus cultivation!
"When the Grand Master hurried away, I assumed you had abandoned the Nascent Soul essence, so I borrowed only a little. If this displeases you, Master, I shall depart immediately!"
Feng Zikang offered a faint smile, masking his tension, and slowly retreated backward.
"You seek death!"
The Grand Master was consumed by rage, opening his mouth and spewing forth several streams of spiritual light—manifestations of several rare treasures. Feng Zikang blocked them with his sword light, finding the effort strenuous.
"I painstakingly laid out this Heavenly Burial Blood Sacrifice Formation, painstakingly trapped this Nascent Soul beast, and my Master was almost ready to be resurrected! How dare a junior like you take advantage!" the Grand Master roared quietly, his face contorted. But as he watched Feng Zikang's sword light, a strange expression suddenly crossed his features.
He muttered to himself, and the onslaught of his spirit soldiers actually slackened.
Feng Zikang paused, momentarily confused.
"You... what sword technique are you using?" the Grand Master blurted out, his gaze distant.
Has he truly succumbed to the Soul-Loss sickness?
The Grand Master had asked this very question once before, and it was precisely because of that question that he had acted so bizarrely and fled swiftly.
Since that was the case, Feng Zikang had no qualms about answering him again.
"Master, have you forgotten? You asked that same question just moments ago," he sneered coldly. "The technique I employ is the Starfall Great Extinction Sword Art. The blade I wield is the Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword. I never strike the nameless; I only seek famous swords to warm my spirit. Have you heard of it!"
"No!"
The Grand Master let out a heart-rending shriek.
"No, impossible! How could you be using the Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword? Impossible!"
His face turned pale. Amidst his blazing fury, the magical artifacts that had been attacking Feng Zikang shattered instantly, crumbling into dust.
"You cannot possibly be using the Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword! I... I will kill you!"
The Grand Master suddenly lunged at Feng Zikang like a madman.
Feng Zikang thrust his sword light out to meet the charge, but the immense impact rebounded him backward. The Grand Master relentlessly pursued, his eyes bulging—he clearly intended to kill.
In this clash between two mighty figures, the Grand Master surprisingly eschewed his divine abilities and magical implements, opting instead for bare-handed combat! This demonstrated the depth of his terror, panic, and rage.
Feng Zikang fought while retreating. He knew that if the Grand Master had maintained his composure, he would surely be no match. But now that the Grand Master was frenzied, he actually had a slim chance!
Though he didn't know the reason for the Grand Master's breakdown, the emotions born of intertwined fury and fear were precisely what the Formless Heavenly Demon excelled at exploiting.
However, at the outset, even without employing his divine powers, the sheer physical strength of the Grand Master forced Feng Zikang to gasp for breath. The Grand Master was an innate swordsman; in his madness, his entire being was a single sword. Feng Zikang's sword techniques appeared amateurish before him. Every gesture and movement from the Grand Master unleashed frenzied sword energy.
"Thwack! Thwack-thwack!"
Several wounds marred Feng Zikang’s body, blood flowing freely, yet his expression remained unchanged. He continued to fight and retreat, meticulously observing the Grand Master's shifting posture.
What was the origin of this Grand Master? Even if he wasn't the founder of the Starfall Great Extinction Sword Art, his immersion in the Way of the Sword had reached the ultimate realm. Even in his mindless frenzy, his movements subtly adhered to the principles of the Dao, rendering them utterly unbreakable!
Feng Zikang intensified his defense, creating an impenetrable guard, daring not to counterattack rashly.
He possessed sufficient patience.
The Grand Master could not have emerged unscathed from the battle with the Nascent Soul beast, especially those final blows where he transformed his body into a sword to cleave Sangluan; he must have suffered backlash. To still be fighting now was beyond Feng Zikang's expectations.
Just hold on a little longer...
"Thwack!"
Another streak of sword energy pierced his thigh, carving out a mangled, bloody hole. Feng Zikang’s right leg buckled, and he nearly collapsed, forcing himself back with a desperate surge of energy while simultaneously swallowing a Life Transformation Pill.
"Ah!"
Mo Fenghuang watched Feng Zikang fall into disadvantage, facing imminent peril, her heart burning with anxiety. Yet, her limbs felt weak and useless; she couldn't channel her internal energy, rendering her divine abilities inaccessible. She couldn't even summon her mechanism-man, completely unable to assist, to the point where tears nearly sprang to her eyes.
Feng Zikang moved his iron sword deliberately, meeting each attack steadily.
He focused entirely on employing the Starfall Great Extinction Sword Art; he didn't dare test any other divine abilities. Given the Grand Master's superior strength, even using other arts wouldn't shift the balance; it was better to save them for a true critical moment.
Moreover, he noticed that with every sword strike the Grand Master broke, the look of pained confusion on his face deepened, suggesting a profound, strange resentment toward the Starfall Great Extinction Sword Art and the Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword in his hand.
"Break! Break for me!"
The Grand Master roared in fury, his power growing more tyrannical and unrestrained. But Feng Zikang found him increasingly easier to parry. Especially since, after continuously employing the Starfall Great Extinction Sword Art, the Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword seemed to revert to the tendency it showed previously: the sword was guiding the technique, the technique guiding him, rather than him actively wielding the sword.
Feng Zikang relaxed his mind, sinking his consciousness entirely into the sword, following the spirit of the Heaven-Swallowing Ancient Sword as he moved his blade light, becoming more natural and sharper!
"No, impossible!"
The Grand Master's expression grew even more menacing. Suddenly, his body convulsed, transforming into a streak of deep crimson sword light, plunging directly into the myriad lights of Feng Zikang's swordplay.
Although this color was significantly paler than when he slew the Nascent Soul beast, its imposing presence and momentum were identical.
One sword beneath heaven and earth!
The white sword lights shattered one by one, and the sinister red light shot directly towards Feng Zikang's heart! If you wish to know what happens next, please log on to [Website Address], for more chapters, to support the author, and to read genuine content!