Chapter 1897: Killing Oneself!

The Mortal Realm

The entire world is his enemy!

Qin Sang fell silent.

No wonder the First Sword Attendant never tried to win him over or threaten him; this was the greatest threat. He was already deeply marked by Emperor Ziwei, a branding that wouldn't change with his personal will. At least for now, the First Sword Attendant and Immortal Tianyue had not acted against him; instead, they had presented him with many opportunities. Had it not been for them, he wouldn't have advanced to the Void Refining stage so smoothly.

The First Sword Attendant's expression was calm and indifferent, as if she had merely made a jest.

Qin Sang gathered his thoughts, exhaled lightly, and continued to ask, "Senior, how do you plan to arrange me? Will I continue to seek refuge in the Daoist Court, or be sent back to the Upper Realm, hide in a minor world, and quietly cultivate until the time comes?"

"The Daoist Court is too preoccupied to protect you. As for the Upper Realm, you can't go back there either..." The First Sword Attendant pondered for a moment before saying, "His final choice to send the Sword Pavilion and his treasured sword into this realm surely has an unknown reason. This realm is by no means an ordinary minor world. When I was drawn here years ago and tried to approach, I felt a faint unease, an instinctive sense of threat and apprehension. My perception was greatly affected, yet I dared not force my way in. It took me a long time to locate the Emperor Sword. Finally, to stop you, I had no choice but to take a risk and intervene. Without the Emperor Sword's aura as a guide, I would have long since lost track of this realm..."

As expected! Qin Sang had guessed the events of that year, but one doubt remained unresolved. The First Sword Attendant was at least a Mahayana stage cultivator, yet she used such a crude method to search for the sword spirit, only able to call out from afar. How much effort could it take to break through a realm barrier and search an entire realm? Surely, a Mahayana stage cultivator entering a minor world wouldn't still be suppressed by its Heavenly Dao, would they?

Moreover, Immortal Tianyue had clearly known the First Sword Attendant for a long time. Qin Sang speculated that Immortal Tianyue had once received a sword dao inheritance in the Immortal Palace, which the First Sword Attendant referred to as the 'Sword Pavilion.' This must have drawn the First Sword Attendant's attention, and Tianyue might even have become her successor. If that were the case, why didn't Immortal Tianyue tell her the location of the Storm Realm? There was only one possibility: after Immortal Tianyue ascended, he also couldn't find his way back! That's why no ascended individual had ever returned to the Storm Realm before.

"If even the First Sword Attendant and Immortal Tianyue can't find the Storm Realm, what can I do? Liuli, Azure Goat Temple, old friends from the Storm Realm..." Qin Sang's eyes showed a hint of wistfulness. He had thought that the Ju Mountain Altar led to the Storm Realm, and he had tirelessly explored the altar, attempting to find a way back to fulfill his promise from years ago. But unexpectedly, that path didn't exist at all! The only small comfort was that the demonic sounds of the Heavenly Dao, which had blocked his path, were now gone. And before his departure, to show his sincerity, he had given the high-grade Spirit-Suppressing Incense and the spiritual embryo of the Heavenly Exquisite Lotus to Liuli... He only hoped she could achieve a breakthrough on her own, and they would meet again in the Grand Realm!

"In the River of Karma, there has always been a mysterious powerhouse ferrying boats. If cultivators ascending from minor worlds are unfortunately caught in the River of Karma, they will be led into the Grand Realm..." As she spoke, the First Sword Attendant's figure grew increasingly faint. She said no more, trusting that since Qin Sang had come this far, he would understand the stakes and not require further instruction.

However, Qin Sang still had many questions. As the First Sword Attendant's figure rapidly faded, before disappearing entirely, she seemed to recall something and hesitated, saying, "The demonic cultivation method you practice... be cautious with it in the future..." Her voice was ethereal, and her figure was gone without a trace.

Qin Sang was startled. Was the cultivation method she mentioned *Heavenly Demon Refining*? Surely, this cultivation method wouldn't be involved in some major karma again, would it? Qin Sang couldn't help but grumble inwardly. The First Sword Attendant's tone and expression suggested it wasn't about karma; rather, the cultivation method itself likely had issues. Qin Sang had long anticipated hidden dangers when cultivating demonic methods with a human body. However, the First Sword Attendant only advised caution and didn't tell him to stop cultivating the method immediately. Did this mean the problem wasn't very serious, or that she herself wasn't entirely sure?

"I have a body!""I have a body!"

Qin Sang's thoughts were interrupted by the Vermilion Bird's joyful cries. With the First Sword Attendant gone, the Vermilion Bird became arrogant again. It flew before Qin Sang, raising its pair of small wings and circling ceaselessly, showing off its plump, fluffy belly. Legend had it that the Phoenix Dance was exquisite, but unfortunately, the young Vermilion Bird spirit hadn't yet adapted to its new body. Its movements were stiff, utterly devoid of grace. It had once vowed to exact great revenge on whoever had squeezed its neck, but it seemed to have forgotten all about it.

Qin Sang frowned slightly and reminded it, "The True Phoenix Feather was used to sculpt your spirit, and those True Phoenix Flames were also half yours, at best. I even lost the Sun Divine Tree, a supreme treasure. Have you figured out how to compensate me?"

The Vermilion Bird was about to ruffle its feathers on the spot, but its eyes darted around, then it raised its neck, became haughty, and with an an air of indifference, righteously declared, "This Vermilion Bird was forced! Do you dare go tell the culprit..."

CRACK!

Thunder from a clear sky. Blood-red lightning appeared in the sky, emitting an oppressive aura. The Vermilion Bird shivered, pulled in its neck, and with a 'whoosh,' darted into Qin Sang's sleeve.

Qin Sang helplessly shook his head, glanced at the Sun Divine Tree, which had lost its power, put away the treasure, and looked at the blood-red lightning in the sky with a solemn expression.

RUMBLE!

The blood-red lightning was like crimson pythons, tearing through the void.

ZAP!

Suddenly, an incredibly thick bolt of blood-red lightning erupted, streaking across the sky as if piercing through the realm and splitting the heavens open. This bolt of blood-red lightning lingered for a long time, then split into countless crimson flashes, its eerie blood-light illuminating heaven and earth. It was as if the heavens had truly cracked open, and a river of blood poured down.

Following the bright moon, heavenly thunder, golden sun, and sea of stars, this realm welcomed a new celestial phenomenon. For the creatures of this realm, this blood-red lightning was far more terrifying than anything before.

WHOOSH!

Suddenly, a torrential downpour began, and the raindrops were blood-red. The Four-Governances region was located beneath the River of Blood, experiencing the most intense rain, but the blood rain was rapidly spreading, engulfing the entire realm! The rain appeared real, but it left no trace when it hit the ground. Yet, all living beings on the ground could feel an intense aura of death and brutality, instinctively generating endless fear that compelled them to avoid the blood rain. The drumming had ceased, but fierce beasts still lingered at the edges of the Karma Plains and Karma Sea. Feeling the aura of the blood rain, they scattered in panic.

"The First Sword Attendant claimed she would bestow a Mahayana Daoist sanctuary. Could this be the celestial phenomenon of a fallen Mahayana stage powerhouse?" Qin Sang was utterly shocked. "They actually killed a Mahayana stage powerhouse!"

SWISH!

Suddenly, a beam of sword light parted the blood rain, streaked through the air, and plunged into the void before Qin Sang. The sword body trembled slightly, revealing a green-robed boy. Looking at Qin Sang, the green-robed boy revealed a gentle smile. "Qin Sang, I am very familiar with you, but unfortunately, due to a twist of fate, you don't recognize me yet... My master personally named me 'Earthly Slayer,' but later, most people called me the 'Ziwei Boy.'"

"Qin Sang greets Senior Earthly Slayer." Qin Sang cupped his hands and bowed. Perhaps it was because he had spent a long time with the Earthly Slayer Sword, but Qin Sang felt none of the restraint before the green-robed boy that he had felt before the First Sword Attendant.

The green-robed boy said gently, "There's no need for such formality between us. As you have received my master's inheritance, you are also my junior. I hope to see you, and will assist you in upholding my master's will, overcoming all difficulties, ascending to the peak of the Grand Realm, and achieving immortality! Furthermore, I need your help to find the other fragments of my sword body..."

Qin Sang looked at the Earthly Slayer Sword's physical form. "Senior, are you referring to the hilt?"

The green-robed boy nodded. "The hilt should have also been placed by my master into a certain Sword Pavilion. Those people recalled the Sword Pavilion to the Grand Realm through some means, but I don't know if the hilt was taken... Unfortunately, my recovered power is exhausted again, and I must continue to slumber, so I cannot help you much." Pausing, the green-robed boy looked at the center of Qin Sang's brow. "Summon your Natal Spirit Sword."

Qin Sang summoned the Wandering Cloud Sword as instructed.

WHOOSH!

The Wandering Cloud Sword landed in the green-robed boy's hand, its sharpness completely retracted, resting quietly in his palm. The green-robed boy gently stroked the sword body, a reminiscent look flashing in his eyes. He hesitated, then softly asked, "Will you keep its spirit?"

Qin Sang was startled, realizing the green-robed boy was asking about the sword spirit. When a spiritual treasure's spiritual embryo nurtured a sword spirit and faced transformation, it presented two choices. One was to refine the sword spirit into the artifact body, achieving a True Treasure. The other was to allow the sword spirit to be born, becoming a Post-natal Spiritual Treasure. To his knowledge, most sword cultivators chose the former, embodying 'only myself, only sword,' which allowed for better tempering of the sword heart!

"Of course!" Qin Sang answered without hesitation. The Wandering Cloud Sword carried the hope of Daoist Wandering Cloud's resurrection; how could he abandon it!

"Good! Good! Good!" The green-robed boy repeated "good" three times, then raised a finger and touched the sword body, a speck of green light flying from his fingertip. The green light flowed like water over the sword body, slowly seeping into its interior. Qin Sang was both surprised and delighted at the sight. Just now, upon seeing the First Sword Attendant sculpt a spirit for the Vermilion Bird, he had intended to ask if she could help Daoist Wandering Cloud regain new life. However, the First Sword Attendant had departed too quickly. The green-robed boy was also a powerful being, and a sword spirit himself, so he should possess similar abilities. He promptly explained the full story.

"No worries, my action is to help it transform sooner. It won't harm the spiritual embryo in the slightest, nor will it adversely affect your old friend's true spirit. However..." The green-robed boy pondered for a while, then continued, "No one knows whether a sword spirit born solely from the transformation of this true spirit will truly be your old friend, or if it can recover its past memories..." His tone was not optimistic.

Qin Sang frowned, falling into deep thought. There were probably few in the world who understood artifact spirits better than the green-robed boy; his judgment could almost be taken as truth. "If the transformed artifact spirit retains no past memories, is that truly a new life? Is this the result Senior Daoist Wandering Cloud desired?" Qin Sang's eyes showed worry, filled with reluctance. He had looked forward to the day he could share drinks and cheerful conversation with Senior Daoist Wandering Cloud. Was there truly no method of resurrection in this world? Qin Sang gazed at the Wandering Cloud Sword, secretly hoping the green-robed boy's judgment was wrong.

As the green light continuously poured forth from the green-robed boy's fingertip and merged into the sword body, the Wandering Cloud Sword's body appeared increasingly pristine, like the purest substance in the world. The sword light gently trembled, as if a beating spiritual embryo lay within the sword body, gradually growing and strengthening under the nourishment of the green light. Eventually, the green light gradually faded. The green-robed boy withdrew his finger and returned the Wandering Cloud Sword to Qin Sang, saying with a weary expression, "Do not use the sword lightly until the spiritual embryo has absorbed these powers." At this moment, although the Wandering Cloud Sword hadn't transformed into a sword embryo, its body was light as water.

"Many thanks for your assistance, Senior." Qin Sang bowed in thanks and firmly committed it to memory. In fact, after learning the origin of the *Soul-Nourishing Sword Chapter*, Qin Sang had made up his mind never to use the Wandering Cloud Sword in front of others again!

"You seem to have the aura of other artifact spirits on you as well," the green-robed boy added.

Qin Sang's heart stirred, and he took out the Five Elements Crown. "Senior, are you referring to this?" The green-robed boy nodded, summoned it before him, and examined it for a moment. Noticing the Five Elements Crown's unusual nature, he couldn't help but let out a soft gasp. "Interesting... It actually formed a spirit body before undergoing Heavenly Tribulation!" He raised a hand and made a grabbing motion at the Five Elements Crown. The crown flashed with five-colored light, and then a surge of black demonic energy burst forth. The demonic energy swirled ceaselessly. The green-robed boy mused for a moment, then directly extended his hand into the demonic energy. The next moment, the demonic energy rapidly converged, and within it, the silhouette of a person gradually appeared.

Qin Sang focused his gaze and saw a girl who appeared to be six or seven years old. Her features somewhat resembled the female cultivator possessed by the demonic spirit back then, and her eyes were tightly closed in sleep. The green-robed boy gently supported the girl, and the surging demonic energy continuously merged into her body, making her more distinct and solid. "This is the Five Elements Crown's artifact spirit?" Qin Sang sensed that the demonic intent on her was still present, though it was greatly suppressed compared to before.

"She is just one step away from transformation, but is trapped by demonic energy. I have helped her suppress the demonic energy; in the future, you must find a way to gradually wear away the demonic intent within her, and then she will be able to undergo tribulation and transform into a true Post-natal Spiritual Treasure!" After completing these tasks, the green-robed boy's aura grew even weaker. "Once you enter the Grand Realm, do not forget this matter. If my true form can be restored, my recovery speed will be much faster. Back then, my master inscribed the Sword Sutra onto fragments and sent them away along with the Sword Pavilion. Only by finding the hilt can you obtain the latter parts of the Sword Sutra."

The Sword Sutra! Qin Sang was taken aback upon hearing this. "Senior, do you not know the cultivation methods for after the Integration stage?" He had thought that with the sword spirit's revival, it would be able to impart the subsequent cultivation methods to him.

The green-robed boy shook his head. "Back then, my master did not name this Sword Sutra because he felt it wasn't perfect enough. The Sword Sutra you are currently cultivating is significantly different from what I remember; it should incorporate my master's final insights. I remember the original Sword Sutra. When you break through to the Integration stage, if you still haven't found it by then, and I have recovered some of my power, I will help you deduce it. Your cultivation is still low; imparting it to you now would only disrupt your path. However, the understanding of the Slaughter Dao is certainly interconnected. You should have gained some enlightenment during the Nascent Soul stage. Do you know what my master did during the Void Refining stage?"

Qin Sang listened intently. He heard the green-robed boy say in a deep voice, "Kill those who must be killed!" This answer greatly surprised Qin Sang. Who must be killed, and how is that judged?

"What about the Integration stage?" Qin Sang pressed repeatedly.

"Kill oneself!" The green-robed boy's answer was once again unexpected. He was sparing with his words, only guiding Qin Sang's direction without providing explanations, allowing him to comprehend it himself, as otherwise, it would lose its essence. Qin Sang wanted to press further, but seeing that the green-robed boy was unwilling to say more, and his figure shimmered, about to retreat into his true form to slumber, he quickly asked one last question. "Is there any spirit-refining secret art within the Sword Sutra?"

Without the Jade Buddha, he wouldn't have been able to cultivate the Sword Sutra at all. Senior Azure Bamboo was clear proof of the consequences of forcibly cultivating the Sword Sutra without a corresponding secret art. Moreover, the power of the Thunder Ancestor had pushed the Jade Buddha to its limits. Qin Sang realized that he couldn't always rely on the Jade Buddha in the future, and he needed to make preparations now.

Unexpectedly, the green-robed boy displayed an expression of reverence and pride. "My master cultivated the Slaughter Dao, walked the path of corpses, and treaded the sea of blood. What need is there for any secret art!" As he vanished, the green-robed boy cast a deep glance at Qin Sang. This was precisely why they held Qin Sang in such high regard. In the mortal world, how many possessed such character and will to fully cultivate this Sword Sutra? May he live up to expectations!

End of Chapter.