Chapter 593: Dangerous Aura

“Excellent knife work!”

Fu Riluo looked at the radiant Butcher in mid-air and couldn't help but praise, "What truly excellent knife work! Kaihuang Heaven is indeed a land of exceptional people. Even in an era where Dao arts and divine abilities are fragmented and incomplete, such outstanding individuals still emerge. It truly is a remarkable place!"

Witnessing Butcher's knife techniques intensified his desire for the Great Ruins.

Compared to him, Butcher was quite "young." Despite not having a complete cultivation system, he had achieved Dao entry with his knife techniques, reaching a level of blade mastery that many gods and devils in the Supreme Emperor Heaven and among the devil race had never attained.

Fu Riluo could see that if Butcher were to overcome his weaknesses in the future, he would also have the potential to become a true god. To possess such mastery at such a young age must be due to the influence of Kaihuang Heaven!

"He never taught me this move…"

Priest Bashan's mouth gaped open, his voice like thunder. He turned to Qin Mu, asking, "Did Master teach it to you?"

Qin Mu honestly replied, "Yes, he did. But my cultivation level isn't high enough to execute it."

Priest Bashan indignantly said, "The old man is biased! This move is too powerful, simply too powerful…"

It wasn't that Butcher was biased. When he first dragged his upper body to Disabled Elder Village, he was mad for most of the time, constantly cursing the heavens and vowing to chop them down. When lucid, he was taciturn and silent.

At that time, Butcher suffered greatly, not because he was only left with his upper body, but because he couldn't ascend to the heavens to avenge his friends and settle the score with his blade.

To fight against Yang Xingjun and other heavenly gods, he constantly honed himself in his madness, devising countless knife techniques, yet none could break through the divine abilities of the heavenly gods.

His madness stemmed from overthinking.

After Granny Si found Qin Mu by the river, Butcher's frantic heart gradually found peace through the little boy, and he gained something to rely on.

From then on, the mad Butcher's episodes of madness became fewer and farther between. He used to drive himself mad by overthinking, but after Qin Mu's arrival, his inner peace grew, and he gradually integrated his previous thoughts.

When his knife techniques achieved Dao entry, he created the Ninth Form of the Heavenly Blade, "Blade Cleaves Bright Moon Ring."

This particular move was his masterpiece of Dao entry, making him an unparalleled grandmaster of the blade.

Priest Bashan had previously learned the Eight Forms of the Heavenly Blade, but Butcher found him quite irritating and always walked a wide berth around him whenever they met. Priest Bashan had only recently caught up with him, and this particular move had not yet been passed on.

Furthermore, "Blade Cleaves Bright Moon Ring" not only demands extremely high cultivation but also immense mastery of knife techniques. Priest Bashan had already embarked on the path of integrating combat and magic, making it impossible for him to achieve Dao entry with a blade. Therefore, even if Butcher taught him, he might not be able to learn it.

Yang Xingjun's blood rained down from the sky, transforming the surrounding hundred-mile radius into a sea of fire. His blood, being Golden Crow blood, contained solar essence, turning into an inextinguishable flame upon contact with the ground.

Suddenly, a sun fell from the sky, crashing to the ground and causing the earth to tremble, turning the impact site into an inferno.

Qi Jiuyi frowned, then his brows relaxed.

Yang Xingjun's death was not a bad thing for him. Yang Xingjun was the helper he had invited to the lower realm, and since he had been in the lower realm for so long, he was familiar with the geography.

Qi Jiuyi's purpose in seeking Yang Xingjun was to use him to find Qin Mu. Now that Qin Mu had been found, Yang Xingjun's life or death was irrelevant.

Butcher strode forward, carrying his long blade. Yang Xingjun's blood splashed onto him, setting his body ablaze, but as a Vermilion Bird spirit body, such minor injuries posed no significant threat.

"What a thrill!"

Butcher had a large gash across his chest, through which his beating heart was faintly visible beneath his ribs. Clearly, his battle with Yang Xingjun had not been easy, and he had sustained considerable injuries. Yet, he laughed, "Centuries of madness cleaved open with a single strike! Damn, that felt good!"

The Apothecary quickly stepped forward, examined his wound closely, and frowned. "Butcher, you were almost killed! What's so thrilling about that? Your wound still has remnants of Yang Xingjun's divine ability; I can't remove them for you. You'll have to do it yourself. Be careful not to rupture your heart. You're not Xing An; you can't survive with a replaced heart. While you enjoyed the kill, you nearly lost your life. You shouldn't be so reckless."

"Knife techniques don't have as many variations as swordplay. True knife techniques are straightforward, a single move of life or death: if you can block it, you live! If not, you die! It's that simple!"

Butcher sheathed his blade and roared. Countless tiny blade lights flashed within the wound on his chest, instantly erasing the remnants of Yang Xingjun's divine ability. He said gravely, "My previous knife techniques emphasized intricacy and complex variations, but after achieving Dao entry, they transformed from complexity to simplicity. Earlier moves like 'Night Battle in the Wind and Rain' and 'Sun over the Eastern Sea's Thousand Folding Waves' were too troublesome. Now, 'Long Blade Hanging Moon Soul' and 'Blade Cleaves Bright Moon Ring' are becoming simpler and simpler."

Fu Riluo looked around at the various demonic divine practitioners and said, "Remember his words; they are very profound. Spells, divine abilities, and combat techniques will all eventually simplify. However, he didn't explain it fully. Simplicity comes from complexity; complexity is the necessary journey. Without experiencing complexity, one cannot grasp simplicity. True simplicity means power condensed into a single line, and the Dao gathered into a single point."

The numerous demonic divine practitioners nodded, seeming to grasp it vaguely.

Qin Mu listened and secretly praised, "Fu Riluo's insight and vision are truly extraordinary. He is a remarkable grandmaster, worthy of being a true devil and a venerable king. When I created the first form of the Calamity Sword, it also moved from complexity to simplicity. What appears simple is actually not simple at all. While the swordplay looks simple, it mobilizes all power and carries the essence of the Dao, making its might extraordinary."

Ordinary divine abilities can mobilize only one or two tenths of one's total power. This is because one's overall strength is immense. For example, if your left hand and right hand each have a hundred pounds of strength, and each leg also has a hundred pounds, you still cannot unleash four hundred pounds of force with a single punch.

The power within a divine practitioner is even more complex, encompassing strength from qi and blood circulation, from unobstructed meridians, from the flow of vital qi, the power of the primordial spirit, the power of divine treasures, and various other forces like rune imprints.

Unleashing these powers constitutes a divine ability.

For a grand divine ability to mobilize five or six tenths of one's power is already rare and commendable. Only a self-created divine ability, tailored to oneself, can unleash even greater power.

However, a Dao-entering divine ability, comprehended by oneself, can unleash terrifying power, essentially developing all of one's inherent strength.

From complexity to simplicity, complexity is the indispensable process of exploring one's various powers.

Qi Jiuyi praised, "Fu Riluo's insights are not bad."

Qin Mu glanced at him and complimented, "Brother Qi's insights are not bad either."

Qi Jiuyi smiled faintly.

The Apothecary re-examined Butcher's wound, extracting the fire poison with silver needles, and chuckled, "Such a minor injury doesn't require my intervention. Mu'er, call your fat boy over to lick it; it'll promote blood circulation and muscle regeneration."

Long Qilin quickly trotted over, giving a placating smile, "Master Butcher, little Long is ready to lick."

Butcher quickly looked at Qin Mu, "Mu'er, do you have any bottled ones?"

The Apothecary sternly said, "Dragon saliva is best fresh. Bottled ones aren't fresh, and the wound will heal slower!"

Butcher was skeptical.

"Brother Qin, Yang Xingjun has settled his grievances, and Heavenly Blade's injuries are no longer a major concern. Your mind should be at ease now, right?"

Qi Jiuyi looked at Qin Mu and smiled slightly, "It's our turn now."

Just as Qin Mu was about to speak, a blade light suddenly illuminated, then split into two, two into four, four into eight, continuously dividing!

"Zhe Huali!"

Qin Mu's heart stirred. Suddenly, the myriad blade lights converged, transforming into a single descending slash. Where the blade light fell, the air split apart!

Fu Riluo flicked his sleeve, forcing everyone in the path of the blade light to retreat. The blade light extended ten miles, a massive blade energy striking towards Qi Jiuyi!

Qi Jiuyi's pupils contracted sharply, then he suddenly relaxed, allowing the blade light to approach him.

The blade light suddenly trembled and split into over a dozen blade energies, slashing towards Qi Jiuyi like a peacock fanning its tail. Yet, they abruptly retracted, grazing past Qi Jiuyi's nose without touching him.

Suddenly, the blade energies retreated. Ten miles away, Zhe Huali inserted his demon blade into his back and strode forward. Although his complexion wasn't ideal, he appeared quite spirited, clearly having endured much hardship recently in pursuit of a breakthrough.

Butcher looked at Zhe Huali, then suddenly sighed, his expression forlorn. "My two disciples—one chose the path of integrating combat and magic, the other comprehended the way of the sword. Neither learned the true subtlety of my knife techniques. Instead, this person, who merely glimpsed my knife work, has comprehended it."

Priest Bashan's face flushed with shame, while Qin Mu remained composed, showing no hint of embarrassment. "My sword techniques have achieved Dao entry, making me more promising than Senior Brother Bashan. The Village Chief must be very pleased."

Fu Riluo looked at Zhe Huali with admiration and said, "Zhe Huali, you are ready to graduate as a master."

Zhe Huali bowed in thanks, then stood up, his sharp gaze falling on Qin Mu, then shifting to Qi Jiuyi's face, blade lights flickering in his eyes. "Qin Mu is mine. If you want to kill him before I do, I'll kill you first."

The Cripple said in surprise, "Mu'er, you're quite popular."

Qin Mu's face immediately darkened.

Qi Jiuyi calmly said, "Zhe Huali, are you a disciple of General Luo Wushuang of the Lingxiu Army? I see traces of his Peerless Blade in your knife techniques. Divine Blade Luo Wushuang, who achieved Dao entry with his blade, is responsible for teaching the younger generation of the Lingxiu Army in the Celestial Heavens. You've received his true legacy, which is good. But do you know who I am?"

Zhe Huali shook his head. "I don't care who you are. If you want to kill him, you'll die first."

Qi Jiuyi shook his head. "A disciple of Luo Wushuang, you are too ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. You've merely comprehended one knife technique and just stepped out of Luo Wushuang's shadow, yet you dare to challenge me. Brother Qin, do you still wish to see me duel with this devil expert? I'll give you a chance."

Qin Mu narrowed his eyes, sensing an extremely dangerous aura from him!

It was as if a primeval beast was gradually awakening within Qi Jiuyi!

This sensation was similar to a true dragon activating the Ancestral Dragon Grand Profound Art, yet Qi Jiuyi was definitely not of the dragon race; he must be of the phoenix race!

"This is bad!"

Qin Mu's heart jolted. "Qi Jiuyi cultivates a cultivation method that directly leads to the Emperor's Throne!"

The Cripple appeared behind him at some point, earnestly advising, "Mu'er, when you should be cowardly, be cowardly. When you should run, run. Trust Cripple Grandpa's teachings; you can't go wrong."

Qin Mu suddenly grew excited, clenching his fists, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Cripple Grandpa, I've never killed a master who cultivates an Emperor's Throne cultivation method before!"

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Is this the third update or the first? It's not yet midnight, so it's today's third update! La la la, confidently asking for support!