Chapter 96

"Has the Light Cloud Sword been restored?"

Zhuang Wudao's eyebrows shot up. This was yet another piece of good news, which somewhat alleviated the anger in his heart.

Is it because of the Sword Containment Art?

During his meditation, he had already sensed that the two threads of sword qi within his body and the decaying sword on his back seemed to have an inexplicable connection, resonating faintly. Yun'er had repeatedly reminded him that the Sword Containment Art was one of the keys to the Light Cloud Sword's restoration.

Although he did not know the reason, the prospect of restoring this once divine sword was a good thing.

Actually, he could not use this Light Cloud Sword for the time being. Whether it was restored or not, Zhuang Wudao did not really care. What truly mattered was Yun'er's next words. How much has it recovered?

In these three months, he had long realized that his fate was closely tied to the sword spirit of the Light Cloud Sword.

"How much has it recovered?"

"I haven't had the chance to thoroughly sort it out. However, when you fought Gu Yueming today, some additional spells and martial arts suddenly appeared in my memory. Most of them are from the demonic path."

Yun'er frowned slightly, as if there were unsolvable doubts in her heart: "There is also this palace opposite, which I am very familiar with, but I can't recall it. I just feel that this palace is very important to me, a matter of life and death!"

Zhuang Wudao was surprised and thought to himself that it was no wonder 'Yun'er' was so quiet during today's competition. Even during his intense battle with Gu Yueming, she did not make a single move.

It was strange that the sword spirit of the Light Cloud Sword, whenever encountering someone practicing sword techniques, would become abnormally eager, almost desperate to fight. This was the case during the battle in Dongchuan Alley and after witnessing Gu Yueming's sword techniques.

He did not understand why 'Yun'er,' after following several previous sword masters and seeing so many grand scenes, would still be interested in these low-level qi practitioners.

And this palace—

Zhuang Wudao frowned and focused his mind, observing the palace opposite. Then he saw a giant, towering ten thousand feet tall, stepping out from the palace. He could not see the giant's face clearly, only a vague outline, but he could see the giant walking step by step, shaking the earth as it moved away.

Behind the giant, a huge fiery phoenix landed in front of the palace. When its fiery red wings spread, they almost burned half the sky. Yet, this proud divine beast, in front of the palace, moved cautiously, bowing its head and showing extreme respect.

Zhuang Wudao felt a dryness in his mouth. He could only glimpse fragments of the image through the colorful mist.

However, whether it was the giant or the phoenix, their overwhelming aura almost crushed his divine sense!

The scene before him was not a false illusion but a real memory from Yun'er!

Was this the world where the Light Cloud Sword spirit once lived? He remembered that the first time he met, Light Cloud had told him—If you follow me in sword practice, in at most ten thousand years, you can become a supreme immortal king—perhaps this was not an empty promise.

"Perhaps you once lived here. Or it might be the residence of one of your previous sword masters. Since the Sword Containment Art can restore, you will eventually remember, no need to rush."

"Not just familiar, but it feels very important."

Yun'er shook her head slightly. Even in this dream that changed according to their will, her face was as pale as paper: "I also feel danger, as if something bad is about to happen. There is something in that palace that makes me afraid."

After saying this, Yun'er fell silent, not uttering a word. Zhuang Wudao was puzzled and did not know how to respond or how to comfort her.

Fortunately, after a moment, Yun'er lifted her head, seemingly having made a decision, her eyes showing determination: "Your current cultivation speed is still too slow. It needs to be faster, the faster the better!"

Faster, the better?

Zhuang Wudao was speechless, staring blankly at the sword spirit. Faster? In just three months, he had advanced from the Bone Tempering stage to the Fifth Level of Qi Cultivation. It was almost like ascending to the heavens, and even the legendary Heavenly Quality Spirit Root might not be better. Even now, he still could not fully control the surging true essence within his body.

Even so, in Yun'er's words, it was still too slow? How fast would the sword spirit be satisfied?

At this rate, his cultivation would eventually lead to a complete loss of control of his true essence, and he would likely die from an explosion of his body.

Moreover, he did not have another Stone Brightness Essence Flame to refine.

Although he knew this, Zhuang Wudao could not help but show curiosity. If his cultivation speed was still too slow, how could it be faster?

"The sword master must achieve the status of a supreme immortal king within ten thousand years. Therefore, not a single day can be wasted!"

Yun'er did not wait for Zhuang Wudao to respond and continued to press: "Today, I recalled a demonic path technique, a true method that can rapidly advance the sword master's cultivation. Do you wish to practice it?"

"Demonic path technique?"

Zhuang Wudao's brows furrowed, hesitating: "I think it's better not to practice! After all, I am to join the Dustless Sect. Will there be a conflict? Moreover, I have heard that most demonic path techniques affect one's nature."

According to legend, most people in the demonic path have strange personalities, being either overly sensitive, bloodthirsty, arrogant, cowardly, or even losing their minds and going completely insane.

It was not that these people were originally like this, but rather that their cultivation methods influenced their nature.

Although Zhuang Wudao hated that person to the core and yearned for power, thinking about it day and night, he wanted to surpass that person in cultivation.

However, if it was not absolutely necessary, he did not want to end up a madman, a monster that was neither human nor ghost.

"Actually, it is not a cultivation method but a sacrificial technique. It does not require cultivation, but the demon lord to be worshipped is slightly different from ordinary demonic paths. Therefore, it does not conflict with the Dustless Sect's methods. It may slightly affect the sword master's nature, but if one has a strong will, they can remain unaffected."

Yun'er's eyes were calm: "With enough blood, flesh, and souls, the sword master can reach the Foundation Establishment stage within ten years at most. As for the true essence in your body, if the sword master can cultivate the last few lines of the first decision of the Great Sorrow of Yin and Yang, controlling your cultivation should be easy."

Within ten years, reach the Foundation Establishment stage?

Zhuang Wudao felt his breathing quicken, almost ready to agree without thinking. However, the next moment, he noticed the 'blood, flesh, and souls' in Yun'er's words, and he felt a chill, feeling a strong aversion.

He could use any means to survive and seek justice from that person, but 'blood, flesh, and souls' truly touched his底线.

"Blood, flesh, and souls? Is it a blood sacrifice technique?"

"Exactly, a blood sacrifice technique!"

Yun'er seemed to not notice the abnormality in Zhuang Wudao's voice and explained calmly: "Cultivators are best, but demonic beasts and evil creatures can also be used. However, if the latter, they must be of a certain rank. The higher the cultivation, the stronger the effect of the blood sacrifice. If it is a divine beast or a cultivator of the Fourth Rank or higher, it is even better. Ordinary beasts and humans can also be used, but the effect is very poor. Ten thousand humans are not as effective as one Foundation Establishment cultivator. For the sword master's first attempt, at least five late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators' blood and souls, or ten late-stage First Rank demonic beasts, or ten thousand human souls, are needed."

Her voice was flat, as if ten thousand lives were just simple numbers, insignificant.

However, after hearing this, Zhuang Wudao felt a sense of relief.

"Originally, if it only requires the blood, flesh, and souls of cultivators and demonic beasts, there is nothing wrong with that."

Only the blood, flesh, and souls of cultivators and demonic beasts?

In his eyes, except for a few close friends and brothers, the rest of the cultivators, whether good or evil, innocent or not, if they stood in his way, they were all killable, all slaughterable!

On this thorny path, would he lack enemies?

Since he had already cultivated the "Great Demon Mind Cultivation Technique," cultivating another demonic path technique was not a big deal.

Reaching the Foundation Establishment stage within ten years—

Zhuang Wudao not only did not feel repulsed by the blood sacrifice technique mentioned by the sword spirit but was even looking forward to it.

He had no particular attachment to the Daoist or demonic paths. As long as it did not touch his inner底线, anything that could help him catch up to that person was fine.

As long as he could achieve his goal, even if it meant falling into the demonic path or hell, he did not really care.

Seeing that she had convinced Zhuang Wudao, Yun'er smiled brightly, her beauty incomparable: "To cultivate this blood sacrifice technique, a dedicated altar is needed. This item is extremely mysterious, with complex spiritual patterns, and cannot be entrusted to ordinary alchemists. It can only be refined by yourself. I will give you a list of materials. The sword master should try to collect them. The better the material of the altar, the stronger the final effect of the blood sacrifice."

Without any action, a stream of consciousness flowed into Zhuang Wudao's mind. It was a list of names and quantities of first and second rank spiritual materials. However, after viewing only a small part, Zhuang Wudao felt a sense of unease.

He originally thought that with his recent windfall, collecting all these materials would not be difficult. Now he realized that he was still poor. Many of the spiritual materials on the list were unheard of.

Fortunately, collecting only one-fifth of these materials would suffice, and many had lower-grade alternatives that were cheaper and more common. Collecting the materials for the altar should not be too difficult.

"I will try—"

Zhuang Wudao grumbled不满, but he knew it was best to collect the materials and refine the altar before going to the main mountain of the Dustless Sect.

Cultivating such a demonic item in the main mountain of the Dustless Sect would be like courting death.

"By the way, how do I absorb that thing?"

Zhuang Wudao remembered the Dragon Rhino Essence Crystal. The main purpose of entering this dream was to ask 'Yun'er' how to use it.

Sensing that the Dragon Rhino Essence Crystal was useful for his Bull Demon Body was one thing, but how to use it was another.

In the books he had read, there were only methods to refine the Dragon Rhino Essence Crystal into an artifact, not techniques to absorb it.