Chapter 425 – Calamity God's Clarity Illuminates Heart, Four Swords Shine Bright, Immortal Spirit Forms…

“Upper Corpse: Ignorance, Middle Corpse: Delusion, Lower Corpse: Desire. Such terrifying killing intent… This must be Gu Yue True Immortal’s Middle Corpse.”

Sensing the overwhelming killing intent radiating from the Middle Corpse before him, Lu Chen finally understood which of the Three Corpses’ malevolent thoughts this entity represented.

The Middle Corpse attacks the five viscera, causing shortness of breath, frequent forgetfulness, and predisposition to evil deeds.

Simply put, the Middle Corpse manifests as acting solely on whims, recognizing neither laws nor higher powers.

The numerous shackles binding it were manifestations the Sword Ancestor’s Clone used to control Zhong Shiwang.

But Lu Chen’s appearance, combined with the terrifying Karma Zhong Shiwang had accumulated over the years, enabled him to break through several restrictions imposed upon him in a short time.

Had the Sword Ancestor’s True Spirit still been present, it would have been impossible for Zhong Shiwang to so easily weaken his shackles.

Yet the Sword Ancestor’s True Spirit had vanished for many years, and the restrictions placed upon Zhong Shiwang had been continuously weakening.

Conversely, Zhong Shiwang had been steadily gaining power.

In this dynamic of one waning while the other waxed, though over ten thousand years Zhong Shiwang had only broken roughly one-fifth of his shackles, this was like a dam beginning to burst.

Once a certain balance was broken, the dam’s collapse would only accelerate.

By Lu Chen’s estimation, while it took Zhong Shiwang ten thousand years to break one-fifth of the Seal, the remaining restrictions might be undone in less than a millennium.

The current sudden outburst was merely a harbinger of what was to come.

Yet fortune smiled in that Lu Chen appeared at the most opportune moment.

Had he arrived any later—even just under sixty years—Lu Chen estimated this Middle Corpse would have reached the Immortal realm.

By then, even with his Clone at the Transformation Soul Stage and numerous techniques at his disposal, Lu Chen would stand no chance against this Middle Corpse.

Of course, even now, facing Zhong Shiwang at the Half-Immortal Peak, Lu Chen was no match for him.

In a one-on-one confrontation, Lu Chen absolutely could not slay him, barely able to defend himself at best.

But his current task wasn’t to kill the Middle Corpse—only to stall him.

The true executioner of this Middle Corpse was another.

There, flickering weakly upon the Middle Corpse’s chest, was a small cluster of candlelight.

Originally so dim that Lu Chen hadn’t even noticed it initially, after his recent exchanges with Zhong Shiwang—where the latter diverted considerable power to deal with Lu Chen—Zhong Shiwang could no longer suppress the chest candlelight, allowing it to gradually manifest.

This candlelight corresponded to the restrictions the Sword Ancestor’s Clone had placed upon Zhong Shiwang.

Lu Chen’s mission was simple: force Zhong Shiwang to expend as much of his accumulated Karma as possible.

When the malignant energy in his heart diminished, Zhong Shiwang would naturally be unable to continue breaking his shackles.

Thus, what Lu Chen needed to sever wasn’t the Middle Corpse itself, but the malignant energy within his chest.

This was the true task Gu Yue True Immortal had entrusted to him.

Otherwise, sending a Transformation Soul Stage Clone to deal with a True Immortal’s Three Corpses—even one suppressed to its limits—would be impossible for a mere Deity Transformation Clone.

Yet the Middle Corpse’s malignant energy… was not so easily severed either.As the malevolent Qi within Zhong Shiwang continuously released, his boundless terrifying malice fused with part of the Sword Ancestor’s Sword Path.

This formed a unique, malevolent Sword Intent.

In an instant, a black abyss devoured the space around Zhong Shiwang and immediately enveloped Lu Chen as well.

Suddenly, both Lu Chen and Zhong Shiwang were dragged into that terrifying malevolent Sword Domain.

“Kill, kill, kill!”

“Hahaha! What could be more satisfying in this world than freely cutting people down with a sword!”

Upon entering the malevolent Sword Domain, Lu Chen heard countless voices echoing in his ears.

Without exception, these voices exhibited boundless madness.

Even Lu Chen himself was somewhat affected.

However, he quickly suppressed this influence.

But before Lu Chen could do anything, a sword light shot toward him.

This sword strike was extremely fast and contained powerful Sword Intent.

Yet Lu Chen seemed to sense it coming and intercepted the attacking Sword Intent with a single hand.

Looking at the Fiend-Severing Sword suspended before him, Lu Chen’s eyes grew profound.

This Spirit Sword, which he had nurtured for years and shared the same origin with, had actually ‘betrayed’ him.

Or rather, it had been influenced by the malevolent Sword Domain, awakening the ‘malicious thoughts’ within.

These malicious thoughts didn’t necessarily indicate dissatisfaction with Lu Chen.

Perhaps the Fiend-Severing Sword’s inherent pride made it want to compete with Lu Chen.

Under normal circumstances, even if the Fiend-Severing Sword had such thoughts,

It wouldn’t suddenly turn against him before a powerful enemy, nor would it strike with such lethal intent.

But under the influence of the malevolent Sword Domain, the sword’s malicious thoughts, or rather its competitive spirit, were completely unleashed.

To the extent that it disregarded the surrounding circumstances.

Acting recklessly, it directly attacked Lu Chen.

Similar situations weren’t limited to the Fiend-Severing Sword.

Just as Lu Chen controlled the Fiend-Severing Sword with one hand, three more Sword Intents instantly assaulted him.

These other three Sword Intents came from the remaining three of Lu Chen’s Four Fiend-Slaying Swords.

Lu Chen raised his left hand and immediately restrained one of them.

Meanwhile, the Shangqing Dharma Body formed by the Law of Heaven and Earth manifested numerous chains from the Void Realm behind him, instantly controlling the remaining two Immortal Swords.

For the moment, all four ‘betraying’ Immortal Swords were temporarily restrained by Lu Chen.

However, the Sword Intent of the Four Fiend-Slaying Swords wasn’t so easily contained.

Thus, Lu Chen found himself in a stalemate with the four swords.

Zhong Shiwang, bound to the ground in the distance, watched Lu Chen being backfired by his own Immortal Swords with a flash of triumph in his eyes.

The foundation of a Sword Cultivator lies in their Sword Intent and Spirit Swords.

His Sword Intent could awaken the deepest malicious thoughts within Immortal Swords, causing them to backfire on their masters.

The existence of malevolent Sword Intent could even suppress an opponent’s Sword Intent.

It could be said that the Sword Ancestor’s Zhong Shiwang was the natural bane of all Sword Cultivators.

His Sword Intent was specifically cultivated to counter Sword Cultivators.

After all, what means could a Sword Cultivator possibly have without their Sword Intent and Spirit Swords?

“Are you feeling proud of yourself?”

Zhong Shiwang, who had been gloating, suddenly heard Lu Chen’s voice and his smile instantly froze.

Frowning, he looked at Lu Chen, seemingly unable to comprehend how a Sword Cultivator without Sword Intent or Spirit Swords

Could possibly suppress these four ‘rebellious’ natal Spirit Swords.It must be understood that these four innate Spirit Swords were the ones who knew him best.

For an ordinary person, this would indeed be the case.

But Lu Chen was no ordinary Sword Cultivator.

What he knew… had never been limited to just the Sword Path.

Lu Chen watched as the four Immortal Swords struggled incessantly, trying to break free from his control.

He suddenly let out a cold laugh.

“Just four rebellious children, that’s all. A good spanking will set them straight.”

“To think you’d use such methods against me… this Zhong Shiwang of yours is even more foolish than I imagined.”

As he spoke, a small bell flew out from above Lu Chen’s head and hovered over the four swords.

Seeing the small bell, Zhong Shiwang’s face revealed an expression of astonishment.

Because he could clearly sense that this small bell was anything but ordinary.

Though it hadn’t yet developed a sufficient celestial spirit, it already possessed capabilities comparable to a Celestial Artifact.

And what was most peculiar was that something within the bell seemed to be temporarily serving as a substitute for the celestial spirit.

Allowing the small bell to reach the level of a Celestial Artifact for a short period.

If this small bell were to fully unleash its power,

It seemed it could truly suppress Lu Chen’s Four Fiend-Slaying Swords.

Thinking this, Zhong Shiwang activated his Malevolent Sword Intent once more.

Attempting to influence the mysterious artifact spirit within the small bell.

But when he channeled his Malevolent Sword Intent into the bell,

Not only was the bell not stimulated to generate evil thoughts, it began voraciously devouring his Malevolent Sword Intent like a starving ghost.

Refusing to believe this defiance of nature, Zhong Shiwang further increased the evil karma within his body.

Thereby strengthening the infusion of his Sword Intent.

Trying to completely turn the mysterious artifact spirit within the Soul-Suppressing Bell to his side.

However, after persisting for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, Zhong Shiwang stopped.

Because he realized that no matter what he did, he couldn’t affect the mysterious artifact spirit within the Soul-Suppressing Bell.

There were only two possible explanations for this.

First, the other party’s Realm was extremely high – so high that even he, a True Fiend Zhong Shiwang, couldn’t influence it.

But Zhong Shiwang didn’t believe this was possible.

That left only the remaining possibility: the other party’s heart… contained no evil.

How could there exist a being in this world completely devoid of evil thoughts?

Zhong Shiwang couldn’t comprehend this.

Because he believed that all living beings have desires.

And where there are desires, there are evil thoughts.

How could there be living beings in this world completely without desires?

If such beings truly existed, what meaning would their lives even have???

The actual situation within the Soul-Suppressing Bell was completely different from what Zhong Shiwang imagined.

Because besides the two scenarios mentioned earlier,

There was a third circumstance that could render his Malevolent Sword Intent ineffective.

That was: the artifact spirit within the Soul-Suppressing Bell could devour his Sword Intent.

But due to the principle that “different Daos are hard to reconcile,”

Zhong Shiwang couldn’t conceive of any existence capable of directly consuming another’s Dao Intent.

If Dao Intent could be so easily neutralized, then Sword Intent wouldn’t be considered so precious.

Yet this highly improbable scenario was precisely what was unfolding before his eyes.

Inside the Soul-Suppressing Bell, Diting was patting his slightly rounded belly, looking completely satisfied.

Peering through the Soul-Suppressing Bell at Zhong Shiwang outside, his eyes filled with emotion.

“What a good person, truly a good person. Such pure Innate Nine Qi – I haven’t tasted anything this good in a long time.”

“After eating such delicacies this time, what will I do if I can’t get more in the future…”

Just as Diting was preparing to get clever and think of ways to go easy on him,Just as Zhong Shiwang was about to send more ‘food’ inside, a voice suddenly echoed beside his ear.

Upon hearing those words, Diting shuddered from head to toe.

He then obediently began controlling the Soul-Suppressing Bell to suppress the Four Fiend-Slaying Swords.

With the Soul-Suppressing Bell’s intervention, the Four Fiend-Slaying Swords—already restrained by Lu Chen—immediately lost all ability to resist.

Boom!

Accompanied by a deafening crash, the Four Fiend-Slaying Swords were forcefully pressed to the ground by the Soul-Suppressing Bell.

It looked as if someone had slapped them fiercely onto the earth, a pitiful sight to behold.

Seeing the advantageous situation he had painstakingly created so easily dismantled by Lu Chen, Zhong Shiwang flew into a rage.

But currently trapped in his physical form with his Sword Intent sealed, he could only barely wield the Sword Ancestor’s power through his residual evil karma.

It seemed that aside from anger, he had no better options left.

Beyond his Sword Intent, he possessed no other means to turn the tide.

As if realizing the situation was beyond redemption,

Zhong Shiwang shot Lu Chen a resentful glare before withdrawing his limited evil karma.

Rather than pointlessly exhausting what remained,

He decided to bide his time once more, awaiting the next opportunity to break through the Seal.

This time, the Sword Ancestor had gotten lucky.

But he believed that with patience, he would eventually break free from his prison and regain his liberty.

As the overwhelming evil Sword Intent dissipated,

The candle flame in Zhong Shiwang’s chest gradually grew brighter.

Soon, Lu Chen watched as the flame intensified, ultimately forming a longsword plunged into the chest.

Simultaneously, the sword’s name surfaced in Lu Chen’s mind.

This was none other than the Sword Ancestor’s life-bound Spirit Sword… Du’e.

Zhong Shiwang was originally one of the manifestations of the Sword Ancestor’s True Spirit.

The Sword Ancestor had sealed his own True Spirit alongside the Du’e Sword to avoid assimilation by the Nine Realms Heavenly Dao.

This Seal also confined Zhong Shiwang.

However, Zhong Shiwang’s recent near-breakthrough had weakened Du’e’s Seal upon him to the verge of disappearance.

But after squandering vast amounts of evil karma on Lu Chen

And his deliberate evasion of Lu Chen,

His ten-thousand-year efforts had come to naught.

Observing the reappearance of the Du’e Sword, Lu Chen understood that Zhong Shiwang’s rebellion would likely remain subdued for a long time.

“Young friend, you truly haven’t disappointed me. The evil Sword Intent that ordinary people flee from poses no trouble to you at all.”

Lu Chen turned to find a completely transformed Gu Yue True Immortal standing before him.

This new incarnation of Gu Yue True Immortal was dressed casually,

Resembling a wandering swordsman who weathered the elements and roamed the world.

This attire was identical to what Lu Chen had seen when Gu Yue True Immortal showed him the dragon-slaying Sword Cultivator.

At this point, Lu Chen fully understood the identity of this current Gu Yue True Immortal.

“This Junior pays respects to the Sword Ancestor.”

The Sword Ancestor’s Clone waved his hand dismissively with a smile. “Young friend, you flatter me. I should be the one expressing gratitude.”

“Were it not for you, my True Spirit might soon have been corrupted by evil karma, gradually losing itself.”

“Today, you have helped me overcome a great tribulation.”

As he spoke, the Sword Ancestor’s Clone extended his hand.

A wisp of Primordial Violet Qi materialized in his palm.

“Since you’ve helped me overcome calamity and clear my spirit, this old man cannot be remiss in courtesy.”

“I observe that your four swords have reached the peak of the fourth realm, merely a step away from becoming fifth-realm Celestial Artifacts.””And this step, let this old man give you a hand.”

As he spoke, the Primordial Violet Qi in Sword Ancestor’s Clone’s hand flew toward Lu Chen’s Four Fiend-Slaying Swords.

As these four streams of Primordial Violet Qi entered the Four Fiend-Slaying Swords,

the four swords gradually began to transform.

Although in terms of Sword Intent, the four swords didn’t show much outward manifestation,

Lu Chen could perceive that the four swords were undergoing earth-shaking changes…

(End of Chapter)