CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: DEMON CULTIVATOR PUPPET

"It’s done," Xu Ping was thrilled.

With his current cultivation, forging an upper-grade magical sword was truly challenging.

But it was successful, nonetheless.

He lifted the sword and walked into the courtyard.

Under the sunlight, the sword’s blade glimmered silver-white, with a faint sharpness that exuded a terrifyingly lethal aura.

Xu Ping channeled Mana into the Blood-Drinking Sword, instantly amplifying its sharpness, causing the air at the tip to distort and blur, as if sword gleams were flickering.

He aimed at a rock the size of a washbasin at his feet and casually swung the sword.

The sword tip passed inch-wide above the rock without a sound.

Accompanied by a barely audible "szz" sound.

The next moment.

The rock gently trembled and split into two.

Xu Ping stepped forward to inspect, and the cut surface was as smooth as a mirror, clearly reflecting his image.

"The Sword Qi is very sharp, though I wonder how powerful it will be when the swordsmanship is fully unleashed."

Xu Ping initially wanted to find a secluded place to test the sword, but after glancing at the sky, he restrained himself.

It was too late today; better to go tomorrow.

...

...

Early the next morning.

The deserted woodland.

Xu Ping held the sword single-handedly, and with a thought, the sword emitted a low humming, seemingly responding to his call.

He stepped forward, executing a series of sword moves.

Instantly, the woodland was filled with layers of sword light, and faint thunderous sounds could be heard.

Moreover, the thunderous sounds grew increasingly loud, as if endless thunderclaps were erupting.

Xu Ping’s eyes glowed brilliantly, and he slashed out with one stroke.

"Boom!" A deafening thunderous sound followed, and the Sword Qi descended like a thunderbolt.

Countless tree trunks were instantly severed, a massive sound reverberated in all directions, causing trees to topple amidst a cloud of dust.

"This feeling...is amazing!" Xu Ping’s lips curled into a smile.

The suppressed feeling completely vanished.

It was as if he had broken free from a confined space, finally able to stretch his body freely.

More importantly, with the enhancement of the upper-grade magical sword, his swordsmanship’s power was amplified, meaning his strength was now greater too.

Xu Ping initially wanted to continue practicing with the sword, but he heard some faint noises.

Assuming they were loose cultivators attracted by the commotion earlier, he decided not to get involved and left the scene immediately.

In the following days, Xu Ping devoted most of his time to practicing with the sword.

Though his progress didn’t increase, the feeling of wholeheartedly practicing with the sword was very enjoyable.

It also allowed him to better control the Blood-Drinking Sword.

.....

...

Three days later, in the dead of night.

The Linghu Gang’s stronghold was silent, and moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silver glow on the ground.

Linghu Gang’s leader Gao Jun sat cross-legged on a cushion, quietly cultivating.

After a long time.

He finished cultivating.

Gao Jun opened his eyes, filled with helplessness: "Sigh, the Spirit Gathering Pill’s effect is too weak; at this rate, reaching the Perfection stage of Qi Cultivation is a distant goal!"

He did possess Spirit Stones, but in the current market, even with Spirit Stones, he couldn’t buy a Pill more effective than the Spirit Gathering Pill.

"If the Longevity Sect’s people don’t come soon, I’ll have to risk traveling three thousand miles away, even if it’s dangerous," Gao Jun thought to himself.

He wasn’t getting any younger, and if he continued wasting time here, his immortal path might truly become unreachable.

Moreover, even if he reached the Perfection stage of Qi Cultivation, the three barriers before Foundation Establishment were like an insurmountable gap.

Without the help of a Foundation Establishment Pill and Spiritual Objects for Foundation Establishment, success was virtually impossible.

But where in the current market could he find Foundation Establishment Pills and Spiritual Objects for Foundation Establishment?

As he was calculating in his mind.

"Creak."

A faint noise sounded.

"Who?"

Gao Jun quickly became alert; there were sentries both covert and overt outside his room. How could anyone approach silently?

Creak!

The door suddenly opened, and a figure in a black robe silently entered, then the door closed automatically.

"Demon Cultivator!!"

Gao Jun’s face drastically changed, his hand quickly reached for the storage pouch.

At this moment, a black snake suddenly darted out, its eyes emitting a dazzling light, glaring at Gao Jun.

Crack—

In an instant, Gao Jun felt a chill throughout his body, and then his Jade Pendant shattered into pieces, sliding down from his robe.

Bang!

Just as the Jade Pendant broke, Gao Jun’s head felt like it was struck by a heavy hammer, his vision went black, blood oozed from his seven orifices, pain surged from his sea of consciousness.

He forcibly endured the pain, activating a Body Refining Secret Technique, causing his skin to emit a layer of black luminescence.

With his Perfection-level Body Refining physique and the Secret Technique’s enhancement, he could withstand a strike even from a mid-grade Magical Artifact.

However, unexpectedly, the Demon Cultivator held a short sword emitting blood-red flames, easily breaking through his defense and piercing into his chest.

Sizzle...

The blood-red flames scorched his flesh, producing a sizzling sound.

"Ah!"

The intense pain in his sea of consciousness combined with the scorching flames forced him to let out a scream.

"If you want to die, keep screaming."

Ma Hui’s icy voice reached his ears, then he pushed the short sword further into his chest, a bit more and it could pierce his heart.

Gao Jun immediately shut his mouth.

The fear of death silenced the pain in his sea of consciousness and chest, but large beads of sweat continuously oozed from his forehead, contorting his face.

"Spare my life..." he squeezed out, hoarse and trembling.

"What’s happening to the Gang Leader?"

A voice inquired from outside, clearly alerted by the earlier commotion.

Ma Hui remained silent, but his cold gaze conveyed everything.

"I was practicing; don’t disturb me if there’s nothing important," Gao Jun gathered his strength to say.

"Understood, Gang Leader."

Accompanied by faint footsteps, the person outside slowly departed.

"Very good," Ma Hui smiled slightly, revealing sharp teeth, eyes glinting with cold light, "Now, open your mouth."

Helpless, Gao Jun complied.

Ma Hui flicked a finger, and a black Pill shot into Gao Jun’s mouth like a meteor.

Gulp!

The Pill instantly dissolved in his stomach, spreading a chilling sensation, as if a cold dagger was pressing against his heart, ready to stab anytime, causing him a sense of suffocation.

As he watched Gao Jun obediently swallow, Ma Hui withdrew the short sword.

Poof!

Blood gushed out like a spring, Gao Jun’s face turned pale immediately, and he pressed his wound hard, trying to stop the bleeding.

"The Pill you just swallowed is called the Heart-devouring Pill. After consumption, it slowly invades the heart veins. You must take the antidote every half month to suppress its toxicity," Ma Hui said coldly while Gao Jun was desperately trying to stop the bleeding, "I know you’re at Perfection in Body Refining; you can try to endure it."

"I wouldn’t dare, what do you want me to do?" Gao Jun asked weakly.

The Demon Cultivator before him was clearly well-prepared, first attacking his sea of consciousness to disarm him, then effortlessly piercing through his defenses.

This Heart-devouring Pill was certainly not something he could easily withstand.

’But what exactly struck my sea of consciousness just now... Divine Sense?’

’A Snake Demon with Divine Sense, capable of launching Spiritual Sense Attacks?’

Gao Jun cast a fearful glance at the black snake on Ma Hui’s shoulder, involuntarily shivering inside.