CHAPTER 1606: CHAPTER 1606: HUMAN AND BLADE AS ONE

Fang Bai, who raised the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade high, had already fused entirely with the blade.

The man is the blade.

The blade is the man.

Man and blade as one, blood fiend aura coexists with fire spirit energy.

For the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle, the blood fiend aura of the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade didn’t impact it much, but the fire spirit energy released by the two spiritual fires caused it significant distress, even instilling a hint of fear.

Though the spiritual fire couldn’t kill the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle, it could certainly cause it great trouble. Moreover, it had to conjure a defense qi shield to protect itself, and it was also strongly restrained by the Qingzhu Venerable, making it unable to effectively respond to Fang Bai’s attacks.

"Bloodthirst!"

"Soul Severing!"

"Silence Annihilation!"

When the blood fiend aura on the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade and the strange fire spirit energy accumulated to their peak, Fang Bai roared, combining the three blades, and almost instantaneously slashed at the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle in mid-air.

A blood-colored blade light, several meters long, merged with the ominous flame, descending like blood-colored lightning, cleaving onto the tough and solid shell of the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle.

"Puff!"

The shell on the back of the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle was forcibly split by the blade light of the Blood-Drinking Mad Blade, and the residual force of the blade continued unabated, slicing the turtle’s body in two.

A column of blood, several meters high, shot up into the sky, quickly spread upon falling into the lake, dyeing the entire lake surface red.

Having been cut in half, the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle struggled painfully for several moments before finally losing all signs of life and sinking to the lake bottom.

"Well done!"

Seeing Fang Bai decisively slay the turtle in one strike, Qingzhu Venerable shouted in praise, also amazed by the true strength Fang Bai displayed.

Fang Bai’s one-blade kill of the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle made Qingzhu Venerable reconsider, thinking even if he acted himself, he might not have managed as cleanly and quickly as Fang Bai.

Through this battle, Fang Bai’s status in Qingzhu Venerable’s mind suddenly skyrocketed, no longer treating him as a mere junior in the Nascent Soul Realm, but rather calling him Brother Fang.

"Brother Fang, the fire primordial qi you released just now seemed unusual; might I ask why?"

After Fang Bai collected the turtle’s inner pill and the Heart-Shaped Leaf Grass, Qingzhu Venerable couldn’t resist asking.

The intensity of fire spirit energy Fang Bai had gathered just now was unprecedented in Qingzhu Venerable’s experience, leaving a strong impression.

Fang Bai smiled and said, "Does Old Brother Qingzhu know about spiritual fire?"

Since Qingzhu Venerable referred to Fang Bai as "Brother," Fang Bai decided to address him as "Old Brother."

Qingzhu Venerable was momentarily stunned, then said excitedly, "Spiritual fire... is that the legendary innate strange fire?"

Fang Bai nodded, "It should be."

Qingzhu Venerable sighed, "Heavens-born strange fire is said to have existed since the dawn of heaven and earth; who could have imagined you would be lucky enough to acquire it. However..."

His gaze wandered over Fang Bai before continuing, "I’ve heard that spiritual fire possesses immense power, incinerating the land for miles, leaving no vegetation. That you could tame it, could it be because you possess a dual attribute innate spiritual root and an extraordinary physique?"

Fang Bai said, "Probably."

Qingzhu Venerable laughed, "Brother Fang, you have the dual attribute innate spiritual root of the extraordinary holy body, your aptitude unmatched, and in the future, your cultivation level will undoubtedly far surpass mine. You’ve also acquired an incredibly powerful spiritual artifact and spiritual fire, a fortuitous encounter so lucky it’s making me a little envious."

Fang Bai also laughed, "I believe that this trial inside the Linglong Tower’s nine layers, Old Brother Qingzhu’s opportunity will surely be outstanding."

Qingzhu Venerable said, "Thank you for the blessings! I hope so!"

And then added, "If you can refine my Green Bamboo Fan using the shell of the Red-Shell Star-Spotted Turtle to increase its power by thirty percent, I might indeed have the chance to venture into the eighth layer of space."

Fang Bai took a deep breath, "That last strike overexerted my physical strength and spirit energy, I need a moment to rest, then I can refine the Green Bamboo Fan for Old Brother. Please, protect me for a moment."

Qingzhu Venerable nodded, "Focus on your recovery, the protection task is up to me."

Fang Bai sat cross-legged by the lake, closing his eyes to rest, while Qingzhu Venerable leapt onto a large stone.

In a dense forest two thousand li west of the small lake, Qu Rui and Zhu Jingze, two high rank Soul Severing experts, had jointly killed a Unihorn Tiger and divided all its possessions before returning to the spot where Fang Bai’s aura had disappeared to continue searching for his trail.

"Hmm? That kid went east."

When Fang Bai left that ancient tree earlier, he hadn’t deliberately concealed his aura, so the two quickly followed it and found the lakeside.

"That kid’s indeed here!"

"Haha, let’s see where he runs now!"

Qu Rui and Zhu Jingze burst into laughter when they saw Fang Bai sitting quietly in meditation.

"Brother Qu, Brother Zhu, how come the two of you are here?"

Clearly acquainted with them, Qingzhu Venerable stepped forward to block them in front of Fang Bai, concerned they might pose a threat to Fang Bai’s safety.

Qu Rui squinted his eyes, grinning, "Brother Qingzhu, you know this kid?"

Qingzhu Venerable replied, "He’s a young friend of mine."

Zhu Jingze sneered, "A young friend? This kid isn’t even a Soul Severing expert, and you consider him a young friend? Brother Qingzhu, lowering your position to associate with him, are you also eyeing his Blood Blade?"

Qingzhu Venerable calmly said, "That has nothing to do with you two. I’ll only ask, what’s your purpose here?"

Qu Rui pointed at Fang Bai, his face turning grim and said, "Naturally, to kill him and take his Blood Blade!"

Though Zhu Jingze and Qu Rui had always been at odds, he too coveted the Blood Blade. Seeing Qingzhu Venerable’s intent to protect Fang Bai, he provoked, "Brother Qu, since that kid is Brother Qingzhu’s friend, let’s forget about the Blood Blade. Brother Qu, your strength is formidable, but Brother Qingzhu isn’t weak either!"

His implication was that Brother Qu might not defeat Qingzhu Venerable, so there’s little hope of obtaining the Blood Blade and no need to invite trouble.

Qu Rui coldly glanced at him mockingly, "Brother Zhu, you want me and Brother Qingzhu to fight so you can benefit from the conflict?"

Zhu Jingze was thick-skinned, unfazed by the remark, laughing awkwardly, "Brother Qu, you’re projecting your own intentions onto me! What I mean is, it’s better for the two of you not to have a conflict..."

Qu Rui cut him off with a "Hah", "You want that kid’s Blood Blade, go take it by force, no need for false politeness or pretending to be kind."

Zhu Jingze stroked his beard, "Since that kid is Brother Qingzhu’s friend, I’ll abstain from taking the blade, as a courtesy to Brother Qingzhu! If you want it, handle it yourself, don’t involve me."

"Hypocrite!"

Qu Rui huffed, "I bet, if Brother Qingzhu and I fought each other to mutual injury, you’d surely seize the opportunity to grab the kid’s Blood Blade and might even kill us both, isn’t that right?"

Seeing Qingzhu Venerable turn a disapproving look toward himself, Zhu Jingze shrieked, "Nonsense! I’m not that kind of person!"