Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A ray of sword gleam separated the sea of blood as it went for the small hill.
A rainbow suddenly appeared on the small hill and it was the Bodhi Buddhist ray. It blocked the sword gleam exactly. The sword gleam never got past the Bodhi Buddhist ray despite its brightness.
There appeared a young Daoist from the separated sea of blood. His blood-colored eyebrows extended to his temple. His blood stained Daoist robe, however, did not have the stale of blood but instead, it gave out a pure and clean aura which was not fearsome.
As he lifted his hand, the sword gleam was returned to his sleeves. He looked at the Bodhi Buddhist ray and said, “Let’s see if I can get out today.”
Chen Jianmei had lost his previously sharp aura except for the extremely long blood-colored eyebrows which still revealed he was not to be trifled with. His eyes were kind and his expression was calm. One could not tell that he was once a killing god who had banished countless demons.
“It seems that benefactor Chen has improved by heaps and bounds recently. However, with your current cultivation experience, it is still insufficient to counter against my Bodhi Buddhist ray. It is better for us to be at peace today.” A deep Buddhist chant rang through, advising Chen.
There appeared a blood lotus underneath Chen Jianmei’s feet. Beneath the blood lotus, waves kept building up until it became a water pillar leading to the sky. It allowed Chen Jianmei to be at the same level of the Buddhist ray. He said, “I must get out today. If you try to stop me again, I will burst this blood lotus and turn your countless years of experience to nothing.”
Currently, the Level Nine Blood Lotus was boiling. It looked like it was covered with a thin layer of blood-colored mist. Luomo, however, was clearly aware that Chen Jianmei had refined the blood lotus to be connected with his heart. As long as he wanted to, he could cause the blood lotus to explode. Even though it would be a waste to the most precious item of heaven and earth, and it would deal a huge damage to Chen Jianmei’s cultivation experience, Luomo too would not benefit in any way. His cultivation experience would indeed turn into nothing.
Luomo let out a sigh, “You can go.”
His innate character was that once he understood the cost and benefit, he no longer hesitated. Afterall, Chen Jianmei was really going to cause the Level Nine Blood Lotus to explode. Chen Jianmei nodded. With a blowing wind, the blood lotus was already carrying him out of the Asura Blood Sea. Luomo felt it was a great pity as he looked towards the blood lotus. If the treasure item could fall into his hand, he would have left the Netherworld with no regrets.
Unfortunately, even the most precious item that existed since the universe was born, in the flow of time, it had to experience countless trials which caused it to weaken to such a state that it was at the bottom of its energy. After this time, it probably could not even keep its cultivation fetus.
If not because the real soul of the blood lotus had been incarnated into Chen Jianmei, the Level Nine Blood Lotus would probably not exist in this world.
The blood lotus carried Chen Jianmei across Nanjiang, across the tall mountains and rivers. The wind blew up Chen Jianmei’s hair. He felt calmer than he had ever felt.
The speed Chen Jianmei went through the sky was impressive. In the void, one could see only a blood-red rainbow across the sky. One could not tell of what it was or where it was going. To the living beings of the Netherworld, it was just a blood-red rainbow in the sky.
Within a short while, Chen Jianmei had arrived at Zhaoge City. The war had broken out for a while. Countless fleets carrying Qi cultivators and Yinshang residents were leaving from Zhaoge City, escaping from the terrifying war.
Even then, half of Zhaoge City had turned to dust, including the living beings who did not manage to escape.
Chen Jianmei could even feel death was being dispersed in the air, as it attempted to crush his Daoist heart.
He had neither melancholy or sorrow. He was indifferent.
He even ignored the besiegement Daoist Lu Ya was facing. At the same time, Tianyi realized Chen Jianmei’s presence.
He was apprehensive as he did not know how this person escaped from the sea of blood.
Chen Jianmei did not look at Tianyi at all. He spoke only to Shen Lian who was in the middle of the Millstone of Life and Death, “Junior Apprentice-Brother, can you still hold on?”
Shen Lian was exerting his utmost strength against the power of the Millstone of Life and Death. When he heard Chen Jianmei’s call, he tried to split out a divine thought, which went through the time with the response, “I am still fine. If you come a bit later, Senior Apprentice-Brother, I think I won’t be fine anymore.”
Chen Jianmei said, “This joke isn’t funny.”
If Shen Lian still had energy, he probably would have laughed.
At that moment, Chen Jianmei’s terrifying sword will be exploded. Within seconds, a sword gleam, which was as good as Emperor Xia’s appeared. It was as unpredictable as a heavenly sword, but at the same time as ethereal as a divine dragon’s tail.
It slashed towards the Millstone of Life and Death, but as the Millstone of Life and Death drew endless energy from the Register of Life and Death. A rotation already wore down the sword gleam. A path for Shen Lian to escape could not be crafted.
Lu Ya took a short break from his intense battle to said, “My friend, don’t waste your energy. Only I have the ability to break the Millstone of Life and Death in the whole of the Netherworld. If you want to save your Junior Apprentice-Brother, kill Tianyi first and get rid of all these clowns with me. Till then I will save Shen Lian. Don’t hesitate. Time is precious now if you hesitate, Shen Lian might not be able to survive.”
Tianyi said, “Daoist Lu Ya, if you manage to escape today, you will not let us go for sure, but you too will not let Asura sword go. After all, his Level Nine Lotus will be of great benefit to you.”
Lu Ya laughed out loud. His Mahavairocana’s Buddhist palm once again released the unrivaled strength, with the intention to destroy Taiyin Water and Shangqing Celestial Light.
“Senior Apprentice-Brother, Tianyi was right. The worst ending is for me to give up my power and start again. You should return to Asura Blood Sea. No one can do anything to you there. We still have a chance to meet again.” The pressure Shen Lian was feeling became stronger. The reason was that Chen Jianmei’s sword gleam had attracted more power of the Register of Life and Death into the Millstone of Life and Death.
Chen Jianmei replied coldly, “Junior Apprentice-Brother, you think it was alright regardless of whether I was cultivating Shapeless Sword in the realm of the living or Lifeless Sword in the realm of the dead. The one thing you’re not aware of is that my real swordcraft isn’t Shapeless Sword or Lifeless Sword, but Anattā Sword. Today, let me use this Anattā Sword to craft the path of your return to the sect. I will also let these people know what is called ‘sword’.”
He had entered a sect since he was a kid. Within three years, he achieved Chushen; within ten years, he achieved Ruhua. In forty years, the ground one sword, his success was made known to the world in a day. Since he killed a mountain worth of demons in Xi Huang, where he set up the Temple of Killing, he never had a doubt with his countless killings. It was about time for him to kill himself, with nobody, and without the self, it could then be considered as the killing sword.
Thoughts were like hails, they were cold and heartless. Each of the thoughts was reflected in Chen Jianmei’s heart.
Eventually, all the memories flashed by his eyes but they did not disturb his peace. The loneliness of grinding the sword for forty years, the pride of weaving through Xi Huang, the battle in the Asura Blood Sea, none was as clear as the image of the old man.
To this day, he did not thank himself for his persistence in swordcraft, or his enemies. He only felt thankful towards the old man, who taught him, an innately heartless man empathy.
After the Anattā Sword, it was not known whether the last bit of empathy would be worn down. He was slightly reluctant, but after feeling reluctant, he felt firm about his decision.
