Cherreads

Chapter 103 - Refinement

 

Translator: CinderTL

 

...

"Killed a Level 15 creature, experience +1208!"

"Killed a Level 15 creature, experience +1101!"

"Killed a Level 16 creature, experience +2908!"

...

[Life Level: 18 (1705/8000)]

...

The Human Emperor Banner radiated with dazzling light.

When the light reached a certain intensity, it transformed into a stream of heat that poured into Li Chunjun's body, instantly...

Healing all the injuries inflicted by Xing Yang's Magical Artifact that had shattered the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi.

At the same time, his mental state was restored to its peak.

Especially...

His Life Level had risen from 17 to 18, and his already keen perception, comparable to Divine Sense, underwent another transformation.

Although he still couldn't truly scan his surroundings like real Divine Sense, detecting every movement, his connection with the Scarlet Gold Sword was now on par with wielding a sword through Divine Sense.

With this realization, Li Chunjun waved his hand.

The already incredibly agile and swift Scarlet Gold Sword fully revealed its edge!

It made a sharp turn, trailing a streak of dark red flame, shooting towards the nearest cultivator at a speed of several hundred meters per second.

As the Flying Sword shot out, a visible shockwave formed at its tip.

The sword had broken the sound barrier!

Unlike the Sword Qi Thunderclap, this was the sword itself breaking the sound barrier!

Such speed...

A Level 9 Qi Refining Sword Cultivator would be no faster!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

In the blink of an eye, the Flying Sword made three sharp turns, tracing a "W" trajectory, piercing through the bodies of four cultivators in less than a second.

Then, the sword turned again, continuing to chase the fleeing cultivators!

Its speed was beyond comprehension!

Even if some cultivators could mentally track the sword's trajectory, their Mana was unusable, and their bodies couldn't react in time, leaving them helpless as the sword slaughtered mercilessly.

Where the sword pointed, nothing could stop it!

Three seconds!

Maybe even less!

The once lively hall, filled with a dozen cultivators feasting and drinking, was now silent, with no one left standing.

Beside Li Chunjun, the Scarlet Gold Sword pierced the heads of any cultivators still breathing, finishing them off.

At the same time, he gradually approached Xing Yang.

Xing Yang's body had been pierced by sword qi, destroying the Talisman in his Core Formation, but he wasn't dead yet.

Despite this grievous injury, his face was deathly pale.

However, his survival instinct made him speak with difficulty: "Li Chunjun, you can't kill me. I'm a Core Disciple of the Chiyang Sword Sect. If I die, my Master will sense it and quickly come to capture and kill you. Facing a Core Formation cultivator, especially one at the peak of True Core, you have no chance of survival!"

Li Chunjun remained silent.

The speed of a Core Formation cultivator's Flying Sword, depending on their cultivation, Magical Artifact, and techniques, ranged from subsonic to supersonic.

From the Taixu Sword Sect to Guangzhou City was over four thousand li. Even if Bai Yang flew at full speed, it would take two hours.

Two hours...

He would have already fled hundreds of li.

Moreover, he had killed everyone who had seen him.

Without knowing the culprit, even if Bai Yang sensed his disciple's death, he would first send people to investigate. Why would he come personally?

Xing Yang wasn't his father.

So, killing him to silence him was the safer option.

But before killing him...

Li Chunjun glanced at the increasingly responsive Scarlet Gold Sword in his hand.

All his Essence Blood gathered in his heart, and the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi on the Scarlet Gold Sword blazed fiercely.

This sight made Xing Yang, who had guessed his fate, despair.

"You think joining the Taixu Sword Sect will make you a Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy!? Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivators are extreme, more dangerous than other Sword Cultivators! Over ninety percent of Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivators fall on the path to becoming a Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, burning to death from losing control of the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi. The step of refining the sword into a core is a life-and-death trial for all Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivators!"

He looked at Li Chunjun with venom: "I'll wait for you on the road to the underworld..."

"Pfft!"

Li Chunjun spat a mouthful of Essence Blood onto the Scarlet Gold Sword.

Instantly cutting off Xing Yang's words.

Xing Yang's eyes widened in shock.

He had thought Li Chunjun was activating the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi to execute him, but...

Essence Blood to refine the sword!?

Xing Yang stared, as if trying to see more clearly.

Was it really Essence Blood to refine the sword!?

Spitting out such a large amount of Essence Blood to refine a Flying Sword!?

Are you trying to kill yourself!?

The effect of spitting out such a large amount of Essence Blood was immediate.

The Essence Blood merged with the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi on the Scarlet Gold Sword, like fuel poured onto flames, making the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi burn even fiercer.

The intense heat was so overwhelming that even the Scarlet Gold Sword struggled to endure it, being continuously purified and refined, inching closer to becoming a spirit artifact.

However, although the Scarlet Gold Sword was a top-tier Magical Artifact, its materials weren't the best.

Thus, despite being repeatedly tempered and purified by the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi, and deepening its connection with Li Chunjun, it ultimately failed to fully transform into a spirit artifact Flying Sword.

This left Li Chunjun slightly disappointed.

Feeling the weakness from the loss of Essence Blood, with even his thoughts and perception slightly blurred, Li Chunjun didn't dare delay.

He approached Xing Yang, raising the sword high...

"Wait... wait..."

Xing Yang hurriedly spoke.

Though he didn't understand why Li Chunjun had gone mad enough to use Essence Blood to refine the sword, this unusual act seemed like his last hope for survival: "Li Chunjun... I know of a group of cultists, they might be hiding near Yandang Mountain, waiting for an opportunity. Also, I know where there's a spiritual herb that can restore one's foundation! If you spare me, I can take you..."

"Whoosh!"

The sword fell.

This time, the Scarlet Gold Sword fell without hesitation, piercing through Xing Yang's skull, silencing him forever.

...

"Killed a Level 18 creature, experience +7280!"

...

[Life Level: 19 (985/9000)]

...

Li Chunjun stood quietly, feeling the evolution brought by leveling up twice.

The mental sluggishness and blurred perception caused by the loss of Essence Blood vanished.

The life force within him burned like a furnace.

Endless Essence Blood flowed through his limbs.

With this Essence Blood, nurturing a top-tier Flying Sword was no issue, let alone a spirit artifact-level Flying Sword.

Moreover, his perception had improved once again.

If Li Chunjun had a Spirit Refining technique to condense Divine Sense, he was confident he could develop Divine Sense within ten to fifteen days, breaking through the biggest barrier between the Qi Refining and Spirit Refining realms.

After a moment, Li Chunjun calmed his mind.

"This place isn't safe."

He went forward, searching the bodies of Xing Yang, Zhao Taiyi, Chang Sheng, and Zhou Lie, taking anything of value.

Unlike before, when he could only carry limited items, this time he had a Storage Bracelet.

This spatial spirit artifact had about three cubic meters of space. Although it was already partly filled with what Qin Zhou called "junk," there was still room for a few more items.

After gathering the items, Li Chunjun glanced around the hall.

"The traces of the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi need to be erased."

He pulled out a Talisman with the power of a first-grade upper-tier, but rich in fire-attribute Primal Qi.

Activating the Talisman, intense flames erupted, instantly setting the entire building ablaze.

This level of fire could be torn apart by a single sword qi, but it was perfect for destroying evidence.

After finishing, he turned and closed the door.

Glancing at the still-active formation...

He stepped out of the formation and strode towards a luxury car outside the governor's mansion.

With his enhanced memory, comprehension, and perception, learning to drive took only a dozen minutes.

He had driven over two thousand li not long ago without incident.

The car started, heading out of the city.

But as he passed a residential area, he stopped.

He quickly entered the neighborhood, took the elevator, and knocked on a door.

As the door opened, Ling Feng appeared.

Seeing Li Chunjun, Ling Feng was stunned, then his pupils constricted: "You..."

Before he could finish, he realized something and hurriedly glanced around, pulling him inside: "Come in."

"No need."

Li Chunjun took out the token Qin Zhou had given him: "Take all your family and leave Great Shang as soon as possible, heading to the Taixu Sword Sect's territory. Once there, show this token at any Taixu Sword Sect institution, and they will fulfill any reasonable request you make."

"Go to the Taixu Sword Sect?"

Ling Feng's heart trembled.

Leaving his homeland for the Taixu Sword Sect!?

But seeing the token in Li Chunjun's hand and hearing his words, he quickly realized something!

An opportunity!

For their Ling family, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to climb the social ladder!

The key was whether they had the courage to stake their family's future on going to the Taixu Sword Sect!

Ling Feng, who practiced martial arts and worked in the gray-area Qingluan Resort, even risked contacting Li Chunjun, who was nationally wanted last month—what was it all for?

Wasn't it to rise above the rest!?

Now, here was the perfect opportunity!

"I understand, Ling Zhi and I live in the same neighborhood. Do you want to..."

"No need!"

Li Chunjun shook his head: "If fate wills it, we'll meet again."

He looked at Ling Feng: "You know the stakes, act quickly! I just went on a killing spree at the governor's mansion. You know what that means."

"The governor's mansion!?"

Ling Feng felt his scalp go numb!

No!

"Scalp going numb" couldn't even describe it!

He felt like his brain was about to explode.

The governor's mansion!?

A killing spree at the governor's mansion!?

Killing those lofty cultivator lords?

For a moment, his hand holding the token went limp.

When the news of Li Chunjun's killing spree at Summit Tower had spread, he had been terrified, hiding at home for days.

Fortunately, no one had pursued the matter further.

Now, he had gone to the governor's mansion!?

But this state lasted only a moment before being replaced by the adventurous spirit that refused to be subservient.

Daring to kill at the governor's mansion!

How high must Li Chunjun's status be!?

A high-level cultivator? A top-tier cultivator!?

Such a big shot willing to help their Ling family—what an opportunity this was!

Danger and opportunity always coexisted.

If they seized this chance, ascending the social ladder would be no problem!

Ling Feng's breathing became rapid: "I'll gather them immediately! We'll head to the Taixu Sword Sect as fast as possible!"

Li Chunjun nodded and left.

He had done what he could.

If they hesitated and were killed...

It would be the Chiyang Sword Sect's fault.

(End of the Chapter)

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