Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 174: Chapter 171: Slaying, Bottom of the Qingjiang

An aura of terror preceded it. Then, an Ice Python of jaw-dropping size slowly emerged from the river’s surface.

The Ice Python was a thousand feet long, its coiled body like a mountain.

The eyes on its enormous head were devoid of emotion, radiating a cold, vicious intent.

”HISSSSSSS...”

It flicked its forked tongue, emitting a chilling, hair-raising sound. In that instant, the very air grew cold.

The temperature dropped so low it could practically freeze the blood in one’s veins.

Anyone below the Innate Realm would be turned into an ice sculpture in an instant, just from the temperature alone.

’Fight or retreat?’

A flicker in Ning Jiang’s eyes showed his deliberation. A moment later, he reached a decision.

Fight!

This time, he would see this through to the end, no matter the cost!

As if sensing the battle lust rising from Ning Jiang, the Ice Python shrieked. It opened its maw, and a blast of frigid air shot out like a cannonball.

BOOM!

Even with his speed, Ning Jiang couldn’t dodge in time. The blast struck him squarely, and he was instantly encased in a solid block of ice.

”Break!”

Ning Jiang let out a low roar. His blood surged as he activated his Great Sun Dharma Body.

BANG—

The ice encasing him shattered, and he burst free.

CRACKLE!

The air seemed to explode. He had just broken free and had no time to react before the Ice Python’s massive tail whipped toward him.

With a deafening CRACK, Ning Jiang was sent flying thousands of feet.

Even more shocking, his Great Sun Dharma Body—once thought to be unrivaled and indestructible—had actually been knocked out of shape.

*Pfft.* He spat out a mouthful of blood.

Ning Jiang was injured!

If not for his formidable physique, that single blow would have been enough to smash any Body Refining Grandmaster into a bloody pulp!

”Good!”

Stabilizing himself, Ning Jiang shot back into the sky, his fighting spirit burning even brighter.

This was the first time he had been injured enough to spit blood since his Great Sun Glazed Golden Body had reached Great Success. Previously, not even the combined attacks of two Kings had been able to harm him.

This Ice Python truly lived up to its name as a Spirit Realm Demon Beast!

”Slaying Heaven and Earth!”

The Red Lotus Sword left its sheath. Ning Jiang immediately unleashed a devastating killing move.

A blade of golden light sliced through the air, seemingly splitting heaven and earth in two.

The strike was as swift as lightning. The Ice Python’s massive body couldn’t evade in time, and the Sword Aura landed squarely upon it.

BANG—

Its white scales cracked under the blow, and blood began to seep out.

Ning Jiang’s expression turned grim. His strike had enough power to cleave a mountain, yet it had only managed to shatter a few of the Ice Python’s scales.

’My blade could have heavily wounded even the Spirit Body of a Spirit Realm Master,’ he mused. ’But Demon Beasts are born with powerful physiques. This Ice Python’s body is far tougher than the Spirit Body of any Spirit Realm Master!’

Ning Jiang murmured to himself. Why were Demon Beasts stronger than Martial Artists of the same Level? Because their bodies were simply more robust.

’It seems that with my current strength, taking on this Ice Python is still too much of a stretch.’

Ning Jiang knew his own limits. That last Slaying Heaven and Earth strike had consumed a tenth of his Gang Qi.

Even if he exhausted all of his Gang Qi, he wouldn’t be able to do any significant damage to the beast.

’The only option left is to use one of my trump cards.’

Sheathing the Red Lotus Sword, Ning Jiang reached out and retrieved a Jade Bottle from his Storage Ring.

Within the Jade Bottle was a pool of cyan blood.

The blood of a Cyan-Scaled Eagle!

This type of Demon Beast carried the bloodline of the Qingtian Roc. He had obtained this blood essence long ago but had never used it.

Now, he had no choice but to put it to use.

He uncorked the bottle and poured out the cyan blood.

Immediately, Ning Jiang bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of his own blood essence, which merged with the cyan liquid.

His expression was solemn as he began to chant. Each word was in an ancient demonic tongue, mysterious and profound.

Gradually, the cry of a great Roc echoed from the cyan blood, which began to erupt with a dazzling light.

”SCREEE!”

With a shriek that seemed to shake the heavens, a great cyan roc materialized in the air.

The Roc was covered in cyan feathers, each one shimmering like flawless, translucent cyan jade.

It spread its wings, casting a vast shadow. Its enormous body, like a small mountain, exuded an immense pressure.

The Qingtian Roc!

However, this was not a true Qingtian Roc, but merely a translucent phantom.

A true Qingtian Roc, upon reaching maturity, could rival a Celestial Martial Realm King in power.

A Celestial Martial Realm King could destroy an entire city with a flick of a finger.

Although it was only a phantom, the power radiating from it was still enough to make the Ice Python feel gravely threatened.

The world of Demon Beasts was one of strict hierarchies. The Ice Python could keenly sense the suppressive aura of a superior being coming from the Qingtian Roc.

”Kill.”

Ning Jiang was positioned at the center of the Qingtian Roc’s phantom belly. With a single thought, he commanded it to dive.

This type of Demon Beast was famous for its speed.

SWOOSH.

Its massive body became a streak of cyan light. Its wings, like the sharpest of Celestial Blades, sliced violently toward the Ice Python.

SCHRRRIP!

The Ice Python let out a pained howl. A gash deep enough to reveal bone was instantly carved into its body, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

”ROAR.”

The Ice Python roared in fury, spitting an ice pillar that shot out like a missile.

With a sudden spin, Ning Jiang easily dodged the Ice Python’s attack.

The Qingtian Roc was incredibly fast, zipping through the air like a bolt of lightning, impossible to track.

After several more passes, numerous wounds appeared on the Ice Python’s body.

The river water was stained red, a shocking sight to behold.

*SPLASH.*

Sensing it was at a disadvantage, the Ice Python dove into the water, intending to flee.

The intelligence of a Spirit Realm Demon Beast was no less than that of a human.

’Trying to run?’

The cyan light shot forward like an arrow, illuminating the sky.

Ning Jiang commanded the Qingtian Roc to shatter the sound barrier and slice through the river water in hot pursuit of the Ice Python.

”Huh?”

The moment he entered the water, he sensed something was wrong. The water had become unnaturally cold.

’A Demon Crystal! It’s going all out!’

Ning Jiang’s gaze sharpened. After diving into the water, the Ice Python opened its maw and spat out an oval-shaped object.

This was the Demon Beast’s Demon Crystal.

An Innate Realm Demon Beast has a Demon Core in its body. A Spirit Realm beast has a Demon Crystal. A Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm beast has a Demon Core.

The Demon Crystal was the very core of a Demon Beast, as vital as a human heart. For a beast to spit it out meant it was ready to fight to the death.

Clearly, the Qingtian Roc’s relentless assault had pushed this Spirit Realm Ice Python into a corner.

”CRACK... CRACKLE... CRACK...”

After the Ice Python spat out its Demon Crystal, a frigid aura swept out from it, instantly freezing the surrounding river water.

If anyone were looking from the outside, they would see a spectacular sight: hundreds of yards of the Qingjiang River completely frozen solid.

Ning Jiang, too, was frozen within the ice.

A terrifying chill seeped through the Qingtian Roc’s phantom, making the very blood in his veins begin to stiffen.

Furthermore, the ice continued to compact, and an immense pressure squeezed in from all sides, threatening to crush him into paste.

”Break!”

The more dangerous the situation, the calmer Ning Jiang became.

His eyes shone brilliantly as he stretched his body to its limits. He even began to burn his own blood essence, merging its power with the Qingtian Roc. A golden luster began to suffuse the cyan phantom.

”SHHIIINNNNG...”

In the next moment, every feather on the Qingtian Roc’s body vibrated, shooting out like blades to shatter the surrounding ice.

”Die.”

After breaking free, the Qingtian Roc’s phantom grew dimmer, its power nearly exhausted.

In the final moment, Ning Jiang focused all of its remaining power into a single point, a strike like a Celestial Blade arcing through the sky, and slashed across the Ice Python.

BOOM!

The entire river was split in two.

The Spirit Realm Ice Python’s body froze in place. A thin line of blood appeared, running down from the top of its head.

Finally, its head tumbled from its body.

’This Ice Python’s body is a treasure trove.’

Ning Jiang’s face was pale as the phantom of the Qingtian Roc surrounding him slowly dissipated.

He had expended one of his trump cards to kill the Ice Python.

But the rewards were also plentiful. The Ice Python’s body had become a Spirit Body, and every piece of its flesh and blood could be used to advance one’s Cultivation.

Its bones could be forged into Spirit Treasures.

And most precious of all was the Demon Crystal; its Energy could be absorbed to raise his Cultivation.

All in all, this Ice Python was a great haul.

Ning Jiang then cut the Ice Python’s body into several sections and stored them in his Storage Ring.

Then, he began to inspect the riverbed.

Beneath the riverbed was a massive, vertical tunnel leading deep into the earth.

With a flick of his body, Ning Jiang shot into the tunnel.

’A man-made tunnel.’

After entering, Ning Jiang’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise. The entire passage was perfectly smooth, as if it had been carved out by a Top Level expert.

The deeper he went, the stronger the sensation that was calling to him became.

The water was eerily silent. He activated his Great Sun Dharma Body and, after descending several hundred yards, a barrier of light appeared before him.

The river water was held back by the barrier.

After studying it for a moment, Ning Jiang moved, passing through the barrier of light.

”This is...”

When he saw what lay before him, he was utterly stunned.