Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 542: Chapter 537: The Heaven-Devouring Sparrow Reappears, Suppressing the Demonization

”I am a sinner. I am the one responsible for the slaughter here.”

Wang Yunfei’s voice was mournful, filled with immense guilt.

In a way, he was a pitiful man. In his quest to reach the Celestial Martial Realm, he had fallen into the Demon Heart’s trap and spent countless years here, half-man and half-demon.

Yet, in another sense, he was worthy of respect.

Throughout the long years, he had tenaciously resisted the Demonization, refusing to become a Demon Servant. His spiritual will must have been severely ravaged over that time.

”Kill me, while I still have a shred of sanity!”

Wang Yunfei said with great difficulty. A struggle flickered in his eyes, his gaze alternating between clarity and cruelty. It was clear he couldn’t hold on for much longer.

”Ning Jiang, what should we do? Do we kill him?”

Gu Huaying looked at Ning Jiang, her expression hesitant. It was a shame for a King to die like this, but if they didn’t kill him, he would inevitably be overcome by the Demonization.

”There’s another way besides death.” Ning Jiang shook his head and said to Wang Yunfei, ”I have a Technique that can help you temporarily suppress the Demonization. Of course, with my current Cultivation, completely eradicating it is beyond my abilities!”

”What? You can suppress the Demonization?” Wang Yunfei was stunned at first, but then his gaze dimmed. ”Never mind. Death is the best way for me to atone.”

He was determined to die, no longer wanting to live on as half-man, half-demon.

”No. Sometimes, living is the true atonement. Death is merely an escape from responsibility. If you feel the weight of the lives you’ve taken is too great, you can find a way to make amends in the future.”

As he spoke, Ning Jiang sat down cross-legged, facing Wang Yunfei.

”’Living is the true atonement?’” Wang Yunfei was jolted by Ning Jiang’s words. ”You’re right. For me, death would be getting off easy. He used the methods of the Demon Race to inflict this Demonization on me. For the rest of my life, I will fight the Demon Race to the bitter end!”

”It’s good that you’ve come to this realization.”

As Ning Jiang spoke, his expression grew solemn. ”Now, I will activate a Dharma Gate to help you suppress the Demonization. Do not resist!”

”Do what you must.” Wang Yunfei had thrown caution to the wind.

”Huaying, I may need a few days. During that time, I’ll need you to be my Protector,” Ning Jiang said.

”Alright. You can focus on what you need to do.” Gu Huaying nodded.

Seeing this, Ning Jiang hesitated no longer. He formed a series of hand seals and began to chant.

A speck of black light slowly condensed between his hands, radiating a terrifying Devouring Power.

He intended to use the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill to suppress the Demonic Qi in Wang Yunfei’s body and halt the Demonization.

Slowly, three hours passed. The speck of black light, once the size of a grain of rice, had grown to the size of a pearl. After a full day, the ball of black light had formed into the blurry shape of a bird.

After two days, the bird’s form grew clearer still.

But over these two days, Ning Jiang’s face had grown much paler. Continuously channeling the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill was an immense drain on his energy.

As the third day arrived, a bird had completely taken form between Ning Jiang’s hands. It was only the size of a finger, exquisitely small, but it radiated an astonishing Devouring Power.

’The Heaven-Devouring Sparrow is formed.’

Ning Jiang let out a long breath. The Heaven-Devouring Sparrow was the first Dharma Body he had ever cultivated. However, a Dharma Body was ultimately an inanimate object, without life.

But this Heaven-Devouring Sparrow was completely different. It was so vivid it seemed to possess a life of its own.

A Dharma Body’s existence relied on Ning Jiang’s own Power; it was one with him, inseparable. The Heaven-Devouring Sparrow he had just condensed, however, could become an independent entity, even if separated from him.

Ning Jiang gently opened his palm, and the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow flew up, seeming very joyful.

”Go.”

The next moment, with a flicker of Ning Jiang’s will, the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow shot toward the space between Wang Yunfei’s eyebrows and entered his sea of consciousness.

Upon entering, Ning Jiang perceived a scene within: Wang Yunfei’s sea of consciousness was filled with black Demonic Qi.

Meanwhile, Wang Yunfei’s Primordial Spirit was enveloped and entwined by this black Demonic Qi, which constantly corroded it.

”Hmph.”

Ning Jiang snorted, controlling the Heaven-Devouring Sparrow and guiding it to a position above Wang Yunfei’s Primordial Spirit.

”Devour.”

The Heaven-Devouring Sparrow opened its beak. Though tiny, the moment it did, an unparalleled Devouring Power erupted, beginning to absorb the surrounding Demonic Qi.

Faced with this Devouring Power, the roiling Demonic Qi within the sea of consciousness seemed to sense the threat. It immediately contracted, not daring to act rashly.

”Brat, it’s you again. Just what is this Cultivation Technique of yours?”

The voice of the Demon Heart echoed from within the Demonic Qi. It recognized the value of this Technique. ”Let’s make a deal. You give me this Technique, and in return, I’ll tell you the secrets of the Guardian Lineage and the Eternal Stele. What do you say?”

Ning Jiang, however, completely ignored it. He would never share a Supreme Celestial Skill like the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill with anyone.

”This Heaven-Devouring Sparrow has enough Power to help you suppress the Demonization for three years. But after those three years, its Power will be completely depleted.”

Ning Jiang said to Wang Yunfei, ”However, I will return here then. By that time, my Cultivation will be high enough to help you resolve the Demonization completely.”

’With the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill’s ability to devour all things, as long as my strength is sufficient, I can completely consume all the Demonic Qi in Wang Yunfei’s body. It’s just that my current Cultivation isn’t high enough yet.’

And he was confident that in three years, he would possess that strength!

”Three years? Very well. I will wait for you here.” Wang Yunfei nodded.

Three years was not a long time. He could afford to wait.

”Huaying, our business here is finished. Let’s go.”

After bidding farewell to Wang Yunfei, Ning Jiang and Gu Huaying departed. Before they left, Ning Jiang didn’t forget to take Liu Yama’s body with him.

Liu Yama had been a decent Blade Master, and Ning Jiang planned to find a proper place to bury him.

Additionally, Ning Jiang found the three drops of Milk of the Earth in Liu Yama’s Storage Ring. Combined with the ones from the twin brothers, he now possessed twelve drops. Twelve drops gave him the confidence to break through to the Earth Martial Realm Middle Stage.

Furthermore, the Life Lotus that Liu Yama had obtained now belonged to him as well, which made up for the energy he had just expended.

”I never thought this trip to the Ancient Ruins would be so perilous. This has to be my most unforgettable expedition.”

Shortly after, Ning Jiang and Gu Huaying officially departed the Ancient Ruins. Looking back at the sprawling ruins, Gu Huaying sighed with emotion. Who would have thought these Ancient Ruins held so many secrets?

”No time for sentiment. We’ve got trouble.” Ning Jiang’s gaze sharpened.

In the water on all sides, ripples spread as figures began to emerge one after another.

”Ning Jiang, we’ve been waiting for you for quite some time. To think you actually made it out alive!”