Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 521 - 515 Desolate Vault Eight

Chapter 521: Chapter 515 Desolate Vault Eight

Whoom!!!

Huang Yuan was viciously blown away, spewing fresh blood from his mouth.

From a distance, he looked at Lin Xin, only to see his body cut in half, behind his waist a golden mini bow materialized, its bowstring vibrating, clearly just having been drawn and resonating.

With a hiss, he shot out across the surface of Mount Wu Ding and struggled to stabilize his form only when he reached the edge of the void.

He couldn’t help but spray out another mouthful of fresh blood.

"Jade Immortal Bow..." His eyes narrowed as he saw Lin Xin stretch out his hand to reattach his severed lower half back to his body, his waist wound healing in the blink of an eye.

A chill went down his spine.

He knew Lin Xin possessed an Undying Body, but he hadn’t expected it to be employed so effectively in actual combat.

Although the Undying Body was formidable, it wasn’t something that could be used at will; each use would consume something incredibly rare.

But looking at Lin Xin, he seemed to be unconcerned.

The two halted their offensive for a moment, and by now, both sides were truly inflamed with the heat of battle.

Lin Xin might have underestimated Huang Yuan’s combat prowess, but Huang Yuan had likewise underestimated Lin Xin.

Between the two, Lin Xin held a slight advantage. If he could maintain his powerful regenerative healing ability, then in the subsequent battle, Huang Yuan was almost certain to lose.

Not to mention that he was now injured.

"Teacher, shall we continue the fight?" Lin Xin asked with a smile. He flourished his sword, surrounded by black Qi, as if transforming into a series of black lotuses spinning and dancing around him.

What he feared least was a drawn-out war of attrition.

Huang Yuan’s face changed; he coughed again, a mouthful of black blood surging forth, which he covered with his hand and evaporated, barely audible.

But he couldn’t hide it from the disobedient on the opposite side.

His Desolate Vault Extinguish Stars Hand had been countered by the mini bow, and his other techniques were not much different than Lin Xin’s; at best, the fight would continue to be a war of attrition. The outcome would likely be in favor of Lin Xin as he wouldn’t be able to hold on.

What a pity... Originally, he had even planned to find the Kai Chen Demoness and seize the Eighth Rank... but now it was all too late.

Various thoughts tumbled through his mind, and in the end, he could only ask in a low voice.

"Why do you so desire the position of Sect Master?"

Lin Xin spoke openly with a smile.

"Disciple has too many enemies, and my subordinates are too weak. I have no choice but to seek help everywhere, it is a necessity."

"Is it because of Tian Yun Dao? Indeed..." Huang Yuan’s expression gradually calmed down, and his eyes showed a trace of resignation. "So be it, so be it. The position of Sect Master, I shall give it to you. Originally, my search for disciples was to find a successor to my mantle. Now, although the process has changed a bit, the result is still the same, which is good."

He extended his hand to remove a black ring from his finger and tossed it lightly to Lin Xin.

"Take it."

Lin Xin reached out for the ring, the symbol of the Yuan Dou Demon Sect’s Sect Master, made of a material that was neither gold nor wood, seeming to be some type of stone, engraved with a miniature tri-headed Desolate Vault image.

Snap.

The moment the ring was in his hand, a warm, jade-like sensation immediately spread into his palm.

Boom!!

As soon as he touched the ring, a colossal and invisible demonic Qi force surged into his body. This was the special mental imprint invested in the ring by successive Sect Masters.

Lin Xin’s body swayed, and he momentarily fell into a daze.

Huang Yuan, however, moved like a shadow, appearing lightning-fast in front of him, his hand holding a blood-red five-petaled flower.

Upon a closer look, the small flower appeared to be composed of numerous tiny blood-red crystals. Under the agitation of the Demonic Qi Soul Domain, there was no sign of fracturing.

"Blood Sakura Black Lotus!!??"

The spectators from afar all exclaimed.

Yin Pengzi, in particular, was among them.

His expression was one of astonishment, his eyes flashing with various emotions—reluctance, anger, disbelief, pain, etc., as his entire attention focused on the blood-colored flower.

Bai Suozi glanced at him with a hint of pity, while Quan Sheying and Duan Chizi each sighed.

The others, however, didn’t recognize what the flower was.

Nan Shunqing could neither see nor dare to watch the fast-moving combat closely.

Whoosh!

With a vicious smile, Huang Yuan fiercely pushed the Blood Sakura towards Lin Xin, then turned to bolt away without hesitation.

This Blood Sakura was part of the body of a Primordial Ancient Times Evil God that he had acquired accidentally. Once it exploded, the power contained within could obliterate even him instantly, leaving nothing behind.

Of these Blood Sakuras, he had only three, and the remaining two had already been used. Each had killed an old rival from two different Sects.

This last one was the most powerful and was meant to be kept as the final trump card. However, he hadn’t expected to use it here.

The threat from Lin Xin was too great; he had to be eliminated quickly, or else once Lin Xin grew stronger, he would be unstoppable!

As for accusations from the Sect’s Elders, the victor is king; this is the Sect’s law.

If he could get rid of Lin Xin, he would still be the Sect’s strongest. Who would dare to object?!

Snap!

Just as he turned to flee.

Suddenly, Lin Xin snapped out of his daze, grabbing Huang Yuan’s hand in a flash.

"????!!!!"

Huang Yuan was shocked, immediately seeing Lin Xin’s seemingly smiling face.

He struggled to break free, but the strength of the two was almost equal, and he couldn’t break away. Lin Xin neither retreated nor attacked; he just stood there silently levitating.

"Have you gone mad?!!??"

No sooner had Huang Yuan spoken than he saw Lin Xin’s hair turn red behind him, and a torrent of violent and brutal intent indiscriminately roared into his mind.

Boom!!!!!!

A massive blood-red light exploded, like a gigantic cherry blossom slowly unfurling.

Within, countless spike-like fish whirled madly, dense and numerous, following a strange rhythm, rubbing together to produce an eerie and mournful music.

"Blood Sakura... Blood Sakura... Blood Sakura..." It was as if someone in the void was madly shouting, struggling in agony.

For a moment, the sky above Wuding Mountain was completely dyed red by the blood-colored radiance.

The blooming of the Blood Sakura lasted only for a few breaths before it slowly dissipated, revealing the two people within.

Huang Yuan had returned to human form, with Lin Xin’s arms deeply plunged into his chest.

The two of them were suspended in mid-air, seemingly unaffected by the explosion of the Blood Sakura.

"Teacher, do you have any last words?"

Lin Xin’s long hair was blood-red, his eyes flashing with savage madness as he gradually began to exert more force with his hands.

Evil Soul Orb and Righteous Soul Pearl were dancing around him, with numerous purple-red electric currents wildly pulsing inside the Evil Soul Orb, seemingly just settling down.

Huang Yuan’s eyes dimmed slightly as he coughed up a mouthful of Essential Blood.

In the last moment, all he saw was Lin Xin offering up two fist-sized beads, one of which engraved with the character for "evil" was placed in front of Lin Xin, blocking all the power of the Blood Sakura.

The rest of the Blood Sakura bombarded him.

"Blood Sakura Black Lotus... Heh... I never thought... in the end, I would... die by... my own hands..."

The Essence Qi on Huang Yuan was visibly draining at an alarming rate.

Within just a few breaths, he seemed to have aged decades.

"Is this... the Secret Treasure of the Sand Time Demon?" He looked at the Evil Soul Orb with undisguised ardor and possessiveness in his eyes.

In his lifetime, he had avoided indulgence in wine and women, dedicating himself solely to the arduous pursuit of eternal longevity. He missed out on so much and gave up even more.

And yet, this was the outcome he achieved.

"I... cannot accept this...!!"

With a snap, he violently grabbed Lin Xin’s arms. His eyes were wide open, staring at Lin Xin. His eyes were like copper bells, filled with blood veins.

Scenes from the past flashed in the depths of his eyes, remembering how much he had sacrificed for the sake of power, so much so that he had almost forgotten his own heart.

Looking at Lin Xin before him, he was so vibrant and skilled.

Perhaps in the entire history of the Yuan Dou Demon Sect, he was the most likely to break out of the cage.

Thinking of this, the idea that had been dead in Huang Yuan’s heart suddenly surged back to life.

If I cannot achieve it, perhaps...

Bang!

Huang Yuan suddenly tightened his grip on Lin Xin’s arms, laughing wildly three times.

"Good disciple! Since I’ve been defeated by your hand... all my life’s pursuits... now depend on you!"

Boom!!

Countless Demonic Qi and Essence streamed from his body to Lin Xin’s.

Coming from the same source, Huang Yuan’s Yuan Dou Demonic Technique cultivation and the Sacred Body’s complete power were frenziedly transferred into Lin Xin’s body along with the Soul Domain!

"Grow stronger... become so strong that no one can look at you directly!" Huang Yuan laughed crazily as he watched Lin Xin’s astonished face.

His very Soul also transformed into pure Soul Power, completely pouring out to Lin Xin.

The raging Demonic Qi boiled, gradually compressing into thick rings of liquid.

Boom!!

A hundred-meter thick column of Star Force thunderously fell from the sky, instantly submerging the two of them within.

The silver-blue Star Force seemed inexhaustible.

High in the sky, the stars twinkled, and among them, one silver-blue star shone brightly, with the vast form of the Desolate Vault Demon God vaguely appearing as a Void Shadow.

The Elders watching from a distance were caught off guard, completely unprepared for such an unexpected turn of events.

Once the Blood Sakura appeared, the several unsolved cases that had erupted within the Demon Sect had found their answers.

In the moment when they were overwhelmed by the Blood Sakura, Lin Xin and Huang Yuan had seemingly come to a decisive outcome.

And the result was...

Although the fluctuating forces and clashing Soul Domains prevented them from hearing the conversation, they could see Lin Xin’s arms deeply embedded in Huang Yuan’s chest.

Huang Yuan did not have an Undying Body. Despite having strong defensive power, the Eighth Layer of the Yuan Dou Demonic Technique did not have much regenerative power.

In fact, compared to regular Demonic Arts, the healing speed was even slower.

It was like the difference between repairing a steel statue and a clay one: repairing a steel statue required steel.

Repairing a clay statue needed clay.

The disparity in the materials and efforts between steel and clay was enormous.

Similarly, the Demon Body achieved by the Eighth Layer of the Yuan Dou Demonic Technique, robust and solid, had a density and material far surpassing regular Demon Bodies.

Therefore, the Demonic Qi required for repair also had to undergo continuous compression and refinement, transforming in nature, a process that was extremely complex and slow.

This was also why many top experts took abnormally long to recover once they were injured.

By the time everyone else realized what was happening, the outcome had been decided.

"Teacher!!" Duan Chizi cried out in anguish, shooting angrily towards Lin Xin.

Quan Sheying, however, suddenly made a move, turning her Soul Domain into long ropes, instantly stopping Duan Chizi.

"Junior Sister, don’t be rash. This is a battle for the position of Sect Master!"

"Out of my way!" Duan Chizi coldly looked at Quan Sheying.

"Insolent!"

Bai Suozi reached out and grabbed, his terrifying True Monarch Soul Domain enveloping Duan Chizi.

Duan Chizi was already no match for Quan Sheying, let alone Bai Suozi, who was even stronger.

After struggling for a few moments and realizing that it was no use, she reluctantly gave up the struggle, looking back at the other Elders, seeking assistance.

Yin Pengzi and several others who had originally been loyal to Huang Yuan were now silent.