Chapter 173: Bloodthirst Unleashed

Upon the peak of the Azure Ethereal Vapors, on the Celestial Peak.

Before the Illusory Moon Cave, the three—Ghoul Li, Lü Xueqi, and Lin Jingyu—stood facing each other. The atmosphere, already taut, suddenly stiffened as their attention was drawn to the ancient sword thrust into the ground.

The Immortalbane Nexus!

The legendary sword that had stirred countless tales and determined fates, now lay quietly on the ground, its presence unassuming, blending with the mountain and earth as if it were one with them.

But the name etched on the blade, though silent, exuded an arrogant brilliance, glaring at all around, rendering those who stood near it unable to breathe freely.

After a seemingly long pause, as if emerging from a daze, they let out a collective sigh. Yet, in that same instant, the atmosphere shifted subtly. Lin Jingyu instinctively moved, intending to step forward, but after a glance at the two beside him, he hesitated and steadied himself.

Lü Xueqi’s face first showed surprise, then a bright light flashed in her eyes. Facing the sword of utmost repute in the Azure Ethereal Conclave, she furrowed her brows. Glancing at Ghoul Li, she subtly distanced herself from him.

Ghoul Li remained silent, his expression blank, but his eyes burned like flames.

That sword, which had haunted his nightmares for ten years, was now before him. Its ancient blade shimmered faintly in the breeze, reflecting in his eyes as if piercing his heart.

That gentle, feeble green figure falling through the air…

“Ah!…”

A roar of fury erupted from his chest, ripping through his lungs, as he charged towards the Immortalbane Nexus. A dark azure light flashed, and the Soul Devourer whistled before him, reflecting his turbulent emotions.

Suddenly, a jade-green sword glow emerged from the side. Lin Jingyu, wielding the Dragon-Slaying Sword, blocked his path, his glowing blade clashing with the approaching black aura.

A dull thud resounded as the two magical artifacts collided mid-air. Lin Jingyu was about to shout, but the sky abruptly darkened. An eerie howl surrounded them, and unseen threads bound his body, conjuring visions of the netherworld.

Ghoul Li’s eyes had turned blood red, his killing intent surging. His form seemed ghostly.

Lin Jingyu roared, his green light flaring, breaking free from the black aura. Simultaneously, Ghoul Li appeared where he stood, the black aura swirling like demonic wings, then gathering like ghastly hands, submerging him and sweeping towards the Immortalbane Nexus.

Forced back in mid-air, Lin Jingyi was unable to stop him. Just then, a brilliant light, like autumn frost, bloomed from the blackness, resonating with a clear chime. It burst forth like a flower, stabbing straight ahead.

Tianyah!

The silvery-white light sliced through the air, dispelling the black aura, and pierced towards the deepest point. Lü Xueqi stood in front of the Immortalbane Nexus, her face emotionless, her skin pale as snow.

In the depths of the black aura, two glowing points, like ghastly fires, glared at Lü Xueqi. Eerie howls rose, filled with rage and uncontrollable fury.

What was this, roaring like a beast, so unfamiliar?

The black aura surged, rising several feet high, and the glowing points vanished. Lü Xueqi’s lips twitched slightly, her face still pale and expressionless, but her eyes flickered with a myriad of emotions, as if traversing a thousand mountains and rivers in an instant.

Yet, she refused to yield Tianyah. Behind her, the ancient sword seemed like an abyss, preventing her retreat.

Raising her sword to the sky, she thrust it forward, the blade gleaming like snow, tinged with melancholy.

The black aura gathered, and Ghoul Li appeared, the Soul Devourer flying before him. The black aura condensed into a pillar, and a pale hand reached out, grasping the Soul Devourer, striking down towards Lü Xueqi and the ancient sword.

But she did not retreat…

The sword’s brilliance scattered like snow, swirling up dust and stones. Lü Xueqi stood in the center, her features blurring.

Tianyah and the Soul Devourer, the two artifacts, trembled in mid-air, as if reenacting a battle from long ago.

But time was fleeting, and a deafening crash echoed before the Illusory Moon Cave.

********

The wind and smoke dissipated, and a few pebbles rolled away, disappearing into the grass.

Lü Xueqi stood in place, unmoved. Behind her, the Immortalbane Nexus emitted a faint, ancient glow, watching over her.

Her eyes and face, normally so regal, now seemed weary, as if the last strike had drained her. She lowered her head, her gaze distant. After a while, she slowly raised it, looking ahead.

That man!

That madman!

That silent, iron-willed man…

His eyes, fixed on her, showed no malice, no anger, no tenderness.

Lü Xueqi shuddered slightly, the pain in her chest nearly buckling her. Her pale face flushed, and she swayed, her brows furrowing. Closing her eyes, she bent over.

Tianyah hummed softly as it fell, and Lü Xueqi, holding the hilt, coughed a mouthful of blood onto the gleaming blade.

Blood coagulated into beads, trembling on the smooth blade before sliding off.

A gust of wind, carrying a soft whistle, swept across the open ground before the Illusory Moon Cave.

The black aura dissipated, and Ghoul Li stood there, the Soul Devourer glowing dark azure as it fell from the sky. He caught it, turning to Lü Xueqi. Lin Jingyu, returning to her side, shielded the Immortalbane Nexus.

Ghoul Li’s cold gaze shifted from Lin Jingyu to Lü Xueqi. These two, once the most important people to him, now seemed like strangers.

How many in this world could remain unchanged, companions until the end?

He gritted his teeth, smiling with a fierce, defiant, and resolute expression. The ancient sword was ahead, even if it meant plunging into an abyss. Ten years of agony, how could he forsake it now?

Lin Jingyu, with a look of anger, raised his Dragon-Slaying Sword. Suddenly, Lü Xueqi straightened, her voice as clear as ever, “Stop!”

Ghoul Li paused, looking at her sternly, “Step aside!”

Her face showed sorrow, “Listen to me, leave. Never come back.”

Lin Jingyu frowned, about to speak, but Ghoul Li, coldly, said, “Let me destroy the Immortalbane, and I’ll go.”

Lü Xueqi shook her head wearily, “I can’t. The others are coming. You should leave now.”

Ghoul Li and Lin Jingyu listened, hearing distant voices, likely a large group.

Indeed, the Immortalbane Nexus was vital to the Azure Ethereal Conclave. They would search the entire mountain for it. The sounds grew louder, clearly moving towards them.

Ghoul Li’s face grew cold, and he lunged towards Lü Xueqi and Lin Jingyu, disregarding the danger.

Lü Xueqi’s face paled, but before she could act, Lin Jingyu leaped, his Dragon-Slaying Sword glowing, slashing at Ghoul Li. Ghoul Li, cold and swift, ignored the sword, aiming for Lin Jingyu’s head with the Soul Devourer. Lin Jingyu, shocked by the ferocity, countered, his pride driving him.

The two fought viciously, and Lü Xueqi, watching, tensed. As they neared a fatal blow, Ghoul Li’s form dispersed like smoke, appearing behind Lü Xueqi.

This strange technique, not of the Azure Ethereal Conclave or the Heavenly Sound Temple, was something Ghoul Li had learned from the mysterious “Heavenly Tome.” Even Lü Xueqi, who had seen part of the tome, was puzzled.

But now, Ghoul Li’s aura changed, not entirely demonic, but with colors shifting, hinting at pain. His movements were faster, as if his power had grown.

Lü Xueqi, recognizing the technique, bit her lip, stepping back, revealing the Immortalbane Nexus. Ghoul Li and Lin Jingyu, surprised, saw her move, Ghoul Li with a glimmer of hope, Lin Jingyu yelling, “Xueqi, what are you doing?”

Lü Xueqi ignored him, her eyes flashing, and she shouted, thrusting Tianyah, but not at Ghoul Li, at the ground three feet in front of the Immortalbane Nexus.

“Pfft!”

Tianyah hit the empty ground, but Lü Xueqi jolted, and blood splattered. Ghoul Li, in mid-air, screamed, dispersing into black smoke again.

In that moment, a roar echoed, and Ghoul Li reappeared, Tianyah in his shoulder. Ignoring the pain, he attacked, the Soul Devourer’s blood-red gem glowing, enveloping Lü Xueqi in a wave of vampiric power.

Lü Xueqi, pale and dazed, felt her blood boiling, almost bursting from her body. Her mind reeled, and she collapsed.

Ghoul Li howled, twisting Tianyah away and pushing Lü Xueqi back. As she flew, Tianyah followed, and Ghoul Li’s shoulder bled. In mid-air, Lü Xueqi, still under the vampiric power, spat blood.

Ghoul Li, now only seeing the Immortalbane Nexus, ignored the pain. Covered in blood, he stared at the sword, his face contorted with strange agony.

The Immortalbane Nexus, undisturbed, reflected nothing. Only a faint, new crack marred its surface.

Ghoul Li laughed, crazed, the years flashing before him. He reached for the sword, the Soul Devourer in his other hand, and struck the blade, targeting the crack.

Lin Jingyu, yelling, chased, but it was too late. Lü Xueqi, confused, landed, and the crowd’s voices grew, approaching.

In that moment, who could change anything?

Like trying to hold on to a fleeting moment!

The Soul Devourer, black and dark, descended, its master bleeding, drops of blood landing on the Immortalbane Nexus, vanishing into the crack.

A strange, familiar scene flashed through Ghoul Li’s mind, but the Soul Devourer crashed into the Immortalbane Nexus before he could fully comprehend.