Chapter 846: Both Sword Will – Novice

This is... the Slaughterous Sword Will?

Ling Feng's eyelids twitched slightly as he stared at the jet-black sword in his hand. Suddenly, he understood.

Though he was now in soul form—without his cultivation or magical treasures—the only things still bound to his soul were his Slaughterous Sword Will and Reincarnated Sword Will.

After all, sword wills were extensions of one's spiritual consciousness!

To test his theory, Ling Feng concentrated and activated his Reincarnated Sword Will. Instantly, the inky-black sword transformed into a blade shimmering with chaotic dark radiance—the Reincarnated Sword formed from his sword will.

Realizing his Slaughterous Sword could instantly kill the monsters here, Ling Feng grew bolder.

Even if this is a dragon's den or tiger's lair, what do I have to fear with a sword in hand? No matter what, I must find a way out.

Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on the sword and strode forward.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Red-furred monsters continuously ambushed him along the way. Yet with keen perception, Ling Feng cleaved through them one by one, severing their vitality with each strike.

These monsters had no clear cultivation realms, but each possessed tremendous strength and iron-hard bodies. However, Ling Feng's Slaughterous Sword Will inherently countered them. No matter how massive, every monster fell in a single slash.

To his surprise, with each monster slain, his sword will grew more refined and potent.

Had he been able to escape this hellhole, he would have been shocked to discover both his Slaughter Sword Will and Reincarnation Sword Will had reached peak novice mastery, just one step away from advanced sword will!

After half an hour, the red-furred monsters finally ceased appearing. Ling Feng exhaled in relief.

Then—

He froze mid-step, sensing something amiss. Wisps of crimson mist seeped from the air, violently invading his body. Soon, an eerie dark red hue stained his face.

The mist surged toward his mind, attempting to control his thoughts.

"Pathetic!"

With a cold snort, Ling Feng unleashed his Lingtian Sword Force, instantly dispersing the invasive mist. The unnatural symptoms vanished.

If sword will works here, then sword force should too.

Yet the Despicable Donkey had claimed this place imprisoned at least an Ancestral Realm demon. This crimson mist likely emanated from that entity.

Remembering the donkey's terrified expression, Ling Feng grew uncertain about escaping.

Shaking off distracting thoughts, he clenched his fists. With no retreat possible, forward was the only option.

After trekking another two thousand zhang[1] through the gloom, a sudden gust of sinister wind howled through the wastes. The gale set withered vines and ancient trees swaying violently, twisting Ling Feng's shadow into monstrous shapes that danced like demons across the ground.

But without the red-furred monster's harassment and protected by sword force, Ling Feng accelerated his pace.

Soon, the path ended at a boundless crimson underground river.

The water shimmered with ghostly red light, resembling the hellish Styx[2] of the underworld.

Testing the waters with sword force-shielded hands, he found them icy but harmless. Resolute, he dove in.

Guarded by sword force, he swam fish-like through the currents. The river proved shallow—after descending hundreds of meters, a crack in the rocky wall appeared, channeling the water.

Ling Feng shot through the seven-meter-long fissure into open waters. Swimming several hundred meters more, sunlight finally pierced the surface.

Splash!

Emerging at the other side of the river, Ling Feng scrambled ashore into a mountain-ringed valley. Ahead gaped a pitch-black cave exuding sinister dark red light.

The mist's source must be there. Those monsters were likely corrupted by it.

The cave's entrance pulsed with eerie crimson light like a bloodthirsty maw awaiting prey.

With no alternatives, Ling Feng stepped inside—Slaughterous Sword in one hand, Reincarnated Sword in the other, sword force fully deployed.

The cave's thicker red mist couldn't penetrate his sword force barrier.

Half an hour!

One hour!

Three hours!

Abruptly, the tunnel opened into a vast crimson forest beneath blood-hued clouds.

In the distance, an egg-shaped crimson dome covered the earth, its surface crackling with red lightning-like ripples.

What I'm after must be hidden there.

Ling Feng sprinted forward, his soul form gliding dozens of zhang per leap.

Yet after mere hundreds of zhang—

ROOOOAR!

A deafening bellow shook the world. The very space trembled as if collapsing. Ling Feng felt his soul might disintegrate from the sonic force.

Gulp...

Have I reached the primordial demon's prison?

His heart skipped a beat.

CRUNCH. CRUNCH.

Gnawing sounds echoed from the abyss, growing louder, nearer!

Squinting, Ling Feng saw the crimson dome erupt with massive arcs of energy, ancient inscriptions swirling around it. The terrifying roar originated within.

A primal chill ran down Ling Feng's spine. Though the threat remained invisible, the fear that gripped him shook his soul to its core, a terror beyond all reason!

1. 2000 zhang = about 6km or 4 freedom miles ☜

2. underworld river. ☜