Versatile Sword Cultivator

Chapter 46 – Mistake! Opponent at the Golden Elixir stage

The two arrived at a desolate courtyard. The place was in ruins, with only an old locust tree and an ancient well.

The well was covered by a stone slab, bound with several rusty chains.

It seemed ordinary enough.

But the stench in the air was strongest here.

Huff! Huff!

Suddenly, a deep, prolonged breathing sound came from the only wooden house in the courtyard, like a slumbering beast in deep sleep.

The branches of the old locust tree began to shake, and the leaves rustled, sounding particularly eerie in the night.

The chains binding the well cover also started to twist inexplicably.

Like a waking nest of snakes, they scraped against the ground, producing a harsh, grating noise.

The well cover loosened, and from the gradually widening gap, a blood-red light flashed. A thick, bloody mist was squeezed out of the ancient well, growing denser and more abundant.

Crash!

The chains on the well cover began to snap one by one. When the last chain broke, the entire cover was flung open.

It was as if something inside the well had been unsealed, and the aura within became exceptionally agitated and excited.

In an instant, a streak of blood-red light shot out from the well, moving incredibly fast, reaching them in the blink of an eye.

Nangong Yue showed no fear, sweeping her green sword in a swift motion.

Sizzle!

A sound like roasting meat echoed, and the blood-red shadow let out a shrill scream, black smoke rising from its body, its blood aura sizzling.

Only then did Nangong Yue and Lin Jichen see the true form of the blood-red light—a grotesque, incorporeal soul, also known as a wraith.

But this wraith only had the strength of the Qi Refining Realm, not worth fearing.

Though it was in excruciating pain from the sword strike, it seemed to be under someone's command. Ignoring the agony, it continued to lunge at Nangong Yue!

"Hmph, overestimating yourself!"

Nangong Yue snorted coldly, swinging her green sword again, striking the wraith's ethereal body.

The wraith could no longer hold on, exploding into a cloud of blood mist with a final scream, dissipating into nothingness.

Before Nangong Yue could catch her breath, a massive swarm of blood-red light flew out of the ancient well, covering the sky.

Upon closer inspection, it was hundreds of terrifying wraiths, with blue faces and fangs, looking hideous and emitting piercing, shrill cries.

It was like the wailing of a hundred ghosts, the sinister energy engulfing the entire village.

One Qi Refining Realm wraith was not frightening, but hundreds of them together were a different story.

It was like the difference between the lethality of a single killer bee and a swarm of them.

Nangong Yue hadn't expected so many wraiths to appear.

"It seems the entire village's inhabitants were turned into wraiths by the demonic cultivator inside the house, to aid his cultivation and serve his commands. Such a heinous act must be stopped. Today, I, Nangong Yue, will eradicate this evil!"

Nangong Yue took a deep breath, forming a sword seal with her hands. Her mana surged, and the green sword emitted a clear hum, its blade flickering with a radiant glow.

Then, her sleeves billowed, and she raised her long sword. The sword followed her will, moving as swiftly as lightning!

"Moonlight Heavenly Slash!"

Boom!

A radiant beam, like a blazing sun, crashed into the swarm of wraiths like a primordial beast.

In an instant, the sound of countless explosions echoed simultaneously, like cold water dropped into hot oil, boiling furiously!

All the wraiths didn't even have time to scream before they were reduced to dust, dissipating into the air.

Nangong Yue stood with her sword, her gaze as calm as a mirror, her figure ethereal, like a goddess descended to the mortal world.

Lin Jichen couldn't help but praise her. Though Nangong Yue was only at the Crystal Realm, her strength was not inferior to a Golden Elixir stage cultivator. Her battle aura was entirely different from her usual demeanor.

"Evil demon, you have harmed the innocent. Today, I will use your life to honor the memory of all the villagers who died tragically."

Nangong Yue flew forward, charging into the wooden house where the demonic cultivator was hiding.

The next second, she rapidly retreated, a pitch-black hand darting out from the house. Nangong Yue, caught off guard, had to use her sword to block.

But the black hand's force pushed her back, leaving a black mark on her green sword.

Nangong Yue's delicate brows furrowed, her eyes filled with vigilance as she looked towards the wooden house.

In an instant, the wooden house exploded into dust, and a gaunt, sallow-faced man with sinister eyes walked out, his gaze filled with mocking amusement.

"I didn't expect that my cultivation here would attract disciples of the Tianyan Sword Sect. There's a road to heaven, but you refuse to take it. Don't blame me for sending you to hell."

The gaunt man finished speaking, unleashing an astonishing aura.

Nangong Yue and Lin Jichen's faces both tensed!

Golden Core Realm! This man was a Golden Core stage cultivator!

"Did the sect's information have an error?" Nangong Yue murmured.

Lin Jichen shook his head, saying, "Judging by his aura, he must have just broken through."

"Haha, you have a keen eye for someone with such low cultivation. Yes, I just broke through to the Golden Core stage, and you two delivered yourselves right to my door."

"I'll turn you both into wraiths, and use your flesh and blood to sacrifice to my soul banner. My power will surely increase significantly."

The man waved his sleeve, and a flag emitting dense black energy shot into the sky.

From the soul banner, evil spirits roared, ghostly shadows swarmed, carrying a demonic aura that seemed to devour the heavens and earth.

"Hundred Ghosts Devour the Heart! Command!"

The gaunt man made a commanding gesture, and the soul banner suddenly attacked Nangong Yue. As it neared, hundreds of evil spirits crawled out of the banner, looking ferocious, as if they wanted to devour Nangong Yue completely.

"Junior brother, step back! Don't get caught in the crossfire."

Nangong Yue only had time to leave these words before she charged forward with her sword.

Though the opponent was at the initial stage of the Golden Core, Nangong Yue was an elite disciple of the inner temple, and her grandfather was one of the twelve great elders. Her cultivation and magic treasures were extraordinary.

She didn't believe she couldn't defeat this Golden Core stage enemy.

Nangong Yue swung her green sword, her graceful figure blurring, transforming into countless shadows. Sword shadows filled the sky, and sword Qi soared!

In her swift movements, the evil spirits were reduced to ashes, destroyed by the sword Qi.

Seeing this, the gaunt man's eyes turned venomous. He snarled, "Dare to harm my ghost puppets? I'll make you replace them! Become my puppet!"

With that, the man poured his mana into the soul banner, which instantly expanded, seeming to cover the sky!

The light cocoon that had illuminated the night lost its effect in an instant.

Darkness enveloped the surroundings once more, with only Nangong Yue's sword light faintly illuminating the area.

Facing the overwhelming demonic cultivator, Nangong Yue showed no fear.

She lifted her sword and floated in the air, her delicate body suddenly emitting an astonishing sword intent! The sword intent soared, and her green sword in hand became a blade of justice, slashing towards the soul banner that covered the sky!

Boom!

A violent sonic boom echoed, and all the houses in the village collapsed like dry leaves, turning to dust.

Lin Jichen was forced to retreat several steps to avoid getting injured by the aftermath.

He was just a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator. In a battle of this level, it was easy to get hurt, so it was best to stay out of the way.

In the sky, the two continued their fierce battle.

The gaunt man, growing impatient with his inability to defeat Nangong Yue, secretly threw out a blood gourd.

The gourd flew out and landed on the ground, looking unremarkable.

At this moment, the stopper of the gourd fell off automatically, and a mass of crimson blood mist surged out!

The stench was a hundred times stronger than the smell from the ancient well earlier!

The nearby vegetation withered rapidly upon contact with this aura.