Fate-Defying Demon Emperor-Chapter 21: Staring into the Abyss

The gossip and slander of others could not shake Su Han’s heart. After having his Dragon Soul stolen, he had experienced the agony of falling from heaven to hell. Reputation is illusory; only power is real.

After returning to the Lu Family, Su Han adjusted his aura and expression before going to Lu Yunxian’s room. No matter how difficult things were for him outside, when facing Lu Yunxian, he would only share good news and hide his worries.

"Doctor Liao, I’ve bought a Spirit-Nourishing Flower. Please take a look and see how it should be administered to Fairy Sister Yun Xian." Su Han did not understand medicine and could only ask Doctor Liao for guidance.

"Your Highness, this Spirit-Nourishing Flower is extremely rare and a marvelous healing remedy. With this flower, Miss Yun Xian’s body can be fully restored to normal," Doctor Liao said hurriedly, his eyes gleaming with pleasant surprise as he took the flower.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you."

Doctor Liao’s words finally put Su Han’s worried heart at ease. Although he knew her lifespan could not be restored, he was still greatly relieved that her physical health could be recovered.

The Spirit-Nourishing Flower was a Superior Grade Spiritual Medicine. Its effects were potent, far too powerful for Lu Yunxian’s weak body to take all at once. Doctor Liao took a single petal, mixed it with some auxiliary herbs, and administered it to Lu Yunxian.

Soon, the medicinal effects took hold. Lu Yunxian’s skin became rosy, and the sense of frailty—as if a gust of wind could knock her over—dissipated considerably.

"I feel so much better!" Lu Yunxian exclaimed, her eyes bright with joy as she told Su Han and Doctor Liao how she felt.

"Your Highness, if she takes the Spirit-Nourishing Flower for five consecutive days, Miss Yun Xian’s body will return to normal. However, we’ll still need to find another way to address her lost lifespan," Doctor Liao whispered to Su Han.

Su Han nodded in understanding, and Doctor Liao then excused himself from the room.

"Fairy Sister Yun Xian, focus on getting better. I will always be by your side!" Su Han said with a gentle smile and a tender gaze.

After having lunch with Fairy Sister Yun Xian, Su Han left her room.

Inside, Lu Yunxian did not rest. She slowly sat up, her eyes shining brightly.

I only have a year of life left, but I can’t be a burden to Su Han.

Lu Yunxian refused to be a dead weight. She began to cultivate with great difficulty, mobilizing the meager Spiritual Energy within her body. Only through cultivation can I grow stronger and protect Su Han. While Su Han was away these past two days, she had been cultivating in secret, gritting her teeth and persevering through the unbearable pain.

The medicinal power of the Spirit-Nourishing Flower was truly extraordinary. After a grueling hour of cultivation, aided by the flower’s potency, she finally returned to the First Layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

HUFF! HUFF!

Lu Yunxian gasped for breath, her smooth forehead slick with sweat, but a smile touched her lips.

My lifespan may be short, but my Qingmu Spirit Body is still with me. As long as I cultivate diligently, I can not only overcome this weakness but also help Su Han.

She had long been aware that Su Han was cultivating a Demonic Technique.

Practitioners of the Demonic Path were condemned by all. If Su Han’s Demonic Technique were ever exposed, he would be hunted by the entire world. And Lu Yunxian had already resolved to stand by his side forever.

When the world is your enemy, I will stand by your side without hesitation!

***

Su Han returned to his room and with a wave of his hand, summoned the Black Blade.

The Black Blade was dark and eerie, like an abyss that could swallow all things. If not for his cultivation of the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art, he would have long since been corrupted by it and turned into a Blade Slave. But even so, the Black Blade still held many secrets.

Bloodthirsty.

Soul Devouring.

These were the two abilities he had discovered while using the blade today. Blood and souls were its best nourishment, enhancing its power and making it stronger. But for that very reason, it became increasingly difficult for Su Han to control, ultimately leading to the emergence of that bewitching demonic whisper.

Is something sealed within the Black Blade?

Su Han scrutinized the blade as a bold conjecture formed in his mind. He recalled the process of subduing it: his Devouring Heaven Demonic Art had transformed into a black hole to confront the abyss. In the end, it was only due to the appearance of the Cruel Demon Emperor that he succeeded. But the Cruel Demon Emperor would not have appeared for no reason. Could some powerful entity be hidden within that abyss?

When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you!

The phrase came to him unbidden, and it felt perfectly suited to the Black Blade. He could not prove this theory, but he dared not be careless, for his very life and death were at stake.

This blade is definitely not a low-grade Spiritual Artifact! A sharp glint flashed in Su Han’s eyes, and his anticipation for the Black Blade grew.

Although the Black Blade possessed a powerful Demonic Nature and was difficult to control, its might was formidable. Today, when he wielded it against Qin Feng’s Dragon Patterned Golden Scale Staff, he had not been at a disadvantage. It was important to note that the Dragon Patterned Golden Scale Staff was a low-grade Magic Artifact, an entire Great Realm higher than the Black Blade, which only served to highlight the blade’s extraordinary quality.

How can I upgrade the Black Blade’s grade? By unraveling layers of seals like with the Ghostly Face Mask? Or does it advance naturally by accumulating energy after using Bloodthirsty and Soul Devouring? A low-grade Spiritual Artifact was far from enough to meet his needs, but upgrading its grade would not be easy.

He quickly dismissed the second possibility. The blade had caused endless slaughter before he obtained it. If it could advance that way, it would have done so long ago instead of remaining a low-grade Spiritual Artifact.

He had a preliminary grasp of the Bloodthirsty and Soul Devouring abilities. Bloodthirsty enhanced the blade’s power to inflict physical damage, while Soul Devouring consumed souls to inflict spiritual damage. These two abilities gave the blade the unstoppable power to inflict both physical and spiritual damage. However, this enhancement had a limit. Once it reached a certain point, like a bucket filled to the brim, it could not be strengthened further. To enhance it further, he clearly needed to upgrade the Black Blade’s grade.

Demonic Qi?

Another idea surfaced. He channeled Demonic Qi into the Black Blade. The blade instantly lit up, emanating a sense of excitement, but there was no sign of an upgrade. It was clear Demonic Qi was not the answer either.

Su Han was momentarily perplexed. If the Black Blade’s grade could not be raised, then its assistance to him would be limited, no matter how powerful it was. After trying various methods without any sign of success, he had no choice but to give up for now and wait.

Qin Feng suffered a setback today, so he’ll certainly be on his guard for our life-and-death duel in ten days. He’s at the Sixth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm and possesses the Golden Spirit Body. Even with the Black Blade, I might not be his match unless I use the Ghostly Face Mask.

Su Han refocused his thoughts on the upcoming duel. The Ghostly Face Mask was his trump card, and he didn’t want to reveal it before the autumn examinations. Yet, relying on his current strength alone, killing Qin Feng would be extremely difficult.

It seems I need a period of intense training. Within ten days, I must raise my strength as much as possible so I can kill Qin Feng on the day of our duel and devour his Golden Spirit Body. The best defense is a good offense, and battle is the best form of cultivation. I need combat to hone myself. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Su Han had no intention of secluding himself. He cultivated the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art; only through constant battle and slaughter could he grow stronger.

Thus, he decided to kill. He would kill the Queen’s people.

The Qin Family was the Queen’s maternal family, and Qin Feng was her own nephew. Qin Feng’s provocation this time had been at the Queen’s behest. Furthermore, while the Qin Family appeared respectable on the surface, they were rotten to the core. They controlled the Imperial Capital’s shady businesses, such as brothels, gambling dens, and illicit brokerages. Forcing the innocent into prostitution, abducting women, entrapping people, trafficking children—they committed every atrocity imaginable.

Targeting the Qin Family would allow him to temper himself through battle, strike back at the Queen, and serve justice on behalf of Heaven.

Three birds with one stone.

The Qin Family deserved to die.