Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 196 - 188 Divine Power! Blood Tao Master!
The heavens and earth abruptly changed color, day and night shining in stark contrast. Stars from all over the sky converged towards the Heavenly River Sword, forming what looked like a celestial river manifested in the world.
In the sight of the onlookers, the treasured swords they carried all emitted a BUZZING sound. Regardless of whether they were sealed in scabbards or gripped tightly, these swords all ascended into the air, rushing towards the Heavenly River Sword.
Ten Thousand Swords Return to Ancestor!
Sword Tao Divine Power—
The Power of Martial Saint!? My life is over.
I was just visiting a brothel, why am I about to be killed? SOB SOB SOB... If there’s an afterlife, I’ll definitely never visit a brothel again!
The crowd lamented internally, watching the green-clad figure in the sky—like a Sword Immortal—with a mixture of anger and awe.
BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE RUMBLE!
The Heavenly River Sword guided the Heavenly River Sword Cascades, which surged towards the ground with overwhelming might.
*The waters of the great river descend from the heavens, rushing to the sea, never to return.*
As a Sword Cultivator, why should I fear death!? Li Dongyao’s eyes glinted with determination as he swung his Longsword.
Upon contact, he was engulfed by endless Sword Qi. Both he and his sword disintegrated, leaving no trace behind.
You think I’ll die?! Impossible!!! Li Zihai clenched his teeth, fiercely erupting with immense blood energy to collide head-on with the Heavenly River Sword Cascades.
His powerful blood energy melted away like snow in hot water. Screams erupted from the ground as one Vine-armored Infantry after another collapsed, never to rise again.
Li Zihai himself was critically injured by the backlash. A Fish Short Sword from the cascade then swept past, instantly taking his life.
Zhang Baicun, terrified out of his wits, fled haphazardly on his Wind Cyan Roc Beast King.
But this Wind Cyan Roc Beast King, which had saved him from danger numerous times before, failed him now; it couldn’t help him escape as it had from Mo Jiuyou’s pursuit.
No, no! I haven’t become a Martial Saint yet! I haven’t entered the Five Great Academies! I haven’t stepped onto the Emperor’s Path! No—NO!! Zhang Baicun roared in unwilling fury.
But as the Heavenly River Sword swept past, both he and the Wind Cyan Roc Beast King were devoured. His ambitions of achieving sainthood and contending for the emperorship vanished into nothingness.
The Heavenly River Sword showed no signs of stopping. It continued to direct the Heavenly River Sword Cascades, unleashing a massacre in the area.
Disciples and Elders of the Qinglu Taoist Temple—dead!
The Black-Armored Cavalry, the Vine-armored Infantry—dead!
The Iron Beaked Crane Beast Group, the Green Wind Roc Ten Thousand Beast Swarm, the Golden Arrow Gryphon Beast Group—all dead!
So greedy? Hong Yuan’s sword-like eyebrows quirked upwards as he watched the Heavenly River Sword with an amused smile.
Still unsatisfied after devouring all the flesh and blood essence and numerous Instruments, the Heavenly River Sword turned to consume the treasured swords within the Heavenly River Sword Cascades.
During this devouring process, the aura of the Heavenly River Sword condensed, growing stronger bit by bit. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
The Sword Tao Incarnation and the Heavenly River Sword were one and the same; as the Heavenly River Sword strengthened, so did Hong Yuan.
[Blood Tao +1,211]
[Blood Tao +1,211]
[...]
[School: Blood Tao (Ordinary 85%) → Blood Tao (Master 11%)]
The instant he advanced to Blood Tao Master, Hong Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The Blood Tao is never solitary; its poison lingers for ages.
I’m really not a good person... Sigh.
That’s the third one. Six more to go. Keep it up!
Hong Yuan gripped the hilt of the Heavenly River Sword, pushed off forcefully from the ground, and transformed into a sword rainbow, vanishing without a trace before dawn.
He left behind only the devastated Pingkang Square, scarred by destruction and riddled with fissures.
It was truly as the saying goes: "Kill one person every ten steps, travel a thousand miles without leaving a trace."
「...」
「Outside Pengcheng, Sanli District.」
Hong Yuan recalled the Sword Sparrow Worm he had left to guard his home, then disguised himself as ’Niu Yezi’ and hurried towards the earthen square in Sanli District.
By this time, a considerable crowd had already gathered in the square. Hong Yuan found a corner, squatted down, and listened silently to the neighborhood chatter.
"Good heavens! I was just about to start grinding tofu when the earthquake hit!" a woman in coarse cloth exclaimed, patting her chest in lingering fear.
"It wasn’t just an earthquake," another woman, this one in red robes, whispered after getting a nod from the tofu-maker and looking around cautiously. "I’m telling you, but don’t spread this around, okay? I also saw a blood-red sky and the Star River! Someone must be practicing evil cultivation techniques!"
"GASP~"
A chorus of sharp intakes of breath swept through the onlookers; several women were visibly shocked.
Hong Yuan also gasped, putting on an expression of shock and fear.
The women glanced at Hong Yuan. Seeing it was just the quiet, unassuming "Niu Yezi," they paid him no further mind and continued their discussion.
"Yezi..."
"Brother Yezi!" "Brother Yezi!"
Hong Yuan turned, a smile spreading across his face.
Zhang Xiaohua, an old laborer, approached with Zhang Yingyu, Zhang Yinghe, and a few others. Young Zhang Yinghe eagerly squatted beside Hong Yuan, joining in the idle chatter.
Finally, Zhang Yinghe looked at Hong Yuan, his eyes full of hope. "Brother Yezi, do you think I can become a third-tier Martial Artist and have my own martial arts school?"
Hong Yuan subtly glanced at Zhang Yinghe’s physique and inwardly shook his head.
Becoming a second-tier Martial Artist might be achievable through sheer effort, but reaching the third tier requires cultivating a Taoist True Body. Conventional Martial Artists often have to risk using Cultivation Techniques with attributes opposing their own path, facing the danger of death at any moment. From my perspective as a Blood Tao Master and Soul Tao Grandmaster, Zhang Yinghe’s aptitude is mediocre. If he truly wants to become a third-tier Martial Artist without sufficient resources, his best bet is the Blood Tao!
"Yinghe, you can definitely do it. You’re so smart; anyone can see you’re destined for great things," Hong Yuan said with a simple, honest smile.
Zhang Yinghe’s eyes lit up, and he looked up at his sister, Zhang Yingyu.
Zhang Yingyu, who had been watching them, saw her brother seeking her approval and immediately nodded with a smile.
Overjoyed, Zhang Yinghe couldn’t stop grinning.
「...」
「In the Pengcheng city administration office.」
A group of civil officials and representatives from Pengcheng’s influential families sat restlessly, a palpable unease filling the air. Even the Family Heads of the three major families, who had helped quell the city’s recent turmoil, wore grave expressions.
Silence. An oppressive silence. These great families and officials, who would normally squabble over the smallest gain, were now completely mute.
After a long pause, the highest-ranking person present, the Dongyu District Official, finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "The secret report has been dispatched. It should have reached Luo City by now. From Luo City, it will be forwarded to the Taoist Temple’s Holy Land. But... how do we handle what comes next?"
Silence descended once more. Those present exchanged glances, their heads bowed like wilted plants, yet no one dared to speak up.
How to handle it? That ’Blood Demon Sword’ single-handedly wiped out a host of Qinglu Disciples, even an Elder. For us, who are even weaker, to take action? That’s a joke. It’d be like serving ourselves up on a platter.
「...」
Meanwhile, in the B-rank city of Luo, Li Zixing, the city’s defending General, was posing the same question to his subordinates.
"Everyone, share your thoughts. How should we deal with the ’Blood Demon Sword,’ Li Jianhe?" Li Zixing asked from his seat in the main hall, a sense of deep unease washing over him.
It wasn’t that he was timid, but this ’Blood Demon Sword’ was simply too terrifying. To think they possessed and could unleash a human-grade Divine Power comparable to the might of a sixth-tier Martial Saint! Even as one of the King Power Sword Seven Swordsmen, I have no confidence in facing the ’Blood Demon Sword.’
"Individuals like that are the most precious Heavenly Talents of their respective Sects and Taoist Temples. They should only appear in the final stages of a major war. How could one show up at this time? I don’t understand," Cheng Hu said, his voice raspy.
Li Zixing shot him a glare. "I’m asking you for solutions, and you’re questioning me back?"
After an awkward chuckle from Cheng Hu, everyone else remained silent.
Li Zixing’s mind raced. He instantly understood their hesitation. "I’m not an inflexible man," he declared. "Request reinforcements!"
