Redemption of a Born Demon-Chapter 34: Peerless Evil Sword: Kills Foes, Kin, and Self (Part 2)
"The Evil Qi you carry is the heaviest I have ever witnessed in my life. It is no weaker than my own."
Yi Beidou said. Looking at the man, for a moment, it was as if he were seeing a reflection of himself. The man’s Evil Qi was so heavy it could rival his own Celestial Demon Body.
In fact, it might even be greater.
To control Evil Qi with an array from nearly a hundred meters away and affect him—how could this be the work of an ordinary man?
"We are different, after all. The Evil Qi I carry was accumulated gradually over the years, growing as my strength increased. But your Evil Qi is Innate, born from your very body. How can the two be compared?"
Fang Xiuyuan said with a smile.
Yi Beidou understood what he meant.
The weight of Fang Xiuyuan’s Evil Qi was a result of the path he walked. He roamed the land, slaying dragons and phoenixes—and were dragons and phoenixes so easy to slay?
A Dragon Vein is the spiritual Essence of the land. To sever one is to earn the scorn of Heaven and Earth. The Qi of these "dragons and phoenixes" transforms into Evil Qi that clings to the body, influencing one’s mind and Spirit, altering one’s destiny, and ensuring that nothing goes smoothly.
Fang Xiuyuan’s Evil Qi had been accumulated step by step through his continuous Cultivation, most of it gathered after his Ascension.
But Yi Beidou was different. His was naturally formed, nurtured by his own body. Before his Ascension, his Evil Qi was already overwhelming; after his Ascension, it spun completely out of control.
If one were to truly compare, the acquired could never match the Innate.
"I read your file," Yi Beidou said. "I know you slay dragons and phoenixes for the sake of all people."
"HAHAHAHAHA! You flatter me. I do slay dragons and phoenixes, and yes, one reason is to sever all the Dragon Veins, to bless the myriad households, and to ensure no single family name can again throw the world into chaos. But this is also for the sake of my own Cultivation."
"In years past, when the nation was in turmoil, someone led the people to slay a dragon—an unprecedented act that gave birth to this new age, the likes of which haven’t been seen in three thousand years. Now, I defy the taboos of feng shui and seek to slay every great dragon in the world. I, too, wish to do what no one has done before. With all this karma upon my shoulders, I want to see the limits of this path, to see if there are new vistas ahead," Fang Xiuyuan said with a great laugh.
"What incredible spirit. Care to offer some pointers?"
Hearing this, Yi Beidou knew that the man before him was a fellow traveler on the path, one whose heart was resolute in its search for the Dao. A sharp glint immediately flashed in his eyes.
"No need to rush," Fang Xiuyuan asked. "I wander the world, and though I have some martial skill to protect myself, it is not my true path. Today, I intend to sever the great dragon of Cloud Prison Mountain. I invite you to join me. The outcome will reveal itself then. What do you say?"
"I have no objection. It will be a good opportunity to comprehend the Great Trend of the mountains and rivers."
After a moment of thought, Yi Beidou nodded in agreement, not pressing the issue.
"In that case, let us form a friendly bond. I heard from Killing Heart Buddha that you wish to borrow this Evil Sword of mine to have a look?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Fang Xiuyuan’s gaze fell upon the longsword before him. It was wrapped in golden threads, serving as the anchor at the heart of the array.
"Correct. I am currently studying martial arts and wish to comprehend the True Intent of Ascension contained within," Yi Beidou replied.
"Lending you this Silent Heart Sword is no problem. However, from what you’ve said, you seem to possess the ability of Synesthetic True Intent. I must warn you of the dangers."
"This sword belonged to a peerless fiend from ancient times. The man had no family name or given name—he had even severed his own name—and is not recorded in history. He entered the path of mercilessness through slaughter, killing his enemies, his family, and even himself. During a chaotic era of changing dynasties, he once stirred up monstrous waves. This sword absorbed his True Intent and witnessed his Ascension. The killing intent and Evil Qi within it are strong enough to twist the human heart. Historically, anyone who acquired this sword and resonated with it was inevitably influenced, their bloodlust becoming uncontrollable, and they all met a wretched end."
"Over the years, this sword has been with me as I’ve slain dragons and phoenixes, and it has absorbed the draconic and phantasmal Evil Qi from the earth’s veins, piling evil on top of evil. You should have felt it earlier—forty percent of the Evil Qi in the array comes from this blade. In truth, even I cannot truly wield it. I have only ever used it as a Dharma Artifact, an anchor for the arrays on my path," Fang Xiuyuan said, his expression grave.
"My Heart Intent can subdue all forms of evil. Why would I fear a mere sword?" Yi Beidou stated calmly.
"In that case, I wish you success."
Hearing this, Fang Xiuyuan knew Yi Beidou’s will was resolute and stopped trying to dissuade him. With a slight extension of his hand, he gestured for Yi Beidou to do as he pleased.
Yi Beidou stepped forward, grasped the hilt, and drew the longsword from its Sword Scabbard.
Though the blade had been meticulously maintained, it was still mottled with stains. Bloodstains covered it, having seeped deep into the metal itself. A Fierce Evil Qi surged from it, seeming to pierce the very clouds.
Yi Beidou submerged his Heart Intent into the blade and immediately sensed a multitude of lingering wills.
KILL! KILL! KILL!
Figure after figure flashed past like phantoms of light and shadow, each one holding the sword in a crazed frenzy. At last, all the images vanished, leaving only a single silhouette.
This silhouette was dressed in ancient attire. Its face was unclear, and its name was unknowable.
The wind howled on a dark, moonless night. The scene was a sprawling estate of mansions and pavilions.
The man stood calmly, sword in hand, amid a pool of blood. Corpses littered the ground around him.
Among the bodies were his father, his younger sister, his mother, and all his other loved ones.
The scene shifted. It was now a mountain forest, also littered with bodies. A young girl, her face bloody, used the last of her strength to tug at the man’s pant leg.
The expression on the man’s face shifted several times. Finally, he abruptly swung the bloodstained longsword. The girl’s arm was severed. He then thrust the sword into her eye socket.
The world fell completely silent, and the man’s expression became utterly serene.
Through the Synesthesia, Yi Beidou viscerally experienced the man’s entire process: from hesitation, to confusion, to final, utter calm.
Scene after scene flickered through his mind. There was peace mixed with the bloodshed, a crazed obsession contained within the peace, and a psychic contamination that would be unbearable for any ordinary person.
The man’s deeds utterly violated the laws of Heaven and the bonds of humanity. The Evil Qi contained within was as vast as an ocean.
This was a peerless fiend, a peerless zealot—one might even call him a madman.
’My heart is still attached? How can I seek the Dao? Kill!’
’My worldly ties remain? How can I seek the Dao? Kill!’
’My mind is disturbed? How can I seek the Dao? Kill!’
To pursue the supreme Dao in his heart, he severed every attachment. Anyone who stirred an emotion within him was slain without exception. He even severed his own name, and in those days, the world knew him only as "the Nameless One."
He continued until his heart no longer stirred, until no ties bound him to the world. All that remained was a heart that sought the Dao, and the pursuit of that Dao became his sole reason for living.
Through this crazed enlightenment, he achieved Body Ascension. He traveled the world, leaving behind a trail of endless slaughter, until he had no equal left under heaven.
In fact, his penchant for killing was so extreme that, to prevent anyone in later generations from following his path, no one recorded his deeds in the annals of history, hoping he would simply be forgotten.
He could advance no further. As he wandered among the mountains and rivers, he had a sudden realization one day: his own body had become an obstacle.
’Without the burden of this flesh, without the shackles of this physical form, how could my Dao stop here? It must be severed!’
Inside a mountain cave, the man drew his sword and struck at his own body. He carved away his Ascended flesh and blood, piece by piece, revealing ghastly white bone and his internal organs beneath.
The potent Life Force of Body Ascension sustained him as he carved nearly two-thirds of his body down to the skeleton.
It was a horrific scene beyond description.
Killing enemies, killing family, and finally, killing himself. Fang Xiuyuan hadn’t exaggerated in the slightest.
Just as his life was about to end, the man seemed to have a sudden epiphany. He burst into wild laughter. "HAHAHAHA! I see it!! I see it!!"
’What did you see?’ Yi Beidou frowned slightly as he watched the scene, subconsciously asking in his mind.
’The man was utterly insane. Could it be that through such an extreme act, he actually comprehended something incredible? Did he see the path forward?’
The next moment, as if in answer to Yi Beidou’s question, the bloody, skeletal figure abruptly turned its head. Its terrifying, gouged-out eye sockets seemed to peer across the river of time and lock gazes with Yi Beidou.
The corners of his mutilated mouth twisted into an eerie smile.
"I saw..."
"You!!!"
