Chapter 169 - 168: Ancient Red Lotus Sword Light

Inside the study.

Luo Tian felt a sense of unwillingness; he hadn’t given up.

He didn’t entirely believe in the so-called concept of fate and destiny.

Just think.

If Luo Tian possessed the power of a Celestial Level Martial Artist, or even a Martial Venerable, the Red Lotus Sword, being merely a weapon, would find it difficult to resist and would inevitably fall into the hands of the strong.

"Celestial Book, is there a clever way to bypass this sword’s restrictive rules?"

Luo Tian asked.

"Insufficient Celestial Book Power."

The pages of the Celestial Book were dim.

Although the Creation Celestial Book could perform Inference on all things and was said to be omniscient, it required a sufficient price.

Luo Tian had no choice but to consume all the spoils he had won from Dongmen Lin—a large pile of Treasure Materials and Spiritual Essence Coins.

Instantly, the Celestial Book filled with the power of one to two hundred pages, enough to perform the Inference.

Before long, over a hundred pages of power were consumed.

The Celestial Book provided two feasible plans. It didn’t guarantee absolute success, but they had at least a forty to fifty percent chance.

The first plan: Deception.

Luo Tian could use the Red Lotus Fruit to simulate the false aura of a Cultivation Technique compatible with the Red Lotus Martial Venerable’s legacy. Combined with his own rudimentary grasp of Sword Intent, he had a chance to deceive the Red Lotus Sword.

After all, the Red Lotus Sword was just a weapon. Even if it was Spiritual, it lacked true intelligence.

The second plan: Cater to its desires and make a promise.

"I’ll go with the second one."

Luo Tian immediately ruled out the first option.

It was best to avoid deception if he could.

Luo Tian didn’t like deceiving others, not even a weapon.

"Red Lotus Sword."

Luo Tian gripped the hilt, his Spiritual Sense permeating it. Through the Spirit Communication Secret Skill, he conveyed his thoughts.

It was with this same Spirit Communication Secret Skill that Luo Tian had communicated with the Sleeping Beast and made a promise.

"If you are willing to follow me, I promise that I will help you improve your quality in the future."

Luo Tian said slowly.

VMMMM!

The Red Lotus Sword immediately hummed and trembled, its blade pulsing with several wisps of red mist resembling sword lotuses. It seemed almost gleeful.

Clearly, Luo Tian’s promise had greatly tempted it.

The reason was that the Red Lotus Sword had been the weapon used by the Red Lotus Martial Venerable during the early-to-mid stages of his life.

Once the Martial Venerable reached his peak, he acquired more powerful Divine Soldiers. Afterward, he rarely used the Red Lotus Sword, even leaving it in his study for years on end.

As a result, the Red Lotus Sword developed a lingering obsession: it wanted to become stronger and follow its master into battle once more.

Luo Tian’s promise perfectly aligned with the Red Lotus Sword’s obsession.

However, after a brief, joyful tremor, the Red Lotus Sword fell silent once more.

"My second promise."

Luo Tian wasn’t worried. A smile appeared on his face.

"In the future, I will help you find a new master, a suitable heir to the Red Lotus Martial Venerable’s legacy. Your chances of success with me are hundreds, even thousands of times greater than just sitting here in this Secret Realm grotto."

SHING!

As soon as he said this, the Red Lotus Sword in his hand suddenly slid half a foot out of its sheath.

In that instant, the brilliant Sword Light of a red mist lotus shadow illuminated the entire study, its glow reflecting on Luo Tian’s face.

Luo Tian’s heart pounded with excitement; he was overjoyed.

The first promise had aligned with the Red Lotus Sword’s personal obsession.

But that was far from enough.

The Red Lotus Sword still had the mission left to it by the Red Lotus Martial Venerable: to find a suitable successor.

In the Red Lotus Sword’s "heart," its master’s mission came first.

Therefore, when Luo Tian made the second promise, he immediately received the Red Lotus Sword’s strongest response.

At this moment, having drawn the Red Lotus Sword half a foot from its scabbard, Luo Tian was halfway to success.

This was an outcome that Zheng Wei and the others would have found unimaginable.

However, Luo Tian’s hand on the sword felt a final trace of resistance, preventing him from drawing the Red Lotus Sword completely.

The two promises had clearly moved the Red Lotus Sword.

But a promise was still just a promise.

The Red Lotus Sword had one last reservation.

Luo Tian’s eyes glinted. If he could just break through this final point, he would gain the Red Lotus Sword’s complete recognition.

At the same time.

In a hall dozens of meters away.

"Young Master Zheng! I’ve found the Red Lotus Martial Venerable’s Cultivation Room!"

The withered, thin man exclaimed.

He stood in an elegant, quiet room.

In the center of the room sat a meditation mat shaped like a snow lotus, as large as an ordinary bed.

"This is the legendary Ice Heart Meditation Mat!"

The thin man’s eyes bulged as he recognized the mat.

The Ice Heart Meditation Mat, popular since the Ancient Era, was a Cultivation Meditation Mat crafted from precious Treasure Materials like Ten Thousand Years Ice Silkworm Silk and Profound Ice Snow Lotus.

This mat had the miraculous effect of calming one’s mind, and it could also increase the speed of both Cultivation and comprehension.

Typically, only Martial Artists at the Celestial Tier or above could afford to use an Ice Heart Meditation Mat.

"This mat can be moved!"

The thin man reached out to test it and was thrilled.

While the Red Lotus Sword was more valuable, it was unattainable.

This Ice Heart Meditation Mat, on the other hand, was clearly there for the taking.

Just then, with a SWISH, a graceful figure as white as snow and beautiful as ice leaped elegantly into the Martial Venerable’s Cultivation Room.

"Xia... Xia Bingyue!"

The thin man’s gaze hardened, and the corner of his mouth twisted into a cold sneer.

Xia Bingyue’s starry eyes shifted, landed on the Ice Heart Meditation Mat, and she immediately reached for it.

While the Ice Heart Meditation Mat could calm the minds of others and boost their Cultivation and comprehension speeds, its benefits for her were even greater.

"In your dreams!"

The thin man roared, swinging his Bone Bow to create a ghastly white arc in an attempt to stop Xia Bingyue.

He was ranked third on the last Human List of the Qiu Yue Kingdom. He only needed to delay Xia Bingyue for a few breaths; once Zheng Wei, Dongmen Lin, and the others arrived, they could easily capture her.

SHIING!

Xia Bingyue slashed out a dazzlingly bright, snow-white arc of sword light. It carried the chilling essence of a lonely, snow-covered peak, its power far surpassing what she had shown at the Wu Mansion’s grand event.

BANG! SPLURT!

The thin man screamed as he was sent flying backward by the sword strike.

A Sword Mark ran from top to bottom, nearly splitting his chest wide open.

’This woman... she’s so powerful!’

The thin man’s face was a mask of bitterness as he collapsed into a pool of his own blood, his aura fading.

As he collapsed, his palm opened to reveal a fat green worm holding a scrap of white fabric in its mouth.

"This white scrap?"

Xia Bingyue’s beautiful face paled. The scrap the worm was holding came from the white clothes she had worn earlier and still carried her scent.

’Could it be that the people of Qiu Yue Kingdom knew I was tracking them all along?’

"Hahaha! The beauty took the bait!"

Zheng Wei roared with laughter as he arrived, a golden shadow moving like a soaring roc.

He clutched a piece of white gauze, which he brought to his nose, taking a long, savoring sniff with an intoxicated expression.

This was the gauze he had torn from her chest during the fight in the Profound Spirit Hall.

Zheng Wei had been using the thin man’s tracking abilities to create an opportunity to capture Xia Bingyue.

Splitting up to search earlier had all been a ruse to lure her in.

SWOOSH!

Xia Bingyue used a Light Body Technique, intending to flee this treacherous place.

"Hehe! Where do you think you’re going, little beauty?"

A charming woman in pink clothes appeared at the other end of the room, blocking Xia Bingyue’s escape.

Flying Dragon Claw!

A massive, tyrannical golden light in the shape of a sharp Flood Dragon claw, its golden patterns glinting, slashed toward Xia Bingyue.

The power of this claw surpassed that of Dongmen Lin, who was ranked first on the Qiu Yue Kingdom’s Human List.

WHOOSH!

Xia Bingyue’s face remained exquisitely beautiful and serene. Her snow-white sleeves fluttered as the outline of an ethereal sword shadow condensed within her starry eyes.

SHIING!

Xia Bingyue unleashed a magnificent, crystalline Sword Light, causing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to resonate with it, summoning a Sword Momentum that felt like a glacier in the dead of winter.

BANG! SPLURT!

The Sword Light forcefully shattered Zheng Wei’s golden claw mark, its residual power exploding around him.

"This bitch! She’s even stronger than last time!"

Zheng Wei retreated hastily, a layer of fine, dark brown lines appearing on his skin to enhance his defenses.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Magnificent flashes of Sword Light, like white lightning, closed in on him one after another.

Zheng Wei was instantly put on the defensive. He not only activated the Defense of his Martial Vein, but a Defensive Treasure Armor under his robes also flared with the light of golden scales to block some of the attacks.

One must remember, last time it took Luo Tian and Xia Bingyue working together to force Zheng Wei into using these defenses.

"Go!"

The woman in pink flicked her sleeve, sending a cluster of pink light flying toward Xia Bingyue from behind.

Xia Bingyue instinctively moved to dodge.

Flying Dragon in the Sky!

Zheng Wei roared as the golden patterns on his body flashed, and he lunged at Xia Bingyue like a pouncing dragon.

At the critical moment, Zheng Wei unleashed a powerful killing move, forcing Xia Bingyue to block with her sword.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

The Sword Light from Xia Bingyue’s swing forced Zheng Wei back before she spun and shattered the pink light cluster that had drawn near.

But then, something unexpected happened.

FWOOM!

The pink light cluster exploded, turning into a pink mist that completely enveloped Xia Bingyue.

"This..."

The color drained from Xia Bingyue’s beautiful face. Her body swayed, feeling weak.

She tried to circulate her True Qi to expel the pink mist that had invaded her body.

However, her muscles and bones only grew softer, and she couldn’t summon any strength at all.

"Hehe! You’ve been hit by the Peachy Drunken Immortal Fragrance. The more you try to circulate your True Qi, the faster it takes effect."

The woman in pink smiled seductively.

THUMP!

Xia Bingyue’s ethereal form swayed unsteadily before she finally crumpled to the ground, using her sword to prop herself up.

"Haha! Well done!"

Zheng Wei flew over, easily captured Xia Bingyue, and sealed her Cultivation.

"Hehe! Young Master Zheng, enjoy yourself. Even a goddess will turn into a wanton harlot when hit with the Peachy Drunken Immortal Fragrance."

The woman in pink said with a grin.

"Hahaha! This ice-goddess is so exciting."

Zheng Wei scooped Xia Bingyue up by her waist and walked into the Cultivation Room.

Xia Bingyue’s entire body was limp. An inexplicable wave of lust washed over her, causing her jade-like, ethereal body to flush red and tremble slightly.

Inside the Cultivation Room.

Zheng Wei fetched the Ice Heart Meditation Mat and threw Xia Bingyue onto it.

Instantly, a trace of coolness from the Ice Heart Meditation Mat flooded into Xia Bingyue’s mind.

Although her body was overcome by the power of lust, her mind remained perfectly clear.

"Excellent! This Young Master wants you to maintain a clear ’Ice Heart,’ to consciously enjoy the sensation of being conquered."

Zheng Wei’s face twisted into a savage grin, drool dripping from his mouth as he reached out to undo Xia Bingyue’s snow-white dress.

Her flawless, jade-like body, a masterpiece of natural carving, was revealed bit by bit, like a crystalline grape being peeled.

...

At the same moment.

Inside the study, fifty meters away.

"Red Lotus Sword, can you feel this aura?"

"That’s right! This is the aura of the Demon Emperor Bone. With its help, I can raise your quality by a massive margin."

Luo Tian slightly loosened the Celestial Book Seal, releasing a wisp of the Demon Emperor Bone’s aura.

CLANG!

The crimson, lotus-patterned blade slid two-thirds of the way out of its sheath.

Immediately after, Luo Tian deliberately released a trace of his Divine Vein’s aura and declared proudly,

"This is the aptitude of a Divine Vein, even stronger than that of your master, the Red Lotus Martial Venerable."

"My future accomplishments will surpass even your master’s. Are you still worried I won’t fulfill my promises?"

VMM! SHIIING!

The Red Lotus Sword was drawn completely!

Its clear, sonorous cry echoed throughout the entire grotto-mansion!

WHOOSH-BOOM—

A beam of light, like a Red Mist Sword Lotus from Ancient Times, burst through the study hall, shooting into the heavens like a world-shaking rainbow!