Chapter 923. Dragonfire Sword

In the end, Amon spared Pai Kuan’s life. He left the old guy sitting and shivering on the floor in his own pee. Pai Kuan was so traumatized that he didn’t realize when Amon and Xin Wuming left the tavern.

Amon took Xin Wuming to what used to be Lin Clan’s estate. It was now Madam Lin’s tomb. He observed the tomb from the sky. It was derelict and in need of repair, but otherwise unspoiled.

"There had been times when wealthy people from the town tried to buy the land and turned it into something else," Xin Wuming said about the tomb. "I made sure those people weren’t around for long."

Amon turned to Xin Wuming and said, "Thank you. You have no obligation to do that."

"I don’t, but I can’t forgive myself if I let it happen when I could have done something."

"What about the others?" Amon asked. "Gao Lan, San Guo, Qiang Dan, and Lu Fei. Are they still alive?"

"The last time I heard about them, they were, but that was many years ago," Xin Wuming answered. "They have all taken new identities to avoid being fugitives. San Guo and Lu Fei built a profitable trading business using the wealth they gained during their time in the Demon Gang. They had trading shops in almost all of Echos’ cities, even in some Farghous’ cities, but their main base of operation is in Golden Stone City.

"As for Gao Lan and Qiang Dan, they remained living in the underworld. The last I heard, they built a new organization in New Qishurg City. They mostly did dirty work for the Lei Clan, which had become one of the major clans in that city."

Amon nodded at the information. The intel that Du Ji provided him was only about the big shots of the surface world. His past followers didn’t qualify in that category, so this was all news to him.

"You shouldn’t blame them for leaving the Demon Gang," Xin Wuming said. "They stayed with me for many years. We all believe that you will return someday, but eventually, they felt the need to move on and venture out for themselves."

"Oh, I don’t blame them," Amon said. "The people I work with are mostly opportunistic individuals who stay because of the benefit I can provide. I don’t attract sentimental people who waste their time on moral dilemmas. Hence, I understand their decisions. They act within logical boundaries. It is you whom I don’t get. I can’t comprehend the reason behind your blind loyalty."

"I..."

Amon chuckled. "I’m not blaming you. I appreciate your loyalty, truly. But honestly, under normal situations, I may have ended your life myself because I don’t want to take the risk of getting attached. You see, ever since I decided to vie for power, I know that the key is to have as few weaknesses as possible. That’s why I refrain from having personal relationships, like wives or kids. They can be used against me.

"I certainly don’t want to get attached to my followers as well. I see them only as useful assets. No matter how useful an asset is, it can be sacrificed and replaced. Some might be more valuable than the others, but they are all expendable.

"Which is how I see you, an expendable asset, nothing more and nothing less. Can you live with that?"

"I would expect nothing more," Xin Wuming stated. "If you demand I give my life, I will gladly give it."

Amon shook his head. "That is why I find your existence dangerous for me. In all my life, I have only experienced two individuals who have managed to stir my heart slightly. They are no more now, and I am accountable for their deaths. You came dangerously close to their level. Tell you what, I will allow you to live, but you must promise me this."

"Anything, brother," Xin Wuming said.

Amon stared him in the eyes when he said, "If there comes a time when anyone tries to use your life to blackmail me or anything like that, you must take your own life. Can you do that?"

"I would rather die than be your weakness," Xin Wuming declared.

Amon nodded approvingly. "That said, you are too weak to aid me in any capacity for now. Here." Amon handed him a space ring.

Xin Wuming accepted the ring and peeked inside. Aside from a wealth of aer stones and cultivation pills, there were around fifty bottles with a distinct color. Amon told him to take one of the bottles out.

"Inside that bottle is a concoction called the Transcendent Poison Blood Union," Amon informed. "If you successfully integrate this poison with your body, you will no longer experience a cultivation checkpoint."

"Brother... Such a treasure is invaluable. I’m not worthy of it!"

"I will be the one to judge what you are worthy of. You are my sword. As of now, you are a worthless sword. You are of no value to me. If you want to be worthy of your title as my sword, you need to grow, and fast! That poison is the quickest way to achieve it."

Xin Wuming took another look at the bottle in his hand. Despite what he said, Amon could see the excitement in his eyes.

"Know this, though. The liquid inside is still a poison. If your body fails to cope with the poison, you will die. Also, you will need multiple consumptions to gain the effect, and you must wait one month before drinking another bottle. In other words, the process is long and torturous."

"I am not afraid of suffering," Xin Wuming declared. "If I can be someone worthy of being your sword, I will willingly go through the worst torture of hell."

"Well said. I will hold your word for it. Now, drink the poison, and I will judge your conviction."

Xin Wuming did so. He downed the entire liquid in one gulp. The reaction registered soon. His body convulsed. Amon could see him trying to endure the pain, but eventually, he gave in. His scream echoed through the sky, which drew the attention of many who happened to be near Madam Lin’s tomb. He was in so much pain that he lost control over his flight and fell to the ground.

Amon let him deal with the pain himself. He didn’t give any assistance. In reality, the pain Xin Wuming suffered was even worse than Amon’s because Amon consumed the Transcendent Poison Blood Union at a much higher cultivation level. His constitution was stronger, while Xin Wuming’s was weaker.

Xin Wuming rolled on the ground. His agonized scream never ended. The people who came to see what was going on didn’t understand what was happening. They didn’t dare to approach.

This continued for more than an hour. Finally, Xin Wuming’s scream weakened until it stopped. He lay still on the ground. Amon landed next to him and checked his pulse. It was very weak, but he was still alive. He wondered whether his survival was due to his special constitution or determination.

Amon smiled. "You don’t disappoint. Hehe. I guess that makes you worthy to receive my next gift... Once you wake up."

Amon picked Xin Wuming up and flew away with him, leaving the confused crowd.

*

When Xin Wuming woke up, he found himself inside a cave. Two things drew his attention upon waking up. One was Amon, who sat nearby. Amon no longer wore a hooded cloak. His bright red armor was free to show its splendor. The second thing that drew his attention was a sword sticking out of the ground ahead of him.

The sword was red. Its blade seemed to gleam and exude light by itself. The light on its edge kept flickering, as if the blade itself were fire being solidified. He could feel the powerful heat from the sword. The heat made him feel as if he were near a colossal bonfire instead of a sword.

"That is my gift to you," Amon told him. "The Dragonfire Sword. It is made from the claw of a Salamander Dragon, a mid-Deity Beast. The sword can be classified as a low-tier divine weapon."

"Di–Divine...!?" Xin Wuming blurted out. "Brother! This weapon is too precious. You should use it instead of me!"

Amon showed his Corrupted Justice. "Don’t be misguided. My dagger is also a low-tier divine weapon, but better than yours. I won’t give you the sword if my weapon is weaker. That said, you must prove yourself if you want to wield that sword. Go ahead. Try to pull it out."

Xin Wuming returned his attention to the fiery red sword. His face now showed determination. He rose to his feet. After checking that his body didn’t suffer permanent damage from the Transcendent Poison Blood Union, he walked toward the sword.

With each step, he could feel the heat intensifying. He was as if entering a furnace once he was within reach of the sword. He never stopped sweating, and his body kept on telling him to move away from this unbearable heat, but he persevered.

He reached for the sword. When his finger touched the sword, a spark ignited. This spark turned into a huge flame that engulfed him.