Chapter 542: Wansheng Sword Demon (3)

Qiu Qing, even within the Red Heart Sect, was one of the strongest Martial Artists below the Sect Leader. Aided by the South Mansion’s Grand Array, his strength had now unquestionably reached the Peak of Innate level.

The Golden Fire burned fiercely, but its golden hue was gradually fading. The color grew increasingly pure, shifting to a dazzling silver-white.

The Red Heart Sect’s method of refining Primordial Qi progresses from Blood Qi to Blood Fire, from Blood Fire to Crimson Fire, and from Crimson Fire to Golden Fire. As the flame’s color changes from intense to pure, it signifies a process of purifying Primordial Qi, purging impurities, and strengthening the self.

Golden Fire was the limit below the Innate level, but it was not yet Above Innate.

As the Golden Fire was refined further, its impurities vanished until it turned silver-white. At that point, the nature of the Primordial Qi was no longer that of fire.

It was thunder and lightning!!

According to the Red Heart Sect’s Imperial Decree, the Great Spirit Official is titled the “No. 35 Train Thunder God.” Thunder Fire is the very symbol of the Red Heart Sect!

Flashes of thunder, like a Wandering Dragon, coiled around Qiu Qing’s body, stimulating the deepest potential within him. His body suddenly swelled to nearly twice its size, his height approaching four meters.

His hair and beard bristled with rage, his face twisting into a fiendish visage. With broad shoulders and a thick waist, his eyes crackled like lightning as Thunder Fire forged itself into his armor!

This was the visage of the Red Heart Guardian Spirit Official!

“Qiu Qing of the Red Heart Sect. I suppose we can be considered old acquaintances.”

Sword Gu roared with laughter. He reached up and threw back his own cloak, revealing a bizarre face.

One half of his face was normal, that of a young man with his hair tied back. The other half, however, was a nauseating mass of twisted flesh, jumbled features, and constantly writhing muscle.

But the one remaining half-face was still enough for Qiu Qing’s pupils to shrink as he recognized the man’s identity.

“The Wansheng Sword Demon, Dugu Xing!”

The Wansheng Sword Demon. A name that had made the entire Heqing Dao tremble twenty years ago. The man hailed from the Rebirth Palace and was a contemporary of Qiu Qing’s. He had once been the Rebirth Palace’s foremost genius, a talent so brilliant he overshadowed all other experts of his generation. His fame had even spread throughout the Great Wei, and he was considered the pride of the Rebirth Palace—the only choice for the next Sect Leader.

But after reaching the Peak of Innate, he was unable to break through to the Divine Techniques Realm. He later delved deep into the Rebirth Infinite Method and gradually descended into madness. Believing the Rebirth Palace’s methods were deeply flawed, he sought to forge a new path at any cost. He combined it with an Ancient Evil Technique he had stumbled upon and began a rampage, capturing and killing experts across Heqing Dao to test his new Techniques, plunging the entire region into chaos.

Ultimately, the Sect Leaders of the Five Sects had to unite with a host of Innate Experts in a demon-slaying campaign to finally kill him. The Rebirth Palace suffered devastating losses in that battle, and its Sect Leader, a master of the Divine Techniques Realm, passed away from old age soon after.

Before that, the Rebirth Palace had been the undisputed number one sect in Heqing Dao, its power and prestige far greater than it is today.

Qiu Qing himself had participated in that demon-slaying campaign. He had personally witnessed the man’s body turn to ash within the Sword Light of the Rebirth Palace’s previous Sect Leader, not a trace of his Primordial Qi or soul left behind. It had happened under the watchful eyes of countless experts. ‘How could he possibly still be alive?!’

“It’s been a long time. Today, let’s see if you’ve made any progress over the years!”

A flamboyant smile touched the corners of Sword Gu’s lips.

‘Since I’m leading the attack this time, my identity can’t be hidden. The combination of the Rebirth Palace’s Ultimate Skill and this strange, evil Sword Way will instantly give me away.’

‘My abilities and identity are the easiest to recognize, which is precisely why the Yin Tower Organization chose me, out of the eight of us, to be the main attacker.’

‘But I don’t care. Let my identity be exposed. This time, I *want* certain people to know.’

‘That I succeeded all those years ago.’

‘I developed the Ultimate Skill of the Rebirth Palace to a higher level. It is now perfect and flawless!’