The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 1939: Chapter 2036: Peerless Sword

"Sigh, it’s truly foolish. The power of the Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree is not something anyone can possess. Although by a stroke of chance, one might obtain a branch of the Sacred Tree, once it fully revives, it will return to the Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree. Even the Heavenly Mandate cannot retain it." Within the Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree, in a vast golden world, a figure both illusory and real uttered a sigh of reflection.

Outside, Liao Can Sheng stared incredulously at the branch floating before him, as he futilely reached out, trying to grasp it, only to catch hold of nothing but air.

"No! It can’t be like this!" Liao Can Sheng couldn’t believe that the branch, which had existed within him for so many years, would suddenly abandon his body? Moreover, it took away all the Sacred Tree’s power that he had previously absorbed, along with much of his blood and vitality.

As such, not only did Liao Can Sheng gain nothing, but he also ended up severely weakened.

The branch slowly floated upwards to the Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree. Under the watchful eyes of Fang Lin and Liao Can Sheng, it connected seamlessly with a sprout on the Sacred Tree.

Seeing this, Liao Can Sheng was as if struck by a massive blow, left speechless and dazed.

Fang Lin’s expression was equally complex, with a newfound awe for the Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree deep in his heart. Indeed, it was an existence on par with the Ancient Spirit of Mountain Tu. Its power can only be bestowed by itself. Liao Can Sheng’s attempt to seize the Sacred Tree’s power with merely a branch was pure delusion. The Sacred Tree, capable of granting power, could naturally reclaim it as well.

At this moment, Liao Can Sheng had been stripped of all prior power of the Sacred Tree by the Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree, including much of his own blood and vitality.

The cost was undeniably steep, but Fang Lin felt no sympathy for Liao Can Sheng. This was entirely his own doing and couldn’t be blamed on anyone else. It was his fault for underestimating the Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree.

Perhaps, when Liao Can Sheng first obtained the branch of the Sacred Tree, it was already destined that he would meet his current fate.

Unfortunately, Liao Can Sheng had always treated this branch like a treasure, believing that it could elevate him to the level of his master.

"Why has it come to this? Why has it come to this?" Liao Can Sheng muttered repeatedly, staring at the short, sapling-like Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree.

Behind him, of the original nine famous swords, only two remained intact, while the others had been shattered by Fang Lin.

Having exerted so much effort, losing seven prized famous swords, the result was nothing to show for it. Instead, he had lost most of his blood and vitality, and now Liao Can Sheng felt an urge to faint.

"In the end, it was all in vain," Fang Lin said, waving a hand, and the ancient spear flew out from Liao Can Sheng’s skeletal hand back to Fang Lin.

Liao Can Sheng suddenly looked at Fang Lin, his gaze filled with a hint of ferocity and an inexplicable jealousy.

"Fang Lin, why are you so fortunate?" Liao Can Sheng asked.

Fang Lin frowned slightly but did not respond, nor did he hurry to take action. To him, Liao Can Sheng was already a self-destructive threat, no longer posing any danger.

Seeing Fang Lin remain silent, Liao Can Sheng muttered to himself, "You have a Martial Arts Supreme father, and a mother who is the foremost under the Martial Lord, why is your birth so advantageous? Why am I, on the other hand, always trampled upon and humiliated?"

"Liao Can Sheng, you’ve gone mad," Fang Lin said coldly.

Yet, Liao Can Sheng seemed not to hear, continuing, "Why are some born superior? Why are people like me doomed to be bullied? Fang Lin, you’re born into a world of privilege, getting whatever you want even if you do nothing, and are destined to lead a better life than people like me. Why is it so unjust?"

Fang Lin’s expression was indifferent, showing no reaction to Liao Can Sheng’s words. Matters of birth were not under Fang Lin’s control. Some are born noble; some are born lowly. This has always been the way of the world, and though Fang Lin disliked it, he also understood it was not something he could change.

Fang Lin knew nothing of Liao Can Sheng’s past, but he suspected it was probably quite tragic. The crisscrossing sword scars on his face must have a story; otherwise, Liao Can Sheng would not have kept them for so many years.

"Did you know, my name wasn’t always Liao Can Sheng. It used to be Liao Ping’an," Liao Can Sheng suddenly laughed, as if recalling something from a long time ago.

With that, Liao Can Sheng took slow steps towards Fang Lin, holding only a single sword in his hand, an ancient sword pieced together from two broken swords.

Fang Lin took a deep breath, recognizing that Liao Can Sheng intended to make one final desperate move, but Fang Lin did not lower his guard. Someone like Liao Can Sheng, even when cornered, should never be underestimated.

"Once, I had the chance to kill you, but I didn’t. Now I understand, even back then, I couldn’t have killed you," Liao Can Sheng said softly, raising the ancient sword in his hand.

In an instant, Liao Can Sheng’s sword was thrust, and Fang Lin’s pupils contracted sharply, almost without time to react, the ancient sword had already pierced through Fang Lin’s chest, exiting in a spray of blood.

Liao Can Sheng appeared behind Fang Lin, casually retrieving the ancient sword that had passed through Fang Lin’s body, without even glancing at the stunned Fang Lin.

A sword through the body in the blink of an eye, and Fang Lin had been severely injured.

"So fast!!!" Fang Lin exclaimed in shock, immediately clutching the bleeding wound on his chest, his figure ascending into the sky.

In that last strike, Fang Lin felt a rare life-or-death threat, as if the sword aimed at his head could have shattered his very soul.

Liao Can Sheng glanced up at Fang Lin, not planning another attack. That world-class sword strike had been his limit; beyond it, he had no strength to strike again.

Ultimately, the branch of the Sacred Tree had drained too much of Liao Can Sheng’s flesh and vitality. Even for a Heavenly Mandate wielder, the impact was severe.

"Master, in the end, I am not Liao Can Sheng; I am still Liao Ping’an," Liao Can Sheng murmured softly, the ancient sword in his hand still dripping with blood, soaring into the sky.

Seeing this, Fang Lin’s ancient spear flew from his hand, colliding with the advancing ancient sword.

In a flash, the ancient sword split into two, reverting to two broken swords, while the ancient spear was smashed to the ground.

Boom!!!

Liao Can Sheng suddenly turned, recklessly crashing into the Demon Clan’s Sacred Tree.

At the same time, far in the depths of the Seven Seas, the demon beasts arriving from across the Nine Countries finally encountered the ancient magic tree.