Chapter 426: Black Tortoise and Demon Sparrow

Suddenly, just as Ta'e was starting to struggle back up, it crashed down with a THUD.

At the same time, Shen Daoxing's fist, glowing with a dazzling light, smashed down once more.

One punch after another.

"BANG!"

"BANG!"

"BANG!"

…

"Do you submit? Do you submit?"

Shen Daoxing's fists fell again and again. With each punch, the light emanating from Ta'e dimmed a little more.

A moment later.

ZZZT!

Black arcs of electricity flashed across Shen Daoxing's fist. Without a shred of mercy, he raised it high and slammed it down.

"BOOM!"

Instantly, the body of the Ta'e Sword trembled violently. Mysterious runes on its surface flared to life before quickly dimming. A moment later, Ta'e slowly shrank, returning to its original form.

Then, Ta'e let out a mournful cry, as if it was surrendering to Shen Daoxing.

Only then did Shen Daoxing nod, lifting the foot that had been pinning the Ta'e Sword.

But just then, the previously dim Ta'e suddenly erupted in a brilliant light, its power surging dramatically.

"WHOOM!"

Immediately, a deep, rumbling sound emanated from within it.

In a blur, Shen Daoxing saw a colossal figure fly out of Ta'e and tackle him to the ground.

'Well, I'll be damned!'

'A sword that knows all's fair in war and pulls a sneak attack!'

Shen Daoxing was stunned for a moment.

Looking up, he saw that the creature pinning him down was a gigantic and incredibly heavy turtle, but the head poking out of its shell was as ferocious as a dragon's.

Meanwhile, a long Profound Serpent with sharp, equally ferocious eyes was coiled around the giant turtle's shell.

This was the Black Tortoise.

Shen Daoxing instantly recalled the myths and legends from ancient texts.

'So this is Ta'e's true form—the Sword Spirit of a Divine Soldier. Divine Soldiers that gain consciousness nurture their own unique Sword Spirits, just like the Sword Spirit in my Great Ming Demon Sparrow is a Demon Sparrow.'

After the Black Tortoise pinned him, its fearsome turtle head shot out, snapping viciously at Shen Daoxing.

Shen Daoxing quickly twisted his head, barely dodging the attack.

But the next moment...

The ferocious Profound Serpent on the Black Tortoise's back flicked its crimson tongue and suddenly lunged to bite him.

Shen Daoxing reacted instantly, shooting out a hand to seize the Profound Serpent by the neck, stopping the attack just in the nick of time.

At the same time, the immense Spiritual Power within Shen Daoxing surged. He slammed his feet onto the ground, using the force to flip his entire body over. With a powerful kick, he reversed their positions, pinning the Black Tortoise beneath him.

Then, Shen Daoxing raised his black-and-gold fist high and smashed it down.

"BANG!"

He smashed his fist onto the turtle's head as it lunged at him.

"BANG!"

Then, another punch landed viciously on the serpent's head as it attacked from the other side.

"BANG!"

"BANG!"

"BANG!"

One heavy, merciless punch after another rained down, each one meant to teach the creature a harsh lesson.

After the barrage of punches, the Black Tortoise's two heads—the turtle's and the serpent's—were swaying, the world spinning around them.

"Do you submit?"

Shen Daoxing once again raised his fist high.

"WHIMPER!"

The Black Tortoise's two heads let out a mournful cry, shrinking back in fear. It seemed to have finally lost its nerve, lowering both heads and nodding repeatedly in surrender.

Only then did Shen Daoxing lower his fist.

But the moment he relaxed, a shadow fell over him. Ta'e had flown into the air and was now striking down viciously from behind.

'The nerve!'

'What a dishonorable sword. It has no integrity at all.'

Shen Daoxing was stunned for a moment, and just as he was about to dodge...

...the Profound Serpent beneath him suddenly twisted its long body, coiling around him again and again.

ZZZT!

The black-and-gold light on Shen Daoxing's arms erupted as arcs of black electricity crackled around them. He grabbed the long serpent's body, and a fierce struggle began.

But above his head, Ta'e descended silently with a SWOOSH.

Just then.

"SCREECH!"

A loud, clear cry echoed from within Shen Daoxing's Sumeru Ring.

The next moment, a dark figure shot out and slammed into Ta'e with a loud BANG, knocking it away.

It was the Great Ming Demon Sparrow.

It seemed the Black Tortoise's appearance had triggered something within the Great Ming Demon Sparrow, causing it to fly out on its own without being summoned by Shen Daoxing.

The next moment.

"SCREECH!"

A loud, clear cry erupted from the Great Ming Demon Sparrow.

Then, a colossal, phantom-like Demon Sparrow slowly emerged from the weapon. Its entire body was wreathed in roiling flames that scorched the very air, and its sharp, demonic eyes seemed to pierce one's soul.

Upon emerging and seeing the Black Tortoise, the Demon Sparrow tilted its head back with a startling, excited cry. It soared into the air, tracing a graceful arc across the sky. Spreading its sharp talons, it swooped down past the cliff, snatched the Black Tortoise, and carried it high into the heavens.

Shen Daoxing seized the opportunity to leap free, landing safely away from the Black Tortoise.

In the sky, the Black Tortoise struggled, and the Profound Serpent on its shell writhed, coiling upward in an attempt to entangle the Demon Sparrow.

Just then, however, the Demon Sparrow abruptly opened its talons, letting the Black Tortoise plummet from the sky.

But the Demon Sparrow, unhurried, traced another graceful arc through the sky, positioning itself beneath the falling Black Tortoise. With a gentle nudge of its head, it tossed the creature back into the air.

An instant later, the Demon Sparrow streaked through the sky again, appeared above the Black Tortoise, and snatched it with its talons once more.

Though the Black Tortoise was enormous, in the Demon Sparrow's grasp it was like a mere toy, utterly helpless and unable to resist being played with.

"SCREECH!"

With an excited screech, the Demon Sparrow flicked its talons, tossing the Black Tortoise high into the air once more as it flew off into the distance.

Shen Daoxing lost sight of the Demon Sparrow and the Black Tortoise, but he could still hear the Black Tortoise's low, mournful cries echoing from the distance.

A short while later, after circling Pengze Immortal Island with the Black Tortoise in its grasp, the Demon Sparrow leisurely flew back.

"THUD!"

It slammed the Black Tortoise heavily onto the ground.

The Black Tortoise's two heads—one serpent, one turtle—drooped limply, the creature looking as if it were on its last breath.

"SCREECH!"

The Demon Sparrow let out a sharp screech and raised one of its talons, preparing to strike the Black Tortoise.

The Black Tortoise's two heads shot up in alarm. Mustering their remaining strength, they prostrated themselves before the Demon Sparrow, whimpering continuously as if begging for mercy.

But the Demon Sparrow only screeched a few times, its eyes sharp, its raised talon remaining poised.

The Black Tortoise's two heads trembled. They glanced at each other, then turned to look at Shen Daoxing.

Suddenly, the Black Tortoise's colossal body fell prostrate, and both of its heads bowed low before Shen Daoxing in an act of submission.

This time, the submission was sincere.

"SWOOSH!"

Nearby, the Ta'e Sword suddenly streaked through the air, flew before Shen Daoxing, and slowly settled into his hand.

Shen Daoxing felt a sharp sting in his palm. Looking down, he saw the image of an edgeless longsword appear there. It flashed once with light, then slowly faded from view.

Without him even realizing it, Shen Daoxing could clearly feel that he had established a connection with Ta'e.