Chapter 12: The Spirit Sword Drinks Blood

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The demon clan and beast demons are distinct species; the demon clan is born in human form and can shift between human and beast shapes. Most of the demon clan dwell in the demon realm, living in peaceful coexistence with humans. However, a small faction harbors malicious intent, secretly infiltrating the cultivation world to ruthlessly slaughter humans. Thus, the cultivation realm has always regarded this faction with hostility. Cultivators must avoid accumulating excessive killing karma, lest they fail the tribulation of thunder during their ascension. Therefore, cultivators often spare those demons who cause no harm to humans.

Before guarding the Sword Pool, the elder had slain many demons during his travels and could sense that this demon’s aura was stained with thousands of murderous intents. “Song Zhiyuan, I have already sent word to the sect leader. You must lead them to leave here immediately.” Song Zhiyuan remained unmoved. “Elder, it’s just a mere demon. We can handle it ourselves. There’s no need to trouble the sect leader, right?” Although his face remained calm, his heart raced with excitement. It seemed the Sword Pool had detected Qi Yan’s demonic aura. This time, he vowed, Qi Yan would die without a burial place.

“You ignorant child, what do you know!” the Sword Pool elder scolded angrily. “If I’m not mistaken, that demon’s cultivation level is at least at the Refining Void stage!” Song Zhiyuan gasped. “Elder, you must be joking. The sect leader has only just reached the late Transforming Spirit stage!” Yun Zhao was surprised. She remembered that when Qi Yan had slaughtered Song Zhiyuan and the heroine Xue Huairui, he was at the Refining Void stage.

Before they could speak further, a powerful spiritual energy ripple burst forth layer upon layer. The Sword Pool elder hastily activated a spiritual barrier to protect his disciples. Because of this, they couldn’t escape and could only hope the sect leader and others would arrive soon. “Fool!” The elder cursed in frustration. “What nonsense were you spouting before? Now look, you can’t even escape!” Only then did Song Zhiyuan realize the gravity of the situation. He couldn’t believe Qi Yan had made such a commotion. How could he be at the Refining Void stage? That realm was beyond even his master’s reach!

Near the Sword Pool, Qi Yan gripped a pure white spiritual sword, his eyes glowing red. Anyone seeing him now would know he was on the verge of succumbing to demonic influence. Feeling the surging spiritual power about to flood his body, he closed his eyes and forced himself to suppress the demonic tendencies. It was a joke—out here were cultivators everywhere, and if he gave in even once, they would crush him before he could rise. “Bloodthirst,” Qi Yan murmured, touching the sword. “That’s your name.” The Bloodthirst Sword hummed, clearly pleased with its name.

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Only then did Qi Yan have the time to look around, feeling a bit sheepish about the chaos he had caused. Perhaps... he had gone a little overboard. The Sword Pool elder, having not yet seen the arrival of Master Guiyuan and others, was the first to confront Qi Yan. Holding the Bloodthirst Sword, his hair slightly disheveled, Qi Yan approached the elder with an apologetic tone. “Elder, the disturbance just now was caused by me. I am willing to bear the consequences.”

The Sword Pool elder frowned and quickly produced a binding immortal rope, tying Qi Yan up tightly. “Elder,” Yun Zhao rushed over, “what are you doing?” Could it be that Qi Yan’s demonic aura was no longer concealed? She anxiously glanced at Qi Yan, who remained calm and expressionless. The elder said nothing for a long moment before speaking gravely, “You carry a strong demonic aura. Qi Yan, who exactly are you?”

Qi Yan met the elder’s gaze squarely. “I am a disciple of the Qingyun Sect.” The elder scrutinized him from head to toe several times, then said, “Do not resist. I will use divine sense to examine you.” Qi Yan nodded and submitted to the inspection. Song Zhiyuan stood behind the elder with a smile, but inwardly felt uneasy. Qi Yan’s open and fearless attitude toward the divine sense inspection—did he have some trick up his sleeve? He was correct.

The elder checked twice thoroughly. Seeing Qi Yan’s composed demeanor, Yun Zhao even brought out a light-emitting spiritual device to illuminate the elder’s inspection. “Go away,” the elder waved her off. “I can see clearly enough.” Yun Zhao smiled mischievously, “With the light device, wouldn’t you see even better, Elder?” “You must check my Yan properly,” she added plaintively. “I don’t know if it’s just bad luck, but some people keep saying he’s a demon. Last time he was examined by the sect leader, and now just picking a spiritual sword has caused such a commotion.”

The Sword Pool elder was a strict and disciplined man devoted to cultivation, uninterested in sect affairs. However, the disciples training here had heard the rumors of what had transpired in the council hall, whispering among themselves until the elder grasped the situation. Finding no demonic aura on Qi Yan, he concluded that Qi Yan was human and that this whole fiasco was Song Zhiyuan’s doing. The elder then harshly scolded Song Zhiyuan, berating him severely. The more he scolded, the more justified he felt. Selecting spiritual swords for new disciples was the elder’s duty, and Song Zhiyuan, even as the sect leader’s chief disciple, had no right to interfere.

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Had it not been for Master Guiyuan’s timely arrival, Song Zhiyuan wouldn’t have been allowed back to the main peak tonight. Out of respect for Master Guiyuan, the Sword Pool elder finally relented. “From today onward, for one month, Song Zhiyuan is forbidden from training at the Sword Pool.” With that, the elder swept his sleeves and left.

Song Zhiyuan tried hard to ignore the curious stares of the surrounding disciples, gritting his teeth. “Master...” Yun Zhao’s loud voice drowned out his. “Sect leader, although this was not Qi Yan’s fault, the area near the Sword Pool has been damaged.” “Qingyun Peak will take full responsibility. Please have the sect leader arrange for an assessment of the damage so I can pay the spiritual stones.” Master Guiyuan ignored Song Zhiyuan and gently said to Yun Zhao, “Zhao Zhao, this matter does not concern you. Perhaps the Sword Pool has some issue; I will send people to investigate.”

Yun Zhao had only been making polite remarks and did not refuse when Master Guiyuan said this. Master Guiyuan glanced at Qi Yan’s spiritual sword, praised it a little, then left with Song Zhiyuan. On the way back to Qingyun Peak, Yun Zhao examined the Bloodthirst Sword closely, touching here and peering there, eager to understand every detail. “Such a beautiful spiritual sword, Qi Yan, what’s its name?” Yun Zhao had a suspicion but dared not confirm it.

Qi Yan glanced at the sword, which showed no resistance to Yun Zhao. “Bloodthirst.” Yun Zhao shivered and froze for two seconds before praising the sword, “What a great name! Just hearing it, you know it will be a legendary sword in the cultivation world!” Good, that confirmed it. This was the spiritual sword that would one day emerge victorious from countless battles, its blade stained with more blood than the water Yun Zhao had ever drunk.

For a time, people would tremble at the mention of the Bloodthirst Sword’s name. Qi Yan, taller than Yun Zhao, caught her reaction and his pupils flickered with a dark light. “Judging by how you look... you seem to have heard of Bloodthirst before?” Yun Zhao felt a chill sweep over her. She struggled to turn on the sword and met Qi Yan’s gaze. “I have.”