The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

"How... how is this possible?!"

In the small grove, the voice of Ji Tang rang out, filled with disbelief.

He felt the Sword Qi within his body grow restless, as if it wanted to abandon him and surge into the numb yet fervent body of the hemp-robed swordsman.

"There's nothing impossible about it, compared to you, that Taoist Sword Qi favors me more."

Juelu Sword Madman gripped the sword edge with his left hand even harder, not relaxing in the slightest, even as the Sword Qi seeped into his bone marrow.

Compared to Ji Tang, who had been granted Sword Qi by Qing Yu, Juelu Sword Madman's determination and understanding of Sword Dao far surpassed his.

Soon, a dark green Sword Snake emerged from Ji Tang's body, slithering along the long sword and touching the palm already soaked with dark green Sword Energy.

"This Sword Qi, I cannot give to you."

The Xuanyin Sword Snake's movement came to an abrupt halt just before entering Juelu Sword Madman's body. An inexplicable Will within the Sword Qi awakened, halting the Sword Snake's action.

"Not give it to me!"

Juelu Sword Madman's palm erupted with sword momentum, forcing the Sword Snake into his body, "Then I'll take it!"

Having just seen a glimmer of hope, he would not let it go easily.

"Give up. The Sword Qi has already been refined by me."

The Sword Snake remained unmoved; instead, an evil Sword Intent emerged from the Sword Qi, instantly crushing the sword momentum with which Juelu Sword Madman had pressured it.

"Juelu Sword Madman, one of the experimental products of Sword God created by Buried Sword Peak, you are also one that came closest to success but failed. That Stone Sword in your hand must be the former number fifteen on the Famous Sword List, Ju Shi, right?"

The Sword Snake raised its fierce head, its eyes shimmering with a ghostly light as if it were a living being.

"Within Buried Sword Peak, all are Sword Dao Elders left over from Sword God Lake, dedicated to restoring the status of Sword Dao. Unfortunately, they have strayed off the path. They enticed the damaged sword souls of twenty-three famous swords from the great battle at Sword God Lake into the bodies of unborn children, artificially creating so-called children of the Sword God.

For a hundred years since Buried Sword Peak, after a century of effort, they finally created what they believed to be a success—that is you."

"Shut up." Juelu Sword Madman barked.

"Do you still care about these things? You, who have reached a dead end, do you still care about old scars being torn open?"

The Sword Snake moved as if laughing, "Success and failure both lie in the sword soul. You achieved extraordinary skills in Sword Dao because of the sword soul, yet it is also the sword soul that limits your future path. Ju Shi may look like it has just a few notches, but the damage to its sword soul is quite severe. It limits your potential.

Even if you had the number one Heavenly Talent on the Famous Sword List, even if it had been broken by the Sword God, you could still create a true child of the Sword God. But Ju Shi is insufficient.

That's why you are a failure, that's why you're called Juelu Sword Madman, because you have indeed reached a dead end."

Each word was an exposé of the deepest scars within Juelu Sword Madman.

Ranked second on the Ground List, who could now be considered the first since Wunian had died, he had walked ahead of 99.999% of the people in the world's Martial Arts, but his path had come to an end.

If it were an ordinary warrior, the end of the path would be just that—there might be reluctance, but life goes on.

But Juelu Sword Madman was different, shaped as a child of the Sword God, he had nothing but the Sword Dao in his life.

If the Sword Dao also ended, then the person known as Sword Madman would also have reached the end of his life's journey.

"Very unwilling? Very angry? I admire your reluctance and anger, and it's precisely because of these pure negative emotions that the Xuanyin Sword Energy is stirred. If it weren't for the fact that the Xuanyin Sword Energy had already been refined by me, it might have actively entered your body. You are the most suitable Xuanyin Host."

"Do you want to obtain the Xuanyin Sword Energy?"

"What are you suggesting?" Juelu Sword Madman stared intently at the Sword Snake and asked.

"Even if I have refined the Sword Qi, and even if I cannot stop you from killing Ji Tang, you will not be able to obtain the Xuanyin Sword Energy. But I will give you an opportunity, an opportunity to gain the Xuanyin Sword Energy.

Come to Northern Zhou, follow Ji Tang to my presence. At that time, how much Taoist Xuanyin Sword Energy you can harvest will depend on your skills."

The sword snake writhed and returned to Ji Tang's body.

Juelu Sword Madman did not interfere, just staring intensely at Ji Tang, the frustration and longing in his eyes growing even stronger.

"Take me to your master!" Juelu Sword Madman released his sword and, paying no attention to the fresh blood from his wound, gave a direct command.

"What do you want?" Ji Tang's expression changed abruptly, his tone full of alarm and uncertainty.

Unaware of the prior mental transmission from Heart Thought, Ji Tang instantly went on high alert seeing Juelu Sword Madman speak in such a manner.

"Go to Northern Zhou, to your master, and don't make me say it twice."

The grim sword momentum surged again on the black stone sword Ju Shi, leaving Ji Tang with no doubt that if he didn't comply, the next instant the sword would fall on his own head.

"Bring him to see me."

The mysterious Heart Thought resounded in Ji Tang's mind.

'As you command.' Ji Tang responded respectfully in his heart.

"Let's go, to Northern Zhou." Ji Tang gave Juelu Sword Madman one final wary look, suppressed a trace of fear in his heart, and turned to leave.

...............

'Juelu Sword Madman, a powerful enforcer, a warrior with the potential to reach the battle power of the Divinity Realm. What a great gain...'

'And there's this too...'

Qing Yu looked at Gu Chen, who was kneeling on one knee before him.

"Daoist, the cleanup of the frontier is complete, the Blood Crystal Stone is now filled with essence blood," Gu Chen respectfully presented the bloodstone aglow with a bloody light.

"Blood Crystal Stone..."

Qing Yu extended his hand, drawing the Blood Crystal Stone into his palm, his hand caressing its irregular surface with a sigh, "For this, poor Daoist has expended quite the mental effort."

This campaign against the grasslands was for the Blood Crystal Stone. With the essence blood contained within it, and the essence blood of a Yitong Shen and two True Pills previously stored in the Xuanyin Sword Energy, the nutrients required for the main body's growth were essentially sufficient.

"Gu Chen, your contributions this time have not escaped my notice. Your resources needed to advance to the True Pill Realm will be fully provided by me, and I hope you will successfully advance and become a master of the True Pill Realm," Qing Yu said with a smile.

"Thank you, Daoist." Gu Chen bowed deeply with gratitude.

Advancing to the True Pill... Gu Chen was still a little way from the peak of the Divine Origin Realm, and one could imagine how much resources were needed to advance to the True Pill Realm. Qing Yu's promise was an exceptionally generous reward.

"The rest have also contributed; you may decide their rewards after the fact," Qing Yu waved his hand, indicating that Gu Chen could leave.

Gu Chen, very perceptive, took his leave.

After Gu Chen had left, Qing Yu raised his hand to look at the Blood Crystal Stone in his palm, no longer able to contain his joy, "A mature Saint and Demon Embryo, the most perfect foundation, hahaha..."

Laughter filled the quiet room.

"Ding, Host has started a war for personal desire, causing blood to flow like rivers, hence you are awarded 15,000 Villain Points."

The belated notification sound made Qing Yu even happier.

"Hahahaha..."