Chapter 257 - 252: Great Success of the "Annihilate" Sword Intent

"Master Fang Hua, you’re here." The Qi Cultivation disciple guarding the Soul Calming Hall lowered his head and stepped aside, not daring to even glance at Fang Hua.

Not only was Master Fang Hua’s cultivation profound, but it was said that despite having only reached Core Formation over eighty years ago, she was already close to the Golden Core Middle Stage. Moreover, her entire being radiated a sharp Sword Intent.

He’d heard a rumor that a Qi Cultivation disciple, finding Master Fang Hua incomparably beautiful, had let his gaze linger where it shouldn’t for a moment too long. He was immediately blinded by an automatic counterattack from her Sword Intent.

He didn’t know if the rumor was true or not. In his opinion, while Master Fang Hua was a bit cold, she didn’t seem cruel or vicious.

It just didn’t seem like something Master Fang Hua would do.

But in any case, this guardian disciple of the Soul Calming Hall had no desire to test that theory for himself.

It was best to avoid looking if at all possible.

Fang Hua acted as if he wasn’t there, completely ignoring his greeting.

’Then again, that was only to be expected.’

Who would dare expect a Core Formation Master to greet a Qi Cultivation disciple?

Only when Fang Hua’s figure was about to disappear behind the door did the guardian disciple raise his head. In a fleeting glimpse, he caught sight of Master Fang Hua’s perfect, graceful figure as she entered the hall.

The guardian disciple couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild.

’If one day I could reach Core Formation and find a Core Formation Kun Cultivator even half as beautiful as Master Fang Hua to be my Dao Companion... that would be a life fulfilled.’

’But speaking of which... there are four Living Dead in the Soul Calming Hall—I heard there were six at first, but two have already perished. Which one of them is Master Fang Hua from the Hundred Flowers Sect here to see?’

He had once tried to ask about it out of curiosity, but everyone he asked was incredibly secretive.

They would just tell him mysteriously, "Don’t ask. The people who are supposed to know, know, but they don’t dare speak of it. And for those who aren’t supposed to know, it’s useless to ask. Is this something you think you’re qualified to know? All I can say is, you’re getting in over your head, so stop poking around. I’m only telling you this much because we’re friends."

He never did figure out what was so complicated about it.

As he was tilting his head in thought, a refreshing fragrance that invigorated the senses suddenly wafted over him.

He didn’t even need to see her; the scent alone told him who had arrived.

He immediately stepped back and bowed. "Welcome, Master Qingqiu!"

She paid him no mind and walked straight inside.

The guardian disciple breathed a sigh of relief.

If the story about Master Fang Hua blinding someone with her Sword Intent was an old, unverifiable rumor, then the mercurial temperament of this Master Qingqiu from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect was truly infamous. No one dared to provoke her.

Once, a Foundation Establishment Leader who had just completed his breakthrough after decades of single-minded, bitter cultivation was on duty here. He happened to stare at Master Qingqiu for a bit too long.

Master Qingqiu gave him a charming smile and asked gently, "Do you think I’m beautiful?"

Utterly captivated, the Foundation Establishment Leader stammered, "You are! You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen!"

Master Qingqiu let out a soft giggle. "In that case," she said gently, "would you like to keep looking at me?"

The Foundation Establishment Leader was too flustered to speak, his face flushed as he nodded vigorously.

Then, with a single flick of her slender, delicate fingers, Master Qingqiu gouged out both his eyes. Amidst the Foundation Establishment Disciple’s terrified screams, she continued in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Then let me grant your wish. I’ll take these eyes back to my abode so you can look at me every single day."

This wasn’t a rumor. The guardian disciple knew the Foundation Establishment Leader who’d had his eyes gouged out; he’d heard the story from the man’s own mouth.

The guardian disciple still vividly remembered the man’s expression as he recounted the tale—a mixture of shock and rage that slowly curdled into lifeless despair.

Only after Master Qingqiu’s figure vanished behind the door did the guardian disciple straighten his posture.

’So who on earth is Master Qingqiu here to see?’

「Inside the Soul Calming Hall.」

Fang Hua stared at Du Youqian. He lay motionless, as if asleep, but he was gaunt, his complexion so poor he looked terminally ill. Without turning her head, she spoke. "Master Qingqiu, why don’t you just join the Holy Blood Sect at this point? Running to the Sect’s grounds every day... aren’t you tired? It’s been decades. Why are you still so diligent? He said it himself, he’s probably never going to wake up."

Lin Sha, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her, retorted, "And you, Master Fang Hua? Your master failed her Core Formation and passed away. Shouldn’t you be spending more time at your own Sect? I hear the Hundred Flowers Sect is in absolute chaos. All the pretty disciples are out looking for powerful backers. At this rate, the Sect will be completely empty soon."

Fang Hua said coolly, "What does the Hundred Flowers Sect have to do with me? I’ve long since repaid my debt to them. Now, I belong to the Hundred Flowers Sect in name only. The whole world knows that I belong to him."

"Don’t flatter yourself." Lin Sha’s lips curled into a perfectly mocking smile. "Everyone knows you’re nothing more than his personal maid."

"And you? Plenty of people know your Dao Companion is Qiu Yuanqing, who’s been dead for two hundred years. What do you think you’re doing, clinging to Brother Yu?"

Lin Sha giggled coquettishly. "Can’t a girl want a change of pace?"

"Hmph. You Demonesses are shameless."

"Oh?" Lin Sha laughed. "So you admit you’re shameless, then? You little demoness from the Hundred Flowers Sect."

As the two were bickering, a lazy laugh suddenly sounded from behind. "Heh, getting along so swimmingly again, so early in the morning?"

They knew it was Feng Xiaoyi just from her voice.

Fang Hua retorted coldly, "We are not ’getting along’."

"Fighting over him, then?"

Lin Sha sneered. "Who would fight over a man with a little maid?"

Not to be outdone, Fang Hua shot back, "And who would fight over a man with an old woman whose Dao Companion has been dead for centuries?"

Lin Sha curled her lip in disdain but didn’t feel like trading any more trash talk with Fang Hua.

She turned to glance at Feng Xiaoyi and said coolly, "Chun Xiao Master, it was your disciple who died, not your man. Go find a few more good disciples. Why do you come see him every day?"

"Oh my," Feng Xiaoyi said, looking as if she were on the verge of tears. "Now that you mention it, I’ve suddenly realized that in my heart, he’s more than just a disciple..."

Lin Sha was left speechless.

Feng Xiaoyi’s usual charming demeanor returned as she smiled. "Little girl, if you want to pick a fight, go fight with Fang Hua. Don’t provoke me. I’m someone you couldn’t handle even with all your strength, so don’t make the mistake of turning me into your enemy."

"Hmph." Lin Sha snorted. She looked indignant but said nothing more.

The three women fell silent, all looking at the motionless Du Youqian on the bed.

After a long silence.

Suddenly, Lin Sha glared at Fang Hua. "I was communicating with him. What do you think you’re doing, inserting your Divine Sense?"

Fang Hua’s expression was impassive. "His Divine Sense is still very weak. Don’t make him overexert himself."

Lin Sha snorted. "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do."

"Hehehe..." Feng Xiaoyi chuckled from behind them. "I say, my two beautiful little sisters, why don’t you let me have him today? I have something I need to discuss with him."

Lin Sha said coldly, "Chun Xiao Master, why don’t you stay out of this?"

Fang Hua also disagreed. "I respect that you’re his master, but this isn’t appropriate, is it?"

Lin Sha suddenly flared up. "It’s your fault! He’s tired and needs to rest now!"

Fang Hua said sarcastically, "Or maybe you’re the one who exhausted him, Master Qingqiu."

Feng Xiaoyi covered her mouth with a hand and yawned. "This troublesome disciple of mine... his body is so frail. I suppose men really shouldn’t play around with Demonesses. Never mind, I’ll come back another day!"

With that, she turned and walked out of the Soul Calming Hall.

Lin Sha and Fang Hua exchanged a look and could only leave, sullen and dejected.

The Soul Calming Hall fell quiet once more.

Du Youqian still couldn’t open his eyes. His eyelids felt as if they were made of lead.

Lifting an arm or leg was even more impossible. If he conserved his energy and used all his strength, he could probably twitch a finger, but it would take a long time to recover afterward.

The Essence Blood drained from his entire body by the Blood Slaughter Sword was, as expected, not so easily restored.

The body of a Core Formation Master was immensely powerful.

Even with his Essence Blood completely depleted, he should have been able to recover at least a little after a few years.

With the help of Treasures of Heaven and Earth and precious elixirs, plus a few decades of effort, it might even be possible to make a full recovery with no lasting ill effects.

But his body now was like a leaky sieve.

It was like a person on Earth with hemophilia—even a small cut would cause unstoppable bleeding, leading to death from blood loss.

After having his Essence Blood drained by the Blood Slaughter Sword, it was as if he had developed hemophilia; any bit of Essence Blood his body managed to restore would simply leak away again.

However, the reason he had only begun communicating via Divine Sense with Fang Hua and Lin Sha after lying there for over eighty years wasn’t because his Spirit had been that weak.

It was because he had been lost.

Lost within the sword strike that had slain Yuan Liulang.

At that time, as the Sword Holder, he had also borrowed the power of the Rivers and Mountains Map. This allowed him to clearly perceive a sword strike that someone at the Core Formation Master level, with his cultivation and Divine Sense, should never have been able to—and never should have—seen.

That strike was simply too powerful. Merely comprehending a sliver of its nature had caused him to over-exert himself, becoming completely lost in its profound allure.

He had come so close—so very close—to being lost within that strike until death itself.

Thankfully, the Sword Intent of "Annihilate" he had comprehended previously came into play. That, combined with "Blood Sacrifice" and "Blood Food," allowed him to finally understand the flowing runes. From there, he naturally comprehended the entire Blood Slaughter Sword Scripture. He even advanced his understanding of the "Annihilate" Sword Intent by a huge margin, bringing it close to the stage of Great Success.

’It took a long time, but it was more than worth it.’