Chapter 326: Chapter 221: The Might of the Sword Talisman
Inside the Sword Talisman Prison, nine pitch-black Demon Steles stood tall.
Crimson light swirled around them.
Ming Zhan’s voice was ice-cold. "The test begins. Unleash your Sword Talismans one by one. Sword Talismans are divided into four levels: Netherworld, Blood Fiend, Purgatory, and Eternal, corresponding to the legacies of the Purple Mansion, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Divinity Transformation realms, respectively."
"Unleash them with your full power. The Demon Stele will reveal markings, with a maximum of nine!"
The test began, and everyone stepped forward one by one.
The first talismans were Netherworld Level, mostly cast by the Purple Mansion Demon Cultivators who had been guaranteed entry.
"Netherworld Level, [Zhibai], one marking!"
"Netherworld Level, [Yin Wind], one and a half markings!"
"Netherworld Level, [Rotting Bone], two markings!"
To Qin Xuan’s surprise, Liu Mobai’s initial Sword Talisman, [Zhibai], was also only Netherworld Level.
There were only three opportunities to enter the Blood Pool Sword Tomb.
Therefore, each Demon Cultivator could have a maximum of three Sword Talismans.
If it had been anyone else, Qin Xuan wouldn’t have been surprised at all. But for the great Liu Mobai—a prospective Demon Child and the reincarnation of a Divinity Transformation expert—to also have only a Netherworld Level Sword Talisman... that was intriguing.
Luo Li let out a soft laugh and stepped forward. He forced a drop of Essence Blood from his fingertip, which transformed into the ferocious phantom of a Blood Python.
"Netherworld Level, [Blood Python], two markings!"
Ming Zhan announced flatly.
Over on the other side, Jiang Cheng had a calm expression. He formed a sword with his fingers, and an aqua-colored Sword Gang shot out, its agile movements carrying an erosive power.
"Jiang Cheng, Netherworld Level [Ruishui River], two markings!" Ming Zhan announced.
’It seems a high-grade Sword Talisman isn’t necessarily a good thing,’
Qin Xuan mused.
Unfortunately, even his worst Blood Talisman, [Breaking Gold], was Blood Fiend Level.
The others took their turns.
"Luo Li, Blood Fiend Level Sword Talisman [Mountain Breaker], three markings!"
"Wei Qingyi, Blood Fiend Level Sword Talisman [Poisonous Fiend], four markings!"
It was Qin Xuan’s turn.
With a point of his fingers, a condensed, pale golden Sword Talisman shot out, viciously striking the Demon Stele.
"HISS—!"
The Demon Stele’s crimson light flashed repeatedly.
"Qin Xuan, Blood Fiend Level Sword Talisman [Breaking Gold], four markings!"
Ming Zhan’s voice remained flat.
The others glanced his way. For a Blood Fiend Level talisman, that was a decent score.
Sun Miao stepped forward with a sinister smile. He was well-prepared.
He unleashed a dark-red flame Sword Talisman, scorching and violent, carrying an aura capable of incinerating all creation.
"Sun Miao, Purgatory Level Sword Talisman [Heaven-Burning], seven markings!"
The crimson light from the Demon Stele flared, and seven distinct markings lit up.
A wave of gasps rippled through the area.
A legacy from a Nascent Soul Demon Monarch had actually produced seven markings!
Wei Qingyi followed right after. With a flick of his fingertip, a jade-green Sword Talisman exuding a deadly, cloyingly sweet scent flew out and silently pressed against the Demon Stele.
"Wei Qingyi, Purgatory Level Sword Talisman [Poison Blood], seven markings!"
The Demon Stele lit up with seven markings once again.
The crowd burst into an uproar.
A Purgatory Level Sword Talisman, and seven markings!
Wei Qingyi’s three Sword Talismans had produced two, four, and seven markings, respectively, for a total of thirteen. This was the highest score so far!
Liu Mobai gave Wei Qingyi a meaningful look.
Ji Boying stepped forward, unleashing a spear-shaped Talisman entwined with a black demonic dragon.
"Ji Boying, Purgatory Level Sword Talisman [Dragon Spear], six and a half markings."
Though his score was slightly lower, he seemed completely unbothered.
Liu Mobai unleashed a ghostly white Bone Talisman.
"Liu Mobai, Purgatory Level Sword Talisman [Night Parade of Hundred Demons], six markings!"
The top three in total markings so far were:
Wei Qingyi (13 markings), Sun Miao (11 markings), and Ji Boying (10.5 markings).
Just as everyone thought the final results were set, Qin Xuan stepped forward once more.
"You guys think this Qin Xuan could be a dark horse?"
someone speculated.
"So what if he’s a dark horse? The Sword Talisman Prison is just a prelude. What matters are the karmic ties that come after. Even a Netherworld Level Sword Talisman can be infinitely powerful in the hands of a Venerable Divinity Transformation,"
another Demon Cultivator added mockingly.
"Absolutely not."
Sun Miao scoffed. "Qin Xuan probably has a Purgatory Level Sword Talisman too, but his third is just some self-created Blood Talisman called [Demon Slayer]. It’s not going to make any waves."
The group of five who had been guaranteed entry were whispering amongst themselves, seemingly unconcerned with the Sword Talisman Prison’s test.
The words had barely left his mouth.
When they saw Qin Xuan form a sword with his fingers.
A unique Sword Talisman, condensed to the absolute limit and seemingly containing endless slaughter and a malevolent will, slowly emerged.
Ming Zhan’s voice held a barely perceptible tremor.
The entire arena fell deathly silent!
The smug look on Sun Miao’s face froze. Wei Qingyi’s pupils contracted. Liu Mobai dropped his nonchalant expression, sizing up Qin Xuan seriously for the first time.
"This Talisman’s name... and its level?" Ming Zhan asked directly.
Qin Xuan took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "This is a Sword Talisman I created myself. It is named—[Demon Slayer]!"
"A self-created Sword Talisman?"
Liu Mobai’s eyes narrowed. "Demon Slayer?!"
Under everyone’s disbelieving gazes, the [Demon Slayer] Sword Talisman awoke like a slumbering beast. Carrying a resolute will to annihilate all that was evil, it struck the Demon Stele without hesitation.
The Demon Stele trembled violently as crimson light surged. The markings lit up rapidly, one after another!
Four markings, five markings, six markings, seven markings...
Finally, it stopped firmly at eight markings!
"Self-created Sword Talisman [Demon Slayer]. Grade... unknown. Eight markings!"
Ming Zhan’s voice echoed through the Sword Talisman Prison.
A self-created Sword Talisman!
Eight markings!
For a moment, the Sword Talisman Prison was silent.
Then, a flurry of unreadable gazes all fell on Qin Xuan at once.
Ji Boying raised an eyebrow. Sizing Qin Xuan up, he let out a soft laugh. "A self-created Sword Talisman? Interesting."
The gentle smile on Wei Qingyi’s face faded slightly. A shadow flickered in the depths of his eyes, but he quickly composed himself.
"Junior Brother Qin, congratulations, congratulations!"
Sun Miao, on the other hand, was livid. His fists were clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, and he stared daggers at Qin Xuan.
However, before the crowd could recover from their shock, Qin Xuan raised his hand again!
The aura of the Sword Talisman was abstruse and profound.
"Something’s wrong! The Demon Stele is changing!"
Luo Li’s eyes widened.
Then they saw Qin Xuan form a hand seal, and the aura around him changed abruptly.
