Chapter 77: Chapter 77: The Unyielding Black Bull
The forest at night was silent and mysterious.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and the faint, refreshing scent of grass and trees filled the air.
Shen Daoxing held the Bodhi Fruit in his hand and asked, "Can I just eat this Bodhi Fruit directly?"
Lin Ke’Er nodded. "That’s right. Go ahead and eat it, Shen."
"Master Shen, I’ll stand guard for you," Chen Baxian offered eagerly from the side.
Shen Daoxing gave a slight nod. He then placed the Bodhi Fruit in his mouth and chewed it gently. The fruit’s juice instantly burst forth, filling his senses with a rich, sweet fragrance.
It transformed into a warm current that flowed slowly from his abdomen like a clear spring, warming his entire body.
He felt his body grow light, as if he were about to float away.
Shen Daoxing’s face flushed bright red, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and the tip of his nose.
He shut his eyes tightly, a low groan escaping his lips as his body began to tremble uncontrollably. He felt as if he were inside a furnace, enveloped by raging flames.
The sensation was strange. It plunged him into agony, yet at the same time, it felt transcendent, as if everything was becoming incredibly clear.
In that instant, the world before his eyes became completely different.
Strands of Sword Intent materialized into tangible principles, swimming before Shen Daoxing like nimble fish.
Shen Daoxing entered an ethereal state, using his mind to perceive and capture the surrounding Sword Intents.
BOOM!
He finally caught two strands of Sword Intent, which transformed into two motes of spiritual light.
Shen Daoxing sensed fire and a golden light.
’Blazing Sword Intent!’
’Geng Metal Sword Intent!’
The two Sword Intents continuously condensed, finally taking shape. They swam around him before drilling into his body.
"Hooo..."
A long while later, Shen Daoxing exhaled a turbid breath.
It was as if he had just returned from a mystical journey, leaving him with profound insights.
Lin Ke’Er hurried over and asked, "Shen, how are you?"
"Not bad."
Shen Daoxing smiled. "With the help of the Bodhi Fruit, I comprehended two more Sword Intents."
"Two Sword Intents?"
Lin Ke’Er’s eyes widened.
One must remember that Shen Daoxing had already comprehended the Six Paths Sword Intent. Now that he had grasped two more, he possessed eight Sword Intents in total. Among experts under the age of thirty, this was an unparalleled achievement.
"Eight Sword Intents?"
Hearing this, Chen Baxian’s fists clenched.
He understood the significance of eight Sword Intents even better than Lin Ke’Er. The day Shen Daoxing became a Sword King, the Six Kingdoms would surely be thrown into an uproar.
A Sword King of a generation! It had been a very long time since a Sword King had appeared within the Six Kingdoms.
ROAR!
Just then, the cry of a dragon echoed from the distance, causing the Primordial Energy in Shen Daoxing’s body to shudder.
"What a powerful sound wave!"
Chen Baxian exclaimed in shock, "That demonic beast ahead definitely has the bloodline of a dragon! It might even be a descendant left behind by a True Dragon!"
"Let’s go take a look."
Shen Daoxing’s heart jolted when he heard this.
The three of them quickly ran toward the forest ahead.
Before long, the trio saw two enormous figures. One stood seventy to eighty feet tall and resembled a black ox. It had a pair of dragon horns, a wide maw revealing sharp teeth that looked capable of tearing anything apart, and black flames burning beneath its hooves. Its aura was terrifying.
The other resembled a great bird. Its entire body was covered in black scales that glinted with a metallic luster. Its head was triangular, and its crimson eyes shone with an eerie light. A pair of huge wings stretched from its back, their deep black feathers each shimmering with a mystical glow.
Both demonic beasts exuded a powerful and astonishing aura that was chilling to the bone.
Chen Baxian was ecstatic. "They have the aura of a True Dragon! They might possess True Dragon Essence Blood!"
"True Dragons!?"
Shen Daoxing looked at the two beasts, finding it hard to imagine how these behemoths could have the slightest connection to a True Dragon.
SCREECH!
The great, scale-covered bird spotted Shen Daoxing’s group. A cold glint appeared in its sharp eyes, and with a flap of its wings, it stirred up a violent hurricane.
WHOOSH!
The hurricane blasted toward them, uprooting the surrounding trees. Leaves and branches danced in the air, creating a spectacular scene.
The three of them were swept up by the hurricane, their bodies floating helplessly in the air.
Lin Ke’Er felt her body being constantly battered and pulled, as if she were about to be torn apart.
Shen Daoxing said, "Quick, circulate your Primordial Energy to stabilize yourselves."
As he spoke, he gathered Primordial Energy in his legs and kicked out at the hurricane before them.
BOOM!
The violent Primordial Energy slammed into the hurricane, instantly creating a turbulent flow of energy.
The great bird was clearly intelligent. A hint of surprise flashed in its eyes. Just as it was about to flap its wings again, a huge shadow appeared above it.
The hem of Shen Daoxing’s robes fluttered in the fierce wind as his body stood tall between heaven and earth. He threw a punch down at the great bird.
The Fist Force descended with a thunderous roar, and the surrounding air erupted with a piercing shriek.
THUD!
The immense Fist Force crashed down viciously onto the great bird’s body.
The bird’s body plummeted to the ground, causing the earth to tremble violently and kicking up a cloud of dust.
BELLOW!
Seeing this, the black ox let out a low roar and charged at Shen Daoxing.
SWOOSH!
The black ox was incredibly fast. Like a beam of black light, it shot forth and appeared before Shen Daoxing in an instant.
"Good timing!"
Shen Daoxing clenched his fist, seemingly crushing the very air. He then threw a punch at the black ox.
THUD!
The black ox’s horns collided squarely with the Fist Force, shaking the entire area. A shockwave of energy radiated outward like a tidal wave.
The black ox’s hooves scraped against the ground as it was forced back, carving a long trench. Any trees it touched were instantly obliterated.
Watching this, Chen Baxian couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement, "Such incredible strength!"
Although he had long known of Shen Daoxing’s terrifying power, he was still shaken to see him clash head-on with two great demonic beasts.
Chen Baxian thought of the earlier phenomenon and declared with certainty, ’He’s definitely a man of extraordinary talent!’
Just then, the great bird took to the sky again. Its massive wings blotted out the sun, and one could clearly see rings of golden flames clinging to them.
Lin Ke’Er shouted a warning, "Be careful! That’s a Flame Dragon Bird, the offspring of a Flame Bird and a True Dragon!"
SCREECH!
The Flame Dragon Bird opened its sharp beak, and a piercing sound vibrated from its throat. It was like a tangible sound wave, aimed to shatter Shen Daoxing’s eardrums and internal organs.
BUZZ! BUZZ!
A vast torrent of Primordial Energy surged within Shen Daoxing, blocking the terrifying sound wave. He immediately drew the Great Ming Demon Sparrow and slashed it toward the sky.
SCHLICK!
The Great Ming Demon Sparrow wasn’t known for its sharpness, but it was one of the Ancient Ten Great Demon Soldiers. The sword light shot out, piercing through the void ahead.
The Flame Dragon Bird instinctively felt a trace of fear and hastily tried to dodge.
SLASH!
The sword light still sliced through its scales. The very scales it took the most pride in were now as soft as tofu.
The Flame Dragon Bird was enraged. It spread its wings, and a raging ball of flame hurtled toward Shen Daoxing.
BOOM!
The flame was enormous, like a giant fireball. Its core burned a deep, purplish-red, hot enough to melt even a Grotto Heaven realm Martial Artist in an instant.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
The Flame Dragon Bird continued to beat its wings, summoning a fierce gale.
Fanned by the wind, the fireball grew even hotter and more violent.
Shen Daoxing’s pupils filled with the reflection of the flames. He brandished the Great Ming Demon Sparrow in his hand, its blade transforming into a Wind Blade as he charged forward.
’Four Symbols Sword Technique! Wind That Leaves No Trace!’
The sword light was so fast that even Chen Baxian could only see an afterimage.
SWISH!
The sword light sliced the descending fireball in two.
THUD!
The fireball then exploded, painting the entire sky a brilliant crimson—a bizarre and beautiful spectacle.
But after cleaving the fireball, the sword light did not stop. It continued streaking toward the Flame Dragon Bird above.
SCHLICK!
The Flame Dragon Bird sensed a mortal threat. A hint of panic flashed in its eyes. It wanted to fly away, but it was too late. The sword light shot up and split its massive body in two.
SPLURT!
Red blood sprayed across the sky, mingling with the flames.
THUD!
The Flame Dragon Bird’s corpse fell to the ground with a tremendous crash.
It wasn’t dead yet; its body was still convulsing on the ground.
"What terrifying life force!"
Lin Ke’Er exclaimed in awe, looking at the Flame Dragon Bird on the ground.
Chen Baxian shook his head. "It is a descendant of a True Dragon, after all. Such powerful life force is to be expected."
When the black ox saw the Flame Dragon Bird had been killed, its eyes turned blood-red with rage, and the flames beneath its hooves burned even more fiercely.
BOOM!
The black ox stomped its hoof, cracking the ground, and transformed into a streak of black light as it charged at Shen Daoxing.
Shen Daoxing’s eyes narrowed, and he threw a punch at the black ox’s horns.
CRACK!
The terrifying collision was like two mountains crashing into each other.
The black ox was forced back continuously, while Shen Daoxing also took two steps back.
BOOM!
The blood and qi in his body were boiling, burning.
’My Sword Body seems to have improved a little!’
Shen Daoxing’s eyes narrowed. He clenched his fist and once again punched at the black ox.
The black ox had already descended into a frenzy. It let out a strange cry as flames erupted around its body, and it continued its charge toward Shen Daoxing.
CRACK!
They collided again, the resulting commotion even greater than before.
"Again!"
Shen Daoxing let out a low shout. The blood and qi in his body surged like a flood, and his Sword Body was on the verge of a breakthrough.
CRACK!
Man and ox clashed again and again, neither giving an inch.
CRACK!
CRACK!
The ground shattered, trees were turned to dust, and the very earth trembled.
CRUNCH!
After another terrifying collision, the black ox’s horns shattered, and blood instantly splattered across the ground.
Shen Daoxing took another step back, panting heavily.
His Sword Body had finally broken through to the Great Success stage. As his Primordial Energy circulated, it began to emit an incomparably sharp Sword Qi.
The black ox stomped its hoof, and surging flames billowed up like a canopy.
Shen Daoxing looked at the black ox before him and said, "I’ll give you a choice. Submit to me, or die!"
BELLOW!
Hearing Shen Daoxing’s words, the black ox seemed to reach the peak of its rage. A hint of mockery appeared in its eyes.
Then, with a low roar, the black ox charged at Shen Daoxing without a shred of hesitation.
BOOM!
The black ox’s entire body was engulfed in flames, streaking through the primeval forest like a brilliant meteor.
"It’s...!?"
Chen Baxian exclaimed in shock, "It’s igniting the power of its own bloodline! We need to fall back, quickly!"
"So strong!"
Lin Ke’Er’s red lips parted slightly, her breathing becoming ragged.
The two of them hastily retreated, afraid of being caught in the terrifying attack.
"If that’s your choice, then I’ll grant you your wish!"
Shen Daoxing took a deep breath, gathering all the Primordial Energy in his body into his arm. He pushed his Sword Body to its absolute limit.
He threw the punch. It was incredibly powerful, as if it would shatter the very air before it.
KABOOM!
The two collided head-on, and for an instant, the air itself seemed to freeze.
An unknown amount of time passed.
A terrifying, earth-shattering sound erupted as Primordial Energy and fire transformed into a roiling tide that swept out in all directions.
The shockwave kicked up a massive cloud of dust, completely obscuring Shen Daoxing and the black ox.
Lin Ke’Er and Chen Baxian both stared, unblinking, at the core of the impact.
When the dust gradually settled, Shen Daoxing was seen standing calmly amidst the ruins. His expression was cold, his Sword Body’s protective aura surrounding him, parting the chaotic energy around him.
And there, lying on the ground before him, was the black ox. Blood gurgled from its mouth and nose, its life clearly fading. Yet its eyes remained defiant, filled with an unyielding spirit.
