Chapter 276: Chapter 227: Forging the Blade
The gray-black phoenix was in a hurry, a tremendous hurry.
The reason for its urgency, naturally, was the Illusionary Sword embedded in its chest. Originally, it thought that the sword would disappear once Du Chengfeng left—after all, during the chase, it had seen each time Du Chengfeng threw the sword, if it missed, it would vanish into thin air and return to Du Chengfeng’s hand.
So why, this time, hasn’t the Illusionary Sword returned?
Clearly, Du Chengfeng had long since disappeared, but the sword remained embedded in its chest, the blade exuding a bone-deep hatred that even it, now an immortal, could feel a threat of death.
Thoughts cannot be killed, it always shouted this way.
But, can it truly not be killed?
Perhaps death would be a blessing for it now, only because the Illusionary Sword in its chest tortured it every moment, the bone-deep hatred already overflowing from the sharp blade—but this sword wasn’t impatient to kill it, instead, it slowly tormented it, driving that agony into its heart, deep into its consciousness.
Pain—it hurt too much.
It hurt unbearably.
Had it still been mortal, this heart-wrenching pain would have killed it on the spot, but now it had shed its mortal body, ironically leaving it unable to die. The agony was so intense, it couldn’t even spread its wings and fly—the endless life had now turned into an eternal torment.
At this moment, a large hand yanked it from midair.
"Who are you?"
Enduring the intense pain, the gray-black phoenix looked up at the figure before it.
He appeared to be just an ordinary swordsman of the Jianghu; how could it possibly know such a minor figure—yet the problem was, how could such a marginal figure have the ability to capture it from midair?
Not to mention the familiarity of this feeling...
"It’s you?"
At that moment, the gray-black phoenix vaguely saw a copper-cast ugly face on the stranger’s face.
But this time, it didn’t even have the strength to resist.
"Just kill me."
The gray-black phoenix slumped directly, not even struggling.
"Do it, at least give me a quick end."
"I cannot."
Holding the gray-black phoenix with one hand, Yinshi Wu Zhao merely shook his head.
"You have trained yourself to this extent, at least you have the qualification to become food... Since you are useful, why would I kill you?"
Saying so, Yinshi Wu Zhao tore off one of the gray-black fire phoenix’s legs.
The gray-black fire phoenix felt it should be terrified, yet it couldn’t even feel scared now. The excruciating pain tormented its consciousness, tearing at its will, leaving it with no strength to think.
Until that large hand pressed on the sword hilt in its chest.
"Moreover, you’ve brought something good... is it the ultimate hatred?"
Yinshi Wu Zhao grasped the sword hilt, as if feeling something.
But soon, Yinshi Wu Zhao shook his head.
"No, no, the direction of this hatred is far too clear-cut, it’s not that good."
"...What do you mean?"
The gray-black phoenix managed to speak, with its slightly relieved state, it even had the strength to think.
"What direction?"
"If nothing unexpected, this sword should be the transformation of one of your enemies."
While eating the gray-black fire phoenix’s leg, Yinshi Wu Zhao talked at length.
"He turned his final hatred into this sword. This sword’s purpose is to exact revenge on you. As long as it’s targeting you, the sword is incredibly sharp and powerful... But this sword, only against you, will unleash its full power; against others, it’s merely an ordinary sword."
"Then... is there any way to solve this?"
The gray-black fire phoenix looked up, astonished. It didn’t expect that this monster in front of it seemed to genuinely understand.
"Can you help me pull out this sword? I’ll do anything! Even if it means serving you, doing menial tasks—anything... Right, eat! Help yourself to my wings if you want! As long as you can help me get the sword out..."
"Indeed, I can."
Under the hopeful gaze of the gray-black phoenix, Yinshi Wu Zhao nodded.
"But why should I pull it out?"
"Wha—"
The gray-black phoenix was caught off guard, choking in place.
"Isn’t... isn’t it better to pull out the sword? I’m willing to work for you! You just need to pull the sword out, and I’ll..."
"Do you think I need that?"
Yinshi Wu Zhao looked into the gray-black phoenix’s eyes.
"Think carefully, I am stronger than you, all the things you can do, I can do myself... But I do need you to do one thing."
"Say it, please, say it."
The gray-black fire phoenix quickly mustered a flattering expression.
"Anything you ask, if it’s within my power, I will do my utmost to..."
"I need you to suffer."
"...What?"
The gray-black fire phoenix thought it must have misheard.
But when it met those eyes, it realized the powerful monster before it wasn’t joking at all.
"You’re too weak now."
Looking the gray-black phoenix up and down, Yinshi Wu Zhao shook his head.
"Your will is weak, your thoughts impure—mere strength yet living like a coward... as you are, you are incapable of anything, so you need even more suffering."
Saying this, Yinshi Wu Zhao twisted the sword hilt in his hand.
And the face of the gray-black phoenix twisted further from the more intense pain.
"Yes, just like that, you need to suffer more... Always you have lived too smoothly, haven’t faced real trials, correct? That’s why you are this way, this pitiful form."
The Illusionary Sword twisted within the gray-black fire phoenix, almost tearing apart its heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.
"So you need more suffering, more pain, these pains will make you firmer, purer... Yes, just like that, do you feel it? Have you begun to hate?"
"Aaaahhhhhh..."
In the throes of pain, the gray-black phoenix couldn’t speak at all.
It only wanted to ask, why.
Why did it have to endure all this? Why did it encounter all this, when it had already paid so much on its path? Clearly, it was once a towering force... Why had it fallen to such a state, why had everything become this way?
Why, what was it all for?
"Good, you’re finally becoming useful."
Saying this, Yinshi Wu Zhao nodded, looking at the gray-black fire phoenix in his hand.
As if looking at a rare, sharp blade.
