Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 723 - 653: Bone Flower

The Canglong flying toward the southwest was surrounded by over a hundred thunderbolts. Each bolt, as thick as a bucket, pierced through heaven and earth, shattering everything in its path with overwhelming force, razing the land as it went.

Wherever it passed, houses, pavilions, roads, bridges, carts, horses, and pedestrians were all destroyed, turned into fragments, burning and scattering across several streets.

For the cultivators and soldiers of Yu Country, dispersed and fighting independently in various workshops, the change was sudden. One moment they were battling demons in the blood fog; the next, the fog thinned, and the demons weakened significantly. Before they could react, they witnessed the extraordinary sight of the Canglong’s descent and a sky filled with thunderbolts.

A Divine Beast that had only existed in legends had now appeared before their eyes. After a brief shock, most chose the most direct response—counterattack.

A vast number of Flying Swords shot into the sky, their blades reflecting the lightning, falling toward the high heavens like countless meteors. Along with them rose a complex variety of Telekinesis Control Devices and talismans.

However, all these means of attack hit a wall against the invisible barrier constructed from the Jade Pendant. That was as far as they could go, no further.

Countless glows flickered, painting the entire night sky with variegated colors. The continuous, deafening booms turned into shockwaves that kicked up dust from the ground.

The Canglong moved unhurriedly, like a leisurely stroll, toward the southwestern city gate.

"..."

Outside the Ministry of Supervision, Song Shaoyuan looked at the world-shattering sight in the distance and whispered after a moment of silence, "We’ve failed..."

Back to back with him, Li Ang had no words to offer. He pulled the Dragon Fall Spear from the belly of the elephant-sized demon and casually flicked the blade, slinging bloody innards far away.

All around the two men were piles of corpses—Haotian believers and demons. The mountain of bodies rose higher than the surrounding walls, the stench of gore reaching the heavens. Beyond this grim mountain, vague shadows of more demons lurked.

After the blood fog dissipated, the demons’ already turbid eyes became even more unfocused. Driven by instinct, they greedily stared at the shattered sphere at Song Shaoyuan’s feet—or rather, the Dragon Ball.

The life force of Dragon Species is vigorous and abundant. Bathing in Dragon Blood can transform one’s body, and tasting Dragon Saliva can grant everlasting life. The Haotian believers who had infiltrated the Imperial City were using an Array. This Array activated the immense life force within the Dragon Ball, weaving the blood fog that transformed ordinary people into demons.

In the eyes of the demons, this shattered Dragon Ball was no different from a Flat Peach Immortal Pill. Had it not been keeping a hold on all the demons present, they would have long charged out of the Imperial City to wreak havoc and revel in slaughter.

"Do you still have strength?" Song Shaoyuan asked quietly.

"About thirty percent."

Li Ang estimated his remaining Qi Sea; it should last until reinforcements arrived.

ROAR—

Around them, roar after roar arose as demons shoved each other, advancing slowly. Their craving for the Dragon Ball was gradually overcoming their fear of death.

"Risheng."

"Hmm?"

"Thinking back now, that year I spent in seclusion in the small house after failing to enter the Academic Palace—writing poetry, reading books, and planting flowers and plants with You Xiao—that might have been the most peaceful and happy time of my life."

"Why bring this up?" Li Ang tried to keep his tone as light as possible. "We can make it out of here alive."

Song Shaoyuan was still talking to himself, "I entrust the affairs of my family to—"

His words came to an abrupt halt. Li Ang turned to look and saw Song Shaoyuan’s tongue growing nonstop. It hung down to his chest like a snake’s and was splitting on its own.

The corruption from the blood fog had seeped deep into his marrow. Black horns sprouted from his skull, jaw, shoulders, and neck, all covered with dark green scales.

Song Shaoyuan pulled a knife from his waistband, gouged off the overgrown tongue, and with blood in his mouth, spoke muffledly, "I’m leaving it to you."

"..."

Li Ang had a lump in his throat, unable to utter a word. The inky threads in his palm flitted in the wind but failed to extend further. The demonic transformation was irreversible, like spilt water.

"Go. Leave this to me."

Song Shaoyuan gave a smile, slapped Li Ang’s shoulder genially, and bent down to pick up the Dragon Ball from the ground.

HEH!

He swallowed the Dragon Ball whole. The demonic organs on his body reacted violently, as if fiercely stimulated, rapidly growing and piercing through his Ministry of Justice robes.

The demons collectively grew restless, their focus entirely on Song Shaoyuan, utterly ignoring Li Ang who stood beside.

Song Shaoyuan took a trembling step forward. The demons stirred, matching his pace.

Two steps, three steps. Song Shaoyuan gradually accelerated, charging toward the demons. His body, catalyzed by the endless life force spewing from the Dragon Ball, expanded and burst his official garb.

"Academic Palace, Yizhou, Song Shaoyuan!"

BANG!

Like a Vajra statue in a temple, Song Shaoyuan roared. He punched, shattering the head of a demon trying to bite his throat, then turned his fist into a palm, seizing a flying serpent in mid-air that attempted a sneak attack.

The flying serpent struggled fiercely. Its venomous fangs, dripping with poison, viciously bit into the web of Song Shaoyuan’s hand. However, he ignored the pain, gripping with both hands and forcibly tearing the serpent’s body in two.

The demons could no longer contain themselves and surged toward him like tidal waves from all directions.

He did not retreat a single step. Twisting his body, he sent out a palm strike. A narrow bone spike suddenly grew from his palm, piercing two Demons. He lifted his foot and stomped down hard, crushing a long arm wrapped around his ankle.

Knee strikes, elbow smashes, headbutts...

Every limb could serve as a weapon. Even trading injury for injury didn’t matter, as the life force from the Dragon Ball could instantly generate new flesh in his wounds.

The only cost was moving a step closer to completely transforming into a demon.

Amidst crazed laughter, limbs flew and filthy blood splattered.

Li Ang watched the mountain of corpses grow ever higher. Silently, he turned, stomped the ground, and flew away.

***

PLOP!

A headless demon corpse fell, smashing into the pool of filthy blood and scaring away the flies drawn by the scent.

So thirsty.

Song Shaoyuan staggered, falling to one knee. He instinctively leaned toward the Blood Pool, opening his mouth to suck in the bloody water.

The pungent taste stirred in his mouth, awakening him suddenly. He looked around, finding himself the only one still standing amidst a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

He spat out the filthy blood and stood up, a mixture of disgust and terror on his face as he examined his reflection in the Blood Pool by moonlight.

His gigantic body—four stories tall—was covered in antlers, fur, scales, and eyeballs, completely obscuring his original form.

His entire back was hunched and bent. Dozens of sky-piercing bone spikes protruded from it, adorned with the incomplete corpses of demons.

Three gaping maws had grown on the front of his body, each chewing on severed limbs.

And in the middle of these maws was a tumorous lump of flesh, half-protruding from his body—it was the Dragon Ball, slowly regenerating.

"Yizhou, Academic Palace, Song Shaoyuan."

He repeated the words, then turned and lay down atop the mountain of corpses. He paused for a moment, then tore his neck open.

The Dragon Ball lodged in his belly seemed to sense this. It once again erupted with the last of its life force, attempting to save the only living host at the scene.

But it was in vain.

Song Shaoyuan tore open the wound in his belly, letting the blood flow freely.

"Yizhou, Academic Palace, Song Shaoyuan."

He kept muttering to himself as scenes from his past, filled with sorrow and joy, flooded his vision. He snapped off a bone spike from his palm and began to carve into it.

...

After a long while, several figures rapidly approached from the distance.

Pei Jing and the others, grimy and disheveled, slowly descended. They surveyed the carnage, their gazes finally settling on the largest demon corpse. They exchanged confused glances.

The giant demon’s blood had run dry. Its rigid hand clutched a delicately carved bone Flower.