novelraw Chapter 730 - 427: Born a Monster
Chapter 730 - 427: Born a Monster
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No matter how much she looked, she found nothing. She shook her head in surprise, whispering faintly, "Some people are born monsters." After a while, she stood up and approached the stone altar she had used twice before. Her emotions were turbulent, complex, and incomprehensible. The feeling she experienced during blood forging was incredible; the technique invigorated her, yet at the same time, it left her utterly drained after completion. If not for the dense energy that had flooded her body the previous day, she would have been wholly unable to stand at this moment.
Glancing again at Yan Xiaobao, Cou Ling found herself increasingly astonished by the young man who had appeared before her. His strength exceeded her expectations, and not only that, there was a serene purity about him—like a lotus flower. He was beautiful and calm. His eyes held no excited thrill, nor did they show shock or amazement, even as he endured lightning strikes time and time again.
Feeling almost dizzy like a young girl, Cou Ling wasn’t sure why her gaze kept drifting towards the young man beside her. She was at least eight to ten years older than him, yet every time her eyes fell upon him, her heart began to race, a fluttering sensation stirring like butterflies in her stomach. It was a feeling she was not accustomed to.
Yan Xiaobao had long since stopped cultivating. He, too, noticed Cou Ling’s peculiar behavior, but all he could do was smile wryly because he realized the hostility in the woman’s eyes had now turned into admiration.
Clearing his throat, Yan Xiaobao decided to break the descending awkward silence. "I’m completely fine now. Let’s try the blood forging again. I should be able to withstand at least five lightning strikes today."
When she heard he intended to complete the forging today, Cou Ling was taken aback. While she felt astonished, she couldn’t help but feel a hint of frustration at the young man’s eagerness to rush the process. He was clearly too determined to restore his sword to its former glory, paying little mind to the price he might have to pay.
Clenching her teeth, Cou Ling did nothing but comply with the customer’s wishes. "If you say so, then we’ll proceed this way, but don’t blame me if you end up dead." Her voice was harsh, but unlike before, Yan Xiaobao now understood that the sharpness in her tone also conveyed a certain level of care.
Nodding at her words, Yan Xiaobao offered a gentle smile but said nothing. Seeing his silence, Cou Ling could only sigh deeply, "Let’s wait an hour or two, and then we’ll start the blood forging again." She spoke with a sigh.
The next few hours passed in a tense atmosphere. Yan Xiaobao chose to spend his time cultivating, while Fang Wei followed his lead, doing his utmost to improve his own cultivation base. On the other hand, Cou Ling spent much of her time lost in thought. She pondered how Yan Xiaobao could manage to endure one more lightning strike than he had the previous day. How was it possible? She truly didn’t know, but deep down, she believed he could achieve it.
Sighing deeply for the tenth time that day, Cou Ling picked up the sword Yan Xiaobao hoped to restore. By now, all the rust that once covered it had vanished. The black metal it was forged of had been completely destroyed, replaced by a silvery metal that engulfed the sword core.
The Nine Heavens Blood Devouring Metal was a material that consumed everything it came into contact with. It not only required blood to sustain itself but also devoured precious metals. Yet this time, Cou Ling gazed at the sword in her hands with astonishment.
She knew she was only halfway through the reforging process, but the sword seemed as though it was already complete. Like its master, the sword was shrouded in mystery. Holding it in her hands, she could sense subtle tremors coursing through it, as if the sword were alive.
The time for reflection passed quickly, and before they knew it, the moment had come to begin. Seeing that it was time, the three of them packed their belongings and returned to another location. Just as they were about to begin, a squealing sound was heard alongside massive energy fluctuations, leaving Cou Ling and Fang Wei utterly shocked. They turned to look at Yan Xiaobao, unable to comprehend the cause of such intense disturbances.
Twisting to face Cou Ling, her widened eyes instantly shifted to her chest. A sharp scream erupted from her. Behind her, where there should have been a young, handsome man, there was now a terrifying beast—an enormous red wolf with crimson eyes and a sinister cold gleam within.
Staring at the transformation, her lips quivered, her entire body trembling in fear. She had long heard that the white-haired man was indeed the Great Marshall of the Beast Army, but she had never truly grasped what it meant for him to be a beast himself. Gazing upon his beast form, an overwhelming fear consumed her. What if his rationality had vanished and been replaced by primal beast instincts?
"I’m sorry to have frightened you," a growling voice resonated from the powerful snout as Yan Xiaobao noticed the shocked expression on Cou Ling’s face. Awkwardly scratching his head with sharp claws, he looked down at himself. He had transformed from human into beast, his body growing larger and tearing apart his clothes. His entire presence now was utterly intimidating.
"I won’t harm you, but as you can see, my strength in this form is a hundred times greater than when I am human. If I am to endure five lightning strikes today, I must give it my all. I assure you, I’m not as dangerous as I appear." Pausing briefly, he flashed a toothy grin, "Please don’t tell anyone about my beast form. Although everyone knows I am the Great Marshall of the Beast Army, there are few who have seen this transformation. I want to keep it a secret."