NOVEL WEB Chapter 17: Fierce Battle (2)
Chapter 17: Fierce Battle (2)
You Su was unaware of the changes that had occurred in his eyes. He only felt a slight burning sensation, but compared to the countless wounds on his body, this minor discomfort was negligible.
At this moment, he was deep in thought, pondering how to shatter Elder Ling’s fleshy shield. Simply dodging wouldn’t guarantee him victory.
Meanwhile, Elder Ling’s mind was in turmoil. Having cultivated for over a hundred years, since achieving Meridian Opening, he had been exposed daily to malevolent entities captured by his master. He was all too familiar with the foul stench of such evil qi. There was no doubt in his mind – You Su’s eyes were definitely something sinister!
But when did the Dream Centipede gain the ability to change someone’s eyes? Although it possessed considerable authority from its master, it was practically devoid of combat power. Its sole expertise lay in casting bizarre dreams upon those it possessed, which was precisely why Elder Ling had managed to tame and control it.
What perplexed Elder Ling even more was that the Red Flesh Ghost currently possessing him was only visible to those at the Water Condensation Realm or higher. Yet You Su, who should only have encountered the Dream Centipede planted by Elder Ling, could clearly see him despite their differing affiliations. How was that possible?
In the blink of an eye, You Su launched another attack. Elder Ling’s body was covered in eerie crimson muscles, except for one vulnerable spot-his head.
This was the disadvantage of Elder Ling’s current form. If the Red Flesh Ghost were to attach itself to his head, he would lose consciousness and become nothing more than fodder for the ghost.
You Su poured every ounce of his strength into this sword strike, channeling the ambient energy of the heavens and earth. In his own words, this strike carried an extraordinary aura. However, Elder Ling wasn’t about to let You Su succeed so easily. Crossing his arms, he blocked You Su’s downward slash as the latter leapt high into the air.
But this time, it wasn’t without consequences. He distinctly felt a sharp tearing sensation in his arms.
“Damn it all! How can a blind brat from a remote town have such mastery in swordsmanship? What level is this kid at? Has he already grasped the threshold of sword intent? This is outrageous!”
Enraged, Elder Ling seized You Su’s wrist with one hand while striking out at his sword arm with the other. He intended to replicate the move You Su had used when they first met to disarm him, but with far greater ferocity. Relying on the immense physical power of his possessed form, he even managed to deliver a powerful kick aimed straight at You Su’s chest!
Regret surged through You Su’s mind for having drawn his sword mid-air, giving Elder Ling the opportunity to seize his arm. Despite his exceptional sword skills, he couldn’t match the raw brute force. His right arm was pinned, immovable, leaving him to scramble to counter the mountain-shattering kick coming at him.
At the last possible moment, You Su gritted his teeth and released his grip on the Black Pine Sword. Kicking off against Elder Ling’s incoming leg, he used the momentum to twist his body, ignoring the excruciating pain wrenching his already distorted right arm. Nothing – not even the most intense agony – would stop him from killing Elder Ling.
Like a spinning top, You Su pivoted, using the momentum to latch onto Elder Ling’s arm. With every ounce of strength left in him, he delivered a devastating kick aimed directly at Elder Ling’s unprotected face.
The impact reverberated through You Su’s foot as Elder Ling was sent flying backward, releasing his hold on You Su’s restrained hands.
Landing nimbly, You Su reached out with his left hand to catch the Black Pine Sword he’d just relinquished. He had been expecting this move all along! A single kick wouldn’t be enough to kill Elder Ling; only his sword could do that.
The instant he caught the sword, You Su unleashed a burst of astonishing speed, charging after Elder Ling’s collapsing figure. Every fiber of his being resonated with the surge of power coursing through his left hand, channeling it into the lethal technique he wielded. This was the pinnacle of his swordplay – the deadliest move he had practiced countless times. Today, it would finally prove its worth, even if executed with his non-dominant hand!
The surrounding spiritual energy seemed to resonate violently with this decisive strike. With a soft “thud,” You Su drove the full force of his strike deep into Elder Ling’s skull. For the first time, he found the sensation of his blade slicing through flesh intoxicating.
Exhausted, You Su collapsed to the ground, his right arm hanging limply as though dislocated. His hair was matted, and his body was drenched in blood. Under the cold light of the moon, he resembled a deadly beast.
“I… I actually did it…”
You Su wanted to laugh out loud, or perhaps wail in despair, but he was so utterly exhausted that he didn’t even have the strength to make an expression.
“Sixty years! Sixty damn years I’ve spent feeding the Red Flesh Ghost, turning myself into something neither human nor ghost, and you just go ahead and kill it! How are you going to repay me?”
A heartbreaking scream suddenly rang out. Elder Ling wasn’t dead!
You Su’s heart sank like a startled bird. He now realized that what lay beneath his sword wasn’t Elder Ling’s head at all-it was a compact, eyeless monster covered in grotesque red flesh! Frantically, You Su looked up to locate the source of the voice, but all he could see was a chaotic void.
In an instant, everything became clear. At the moment of life and death, Elder Ling had severed the connection with the evil spirit possessing him, allowing the spirit to take the fatal blow instead. That was why You Su could no longer see Elder Ling – just as it had been at the start of their battle.
With no other choice, You Su tried to rely on his senses to track down Elder Ling. But after overexerting himself, how could he possibly detect Elder Ling’s presence?
At that moment, a thick crimson liquid began to ooze from the ground, creeping toward You Su and encircling him. Struggling to his feet, You Su swung his sword wildly with his left hand, but every time he cut through the substance, it immediately reformed.
Elder Ling slowly emerged from the darkness, his bizarre face marked by a massive footprint. One of his eyes drooped as he spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, glaring ferociously. “What’s the matter? Aren’t you supposed to be such a skilled fighter?”
You Su ignored Elder Ling’s taunts. The viscous liquid clung to his limbs like leeches, completely immobilizing him.
“Did you really think that sacrificing everything would save them? Did you really think you were clever enough to outwit me?” Elder Ling sneered, his laughter growing louder and more unrestrained. “Do you have any idea how much effort it takes to cultivate a Red Flesh Ghost?! But don’t worry – I’ve already figured out how you’re going to compensate me.”
“There are a lot of evil entities among the flesh-and-blood demons who are particularly fond of female cultivators… I’ll offer your junior sisters and your master’s wife to them. Once they’ve devoured every last bit of them, I’ll bind those fiends to your body”.
“That way, you can become my new pet… and never be separated from your dear junior sisters and master’s wife – neither in mind nor in body…” Elder Ling closed his eyes, spread his arms wide, and took a deep breath as if embracing this twisted, pleasurable world. “You should thank me properly for this gift.”
You Su clenched his teeth so hard that he nearly shattered his molars. A single tear of blood trickled down from the pitch black sockets of his eyes.
Although he couldn’t see Elder Ling’s smug face, You Su stared into the void with unyielding intensity, as if trying to burn Elder Ling’s image into his soul. He recalled the monstrous visage Elder Ling had revealed during his transformation and vowed to remember it forever. He swore to exact vengeance upon this beast, pursuing it across lifetimes until one of them was utterly destroyed.
Come on, somebody help me!