C21 The Change of the Sword Soul(1)

However, the young man hardly took notice of the dramatic changes unfolding before him, as he unleashed three simple yet powerful movements with his sword. A straightforward sweep, an upward flick, and a direct thrust—these actions combined to cause a series of explosions throughout the forest.

"Boom!"

Row after row of towering trees toppled over, crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact. The swirling sword light slowly converged, eventually gathering upon the blade itself.

Watching the large trees fall, Qin Fei's expression tightened, tinged with a hint of a bitter smile. "Just as I suspected, the Sword Soul's power has significantly increased after absorbing a soul. The sword light is now far stronger than before."

Qin Fei's smile held a touch of bitterness. In the two days since he had left his sect, he had roamed the forest, slaying no fewer than ten Demonic Beasts. Each time he killed a Demonic Beast and allowed the Sword Soul to absorb its soul, the sword light on the Sword Soul noticeably intensified.

Qin Fei had just slain a Level Two Demonic Beast, and after absorbing its soul, the sword light on the Sword Soul had at least doubled in intensity. It was important to note that Qin Fei's method of enhancing the sword light by merging it with his great sword was akin to how he strengthened his own body's aura-qi.

"It's clear that relying solely on the Sword Soul for cultivation is insufficient. This method of training is far from ideal. No matter what, I must advance to the Qi Gathering Stage and grasp the essence of sword qi. Only by mastering sword qi can I evade such covert threats. Even if someone suspects something is amiss with me, I can use the sword qi to conceal it. Moreover, once I've grasped sword qi, I'll be able to unlock the second character of the Sword Spell."

Once he comprehended sword qi, he would be recognized as a distinguished swordsman across the lands. A swordsman's presence commands respect and holds a prestigious status. Even faced with skeptics, the sword qi would suffice to mask any discrepancies.

At the very least, no one would detect anything amiss with the Sword Soul's absorption and consumption of souls. Of course, Qin Fei was no fool; he knew that sword qi was the stuff of legends.

Understanding such things is never easy.

"In this world, every cultivation method has its pros and cons. Although the Sword Soul is powerful, cultivating it can be profoundly malevolent..."

Qin Fei gave a wry smile.

After death, a person still possesses a soul.

Legend has it that souls can be reborn.

Yet, when a soul is consumed by one's Sword Soul, it severs any chance of reincarnation for others, an act of unspeakable cruelty.

Such a sight would enrage anyone.

"Roar!"

Just as Qin Fei stowed his massive sword and was about to rise to his feet, an angry roar echoed from deep within the forest.

The Flame Mountain range is immeasurably vast, stretching from the eastern seas to the western regions of the Heavenly Stellar Continent, spanning the breadth of the land.

Within these mountains lurk innumerable Demonic Beasts.

At nightfall, these creatures become most active.

"Could that be a Sword-toothed Pig?"

At the sound, Qin Fei instantly identified the source of the roar.

Each Demonic Beast has its unique call and aura.

The Sword-toothed Pig, for instance, emits an incredibly foul stench, and its roar is an odd mix of pig and dog, making it particularly peculiar.

"Rustle, rustle!"

A flurry of rapid footsteps approached Qin Fei from the jungle.

In the wild, it's survival of the fittest, for both Demonic Beasts and humans alike.

"Thump!"

Dirt billowed as a massive form leapt from the underbrush, arcing through the air before barreling straight toward Qin Fei.

Confronting the pig's body, which hurtled at him like a cannonball, Qin Fei was unfazed.

"A mere second-grade Demonic Beast thinks to harm me? Not so easily done..."

With a rebuke, Qin Fei deftly maneuvered his giant sword in an upward sweep just as the beast neared impact.

In terms of strength, a first to second-grade Demonic Beast is on par with a human at the Astral Refinement Stage.

Third to fourth grades are considered equivalent to experts at the Qi Gathering Stage.

Typically, the strength of a second-grade Demonic Beast is on par with a human cultivator at the same realm.

The Sword-toothed Pig before him was a second-grade Demonic Beast, comparable to a human at the peak of the Astral Refinement Stage.

"Whoom!"

Sword light surged forth, slicing through the air with lethal precision.

"Boom!"

The sword light struck the Sword-toothed Pig's head, igniting a shower of sparks.

It was like striking a steel plate, the force of the impact radiating outward.

"Thud! Thud!"

The Sword-toothed Pig was hurled back to where it started, its sharp horn cloven in two, the wound a gory mess.

Previously, Qin Fei might have been wary of this formidable Sword-toothed Pig, but now, empowered by the Sword Soul, his innate strength had increased more than fivefold.

Even the immense force of the Sword-toothed Pig's charge could be utterly disregarded.

"Die..."

As the Sword-toothed Pig's body was violently thrown back, Qin Fei seized the moment, leaping up and bringing his massive sword down through the air.

The Sword-toothed Pig was not only formidable in its charge but also in its speed.

If it had time to react and prepare, killing it would become a much more arduous task.

"Roar!"

The Sword-toothed Pig's hooves hit the ground as it faced the descending giant sword.

Its eyes flared red with rage.

With an enraged bellow, it lifted its head and charged ferociously at Qin Fei.

"Boom!"

Qin Fei's strength was immense, well over 4,000 pounds, and when combined with his Astral Qi and the sword light, it was truly fearsome.

Now, as he descended from mid-air with the sword light of his giant sword, he was like a razor-sharp mountain bearing down relentlessly.

After yet another direct impact, the Sword-toothed Pig's legs buckled violently, creating a half-meter deep crater where its hooves struck the ground, blood spurting wildly from the wound.

Demonic Beasts are known for their formidable skeletal and muscular strength, but Qin Fei's sword strike had completely shattered the Sword-toothed Pig's bones, causing the blood vessels within its muscles to burst open.

Blood quickly filled the sizable pit formed by the creature's hooves.

With a final, defiant roar, the Sword-toothed Pig's body collapsed helplessly to the side.

Its hooves were rendered useless, its skeleton fractured, and the solitary horn on its head was reduced to dust, with the massive sword now embedded in its skull. The beast's internal organs were nearly pulverized.

It didn't matter that it was a Level Two Demonic Beast; even a more formidable one would have faced certain death.

With a hum and a whoosh, after the Sword-toothed Pig had fallen, Qin Fei witnessed his great sword undergoing an automatic transformation.