Chapter 11
temple
However, what Ryujin didn't know was that spiritual weapons like the Wooden King Sword were not easily mastered by anyone. The owner of a spiritual weapon needed corresponding strength to control it; otherwise, during the process of mastering the spiritual weapon, it may absorb the owner's life force, draining their vitality and leaving them a withered husk.
A loud rumble shook the air, causing the trees to tremble and the ground to quake. The red aura swirled around Ryujin like a vortex, its intense energy making his skin prickle. The sword glowed with an intense red color, siphoning away his life force with an otherworldly hunger. Ryujin's eyes closed bit by bit, his consciousness fading like a candle in the wind.
"Hey, what the hell? You're still absorbing?" Ryujin said in annoyance, his voice weak but laced with determination. His words were laced with a hint of desperation, his body trembling with the effort of resisting the sword's power.
With a surge of adrenaline, Ryujin cleansed his face with his Qi, emanating a blue aura from his hand. The aura shimmered like a beacon, illuminating the darkening landscape. "Stop, stop right now, or else I'll bury you alive!" he growled, grabbing the sword in rage and clenching his fist with a fierce expression. His eyes blazed with a fierce determination, his jaw set in a resolute line.
Ryujin raised the sword, using his left hand to gather his Qi. The air seemed to vibrate with energy as he prepared to punch the sword. The sword seemed to sense his anger and fear, retracting its vines instantly like a living serpent.
Ryujin collapsed to the ground, shaking the sword violently as he supported himself on one knee. His purple eyes blazed with intensity, and his long purple hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall. His chest heaved with exhaustion, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"This is truly wicked," Ryujin muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications of the sword's power.
Generally, at least a Martial artist at the Internal Energy Realm level was needed to control a spiritual weapon like the Wooden King Sword. Such a martial artist would possess the requisite strength, wisdom, and spiritual energy to tame the sword's ferocious power. Ryujin, however, was only at the Qi Gathering Realm level, and could only provide the sword with absorption through blood sucking – a precarious and potentially deadly arrangement.
Ryujin sat down, crossing his legs and placing the sword in front of him. He began to meditate, recovering his Qi and emanating a gentle aura from his hands. The aura shimmered like a soft breeze, soothing his frazzled nerves and calming his racing heart. If it weren't for his unique constitution, he would have turned into a desiccated corpse long ago, drained of his life force by the sword's insatiable hunger.
After meditating for a while, Ryujin pulled up the system window, his eyes scanning the information displayed before him. The system window revealed the details of the Wooden King Sword:
"Wooden King Sword: A top-grade spiritual weapon at the Earth Rank. Due to the long-term lack of an owner and the absorption of spiritual energy by demons, it has now become a lower-rank spiritual weapon. With careful nurturing and attentive care from the owner, it can be restored to a higher-grade spiritual weapon. Special skill: Regeneration upon being severed."
Ryujin's eyes widened in amazement as he read the information. He picked up the sword, a sense of excitement and wonder coursing through his veins. "This Tree Demon did not deceive me," he thought, a sly smile spreading across his face. "The Wooden King Sword is indeed powerful."
As a reward for the sword's power, Ryujin decided to find an opportunity to relieve the Tree Demon. "After all, even if I kept the Tree Demon in the demon prison, it would suffer," he thought, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. "It's better I use it to nourish the Wooden King Sword."
Just as Ryujin's evil laughter began to echo through the air, the sky grew dark, and a torrent of rain came pouring down. Ryujin's eyes widened in surprise as the rain soaked through his clothes, sending shivers down his spine. "What bad luck!" he exclaimed, seeking shelter in a nearby temple.
Ryujin entered the temple, his eyes adjusting to the dim light within. The air was musty and filled with the scent of incense. At the far end of the temple, a statue sat on a pedestal, its presence seeming to fill the entire space. The statue, once a proud representation of the Mountain God, now sat cross-legged with one hand raised in a mysterious motion and the other hand resting on its lap. However, the statue's head was missing, leaving only a jagged stump.
Ryujin's eyes narrowed as he examined the statue, his mind racing with the implications of the broken idol. According to the Demon Hunter Manual, the Mountain God was worshipped by the people for its power to gather the energy of all beings, possess certain abilities, and avoid calamities. However, once the statue of the Mountain God was broken, it indicated the appearance of a powerful demon that could disregard the statue's power. It was a great calamity, and Ryujin knew he had to be cautious.
He locked the temple doors, his eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of danger. The air was thick with tension, and Ryujin could feel the weight of the Mountain God's broken statue bearing down upon him. He remembered the hunter's guide, his mind racing with the possibilities of what lay ahead.
Ryujin sat by the campfire, poking at the flames with a stick as he mused aloud, "I didn't expect to encounter demons on the way, but it seems I'll gain something valuable in the mountain temple." The fire crackled and spat, casting flickering shadows on the walls of the temple. Ryujin lay down, munching on a pancake, and grimaced. "Ugh, this tastes awful." The pancake was dry and flavorless, but he ate it anyway, savoring the meager sustenance.
Just as Ryujin was settling in for the night, he heard the sound of footsteps outside, despite the pouring rain. The rain drummed against the temple's roof, creating a soothing melody that seemed to lull the world into a peaceful slumber. However, Ryujin's ears perked up, and he thought to himself, "Demons have come knocking so soon?" He decided to stay put for the time being, observing the newcomers with interest.
The door creaked open, and a stunningly beautiful woman stepped inside, shaking the rain off her umbrella. The umbrella's delicate ribs sparkled with raindrops, casting tiny diamonds across the floor. Her face was partially hidden behind a delicate veil that covered her nose and mouth, but her piercing green emerald eyes sparkled like jewels in the firelight. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her slender figure was draped in a flowing green robe. The robe's intricate embroidery seemed to shimmer in the firelight, telling a story of ancient myths and legends.
By her side stood a bold guard, his rugged features chiseled from years of battle. He wore a simple brown robe, cinched at the waist with a leather belt. His eyes seemed to bore into Ryujin's soul, sizing him up with a mixture of curiosity and caution. Another guard lingered by the door, his eyes scanning the room before nodding to the woman.
As Ryujin turned to face them, the woman's gaze met his, and she offered a gentle smile. "Hi," she said, her voice like music, as she dropped her umbrella to the floor. The umbrella's metal tip clattered against the stone, echoing through the temple's silence. Ryujin's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. Who was this mysterious woman, and what brought her to this remote mountain temple on a stormy night?
The storm outside continued to rage, with thunder booming and lightning illuminating the dark sky like a celestial display of power. The rain lashed against the temple's walls, creating a soothing melody that seemed to lull the world into a peaceful slumber. Ryujin, sitting close to his campfire, turned to look at the newcomers, his eyes adjusting to the dim light within the temple. There were two guards, one with short hair and the other with long hair, and a bold guard who seemed to be their leader. The bold guard spoke in a menacing tone, his voice low and gravelly, "Miss, the rain is quite heavy tonight."
Ryujin's eyes flicked to his luggage, where he had wrapped his regular sword, shovel, and umbrella. The luggage was old and worn, with scratches and scuffs that told a story of their own. The guard with short hair spoke up, his voice firm but respectful, "This mountain temple is relatively safe, we subordinate our righteousness to it, please rest assured, Miss." The lady nodded, her green emerald eyes sparkling with gratitude, and the guards responded in unison, their voices a deep rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air.