Chapter 415: Chapter 40: Did I... forget something?
After realizing the advantages of the Sword Body, Li Mo diligently practiced the Evil Erasing Sword Pill method, his progress far surpassing that of common Sword Cultivators.
His greatest advantage lay in the fact that the Taiyi Sword Body had already fused with the White Bone Treasure Body.
The White Bone Treasure Body took precedence, with the Taiyi Sword Body as its accompaniment.
Li Mo referred to the fusion of the two Daoist Bodies as the "Taiyi Sword Bone."
Without needing the Taiyi Sword Body Postnatal Return to Innate Marvelous Method, the Taiyi Sword Bone was already an Innate Sword Body.
Perhaps because of its focus on suppressing Sword Intent, the Taiyi Sword Body’s strength wasn’t immediately apparent, but the responsiveness of the Innate Sword Body was undeniable.
What satisfied Li Mo most was that he only needed to complete the first Four Gates of the method to attempt fusing the Taiyi Sword Bone with other Sword Bodies.
He intended to completely remodel himself, achieving the advancement of the Sword Body.
"Heh, heh, heh..."
Though Li Mo had no access to the inheritance of the twenty-seven Sword Graves, he could still utilize the Substitute Dao Page to directly acquire the No-Life Mother’s Dao Body traits, among which existed Sword Body characteristics.
To the best of his memory, the No-Life Mother carried on Yu Xiao’s "Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Body."
In ancient times, the Heavenly Sword Sect’s research into Sword Bodies barely scratched the surface. Let alone the advancement of the Sword Body, even the Sword Pill wasn’t yet widely utilized.
The Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Body was considered a foundational Sword Body within the Thunder Residence Sword Tomb.
The records within the Innate Sword Body Advancement Method indicated that the Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Body could merge with the Taiyi Sword Body, resulting in the "Thunderfire Sword Body."
The Thunderfire Sword Body could enhance the power of Sword Intent through the violent transformation of the Body and Soul.
In terms of advanced Sword Bodies within the Heavenly Sword Sect, it could rank within the top hundred.
An ancient text noted: "Thunderfire signifies devouring fury; the ancient kings punished with fiery judgment."
"With the Thunderfire Sword Body, the power of Yang Thunder Dual Attribute Sword Intent increases by fifty percent. In life-or-death situations, disregarding the erosion of Sword Intent becomes even more terrifying."
By leveraging the Substitute Dao Page, Li Mo could save three to four hundred years of cultivation.
He cared little if others questioned the origin of his Ten Thousand Thunder Sword Body; they would mostly assume Yu Xiao had privately taught him.
Knowing Yu Xiao’s personality, he wouldn’t bother with Li Mo’s schemes, and within the Heavenly Sword Sect, few dared to challenge Yu Xiao.
The image of Yu Xiao wielding his sword in ruthless slaughter flashed through Li Mo’s mind.
A thousand years ago, even sect members who provoked Yu Xiao would be cut down without hesitation by the Fifth Senior Sister, whose actions were utterly uninhibited.
"Well, I’ll just keep my distance from the Fifth Senior Sister in the future."
Li Mo chuckled bitterly.
His only worthwhile connection lay with Si Rui Pavilion; as for the Eighth Senior Sister’s origins, he remained clueless.
Boom, boom, boom.
Throughout the Purple Sun Palace, disturbances rang out as several Daoist Temples collapsed into ruins and the water in the streets and alleys rose above knee height.
"Why does the Heavenly Sword Sect remain inactive?"
"Could it be that even they can’t discern the truth behind the taboo?"
A sense of urgency sprouted in Li Mo’s heart. Recognizing that calm wouldn’t last, he hurried to cultivate the Evil Erasing Sword Pill method.
Crack, crack, crack...
The sound of White Bone Spiders crawling reverberated inside him, faint Sword Qi spilling out.
The method of the Evil Erasing Sword Pill relied on the eroding nature of Sword Intent to assimilate portions of flesh and bone, using them as raw materials for refining.
It required three units of bone, two units of flesh, and five drops of Heart Blood.
Li Mo, uninterested in the Evil Erasing Sword Pill itself, opted to forego the tedious assimilation process and instead use the existing White Bone Spider as a substitute.
Modifications would be necessary in the procedure, but he boldly decided to conduct experiments directly with the White Bone Spider.
After all, White Bone Spiders weren’t valuable; as long as the marrow within his spine wasn’t depleted, they could be produced endlessly.
Under Li Mo’s command, White Bone Spiders plunged forward in droves to serve as consumable materials.
Li Mo used two units of flesh to fill the White Bone Spider’s body, reshaped three units of bone to construct external Insect Armor, and infused five drops of Heart Blood into the insect’s abdomen.
He buried them deep within his spine, allowing them to gradually absorb the essence of the Taiyi Sword Bone.
His actions led to the mass demise of White Bone Spiders; even those that barely survived became grotesquely malformed and severely weakened.
Li Mo remained unruffled, replenishing their bone marrow with Innate Essence as needed.
If resources could solve it, why make it a problem?
The White Bone Spiders perished in large numbers as Li Mo made countless adjustments, gradually making them more compatible with the Taiyi Sword Bone.
Li Mo nodded.
White Bone Spider Sword Pill transformation marked the deeper integration between the Taiyi Sword Body and the White Bone Treasure Body.
Plop.
The first Spider Sword Pill emerged from his spine, its body clad in insect armor speckled with shimmering spots, limbs sharp as sword blades, and a grotesquely swollen abdomen.
The Spider Sword Pill rotated its peculiar eyes and spat out a strand of razor-edged web.
Under Li Mo’s control, the Spider Sword Pill swung the web against one of his ribs, leaving a long, narrow cutting mark on the surface of the bone.
The Taiyi Sword Bone had now acknowledged the Spider Sword Pill as its external organ.
"The Sword Pill is complete."
Li Mo was overjoyed, no longer interfering in the Spider’s further development.
As expected, the newly formed White Bone Spiders all displayed the characteristics of Sword Pills, rapidly filling the inside and surface of his bones.
The number of Spider Sword Pills faced no limitation; their primary role remained in assisting surgeries while also suppressing Sword Intent as Evil Erasing Sword Pills did.
"The Taiyi Sword Bone, derived from the Sword Body, accelerates Dao Body fusion through Sword Dao inheritances."
Li Mo had only completed the method’s first two gates, yet the Taiyi Sword Bone had already greatly benefitted.
Spirit Patterns on his spine began to change.
Artifact Soul Spirit Patterns still occupied over ninety-nine percent of the area, but unfamiliar lines of Spirit Patterns began to extend quietly.
Most likely, the strange Spirit Patterns were derived from the Sword Dao.
Unfortunately, relying solely on the initial entry of the Taiyi Sword Bone wasn’t sufficient to fully shape the Spirit Patterns; its future development depended on subsequent progress.
"A double Spirit Pattern Dao Body—the growth potential is likely second only to the Great Wilderness Immortal Body."
Li Mo’s expression showed intrigue.
Next, he began cultivating the Nourishing Yuan Sword Heart Regeneration Skill, leaving the main hall plunged into silence.
......
In the courtyard of Zhi Mountain Temple.
Daoist Bai Shuo repeatedly practiced drawing and sheathing his sword, his mental realm growing increasingly calm.
Since Li Mo’s absence, Daoist Bai Shuo had experienced no further disturbances, as though his prior erratic behavior had been but a fluke.
With no Sword Ghost roaming the streets at night, he devoted his time to honing his Sword Dao.
Bai Shuo’s Fire Burning Sword Intent showed no signs of breaking through to superior levels, yet every burst of Sword Intent was manifestly more blazing.
If this continued, relying on the superior Sword Intent contained within his Lifebound Flying Sword "Sun Branch," Bai Shuo was destined for rapid progress.
In the Heavenly Sword Sect, only a few Sword Cultivators possessed superior Sword Intent imbued Lifebound Flying Swords, making Bai Shuo’s talent commendable.
As for Li Mo, who spontaneously comprehended superior Sword Intent, such a rarity hadn’t appeared in a millennium.
"Hah."
Bai Shuo’s movements grew ever fiercer, drawing in poisonous vapors emanating from the marshland as golden-red lights flickered around his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.
His sword practice was suddenly interrupted by an eruption of Sword Qi from the adjoining side hall.
Bai Shuo froze, his gaze involuntarily locked on the side hall, while an unbearable itch emerged anew within the hollow of his right arm.
Bang.
The side hall doors were kicked open.
Ye Zhuo Daoist strode out, cursing loudly. "Damn it all—were it not for these disasters, I would’ve ascended long ago!"
His Spiritual Power roiled, indicating he had reached the Five Qi Period.
Upon noticing Bai Shuo standing dumbfounded, Ye Zhuo Daoist arched an eyebrow smugly and remarked, "It’s all thanks to my extraordinary talent; otherwise, how could it be so smooth?"
The rain had persisted for some time, with the proportion of Water Attribute Spiritual Energy exceeding forty percent.
Indeed, the Great Sun Sword Tomb was ill-suited for cultivation.
Bai Shuo finally spoke, "Fellow Daoist Ye Zhuo, congratulations on advancing to the Five Qi Period."
"You flatter me, you flatter me. This old Daoist has been in the inner sect for six hundred years and has long grown accustomed to storms. Facing disaster calmly allowed me to break through..."
Before Ye Zhuo Daoist could finish boasting, Bai Shuo swallowed hard and involuntarily edged closer.
Bai Shuo’s right arm was already mangled, clawed open with his own fingernails.
"Fellow Daoist Ye Zhuo, seeing you, I seem to recall something..."
Bai Shuo uttered each word through gritted teeth, his voice trembling.
Ye Zhuo Daoist detected the unrestrained fury in Bai Shuo’s tone—he seemed ready to tear him limb from limb.
"Heh."
Ye Zhuo Daoist forced a grin, cautiously retreating toward the main hall.
"You’re all fake! Though I don’t yet understand why, I must kill all of you!"
Bai Shuo shouted through tears, smashing his head with his bloody right arm.
"But... what have I forgotten?!"
"Damn it."
Ye Zhuo Daoist cursed under his breath, confused as to why Bai Shuo had succumbed to deviation.
He swiftly dodged the attack; even with his Five Qi Period cultivation, Ye Zhuo Daoist was inept at combat, especially against a target nearing full deviation.
"Out of my way."
Ye Zhuo Daoist grinned with relief, dropping to the ground in desperation.
The main hall doors opened slightly.
Rumble.
Zhi Mountain Temple was plunged into darkness. Ye Zhuo Daoist caught a glimpse of a waning crescent moon radiating faint ghostly light from within the hall.
The crescent moon flickered briefly and disappeared.
"Ahhh!!!"
Bai Shuo, like a headless chicken, charged madly through Zhi Mountain Temple.
"Yin Spiritual Power? Senior Brother Taiyi, you really don’t mind sowing chaos, do you?"
Ye Zhuo Daoist broke out in a cold sweat. To simultaneously wield two conflicting Spirit Attributes of Sword Intent—such audacity could only stem from Li Mo.
Could it be that after mastering the Taiyi Sword Body, Li Mo feared his fate was too dull?
A Mountain Demon landed heavily within ten meters of Bai Shuo, its White Bone Stick softening like a rope. It wrapped around Bai Shuo and flung him to the front of the main hall doors.
In mere moments, Bai Shuo calmed down.
A crescent imprint appeared on his forehead, and under the effects of Dark Moon Sword Intent, his body’s sensory functions were systematically stripped away, leaving his spirit subdued.
Li Mo instantly materialized beside Bai Shuo.
Ye Zhuo Daoist moved closer, observing Li Mo examine Bai Shuo’s injured arm.
Bai Shuo’s wounds had closed, leaving faint scars on his skin that continued to expand.
Clearly, Bai Shuo’s unconscious scratching of his arm was linked to the scars.
Li Mo narrowed his eyes and stimulated the growth of cancer cells in Bai Shuo’s right arm. The speed of scar proliferation soared a hundredfold.
The scars seemed as though an unseen hand was carving letters, bit by bit.
When the scars formed completely, both men exchanged a shocked glance.
The scars on Bai Shuo’s right arm painfully spelled out the words: "Remember, there’s someone behind the door."
The closer to the end of the message, the deeper and more forceful the cuts appeared.
Li Mo gestured and murmured with furrowed brows, "The handwriting is indeed Bai Shuo’s, carved most likely with his right hand."
"But surely there can’t be another Bai Shuo, one that doesn’t exist?"
Li Mo said nothing, silently fixing his gaze on Ye Zhuo Daoist.
Ye Zhuo Daoist felt a chill run down his spine.