The moment Yi Xiaoyao’s voice fell, a figure untouched by dust appeared before him.
A faint silver halo enveloped his plain white robes. A closer look at his face revealed a handsome, middle-aged man.
But as he stood there, one could see right through his body to the things behind him. He was merely an illusion.
"You are?"
Yi Xiaoyao asked, his heart pounding with apprehension.
"I am the Sword God!"
The spectral man’s gaze was like a sword, piercing straight into one’s heart.
"Boy, I have waited inside you for eighteen years. Since you’re willing to accept my inheritance, let’s begin!"
With that, the spectral figure pointed a finger at the spot between Yi Xiaoyao’s eyebrows.
"Wait!"
Yi Xiaoyao quickly twisted his head away to dodge. ’Why does it feel like this Sword God is just trying to pass me a hot potato?’
"You’re saying you’ve been inside my body for eighteen years?"
"What of it? I was in your ancestors’ bodies for over a thousand years."
The Sword God frowned slightly when he saw Yi Xiaoyao dodge.
Yi Xiaoyao’s brow furrowed. "Senior, before we do this, can you tell me where you come from?"
The Sword God hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"My origins are not for you to know. What I can tell you is that I attached myself to your Yi Clan’s lineage to enhance its bloodline and create my successor."
"And after a thousand years of subtle, gradual enhancement, your bloodline has now completely transformed into the Sword God Bloodline!"
"The reason I have appeared before you is that only one with the Sword God Bloodline is qualified to receive my inheritance!"
Yi Xiaoyao nodded as if in recollection. That would explain everything.
He had lived with his parents until he was eight, and he remembered his father was just an ordinary man who had never received an Immortal Soul inheritance.
"So it’s because of you that my father, just like me, never received an Immortal Soul inheritance," Yi Xiaoyao said with a bitter smile.
The Sword God nodded. "There is always a price to be paid. But this price will forge you into a supreme being, as long as you accept my inheritance!"
"Alright! Let’s begin then, Senior!" Yi Xiaoyao said with determination.
At his words, the Sword God raised his hand and tapped the spot between Yi Xiaoyao’s eyebrows.
The next moment, Yi Xiaoyao suddenly felt a vast torrent of information flooding his mind.
"Devouring God Sword Technique!"
Yi Xiaoyao exclaimed.
"That’s right! This Devouring God Sword Technique is a divine-level Cultivation Technique, the very inheritance I’m passing on to you," the Sword God said, his hands clasped behind his back.
"You’re a bit stingy, Senior. You only gave me one Cultivation Technique. Can’t you also give me some of your memories from before you died?" Yi Xiaoyao said with a laugh.
The Sword God paused, then chided with a laugh, "Boy, who said I only gave you one Cultivation Technique? The Sword God Bloodline talent within you was my gift as well!"
"And as for wanting my memories from before I died... I’m not dead. How could I give you memories of a past life?"
"You’re in this state, and you’re not dead?" Yi Xiaoyao asked.
"This is merely a remnant of my consciousness. My physical body is sealed," the Sword God said.
A sudden realization dawned on Yi Xiaoyao. He said in shock, "I know why you’re giving me this inheritance, Senior! You want me to get stronger so I can help you, don’t you!"
The Sword God gazed at Yi Xiaoyao and sighed. "You’ve more or less guessed right. However, you will only be able to help me on the day you, too, become a Sword God."
Yi Xiaoyao chuckled. "In that case, you should pass some of your Cultivation on to me so I can get stronger faster!"
The Sword God shook his head. "I cannot pass on the bit of Cultivation I have left. Your very life depends on it."
Before Yi Xiaoyao could express his confusion, the Sword God waved his hand, scattering countless streams of light that shot out in all directions.
"My appearance will attract the attention of some of my old enemies. They will track me here and kill you! I must use my remaining Cultivation to scatter my aura across the land, diverting their attention to save your life!"
As he spoke, the Sword God’s form grew transparent, on the verge of disappearing as his Cultivation scattered.
But before he vanished completely, he tapped the spot between Yi Xiaoyao’s eyebrows twice more.
"I see your soul’s aptitude is excellent, so I will gift you two Soul Divine Techniques. The rest is up to you..."
Yi Xiaoyao shot to his feet, crying out, "Senior Sword God!"
But before he could finish, the Sword God’s spectral form had vanished completely.
Yi Xiaoyao wasn’t sad. He knew the Sword God hadn’t died, and that one day, sooner or later, he would see him again.
In fact, he was thrilled!
Yi Xiaoyao immediately closed his eyes and began to examine the Divine Skill in his mind.
’The Devouring God Sword Technique is divided into two parts: the Devouring Technique and the Divine Sword Technique.’
’The Spiritual Power cultivated with this Divine Skill possesses the might of devouring and destruction, which is why the first part is called the Devouring Technique.’
’As for the Divine Sword Technique, it is the method for nurturing a Heaven-defying Divine Sword within the Dantian.’
’Cultivating this Divine Skill, one can slay foes of the Same Realm as if they were weeds, and killing enemies of a higher level is a common occurrence!’
’Cultivated to its peak, one can devour heaven and earth, annihilate the firmament, and defy the heavens with a single slash!’
After reading these words, even though Yi Xiaoyao couldn’t truly comprehend the power to devour the heavens and extinguish the earth, he felt his blood boil, ready to erupt. He longed to defy the heavens!
In Yi Xiaoyao’s understanding, Cultivators were divided into several major Realms: Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul. Each Realm was divided into nine layers.
A normal person cultivating to each of these Realms could only possess one Qi Sea, one Spirit Platform, one Golden Core, and one Nascent Soul.
But by cultivating the Devouring God Sword Technique, one could possess a Qi Sea *and* a Source of Sword Qi, a Spirit Platform *and* a Spirit Sword Sheath, a Golden Core *and* a Spirit Sword Embryo, a Nascent Soul *and* an Elemental Spirit Sword!
This meant that in every major Realm, Yi Xiaoyao would have an extra cultivation foundation compared to others. His combat prowess would naturally be double!
Under such a tremendous temptation, he didn’t hesitate for a second. He sat down cross-legged and began to comprehend the incantation of the Devouring God Sword Technique, entering a state of Cultivation.
’Guide Qi with the body, transform Qi into power, devour Qi with power...’
The profound and esoteric incantation echoed quietly in Yi Xiaoyao’s mind, like the tolling of an ancient Copper Bell.
Slowly, Yi Xiaoyao seemed to grasp a sliver of its profound mystery. Following this, a wisp of Spiritual Qi slowly trickled into his body.
That wisp of Spiritual Qi circulated through his meridians, and then an immense Devouring Power erupted from his body.
VMMMM...
The next moment, the vast Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi began to be endlessly devoured into Yi Xiaoyao’s body.
After this Spiritual Qi completed a full Circulation through his meridians, it all converged in Yi Xiaoyao’s Dantian, transforming into a strand of Dark Spiritual Power.
Spiritual Power is the foundation of a Cultivator; the might of one’s Spiritual Power determines one’s abilities.
As for Yi Xiaoyao’s strand of Dark Spiritual Power, although it appeared tranquil and restrained, he could clearly sense an extremely domineering Devouring Power and Power of Destruction hidden within that tranquility!
Clearly, the might of the Spiritual Power cultivated with the Devouring God Sword Technique was on a level that the Spiritual Power from ordinary Cultivation Techniques could never hope to match!
Empowered by the Devouring Power, Yi Xiaoyao’s speed of absorbing Spiritual Qi grew ever faster, and the Dark Spiritual Power in his Dantian surged rapidly.
Once he condensed his Spiritual Power into a Qi Sea, he would step into the Qi Condensation stage and become a true Cultivator.
Judging by the way his Spiritual Power was surging and condensing within his Dantian, it wouldn’t be long before he could form a Qi Sea.
If any outsider were to witness this Cultivation speed, their eyes would surely pop out of their sockets.
Yi Xiaoyao spent the entire night in quiet Cultivation.
Not until the sky brightened did a faint ripple emanate from within his body.
Yi Xiaoyao opened his eyes in delight, a brilliant light flashing within them.
"First Realm of Qi Condensation!"
’Such incredible Cultivation speed! The Sword God Bloodline and a divine-level Cultivation Technique... they’re truly heaven-defying!’
At this moment, within Yi Xiaoyao’s Dantian, a vortex of a black Qi Sea was revolving silently.
Strangely, however, this Qi Sea only occupied the left half of his Dantian; the right half was completely empty.
’According to the description of the Devouring God Sword Technique, the right half of the Dantian is where the Source of Sword Qi is condensed. I’ll only be able to form the Source of Sword Qi once I reach the Ninth Realm of Qi Condensation.’
So Yi Xiaoyao wasn’t worried about the Source of Sword Qi. He raised his hand, and a mass of Dark Spiritual Power condensed in his palm.
"Haha! I’ve finally taken the first step!"
Yi Xiaoyao clenched his fist, a sharp glint in his eyes.
He murmured, "Ruoxue received a seventh-grade Immortal Soul inheritance, instantly gaining the Cultivation of the seventh realm of Qi Condensation. I may have to start from scratch, but with the Cultivation speed from the Sword God’s inheritance, I’m sure I’ll catch up to her soon."
After speaking, Yi Xiaoyao suddenly remembered something.
’Oh, right. Senior Sword God also left me two Divine Techniques.’
At this thought, he settled his mind and began to inspect them.
"Soul Burning Forbidden Technique, Soul-Devouring Forbidden Technique!"
The Soul Burning Forbidden Technique used the caster’s own soul as fuel to gain astonishing explosive power, but it caused extreme harm to the user and was not to be used unless there was no other choice.
The Soul-Devouring Forbidden Technique used one’s own soul to devour an enemy’s. Not only could it replenish the soul after using the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique, but it could also strengthen one’s own soul!
’These two Forbidden Techniques complement each other. They’re incredibly powerful, but I can only use them as a trump card.’
Yi Xiaoyao committed this to memory and set it aside for now.
He was in an excellent mood. Looking out the window, he saw that it was already past breakfast time.
He washed his face, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and hurried out the door.
’I have to tell Ruoxue I’ve become a Cultivator! When she hears this wonderful news, she won’t be disappointed anymore!’
On the way, Yi Xiaoyao’s heart was filled with anticipation. He couldn’t wait to see the look of surprise in Tang Ruoxue’s eyes.
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(Author’s Note: The "Devouring" in the title, Devouring Sword God, comes from a word meaning both "to devour" and "to destroy." Hope this helps you remember the title!)