The Unparalleled Sword Emperor Chapter 4 - 4 4 Qingling Mountain Range

“Is this the Qingling Mountain Range?”

“Alright, the journey begins!”

Gripping the Soul-Slaying Sword firmly in his grasp, Lin Bai strode right into the Qingling Mountain Range.

Guided by the map from Ye Tingxian, he headed straight for the spot where the Pregnant Spirit Fruit was located.

Roar!

Only a few steps later, noises rustled from the jungle in front.

Lin Bai swiftly stowed the map and peered ahead, as a speedy black panther exploded from the weeds, lunging like a ravenous tiger pouncing on prey.

“Black-scaled Leopard!”

Spotting the charging leopard, Lin Bai jolted in surprise at first, then a vicious grin crept across his face: “You’ve come seeking death yourself, so I’ll oblige!”

The Black-scaled Leopard, armored in tough black scales that normal blades could hardly pierce, stood as a True Martial Realm Third Level Demon Beast—perfectly suited for Lin Bai!

Lin Bai evaded the panther’s rapid assault, drew his Soul-Slaying Sword in a flash, and unleashed a swirling sword beam upward, slashing a deep gash across the beast’s underbelly.

“This first-level spiritual tool may be the lowest tier, but its might is impressive enough.”

The sword’s successful hit filled Lin Bai with immense delight.

“Time to test the Qixue Sword Skill.”

Qixue Sword Skill consisted of five forms total.

First Form: One Sword Blood Spurt.

Second Form: Blood Flowing into a River.

Third Form: Blood Rain in Windy Weather.

Fourth Form: Cold-blooded Sword Strike.

Fifth Form: Kill One Person in Ten Steps.

Since reaching Qingling Mountain, Lin Bai had devoted a full day to mastering the Qixue Sword Skill.

By the time he arrived at Qingling Mountain, Lin Bai had already grasped the first form perfectly with a single attempt.

“Roar–” Wounded by Lin Bai’s slash, the Black-scaled Leopard raged furiously, roaring once more before leaping at him again.

Its savage claws ripped through the air toward Lin Bai’s chest, as if shredding the heavens themselves.

“Filthy beast, daring to press the attack!”

“One Sword Blood Spurt!”

Whistle–

A lightning-fast sword gleam sliced through the sky, carving a crimson crescent of sword light.

Squelch!

The blade descended, lopping off the Black-scaled Leopard’s head and hurling it away.

The headless Black-scaled Leopard crashed to the earth.

After felling the Black-scaled Leopard, a surge of joy hit Lin Bai, prompting him to activate the Devouring Sword Spirit.

“Devouring Sword Spirit, devour!”

Lin Bai extended his hand remotely toward the leopard’s corpse, watching as the fresh blood within rapidly vaporized into strands of scarlet mist that fused into his body.

The Devouring Sword Spirit absorbed the Black-scaled Leopard’s vital energy, refined away the impurities, and delivered only the purest essence for Lin Bai to take in.

This vitality represented the condensed essence from every part of a Demon Beast’s body, encompassing spirit, True Qi, bloodline, and more.

Vitality existed not just in Demon Beasts but in warriors as well…

However, the Devouring Sword Spirit made no mention of devouring warriors’ vitality, so Lin Bai refrained from testing it recklessly.

“The Devouring Sword Spirit truly lives up to its power.

After taking in the Black-scaled Leopard’s vitality, my depleted True Qi has fully recovered, and I even sense my cultivation advancing!”

This was merely a third-level martial arts Demon Beast, yet Lin Bai already noticed his cultivation rising.

Qingling Mountain teemed with far stronger demon beasts than the Black-scaled Leopard.

If he slew them all, Lin Bai could scarcely fathom the terrifying speed of his realm’s growth!

Before moving on, Lin Bai concealed the Black-scaled Leopard’s corpse.

Though lacking Demon Blood, its flesh and bones remained prime materials for crafting first-level spiritual tools.

Selling them in Lingxi City would fetch hundreds of silver taels.

Lin Bai intended to collect all slain Demon Beasts’ bodies upon departing Qingling Mountain, to restock in Lingxi City.

“After half a month, I’ve finally located it!”

Half a month passed, and Lin Bai gazed at the mountain range ahead in a battered state.

This marked the map’s indicated site for the Pregnant Spirit Fruit.

Over that time, Lin Bai had scoured nearly half the Qingling Mountain Range, slaying over a hundred demon beasts.

Consequently, his True Martial cultivation had risen to the fourth level.

“I hope the Pregnant Spirit Fruit is ripe.”

Bursting with excitement, Lin Bai charged into the range, combing every inch from base to summit like a thorough sweep for the Pregnant Spirit Fruit tree.

At last, atop the peak on a sheer cliff, Lin Bai spotted a gnarled green tree.

Three plump, rosy fruits dangled from its branches.

“Pregnant Spirit Fruit!”

Perched on the cliff, Lin Bai stared at the three fruits with thrilled eyes.

“If Father’s cultivation resources hadn’t been hogged, I’d have endless Pregnant Spirit Fruits at my disposal.” Lin Bai grumbled bitterly, his resentment toward Lin Zi’er and Lintai Heng intensifying.

Scaling the twisted tree, Lin Bai reached for the three Pregnant Spirit Fruits.

Suddenly, a piercing bird shriek rang from the heavens above.

Startled, Lin Bai whipped around to see a massive eagle diving from the sky’s zenith, its hooked beak and talons aimed straight at him.

“Fifth-level True Martial white-headed eagle!” Lin Bai exclaimed in alarm, instantly dropping his plan to harvest the Pregnant Spirit Fruit.

He vaulted from the tree, unsheathed his Soul-Slaying Sword, and braced for battle.

This white-headed eagle was no pushover; as the sky’s overlord, it flew at blinding speeds and could tear huge chunks of flesh with beak or talons.

Furthermore, as a fifth-level True Martial Demon Beast, it outranked Lin Bai’s own True Martial cultivation by one level.

“Fifth level of True Martial? So what?

Anyone—or anything—in my way perishes!”

As the white-headed eagle plummeted, a chilling, murderous glint flared in Lin Bai’s eyes.

“One Sword Blood Spurt!”

He whipped his sword back, targeting the eagle’s belly to gut it wide open!

The white-headed eagle reacted in shock, twisting mid-air to evade Lin Bai’s strike.

“Savage bird, think you can flee?” Lin Bai noticed the eagle attempting escape after its ambush failed.

His Soul-Slaying Sword blazed with intense crimson light.

“Second Form: Blood Flowing into a River!”

The Qixue Sword Skill’s second form: Blood Flowing into a River!

Puff…

The scarlet sword beam struck the white-headed eagle’s wing, spraying blood across the sky.

The eagle wailed in agony, plummeting from the heights.

“Hah, dare challenge me!” Lin Bai sneered coldly at the eagle’s fall from a meter up, certain it would smash into pulp on impact.

Yet unexpectedly, just three feet above Lin Bai, the white-headed eagle beat its wings fiercely, steadying itself before slashing its talons at his skull.

“Danger!”

Lin Bai yelped in terror, his scalp crawling.

“Blood Wind, Blood Rain!”

Qixue Sword Skill’s third form: Blood Wind, Blood Rain.

A raging bloody gale swirled around Lin Bai, erupting with his sword thrust.

An unrelenting tempest swallowed the white-headed eagle whole.

The whirlwind tossed it wildly, eliciting pained shrieks as its white plumage turned crimson in moments.

In an instant, the sword storm shredded its body into three or four chunks that rained down.

“Damn beast, nearly fell to your ambush!” Lin Bai eyed the eagle’s remains, heart pounding in retrospect.

Without the third form of Qixue Sword Skill, he’d have perished under the eagle’s surprise assault!

Once the Devouring Sword Spirit swiftly drained the white-headed eagle’s demon blood, Lin Bai approached the Pregnant Spirit Fruit tree.

“This fifth-level True Martial white-headed eagle’s demon blood far surpasses those third- and fourth-level beasts.” Lin Bai grinned in satisfaction, stepping to the tree to pluck the three Pregnant Spirit Fruits.

“These three should propel me to fifth-level True Martial cultivation.”

Lin Bai chuckled with delight.

“Kid, the Qingtian Alliance wants that fruit you’re holding.”

Just as Lin Bai celebrated, a icy scoff echoed from behind him.