Chapter 194: Sword Fetus Sneak Attack! Senior Sister, You’re Way Too Eager to Protect Your Master!

“Boom—!!!”

The deafening sound of an explosion blasted overhead, and the sturdy dome of the sword array was instantly torn apart like a fragile eggshell.

Countless massive broken swords and boulders, mixed with violent gales, rained down overwhelmingly.

The entire natural cave shook violently, as if it would completely collapse at any moment.

“Everyone, get out of the way!”

Gu Lan reacted extremely quickly.

Without even a second of hesitation, he sprang up from the large boulder where he was meditating. The Purple Extreme Golden Core inside his body spun frantically, and a dominant, matchless surge of Pure Yang True Essence burst forth from his body.

“Heaven-Burning Fire Wall, rise!”

Boom!

Interweaving blue and red flames soared into the sky, forming a thick canopy of fire in midair. It instantly incinerated the falling boulders and broken swords into ashes, which rustled down as a sky full of stone dust.

At the same time,

Lanyu, who was on guard duty, had already drawn her sword. Deep blue sword light wove into a net within the cave, blocking all the stray debris.

Hongxiu and Lvluo were also startled awake from their sleep and quickly prepared for battle.

But the most exaggerated one was Jiang Wanqing.

This number one Fairy of the Righteous Path, who was just pretending to be weak and twisting her wrist a moment ago, was now like a mother leopard protecting her cubs.

She didn't even care about her own safety; the very instant the dome cracked, she threw herself directly toward Gu Lan.

“Master, watch out!”

Jiang Wanqing let out a delicate shout, shielding Gu Lan with her entire body and firmly protecting him behind her.

Her thin white inner garment clung tightly to her body, and her spine was straight. Even without a sword in hand, she used her own flesh and blood to make the most instinctive defensive stance.

Gu Lan looked at the slender yet firm back shielding him, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch twice.

“Senior Sister…”

“Aren't you getting a bit too into character? There are fucking outsiders here, is it really okay for you to call me 'Master' so naturally?”

And besides, who is protecting whom? I'm a Half-step Golden Core, after all. Do I really need you, whose cultivation is sealed, to act as a meat shield?

“Cut the crap, get back.” Without turning her head, Jiang Wanqing's voice carried a hint of anxiety amidst its coldness. “The visitor does not come with good intentions!”

Watching from the side, Hongxiu rolled her eyes wildly, gripping her red silk ribbon tightly.

“This green tea bitch is certainly number one when it comes to stealing the spotlight!”

But at this moment, no one was in the mood to be jealous.

Because that blinding silver light that tore through the dome did not crash down with the falling rocks, but instead hovered in midair.

The silver light was too intense, stinging everyone's eyes, looking like a miniature blazing sun.

As the light gradually withdrew, everyone finally saw the true form of the object.

It was actually a tiny sword, only about three inches long, and completely translucent silver!

It had no hilt or guard, looking like an uncarved, pure sword embryo. Yet, the Sword Intent it emanated was even purer and sharper than that of the taie sword in Jiang Wanqing's hand!

It was an ultimate sharpness that felt as if it could sever all Laws in the world.

[Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!]

In Gu Lan's mind, the Soul-Devouring Sword Spirit shrieked like it had seen a ghost, curling into a ball inside the scabbard.

[Boss! It's the 'Formless Sword Fetus'! A living Innate sword fetus!]

“Formless Sword Fetus? What on earth is that?” Gu Lan asked in his heart, while warily staring at the small silver sword in midair.

[That is a monster bred from the most core Origin power of this Myriad Sword Tomb!]

The sword spirit's voice was trembling.

[It has no physical form and survives entirely by devouring Sword Intent and Spiritual Qi. This kind of thing naturally counters all evil and Devilish Qi. It must have smelled me and come for an extra meal!]

[Boss, save me! I don't want to be eaten by it as a snack!]

“Shut up, you useless thing.”

Gu Lan cursed, but secretly lamented in his heart.

Why was every monster in this Sword Tomb more perverted than the last? What else could this trashy sword spirit do besides cause trouble?

“Buzz—!”

Right then, the Formless Sword Fetus hovering in midair let out a crisp sword chime.

It seemed to have locked onto its target.

Its featureless sword body turned slightly, pointing directly at the soul-devouring demon sword at Gu Lan's waist!

“Swoosh!”

Without any warning.

The Formless Sword Fetus turned into a streak of silver lightning, instantly stabbing toward Gu Lan at a speed that was completely impossible to capture with the naked eye.

“Presumptuous!”

Jiang Wanqing had been staring at it intensely. Seeing it move, she immediately reached out to grab it.

But her speed was simply too slow in front of this Innate sword fetus.

“Senior Sister, get out of the way!”

Gu Lan grabbed Jiang Wanqing's slender waist and violently pulled her back.

At the same time, he clenched his right fist. A blinding blue and red flame instantly ignited on his knuckle duster, and he threw a punch toward the silver light!

“Clang—!!!”

Fist and sword collided.

An extremely crisp sound of metal clashing rang out.

Gu Lan only felt a terrifying penetrating force strike his fist.

His physical body, which was strong enough to withstand a top-grade Spiritual Artifact and had been tempered by the “Ice and Fire Refined Golden Body,” was actually torn open, leaving a gash under this single strike!

Blood splattered.

If not for the two Heavenly Flames forming a buffer on the outermost layer, this strike would probably have pierced straight through his palm.

“Hiss… What a powerful penetrating force!”

Gu Lan sucked in a breath of cold air and retreated three steps using the rebounding force, firmly protecting Jiang Wanqing behind him.

And the Formless Sword Fetus didn't have it easy either.

It was hit head-on by Gu Lan's Heavenly Flame, leaving a ring of burning fire wrapped around its body. This made it extremely uncomfortable, causing it to dart around frantically in midair and emit rapid, urgent buzzing sounds in an attempt to shake off the flames.

“How dare you hurt Junior Brother, you're looking for death!”

Seeing the blood on Gu Lan's hand, Hongxiu was instantly enraged.

The red silk ribbon in her hand transformed into a wild python, carrying the powerful spiritual energy of the Late Foundation Establishment stage as it lashed out fiercely at the sword fetus in midair.

“Swish—”

However, the sword fetus merely made a gentle slash.

Hongxiu's high-quality Magic Treasure silk ribbon was actually sliced in two without any resistance, like a piece of rag, with the cut as smooth as a mirror.

“What?!” Hongxiu was pale with fright.

“Let me!”

Lanyu's eyes were cold. Tapping her toes on the ground, she leaped into the air.

The sword in her hand spun out several deep blue sword blossoms, each containing her purest Sword Intent, attempting to lock the small silver sword in midair.

“Clang! Clang! Clang!”

Sparks flew in all directions in midair.

Although Lanyu's swordplay was exquisite, her cultivation was only at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment after all.

After a few exchanges, the sword in her hand was covered in cracks, and her web of thumb and forefinger was shaken to the point of bleeding. She was forced back to the ground, her face pale.

Yet, the small silver sword did not seem to have much killing intent.

After forcing Lanyu back, it actually stopped in midair.

Its body tilted slightly, as if it were “sizing up” Lanyu.

It sensed a kindred aura. It was an extremely pure Ice Snow Sword Heart, untainted by any Impurities.

“Buzz~”

The Formless Sword Fetus let out a soft sword chime, different from before. It actually gave up on continuing to attack Gu Lan, and instead drifted slowly toward Lanyu.

“What does it want to do?” Lanyu gripped her cracked sword tightly, as if facing a formidable enemy.

“Wait!”

Seeing this, a flash of inspiration went off in Gu Lan's mind.

He suddenly recalled a passage he had read in an ancient book before.

The Innate sword fetus is formless and shapeless, naturally close to a pure sword heart. If one could subdue and refine it, they could reshape their sword bone, and their Dao of the sword Aptitude would undergo an earth-shattering transformation.

The reason this thing attacked him just now was entirely because the Devilish Qi of the soul-devouring demon sword was too conspicuous.

And now, it had clearly taken a liking to Lanyu's sword heart!

“Senior Sister Lanyu, don't resist!”

Gu Lan shouted. Not only did he not step forward to stop it, but he also grabbed Jiang Wanqing and Hongxiu, who were about to make a move.

“It's coming for your sword heart! Drop your guard and use your Divine Sense to accept it!”

“This is a massive opportunity!”

Lanyu was startled.

But she had a nearly blind trust in Gu Lan.

Hearing Gu Lan's words, she didn't hesitate at all and directly let go of the sword in her hand.

“Clang.”

The sword hit the ground.

Lanyu closed her eyes, opened her Divine Sense, and released the purest Sword Intent within her body without reservation.

It was a cold, resilient, and unyielding Concept.

“Buzz—”

Sensing this completely non-hostile, pure sword heart, the Formless Sword Fetus let out a joyful buzz.

It turned into a silver stream of light and plunged straight into the space between Lanyu's brows!

“Boom!”

Lanyu's body shook violently.

An extremely terrifying storm of Sword Qi erupted with her as the center.

This storm was even more violent than when the sword fetus was darting around earlier, yet it miraculously did not harm anyone inside the cave.

Lanyu was suspended in midair.

Strange silver patterns emerged on the surface of her skin, and her originally pitch-black long hair was actually dyed a faint silvery-white at the tips under the washing of the Sword Qi.

She tightly shut her eyes, and her face showed an expression interweaving pain and pleasure. She was clearly undergoing a bone-deep transformation.

“This… It recognized her as its master just like that?”

Lvluo hid in a corner, biting her finger, watching dumbfounded.

“Senior Brother, is this little silver sword blind? It ignored someone as powerful as you and ran to Senior Sister Lanyu instead.”

“Don't speak such harsh truths.”

Gu Lan rolled his eyes at her in annoyance and looked down at his still-dripping fist.

“With my mix of chaotic auras, both Devilish Qi and Heavenly Flame, it would find me too hot to handle.”

“Senior Sister Lanyu has a pure mind and is dedicated to the sword. The sword fetus choosing her is the most perfect match.”

Looking at Lanyu who was transforming in midair, a trace of envy flashed through Hongxiu's eyes.

“Junior Brother, you are truly generous to us people of the Nuanxiang Pavilion.”

Hongxiu walked over to Gu Lan, pulled out a silk handkerchief, and very naturally took his hand to help him bandage the wound.

“You helped Eldest Senior Sister get the taie sword, and you helped Lvluo refine the golden lotus fruit.”

“And now Lanyu has obtained an Innate sword fetus.”

She leaned in slightly, her breath like orchids, her fox-like eyes filled with resentment and coquetry.

“When will you also give me, your Senior Sister, an opportunity?”

“I don't want to be at the bottom and get bullied in this household in the future.”

Feeling the soft sensation on the back of his hand, Gu Lan coughed dryly twice.

“Cough, Senior Sister, what are you talking about?”

“I've already planned out your opportunity in my heart. I guarantee it will be bigger than theirs!”

“Oh? Really?” Hongxiu's eyes lit up.

“Of course.” Gu Lan nodded solemnly.

Just as the two of them were “flirting” over there…

“Humph.”

A cold snort came from the side.

Jiang Wanqing had somehow stood between them again, forcefully squeezing Hongxiu away.

She still maintained that “humble maid” posture, but her eyes were as cold as ice.

“Master, your wound hasn't been cleaned properly yet. Let this servant do it.”

Saying that, she snatched the silk handkerchief from Hongxiu's hand and unceremoniously wiped Gu Lan's back of the hand twice with force.

“Hiss—it hurts, hurts, hurts! Senior Sister, be gentler!”

Gu Lan grimaced in pain.

This woman was absolutely doing it on purpose!

“This servant is clumsy, please bear with me, Master,” Jiang Wanqing said expressionlessly.

Hongxiu gritted her teeth in anger watching from the side.

“Jiang Wanqing, don't push your luck!”

“Do you really think of yourself as the main empress?”

“This servant wouldn't dare. I am just a foot-washer,” Jiang Wanqing retorted in a green-tea manner.

Seeing that the drama in this cave was about to escalate again…

“Buzz—!”

Lanyu in midair had finally completed her transformation.

She slowly opened her eyes.

At that instant, a tangible silver sword beam shot out from her eyes, leaving a deep pit directly in the hard stone wall.

Lanyu landed lightly on the ground.

The aura on her body had undergone an earth-shattering change.

Late Foundation Establishment!

Not only did her cultivation skyrocket, but she also exuded an indestructible sharpness, as if she herself were a peerless legendary sword.

“Thank you for fulfilling this, Junior Brother Gu.”

Lanyu walked up to Gu Lan, showing a rare, faint smile.

“The Formless Sword Fetus has already fused with my sword heart. In time, I will surely be able to recast my sword bone.”

“We are family, Senior Sister, no need to be polite.”

Gu Lan waved his hand, preparing to praise her a bit to ease the dramatic atmosphere nearby.

Suddenly,

“Rumble—!!!”

The ground shook violently again.

But this time, the tremor was ten times more terrifying than when the sword array collapsed earlier!

The ground of the entire sword array ruins began to crack extensively, and a suffocatingly dense black Devilish Qi surged from deep underground like a volcanic eruption.

“Roar—!!!”

A roar that seemed to come from the Nine Nether Hell pierced through layers of rock, exploding in the depths of everyone's Soul.

The voice was filled with endless tyranny, slaughter, and rage.

“What's going on?!”

Hongxiu's face changed drastically, and she couldn't even stand steadily.

Gu Lan abruptly turned his head to look outside the cave.

In the direction of the depths of the Sword Tomb, a black pillar of light shot straight into the sky, completely dyeing the originally gray sky into pitch-black.

Within that pillar of light, a terrifying demonic shadow hundreds of feet tall was faintly struggling and roaring.

And at this very moment,

The soul-devouring demon sword at Gu Lan's waist also seemed to have received some strong summon, trembling frantically, and even beginning to burn his skin.

“Not good.”

Gu Lan's gaze instantly became extremely solemn.

He finally understood what exactly Ye Hongzhuang wanted him to steal by coming to the Sword Tomb.

“The Seal of the Sword Tomb… has been broken.”