Apotheosis – Ascension to Godhood Chapter 288: Killing Way

Chapter 288: Killing Way

The girl could be described as perfect in every sense.
But Zen, ever so keen, noted there were still slight differences between the girl and ordinary human beings. Her ears, for one, were unusual.
These were long and slender, and unlike most ears, their top had an acute angular shape. Instead of human ears, hers resembled those of a cat's. Still, the girl appeared quite charming. Another distinction was her legs or the length of them. Hers were longer than most women's, but went perfectly with the rest of her body.
"Who set the rules anyway that only a human being can look this way?
Demon Night has always been like this. In their eyes, it is the human beings who have the similar appearance to theirs," the cyan dragon said slowly.
“This girl is actually alive, isn't she?” Zen wondered aloud.
His mind was full of questions, but this was the first he voiced out.
The cyan dragon nodded and replied, “Each sword in the Killing Sword Mountain has an owner, and all the owners are alive. In case anyone dies, their swords will be buried deep in the mountain. Since the woman's sword is here, she is probably somewhere out in the world.”
At the cyan dragon's words, Zen stared at the girl with a weird expression on his face.
That meant his sword spirit had transformed into a girl of Demon Night for some unknown reason. How would it be if he met the real person in the future?
Of course, the likelihood of that ever happening was very small.
According to the cyan dragon, Demon Night did not exist in the same world inhabited by Zen.
“I would like to name my sword spirit Lily,” he said with a smile.
There was a slightly whimsical tone in his voice.
Cultivating his sword spirit in such a short time was a big help in boosting Zen's strength. At least the sword spirit could serve as a support, helping Zen go further up on the Killing Sword Mountain.
It was a spiritual connection that Zen had with his sword spirit, so he had complete control of her, including her thoughts.
As soon as Zen came up with a thought, she would do it as he expected.
In a sense, the sword spirit was part of the disciple's being. If Zen gave a sword to her, an enemy would be practically fighting against two people.
And the sword spirit could do so much more than fight.
Some skills of the double-sword system required the sword spirit to engage in combat. But Zen usually did not choose to do this in most circumstances. He preferred to integrate the sword spirit with his Streamer Sword.
When the sword spirit integrated with the Streamer Sword, a red light would appear on the surface of the weapon and release a strong killing intent.
Breathing deeply, Zen thought, 'The mountain is called Killing Sword Mountain. So it is intended to cultivate martial artists with killing skills! I didn't choose the way of cultivating my sword skills before. But I'm now walking the killing way without realizing it.' He stared intently at the Streamer Sword with a powerful killing aura in his hand.
He kept thinking. 'Killing is not a bad thing. It is an important method to show and uphold justice. It is said to prevent violence through violence. That should be the real meaning of the killing way of practicing sword skills.'
After a while, Zen got ready to continue and left behind the sword of the Demon Night.
Covered by the sword spirit, his Streamer Sword gained at least forty percent more power! Thousands of fairy weapons were stuck on the mountainside. Even when facing mature sword spirits, Zen easily defeated them. He climbed even faster than before.
Soon, Zen came to the edge of the mountainside and didn't even feel slightly tired. A road appeared before him on the mountain ridge.
Then he saw a blue sword blocking his way.
Luxurious best described the sword. Black silk was used to cover its handle, adorned by a five-colored tassel. The entire metal blade looked so intricate, yet it was very striking.
The sword's body, meanwhile, was shining and gave off blue light. There were even icy crystals on the blade's surface that waved gracefully. It truly looked magnificent.
It was Zen's first time to see a sacred weapon such as this. It was at the lower grade of a sacred weapon.
The disciple understood that it was not a real sacred weapon. The sword was merely a shadow while the actual sword was still in its owner's hand.
As Zen drew closer to the sword, the weapon suddenly quivered. Soon the sword was being pulled out of the ground, and a light blue figure stood in its place. The figure now held a sword and pointed it at Zen.
Mumbling to himself, Zen said, “The same thing is happening like that in the fairy weapon area. It is only a more mature sword spirit. The only difference is that the low-grade sacred weapon is much stronger than a fairy weapon.” Staring intently at the blue shadow, he raised his Streamer Sword and pointed it at the image, ready to kill any time.
But before Zen could even move, a hint of hesitation made him suddenly stop. There was something quite strange here.
This sword spirit seemed to be different from the others he previously encountered.
It wasn't a mystical thing like other spirits but seemed to have a life of its own. And then the sword spirit opened its mouth and began to talk!
“What? A young man at the second grade of the nature level can break into the mountain ridge?” The blue figure spoke with a tone of disbelief.
Taken aback, Zen raised his eyebrows in question while keeping the sword in his hand. This time, he spoke, "You're just a sword spirit. Why can you talk?
You look like there's some part of your soul there!"
This figure amazed Zen. He had killed so many mature sword spirits, some of whom could shape themselves. But all of them only had dull appearances. While they were extremely competent in the practice of sword skills, Zen still managed to defeat them because they couldn't think for themselves.
But this blue figure standing before him could not only talk but even feel surprised. Apparently, it had a soul, however little, and a mind of its own.
“I can't understand it. How a person at grade two of the nature level can successfully pass the mountainside and end up here,” the blue figure looked confused, and his brows furrowed with concern. Inhaling, he said, “But this is the end of your climb. You can stick your sword here. There is no place for your weapon if you go farther.”
Everyone aspired to stick their sword in a higher place.
Because the higher the ground where it was embedded, the more resources a person could collect from the Killing Sword Mountain.
However, resources of the Killing Sword Mountain were limited. The situation was no different from that of the Cloud Sect.
And this was why all the weapons at the foot of the mountain, including mysterious, spiritual, and fairy weapons, would release their sword spirits to prevent other climbers. One could only climb the mountain step by step using his own strength until he reached a higher place. That was the way to obtain more resources.
The blue figure's remarks had Zen raising his eyebrows while his face became long with worry.
Grateful to be given the opportunity to reach the Killing Sword Mountain, Zen vowed to climb as high as possible.
He had been fighting hard to pass the mountainside with the help of the sword spirit. Why would he stop here?
If a man could have a sacred weapon, even a low level one, it was impossible for Zen to defeat him in real life. And even someone like Kenneth Shi, who was the head of the Cloud Sect, strong as he was, could not beat such a man in their real world.
But this was the Killing Sword Mountain now. What the man actually had was only a sword and a small part of his soul.
How could Zen back off from here?
“I don't want to stick my sword here. I have a higher target,” Zen declared.
A smile formed on the blue figure's face. "You have a higher goal?
You, a young man at grade two of the nature level?
I was aiming for the top of the Killing Sword Mountain! But I discovered I was not as strong as I had expected and had to stick my sword here. Do you think you are stronger than I am?"
“You will have your answer once we test our strengths,” Zen quickly answered.
Since he was merely a part of a soul, Zen didn't want to talk anymore. He was ready to fight.
The blue figure smiled and said, "Your arrival here did surprise me since you're only grade two of the nature level. More importantly, you have your own sword spirit. Is this your first time coming to the Killing Sword Mountain?
I am a Man on the Ice Sword, named Iceni. I really admire your talent. But this will not change the outcome. I am at a level much higher than yours, and what I have learned about sword skills is far greater than what you know."
After he finished saying this, Iceni waved his sword towards Zen.
“Clink!”
Two swords smashed into one another.
Technically, Zen's sword, which was a low-level fairy weapon, should not be able to hit a sacred weapon. There was a huge gap between his sword and that of the blue figure's.
But because a sword spirit covered Zen's sword, its strength was greatly enhanced. It was this that enabled him to attack a sacred weapon, like that of the blue figure's, even with just a fairy weapon.
After only one round, the blue figure spoke again in surprise, "Oh...You have become adept at the basic sword skill... No, not just adept. But your sword skill seems to have been enhanced.
How can that happen?
How can you simplify it to such extent?"
The blue figure's face registered astonishment that seemed to say he did not understand Zen's sword skill at all.
Each warrior who could impel his sword on the grounds of the Killing Sword Mountain was a talent on his way to cultivate further sword skills.
Of course, there were still distinctions among talented people. For instance, some men only came to the Killing Sword Mountain once, right after learning the consummation of sword intent the first time, but some others could do it a second time as they went further and progressed to a level higher than the consummation of sword intent.
There were many fanatics of sword skills, who were fascinated by all types of sword skills.
Apparently, the basic sword skill Zen used just now managed to attract the blue figure.
“Interesting. Wonderful. A basic sword skill can have such great power. It's true that the world is so big that nothing is surprising anymore. A young man like you can master such an amazing basic sword skill. I know now how you've gotten this far on the mountain!” the blue figure spoke to Zen.
Waving his sword simultaneously, he continued, “But I will not let you go on. There is no place for you up there!”
Impatience had Zen replying, "You keep mentioning grade two of the nature level. How about you in the real world?
You're only a piece of a broken soul with a spirit. I also have my sword spirit, yet I am here completely. Are you so sure you can prevent me from going on?" With a cold smile, the young disciple started to stir his sword. He refused to listen to the garrulous blue figure. What he wanted was to cut this blue image and its sword spirit into pieces as soon as possible.
“You arrogant young man! I have lived hundreds of years and practiced sword skills for as many years. My understanding of sword skills is beyond your imagination or comprehension. I am strong enough to stop you!” Suddenly, there appeared a bright blue light from the sword of the blue figure. Together with the bright blue light were cold currents. With the metal blade completely wrapped in icy currents, it was freezing but gave off an extreme killing intent!
With just enough arrogance, Zen sneered at the blue figure and remarked, “After hundreds of years, you're still here on the edge of the mountain ridge. Your strength is just so-so!” Without warning, Zen used his sword spirit. And instantly, Zen's Streamer Sword produced a strong killing intent.
And this one seemed to have the sense of torture.