Chapter Nine: The Seal Stirs, the Evil Emerges
“Senior brother, land quickly!”
“Senior sister, do not let your mind wander!”
Xiao Lin’s cold shout carried a trace of Asura’s righteous energy.
Startled by Xiao Lin’s righteous aura, Li Changhe furrowed his sword-like brows and immediately sensed his own abnormality.
He did not ask further.
Although they were not far from the Sword Pool, he decisively descended on his sword.
The three dismounted, and Li Changhe beckoned with his fingers; the flying sword gradually shrank in midair and returned to his hand.
He immediately held his sword in front, shielding Tang Qianxue.
“Qianxue, step back.”
Without a word, Tang Qianxue swiftly hid behind a tree.
Seeing this, Xiao Lin quietly breathed a sigh of relief, then focused all his energy on the Sword-Sealing Box.
Though shocked, he did not show panic.
He merely scanned the box once with his spiritual power.
“Junior brother, what is the situation?”
“The seal is intact and undamaged; I cannot sense anything,” Xiao Lin explained, then shifted his tone, “But Master said the seal should loosen after some time.”
“However, if this Fallen Sword Immortal can deceive even Master, then the current situation is entirely normal.”
“The seal has long since loosened. He can now exert some influence on the outside world but has held back, waiting for the right moment.”
“This is undoubtedly the best opportunity for him.”
Hearing this, Tang Qianxue murmured, “He could even deceive Master...?”
In her eyes, Shen Wuya was unquestionably all-powerful.
The current prominence of Sword Mountain, attracting all sects, was solely due to Shen Wuya.
And if the Fallen Sword Immortal could deceive such a figure...
“Xiao Qilin, throw away that box! Let’s escape immediately!”
Tang Qianxue’s voice carried a hint of panic.
Suddenly, Xiao Lin laughed, “Senior sister, you’ve been influenced by the Fallen Sword Immortal too. You are not such a coward.”
Tang Qianxue blinked in surprise, “R-Really?”
Xiao Lin nodded, “If he hadn’t made a move against you, that would be one thing. But his attack confirmed something for me.”
“The Fallen Sword Immortal’s influence over others ignores cultivation level.”
“I thought he could sway even senior brother and was powerful enough to break the seal at will. Yet the degree to which senior sister was affected is on par with senior brother.”
“But a little trick...”
Xiao Lin held the Sword-Sealing Box, looking at Li Changhe and Tang Qianxue. “Senior brother, senior sister, rest here for a moment. I will be back soon.”
With that, he strode towards the Sword Pool.
Tang Qianxue’s worried voice followed, “Xiao Qilin, are you sure you can do this? Don’t overexert yourself.”
Xiao Lin did not look back, waving his hand with a smile, “Senior sister, don’t ask such questions anymore.”
“A man must never admit defeat.”
They entered a forested area.
In the next moment, the entire forest suddenly darkened, as if the heavens had shifted and a new sky had replaced the old.
Accompanying this was an arrogant, wild laughter.
The laughter came from all directions, penetrating every corner of this space.
“Hahaha! What a bold-mouthed little brat, amusing, very...”
Just as Tang Qianxue’s face changed and Li Changhe braced himself, the laughter abruptly ceased.
The Sword-Sealing Box fell to the ground, rolling dozens of times.
“Sorry, slipped, didn’t hold it steady,” Xiao Lin said, looking down at the box without any sign of surprise, only a smile as arrogant as the Fallen Sword Immortal’s.
His confidence and arrogance spilled forth unrestrained in front of the enemy.
Seeing this, Tang Qianxue felt reassured and surprisingly calmed.
“Young one, didn’t your elders teach you to respect your teachers and the Way?!”
The voice, which had seemed omnipresent, now clearly emanated from the Sword-Sealing Box.
“So it’s you, this evil thing, playing tricks,” Xiao Lin squinted, then smiled faintly, “I know to respect my teachers and the Way. But what are you to me, that you can act so arrogantly before me?”
Tang Qianxue stared blankly at the scene.
Even Li Changhe looked astonished.
They had never seen such a...
Dominant junior brother.
After a moment’s thought, Li Changhe finally discerned a clue.
“Junior brother is bolstering his own righteous energy to resist the Fallen Sword Immortal’s corruption.”
“Corruption?”
“You and I are not ourselves as usual because the Fallen Sword Immortal is secretly tampering with us, unnoticed. Only someone like junior brother, whose righteousness is almost absolute, can resist such subtle temptation. But how long can he hold out? No one knows.”
“Before we set out, Master told me this Fallen Sword Immortal feeds on others’ negative emotions and might grow stronger.”
Tang Qianxue’s worry deepened. “Senior brother, should we leave quickly, so as not to trouble Xiao Qilin?”
“Mm.”
At once, the Fallen Sword Immortal’s voice sounded, as if in reply: “Young ones, you cannot leave.”
The three focused their gaze and saw that a hazy black mist enveloped the surroundings, swirling with eerie dark purple light, like wandering lost souls.
Li Changhe’s expression turned grave. “The Myriad Souls Banner?”
“The Myriad Souls Banner is nothing compared to these,” the Fallen Sword Immortal said faintly. “These are your own evil thoughts—greed, anger, ignorance, hatred, love, desire. If you want to leave, you must face this ‘evil barrier.’ Endless evil thoughts will flood into your minds—can you resist? Even if you survive, will you still be yourselves...”
At these words, Li Changhe and Tang Qianxue halted.
But Xiao Lin remained unfazed. He kicked up the Sword-Sealing Box, caught it, and strode straight toward the barrier.
“Junior brother, come back!”
“Xiao Qilin!”
Xiao Lin stopped before the barrier, his lips curved in a faint smile, his tone calm and steady: “Senior brother, senior sister, do not be fooled by his bluff. If he truly had the power to use such means, why not break the seal and deal with us?”
The Fallen Sword Immortal sneered, “Young one, try if you dare!”
His voice sounded fierce but revealed some inner weakness.
Yet he had ceased absorbing Li Changhe and Tang Qianxue’s negative emotions.
Though he had stirred their feelings, thanks to Xiao Lin’s actions, their emotions remained stable; the negative energy they held was negligible.
But soon, things would be different.
Xiao Lin thought this evil barrier was just an illusion he created?
In truth, these were the evil thoughts accumulated bit by bit over his long imprisonment!
A single wisp could cause even Foundation Establishment cultivators to develop heart demons and damage their Dao hearts.
As for Xiao Lin, a mere Qi refinement cultivator?
He would become the best nourishment for these malefic forces on the spot.
There was only one possible outcome: death and Dao annihilation!
The Fallen Sword Immortal was exploiting Xiao Lin’s arrogance.
“Touch it, then... die.”
Under the Fallen Sword Immortal’s cold gaze, Xiao Lin extended his hand and slowly reached out to touch the barrier.
“Heh heh... hmm?”