New concept of the mysterious way to ascend to immortality

Chapter 271 Subduing the Deer-Headed Sword

Tiger Demon quickly identified the locations of two suspected bosses by using fragments of bird memories extracted from the heads of local plants and comparing them with the terrain structures stored during the previous mountain search.

In addition, there were several suspicious targets, but they could not be matched with the terrain information entered, so they were temporarily shelved.

With a target in mind, the tiger demon once again disappeared into the shadows and began to move forward rapidly.

It's currently around 3:40 PM. Considering he still needs to return to the construction site to meet up with his senior colleague before heading back to the city, Tiger Demon sped up again, hoping to finish these last two orders as quickly as possible.

After a 20km unobstructed shadow sprint, Tiger Demon once again vanished from the shadows cast by the trees and looked up at a steep, sharp-angled mountain peak.

This mountainous area is characterized by jagged rocks and towering peaks, with a constant howling sound of strange winds blowing from above. Due to its unique topography, this place has become a "gathering place" (a place where filth and impurities are hidden) in accordance with local feng shui principles, nestled among the surrounding forests.

The nearby 'polluted energy' was spontaneously converging here, gradually forming a 'polluted depression'. The Tiger Demon clearly sensed that the energy reaction within the creature hiding nearby and secretly watching it was higher than that of the creatures it had encountered before.

On this steep mountain peak, a BOSS-level creature with a significantly stronger aura has already sensed its arrival and is sending a powerful sword intent down from above.

"Hmm? -- A wild swordsman?"

The tiger demon was slightly surprised. Along its journey, it had seen many mutated creatures that had been 'contaminated by the sword'. Some of their internal organs had become deformed, and they suffered from the pain of 'flesh and blood twisting'. They also carried a distinct aura of sharp swordsmanship.

However, this type of 'contamination' is a passive eruption, which can only bring pain and torment to the host organism and cannot be converted into offensive power. At most, while these 'sword-path contaminations' bring continuous pain and torment, they will also strengthen the tormented parts, bringing more vitality and obtaining more prolonged pain to temper the 'sword-path contamination' organs.

The BOSS atop the steep mountain peak is different; it is also a wild 'Sword-Contaminated Creature'. However, it defies the fate of most of its kind, actively intervening in uncontrolled aberrations and contamination and harnessing them for its own use.

Although lacking a systematic sword cultivation technique to build a complete system, he is still a wild sword immortal born and raised in nature. He can even repel intruders by transmitting 'deterrent sword intent' from a distance, instead of launching a violent and mindless attack.

Tiger Demon said in surprise, "The things on this mountain are surprisingly intelligent. They actually know how to use intimidation and threats to avoid conflict and force me to leave."

Snake: "Could it be like that dead person who planted himself in a tree before, a half-mad human sword cultivator? Or a corrupted creature that luckily absorbed the mantle of a sword cultivator?"

When a [Special] level ability user dies, the 'contaminated crystals' in their body do not dissipate; instead, they can be extracted like [Extraordinary Abilities].

When taken directly, it is considered a "great medicine" by practitioners of the same system (1); when transplanted to ordinary people, it can fully inherit their potential and 1-3% of their strength (2); it can also serve as a necessary condition for rebirth and resurrection, plus extraordinary data (3).

Tiger Demon shook his head: "His sword energy isn't strong enough; it doesn't reach the [Seed] level. His strength is far inferior to mine!"

With a touch of curiosity, it stretched its shadow again, transforming into a tiger silhouette that clung to the rock wall, rapidly ascending in the direction of the 'Sword Intent Intimidation'.

In the blink of an eye, the Tiger Demon had climbed the hundred-meter-high sword peak. In the center of a sunken den, amidst black weeds growing in a crevice and white bone fragments scattered on the grass, a gigantic male deer was seen.

This stag was robust, with smooth, auspicious white fur. It lay in its nest, warily watching the suddenly appearing black tiger demon, its muscles taut.

It was lying down, but its shoulder height was still over 1 meter and its body length was about 2 meters. It had a pair of sharp horns on its head, shaped like tree branches, with the ends of the horns forming sharp sword blades.

The strangest thing is that the male deer has three heads. The largest and most normal head is naturally the white male deer head with antlers. Below its main head, about two-thirds of the way down the neck, two smaller deer heads with necks grow out, their fur is ordinary brown with yellow spots.

It didn't feel like a three-headed monster, but rather like a kangaroo-like father carrying two babies. The strongest 'source of sword intent' in this stag was precisely these two fawn heads with blood-red eyes, glaring maliciously at the tiger demon.

The white stag stood up, its lithe body graceful and its posture elegant, staring at the tiger demon with hostility, while its intense sword intent locked it firmly in place.

In contrast, the two small deer heads that sprouted from its neck opened their small fangs full of sharp teeth, emitting a piercing howl and frantically provoking the tiger demon. At the same time, they resonated with the main sword intent, appearing ready to pounce.

It gives it a sense of being in the style of a hermit from Mount Myōboku.

The gigantic, jet-black tiger demon stared at the stag, which was several sizes smaller than itself. Instead of attacking, it spoke in human language, asking, "Hey, can you understand me?"

The white stag remained unmoved by the words, as if sensing a deadly threat. It grew increasingly agitated, rubbing its hooves restlessly and intensifying its 'sword intent' to drive away the tiger demon.

Snake said regretfully, "He is fair-skinned and clean-cut, like an auspicious creature that has achieved great cultivation. It's a pity he's an idiot and can't understand human speech."

Tiger Demon also admired the appearance of this stag. If it weren't for the pair of 'evil-looking' and brownish-red stag heads growing from its neck, it would have really looked like a 'celestial mount'.

Suddenly, it thought of something: "Snake, do you think this deer might be a top-tier mount kept by humans?"

The more Tiger Demon thought about it, the more it seemed to fit the description! Apart from the extra pair of 'deer heads,' this male deer was simply too perfect, not at all like a 'polluted and mutated life form' conceived naturally. It was more like a product of deliberate cultivation.

Snake: "Capture them and sell them? This 'journey through the mist' won't be a complete waste."

Just as the tiger head and snake tail, blinded by greed, were plotting how to kidnap and sell each other in front of their master, the stag, sensing the escalating malice, finally couldn't resist and struck first with its sword.

"Yo! Yo!" Two sword cries, like the cry of a deer, rang out, and blood splattered everywhere.

Along the stag's thick neck, the heads of the two fawns twitched uncontrollably, their long snouts emitting piercing, sharp cries, launching the first wave of 'mental shock,' but it had no effect on the tiger demon.

Immediately, two sharp "thuds" came from the stag's long neck, and two huge wounds were torn open where the fawn's head was connected to its body. Two brownish-red heads detached from the flesh and flew straight into the sky, simultaneously pulling two sharp spinal swords from the stag's long neck. At the same time, large chunks of flesh and blood mist were also ejected from the stag's neck.

"?!"

Tiger Demon's eyes widened in astonishment at the abstract image of him pulling a pair of 'deer-headed spine flying swords' from his neck without a word. This was far more bizarre than the [Pipe Wrench Sword Immortal] in his squad!

On the other side, the white stag could manipulate a pair of 'flying deer swords' remotely with just a cry, turning them flexibly in the air and straightening its spine, transforming them into two sharp white bone sword lights that shot towards the tiger demon.

Bang!Bang!
With two muffled thuds, the two white bone flying swords were intercepted in mid-air by a 'giant black demonic claw' materialized from shadows. The Tiger Demon merely used [Shadow Manipulation] slightly to condense a large handprint, which seized and suppressed the two deer spine swords in mid-air.

This male deer is well-developed and has not grown out of shape. It has even forged a pair of living 'deer flying swords' and has the appearance of a sword immortal.

However, its pollution level was still too weak, far from reaching the [Seed] level for the 'natal flying sword (Little Deer)' parasitizing its body. Meanwhile, the Tiger Demon's strength had already surpassed the [Gate] level and was rapidly approaching the peak of the 'Abnormal Spiritual Root' before its death (Nascent Soul?).

Seeing the pair of flying swords controlled by the 'Shadow Hand', the white stag cried out anxiously. The two fawns cried out in pain, and the swords along their spines erupted with even sharper sword energy, like two fish struggling frantically to break free of control, but were firmly suppressed by the Tiger Demon.

At the same time, the equally skeletal spine and serpentine tail excitedly plunged into the shadow beneath the tiger demon and disappeared.

The next moment, a huge, semi-transparent shadowy snake demon, 1.3 meters in diameter and thick, rose straight up from the black grass behind the stag. It was six or seven meters tall, twisting its body and looking down at the terrified stag. Its eyes emitted an evil red light and it flicked out a black tongue.

Immediately, the serpent demon swooped down and engaged the stag, whose antlers were enchanted by sword energy, in fierce combat. The serpent demon completely ignored the stag's sword energy attacks, remaining impervious to blades and spears, and unilaterally crushed it with sheer power. Soon, it split off countless shadow tentacles, meticulously binding and packing the stag before tossing it aside.

The tiger demon on the other side also squeezed slightly. The shadowy hand then carefully pinched the pair of 'deer heads' into 'mild fractures and concussions'. At the same time, a large amount of [Shadow Pollution] turned into a viscous black liquid, pouring into the deer's seven orifices, drilling into its brain, attaching to its pale spine, and enveloping them.

Soon, the pair of 'deer-head flying swords' stopped struggling and were suppressed and sealed away.

Through his senses, the Tiger Demon unexpectedly discovered that the pair of 'flying deer swords' and the white stag were not one entity, but rather three 'independent lives' with no blood relation: the godfather and the two cubs.

After subduing this 'three-in-one' local mini-boss, the Tiger Demon did not rush to subdue the stag. Instead, it released numerous shadow tentacles to sweep through the lair. Soon, it dug out a 'sword cultivator's skeleton' that was already dead from under the sunken pile of bones.

The skeleton's clothes were tattered and worn, and the several broken medicine bottles were empty, having long been eaten by the stag. Only a gnawed and mangled animal hide bore the inscription of the sword-forging method for the [Deer-Headed Sword].

The tiger demon glanced at it briefly, then tossed the animal hide aside, roughly reconstructing the origin of the stag.

It seems some sword cultivators ventured deep into the Misty Mountains, seeking to capture deer of exceptional quality to forge flying swords. The remaining animal hide description states that a female deer needs to be captured as the sword's embryo, and while the fawn is developing, it must be continuously fed various pills and elixirs mixed with metallic elements…

Nurturing the deer fetus into a 'Congenital Sword Fetus' and continuously feeding it your own blood increases affinity. Ultimately, depending on the quality of the resources invested and the number of fetuses the mother deer carries, there is a chance to obtain a single flying sword, dual swords, a Three Lives Sword, and so on.

Because it incorporates one's own blood, it is easier to refine this type of [Life Sword + Non-Sword] into a natal flying sword.

As expected, during the refining process, the sword cultivator encountered an accident. He unexpectedly discovered the auspicious white deer and wanted to capture it, breed it as a mount, and sell it. He also had the idea of ​​refining the entire white deer into a better 'natal flying sword'.

Despite his weakened state, he forcibly captured the 'stag' and began a new mission: to gradually erode and refine the white stag through 'sword cult corruption'.

Driven by greed and overconfidence, he attempted to perform two sword-forging missions simultaneously. His weakened body, the corrosive effects of the misty environment, and the medicinal aura emitted during the sword-forging process attracted attacks from other 'polluted creatures'... ultimately leading to his spectacular demise.

The 'stag' that had broken free of its shackles had already undergone basic and complete 'sword dao contamination (flying sword modification)'. However, with its sword master dead, it could not continue, but it had laid a solid foundation and could be considered a half-wild flying sword.

On the other side, the doe was killed by the attackers, and her unborn offspring miscarried and died young, leaving only the pair of 'sword fetuses' who had absorbed the sword dao pollution from their mother and were half-dead.

Ultimately, the baby was dug out by the foster father and had his neck pierced to complete the parasitism. He was also using the "flying sword entering the body" to cut and torture himself in order to fight against his own "sword way pollution" and maintain his own rationality.

Over the long period that followed, the pair of 'Deer-Headed Sword + Cub' could not survive independently due to congenital deficiencies, premature death, and transformation into flying swords. They grew inside the 'Male Deer's' body, continuously growing their spine (sword blade), unleashing sword energy to cut and torment their godfather, and absorbing their godfather's nutrients to survive.

However, the Bucks stumbled upon a method that allowed them to slowly improve their swordsmanship foundation through an unconventional "pain-inducing technique," while simultaneously refining their "adopted son flying swords" and maintaining their rationality. They painfully grew stronger while ensuring both physical and mental well-being, gradually becoming a mini-boss in the region.

Some of this information was obtained from the 'animal hide'; the other part was obtained by the Tiger Demon through the 'Brain Eggplant CPU' installed on the 'Stag's' head, which read its memories.

After being subdued by the Tiger Demon, powerless to struggle or resist, and even having his pair of "adopted sons, the Deer-Head Swords," confiscated and suppressed, this stag, which still retained some rationality and had even stumbled onto the path of a 'wild swordsman,' chose to submit.

Before the external brain was installed, the 'stag's' intelligence, stimulated by its kendo training, was not much worse than that of a domesticated pet (Border Collie), and might even be smarter. However, it was fundamentally different from humans, and even from human children capable of logical thinking.

However, after installing the [Brain Eggplant CPU], it suddenly gained an 'artificial intelligence, data soul program' to assist its thinking. With this, it will gradually gain intelligence and better communication skills.

Meanwhile, after this [Brain Eggplant] invaded its brain tissue, it also became a means for the [Tiger Demon] to control cannon fodder. It was also a way to acquire a few handy 'little demons' before establishing its own power base.

Unfortunately, the stag has a brain and can be controlled. On the contrary, the pair of [Stag-Head Swords] cannot be fitted with [Brain Eggplants]; they are themselves [Flying Swords], the core of the [Sword Dao System].

The stag feeds them as its own kind (descendants of the same kind) and inserts them into its own body, but does not use them as 'natal flying swords' to refine. Therefore, the relationship between the stag and the fawn is not one of dominance, nor is it a complete 'sword cultivator'. It is more like half a 'wild deer-shaped flying sword' that has gained freedom + a 'mother-child sword (child sword x2)' that only has the right to use it.

(End of this chapter)