Bizarre Survival: I Can Devour Thousands of Talents

Chapter 222, Section 221: Don't subscribe! Happy New Year!

Ling Xiao's hunting knife struck the Iron-Eating Ant's shell, sparks flying, and three nicks instantly appeared on the blade.

These pitch-black monsters are gnawing at the bronze altar, and the acid dripping from their teeth is corroding the thousand-year-old stone bricks, creating honeycomb-like holes.

"The Seventh Impact!"

He spun around to avoid the swarm of ants, his blade flashing upwards like a crescent moon.

This time, he deliberately avoided the hardest part of the carapace, the back, and precisely pierced the soft membrane connecting the ant's mouthparts and cephalothorax with the tip of his knife.

Dark green blood splattered onto the star map of the altar relief. The iron-devouring ants that were hit suddenly convulsed and exploded, their carapace fragments condensing into blood-red runes in the air.

The family heirloom jade pendant on Ling Xiao's chest suddenly became hot.

The runes transformed into streams of light that seeped into the blade, and the cracked blade began to repair itself.

"So... what Father said in his notes about blood sacrifice to open the blade was true..."

Ling Xiao wiped the insect blood from his face and looked at the wind pattern relief that appeared on the blade.

When he swung his sword again, the blade created a visible vortex of air that shredded the three attacking iron-devouring ants into dust.

Lingxiao's pupils contracted sharply as he passed through the secret passage of the altar.

Inside the cave, which is over ten zhang in diameter, seven crystal-armored lightning snakes are coiled around the stalactite pillars, spitting out lightning.

The amethyst horns on their heads accumulated ball lightning, reflecting the thousands of ancient swords hanging upside down from the cave ceiling—this was the long-lost Burial Cave of Swords.

The thinnest lightning snake suddenly launched an attack. As Ling Xiao parried with his sword, a violent current surged through his entire body along the blade.

His numb right hand could barely grip the hilt of the knife, but he caught the deadly pattern of Razer's attacks:

After each lightning strike, the amethyst horn will be dimmed for three seconds!

"Stepping on Clouds!"

Ling Xiao stepped onto the protruding remnants of a knife hilt on the cave wall and soared into the air, weaving through the electric net of seven intertwined lightning snakes.

As the largest lightning serpent raised its head to gather energy, he deliberately plunged the tip of his blade into the ground to attract lightning. A violent current flowed through the blade and into the rock strata, causing the entire cave to tremble.

Taking advantage of the gap in the energy disorder of the Razers, Lingxiao's blade, carrying residual electricity, slashed out.

The sword energy, mingling with wind and thunder, transformed into a dragon-shaped phantom, instantly piercing through the three lightning snakes. The torrent of energy released when the amethyst horn shattered tempered the hunting knife in his hand, turning it a deep, dark blue.

After passing through the Thunder Serpent Cave, Lingxiao arrives at a suspended platform shrouded in mist, where twenty-eight sword-wielding stone statues form a mysterious formation.

The moment he stepped onto the Kun position, all the stone statues' eye sockets simultaneously lit up with a blue light, and the clouds condensed into solid sword blades that swept over.

"Water transforms into Fire!"

Ling Xiao recalled the key to breaking the formation recorded in his father's notes.

The blade suddenly turned crimson. The burning blade cleaved through the mist sword, but even more sword energy surged in from all directions.

His left shoulder was pierced, and the blood dripping onto the ground triggered an ancient mechanism.

Thirty-six ancient bronze swords rose from below the platform, each sword retaining the fighting spirit of challengers from past generations.

Ling Xiao, inspired by a sudden inspiration, unleashed his ancestral Po Jun sword technique, causing the ancient swords to resonate and tremble in response. When the final move, "Star River Reversal," was executed, all the bronze swords transformed into streams of light and merged into his weapon.

The moment the cracked golden patterns appeared on the blade, the cloud-mist sword puppets suddenly froze.

Lingxiao's blade lightly sliced ​​through the air, and twenty-eight golden sword energies bloomed simultaneously, shattering all the mist swords in the stone statue's hand!

Covered in blood, Ling Xiao finally reached the core of the floating island. Above the altar, which was bound by nine chains, floated a red-eyed giant formed from sword energy.

With each step the Heavenly Gang Blade Demon took, thousands of blade shadows appeared out of thin air, carving deep cuts, some a foot deep, into the rock face.

"Mortal, if you survive three of my attacks, you may take the sword's soul."

The giant's voice was like the clang of metal on metal, and he raised his hand to unleash a vast net of blood-red blades.

Lingxiao pushed his Cloud Steps to their limit, but was still thrown back by the aftershocks and crashed into a stone pillar, his chest wound so deep that bone was visible.

The second move was a simple downward slash, but Ling Xiao felt that the entire space was sealed off by the force of the blade.

He roared as he infused his newly awakened bronze sword spirit into his weapons, the shockwave from the clash of the twin blades shattering half of the chains. Ling Xiao, his hand split open, knelt on one knee, blood gushing from his ears and nose.

"The final move—Return of All Blades to Their Origin!"

The Heavenly Gang Blade Demon transformed into a giant blade wheel and crushed down.

At the critical moment of life and death, the trajectory of all the ancient swords in the Burial Blade Cave suddenly appeared in Ling Xiao's mind.

He gripped the knife in his hand and plunged it into his own chest, using his heart's blood to awaken the true spirit of the knife.

The crimson blade wheel froze the instant it touched his forehead, and countless blade energies flowed back into the Heavenly Gang Blade Demon's body. The giant revealed a relieved smile:

"So it was you... the son of an old friend..."

As the seal was completely broken, the floating island began to collapse.

The blade in Ling Xiao's hand emitted a golden light that seemed to pierce through heaven and earth.

The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the castle's high windows, falling on Ling Xiao's face and bringing a touch of warmth. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze resolute.

Last night's adventure had been very rewarding; he had not only defeated the monster but also gained valuable magical knowledge. However, he knew that true power lay not only in magic but also in formidable martial arts skills.

Swordsmanship was precisely the skill he had always longed to master. Ling Xiao rolled out of bed and stretched. After a night's rest, he felt refreshed and full of energy. He walked to the corner of the room, where an ancient longsword lay.

He found the knife in the castle; its blade glowed with a faint blue light, and its hilt was engraved with intricate runes, giving it an air of mystery.

He gently gripped the hilt, feeling a warm power flowing from it into his hand. The knife seemed to have some special connection with him, as if it were waiting for him to awaken.

Ling Xiao slowly drew the blade, which gleamed coldly in the sunlight and emitted a clear dragon's roar.

"Today, we'll start with the most basic sword techniques."

Ling Xiao murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He walked into the castle courtyard, where there was a wide open space surrounded by ancient trees.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if cheering him on. Ling Xiao stood in the center of the open space, took a deep breath, and felt the atmosphere around him.

He slowly raised the long sword, the tip pointing to the sky, feeling the weight and balance of the blade.

A sense of peace settled over him, as if the whole world had vanished, leaving only him and the knife in his hand.

"Knife skills are not just about technique, but also about a state of mind."

Ling Xiao thought to himself, recalling the description of swordsmanship he had seen in the magic book last night.

The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of mind and sword. Only when mind and sword are perfectly integrated can the true power of swordsmanship be unleashed. He began to slowly swing his long sword, the tip drawing graceful arcs in the air.

With each swing of his sword, he was completely focused, feeling every tremor of the blade and every transfer of power. His movements, though slow, were full of power and rhythm.

As time went on, Ling Xiao's movements gradually quickened. The tip of his blade drew afterimages in the air, like nimble silver snakes.

His breathing gradually became rapid, but his mind remained calm. He was completely immersed in practicing his swordsmanship, forgetting everything around him.

"Is this the allure of swordsmanship?"

Ling Xiao thought to himself, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

Just then, he suddenly felt a powerful aura coming from behind him. Startled, he quickly turned around, his long sword instantly pointing at the newcomer.

However, when he saw who it was, he breathed a sigh of relief. The man was a middle-aged man in a long robe, with a kind face and a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

The latest novel is first published here!

He was the magician who appeared in the crystal ball last night, the owner of this castle.

"Are you the owner of this castle?" Ling Xiao asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Yes, I am the master of this castle and the inheritor of magic."

The magician answered with a smile, his voice gentle yet powerful.

"I see you practicing your swordsmanship, and I'm pleased with your progress." "Thank you for your praise," Ling Xiao said humbly, his heart filled with gratitude. "But I still have many shortcomings and need your guidance."

"You have a high level of comprehension. As long as you persevere, you will definitely achieve something."

The magician nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"However, swordsmanship is not just about technique, but also about a state of mind. You also need to learn how to perfectly integrate your heart with the sword."

"I understand." Ling Xiao nodded, his heart filled with determination. The magician smiled slightly, took out a thin booklet from his robes, and handed it to Ling Xiao.

"These are my insights on swordsmanship; I hope they will be helpful to you."

He spoke, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Ling Xiao took the booklet, his heart filled with gratitude. He opened it and saw it densely covered with techniques and insights into various swordplay methods. Every word radiated wisdom, as if telling ancient secrets.

"I will study hard," Ling Xiao said softly, his heart filled with anticipation. The magician nodded and turned to leave the courtyard.

Ling Xiao watched his retreating figure, his heart filled with gratitude. He knew that this castle had not only given him a precious opportunity, but also a powerful mentor. He opened the booklet again, studying its contents carefully.

The booklet records many techniques and insights about knife skills. Each technique is explained in detail on how to use it, and each insight profoundly elucidates the essence of knife skills.

Ling Xiao knew in his heart that this book would be an important guide for his future cultivation. He closed the book, picked up his longsword again, and continued practicing.

This time, his movements were smoother and more powerful. He incorporated the techniques and insights from the booklet into his swordsmanship, making each swing full of power and rhythm.

As time went on, Ling Xiao's movements became faster and more skillful. The tip of his blade drew afterimages in the air, like nimble silver snakes.

His breathing gradually became rapid, but his mind remained calm. He was completely immersed in practicing his swordsmanship, forgetting everything around him.

"Is this the allure of swordsmanship?" Ling Xiao thought to himself, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. Just then, he suddenly felt a powerful aura coming from behind him.

He was startled and quickly turned around, his long sword instantly pointing at the newcomer. However, when he saw who it was, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The newcomer was a middle-aged man in a long robe, with a kind and approachable face and eyes that gleamed with wisdom. He was the magician who had appeared in the crystal ball the previous night, and the owner of this castle.

"Are you the owner of this castle?" Ling Xiao asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Yes, I am the master of this castle and the inheritor of magic."

The magician smiled and replied, his voice gentle yet firm, "I see you practicing your swordsmanship, and your progress makes me very happy."

"Thank you for your compliment," Ling Xiao said modestly, his heart filled with gratitude.

"You have a high level of comprehension. As long as you persevere, you will definitely achieve something."

The magician nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "However, swordsmanship is not just about technique, but also about a state of mind. You still need to learn how to perfectly integrate your heart with your sword."

"I see."

Ling Xiao nodded, his heart filled with determination. The magician smiled slightly, took out a thin booklet from his robes, and handed it to Ling Xiao. "This is my swordsmanship manual; I hope it will be of some help to you."

He spoke, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Ling Xiao took the booklet, his heart filled with gratitude. He opened it and saw it densely covered with various sword techniques and insights.

Each word radiates wisdom, as if telling an ancient secret.

"I will study hard."

Ling Xiao said in a low voice, his heart filled with anticipation. The magician nodded, turned, and left the courtyard.

Ling Xiao watched his retreating figure, his heart filled with gratitude. He knew that this castle had not only given him a precious opportunity, but also a powerful mentor. He opened the booklet again, studying its contents carefully.

The booklet records many techniques and insights about knife skills. Each technique is explained in detail on how to use it, and each insight profoundly elucidates the essence of knife skills.

Ling Xiao knew in his heart that this book would be an important guide for his future cultivation.

He closed the booklet, picked up the long sword again, and continued practicing. This time, his movements were smoother and more powerful.

He incorporated the techniques and insights from the booklet into his own swordsmanship, imbuing each swing with power and rhythm. As time went on, Ling Xiao's movements became faster and more skillful.

The blade tip traced afterimages in the air, like nimble silver snakes. His breathing gradually quickened, but his mind remained calm. He was completely immersed in practicing his swordsmanship, forgetting everything around him.

"Is this the allure of swordsmanship?" Ling Xiao thought to himself, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. Just then, he suddenly felt a powerful aura coming from behind him.

Startled, he quickly turned around, his long sword instantly pointing at the newcomer.

However, when he saw who it was, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The newcomer was a middle-aged man in a long robe. He had a kind and approachable face, and his eyes shone with wisdom.

He was the magician who appeared in the crystal ball last night, the owner of this castle. "You are the owner of this castle?" Ling Xiao asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

(End of this chapter)