Devouring demons, I attain immortality.

Lin An pressed him down: "Wait for the blood sacrifice to begin."

A notification from the Devouring System sounded in his mind: [Beep beep! After the Blood Fiend Array is activated, the host can use the power of devouring to absorb it!]

As the blood in the cauldron boiled, he darted out like a cheetah.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade cleaved open the skull of the most recent extraterrestrial demon, and the black aura was swallowed up by the blade before it could dissipate.

[Yin Sha Points +15]

The corpse of the extraterrestrial demon quickly withered. The remaining two screamed and crushed the blood talisman, from which three armored corpses emerged from the ground.

Lin An spun around and slashed horizontally, sparks flying as the blade grazed the iron armor.

"Shanzhong acupoint!" Lu Xiuwen pierced through an armored corpse.

Lin An's sword technique suddenly changed; the Nine Revolutions Demon-Slaying Blade suddenly extended by three inches, precisely piercing the armored corpse's chest opening.

Black energy surged in, and system notifications flooded the screen.

[Armor-Piercing Feature Activated]

[Absorb 3 Ironclad Corpses, Yin Sha Points +90]

The Blood Cauldron suddenly exploded.

Instead of retreating, Lin An advanced, plunging the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade into the crack in the cauldron.

The bronze cauldron shattered with a crash, and crimson energy surged into his body like a tidal wave.

[Absorb the broken Blood Fiend Array and gain the skill: Blood Boil (Beginner)]

His eyes were bloodshot, and the veins under his skin were bulging.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade emitted an excited hum, and the first of the nine skulls on the back of the blade lit up.

"You've fallen into demonic possession?" Lu Xiuwen pointed his sword at his back.

"You're overthinking it! I've been possessed by a demon!" Lin An threw a jade pendant backhand.

Lu Xiuwen caught it and examined it closely; it was indeed Su Wanyun's: "There's something at the bottom of Broken Soul Cliff."

The blade suddenly changed direction, cleaving open a huge rock on the cliff edge.

A downward-facing iron suspension bridge was revealed, its body wrapped with chains covered with talismans.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade trembled violently, and the red light from the skull's eye sockets was blinding.

Twenty young men suddenly screamed in unison.

Red lotus patterns emerged beneath the skin, and the pupils turned a ghastly white.

Lin An's blade flashed like a waterfall, precisely slicing away the red lotus marks on their foreheads.

[Rescue 20 captives, +200 merit points]

[Merit Exchange Now Open: 1. Tranquil Heart Charm (50 points) 2. Blood Burning Pill (100 points)]

He exchanged two Blood Burning Pills and tossed them to Lu Xiuwen: "Stay close!"

The suspension bridge swayed beneath my feet.

Lin An suddenly swung his sword and severed the iron chain on the left, causing the flock of demonic crows hidden in the mist to miss their target.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade ignited black flames, turning all the demon crows to ashes wherever it passed.

[Yin Sha Points +37]

At the bottom of the cliff is a natural cave.

Two of the nine demon-suppressing pillars had fallen, and half of a dark gold blade tip was stuck in the central stone platform—the missing blade of the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade.

The Crimson Lotus Guardian emerged from the shadows, carrying a bronze box: "The Demon Suppression Division's little dog..."

Lin An stomped on the ground, causing it to explode. The Blood Burning Pill exploded within his body, tripling his speed.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade collided with the bronze box, and the resulting shockwave sent three stone pillars flying.

[Fragment of the origin detected. Forced absorption!]

The blade suddenly slipped from his grasp and plunged into the chest of the Red Lotus Cult Leader.

The guardian looked down in astonishment, watching his cultivation surge into the blade like a burst dam.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lin An snapped his neck and grabbed the bronze box.

[Obtained the Crimson Lotus Manual (Fragment)]

[Yin Sha Points Exceed 500, Unlock Trait: Soul Devour (Can briefly control demons)]

Lu Xiuwen slew the last extraterrestrial demon, and the tip of his sword opened the bronze box.

Inside was half a bronze compass, its needle spinning wildly.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade suddenly flew autonomously into the depths of the cave.

Lin An gave chase and saw the blade pierce the forehead of a ten-zhang-tall bronze ancient corpse.

The ancient corpse's eyelids twitched, and the nine demon-suppressing pillars shattered simultaneously.

"Run!" He grabbed Lu Xiuwen by the back of his collar.

The sound of bronze shattering came from behind.

The ancient corpse opened its eyes, and nine red lotuses swirled in its pupils.

Lin An grabbed the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade.

The blade emitted a burst of black light, and the bronze ancient corpse froze for three seconds.

He dragged Lu Xiuwen onto the iron chain bridge, and the cliff behind them collapsed with a roar.

[An ancient demonic corpse (incomplete) has been detected. Devouring it will grant 5000 Yin Sha Points!]

The system notification is flashing wildly.

Lin An swallowed the last Blood Burning Pill and plunged the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade into the bridge.

The second skull on the back of the blade lit up, and the iron chain bridge instantly disintegrated.

The two fell into the icy pool.

Countless skeletal hands emerged from the bottom of the pool, only to be burned to ashes by the black flames of the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade.

Lin An grasped the bronze compass hidden in the dark current at the bottom of the pool, and a red light flashed.

Coughing up blood, Lu Xiuwen pointed upwards: "Exit!"

The giant hand of the demonic corpse shattered the rocks by the pool.

Lin An activated the Blood Boil skill, his eyes turning bloodshot.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade grew ten feet in length and pierced through the demon corpse's brow.

The black mist flowed back into the blade.

[Beep! Warning: Host's meridians are overloaded!]

Lin An bled from all seven orifices, and the third skull on the back of the knife lit up.

The demonic corpse collapsed to its knees, turning into fragments of bronze.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade absorbed the last wisp of demonic energy, and blood-red patterns appeared on its blade.

[Successfully devoured, Yin Sha Points +5000!]

[Unlock New Feature: Demon Corpse (Basic)]

Lin An's skin had a bronze sheen.

Lu Xiuwen stared at the demonic markings on his arm: "You've practiced evil magic?"

"You're overthinking it! It's just a backlash from the magical artifact! It's nothing serious!"

Lin An tossed out a bronze compass. The pointer pointed northeast: "These extraterrestrial demons use the Red Lotus Cult of demonic cultivators as cover; their headquarters are in Qingzhou."

Three days later, at the mass grave outside Qingzhou City.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade was stuck in the grave mound, absorbing all the Yin energy within a ten-mile radius.

Lin An looked at the system panel:

[Yin Sha Point: 6120.]

[Upgradeable to: Demon Corpse (Intermediate) - Requires 3000 points!]

He clicked the upgrade button. His bones cracked, and the wound on his chest, inflicted by the demonic corpse, instantly healed.

Lu Xiuwen returned with a wine gourd: "The garrison has changed its flag to that of the Red Lotus Sect; it seems they've become puppets again. These extraterrestrial demons are even more detestable than monsters!"

The night raid occurred at midnight.

Lin An activated the demon corpse's body, and its skin turned bronze.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade cleaved open the city gate, and the guards' arrows clattered and bounced away.

[Killed 23 followers, Yin Sha Points +345.]

The fourth skull on the back of the blade lights up.

Three dark figures flew out of the city lord's mansion, their red lotus fire talismans illuminating the night sky.

Lin An threw out the bronze compass, which absorbed all the energy of the fire talisman and exploded.

Lu Xiuwen slashed the black shadow on the left flank with his sword, while Lin An crushed the throat of the man in the middle.

The last man laughed wildly and exploded, the shockwave sending half a street flying.

Half a jade pendant was revealed from among the minced meat—it matched Su Wanyun's pendant perfectly.

"The main altar is in the dungeon of the city lord's mansion."

Lin An wiped the blood off his face.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade trembled as it pointed towards the ground.

The dungeon has three levels, and the Red Lotus Cult leader's altar is filled with blood-red light.

Nine chains bound an old man with white hair, who was none other than the missing commander of the Demon Suppression Division, a first-rank military officer of the Great Qian Dynasty!

"I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The cult leader raised his hand and lifted his cloak, revealing demonic markings on his face that were exactly the same as the arm of the guardian who had just been killed.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade suddenly slipped from his hand and plunged into the center of the altar.

Lin An sneered and activated the Devouring System again, the red light from the skull on the back of the Nine Revolutions Demon Slayer Blade was dazzling.

The cult leader froze for half a second, enough time for Lu Xiuwen's sword to pierce his heart.

[Devouring the Crimson Lotus Cult Leader, Yin Sha Points +10000]

[Unlock the final trait: Crimson Lotus Inferno]

The Grand Commander roared and broke his chains.

Lin An caught the flying knife, and the complete red lotus pattern appeared on the blade.

As the city lord's mansion began to collapse, he grabbed Lu Xiuwen and leaped out of the crevice.

On the hillside outside the city, Lin An looked at the system panel:

[Yin Sha Point: 16120]

【Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade (5/9)】

He gazed northward into the Demon Abyss. Su Wanyun's jade pendant and jade plaque formed a complete map, with the endpoint marked "Core of the Chaos Bell."

Lu Xiuwen wiped the blood from his sword: "When do we set off?"

"Now."

Lin An swallowed all the Blood Burning Pills.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade emitted an excited hum, and the five skulls on the back of the blade lit up simultaneously.

Lin An shattered the Red Lotus Altar with a single strike.

Fragments of the Chaos Bell rose from the ground, transforming into streams of light that disappeared into the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade.

The sixth skull on the back of the blade lit up, and a deafening roar came from the direction of the Abyss.

[Absorb fragments of the Chaos Bell to unlock the skill: Time Lag (0.1 seconds)]

Lu Xiuwen tore open the blood-stained strip of cloth: "The Demon Suppression Division's reinforcements have arrived."

"Let them clean up the mess! Save the president!"

Lin An threw out the bronze compass.

The pointer pinpointed the location of the Demon Abyss, and the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade automatically unsheathed three inches.

A scarlet warning popped up on the system screen:

[Core fluctuations of the Chaos Bell detected; absorbing it will unlock the complete fundamental laws of time!]

Three black-horse-like creatures crashed through the city gate.

Lin An tossed two Blood Essence Pills to Lu Xiuwen: "Are you going to follow or not?"

Horse hooves trampled the bluestone of the official road.

While passing through Black Wind Gorge, the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade suddenly slashed down from mid-air.

A black-robed figure fell out of the void rift, carrying a bronze box in his arms.

Lin An crushed his kneecap. The man in black robes grinned maliciously as he self-destructed, the shockwave overturning the Black-Bladeed Horse.

The bronze box rolled down the cliff and was picked up by the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade—inside the box was half a map of the Demon Abyss.

[Tianji Pavilion marker detected; new dungeon "Burial Immortal Cave" unlocked]

Lu Xiuwen wiped the bloodstains off the map: "The Burial Immortal Cave is located north of the Demon Abyss."

"Change course."

Lin An turned his horse around.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade deflected three cold arrows, and twelve silver-armored guards rushed out from the forest, their chest patterns bearing the same Taotie motif as Su Wanyun's jade pendant.

[Tianji Pavilion Enforcement Team, Peak Nascent Soul Stage x12]

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade ignites the Red Lotus Karmic Flame.

Lin An charged into the enemy ranks, his sword flashing as his silver armor tore like paper.

The Devouring System is flooding the screen with messages, and the seventh skull on the back of the blade is lit up.

[Slayed 12 peak Nascent Soul cultivators, Yin Sha Points +3600]

The last corpse exploded into a bloody mist, which condensed into a blood-red arrow pointing north.

Lin An crushed the blood mist, and a three-dimensional phantom of the Burial Immortal Cave appeared in his palm, with the Chaos Bell pattern marked in the core area.

"The barrier has been broken."

Lu Xiuwen gazed at the purple light shooting into the sky in the distance.

The black-horse neighed and knelt down.

Lin An leaped onto the Nine Revolutions Demon-Slaying Blade and flew through the air, the demonic abyss winds tearing through his protective spiritual energy.

The skull on the back of the blade lit up one after another, drawing blood-red trails across the dark sky.

At the entrance to the Burial Cave, three hundred cultivator corpses were arranged in a sacrificial array.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade was plunged into the array's core, and the Devouring System displayed a golden notification:

[Can devour a seventh-grade incomplete formation, requires 10000 Yin Sha Points]

Lin An confirmed that he had absorbed the corpse. The corpse instantly weathered away, and a surge of spiritual energy flowed into the blade.

The moment the eighth skull lit up, the sound of chains snapping echoed from the depths of the cave.

"I never imagined that the prestigious and righteous Tianji Pavilion would be raising Gu poisons."

Lu Xiuwen pointed his sword at the rock wall and left a mark.

In the scene, Su Wanyun is suspended by iron chains on the Chaos Bell, with three Soul-Sealing Nails stuck between her eyebrows.

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade emitted a piercing whistle.

Bronze demonic patterns appeared on Lin An's skin, and the eight skulls on the back of his blade shot out blood-red light, shattering the restrictions of the Burial Immortal Cave.

[Warning: The oppressive aura of a Heavenly Spirit Realm demon has been detected!]

A giant creature was wriggling in the darkness.

Lin An licked his lips, and the Nine Revolutions Demon-Slaying Blade ignited with crimson karmic flames: "System, exchange for all Blood-Burning Pills."

Lin An cleaved through the darkness with a single stroke.

The Blade of Red Lotus Karmic Fire burned away the void, revealing a bronze behemoth a hundred feet tall—eight chains pierced its spine, the ends of which were tied to fragments of the Chaos Bell.

[Heavenly Spirit Realm Tomb Guardian Beast, Weakness: Reverse Scale]

Lu Xiuwen's sword transformed into a streak of light and pierced towards the beast's eye.

The roar of the giant beast shattered the stalactites on the cave ceiling. Lin An leaped up on the falling rocks and plunged the Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade into the reverse scale on Lin An's neck.

Black blood splattered, and the ninth skull on the back of the blade lit up instantly.

[Absorbed Heavenly Spirit Essence Blood, Yin Sha Points +20000]

The bronze behemoth crashed to the ground.

The moment the core of the Chaos Bell was revealed, all the Soul-Sealing Nails inside Su Wanyun's body shattered.

Lin An caught her as she fell, and the Nine Revolutions Demon Slayer Blade pierced through the Chaos Bell on its own.

[Absorption complete, unlocking the Elementary Spacetime Domain (radius of ten zhang)]

The entire Burial Cave began to collapse.

Lin An cleaved open a spatial rift: "Go!"

The three of them fell into the void turbulence, and behind them came the roar of the elder of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion.

A blood-red city silhouette emerged from the turbulent currents. Lin An's system screen suddenly flashed with messages:

[Fragment of the Immortal Realm "Shura City" detected]

[New Dungeon Unlocked: Slay the Asura King (Tribulation Stage) to unlock the Immortal Weapon Forging Function!]

Su Wanyun awoke, crimson runes coalescing at her fingertips: "They used my blood as a sacrifice... Asura City possesses a complete Chaos Bell..."

The Nine-Turn Demon-Slaying Blade suddenly tore through the void.

The stench of blood filled the air as the three of them fell onto the city wall, which was made of piled bones.

A thousand-foot-tall demonic shadow rose from the throne in the distance, its giant axe wreathed in chaotic energy.