"Awoo, awoo... (What was that? How did the spiritual energy on his body turn into that cold power?)"
One Lava Beast, having just told Qi Ping to be careful, watched in shock as the power on his body shifted into a cold energy identical to the spring's.
"Awoo, awoo... (I don't know, it feels magical!)"
"Awoo, awoo... (Does that mean he'll be safer? Like how we aren't afraid of lava?)"
"Awoo, awoo... (Oh right, that makes him safer! You're so smart!)"
The Lava Beasts were shocked at first, but once they realized it might make him safer, they became happy again.
As Qi Ping entered the Lava Spirit Spring, his surprise continued to grow.
When he first entered, the Extreme Yin energy was only at the Rank 2 level, but as he went deeper, it gradually reached the Rank 3 level!
After diving for about several miles, he successfully reached the source of the Extreme Yin energy.
"This..."
Upon seeing the source, Qi Ping's face filled with shock.
The source wasn't an Extreme Yin spirit item or creature, but a set of corroded white bones! Or rather, it was a jet-black demonic blade!
The blade was plunged directly into the heart of the skeleton. Under the blade's conversion, the Extreme Yin energy was being continuously turned into highly aggressive Yin-Netherworld power!
Most importantly, this was a Rank 3 peak demonic blade, and it possessed a high degree of sentience.
'The sentience of this blade is almost on par with the Sky-Flame Seal. However, unlike the seal, this blade doesn't contain the stored extraordinary power of past generations...'
'And... is that a Yin-Netherworld Pearl?'
Qi Ping's gaze fell upon a deep black pearl at the junction of the blade's hilt and guard. He finally understood why this blade had been able to extinguish a Rank 2 spirit spring for centuries.
It was because the Yin-Netherworld Pearl had sucked it dry!
The Yin-Netherworld Pearl was an exceptionally rare Rank 3 peak spirit item. It could absorb the world's Extreme Yin energy and spiritual energy and convert it into stored Yin-Netherworld power.
"No wonder the Lava Beasts couldn't handle this!"
With the pearl's assistance, the blade was continuously generating terrifying Yin-Netherworld baleful energy. It would be a miracle if the fire-attribute Rank 2 Lava Beasts could deal with it.
After confirming there were no issues, Qi Ping immediately summoned the Little Stone Essence. A peak Rank 3 demonic blade at full power was not something he could suppress at his level, but the stone essence, with its Master of Weapons talent, was the natural nemesis of such metal weapons.
Once the stone essence arrived, it immediately began to suppress the blade.
Sensing someone trying to restrain it, the blade erupted with terrifying Yin-Netherworld baleful energy, frantically trying to corrode the stone essence's body.
Unfortunately, the stone essence wasn't a being of flesh and blood, so it had a naturally high resistance to such power. Combined with its innate resistance to metal weapons and its absurd defense, it wasn't afraid of the blade's backlash. Instead, under the stone essence's suppression, the blade began to tremble violently.
The blade was sentient, but it hadn't yet evolved into a true blade spirit. After a period of struggle, it was finally suppressed.
The blade was in a wretched state—not only had its body been bitten a few times, but the Yin-Netherworld Pearl had been plucked out and handed to Qi Ping.
This didn't mean the blade was weak. If Qi Ping had tried, his body would likely have been reduced to ash long ago. It was only because the stone essence was a natural counter to masterless weapons that it succeeded, and even then, it took a fair amount of effort.
Once the blade was fully suppressed, several lines of blood-colored characters that had been covered by baleful energy were revealed.
"I am Daoist Sin-Burner. Once a useless scholar in the mortal realm, I was forced onto the path of cultivation by demons. Seeing the chaos of the cultivation world, I comprehended the Sin-Burner Sword Intent to slay evil and exterminate demons. I spent half my life roaming the world, slaying countless enemies!"
"Alas, while carrying out a sect mission, I was framed by an internal traitor. I was ambushed by the dogs of the Immortal Alliance. Though I slew more than half of them, I was heavily wounded and forced to flee to this spirit spring to recuperate. My injuries were too severe, and I have no strength left to turn the tide!"
"I am unwilling! I only hate that I could not slay every last enemy!"
Even more startling was that despite being corroded by the demonic blade for centuries, these blood characters remained in their original form. The Third Stage Sin-Burner Sword Intent was as fresh as if it had just been carved, striking Qi Ping's mind with intense force.
Had someone with an impure heart seen this, their soul likely would have collapsed from the shock of the intent.
"Written with essence blood... what a powerful sword intent legacy!"
"To comprehend this, one's Slaughter Dao-Heart, Sword Intent, and Fire Intent must all reach the Third Stage. Only someone with an upright heart can grasp it!"
The killing power of this Sin-Burner Sword Intent was actually a level higher than Wang He's Heavenly Heart Sword Intent.
Qi Ping also sensed a profound regret within the blood writing—the regret of someone who was about to reach the pinnacle but was cut down halfway, leaving his enemies alive...
"Could this Daoist Sin-Burner be the former leader of the Qingyuan Sect's Conservative Faction?"
Qi Ping had seen records of this person in the sect's history.
Originally, Daoist Sin-Burner was a peer of Gu Yunxiao, the Wind-Thunder Daoist. In fact, he had once suppressed Gu Yunxiao and was a firm opponent of the Immortal Alliance.
However, hundreds of years ago, he had mysteriously vanished. This led directly to the decline of the Conservative Faction.
The Radical Faction, led by Gu Yunxiao, took the opportunity to plunder the Qingtian Domain, using the resources to rise rapidly and create the situation that existed today.
"What a pity!"
"If this man were still alive, the domain and the sect would look very different!"
At this thought, Qi Ping couldn't help but sigh.
He buried the bones of Daoist Sin-Burner and carved a tombstone from ore. He bowed several times before the grave and poured out a few jars of good wine.
Then, he cut out the entire block of ore containing the blood characters and put it in his storage ring.
"The Third Stage Exterminating-Evil Dao-Heart and Fire Intent contained in these characters will be of great use. My animal companions and I will study them first. When the sect is set right and the timing is appropriate, I'll return these characters."
The legacy of Daoist Sin-Burner was worthy of being placed in the sect's Hall of Honor for future generations to remember.
Finally, Qi Ping looked at a cracked red spiritual sword. Based on its quality, it should have been a Rank 3 High-Grade artifact—Daoist Sin-Burner's natal weapon.
Unfortunately, it was covered in cracks and its sentience was gone.
Qi Ping had no use for it and handed it to the Little Stone Essence to refine.
With a peak Rank 3 demonic blade and this Rank 3 High-Grade sword, the stone essence's strength would surely rise another level.
However, the Little Stone Essence shook its head and said:
"Clang, clang... (Boss, this sword has a very rare and special spirit. My intuition tells me it has incredible potential for growth!)"