Chapter 540: Sword Dao (1/2)

At Violetgrave’s suggestion, Lu Yun glanced toward the light and was promptly dazzled by the radiance.

The ray of ethereal sword light slashed toward the lungs with bewitching simplicity. There was nothing complicated at all about the attack, yet Lu Yun saw thousands of permutations hidden therein. This was no longer a sword art, but an exhibition of sword dao.

“How can this be?” His mind exploded with incredulity. Something surfaced within him, then was promptly reclaimed by a layer of mental haze. He didn’t understand; how could such a straightforward stroke be imbued with so much meaning?

Even a pure sword immortal would be incapable of such a feat! This was beyond the realm of technique and, in fact, infinitely approached the dao.

Was this Violetgrave’s true strength?

He opened his eyes as wide as he could, both physical and Spectral. He was completely fixated on the sword—it was paradoxically slow and incredibly fast all at once. The stroke was so powerful that it affected the flow of time around it.

“Aaaaaah!”

A pained shriek came from the giant lung as a monstrous face appeared upon the organ’s surface. Contorted in an expression of immense fury, it bit down viciously upon the sword light.

Splort!

The sword pierced a gaping hole through the face’s mouth, rupturing the lung in a shower of inky blood. The shrieking grew louder and shriller, sounding like a butchered animal’s death cries. By now, the lingering violet in the air had all but dissipated, but the sword intent remained. Cut after cut soared toward the giant lungs with invisible determination.

“What kind of sword technique is this?!” Lu Yun’s focus wasn’t on the lungs anymore. He was completely absorbed in Violetgrave’s sword dao instead.

……

“Violetgrave!” an outraged roar cracked through the air. The yin-yang beast that had turned into a statue earlier returned to its original form and substance. It pounced with a frantic howl at a faint violet shadow in a certain corner.

“Hmph, I knew it was you!” Violetgrave delivered another slash with a small huff. The blow was identical to her last, but the yin-yang beast had become very different.

Gone was its cowardly behavior from moments ago. Another will seemed to be coursing through its body, granting it a new, terrifying strength.

It waved its four foreclaws around wildly, unleashing wave after wave of rippling black-and-white air. Miraculously, they managed to block Violetgrave’s attack.

Evidently, Violetgrave had recognized the yin-yang beast’s true identity long ago, but had held back earlier to avoid attracting the hidden person’s attention. However, her attack on the lungs was more than enough commotion to awaken this place’s master.

“Quick, do whatever you need to take away that lung! I’ve killed the divine spirit inside!” the sword’s voice filled Lu Yun’s head.

Unfortunately, her warning fell on deaf ears. The young man was still immersed in her sword dao. Her battle with the yin-yang beast had taught him many extraordinary lessons, several of which went far beyond the realm of mere swordplay.

“Tsk…” Violetgrave noticed his distraction with some annoyance. Lu Yun’s inopportune reverie and immersion in the pursuit of sword dao was definitely outside her plans. “Damn it, this yin-yang beast is only a replica of that one. If we stay here much longer, the actual person will notice, sooner or later.”

She became rather anxious, but there was nothing to be done now. She was quite strong, but the yin-yang beast’s original was stronger still. Right now, delaying it was the only thing she could do.

“I’m still sleepy… and so hungry… maybe I should eat the yin-yang beast…” Muttering to herself, Violetgrave snuck a glance at Lu Yun instead. “Can’t eat that, not that one. That’ll get stuck in my teeth…

“What to do, what to do… This is the underworld, so that old thing can arrive at any minute. If he notices me, he’ll try to refine me for sure.” She turned around in circles as she deliberated with dismay through her battle.

Thrum...

The air suddenly began to hum. A set of ancient, battered doors rumbled open, allowing a pitch-black coffin borne upon nine dragon corpses to emerge.

The Enneawyrm Coffinbearers.

Shff, creak—

The coffin lid opened with considerable noise and a giant skeletal arm reached out toward the lung.

“What is that?!” Violetgrave screamed at the sight.

The yin-yang beast battling it out with her was similarly terrified and screeched to a halt.