Chapter 943: The Evil Sword

The dark tunnel seemed to have no end.

Yan Buji leaned on the slick rock wall as he moved forward, the blood eye of the Seven Demonic Sword casting a faint crimson glow in the darkness, illuminating only about a yard ahead. The wound on his left arm had already scabbed over, but with each step the chain tattoo sent a needle‑like pain; the evil sword was slowly corroding his flesh.

"We must suppress it as soon as possible..."

Yan Buji took out several pills from his storage pouch and swallowed them; they were precious items stolen from the Demon‑Eradication Office. The medicine dissolved, a warm current surged through his meridians, temporarily easing the devouring of the Seven Demonic Sword.

This evil sword was not an Accumulation Device construction, yet it did not resemble a relic forged by ancient cultivators; Yan Buji even sensed a powerful law flowing within it, as if it were an item from Youming Jie.

Zanghun Shanmai truly is treacherous; no wonder no one dares to come.

It was also what led Yan Buji into this—both a secret realm, an ancient cultivator, and an evil sword; none of them are good things!

Suddenly, a faint sound of water echoed from deep within the tunnel.

Yan Buji instantly held his breath and steadied his mind, the Soul‑Burying Sword held horizontally before his chest. As he pressed on, the rock wall gradually became smooth, strange patterns appearing on it—none of them man‑made, but rather marks left by a creature's long‑term friction.

The sound of water grew nearer.

Rounding a bend, the view opened up. At the tunnel's end lay a massive underground cavern, its center a pool of pitch‑black water, a thin mist drifting across the surface.

Even more chilling, the lake's edge was piled with fresh beast bones, some still clinging to flesh; the scent of blood was overwhelming, making one feel sick. These bones had clearly been torn apart by some immense force, and some even retained their original shapes, as if recounting the horrors of their deaths.

Yan Buji stood at the lake's edge, gazing at the sea of bones, a chill rising within him. He couldn't help thinking, "Something lives here..." Before he finished, he felt a powerful aura surge up from the lake bottom, as if a terrifying Existence were awakening from slumber.

Yan Buji's heart startled; he was about to retreat when a sudden thunderous crash rang out, the lake surface exploding as water sprayed everywhere! Immediately, a gigantic python burst from the water, its body as thick as a water bucket, its whole form sheathed in a hard bone armor that glinted coldly in the sunlight.

Three blood‑red eyes sprouted atop the giant python's head, staring intently at Yan Buji, radiating a chilling ferocity. Yet the most terrifying aspect was the seven chain‑like tentacles on its neck, each as thick as an arm, with a rotting human head dangling from the tip!

"Seven Demonic Nether Python?!" Yan Buji's mind jolted, and he shouted hoarsely. He was intimately familiar with this creature; it was recorded in the *Compendium of Ten Thousand Demons* as an ancient beast that feeds by devouring a cultivator's nascent soul, its tentacles capable of releasing seven different demonic poisons, so potent that even a cultivator in the Union phase must keep three steps away!

The python's three eyes simultaneously locked onto Yan Buji, and the seven tentacles snapped forward like long whips!

"Clang!"

The Soul‑Burying Sword blocked the first three tentacles, but the other four coiled toward his limbs from cunning angles. Yan Buji hurriedly activated the Seven Demonic Sword, its blood eye suddenly flaring open!

An inconceivable scene unfolded!

The python suddenly froze, its seven tentacles eerily turning inward, beginning to attack itself! It thrashed wildly, the bone armor scraping and emitting a harsh screech, fear flashing in its three eyes.

Yan Buji was first stunned, then turned his gaze to the Seven Demonic Sword in his hand.

Reflected in the sword's eye was not himself, but a vague figure—black robes, a bone crown, wielding twin swords...

"So that's it..."

He suddenly realized that the previous owner of the Seven Demonic Sword was likely the very keeper of this Nether Python!

While the python self‑destructed, Yan Buji quickly surveyed his surroundings. Countless stalactites hung from the cavern ceiling, and on an especially massive stone pillar, faintly visible, were hand‑carved steps.

Without hesitation, he leapt, stepping on protrusions of the rock wall to scramble upward swiftly. Behind him, the Nether Python's anguished roar echoed, shaking the entire cavern.

When Yan Buji reached the top of the stone pillar, he discovered a hidden cave. In its center lay a crystal coffin, within which rested a black‑robed cultivator, his features lifelike, hands crossed over his chest.

Yan Buji approached the coffin, his pupils suddenly contracting. Hanging from the corpse's waist was a jade plaque inscribed with three characters:

"Youming Zi"

He recognized that name all too well.

Eight thousand years ago, a demonic titan who had thrown the Central Sky cultivation world into chaos, once single‑handedly opposed the seven major righteous sects, and ultimately vanished mysteriously...

"So he was buried here..."

As Yan Buji was pondering, the Seven Demonic Sword in his hand suddenly quivered violently, its eye shedding blood tears!

At the same time, the two swords in Yan Buji's hands resonated intensely.

"Crack!" a sound rang, and the crystal coffin cracked.

The corpse of Youming Zi... opened its eyes!

"How many years..." The corpse's lips did not move, yet its voice echoed directly in Yan Buji's mind: "Finally, a suitable host has been found..."

Yan Buji staggered back several steps, but it was already too late. The corpse within the coffin transformed into a burst of blood light, piercing straight into his chest!

In excruciating pain, he felt something forcibly invading his Sea of Consciousness.

It was the lingering soul of Youming Zi, seeking to possess and be reborn!

"Get out! You petty lingering soul, damned creature!"

Yan Buji frantically circulated his cultivation method to resist, the Swallow Desire Pot pouring out countless cravings to cleanse his body, while the Seven Demonic Sword spun around him, forming a crimson storm.

The Soul‑Burying Sword also automatically protected its master, black light surging like a tide toward the invader.

Within the Sea of Consciousness, a life‑and‑death tug‑of‑war unfolded.

Youming Zi's lingering soul was terrifyingly powerful, but Yan Buji's will was equally resilient. As the two sides remained deadlocked, an unexpected variable appeared.

The Seven Chain Tattoo on his arm suddenly came to life, flowing along his meridians toward the Sea of Consciousness!

"No! This can't be!" Youming Zi shrieked in terror: "You actually refined the Seven Demonic Soul‑Chain?!"

"Refine? Clearly the chain itself wrapped around me!"

Yan Buji's expression grew grim; the chains, like famished venomous snakes, coiled tightly around Youming Zi's lingering soul. This once‑renowned demon lord now served as nourishment for the Seven Demonic Sword!

The chain's power was undeniable, yet it was beyond his control!

"Ah! I will not concede..."

The wail gradually faded.

Yan Buji, drenched in sweat, knelt on the ground; the Seven Demonic Sword in his hand had merged with him. Now, he truly commanded the evil sword.

But the price was...

He looked at his own arm. The Seven Chain Tattoo grew clearer, one strand already spreading to his shoulder. At this rate, when the tattoo covered his entire body, he would become...

the next "Youming Zi".

"We must find a solution..."

Yan Buji staggered to his feet. On the other side of the cave lay an upward passage, a faint glimmer visible.

When he emerged from the passage, he found himself atop a solitary peak. In the distance, Zanghun Shanmai loomed under the setting sun like a coiled giant beast.

The mountain wind howled, stirring the blood‑stained long robe.