Chapter 164 - 149 Enticement

Lin Fang kept observing everything inside the decrepit temple, growing more and more alarmed the more he saw. This place had been deliberately arranged; every brick and every tile in the temple had been refined.

The purpose was to connect with the energy of the mountain ranges around, which would allow him to harness the mountain’s spiritual energy for cultivation. Moreover, as time passed, the connection between the strength of the mountain ranges and this place would grow increasingly tight, gradually transforming this temple into the heart of the mountains. Unless the mountains crumbled, this temple would stand.

"This is indeed a clever method, it’s just a bit time-consuming!" Lin Fang said softly to himself while touching the walls inside the old temple.

Meanwhile, the battle between the White Ape and the woman continued, and Lin Fang truly hadn’t expected them to last so long.

Turning his head, he saw the woman in a sorry state, drenched in sweat that soaked her clothes, clinging to her body and revealing her exquisite curves.

The White Ape, as always, appeared calm and collected, such a level of battle wouldn’t even make him break a sweat.

In terms of strength as well as experience, the disparity between the two was vast. Looking at the woman now panting for breath, the White Ape shook his head lightly and said, "The sword is not meant to be used like this."

He then gently drew his treasured sword from his waist, the clear sound of the blade unsheathing echoing through the dilapidated temple.

At that moment, in the woman’s eyes, the White Ape seemed to transform into an imposing mountain, awe-inspiring and generating a fear that rose from the depths of her heart, causing her hand holding the long sword to tremble involuntarily.

"No, I will not be defeated." The woman, her consciousness beginning to blur, still muttered defiantly, driven by a speck of her unyielding spirit.

She struggled to her feet, desperately extracting power from the sinister long sword in her hands, hoping to withstand the ferocious White Ape.

A flash of sword light, and the two figures met in the air; the sound of a thud followed as the woman fell from the sky, her long sword flying from her grip to plant itself in the ground, emanating a malevolent red glow.

The fierce Sword Qi ravaged the small temple, leaving deep sword marks on the surrounding dilapidated walls.

The White Ape gently sheathed his treasured sword, a look of sigh emerging on his face.

Lin Fang walked to the woman collapsed on the ground and gently prodded her with his finger, finding no response.

"It seems she has fainted from exhaustion," Lin Fang said with a smile.

The White Ape nodded lightly and said, "She relies too much on external forces, forgetting the essence of the Sword Dao. Fortunately, her heart is kind, and she has not turned into a monster that only knows slaughter."

As he spoke, he slowly walked towards the malevolent long sword planted in the ground and gently pulled it out.

The sword emitted a sound of metal clashing; the White Ape held the blood-red sword aloft, its blade reflecting his face.

A stream of red and black energy flowed from the sword, traveling up the White Ape’s arm towards his body, followed by a power that seduced the soul.

This force tried to enter the White Ape’s body but was repelled by his mana.

"Don’t you desire power?" A voice, laden with alluring strength, whispered in the White Ape’s ear.

"Power? The power I seek is beyond your offering," the White Ape murmured to himself.

"Open your heart, and you shall possess the mightiest power in the world; all you desire can be yours," that voice persisted, incessantly speaking at the back of the White Ape’s mind.

The White Ape’s thought stirred, his formidable will manifesting as a sharp sword slashing through his heart, silencing the seductive voice with a shrill scream.

The red and black energy that was creeping onto the White Ape’s body suddenly retracted back into the sword, the entire blade trembling slightly—it seemed the slash the White Ape had delivered in his heart had terrified it.

The White Ape shook its head slightly and then tossed the treasured sword onto the ground as if disposing of a piece of trash.

"Such a fine sword, why throw it away?" Lin Fang asked with a smile.

"The strength of a swordsman lies within himself, not the weapon in his hand. A powerful swordsman, even with a blade of grass, can cut down the sun, the moon, and the stars," the White Ape said coldly.

His Sword Dao had always been independent of external help, and the treasured sword he held was merely a mundane weapon, a keepsake from his teacher and friend.

Yet such an ordinary sword, in the hands of the White Ape, was more formidable than any divine weapon.

This innate talent in Sword Dao filled Lin Fang with envy.

"Still, it shouldn’t be wasted—this is a fine thing," Lin Fang said, walking forward with a laugh, taking a closer look at the peculiar long sword.

Brilliant red light radiated from the sword, as if it were trying its best to prove its own divine nature to Lin Fang.

Lin Fang grasped it in his hand, feeling an odd power surge into his body.

A beguiling voice echoed in his mind, "Do you desire power?"

"Of course I do!" Lin Fang nodded eagerly, as this was his true desire, especially in this world—where wouldn’t someone crave immense strength?

"Release your mind, accept my power, and you shall wield the most formidable strength in the world!" The voice became more impassioned, its words laden with temptation.

"Wait, how can you prove your power? Why should I believe you?" Lin Fang suddenly spoke out.

The voice paused sharply; it seemed to be the first time it had encountered someone like Lin Fang. It then spoke, "My power can burn mountains, boil seas, and reverse the order of nature."

"Is that so? I don’t believe it!"

"Why so many questions? Do not hesitate. Once you release your mind, everything in the Three Realms will be yours," the voice urged, growing impatient.

"Really?"

"Of course it’s true. I can use power to show you a glimpse into the future."

No sooner had the words been spoken than an image appeared in Lin Fang’s mind. He saw himself sitting atop a high mountain, below which throngs of little demons looked up at him with fervent admiration, proclaiming ’Long live our great king!’

"Is this it!" Lin Fang’s voice rose in disbelief.

"Is this the extent of your power?"

His words seemed to enrage the other, who roared in Lin Fang’s heart, "Then what do you want? Speak, and I shall fulfill it."

"Let’s say this—I want to ascend Mount Ling and strike down Maitreya with my sword. How about that?"

No sooner had these words been uttered than the surroundings changed instantaneously. Lin Fang found himself on a towering mountain, snow-capped and surrounded by dense forests. Monks knelt all around, and at the very front sat a colossal Lotus Platform, upon which Lin Fang himself appeared to be sitting.

Upon closer inspection, however, he could not help but laugh. It turned out that the ’monks’ kneeling on the ground all bore the likeness of monsters, and the environment was still the previous demon-infested mountain peak. Lin Fang guessed that the creature had never been to Mount Ling and that, as Luzhou in the North was teeming with monsters, it had imagined Mount Ling to be no different from a monster-ridden hill.