Chapter 876

Although he spoke as if blaming the parchment, in his heart Fang Yue held no resentment toward it; on the contrary, he was deeply grateful for its help.

Without the parchment, he could never have defeated a Rain-level powerhouse, and the cost of wielding this power was always this brutal.

Sometimes, by sheer luck, the area the parchment consumed wasn't critical.

Fang Yue looked down at the tip of his right thumb, where the parchment had already consumed it during previous uses.

Fortunately, it was only a thumb—no major impact on daily use.

But if it were the heart, the effects would clearly be severe.

At this moment, his right eye involuntarily slipped into 【Grim Eye】 state—a visible manifestation.

As for other aspects, Fang Yue still didn't know.

The only clearly noticeable change was that he felt his heartbeat had slowed drastically, like those of hibernating creatures.

Regardless, with the parchment's side effects halted, his condition had finally stabilized.

Gathering his thoughts, Fang Yue turned his gaze toward the Sky Sword.

The Sky Sword, which had just been lying on the ground and slowly rising, suddenly froze—as if sensing Fang Yue's change.

Then…

Crack!

The Sky Sword split into two pieces once more, falling to the ground, motionless.

The immense sword intent vanished instantly.

The divine weapon plummeted from its divine status, becoming nothing more than an ordinary piece of iron.

【It's faking death!】

Fang Yue's lip twitched.

Although the parchment's phrasing was blunt, it wasn't wrong.

After what had just happened, he was certain—the Sky Sword possessed its own consciousness, and it feigned death when facing stronger opponents.

When he killed Jian Wufeng earlier, he'd already sensed something odd.

He noticed Jian Wufeng's fighting style shifted abruptly into two entirely different modes at one stage.

And in the final phase, it reverted to the original style—with massive fluctuations in power corresponding to each style.

Otherwise, the final strike shouldn't have been so easy to kill such a powerhouse.

Then there was the Sky Sword's earlier attempt to possess him while he was suffering the parchment's side effects.

Fang Yue had originally believed he'd shattered the divine weapon with his own sword, and had felt a slight regret.

Now it was clear—the Sky Sword had faked its own destruction, breaking apart deliberately.

"This thing…"

With a blank expression, Fang Yue walked over and kicked the broken sword's hilt.

Fang Yue clearly saw the hilt tremble, as if startled.

"Stop faking death—or I'll melt this broken sword and recast it!"

Fang Yue had merely thought it, but his back's black wheel instantly surged into his palm, erupting upward into a towering black flame—like a spinning hurricane of fire!

"How could this…"

Fang Yue froze, then sudden pain lanced through his right eye—black blood streamed down his cheek.

His heart burned as if set ablaze, searing and unbearable.

"Huh?!"

Instinctively clutching his chest, Fang Yue gasped for breath until the sensation faded—and the black flame vortex beside him dissipated in sync.

【Power… seems stronger?】

"Hmm… strange. It seems linked to my heart being synchronized…"

The Grim Spirit Root's power had grown stronger due to the parchment's synchronization with his heart.

Simultaneously, drawing upon this power felt smoother than before—natural and fluid, like commanding his own arm.

Stronger power was good, but his current physical state worried Fang Yue.

And at this moment…

The Sky Sword, which had just lain on the ground, silently rose, its broken halves merging back into one, then tilted its blade, hilt facing Fang Yue—as if inviting him to grasp it.

"Is this… submission?"

As if understanding human intent, the Sky Sword nodded in a distinctly human manner.

【Go on! Go on! Fight the boss! Recruit a minion! Ascend to the Xian!】

Fang Yue treated the parchment's words as background noise.

Recalling the Sky Sword's control during the parchment's backlash, Fang Yue hesitated.

【Don't fear! I've got you covered! If it dares to cause trouble before the great and noble Parchment Lord, I'll swallow it whole!】

【Hehehe! I haven't had anything good to eat in ages—this Sky Sword should taste delicious…】

In his mind, the cute girl sat cross-legged on the bed, drool pooling on the floor as she imagined the taste of the Sky Sword.

Fang Yue paused, thinking.

"True—if the parchment absorbs the Sky Sword, it won't be able to cause trouble anymore."

Crack!

The moment Fang Yue finished speaking, the Sky Sword split again!

Fang Yue quickly added: "But if you swear to serve me faithfully and stop playing tricks, I won't let the parchment eat you."

The Sky Sword, still falling and split, instantly resealed.

It had split—but not completely.

The merged Heaven Sword seemed delighted, circling Fang Yue twice before actively rubbing its hilt against his right palm, as if saying: I'll just rub, I won't go in!

Seeing the Heaven Sword's behavior, Fang Yue couldn't help but find it amusing.

Though strange, this thing bore a striking resemblance to a child.

As he gripped the hilt with his right hand, that sword intent surged into his mind again, and his understanding of sword intent skyrocketed instantly.

But after only a moment, he exited that state again.

The settled sword intent granted Fang Yue great gains, his Sword Dao cultivation skyrocketing.

As for the earlier sensation of being controlled, it was completely gone.

The Heaven Sword had become nothing more than an ordinary divine weapon, quietly serving him.

But the parchment seemed unwilling to let it go so easily.

【You have the surname Tian! Remember, I'm the elder! You, this new little sprout, must obey me and don't you dare cause trouble, got it?!】

The Heaven Sword trembled in fear; it could apparently perceive the parchment's text directly through Fang Yue.

"Are you some kind of delinquent senior teaching a junior? Don't scare the kid!"

【Who's the delinquent senior?! This Zhi Zhi isn't happy just because you called me that!!】

【And don't forget—this little sprout once tried to possess your body! Are you really that trusting? You might get hurt!】

"But you're here, aren't you…" Fang Yue whispered.

【...?!】

【...】

The parchment suddenly fell silent, and in Fang Yue's mind, he seemed to see a cute girl, blushing furiously, covering her red face with both hands, diving under the covers without even peeking out, muffled and sulkily as she spoke.

【I'm not talking to you anymore!! Stupid Fang Yue!!】

Then she unilaterally severed the connection.

"Wait! Didn't we agree you'd suppress the Heaven Sword? Don't suddenly quit on me!"

(End of Chapter)