After a short rest, Ying Ping found a yellowed map in a secret room of the main keep.
"Found it, this leads to Senpou Temple on Mount Kongo."
He carefully examined the route on it, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Irena leaned over to look at the map, tilting her head and asking, "Master, is the other Mortal Blade there?"
"Mm."
Ying Ping put away the map, "If I remember correctly, the Mortal Blade: Gracious Gift of Tears is in the hands of the Divine Child of Rejuvenation at Senpou Temple."
Cocoloa gripped her staff-spear: "Then let's set off quickly!"
The three left the main keep and headed towards Mount Kongo along the mountain path.
The scattered enemies they encountered along the way didn't even require Ying Ping to personally act.
"Shadow Legion."
Ying Ping waved his hand lightly, and several figures emerged from the black mist.
Gyobu Oniwa rode his warhorse, Genichiro held a large bow, and Isshin Ashina stood at the forefront, leaning on his katana.
"Kill them all."
With Ying Ping's command, the Shadow Legion swept through the mountain path like a whirlwind.
The samurai and warrior monks who tried to block them were no match for the combined might of the Sword Saint and Gyobu Oniwa.
"No matter how many times I see it, I still think these shadow soldiers are truly amazing..." Cocoloa swallowed.
"Of course, with immortal bodies and inheriting their former strength, anyone would get a headache seeing them."
Irena nodded in agreement, happy to be at leisure.
When the three arrived at the Senpou Temple gate, the gate was tightly shut, and dozens of warrior monks were already standing by, ready for battle.
They held their precepts blades and chanted incantations.
"[Senpou Temple Warrior Monk]"
"[Level: LV8+]"
"[Attribute: Indestructible Body]"
The leading demon monk sneered: "Invaders, do not dream of defiling this sacred place!"
Ying Ping didn't bother with pleasantries, simply snapped his fingers and commanded: "Kill."
Isshin Ashina struck first, his katana drawing a graceful arc: "Ashina Arts: Dragon Flash!"
A white sword qi swept across, instantly bisecting the warrior monks in the front row!
"Namu Amida Butsu…"
Seeing this, the demonic monks immediately formed hand seals and chanted incantations, their bodies glowing with golden light.
"Indestructible?"
Ying Ping scoffed, "Isshin, take this."
He casually handed the Mortal Blade: Open Gate to Shadow Ashina Isshin.
Shadow Ashina Isshin immediately understood, raising the Mortal Blade and swinging it fiercely.
Black sword energy slashed through, and those demonic monks, who claimed to be indestructible, spewed blood and fell to the ground, their protective golden light tearing like paper.
The battle was a one-sided slaughter.
"Killed Senpou Temple Monks x 30, EXP + 18000"
"Killed Demonic Monks x 10, EXP + 12000"
In less than ten minutes, all resistance in Senpou Temple was completely wiped out.
The dead demonic monks, insect monks, and warrior monks were all converted into shadow soldiers.
Ying Ping walked into the depths of the temple and found a katana enshrined in a dark secret room.
However, there was no sign of the Divine Child of Rejuvenation nearby.
Ying Ping stood before the altar, gazing at the crimson Mortal Blade: Severance.
"Is the Rice Maiden not here? What exactly happened here…"
He murmured to himself, reaching out to touch the hilt of the blade.
"Two Mortal Blades detected."
"Do you wish to synthesize them?"
Ying Ping raised an eyebrow and said without hesitation, "Synthesize!"
As soon as he spoke, the Open Gate on his back vibrated violently and automatically unsheathed!
The two Mortal Blades floated in mid-air, their blades emitting dazzling light!
Crimson and jet black intertwined, like the convergence of yin and yang.
"Boom—!"
A violent energy fluctuation swept through the secret room, and Ying Ping narrowed his eyes, seeing the two blades merging.
The crimson and jet black blades gradually twisted and intertwined, finally becoming one!
"Synthesis successful."
"Obtained: Mortal Blade: Karma of the Unending."
The light faded, and a brand new katana quietly floated in the air.
The left half of the blade was crimson like blood, the right half was black as ink, and the hamon pattern was a strange spiral.
The moment Ying Ping grasped the hilt, the blade vibrated slightly, emitting a low hum, as if cheering for its master.
"Your name is Karma of the Unending? What a fine blade…"
Ying Ping casually swung it, and the blade cut through the air, leaving a red and black intertwined afterimage.
Within the blood mist, the faint illusion of a black mandala emerged, eerie yet beautiful.
"Mortal Blade: Karma of the Unending (Growable Divine Weapon)"
"Trait: Sever Immortality, Self-Repair, Devour Life"
"Skill 1: Karma Cycle – Can unleash a powerful slash that tears space (Requires 10 magic points)"
"Skill 2: Gate of Unending opened – Summons powerful evil spirits and vengeful souls from the underworld to fight alongside (Requires sacrifice of vitality and lifespan)"
"Skill 3: Dragon's Blood Devour – Stabs the blade into the enemy's body to absorb vitality and magic, strengthening both the blade and the wielder."
"Big score…"
A look of wild joy curved Ying Ping's lips.
"Special item obtained: Mortal Blade: Karma of the Unending."
"Main quest updated: Head to Fountainhead Palace to slay the Divine Dragon and sever the source of immortality."
Ying Ping slung Karma of the Unending over his back, turned to Irene and Kokkoro, and said, "Let's go, the divine weapon is in hand, it's time to go to Fountainhead Palace and end all this."
"Master, Fountainhead Palace is in the sky, isn't it? How do we get up there?"
Kokkoro looked up at the cloud-shrouded sky.
Ying Ping smiled slightly: "Of course, we fly up. Irene, I'll leave it to you."
Irene understood and immediately summoned her magic broom: "Come on, I'll take you there!"
The three got on the broom, and Irene waved her staff: "Accelerating now!"
"Swish!"
The broom carried the three soaring into the sky, straight into the clouds!
Passing through layers of clouds, an ancient palace suspended in the air gradually appeared—
Vermilion torii gates, jade-like stairs, and that giant cherry tree piercing through heaven and earth… [Fountainhead Palace]
[Final Battlefield]
Ying Ping leaped off the broom, landing steadily on the vermilion bridge at the entrance of Fountainhead Palace.
Amidst the falling maple leaves, a tall figure slowly appeared—
It was a warrior monk wearing a grotesque mask, wielding a huge naginata, radiating an ominous aura.
"Corrupted Monk"
"Level: LV13+"
"Traits: Undying Body, Naginata Master, Agile Movement"
"Roar!!!"
The Corrupted Monk's howl was as grating as metal scraping, and the naginata swung out fiercely, bringing with it a sharp blade wind… Ying Ping sneered, slowly drawing the Mortal Blade: Karma of the Unending: "Perfect, I'll use you to test the power of my new blade."
The moment the blade was unsheathed, the crimson and jet-black demonic light illuminated the entire bridge.
"Secret Art: Dragon Flash!"
Ying Ping gripped the blade with both hands, swinging it forward fiercely, while simultaneously consuming magic to activate Karma Cycle!
"Swish!"
Without charging, an instant space-tearing slash roared out, distorting even the air in its wake!
The Corrupted Monk's pupils under the mask constricted, and he quickly dodged sideways.
The powerful slash grazed his robe, and a rockery and a palace behind him were instantly cut in half, the cut smooth as a mirror!
"To have this much power without charging…"
Ying Ping himself was a little surprised.
"Master! Do you need help?"
Irene landed on her broom not far away, and Kokkoro had already raised her staff-gun, ready to assist.
"No need, you two keep watch."
Ying Ping waved his hand, "I'll handle this guy."
Before he finished speaking, he had already activated Shadow Step, charging towards the Corrupted Monk like a ghost!
"Clang!"
The naginata clashed with the Mortal Blade, sparks flying.
The Corrupted Monk's strength was astonishing, but Ying Ping was faster!
"Inherent Time Control: Double Speed!"
His speed suddenly increased, and Ying Ping seized the moment the Corrupted Monk retracted his blade, stabbing the Mortal Blade like a venomous snake towards the opponent's waist!
"Pfft!"
The blade pierced through the monk's robe, and Ying Ping took the opportunity to stomp on the naginata to prevent the opponent from breaking free, then sneered, "You're finished."
"Dragon's Blood Devour!"
The Mortal Blade suddenly glowed intensely red, and the spiral patterns on the blade writhed like living things.
The Corrupted Monk's body shriveled at a visible rate, his eyes under the mask wide with shock.
5.9 "This… this feeling…"
Ying Ping looked at the system panel in surprise—
His various attributes were slowly increasing!
Magic, Strength, Agility, Stamina… all values were jumping up!
"So that's it, devouring the enemy's vitality can also enhance my own abilities?"
A hint of wild joy flashed in Ying Ping's eyes, "This ability is too overpowered!"
A moment later, the Corrupted Monk's body completely withered, and a huge centipede crawled out from the monk's robe, struggling a few times before becoming still.
"Killed Corrupted Monk, EXP + 35000"
"Soul fragment detected, convert to shadow soldier?"
"Convert."
Black mist surged, and the Corrupted Monk's figure stood up again, kneeling silently before Ying Ping.
"Shadow Soldier: Corrupted Monk"
"Level: LV13"
"Traits: Undying, Absolute Obedience"
Ying Ping put away the Mortal Blade with satisfaction, looking at the towering cherry tree in the distance: "Next, it's time for the final battle."
Irene and Kokkoro stepped forward, the three standing side by side, heading deeper into Fountainhead Palace.
The divine realm where the Divine Dragon resided was now within reach…