Chapter 114: Decree to "Slay the Demon"

Ji Yuan, in Juntian Prefecture, was awake for much of the night, vigilantly guarding his friend Yin Zhaoxian’s white chess piece within the River-and-Mountain-of-Intent. The moment even a trace of the vital energy covering the piece was absorbed, Ji Yuan would immediately replenish it.

His meticulous care stemmed from the persistent heat emanating from the white piece.

In fact, Ji Yuan knew that his constant vigil wasn't strictly necessary; if he didn't intervene, the piece would naturally draw subtle wisps of vital energy from the nearby alchemy furnace on its own.

Nevertheless, his closest friend in this world was in peril, and Ji Yuan found himself unable to sleep. So he chose to keep watch, using the time to diligently refine the Five Elements energy and cultivate his dantian.

Though the ancient dragon he had encountered years ago was nominally a friend, their actual bond was not particularly deep, having only conversed on a single occasion.

It was only as dawn approached that the white piece’s temperature finally receded and remained stable, allowing Ji Yuan to breathe a sigh of relief.

Exiting the River-and-Mountain-of-Intent, Ji Yuan, who had been sitting cross-legged, finally lay back on his bed.

Recalling the anxiety that had gripped him for most of the night, he let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

"That Samadhi True Fire… it’s truly fierce…"

His momentary self-amusement faded, and Ji Yuan's expression grew serious.

"Master Yin, Master Yin, what have you gotten yourself involved with…"

The instant a wisp of the Samadhi True Fire’s flame clashed with Madam Hong, Ji Yuan had sensed the demonic aura and even faintly heard a resentful shriek.

The entity clearly harbored deep hatred for Yin Zhaoxian. Even though it likely attracted the City God of Chunhui Prefecture later, Ji Yuan had no way of knowing if the City God had managed to subdue the demon.

*What if it wasn't subdued?*

Ji Yuan narrowed his eyes. Distant waters wouldn't quench immediate thirst. He and Master Yin were separated by an entire province, over two thousand *li* in a straight line, with mountains, rivers, and various complex terrains in between. Moreover, with his slight tendency to get lost, it would be impossible to reach him in time.

The Samadhi True Fire could be used only once, never twice. If it were used again, Master Yin might be refined to death by the furnace’s true fire before the demon was vanquished, and the creature would certainly be on guard.

Though the demon had reached a formidable level of power—even Ji Yuan would hesitate to confront it directly if he were present—it was nonetheless significantly wounded by the Samadhi True Fire when caught off guard.

Though it was merely grazed by the fiery glow and not directly burned, that radiance was no mere spark; it was the direct emanation of the infinite true fire from the alchemy furnace, and enduring it was undoubtedly agonizing.

Ji Yuan continuously strategized, seeking a way to ensure his dear friend’s safety. Ideally, he wanted to slay the demon, for Master Yin was not only an important figure in the human world but also Ji Yuan’s closest companion.

*Slay?*

His own thought just then sparked a realization, and he cast his gaze towards the bedside.

Whenever Ji Yuan traveled, the Azure Vine Immortal Sword would invisibly hover behind him.

Because the immortal sword’s spirit had fully formed, the blade could conceal itself, rendering it invisible not only to ordinary people but also to immortals and demons whose cultivation had not reached a certain level. It had a quality akin to the Heavenly Records materializing into a book.

In a sense, the Heavenly Records are a form of writing that emulates spiritual essence, so an immortal sword, inherently imbued with spirituality, could naturally achieve this with greater autonomy. Only a select few, apart from its master, could perceive it. This concealment ability, along with its power of flight, had become the Azure Vine Sword’s inherent divine capabilities since its spirit fully formed.

Sensing Ji Yuan’s gaze, the Azure Vine Sword by the bed floated up and positioned itself beside him.

*My direct strength might not be enough to confront such a demon head-on in a hurry, but I have the Azure Vine Sword! With proper preparation, there might just be an opportunity!*

With this thought, Ji Yuan sat up once more and drew the Azure Vine Sword from its scabbard. No glimmer of light escaped from its blade.

"This time, I’m counting on you!"

*Hummm…*

Though not fully grasping its master’s intent, the Azure Vine Sword responded nonetheless.

Ji Yuan took a deep breath, silently forming the "Chì" (敕, command) character. The Xuanhuang energy from the River-and-Mountain-of-Intent flowed forth along the golden bridge, guided by Ji Yuan’s magical power to the tip of his right index finger.

His finger felt as heavy as a thousand *jun*, and his fingertip turned a deep crimson, oozing blood.

Ji Yuan's right hand, forming a sword-finger, touched the sword. Xuanhuang energy, magical power, and blood surged forth together as he repeatedly inscribed a single character in seal script.

"Slay, slay, slay, slay…"

With each character inscribed, the next became progressively more difficult to write, consuming an increasing amount of magical power. Eventually, his dantian’s magical energy was completely depleted, forcing him to convert vital energy into spiritual power for each subsequent character.

By the time he finished, the sword bore forty-nine "slay" characters. Ji Yuan was pale and dizzy, and outside, it was already mid-afternoon.

As the final "slay" character settled, Ji Yuan fought off dizziness, then, holding the sword, drew a wisp of the world’s pure Yang energy to seal it within the blade.

The Xuanhuang and blood-tinged characters on the Azure Vine Sword flickered before gradually vanishing, restoring the blade to its original appearance.

*He breathed heavily.*

Ji Yuan, feeling somewhat depleted, leaned against the wall by the bed. He touched his nose, which felt numb and itchy, confirming a trace of blood.

The Azure Vine Sword still retained the hidden sharpness it had accumulated during its three years of nurturing its spirit (the earlier instance of cutting wild fruit on the mountain naturally didn't count). Ji Yuan, using Xuanhuang energy, issued a command, writing forty-nine "slay" characters. He was determined to combine this power with the Azure Vine Immortal Sword’s inherent might to eradicate the wounded demon.

Given that it was a transformed and powerful demon, Ji Yuan harbored some doubts, so he employed every one of his most potent techniques.

Despite his uncertainty regarding success, Ji Yuan’s intent to kill remained absolutely resolute throughout the inscription process, channeling this resolve to build momentum for the Azure Vine Sword.

The Azure Vine Sword now hovered before him, neither humming nor darting about wildly. It seemed to be suppressing a profound, weighty energy, keeping its formidable sharpness deeply contained.

Once Ji Yuan had recovered slightly, he casually summoned the scabbard and slowly sheathed the Azure Vine Sword himself. He then walked to the wooden window by the guest room bed, propped it open, and turned to instruct the Azure Vine Sword:

"The Samadhi True Fire’s blaze is not easily endured. Go swiftly to Master Yin’s location, use the true fire’s aura to find that evil demon, and slay it! Remember, it is a transformed creature; your peak power will last for only one strike, after which it will diminish. If one strike fails, you must not prolong the fight!"

The Azure Vine Sword hummed faintly but with immense power. Its contained sword intent caused the air within two inches of its blade to shimmer slightly.

"Understood. Go!"

Ji Yuan’s voice, tinged with exhaustion, trailed off.

The Azure Vine Sword transformed into a streak of light, darted out the wooden window, and then soared skyward. Within mere breaths, it ascended to a great height, leveraging the fierce winds to traverse rapidly, its spiritual essence directed toward Chunhui Prefecture in Jizhou. Its speed was, in fact, far greater than Ji Yuan had imagined.

Spirits are notoriously difficult to conceive and form; the karmic essence involved is as profound as achieving enlightenment through cultivation. Considering how few renowned immortal artifacts and spiritual treasures exist in the entire cultivation world, the Azure Vine Sword's designation as an immortal sword by Ji Yuan, who was always conservatively analytical, stemmed precisely from its fully formed and perfectly vibrant sword spirit.

As Ji Yuan watched his immortal sword soar away, he not only pondered its success but also murmured to himself.

"I'm a little envious…"

Another wave of dizziness washed over him. Ji Yuan shook his head, returned to the bedside, and sat cross-legged, beginning to perform the Qi Guiding Art to gather spiritual energy.

As waves of spiritual energy gathered and nourished his body, Ji Yuan’s discomfort gradually subsided.