Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: I Will Come Back

Pain! The dual agony of body and soul was so intense that Su Han wished for death. The frigid Devouring Heaven Demonic Qi and the blazing Black Blade demonic energy each seized half of his body, clashing violently within him. One moment, his body was as cold as ice; the next, it was scorching like a furnace. This torment of ice and fire was unbearable. Su Han collapsed to the ground, curling into a ball as his entire body convulsed and he frothed at the mouth.

He couldn’t even faint, as his sea of consciousness had also become a battlefield, inflicting a splitting headache that felt as if his skull would burst.

”AAAAH!” Su Han screamed endlessly in agony. To avoid being heard by Fairy Sister Yun Xian and the others, he clenched his teeth and suppressed his cries, which only intensified his suffering.

THUMP!

Inside his body, one of his meridians became a casualty of the warring demonic energies and ruptured. A tidal wave of pain swept over him, sending his body into uncontrollable spasms. The agony was so great he yearned for death. This can’t go on. I have to find a way, or my body will be torn apart by these two demonic energies.

Retaining a sliver of calm, Su Han struggled to swipe his finger across his Storage Ring. Instantly, a corpse flew out and landed beside him: the body of Fourth Elder.

”Devouring Heaven Demonic Art!”

With immense willpower, Su Han activated the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art. The Devouring Heaven Demonic Qi that was battling the Black Blade demonic energy erupted from his body and enveloped Fourth Elder’s corpse. The Devouring Heaven Demonic Art could devour anything, and it began to corrode Fourth Elder’s corpse at a rate visible to the naked eye. Soon, Fourth Elder was completely devoured. The Devouring Heaven Demonic Qi returned to Su Han’s body, providing him with a tremendous surge of power.

BOOM!

This energy surged through Su Han’s meridians and Dantian like a bursting dam, intensifying his agony. Aided by the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art, Su Han arduously refined this energy into pure Demonic Qi. The Devouring Heaven Demonic Qi instantly swelled, overpowering the Black Blade demonic energy.

The Black Blade demonic energy retreated, defiantly shrinking back into the Black Blade. However, that seductive voice echoed once more.

”I will be back!”

It was unclear if the voice was directed at Su Han or at the Cruel Demon Emperor, the master behind the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art.

As the Black Blade demonic energy receded, Su Han reverted from his Demonized State. His skin was cracked and his black robes were stained with blood, leaving him in a miserable state. The pain had surged like a tide, and just as suddenly, it receded. Su Han was utterly exhausted, wanting nothing more than to close his eyes and sleep.

But he did not sleep. Instead, he struggled to his feet and circulated the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art, using the Demonic Qi he had just obtained from devouring Fourth Elder to push for a breakthrough to the Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm.

After a long time, an invisible wave of energy erupted from within Su Han, causing the air around him to distort slightly. In his sea of consciousness, his spiritual power surged and condensed into a fourth Spiritual Pattern.

Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm—breakthrough successful!

”I’ve finally broken through!” Su Han slowly opened his eyes, his heart still pounding with fear. Everything tonight had been far too perilous; it had been a true brush with death.

To break through to the Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm, he had risked confronting the Qin Family disciples. He never expected that the Qin Family would be prepared, having deliberately set a trap just for him. Fourth Elder, an expert at the Ninth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm, was far too powerful. Even while wearing the Ghostly Face Mask, Su Han was no match and had ultimately accepted the power of the Black Blade. Although he had successfully killed Fourth Elder, he also suffered a backlash. He was nearly controlled by the Black Blade and turned into a Blade Slave. In the end, however, he broke free from the Black Blade’s influence and successfully broke through to the Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm.

”Hm?” Su Han let out a soft sound of surprise, having suddenly noticed something. He reached out and grasped the Black Blade. To his surprise, a mysterious Demonic Pattern had appeared on the once-smooth, mirror-like surface of the blade. This Demonic Pattern had not been there before; it had only just appeared. With this Demonic Pattern, the Grade of the Black Blade had actually risen, advancing from a Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact to an Intermediate-Grade Spiritual Artifact.

What’s going on here? Could it be that the Grade of this Black Blade increases through Demonization? Su Han was puzzled, but he couldn’t confirm this theory for now. He certainly had no desire to undergo Demonization again.

Nevertheless, the Black Blade’s upgrade was good news for Su Han.

Although Demonization has severe side effects, it can serve as a life-saving technique. Su Han wouldn’t abandon such a powerful tool just because of its drawbacks. In his Demonized State, his Combat Power was greatly enhanced; otherwise, he never would have been able to kill Fourth Elder. If I face a life-or-death situation in the future, I might have to make a deal with the devil again, using the Black Blade demonic energy to enter a Demonized State. As long as my Devouring Heaven Demonic Qi remains stronger than the Black Blade demonic energy, I can control the blade. This fact also compelled him to grow ever stronger.

I’m covered in filth. Time for a bath.

With a successful breakthrough and an upgraded Black Blade, Su Han’s mood improved. His body was covered in wounds and his black robes were in tatters, so he desperately needed to wash up. Without disturbing anyone, Su Han drew some water, washed himself, and changed into a clean set of clothes. His injuries had not yet healed, but they were hidden beneath his clothes and currently invisible. After erasing all traces of the ordeal, Su Han returned to his room to rest.

”Little Han, it’s time for breakfast!”

The next day, when Lu Yunxian came knocking, Su Han got up as if nothing were amiss. His wounds remained undetected. After breakfast, Su Han took a walk with Lu Yunxian before returning to his room. Lu Yunxian assumed he was cultivating diligently for the life-and-death duel in four days’ time, so she did not disturb him.

Once back in his room, Su Han took out some Spiritual Medicine and elixirs from his Storage Ring.

I’ve already broken through, so there’s no need to kill and devour anyone for now. Besides, the Qin Family is on alert. Now that Fourth Elder is dead, they’ll surely be even more vigilant. If I make another move, I’ll be walking right into a trap. A glint flashed in Su Han’s eyes as he rapidly analyzed the situation. He decided to lie low for the time being, focusing on healing and preparing for battle. The most important thing right now was the life-and-death duel with Qin Feng.

Su Han had set his sights on Qin Feng’s Golden Spirit Body. It’s time for the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art to consume a Special Physique. Otherwise, I’ll forever remain a mere Mortal Body. How could I possibly kill the Great Crown Prince during the Autumn Imperial Examination? I must obtain the Golden Spirit Body! At the Fourth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm and with the Black Blade in hand, I’m confident I can kill Qin Feng even without the Ghostly Face Mask. But to be safe, I need to master the Black Blade’s Bloodthirsty and Soul Devouring abilities!

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Qin Feng was, after all, a genius at the Sixth Layer of the Divine Sea Realm. Su Han could not afford to be careless and had to be fully prepared.

Collecting his thoughts, Su Han took out a Healing Elixir and put it in his mouth. The elixir melted the moment it entered his mouth, transforming into a stream of pure medicinal energy that began to repair Su Han’s battered body.

For the next few days, Su Han remained in the Lu Family estate without venturing out. Meanwhile, the Qin Family’s overt and covert searches yielded no results. As time passed, the day of the life-and-death duel between Su Han and Qin Feng finally arrived. Instantly, all eyes in the Imperial Capital turned toward the event.

In this battle, the victor would live, and the loser would die.