"Qian Zhenmu, what's wrong?"
At this moment, the other Eight-Star Martial Gods flew over, looking at Qian Zhenmu.
They had already seen Zhang Yuanji being killed, but after his death, Qian Zhenmu, who had taken hold of the sword Zhang Yuanji had used, seemed lost in thought.
"Nothing," Qian Zhenmu shook his head.
The moment he grasped the sword, the all-encompassing power surge had shocked him to his core. But now, he had fully regained his composure from that state.
"This sword is no ordinary sword," Qian Zhenmu said seriously, glancing at the others.
Although wielding the sword had greatly enhanced his strength, he had no interest in keeping it.
This was because he never used swords. His weapon of choice had always been the trident, and he had trained with it for many years. Even if this sword could boost his power, using it forcefully might actually weaken him.
"This is a demonic sword that ensnares the mind," Qian Zhenmu said, his eyes sweeping over the others.
"A demonic sword!?" The faces of the others changed slightly upon hearing his words.
They had seen the sword absorb blood with their own eyes, and thinking back, it did indeed seem strange— a sword capable of absorbing blood!
"I'm going to take it to the Demon-Sealing Tower and seal it away forever!" Qian Zhenmu declared seriously.
At this, Ye Fan, the spirit within the sword, stirred.
"They want to seal me away forever!?" Ye Fan was not about to let that happen. These people wanted to imprison him!
"Who's there!?"
Ye Fan's outburst shocked the group of Eight-Star Martial Gods, their eyes widening as they looked around.
They saw no one. Despite their heightened senses, they couldn't detect a presence at all. Was it a Nine-Star Martial God!? The thought made their faces grow grim.
"Don't bother looking. It was the sword speaking," Qian Zhenmu said seriously, holding up the sword.
Indeed, the voice had come from the sword itself!
"A sword that speaks?"
The other Martial Gods were stunned, speaking instinctively. A sword with a voice? The mere thought was incredible.
Buzz, buzz, buzz—
The sword began to vibrate in Qian Zhenmu's grasp.
Qian Zhenmu tightened his grip, but he quickly realized that the sword possessed immense power, attempting to break free of his hold.
"As expected, this sword is cursed!" Qian Zhenmu's face darkened as he applied more force, struggling to maintain control over the sword.
"Let go of me!" Ye Fan roared, and with a burst of power, the sword broke free from Qian Zhenmu's grip!
Qian Zhenmu's hand stung from the sudden release. Looking down, he saw that his palm had been torn by the friction, blood oozing from the wounds.
"The sword... it's trying to escape!"
The other Eight-Star Martial Gods cried out in alarm as they watched Ye Fan break free and take off.
"We can't let this cursed sword escape!"
"If it gets away, it could cause chaos!"
Qian Zhenmu, ignoring the pain in his hand, shot after the sword immediately. The other Eight-Star Martial Gods, moving at lightning speed, pursued as well.
Boom, boom, boom—
As they chased, they unleashed powerful elemental attacks, each one hurtling toward Ye Fan.
Bang, bang, bang—
The sword shook violently under the barrage of energy. Though the attacks couldn't harm the sword itself, the constant pursuit was frustrating.
"You all have a death wish!"
Ye Fan halted mid-flight, his sword body stopping in midair.
With a swift slash, he cleaved through the incoming energy.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—
The elemental energy was split apart, dissipating into nothing.
[Phantom Dance]!
Ye Fan activated his skill, and instantly, his sword form multiplied into thousands, all rushing toward the pursuing Eight-Star Martial Gods.
"Watch out!"
Even Qian Zhenmu was startled, realizing they had underestimated the sword's power. Not only could it unleash martial techniques, but they were incredibly strong.
Clang, clang, clang—
The Martial Gods, unable to keep up, could only frantically swing their weapons to fend off the onslaught of phantom blades.
"Damn it... this sword is so powerful!" Qian Zhenmu's face darkened further.
He had never expected that the sword contained a sword spirit, and that the sword spirit could wield the blade with even more power than when Zhang Yuanji had wielded it.
Clang, clang, clang—
As the clashing continued, cracks began to form on their weapons. Except for Qian Zhenmu's trident, the others' weapons were nearing their breaking point from the relentless strikes.
"Die!" Ye Fan, now enraged, charged at the Eight-Star Martial Gods.
But just as he lunged, a massive barrier, like a glass dome, appeared in the sky, instantly trapping Ye Fan within.
Bang—
The sword's tip struck the surface of the dome, producing a dull thud.
"What is this!?"
Ye Fan was momentarily stunned, then immediately began striking the barrier.
Bang, bang, bang—
Despite his efforts, his sword couldn't pierce the glass-like dome.
"This is an artifact. It's not something you can break through so easily," Qian Zhenmu sneered, watching Ye Fan struggle within the barrier.
"Is that... the Primordial Shield!?"
The other Eight-Star Martial Gods were wide-eyed with shock.
This artifact was a legendary item!
"Yes," Qian Zhenmu replied proudly. "It was passed down to me by my master. It's a divine artifact."
"You can't escape. I will make sure to seal you within the Demon-Sealing Tower forever!" he declared, looking at Ye Fan trapped within the Primordial Shield.