Chapter 615 — The God-Slaying Blade

Shen Mu studied it closely, trying to unravel the mystery of these runes; but he had never come into contact with Chiming-era runes, and knew nothing of the subject, so he gave up. Around the little box drifted a faint, barely-there glow of sunset-colored light that circled it, harmless to man or beast.

Before taking the box, Shen Mu had already tested it with his primordial weapon—the haze had no power at all.

It was only the treasure-light given off by whatever the box contained. The box had no lock or latch, yet it was sealed so tightly that no point could be found to pry it open.

No matter what Shen Mu tried, he could not open it; he even struck it several times with the Carefree Sword, but could not leave a single mark. Suddenly, footsteps. A familiar voice slid into Shen Mu's ear, unhurried: "Brother Shen is indeed vastly skilled—to escape even from a crisis so desperate.

I, Qi, admire you. " Shen Mu tucked the little box under his arm and turned around, his face wreathed in smiles, to look at Qi Jiuyi approaching. Qi Jiuyi was still graceful and elegant, but the mountain and Chixi had taken a portion of his vital blood, and he had grown much thinner; yet compared with Shen Mu, now a rack of bones, he still looked full of flesh and blood.

Shen Mu had had his blood taken first by Chixi, then drained by the mountain; his body was far too depleted.

And Qi Jiuyi and Zhe Huali had trapped him in the temple for that brief moment, nearly killing him; the vital blood he had lost was far greater than what the other two had lost.

Qi Jiuyi had clearly come prepared this time. Behind him stood a towering Cangwu tree, flames spreading through it; on the tree a phoenix nest was built of golden straw and parasol-wood branches, and within the nest shone a blaze of gold, a nine-headed phoenix perched there, its nine heads spitting fire to temper itself.

His great divine power had already taken its grand shape.

"Where is Senior Brother Zhe Huali? " Shen Mu looked around and asked.

Qi Jiuyi said evenly, "He challenged me.

I wounded him gravely, and he had no choice but to flee. Brother Shen, you do not recognize this little box, do you?

Let me resolve your doubts. " Shen Mu's expression turned solemn: "I would be glad to hear you. " "I do not know what name the Chiming Heavenly Court, three hundred fifty thousand years ago, gave this little box," said Qi Jiuyi, halting.

Behind him the nine-headed phoenix in the phoenix nest on the Cangwu tree raised its heads, all its gazes fixed on Shen Mu, while Qi Jiuyi's gaze rested on the little box.

"But in our Heavenly Court, this little box bears a fearsome and famous name—the Mystic God-Slaying Blade.

" "A head? " Shen Mu was astonished, and shook the box; inside, there was no sound of a head rolling.

Qi Jiuyi lifted an eyebrow and smiled.

"The head of a strong one at the Imperial Throne, kept as the Mystic God-Slaying Blade. Since you do not know how to open it, Brother Shen, why not give it to me?

I can open the box and let you take a look. " Shen Mu held the box out with both hands, earnest. "Take it.

" Qi Jiuyi's gaze fixed on the little box as he drew a long breath, and behind him the Cangwu tree suddenly floated upward—the Imperial Throne cultivation art surged into motion!

Shen Mu released both hands.

The box dropped to the ground, and in the palm beneath it spun a sword core. Qi Jiuyi fell back, his body passing through the Cangwu tree, which swelled wildly until it stood sixteen zhang tall; from the phoenix nest in its boughs the nine-headed phoenix shrieked, spread its wings, and came streaking toward Shen Mu as a single flowing light!

Humm—the sword light suddenly blazed incomparably bright.

The Calamity-Opening Sword erupted, springing to meet the nine-headed phoenix.

In an instant, firelight and sword light obscured the sun in the sky.

Sword and fire burst in the mountain ranges, a miniature sun at arm's reach, a blazing orb of light swelling outward with mad violence! Qi Jiuyi shot up, hand shaping the Phoenix Seal, and blasted it forward.

Behind the nine-headed phoenix, the Cangwu tree came crashing down after it, sweeping everything before it, smashing dry weeds and rotting wood to ruin!