86: Golden Sword Spirit

"It's alright, it wasn't intentional," Zhang Daobai reassured her upon hearing this.

Zhang Daobai then focused his attention on the golden sword floating beside Lin Luoxue and asked curiously, "What is this thing?"

Lin Luoxue turned to look at the golden sword upon hearing his question, and her eyes immediately lit up with surprise and delight. She excitedly declared, "This is a Sword Spirit!"

"A Sword Spirit!?"

"Shouldn't a Sword Spirit be inside a Spiritual Artifact?" Zhang Daobai asked in surprise.

"This Sword Spirit was likely left behind by the person who carved out this canyon. I can sense that it has lost its host body, but why it hasn't dissipated, I'm not sure."

Lin Luoxue shook her head, explaining with some confusion.

Lost its host body? A Spirit Sword?

Zhang Daobai suddenly realized something and took out the Spirit Sword fragments he had picked up on the battlefield from his storage ring.

The moment the Spirit Sword fragments appeared, the golden sword spirit instantly abandoned Lin Luoxue and rushed toward the fragments.

"Be careful!"

Seeing this, Lin Luoxue quickly warned him.

Seeing this, Zhang Daobai immediately used spiritual power to lift the Spirit Sword fragments into the air, then withdrew his hand.

When the golden sword spirit reached the Spirit Sword fragments, it prepared to merge into them.

Unfortunately, the Spirit Sword fragments were incomplete and could not accommodate the golden sword spirit, causing it to fail the Fusion attempt repeatedly after several tries.

Seeing this, Zhang Daobai confirmed in his heart that this Sword Spirit was indeed the former Sword Spirit of these Spirit Sword fragments.

It was simply separated because the Spirit Sword was shattered.

After the Sword Spirit failed several times, it seemed confused and circled the Spirit Sword fragments repeatedly.

It was as if it were wondering why it couldn't return to its perfectly fine home.

Zhang Daobai felt a bit puzzled seeing this; the Sword Spirit looked rather foolish and unintelligent.

Logically, the person capable of killing a Soul Transformation Stage Middle Stage Body Cultivator must have a cultivation level of at least the Soul Transformation Stage Middle Stage.

The Sword Spirit controlled by a Sword Cultivator of that cultivation level should have been nurtured for a long time.

Even if it wasn't incredibly powerful, its basic intelligence shouldn't be lower than that of a ten-year-old child.

Could its intelligence have been damaged because its host body shattered?

Looking at the Sword Spirit's silly appearance, Zhang Daobai put away the Spirit Sword fragments.

After the Spirit Sword fragments disappeared, the golden sword spirit anxiously circled the spot where they vanished several times, as if searching for where its home had gone.

After searching for a while and failing to find it, the golden sword spirit reluctantly returned to Lin Luoxue's side.

"This Sword Spirit should be complete, right?" Zhang Daobai asked, looking suspiciously at the golden sword spirit.

"It is complete, but its intelligence is like that of something newly born," Lin Luoxue nodded.

"Do you plan to use it as Materials for advancing to a special sword physique, or keep it?" Zhang Daobai asked after some thought.

Lin Luoxue replied decisively upon hearing this, "I'll use it as Materials."

"My Sword Spirit must be personally nurtured by me. This particular Sword Spirit has already been refined by someone else once, so it is not pure for me."

As Lin Luoxue spoke, she waved her hand and absorbed the golden sword spirit into her body, without a hint of regret in her eyes.

"Oh right, I need your help with something," Zhang Daobai said, thinking of the remnant soul.

"What is it?"

Lin Luoxue asked without any hesitation.

"I found..."

Zhang Daobai then informed her about the Golden Skeleton and the Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator remnant soul.

"A Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator remnant soul? Can we handle that?"

Lin Luoxue asked, her brows tightly furrowed after hearing Zhang Daobai's explanation.

Although it was only a remnant soul, he had been a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator in life.

Yet she and Zhang Daobai were only at the Purple Mansion Stage. Even if they had the ability to fight opponents above their level, they couldn't cross such a huge gap.

"Don't worry, I've already figured out a plan. When the time comes, you just need to release the Evil-Warding Golden Thunder."

Seeing Lin Luoxue's worried expression, Zhang Daobai immediately comforted her.

Hearing Zhang Daobai say this, Lin Luoxue didn't press the matter further, because she trusted Zhang Daobai.

Soon, in a spacious open area, You Ying released the Golden Skeleton's skull.

The reason only the skull was released was that Zhang Daobai worried the remnant soul might desperately control the skeleton to resist.

After the skull was released, the spatial fissure did not disappear; instead, it clung tightly to the skull, ready to suck it into the Void Realm immediately if anything went wrong.

Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue, standing far away, also had a spatial fissure behind them. If the remnant soul dared to rush over, they could instantly hide in the Void Realm.

At this moment, You Ying was resting on Lin Luoxue's shoulder, gazing intently at the distant golden skull.

Faced with the three words "Soul Transformation Stage," You Ying also put away its dismissiveness and was fully focused on guard.

"Let's begin."

After Zhang Daobai was ready, he turned and said to Lin Luoxue.

At the same time, White Moon and the Mist Concealing Worms surrounding the golden skull all began spitting out poisonous mist, gathering toward the golden skull.

The moment the poisonous mist touched the golden skull, a golden light suddenly shone from the skull, isolating the mist.

But upon closer inspection, one could notice that as time passed, the golden light enveloping the golden skull gradually dimmed.

Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue were not in a hurry to act, but quietly waited for the golden light to be gradually worn down by the poisonous mist.

Once the golden light on the golden skull had completely faded, Zhang Daobai turned and nodded to Lin Luoxue.

Lin Luoxue nodded back knowingly, then raised her hand and pointed her sword straight up at the sky.

"Golden Thunder Illuminates the World!" x2

Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue activated Golden Thunder Illuminates the World together. Instantly, the sky above the golden skull quickly darkened.

Accompanied by muffled rumbles of thunder, streaks of Golden Thunder flickered faintly within the dark clouds.

Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue did not rush to unleash the Golden Thunder; instead, they continuously accumulated power, maximizing the force of the Golden Thunder.

At the same time, a golden light suddenly flashed within the empty eye sockets of the golden skull below.

The next second, the golden skull, which had been merely an inanimate object, actually floated up from the ground.

The golden skull looked up, then turned its head to look around.

However, its surroundings were enveloped by the poisonous Spirit Concealing Mist, making it impossible to see anything.

Just as the golden skull was preparing to leave, it was suddenly blocked by a transparent barrier.

It turned out that long before they began, Zhang Daobai had anticipated the possibility of its escape, so he had You Ying constantly ready to use a Space Barrier to stop it the moment it tried to run.

Although the remnant soul inside the golden skull had been a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator in life, with only a remnant soul and a skull remaining, it couldn't possibly break the Space Barrier conjured by You Ying.

Just as the golden skull was preparing to test other directions, the Evil-Warding Golden Thunder in the sky seemed to have reached its peak accumulation.

"Golden Thunder Illuminates the World, descend!" x2

Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue simultaneously swung their swords toward the golden skull.

At the same time, the Evil-Warding Golden Thunder accumulated in the dark clouds transformed into two thunder pillars resembling Thunder Dragons, roaring toward the golden skull.

Sensing the danger overhead, the golden skull quickly tried to evade in other directions.

But no matter which way it tried to escape, it encountered a Space Barrier blocking it, unable to leave this confined area.

"Rumble!"

Accompanied by a deafening thunderclap, the two Golden Thunder pillars simultaneously struck the golden skull.

In an instant, the skull floating in mid-air was instantly pinned to the ground by the impact of the two Golden Thunder pillars, unable to move.

After sensing the lethal threat within the Golden Thunder, the golden skull hastily supported a golden light, attempting to resist the Golden Thunder's bombardment.

However, the strength it could exert was ultimately limited, and it couldn't withstand the bombardment of the two Golden Thunder pillars for long.

"Friends in the shadows, could you please stop for a moment? We can talk properly first; there's no need to start fighting immediately."

Seeing that it could only passively endure the attack, the remnant soul inside the golden skull stopped hiding and spoke up.

But Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue acted as if they hadn't heard him, continuously manipulating the Evil-Warding Golden Thunder to bombard him.

"Friends in the shadows, I bear no ill will. I am just a lingering remnant soul, posing no threat."

Seeing that the people in the shadows had no intention of stopping, the remnant soul quickly continued to plead.

After speaking, the remnant soul even floated out of the golden skull to demonstrate its harmlessness.

Since he was only a wisp of remnant soul, his body consisted only of his upper half, while his lower half was composed of a mass of gray mist.

The upper body of this remnant soul did not look overly robust, yet the muscles on his body exuded a sense of overbearing power.

His appearance was very rugged, his looks were above average, and he seemed to possess an air of righteous severity.

Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue did not respond to him; their only reply was the ceaselessly descending Golden Thunder.

The remnant soul felt the continuous oppression of the Evil-Warding Golden Thunder overhead and quickly mobilized its remaining meager strength to resist the Evil-Warding Golden Thunder's bombardment.

"How about this: if you let me leave, I promise to give you an Earth-Grade Cultivation Technique?"

Seeing that negotiation was failing, the remnant soul quickly tried to use bribery to stop Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue from continuing their attack.

Yet his words were like a stone sinking into the ocean, receiving no response.

"Cough!"

Just then, the remnant soul suddenly coughed violently, and the golden light shield it was maintaining almost failed to hold up.

"Damn it! This mist is poisonous!"

The remnant soul glanced coldly at the surrounding Spirit Concealing Mist, its eyes filled with fury, but it dared not show it.

The enemy was hidden while he was exposed. The remnant soul dared not show any hostility, as he had already died once. If he died again this time, it would be the absolute end.

"Friends in the shadows, if you just let me go, I promise to give you my Legacy and the treasures I left behind in life, as long as you let me leave!"

"I was a Soul Transformation Stage Middle Stage Cultivator in life. I believe you should understand that my Legacy and inheritance are enough for you to profit greatly."

After masking the rage in its eyes, the remnant soul continued to persuade them.

The Legacy and inheritance of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator—let alone Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators—even other Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators would be tempted.

Therefore, the remnant soul was full of confidence in its bargaining chip; it didn't believe Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue wouldn't be tempted.

But he waited for a while, yet just like before, no one responded, and the Golden Thunder overhead continued to bombard him.

In the distance, Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue naturally heard the remnant soul's words.

But Zhang Daobai remained silent, only single-mindedly controlling the thunder to bombard it, because he didn't believe this remnant soul would willingly hand over everything he possessed.

Even if he handed them over, he would certainly harbor resentment, becoming a hidden danger in the future.

As for taking the items first and then double-crossing him, Zhang Daobai hadn't even considered that possibility.

After all, he wasn't an idiot, and neither was that Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator remnant soul.

To get those things, the remnant soul would definitely first make Zhang Daobai swear an Heavenly Dao Oath.

Although the Legacy and inheritance of a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator were precious, enough to keep Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue from worrying about Cultivation resources for a long time,

letting a hidden enemy who was a Soul Transformation Stage Middle Stage Cultivator in life escape was not worth it in Zhang Daobai's view.

After all, he didn't know if this remnant soul had any relatives or friends, or any hidden tricks.

If any unexpected complications arose, the best Legacy and inheritance would be useless.

Therefore, in order to live peacefully, Zhang Daobai could only invite him to die.

As for Lin Luoxue beside him, she also didn't stop attacking, not because she had thought of all this, but simply because Zhang Daobai hadn't told her to stop.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!!"

Feeling the continuous thunder rumbling overhead, the remnant soul immediately cursed furiously under his breath.

If this continued, his remaining meager strength would eventually be exhausted, and thunder posed a huge threat to his current remnant soul state.

If his Soul Power was largely annihilated by this Golden Thunder, he would never have that opportunity again.

"I can swear an Heavenly Dao Oath! If you let me go, I will definitely hand over all the Legacy and treasures to you, and promise never to trouble you in the future."

The remnant soul felt the golden light shield nearing collapse and quickly promised loudly.

But no matter what he said, no one responded, and the Golden Thunder overhead continued to bombard the golden light shield.

Seeing that the people in the shadows had no intention of letting him leave, the remnant soul stopped caring about his anger and quickly tried to escape the area.

But the moment he moved, a Space Barrier intercepted the golden skull.

This golden skull was the vessel for his remnant soul. If he severed the connection with the golden skull,

his remnant soul would become like rootless duckweed, losing all hope of recovery and continuously draining Soul Power.

If he couldn't find the next vessel or a Possession target quickly, his Soul would dissipate, and he would die completely.

Just as the remnant soul was raging in impotence, the golden light shield above his head finally shattered into countless specks of light under the continuous bombardment of the Golden Thunder.

"Rumble!"

The next second, under the remnant soul's shocked and furious gaze, the two Golden Thunder pillars instantly engulfed him.

The violent power of the thunder continuously annihilated his remnant soul and eroded his Soul Power.