Chapter Fifty-Two: The Plum Blossom Sword

Jiang Feng felt deeply uncertain in his heart. His mastery of Nether Soul Power was still fresh, only just at the stage where he could use it, lacking any real proficiency. To rely on such a mysterious and formidable force in a battle against those ancient monsters who had been manipulating Nether Soul Power for thousands of years—such a challenge was more than daunting!

Yet, now was not the time for hesitation. He had no other choice.

The Blood Fiend Fruit pressed forward relentlessly, its sword aura drifting ever closer to Jiang Feng.

“Boy, defeat it and you can subdue it. In those days, people revered strength above all else—it was a simple era where power ruled!” Jue, seeing the imminent collision of two Nether Soul Powers, felt the surge of youthful fervor burning in his chest once more.

Jiang Feng no longer hesitated. He raised his hand and summoned the Nine Heavens Steel Blade, radiating a blazing white light.

As soon as the blade rose into the air, it grew rapidly, becoming as tall as a man in the blink of an eye. Hovering in midair, it drew forth the deep-seated moisture from the Blood Fiend Tree, enveloping the surroundings in swirling mist. The vapor rose swiftly, touching the blade’s lowest point, creating the illusion that the blade was cradled by clouds.

The light from the blade intensified, sending countless thin threads of white radiance streaming outward, which gradually condensed. The air, ground, and trees within the attack’s range seemed to transform into lanterns during the Lantern Festival, each layer lighting up from the blade’s center as the threads of light poured in.

“So Nether Soul Power can be wielded like this—ha!”

Jiang Feng’s connection with the Nine Heavens Steel Blade was as close as the bond between comrades-in-arms. He could sense the blade’s adaptation to and fondness for Nether Soul Power, and witnessing its perfect counterattack, confidence flooded him. His gaze toward the Blood Fiend Fruit grew more fervent.

“Boy, don’t get carried away—something’s happening.”

An observer sees clearly. Jue wasn’t just watching Jiang Feng; he was also keeping an eye on the Blood Fiend Fruit. He was the first to notice the shift, understanding that Jiang Feng was striving to control a powerful Nether Soul Power, a critical moment demanding utmost vigilance.

If pride led to negligence now, the result would be inevitable: defeat.

Even before Jiang Feng summoned the Nine Heavens Steel Blade, the sword aura released by the Blood Fiend Fruit had subtly changed. Jue looked closely, mouth agape in disbelief, then suddenly leapt up and shouted, “Boy, that’s the Plum Blossom Sword! And it contains a considerable amount of icy energy—be careful!”

Jiang Feng snapped out of his prideful mood, refocused, and looked ahead. Sure enough, sword aura crisscrossed, murderous intent suffused the air, and a faint mist clung to the surface of the sword aura.

Don’t underestimate this mist—it was formidable. Icy energy is one of the most difficult Nether Arts to cultivate. A touch would freeze a person into crystalline ice, chills penetrating the heart until death. Despite his abundant strength, Jiang Feng was only at the sixth stage of Nether Master, with no certainty of surviving such icy mist.

Moreover, the sword aura behind the mist was, as Jue called it, the Plum Blossom Sword.

Jiang Feng was about to channel his Nether Power and allocate his spirit to return to his consciousness to ask Jue for more details about the Plum Blossom Sword, but suddenly his mind became weary, his eyelids heavy, as if overcome by sleep—he was utterly exhausted, on the verge of succumbing to slumber.

Terrible!

He had barely formed these thoughts when sleepiness overwhelmed him once again.

Physical strength is stored in flesh, Nether Power in the meridians, but Nether Soul Power resides in the deepest, hardest-to-cultivate sea of consciousness. It is an immense force! Yet, when a person falls into unconsciousness, this power is locked away in a dark chamber, sleep and fatigue the lock on the door—no matter how vast, it cannot be used.

Powerless—such is the nature of this predicament!

“Damn it, I forgot to warn you—there’s a lot of icy mist behind you as well!” Jue cursed, but knowing the urgency, he wasted no time. Though he was only a wisp of spirit, he resolved to fight once more for Jiang Feng. With a thought, he forcibly drew out the stagnant Nether Soul Power from the sea of consciousness, extracting pure energy to nourish the dried-up sea.

Bang, bang, bang!

The icy mist clinging to Jiang Feng melted into useless droplets as it encountered Jue’s forcibly summoned Nether Soul Power, all dissipated. This abrupt change jolted Jiang Feng awake from a cold dream; his mind cleared, Nether Soul Power replenished, strength returned, and the drowsiness vanished.

Without time to question Jue, Jiang Feng quickly unleashed the Eight Dragon Sonic Death Technique, summoning eight mighty Xuan Tian dragons. In that moment, he was like a war god riding eight battle dragons!

But the Blood Fiend Tree was a place of constant awe. Just as Jiang Feng began to turn the situation, the Blood Fiend Fruit, floating behind the dense sword aura, emitted a cold, merciless voice.

“Blood Fiend Tree, Plum Blossom Sword!”

It felt as if a sharp gaze bore down on Jiang Feng, high above, devoid of emotion, announcing its name. For an instant, Jiang Feng felt like a minister receiving an imperial decree.

The voice, seemingly from an eternal iceberg, had barely faded when a multitude of plum blossoms erupted from the Blood Fiend Fruit, each riding a beam of sword light. They stood facing Jiang Feng in perfect order, disciplined and precise, like an army.

Jiang Feng shuddered.

“Jue, how can it speak?”

Jue’s face was unusually grave. He mused, “It must have lingered here for so long, absorbing the world’s spiritual energy, that it developed a measure of consciousness. Still, this consciousness doesn’t seem very strong.”

“Not strong? It can form such an orderly, imposing formation!” Jiang Feng couldn’t help but glare at the boastful old man, who now lacked any real cultivation.

Jue replied, “Compared to you, its consciousness is still much stronger!”

“Blood Fiend Fruit, Plum Blossom Sword senior, I am but a humble Nether Master, sent here at another’s request to seek a Blood Fiend Fruit. The earlier disturbance was truly unintentional. I hope you will forgive me and be magnanimous.” Helpless, Jiang Feng had to plead once more, eager to leave and search for Wang Yingying.

“Sent by another?” The Blood Fiend Fruit, infused with the Plum Blossom Sword’s aura, seemed to eye Jiang Feng coldly, murderous intent flickering. “Who sent you? What is your purpose?”

The annihilation of Nether Soul Power practitioners was the eternal pain of the Blood Fiend Tree. Hearing that Jiang Feng was not acting for personal gain, the Blood Fiend Fruit grew wary.

This boy possessed Nether Soul Power, which was closely linked to the Blood Fiend Tree. Giving him a fruit or two wasn’t impossible. But as he claimed to be sent by someone else, caution was essential. The secrets of the Blood Fiend Tree were tightly guarded by the Blood Fiend Fruits—if leaked, the lingering aura of the Nether Soul Power practitioners would face another calamity.

Compared to the Blood Fiend Fruit, Jiang Feng’s thoughts were much simpler. He hadn’t considered such depths. Hearing the fruit’s questioning, he immediately regretted his words.

He hurried to reassure it, “Senior, I promise to keep the Blood Fiend Fruit’s secrets. If that person uses the fruit for evil, I will punish them on behalf of the Blood Fiend Tree!”

“What assurance can you give me?”

As soon as the Blood Fiend Fruit finished speaking, three plum blossoms detached from the formation and slowly swept toward Jiang Feng.

On this battlefield, icy mist competed for dominance, forming its own realm. Jiang Feng’s Nine Heavens Steel Blade stood amidst it all, creating a scene of ethereal beauty.

Yet the appearance of the three deadly plum blossoms shattered the tranquility.

“Three Variations!”

The Blood Fiend Fruit spat out the words coldly, startling Jue in the sea of consciousness. He was suddenly aghast, “The Three Variations—it’s a lost Nether Art!”

The three plum blossoms twisted and danced like entwined flying fish, spiraling straight toward the Nine Heavens Steel Blade.

Jiang Feng, pondering how to convince the Blood Fiend Fruit, suddenly sensed an anomaly from the blade and snapped to alertness.

Enough already?

His mind was a muddled mess, Jiang Feng wanted to curse aloud. Every obstacle along his path seemed intent on ending him; his anger surged.

“Boy, have you finally decided to fight it to the death?” Jue sensed a murderous aura rising from Jiang Feng. Though surprised, he smiled, for he, too, was a warrior at heart. Seeing Jiang Feng ready to battle the Blood Fiend Fruit, his own blood boiled.

Jiang Feng nodded. Anger breeds courage, and with rage flaring, Jiang Feng was on the verge of losing control!

His eyes glowed green, his motionless body stirred anew. He finally understood—these lingering auras, though ancient and now conscious, were not much smarter than before. In their eyes, strength was the only proof; all else was meaningless. Unless he subdued this Blood Fiend Fruit, he would remain powerless against them.

Without realizing it, he began to strategize how to deal with the domineering Blood Fiend Fruit before him, forgetting entirely that he was no match for it alone.

Did you think surrender and pleading were my only options?

Don’t mistake a silent tiger for a sick cat!