The Battle for the Colorless Sword

“Little Brother Zhu, is that fox maiden over there Su Mo?” Lu Yanling followed his gaze, spotting Su Mo leading a horde of ghosts.

She commanded a vast, shadowy legion of Underworld ghosts, charging headlong into the monstrous entities on Xiao Yao’s side.

“Yes, it’s her.” Xu Qingzhu’s expression was grim, a mixture of anger and profound worry clouding his features.

He had no idea why Su Mo had activated her Nine-Tailed bloodline, but there was no doubt it would invite immense trouble in the future.

The ancient cultivators of the immortal realm had long coveted Su Mo’s Nine-Tailed bloodline, pursuing her relentlessly. Wanted posters bearing her name were plastered across the mortal world.

Though the wanted posters might not explicitly mention a ‘fox maiden,’ those old schemers were well aware, their ears keenly attuned to such whispers.

Thus, Su Mo’s decision to unleash her Nine-Tailed bloodline, while seemingly a diversion to mislead others, was a double-edged sword.

In reality, those hidden old figures would surely catch wind of it and come seeking her out.

“Little Brother Zhu, that longsword in the sky is so peculiar. It has no color… and everyone’s fighting for it. Why?” Lu Yanling asked, a frown creasing her brow.

Xu Qingzhu had, of course, noticed it. He understood that this very sword was one of the reasons Xiao Yao had initiated the Ascension Ritual.

When held, the colorless longsword would shift its hue, revealing the true inner nature of its wielder.

Once the entire sword had transformed, it signified that the wielder had obtained the qualification for ascension and gained control over the ritual.

“Then, by eliminating all others, the last survivor becomes the true victor, receiving the demon’s blessing and becoming a genuine demon.” Xu Qingzhu narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists tightly.

In such a situation, it seemed only one could emerge alive.

He would never allow Xiao Yao to claim it, lest his power skyrocket.

‘Should I take it myself?’ He recoiled from the thought of becoming a demon, and he certainly couldn’t bring himself to kill those around him, to kill…

He looked up, watching Su Mo. She swayed her fox tail, an air of heroic spirit gracing her alluring face. With her sword held high, she led the horde of ghosts.

Shaking his head, he decided it wasn’t the right moment to act.

“There’s only one way: stall until the great powers of the immortal realm arrive and break the Ascension Ritual from the outside.” Xu Qingzhu detested this feeling of surrendering his destiny to others, of drifting aimlessly like plankton.

Yet, to save lives, he had no other recourse.

“Let’s go.” Xu Qingzhu brushed the dust from his clothes, his dark hair dancing in the wind as he gripped his sword firmly.

With two exceptionally long ponytails swaying playfully, Lu Yanling trotted behind him, tilting her head to ask,

“Little Brother Zhu, are we also going to snatch the sword?”

“No, we’ll ensure no one gets the sword.”

He declared with unwavering conviction.

****

Meanwhile, the focus shifted to another unfolding scene.

“Roar! Roar!!” Across the chaotic battlefield, Xiao Yao sneered, standing atop a fifteen-meter-tall ghost corpse as he gazed down upon the fray.

Beneath him, a dense, shadowy mass of grotesque spirits stirred, kicking up dust and tearing through houses.

Beneath Su Mo, Skinny Horse restlessly pawed the ground, its hooves wreathed in ghost fire, barely containing its urge to charge.

Su Mo gripped the Stillness Sword, its smooth bronze surface reflecting the flickering lightning in the sky, illuminating her face with each flash.

Her willow-like brows furrowed slightly as she raised the bronze sword high, unable to suppress a powerful cry:

“All troops, charge!”

Behind her, the Underworld ghosts exchanged bewildered glances. ‘Why are we suddenly here, fighting this inexplicable battle?’

Yet, seeing the other ghosts surge forward, they too joined the chaotic rush.

Besides, the insults from the opposing ghosts were rather grating, and the Underworld ghosts certainly had their pride.

A one-armed ghost, perched atop a vantage point, waved its single limb and roared in fury:

“Charge! Crush those dog-scum!”

“Ohhhh—!”

“Da da da…” Skinny Horse whinnied impatiently, rearing its head several times to glance at Su Mo on its back.

“Huh? Why haven’t I charged yet? I’m waiting for the right moment,” Su Mo replied, utterly composed, as she surveyed the entire battlefield alongside Mo Lian.

Looking out, the first wave of Underworld ghosts had already collided fiercely with the monstrous entities.

The mindless monstrous entities, facing the disciplined Underworld ghosts, were utterly outmatched, like clay chickens and ceramic dogs.

“Roar!”

“Roar your grandpa!” An Underworld ghost dodged a grasping attack, then promptly silenced its opponent with a swift brick to the head.

The Underworld ghosts employed a myriad of bizarre techniques, baffling Xiao Yao’s monsters and throwing them into complete disarray.

Though Xiao Yao commanded a greater number of monstrous entities, they were fragmented into several chaotic sections when confronted by Su Mo’s Underworld ghosts.

A twitch marred Xiao Yao’s face. He lacked the refined methods required to precisely command his monstrous entities.

The fact that they understood the command to charge was already a testament to his limited skill.

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Yao ordered his cultivators to advance.

Having been suppressed for so long, the cultivators charged with bloodshot eyes, like tigers unleashed into a flock of sheep, sending numerous Underworld ghosts flying.

From a distance, Su Mo observed, idly tapping the grip of her longbow while casually stroking Skinny Horse beneath her.

“Don’t panic, more experts are coming. We don’t need to go in just yet,” Su Mo said, gazing into the distance.

Coincidentally, across the chaotic battlefield, she spotted Xu Qingzhu and Lu Yanling.

With a casual glance, she chose not to decipher the meaning in Xu Qingzhu’s eyes. Instead, she turned her head to face the newcomers behind her.

“Lady Su, we are willing to lend our aid.” A raspy, ghost-like voice spoke, its words surprisingly pleasant, though its position was rather…

‘If a ghost calls you, do you turn your head?’

Keeping her gaze fixed on the battlefield ahead, Su Mo stated gravely:

“If you are willing to assist, I am naturally pleased. Should you have any requests in the future, you are welcome to seek me out.”

She carried the spirit of a ‘dead pig unafraid of boiling water’ – owing one was the same as owing dozens.

“Lady Su is truly straightforward!” A fierce ghost laughed, then with a sweep of its arm, dozens of Underworld ghosts, as if finding their true allegiance, immediately followed behind it.

They formed an incomprehensible formation, yet their combined ghostly energy surged, amplifying their momentum.

“Could it be that they were once generals in life?” Su Mo mumbled, making a guess.

As she pondered this, another ghost called out:

“Lady Su’s righteousness is profound!”

The fierce ghost swept its arm, and dozens more ghosts followed, rushing toward the enemy with a clatter.

“Lady Su is too kind!”

Another arm swept through the air.

“Lady Su is truly a heroine among women!”

And another arm swept…

In the blink of an eye, not a single Underworld ghost remained around Su Mo. Even Skinny Horse was dumbfounded.

It seemed these Underworld ghosts usually had a command structure, with specific leaders to follow.

Now a lone commander, Skinny Horse looked forlorn in the wind, lowering its head.

Its backward glance at Su Mo was filled with resentment.

“Alright, if we can’t charge this time, there’s always next time!” Su Mo soothed, patting its head. It wouldn’t do for Skinny Horse to go on strike now.

A thought struck Su Mo, and she quickly voiced it:

“Skinny Horse, can you give birth to a litter of fat little foals in the future? Like a father-son team in battle?”

Skinny Horse gave her a blank stare, clearly wondering if Su Mo had lost her mind.

Yet, to be fair, if it could somehow ‘abduct’ a few Underworld ghost horses, that wouldn’t be a bad option either.

But the thought of never returning home deflated Skinny Horse, leaving it feeling utterly desolate.

“Ring, ring, ring—!” The sound of bells echoed on the wind as large numbers of souls were absorbed into Su Mo’s battle bell.

With this surge of power, Su Mo felt Skinny Horse growing beneath her, her vantage point steadily rising.

She had heard of a breed called ‘Shire horses,’ whose massive size rivaled elephants, earning them the title ‘King of Horses.’

Skinny Horse’s current transformation was precisely like that.

It now stood over three and a half meters tall; simply standing, it was twice Su Mo’s height.

Its muscles bulged, its entire body a glossy black, and its mane and tail flowed smoothly, waving like banners in the wind.

Ghost fire blazed beneath its hooves, its four powerful limbs crushing the very flagstones beneath them.

In such a state, charging into a horde of ghosts would surely allow it to cut through them effortlessly.

“Miss Su, Xiao Yao has made his move.” Mo Lian murmured, already soaring into the sky to intercept him.

Patting Skinny Horse’s neck, Su Mo sighed helplessly:

“If only you could fly, that would be perfect.”

Ignoring Skinny Horse’s exasperated eye-roll, Su Mo launched herself into the air, following closely behind Mo Lian.

Just a fraction of a second too late, in the sky, Xiao Yao had already seized the colorless longsword.

As he gripped it, the sword in his hand began to transform, turning an inky black that radiated from the hilt towards the tip.

At this rate, it would still take the time it takes an incense stick to burn completely.

“Shall we attack together?” Mo Lian asked, raising a ball of lightning.

“Good.” Su Mo floated forward, a flick of her wrist sending ghost fire surging from one side behind her, flickering in the air.

Extending her hand, a vast expanse of ghost fire erupted, enveloping the lightning ball as they hurtled forward together.

“Ignorant.” Xiao Yao chuckled, black patterns crawling across his eyes, giving him an eerie appearance.

He raised the sword in his hand and unleashed a torrent of black sword qi.