Chapter 144: The Ink Sword Awakens

Previously, when Lin Zhan acquired the Broken Blade, aside from the initial sensation of an ancient, solemn killing intent, he hadn’t felt much else of significance. Yet at this very moment, as the soul of the Broken Blade merged into the Ink Sword, his entire body trembled lightly, as if struck simultaneously by overwhelming joy and sorrow. Unbidden, a single tear fell from the corner of his eye.

It was a tear born of conflicting emotions—joy so profound it moved him to tears, mingled with a deep sorrow from the heart.

Ding! Another long, resonant chant echoed.

This time, it emanated from the Ink Sword itself, which now gleamed with a dark, lustrous brilliance. Following the chant, the sword in Lin Zhan’s hand vibrated softly, humming with a new, burgeoning power taking root, gestating, and growing within it.

This transformation took but a single breath of time.

Before he could fully examine the changes to the Ink Sword, Lin Zhan felt a sudden pull, as if the sword itself was guiding him—to cleave the rocky wall, to sever the stone hands, to use its blade to evaporate the heart of the stone, to shatter all the chains and prisons that bound him!

Whoosh!

A silver sword qi, roughly the size of a millstone, shot forth from the Ink Sword with unstoppable force. It required no surge of spiritual energy, no blessing of fierce flame incantations. This simplified yet devastating silver blade qi swept through like a god of destruction, slicing, crushing, and blasting apart the colossal stone giant from within.

An earth-shaking thunderous roar filled the air, the sound of rocks fracturing and great boulders crashing to the ground reverberated incessantly, blending into a relentless symphony of destruction.

“Hahaha! Old Ni, your master has finally broken free!” Lin Zhan laughed wildly, for the first time unrestrained and audacious.

Inside the stone giant, he had been stifled beyond measure, frustrated and cramped, unable to stretch out his limbs, nearly suffocated in that prison. Although the Nine-Star Space would surely not abandon him to die, the situation had become dire. Now that he was free, he breathed a long, satisfying sigh of relief.

Turning his gaze to the Ink Sword in his hand, once entirely black, he noted profound changes. The sword’s appearance now radiated an unprecedented majesty, a solemnity he had sensed faintly from the Broken Blade before, but now it poured forth in full vitality from the Ink Sword.

The hilt transformed from plain and simple to grand and rugged, as if crafted by divine hands. Fine engravings adorned the grip, and on the guard stood two golden dragon heads poised to take flight—majestic and sharp, commanding respect without anger. Each dragon’s mouth clenched a translucent pearl, softly emitting a dragon’s roar carried on the wind.

The most dramatic transformation was in the blade itself: a shining blackness, glossy like a tranquil lake under the night sky, harboring unfathomable energies.

The heavy blade lacked a sharp edge, yet now two silver gleams streaked along its sides, sharp and cutting, bristling with killing intent and battle fervor. The tip resembled the gaze of a war god.

Most astonishingly, Lin Zhan sensed a faint ripple of his own spiritual energy within the Ink Sword.

What did this mean? It meant that a sword spirit had been born within the Ink Sword!

Though this spirit was still faint and immature, if it grew, its future potential would be limitless.

Moreover, this sword spirit bore the aura of Xiao Hei, intimately linked to Lin Zhan’s own consciousness. Once matured, it would possess an unparalleled harmony with him, far beyond other sword spirits—this was the true treasure.

The significance of a sword spirit’s existence was that the Ink Sword, once controlled solely by Lin Zhan, could now act autonomously—attacking, defending proactively—its overall strength rising dramatically.

The Ink Sword had ascended from a mundane weapon to a superior magical artifact. Lin Zhan, who had long been reluctant to part with it, was now overjoyed beyond measure.

No need to replace it now, nor ever again!

After swiftly surveying the sword’s changes—and also the presence of Xiao Hei within the Nine-Star Space—Lin Zhan knew full well the current state and Xiao Hei’s actions, but for now, he had to deal with another colossal stone giant.

That giant was now idly playing with a shrunken white bone tower in its hand.

With a thought, Lin Zhan sent the white bone tower flying back like a streak of light.

Though slightly dimmed, it was mostly intact—fortunately, it had not penetrated inside the enemy like Lin Zhan himself had, or it would have suffered the same fate.

Such worries were only before the Ink Sword’s transformation. Now, as a superior magical artifact, there was no more fear of the stone giant’s intimidation. Lin Zhan charged forward, unleashing a fierce assault. The sword qi, like a wild dragon, sliced the giant into fragments with a few swift strikes.

Two towering rock peaks were thus leveled to the ground. Lin Zhan gazed upon two enormous stone cores before him.

According to the book, these cores were the finest grade of Emperor Jade.

While Emperor Jade offered little advancement for cultivation, it was among the most treasured materials for women’s jewelry—Emperor Jade bracelets and pendants were fiercely sought after, commanding prices comparable to the rarest treasures of heaven and earth.

Two such massive cores—Lin Zhan couldn’t help but grin broadly.

“Ssshh…” The cracked, chapped skin of his lips suddenly throbbed with pain.

Only then did Lin Zhan realize the extent of his injuries—his body was battered and bruised, barely a patch of unblemished skin remained.

Sitting down to rest for several breaths, he swiftly healed his flesh wounds, then stored the two great Emperor Jade cores into the Nine-Star Space.

Pressing onward, with the support of the superior magical Ink Sword, six days and six nights passed as he surmounted every obstacle, crushed every challenger, following the map’s guidance to reach the destination without fail.

(The Nine-Star War Sovereign will enter the VIP chapters’ paid release phase tomorrow. Fearing readers on other platforms might miss the announcement, here is a brief note: subscriptions are the greatest encouragement for the author to continue. Please support the official release on Qidian. There will be no immediate anti-piracy chapters, but the author sincerely hopes this path may extend far. It’s up to you—thank you! Please support the official subscription on Qidian!)

The destination was a ruin of buildings.

Whether the architectural style of the Blue Ice World had always been similar, Lin Zhan wasn’t sure. But he clearly remembered that when he obtained that rare elixir manual, similar ruins had appeared within his sea of consciousness—wild, desolate, and solemn, immersing him fully in their atmosphere.

If the first two trials of the formation test were relatively easy, the third had been a journey akin to a life’s ordeal—filled with fierce battles and tests of wisdom, forging Lin Zhan stronger and sharpening his fighting spirit and resolve to an unbreakable degree.

At the center of the ruins stood a small, inconspicuous door. The map indicated that upon arrival, Lin Zhan could enter and claim his reward.

Unaware of what awaited, Lin Zhan finally allowed his tightly wound nerves to relax slightly, feeling the urgent need to breakthrough his cultivation at the moment.

Though there might be tempting treasures beyond the door, Lin Zhan resolved first to consolidate his late-stage Yellow Rank Second Grade realm, for strength was the surest guarantee of survival and dignity.

Deep within the ruins, he found a concealed space, shed the disguise of the Illusionary Transformation Technique that had muddled his appearance, restored his true visage, then sat cross-legged in quiet meditation, entering a world of profound insight.

A surge of heroic spirit welled up in his chest: “I am Lin Zhan, and Lin Zhan is me. I am a disciple of the Flame Peak Daisy Hall. Why disguise myself as another? From today forth, I will fight and struggle openly, living boldly and brilliantly instead of cowering and hiding!”

A confident smile curled his lips. Upon his handsome face shone a radiant aura—an invisible yet unmistakable presence called charisma, glowing softly in the light…