Faced with an assault from three early Core Formation cultivators, Lin Li, though he outwardly showed contempt, was cautious in his heart.
Almost instinctively, Lin Li infused a large amount of spiritual energy into his demon sword: "Like a Fish in Water!"
In an instant, Lin Li's figure vanished.
Simultaneously, the three cultivators' attacks missed entirely.
"What?!"
All three were astonished.
In the next moment—
Schlick!
A sword pierced through the back of the Daoist cultivator wielding the horsetail whisk, stabbing straight through his body. The blood-stained tip of the sword emerged from his chest!
At the same time, the blood on the sword's tip vanished, as if it had been absorbed by a sponge.
Normally, Core Formation cultivators, with lifespans of several centuries, had immense vitality. Even if their hearts were pierced, as long as they were not further attacked, they could use spiritual energy to protect their hearts, stay alive, and then recover by taking healing pills and entering seclusion for a year or two.
But now!
The demon sword that had pierced through him was greedily absorbing his blood and spiritual energy like a ravenous beast!
[Absorbed the essence blood of a first-level Core Formation Daoist of the Boundless Empire, gained 999 energy points.]
[Absorbed the essence blood of a first-level Core Formation Daoist of the Boundless Empire, gained 999 energy points.]
...
In just a few breaths, the Daoist cultivator had been drained of all his essence blood and died!
[Killed a first-level Core Formation Daoist of the Boundless Empire, gained 19,999 evolution points.]
"Excellent!"
Ye Fan's spirit soared! He had finally reached the evolution threshold!
As Ye Fan reveled in his excitement, Lin Li's figure flickered. Just as the two remaining enemies reacted in terror and launched counterattacks, Lin Li had already disappeared, reappearing beside the beautiful female cultivator.
"You?!"
The female cultivator's face was filled with horror. However, before she could respond, Lin Li had already unleashed his attack: "Breaking Heaven Second Sword: Absolute Kill!"
This technique, learned from the Breaking Heaven Sword Art, though not as powerful as the Stunning Sword, was far stronger than Lin Li's regular sword swings.
Caught off guard, the female cultivator's hastily formed defense was weak and ineffective. She was sliced clean in half by the Breaking Heaven Absolute Kill Sword!
[Killed a first-level Core Formation Daoist of the Boundless Empire, gained 18,888 evolution points.]
"Damn it!"
The last remaining cultivator, having witnessed his two comrades being instantly slain, was visibly shaken and attempted to flee.
However, how could Lin Li possibly give him the chance?
With the Like a Fish in Water boost, Lin Li's speed, already impressive, was further enhanced. He used his sword to chase down the fleeing cultivator, quickly catching up to him from behind.
The cultivator only had time to turn his head before seeing Lin Li's sword coming down on him!
Clang!
The cultivator managed to swing his hammer in time, the impact sending a shock up Lin Li's arm and forcing him to take a step back.
"Oh? Interesting."
Lin Li smirked and said, "You're stronger than the others I've killed so far."
"In that case…"
"Let's see how you fare against my signature move: Stunning Sword!"
"I hope… you won't disappoint me."
With those words, Lin Li's figure blurred, and he appeared in front of the hammer-wielding warrior.
Sensing danger, the warrior cultivator immediately took a defensive stance, raising both hammers.
"Stunning Sword!"
As soon as Lin Li spoke, sword arcs shot forward!
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew everywhere!
The hammer-wielding warrior was indeed formidable, managing to block two arcs of Lin Li's Stunning Sword.
However—
Shlick!
What he hadn't anticipated was that while his focus was entirely on blocking the Stunning Sword, Lin Li, moving with Like a Fish in Water, had already slipped to his side. While the warrior was fully engaged with the sword arcs, Lin Li's blade came down, cleaving his skull!
[Killed a third-level Core Formation Daoist of the Boundless Empire, gained 37,777 evolution points.]
"Looks like ordinary Core Formation cultivators pose no challenge to me anymore."
Lin Li chuckled to himself. "I don't even need to enter the slaughter state."
Just as Lin Li's battle came to an end, Ye Fan, having far surpassed the evolution point requirement by tens of thousands, followed the system prompts and began evolving!
Lin Li's sword began to glow brilliantly in his hand.
At the same time, Lin Li felt the sword becoming even more attuned to him, like an extension of his arm, responding effortlessly to his every command!
"Ding! Congratulations on your successful evolution!"
"Congratulations, you have evolved into a low-grade treasure, the Skyborne Sword!"
"Congratulations, you have obtained the passive skill Skyborne!"
Skyborne: This is a passive attribute of the treasure. The wielder of this sword gains the ability to fly in the air without using other flying techniques or magic tools. Additionally, their combat abilities while airborne will be enhanced!
"A treasure weapon!"
Ye Fan was elated!
Over the years, as Lin Li cultivated, Ye Fan had learned much about this world's hierarchy of tools and weapons.
In this world, the items used by cultivators were ranked as mundane tools, magical tools, treasure weapons, and spiritual treasures.
Among them, treasure weapons could typically only be refined by Nascent Soul cultivators, and spiritual treasures were exceedingly rare!
Legend had it that above spiritual treasures was an even higher grade—Innate Spiritual Treasures!
These were treasures that only immortals could wield!
"I've become a treasure weapon now!"
Ye Fan thought, "And with my current reserve of hundreds of thousands of energy points, even without a sword master, I could consume energy and act independently. But Lin Li is a good master. For now, I won't act on my own. Hopefully, I can evolve into a spiritual treasure soon. Then I'll be one step closer to ascending to the immortal realm and finding a way to take human form!"
Lin Li noticed the changes in Ye Fan as well.
"Evolved again!"
Out of curiosity, Lin Li attempted to test the sword but found that its active skills remained the same: Slaughter and Like a Fish in Water.
Puzzled, he shook his head and set aside the thought, instead preparing to continue his advance deeper into Nanchuan Island.
It was then that he realized...
With just a thought, he could rise into the air without needing to use the Sword Flight Technique!
Moreover, he found that after rising into the air, his speed had increased significantly!
"I see!"
Lin Li's eyes lit up. "This evolution is like the previous poisonous ability—it's always active, without consuming my spiritual energy, making me stronger! Poison allows me to instantly kill my enemies, while this new power grants me the ability to fly and move faster in the air!"
"This is incredible! Now, whether I'm chasing someone or escaping, I'll be invincible!"
As Lin Li reveled in his excitement, the energy gained from slaying the four Core Formation cultivators surged into his body, causing his cultivation to skyrocket!
Core Formation first level peak...
Core Formation second level!
Core Formation second level mid-stage...
Core Formation second level peak!
"Killing four Core Formation cultivators has brought me to the peak of the second level of Core Formation!"
Lin Li's heart burned with excitement. "There are twelve Core Formation cultivators on this island. It looks like I'll be able to reach mid-Core Formation stage after this battle!"
At that moment, his eyes filled with hatred. "Once I reach the Nascent Soul stage, I will begin searching for a way to return to Zhao Kingdom. When that day comes, I will definitely avenge the death of my entire family!"