Han Li's face began to turn pale as he watched Mo Dafu raise the strange blade high above him. Under the sunlight, the blade's edge gleamed ominously, highlighting its terrifying sharpness.
A sense of panic started to build within him. However, reason quickly tempered his fear. Mo Dafu had gone to great lengths to capture him alive—he wouldn't just kill him without a second thought. This must be an intimidation tactic, just to scare him.
As the blade descended slowly, heading straight for his body, Han Li did not flinch. He kept his face composed, even though the icy chill from the blade's proximity caused the hairs on the back of his neck to prickle. He closed his eyes slowly, and for a brief moment, regrets flashed through his mind.
Is he really going to kill me? If I had known this was the case, I should have begged for mercy earlier. Maybe I could have spared my life. I'm still so young— I don't want to die. Will my parents be heartbroken when they hear the news of my death? Would they regret sending me to the Seven Xuan Sect...
In that brief moment, Han Li's mind swirled with thoughts of life and death, as though he had experienced all the joys and sorrows of the world. He came to a sudden, painful realization about his own fleeting existence.
Then, a sharp sound rang out as the blade made contact.
Han Li flinched but then paused, realizing with a shock that he felt no pain.
What's going on?
His eyes snapped open, and to his astonishment, the blade wasn't piercing his body at all. Instead, it had embedded itself in Mo Dafu's shoulder, with only the hilt visible and trembling slightly. The blade was so sharp that not a drop of blood came from the wound, making it all the more eerie.
Han Li was left speechless. Before he could comprehend the situation, Mo Dafu laughed coldly, his voice filled with unexpected admiration.
"Ha! Kid, you really have some guts. Even when the blade's at your throat, you didn't beg for mercy. You really have some spirit! Back in my day, I've seen countless so-called heroes who claimed to fear nothing. Yet, once they fell into my hands, with just a little pressure, they all turned into cowardly dogs, begging for their lives."
Han Li stood there, completely dumbfounded, unsure of how to respond. He had just barely held it together in the face of danger, never truly believing that Mo Dafu would strike him down. He had hoped for a miracle, thinking that Mo Dafu couldn't possibly kill him. Now, hearing Mo Dafu's praise, he found himself confused, unsure whether to feel relieved or disheartened.
As Han Li tried to collect his thoughts, Mo Dafu moved quickly, inserting the remaining blades into his own body. He placed them into his shoulders, legs, abdomen, and chest—seven blades in total. From a distance, it looked like he had been mutilated by a barrage of weapons, as though he had been dismembered.
Han Li could not help but feel a mix of shock and amusement. He realized that Mo Dafu was intentionally injuring himself, likely to perform a certain technique. Han Li's mind raced—Was this some sort of power meant to deal with me?
After inserting all seven blades, Mo Dafu fell silent, lowering his body to sit cross-legged in front of Han Li. His eyes closed, and he entered a meditative state, seeming to shut himself off from everything around him.
This presented Han Li with a rare opportunity. He felt a sudden urge to move his limbs and try to escape. However, as soon as he made a slight motion, a heavy weight settled on his shoulders, and he found himself completely immobilized again.
Han Li couldn't help but curse himself in frustration. How could I forget about this giant? With him so close, how could I even think about escaping?
It was clear that Mo Dafu had planned for this situation long before he entered his meditative state. The giant, Iron Slave, was always watching him, unyielding and immovable. With this indestructible creature by his side, Han Li had no chance of slipping away.
As Han Li silently cursed his predicament, Mo Dafu began to undergo a terrifying transformation.
His face twitched and contorted unnaturally, his body trembling violently. The muscles in his face warped, and his features twisted in agony as if enduring immense pain. The sight of the blades protruding from his body made him look grotesque, almost like a corpse brought back to life. The air around him grew cold, and a chilling aura seemed to fill the room, bringing a sense of dread.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the tremors ceased. Mo Dafu stopped shaking, and a deep, guttural growl erupted from his throat, a sound that was primal and filled with savage power. In that moment, he no longer seemed like an old man—he was like a wild beast, just released from captivity.
The black mist, which Han Li had seen before on Mo Dafu's face, appeared once more. But this time, it was far darker and more intense than before. It completely enveloped his face, forming a dark, eerie mask. From the mist, strange, writhing tendrils emerged, flickering with unnatural black light. The tendrils seemed to have a physical presence, writhing and stretching, as if they were alive and eager to attack.
Mo Dafu's hands formed a strange, lotus-like gesture, and he began to chant in a low, almost inaudible voice. Han Li couldn't catch the words, but the energy in the room shifted, growing heavier and more oppressive.
The black mist seemed to react to Mo Dafu's movements, swirling violently around him as if agitated. It bubbled like oil in a boiling pot, the tendrils stretching and contracting in a frenzy. The sight of it sent a wave of fear down Han Li's spine. Something was happening—something far beyond anything he had ever seen before.
Just when the mist seemed to reach its peak, Mo Dafu opened his eyes. Through the dense fog, Han Li could still see the intense light in those eyes, burning with a strange, otherworldly glow.
"Seven Ghosts Devouring the Soul Technique!" Mo Dafu roared, announcing the name of the deadly technique he was about to unleash.
Han Li's heart sank. This wasn't just a battle anymore—it was a fight for survival against something far darker than he had ever imagined.