Chen Ming walked before the doors of a hall when Luo Muye said, “There are many slender black sabers inside. As I was too small then, they never let me in.”


  Chen Ming pushed the door open and the dust seeped in from outside. He felt as if he opened an array.

  Luo Muye explained, “This hall contains our secret array. If the door is closed, everything inside grows to a halt. If it’s open, it will return to normal.”


  Chen Ming saw countless black sabers at the sides.

  He picked one up, a Two Year Cicada.

  He pressed forward for ten li, surrounded by black sabers. Chen Ming picked another, Three Year Cicada.

  Not bad.

  Stronger blades must lay further in.

  If I give them to my disciples and to Duan Shou to instruct the most powerful assassins, their power will reach impressive heights.

  But how can I make it so those blokes can use these?

  His instinct told him the cicada would soon tell him.

  Chen Ming himself trained in the Instant Dao Seed and could just have his people change to cicada’s cultivation method.

  They’d use the blades like this.

  The greatest glee was, however, regarding whether cicada’s cultivation method was for hardship cultivator or spiritual cultivator. As everyone knew, these paths could be treaded at the same time. Just take Li Suyi. This bloke was a dual cultivator.

  As to why, Chen Ming who was a disciple-conning Master, didn’t give him a too good a cultivation method. His hardship cultivation could neither beat Zhuo Qingyao, nor could his spiritual cultivator defeat Ling Xian. As such, the kid went for double cultivation. Adding to this his talent on the demonic path, and Heart Enlightenment Fruit’s effect, it took him on further along this entwined and double road.

  According to when Chen Ming cultivated the Instant Dao Seed, this was a dual cultivation method. It could train the body at the same time and use the extra speed of these black blades, turning one into the strongest hardship cultivator this world had ever seen!

  In a fight between hardship cultivator and spiritual cultivator, if the first got close, it was tantamount to the death of the later. But if you were to add the speed of the black saber, he’d be a monster.

  The immortal beasts on the Desolate Star would dry up at some point, though they could still be considered his main force for now. However, to pit them against the four Great Immortal Domains would be possible if the Desolate Star had a beast-matching Tree of Martyrs.

  Theoretically speaking, this was impossible as the cicada race’s Red Toon went out of their control because it grew to the fifth stage. If even cicada with their special traits fell, there was no need to mention other cultivators.

  With Red Toon unhinged, he didn’t need to think regarding the one on the Desolate Star.

  If only Zhuo Qingyao could cultivate the Instant Dao Seed, she’d be stronger than ever.

  It’s so sad her body is weird, blocking her from taking the spiritual path……

  Chen Ming heard a gurgling and looked to see Luo Muye hungry.

  He took out some food and ate together before walking ahead. Going for five lis, he met with Five Year Cicada, six, and then seven.

  The stronger they were the lesser their number and it was also around this time Chen Ming reached the end. An intact body was up ahead, holding a meter-long slender blade with an eight-inch hilt.

  Intricate designs covered its length and the handle even had them in golden.

  The man holding the blade had his eyes fixed on Chen Ming.

  His body wore hemp clothes, and despite old, it was clear to tell he was a strong man in his prime.

  Chen Ming approached, eyes on the blade, My, what an eye-catching weapon. The blade traced a perfect arc, glinting with coldness.

  Luo Muye steeped to make a bow, “Greetings Emperor Qin Qiu!”(1)

  Chen Ming ignored it. As a king slayer, he bowed to no one. He reached for hilt to take it out of the Emperor’s hand.

  Truth be told, the black blade’s killing move complemented an array’s pressure. It was Chen Ming’s most suited battle art.

  He wanted it!

  Chen Ming pulled, yet found Emperor Qin Qiu’s grip was a vise, not budging an inch.

  He’s strong even dead?

  “Ding! Nine Year Cicada is assessing. Due to King Slayer Aura, the assessment is terminated. Judging…… due to possessing the Instant Dao Seed it reached 20%. Due to having Altruist Aura, King Slayer Aura’s assessment is reevaluated. King Slayer Aura’s assessment is reinstated. Judging reached 100%, you earned Nine Year Cicada’s approval.”


  “You obtained the soul weapon Nine Year Cicada.”


  Emperor Qin Qiu loosened his grip and Chen Ming took the blade.

  He just stared at it in his hands. This is a first, who knew Altruist Aura had such effect?

  This blade must be on the righteous side, and instead of doing like Heavenly Wolf Bow, it voided King Slayer Aura’s assessment. Then came Altruist Aura to the rescue and saved his image in Nine Year Cicada’s eyes.

  It came to the conclusion he was a nice guy, killing only tyrants and all.

  It fits. I always seem to kill despots.

  He went and fiddled at Emperor’s waist, if not for other reason than for its belt, who carried Nine Year Cicada’s sheath.

  As he put it on, he found a pair of cicada wings on it and chains decorating it. Nine Year Cicada’s scabbard was at the back. He gripped it and sheathed the blade.

  With his left resting on the hilt, I say, I strike quite the handsome pose.

  The blades worn at the back were usually for the backhanded style. They were drawn very fast, with an even quicker attack, saving time in launching deadly moves.

  As for the backhanded style and the righthanded style, their difference laid in the grip. With the left on the handle and the body straight, lead to the righthanded style, the edge facing the enemy. In case of the backhanded style, the edge faced the hand.

  The backhanded style was known as the fast blade, quick to move in for an attack.