The purple-red energy wrapped around the sword swiftly killed the three demonized rats that attempted to flee!
[Killed demonized rat, gained 4 evolution points]
[Absorbed demonized rat's blood, gained 0.2 energy points]
[Killed demonized rat, gained 5 evolution points]
[Absorbed demonized rat's blood, gained 0.3 energy points]
[Killed demonized rat, gained 6 evolution points]
[Absorbed demonized rat's blood, gained 0.5 energy points]
"Ding! Congratulations, you have reached the evolution threshold!"
[Evolution Points]: 100003/100000 (Eligible for evolution)
"Would you like to evolve now?"
Ye Fan was overjoyed!
After spending so long gathering dust in the treasury of the Xuantian Sect, and enduring the prolonged period of seclusion with Lin Li, the moment of evolution had finally arrived!
Without hesitation, Ye Fan made his decision. "Evolve now!"
The moment Ye Fan chose to evolve, the purple-red energy swirling around the sword abruptly retracted!
"Huh?! What's happening?!"
This sudden change filled Lin Li with unease. He immediately retreated to observe the strange transformation occurring within the sword.
He saw that the purple-red energy was circulating around the sword, and after a few breaths, it began to form intricate and mysterious patterns, like miniature formation diagrams.
Simultaneously, the sword's appearance underwent subtle but noticeable changes, becoming more refined, with a mysterious and profound aura.
"Congratulations, you have successfully evolved!"
"Congratulations, you have acquired a new active skill: Massacre!"
Ye Fan was ecstatic. "Check the system panel!"
[Host]: Ye Fan
[Sword Name]: Demon-Slaying Mouse Blade (Forged from special metals, this sword has now evolved into a low-grade magical artifact capable of unleashing powerful attacks by consuming spiritual energy.)
[Quality]: Low-Grade Magical Artifact
[Passive Skills]: Bloodthirst (Absorbs blood to nourish the sword and transfer part of the energy to the host)
Cursed (This sword harbors great resentment; those who wield it without sufficient strength will be plagued by misfortune)
[Active Skill]: Massacre (When activated, the sword enters a massacre state, unleashing powerful, wide-area attacks. This state continuously consumes the swordmaster's spiritual energy.)
[Evolution Points]: 3/200000
[Energy]: 999
"Fantastic!" Ye Fan thought. "Now, I can finally use energy to move independently! Plus, I can use energy to write messages and communicate with the swordmaster whenever I want!"
Meanwhile, Lin Li was shocked by the sudden transformation.
"What's going on?!"
Staring at the sword, now transformed from the original "Bloodthirsty Demon Sword," Lin Li couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"I've never heard of a weapon that changes shape on its own like this!"
After a moment, Lin Li reasoned, "But since this sword can absorb blood and return energy to me, I guess it makes sense that it could change form too."
"No matter! Let's deal with the situation at hand first!"
Shifting his focus away from Ye Fan, Lin Li noticed the black-robed man was fleeing with his severed arm.
The remaining demonized rats were also scattering in all directions.
"If I let them escape, they'll just come back to haunt me later!"
With that thought, Lin Li shouted, "You're not getting away!"
He poured spiritual energy into his sword once more.
Suddenly!
Lin Li felt a strange, unfamiliar sensation surging through him from the sword, enveloping his entire body!
For a brief moment, his breathing became rapid, and his heart pounded fiercely with bloodlust. A murderous intent, as if it sought to annihilate all living things, flooded his mind. Lin Li had to quickly activate the Xuantian Infinite Breathing Technique to suppress the violent urges and regain his composure.
"What is this?"
Lin Li guessed, "It seems this Bloodthirsty Demon Sword has undergone some mysterious change, becoming even stronger!"
As he stepped forward, his movement speed significantly increased.
Passing through a group of ten demonized rats, Lin Li swung his sword, intending to cut them down.
But instead, a purple-red crescent-shaped energy wave shot out from the sword!
At the same time, Lin Li's dantian experienced a significant drain of spiritual energy!
Boom!
In an instant, the ten demonized rats were sliced cleanly in half!
The energy wave continued forward, carving a deep fissure in the ground before finally dissipating.
"Whoa!" Lin Li raised his eyebrows. "Such terrifying power!"
"This is almost equivalent to Foundation Establishment-level strength!"
Before this, Lin Li had never heard of any Qi Refining cultivator being able to launch an attack like this from a distance.
But now, he had done it!
Moreover, because the energy wave had killed several rats, Ye Fan was able to gain more evolution points and energy, sending some of it back to Lin Li, which replenished his spiritual energy and even increased it slightly.
"This is amazing!"
Lin Li's eyes lit up as he activated Ye Fan's Massacre skill, slaughtering over a thousand demonized rats in a short span of time, allowing Ye Fan to gain several thousand evolution points!
Finally, Lin Li caught up to the black-robed man and sliced off his legs with a single sword strike!
He quickly sealed the man's wounds to prevent further bleeding, then hoisted him over his shoulder. Sheathing his sword and dragging the massive body of the Rat King behind him, Lin Li began the journey back to Dan County.
Unfortunately, his black horse had been devoured down to the bones by the demonized rats, so Lin Li had no choice but to walk back without a mount.
During the return journey, Ye Fan checked the system panel.
[Evolution Points]: 6745/200000
[Energy]: 1132
"If only there were more events like this," Ye Fan thought. "Opportunities to gain so many evolution points in such a short time are rare…"
…
Back in Dan County.
After half a day's journey, Lin Li finally returned.
As he entered the town, carrying the legless black-robed man and dragging the massive corpse of the Rat King behind him, the townspeople were left in shock and awe.
Arriving at the county office, the county magistrate, Captain Zhao, and the constables all rushed to welcome Lin Li with great respect and reverence.
When Lin Li explained that the rat plague had been resolved, they immediately summoned the county's people to celebrate with a grand feast.
During the banquet, Zhao's wife and the beautiful young woman also appeared.
However, seeing how the magistrate and all the officials treated Lin Li like a revered guest, with even the high-and-mighty county magistrate acting humbly in his presence, they both realized something:
Lin Li was not a part of their world.
As for Zhao's wife's hope of marrying her daughter to Lin Li as a concubine, it was nothing more than a fleeting dream that would never come true.
After the feast, Lin Li spent the night in Dan County. The next morning, he requested a carriage from the county officer. Loading the corpse of the Rat King and the captured black-robed man into the carriage, Lin Li set off on his journey back to the Xuantian Sect.