Chapter 734: Chapter 600: Flower of Eternal Darkness Chapter 734: Chapter 600: Flower of Eternal Darkness Roger gazed at the emaciated Sword Master Cold Crow, feeling as if he were watching rotting wood struggling to breathe.
“Is it the beginning of the Transformation?”
Roger thought about the complete plan for the Spirit Sword; perhaps he had already transferred his life form into another direction.
Furthermore, Sajo had mentioned during the battle that for the past 20 years, Sword Master Cold Crow had not left the small hut where he resided.
Was it due to weakness, or did this house hold secrets that Roger was yet to uncover?
“The object has been retrieved.”
The Sword Master Cold Crow spoke, his withered palm trembling as he reached out to pick up the wine jug on the table.
Roger found it hard to reconcile the image of this frail old man, who seemed on the verge of death, with the majestic and peerless sword master he had just witnessed.
He stepped forward, took the wine jug from Sword Master Cold Crow’s hand, and filled the empty cup.
The voice of Sword Master Cold Crow was steady; he was not asking a question, but rather stating a fact.
“There was a mishap on the way back, it was the people from Tengu Shrine,” Roger said offhandedly.
It could be a coincidence, but it was odd how different schemes required the same object in their execution.
Sword Master Cold Crow opened his hand, seemingly oblivious to the inquiry in Roger’s tone.
Roger placed the stone in Sword Master Cold Crow’s palm and noticed a blue light seeping into the shriveled skin of his hand. As his palm closed, his face seemed to gain a bit more life.
“Heh, a thing from the west.”
“Can you feel the Bloodline Power inside it?”
Roger shook his head.
“Tengu Shrine has discovered something; the fate of Funiu Sword Pavilion has been sealed,” Sword Master Cold Crow declared.
Roger lifted his head, “For this object, will they strike at Funiu Sword Pavilion?”
Just then, a noise came from outside the door, followed by a weary voice.
It was Yatagarasu Kensumi.
With a whoosh, the door swung open, and Roger turned to see Yatagarasu Kensumi, whose pale face still managed to maintain a straight back.
“I’ve entered the Divine Passage Realm; the people of Tengu Shrine underestimated me,” he said, clearly having learned the details from Yuuki Nao.
A loud thud echoed as a bulky figure descended from the sky like a massive rock, crashing to the ground, and, after several bounces, burst into the room with snow and wind in tow.
The heavy scent of blood followed.
Roger frowned slightly as he saw Yatagarasu Akiryu covered in blood.
The wild aura about him persisted, yet he appeared utterly battered, his left arm cleanly severed at the shoulder, with blood still oozing from the wound, dripping onto the floor in a steady “tick-tock.”
Kneeling on one knee, the towering Yatagarasu Akiryu bowed his head and said in a deep voice, “Stepfather, I am late.”
The same meaning but a different expression reflected the differing attitudes of the two men.
Despite his severe injury, Yatagarasu Akiryu maintained a daunting presence, a man who seemed on the verge of collapse yet capable of exacting a price before he fell.
“A minor injury,” Yatagarasu Akiryu said with a cruel smile, “I killed White Wolf Tengu, heh! This is the first Divine Master I’ve put down!”
He raised his head as if savoring the thrill of that moment.
Sword Master Cold Crow laughed heartily, his body shaking, the wine in his cup spilling over and staining his front.
“Not bad, it has the flair of my younger days.”
“Although those creatures were merely incomplete Divine Masters, you should be proud of your feat!”
Hearing this explosive news, Yatagarasu Kensumi, standing beside Roger, slightly lowered his head, a hint of imperceptible loss flashing across his eyes.
He had just entered the Divine Passage Realm, and at his age, it was something to be immensely proud of. He also had thwarted the conspiracy of Tengu Shrine, enabling a timely return to Hankawa.
Yet, compared to all that Yatagarasu Akiryu had achieved, his own counterattack seemed rather insignificant.
“The three of you, my children, my students, it’s truly heartwarming!”
“Three Divine Passage practitioners, and each with the potential to reach the final stage. If only I could live another ten years, I would certainly witness the complete rise of Hankawa!”
Sword Master Cold Crow looked on with satisfaction.
“Three Divine Passage practitioners?!”
Hearing this, both Yatagarasu Akiryu turned their gaze to Roger.
Yatagarasu Akiryu was renowned, having entered the Divine Passage Realm long ago and advancing swiftly, to the point where no one would be surprised if he stepped into the Sword Master Realm the next day.
Yatagarasu Kensumi was gifted from childhood, a prodigy in training. If not for his youth, he might have been even more outstanding than Yatagarasu Akiryu.
For him, entering the Divine Passage Realm was only a matter of time.
But Roger was the most surprising of them all.
Three months, it had only been three months since Yatagarasu Akiryu felt he could easily crush the young man in front of him.
Now, although still confident in his ability to defeat Roger, Yatagarasu Akiryu was astonished at the unreasonable speed of his rise.
Yatagarasu Kensumi turned his head and Roger saw the surprise in his eyes, darkening further with a touch of loss.
Catching a glimpse from the corner of his eye, Akiryu’s gaze was deep, and although the momentary wariness was fleeting, Roger’s keen senses still captured it.
Roger did not speak, but as Sword Master Cold Crow had just mentioned, if he could live another ten years, he could provide enough time for the others to grow.