Chapter 337: The Three Thousand Annihilation Paths

Chapter 337: The Three Thousand Annihilation Paths

There was a third option—to condense the Martial Soul Avatar into one's own form, known as the "True Form Avatar."

This method could refine the martial body, strengthen the physique, and unleash the full power of the flesh.

Ning Xiaochuan only pondered for a brief moment in his mind before making his decision and began condensing his Martial Soul Avatar.

The blood-red sphere hovering above his head began to transform, slowly taking the shape of a massive crimson cauldron with four legs and two handles.

The Martial Soul Avatar gradually took form.

"Whoosh!"

After a moment of contemplation, Ning Xiaochuan immediately began inscribing mysterious characters onto the surface of the cauldron, further refining the Martial Soul Avatar.

These characters were copied by Ning Xiaochuan from the Annihilation Divine Monument. Though he didn’t understand their meaning, every time he gazed upon them, his mind would conjure images of Mountains of Corpses and Seas of Blood, skies collapsing and earth shattering—utterly awe-inspiring.

From this, he could deduce that the Annihilation Divine Monument Inscriptions were undoubtedly immensely powerful. The only question was, what secrets did they truly hold?

Using the Annihilation Divine Monument Inscriptions to refine his Martial Soul Avatar would undoubtedly enhance its power.

After an entire day of effort, Ning Xiaochuan finally succeeded in refining his Martial Soul Avatar.

A towering 9-meter-tall crimson cauldron, radiating a bloody glow, took shape. The edges of the cauldron were forged into the form of "Ten Thousand Dragons Paying Homage to the Moon," while its surface was densely inscribed with the Annihilation Divine Monument Inscriptions.

The moment the Martial Soul Avatar was successfully refined, the inscriptions once again emitted a miraculous radiance.

A scroll—Mountains of Corpses and Seas of Blood Diagram—materialized out of thin air on the surface of the giant cauldron.

This was the aura of the Annihilation Divine Monument Inscriptions, stirring a certain power within the world and awakening the will of annihilation. It had spontaneously condensed into an "Annihilation Diagram" upon Ning Xiaochuan’s Martial Soul Avatar.

"How did this happen?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

Sui Hanyu replied, "The Annihilation Divine Monument Inscriptions represent the highest 'truths' of the Annihilation Path. By inscribing them onto your Martial Soul Avatar, you’ve done yourself a great favor."

"A great favor?" Ning Xiaochuan questioned.

Sui Hanyu said, "Your Martial Soul has already become different from others!"

"How so?"

"Your Martial Soul can grow."

Sui Hanyu continued, "The Annihilation Divine Monument Inscriptions record three thousand truths of annihilation, known as the 'Three Thousand Annihilation Paths.' Each truth can manifest as an 'Annihilation Diagram.' Right now, your Martial Soul Avatar only bears one such diagram. If you can condense a second, the power of your Martial Soul Avatar will double. With a third, it will grow even stronger."

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "What if one cultivates all three thousand Annihilation Diagrams?"

Sui Hanyu fixed him with a deep gaze. "If you can comprehend the Three Thousand Annihilation Paths, you will attain immortality—unable to be destroyed by heaven or buried by earth, living as long as the universe itself. Among the four generations of Annihilation Path inheritors, only the first patriarch achieved complete mastery of the Three Thousand Annihilation Paths."

Ning Xiaochuan had always believed that Martial Artists living for two hundred years was already extraordinary. Yet, in this world, there were those who could truly live forever.

Did immortality truly exist? Or was it merely a legend?

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "I’ve always had one question—how many inheritors does the Annihilation Path truly have?"

Sui Hanyu fell silent for a moment before speaking, "From ancient times to the present, including you, there have only been four inheritors. The Annihilation Path passes down to only one person in each generation. Therefore, selecting an inheritor is extremely strict. In truth, your temperament is entirely unsuited for cultivating the Annihilation Path. It is only because the Annihilation Qi chose you that you barely qualify to become the fourth inheritor of the Annihilation Path."

The Heavenly Emperor's Blade burst into laughter, "No wonder I’ve never heard of the Annihilation Path—it turns out there have only been a handful of inheritors. This is hilarious! It’s a miracle such an obscure minor tradition hasn’t died out yet! Ning Xiaochuan, you possess a once-in-ten-millennia talent. Don’t waste it on this insignificant path."

Sui Hanyu completely ignored the Heavenly Emperor's Blade and continued, "Ning Xiaochuan, do you know the creed of the Annihilation Path?"

Though Ning Xiaochuan practiced the Annihilation Path, he had only cultivated its Sword Dao and was actually unaware of its true creed and mysteries.

Sui Hanyu declared, "The creed of the Annihilation Path is 'Annihilation.' Destroy the heavens and the earth, exterminate all living beings, eradicate all falsehood, filth, treachery, hypocrisy, and malice. Then, carve out a new world and establish a new order."

Ning Xiaochuan frowned slightly. "Must annihilation be the only way? Isn’t that too extreme?"

"The fact that you ask this question proves your heart isn’t ruthless enough, wicked enough, demonic enough, or cold enough. This is why your temperament is unsuited for the Annihilation Path. You were meant to be a healer, yet you stumbled onto the Annihilation Path. You were meant to live an ordinary life, yet fate has thrust you into the storm. Will you become a divine physician saving lives, or a demon king slaughtering the world with a single thought? Even I cannot see through your future."

Ning Xiaochuan glanced subtly at Sui Hanyu’s shadow. Though she was undeniably graceful and beautiful, like an immortal maiden from a painting, her aura carried only killing intent, death, and Demonic Qi. A single glance at her would fill anyone with fear.

From this, it was clear she was no righteous or benevolent figure—she resembled more a demoness capable of destroying heaven and earth.

In her, one could only see death.

Perhaps what she embodied was the true Annihilation Path, a path upheld by the "thought of annihilation."

All living things shall perish; only I shall remain.

Sui Hanyu exuded an oppressive Freezing Energy, her sinister aura chilling to the bone. "Once you enter the Annihilation Path, there is no turning back. If the world does not perish, I shall perish. Bury the heavens, bury the earth, bury myself."

Ning Xiaochuan frowned. "Is there truly no turning back?"

If cultivating the Annihilation Path would eventually make him as heartless and cold-blooded as Sui Hanyu, Ning Xiaochuan truly didn’t want to continue.

Sui Hanyu fixed her gaze on him. "Move forward, and you may bury heaven and earth. Turn back, and you will only bury yourself. The path of cultivation is filled with inevitabilities—this holds true for any Dao."

She added, "You have already condensed your Martial Soul Avatar, officially stepping into the first level of the Earthly Venerable Realm. Originally, the power of the Quasi-God blood could have propelled you directly to the third level of the Earthly Venerable Realm. However, you are still young. Advancing too quickly in cultivation would only harm you, not benefit you. Thus, I have fused the residual power of the Quasi-God blood deep into your Bloodline. Over time, the Quasi-God blood will gradually emerge from within you."

In other words, although Ning Xiaochuan is currently only at the first level of the Earthly Venerable Realm, his cultivation speed will increase rapidly in the coming period. This is because the latent power of the Quasi-God Divine Blood hidden within his Bloodline will gradually awaken, subtly accelerating his realm advancement at an astonishing pace.

Ning Xiaochuan slightly closed his eyes and indeed felt his entire body brimming with power, far surpassing his previous strength. Comparing his past self to his current state, it was as if they belonged to entirely different tiers of power.

Sui Hanyu said, "Once you fully master the Demonic Sword, I will reappear and teach you the true Annihilation Path." After uttering these words, her shadow vanished from the Demonic Sword without leaving even a trace of her aura behind.

"Fully master the Demonic Sword..." Ning Xiaochuan murmured to himself. To achieve complete control over the Demonic Sword, he needed to cultivate nine Annihilation Qi. At present, he had already cultivated seven, leaving only two more to go. "I truly wonder what kind of power the Demonic Sword can unleash once fully mastered?"

Ning Xiaochuan stood up and lightly raised his hand, instantly feeling as though everything between Heaven and Earth was within his grasp. Was this the power of a Martial Venerable? He bent his knees, arching his body like a drawn bow, then suddenly sprang forward with explosive force.

"Boom!"

With his fleshly body alone, he shattered through 100 meters of soil and rock layers, bursting back onto the surface. Standing on the lush green grass, surrounded by towering, thick trees, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The Heaven and Earth Profound Qi within a 5 km radius transformed into streams of energy, surging into his body. In a single breath, he drained the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi from the entire area—a feat no ordinary Martial Venerable could accomplish. Yet Ning Xiaochuan achieved it effortlessly, for he was far stronger than any typical Martial Venerable, his physique surpassing theirs by tenfold, a hundredfold, even a thousandfold.

His Seven Orifices Demon Heart had already awakened, and his Heart Spirit Perception had grown immensely powerful. Almost instantly, he sensed Mu Honglai's presence.

"Whoosh!"

With the slightest movement, Ning Xiaochuan vanished from his original spot. The next moment, he stood at the base of a towering mountain 50 km away, as if he had teleported there. No one could discern how he had arrived, for his speed had surpassed the limits of human vision.

The mountain before him stood 1 km tall, steep and treacherous, with sheer cliffs on all sides. Its surface was covered in pale boulders, with only sparse patches of greenery clinging to its slopes. Mu Honglai, wounded by the Demonic Sword, had been hiding within this mountain to heal, attempting to expel the Demonic Qi corroding his Martial Path body. The moment Ning Xiaochuan appeared at the mountain's base, Mu Honglai immediately sensed his presence. His sinister eyes snapped open, the whites now entirely veined with blood.

Ning Xiaochuan raised a single finger toward the sky, his Martial Path Origin Qi resonating with the heavens, altering the clouds and weather.

The sky suddenly darkened as the Black Clouds surged and gathered overhead, blotting out the blazing sun. Gazing upward, it resembled an ink-black sea, its waves churning with shapes like skulls, wings, and demonic claws...

"Purple Lightning!"

A streak of violet lightning split the Black Clouds, slicing across half the sky and cleaving the heavens in two. Soon, dozens more bolts followed, twisting and weaving like Electric Dragons, slashing and forming a net of light amidst the deafening Thunder. The terrifying spectacle sent the Mystic Beasts in the mountains into panicked unrest.

The air grew increasingly oppressive and murderous!

Ning Xiaochuan stood beneath the Black Clouds, his dark hair fluttering in the wind, his gaze profound and steady—as if he had become the very center of the world.