Bing, Ying, Jie, and Shang took a ten-minute break to sort their injuries and catch their breath. Then they took as much treasure as they possibly could. Not even the Demon God Thief’s skeleton was spared from the looting as they emptied the burial place clean. Now with their pockets and storage rings filled to the brim, the group quickly got to getting out of this place and leaving the Endless Plain of Yin before they miss the time to exit for the second test.
“You’re quite strong Ancient Sword Immortal.” Jing complimented the old ghost.
Right now, Li Li was facing off against this Devil Lord realm spirit. A spirit strong enough to contend with the leaders of the Golden Serpent Sect, Nine Swords Sect, and Blossoming Water Palace. He wasn’t facing off against him alone though. No matter how powerful SCP-914's refining is, it couldn’t make a being strong enough to contend with a Devil Lord. Perhaps potentially it was possible but brute strength? No way.
Because of this, Li Li had to face off against the old ghost with thousands of captured souls from his auxiliary technique, Ghost King’s Chilling Breath and his Soul Lamp. With the help of 6 of the 7 Ghostly Kings, he was lasting a lot longer than he normally would have without them. He also got some much-needed combat experience that he couldn’t get inside Ying’s void world against the shadow.
Specters of all colors, shapes, and realms flew across the battlefield, swarming the Ancient Sword Immortal. His sword swung non-stop with unparallel speed and sharpness. Despite being swarmed on all sides, it was as if a small barrier was formed around him. Anything that came inside that barrier was swiftly sliced to pieces. Li Li was pushed to his limits for the first time in his life as he tried everything he could to defeat the powerful ghost.
Jing didn’t honestly expect Li Li to be able to capture the ghost and place him inside his Soul Lamp. It would be a difficult battle even if she fought the Ancient Sword Immortal by herself. She wouldn’t say that she stood no chance against him, it was just that with her current strength, she would have to rely on a lot of tricks to stand on the same level as him. Not to mention actually defeating him.
So, why did she send her innocent son to face off the opponent that even she would have trouble with? It was quite the simple reason actually... To give him an actual fight to gain experience. Jing would have preferred him to fight in his original form compared to his human form because once they leave, he wouldn’t be able to keep up that form. But, this fight will be helpful nonetheless
Li Li rarely fought at all and when he did fight, it was barely a fight at all. Jing would’ve had this same exact issue if she didn’t go through her heart demon test. The problem with being too strong was that you never got to realize your own flaws and work on them. It wouldn’t be effective if she trained him herself. There was a difference facing someone that loves you and wants the best for you compared to someone that is actively trying to kill you while focusing on your flaws. Either you correct those flaws or you die.
Since Li Li was refined with SCP-914, Jing wasn’t really worried about his safety too much. But just in case, she captured a drop of his blood inside a small flask and carried it on her person so that he could revive later. It was also a little bit distressing every time she saw him get cut in half, sliced to pieces, or beheaded. Her anger grew a little bit more each time his body healed itself after a lethal injury. She was also very surprised.
Jing expected him to get frightened and scared. To refuse to keep fighting despite her words due to fear of dying or suffering another killing blow. But that isn’t what happened at all... Each time Li Li died, he made sure that he didn’t die the exact same way. His eyes were focused on working with his captured ghosts and improving his fighting style.
With his arms spread wide like a bird, he charged in with a flying kick. His leg impacted against the Ancient Sword Immortal’s blade as he kicked with his other leg. A rapid furious flow of kicks clanged against the ghostly sword. Each kick released an earth-shattering stream of qi from beneath Li Li’s feet.
Ancient Sword Immortal’s face was calm as he took on the hordes of ghosts and an unfathomable spirit beast. Multiple afterimages of himself appeared doing their own motions. One was dealing with the bird’s kicks, another was killing a captured ghost, and a third keeping his eye on the brown girl watching with a smile on her face in the distance. Throughout his entire lifespan, both living and dead, this would probably be the most confusing fight he’s ever been in.
This unusual pair came out of nowhere and confronted him. The woman politely introduced herself and then the bird. Being the polite senior he was, he too introduced himself. Then that was when everything stops being so cordial. She soon asked him in the most courteous voice if he would be willing to be captured by her son. As any normal ghost would when asked such a question, he refused.
“That’s quite unfortunate...” She frowned. “I suppose we’ll have to do this another way then. Li Li, defeat him and then capture him in your Soul Lamp.” She then ordered.
“Greetings!” The bird known as Li Li soon bowed. “My name is Li Li, nice to meet you!” Before thousands of ghosts escaped from his body and the lamp on his waist, surging toward him like a tsunami.
Now he’s been fighting for the past several hours despite cutting the boy down several times. No matter if his heart is pierced, brain sliced in half, or his body was reduced to chunks. He didn’t stay down. This spirit beast didn’t know the meaning of death and seemed to have a small grudge against him for killing him so many times.
“Stupid! Idiot! Sword loser!” He thought of a new childish insult every time he attacked. “Grrr! Why can’t I win?!” Li Li whined.
The spirit beast seemed just like a real human child but more on the freakish side. Throughout their battle, his ability to learn was absolutely monstrous. Ancient Sword Immortal was forced to slowly but consistently use more of his true power and skill as time went on. Although it wasn’t that big of an increase, this was still only a child!
“Unbelievable...” Ancient Sword Immortal expressed as he killed the last of the boy’s ghosts.
Despite losing thousands of his ghosts, Li Li didn’t stop in his enraged pursuit to best this ghost. The only ones left were the six Ghostly Kings. Jing captured them before the Ancient Sword Immortal could kill them. She thought they had too much value to be killed after going through some trouble to capture them.
Li Li charged for the umpteenth time. His eyes closely watching and analyzing every single movement made by the Ancient Sword Immortal. Just as he was about to throw a kick, the old ghost already saw through his movements. Ancient Sword Immortal crouched low and tripped him off his feet. As Li Li was submitting to the laws of gravity, Ancient Sword Immortal elbowed the back of his head into the ground before sitting on top of his back.
“Girl. I do not appreciate being used by my juniors.” He used qi to suppress Li Li’s fierce struggling. Since he couldn’t kill him, he just needed to contain him.
“You’re already dead. Being used by those alive is the best outcome for a restless spirit like yourself.” Jing replied.
“I don’t understand you. Do you believe you’ll be able to escape from me after trying to use me like this?” Ancient Sword Immortal asked.
“I believe I used you quite well. My son has gained some valuable experience and I've learned a little bit more of his personality. He had quite the arrogant side I wasn’t aware of. You should feel proud being able to find some use even after refusing to pass on. What use is the dead if not their wisdom and experience?” Jing smiled.
Ancient Sword Immortal vanished from atop of Li Li as he appeared in front of Jing, his sword already in motion to decapitate her.
“Sadly, I'm not in need of any of your skills or experience.” A barrier of water blocked the ghost’s sword strike. Jing’s face didn’t change in the slightest.
“...” Ancient Sword Immortal didn’t expect that she would be able to block his strike.
“I dislike the common sword and I lived a life far longer than you could understand.” Jing explained.
Before the Ancient Sword Immortal could strike again, Jing teleported to Li Li’s body.
“Maybe we’ll meet again. If my son is anything like me, he’s the type to hold a grudge. So be prepared for a rematch in the future.” Jing placed a talisman on herself as she held Li Li’s body.
The mother and son pair left the Ancient Sword Immortal in the middle of the ruined forest. He looked on in the distance where the two disappeared at. He wasn’t quite sure what to think of at the moment. Should he feel embarrassed to be used and played around with by his junior? Angry and humiliated? Or should he take in the words of his junior and reflect on them?
“...” Whichever his decision was, no one would know until seven months later when the Ancient Sword Immortal found himself a disciple.
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A true master would feel no shame or humiliation from being put in the same position as that sword ghost dude.
Also, what happened to everybody else who was in front of the door when the crew opened it?
Kojiro Sasaki, the ultimate loser
+1 in agreement to the AN
Oh, wait… 