Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 427 - 378: Lifespan

Chapter 427: Chapter 378: Lifespan
Mo Si condensed into the shape of a drill bit, rapidly rotating and plummeting through the rock layers, its indestructible sawteeth grinding all obstructing rocks into slag.
Li Ang was enveloped within the cone formed by Mo Si. A Micro Light Talisman in his hand cast a glow, illuminating the Ten Thousand Spirit Book he held.
The long-neglected Ten Thousand Spirit Book seemed to sense that the time for a transaction had arrived. Within its opened pages, the ink flowed and transformed like clouds.
"I need to know the way to safely rescue He Fanshuang, and what price I must pay for this," Li Ang said in a low voice.
One must carefully consider when posing questions to the Ten Thousand Spirit Book, as it was not a benevolent entity. The questions had to be precise, leaving no room for vague answers.
Thus, Li Ang did not ask questions like, "How can the Paper Groom be killed?" or "Is He Fanshuang still alive?"
Upon hearing Li Ang’s question, the ink within the Ten Thousand Spirit Book flowed and finally formed a line of text—
*Three years of life*
"Deal," Li Ang declared.
As soon as the words fell, Li Ang felt something within his body flow into the Ten Thousand Spirit Book. He was left hollowed out and as exhausted as if he had not slept for three days and nights.
The Ten Thousand Spirit Book, having gained three years of life, was exceedingly satisfied, and the writing changed again—
*Keep the knee cover on until daylight*
Don’t remove the knee cover?
Li Ang memorized this rule, closed the book, and propelled the drill forward with all his might, following the scent of the Ink Silk Fragment he had placed on He Fanshuang.
Five hundred meters.
Two hundred meters.
One hundred meters.
At last, with a thunderous crash, Mo Si drilled through the rock layer and plummeted into an underground Dark River.
It was pitch-black here. The rock walls on both sides slanted inward toward the middle, forming a narrow, triangular-shaped tunnel with the riverbed.
The water in the Dark River was shallow, only reaching his calves. The icy water was bone-chilling. The light emitted by the Micro Light Talisman allowed him to see many nearly transparent, finger-length fish in the water. On some rocks rising above the water’s surface, a dozen pure white axolotls crawled.
Living permanently in these sunless depths underground, these creatures must have had very poor sight and hearing. They were not startled away even when Li Ang crashed into the river with a loud noise.
Li Ang steadied himself, raised his Mechanical Crossbow, and shot a dozen arrows toward the rock wall in front of the tunnel.
The Spider Movement Talismans on the front end of the arrows stuck them to the rock surface. The Micro Light Talismans at their ends emitted light, forming a strip of light that illuminated the Dark River.
Three Paper Grooms walked along the riverbed.
Their skin and the red official uniforms they wore had all turned a ghastly pale. Their limbs were stiff and straight, no longer moving fluidly but bobbing from side to side as they floated forward.
Three brides wearing knee covers, as if oblivious, trod on the icy river water, following behind them into the darkness.
STOMP!
Li Ang heavily stomped on the riverbed and leaped up. The Spider Movement Talisman attached to his feet firmly adhered him to the Bright Rock Wall, allowing him to skim along the tunnel ceiling like a specter.
The three Paper Grooms, belatedly alert, turned around.
Their facial features had transformed into crude and monotonous lines, stuck onto their paper-like faces, making them appear incredibly stiff and unnatural, more paper than human.
Three pairs of lifeless eyes stared at the approaching Li Ang.
The invisible, unknowing force of the curse struck again, causing Li Ang’s movements to halt. He could hear his own skin, muscles, and even bones making a CRACK! CRACK! sound as they began transforming into the material of a paper person.
Mo Si!
Li Ang rotated his Qi Sea, extending countless ink-colored threads from his spine. They enveloped his whole body, rapidly dissolving the curse’s power.
The same move won’t work on a Saint twice.
Li Ang silently recited this line in his mind, drew a cane from his side, and with a forceful flick, accompanied by a CLING! sound, the cane suddenly extended and transformed into a Triangular Spear.
He pushed off against the rock wall and dove downwards. The spear’s blade, reflecting a dazzling cold light, pierced straight into the face of one Paper Groom.
PFFT!
The Paper Groom’s face was crushed by the immense impact. Its entire face caved in, pressing flat against the back of its head and revealing the sharp contours of the spear blade.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The Paper Groom staggered back several steps, kicking up splashes in the Dark River. Its clumsy, stiff arms suddenly raised, firmly clutching the long spear’s shaft.
You can have it!
Li Ang released the spear shaft. Using the inertia of his downward dive, he landed in front of the Paper Groom. His right hand shot out, grabbed the Paper Groom’s head, and slammed it violently into the river water.
BANG!
Water splashed everywhere. The Paper Groom struggled desperately underwater, yet from the palm of Li Ang’s right hand, azure flames had already burst forth.
Karmic Fire.
Fueled by hatred and pain, this fire of sin could fiercely blaze even underwater, burning the Paper Groom’s sturdy body and gradually tearing apart its defenses.
In the blink of an eye, the paper turned black and withered.
This Paper Groom, as if knowing its deadly fate, stopped struggling. Its right arm slammed into Li Ang’s chest like a battering ram.
BANG!
Li Ang was sent flying. His back slammed against the tunnel ceiling, dislodging countless rocks. He barely regained balance in midair before falling into the river and stabilizing himself.
Even with Mo Si protecting me, two of my ribs are broken...
Li Ang silently rubbed his aching chest.
If another Cultivator of the same realm had faced this, that Paper Groom’s punch would have pierced straight through their chest. These seemingly fragile, lightweight paper figures actually hit harder than those muscle-bound brutes from Body Refinement!
HUFF...
Enduring the pain, Li Ang gently exhaled a breath of turbid air, controlling the Mo Si extending from his spine to rejoin the broken ribs.
One against two.
He looked at the other two Paper Grooms turning to face him, he coldly said, and opened his palm, releasing Telekinesis to retrieve the Triangular Spear lodged in the burned Paper Groom.
Their six eyes met. No words were necessary. Both Paper Grooms vanished on the spot, reappearing beside Li Ang, one on each side. Their papery arms whipping up strong gusts as they pounded toward his head and chest.
So fast...
Li Ang leaned back, narrowly avoiding the blows, while simultaneously releasing Telekinesis to pull himself backward. He raised his arm and pulled the trigger of the Mechanical Crossbow.
WHIZ! WHIZ! WHIZ!
The Mechanical Crossbow rapidly shot a volley of talisman arrows. The Paper Groom on the left advanced instead of retreating, raising its arms in front of itself to meet the arrows head-on.
Firelight, explosions, Frozen Air, and electric currents erupted from the impacts.
Talismans of the Rain Listening Realm struck the Paper Groom, yet after the firelight dissipated, it still stood in its place, only its surface paper turning pitch black.
Talismans from the Rain Listening Realm are ineffective. I have to burn it up close with Karmic Fire...
As the thought arose, the Paper Groom to the right flashed and attacked again.
Li Ang drew his spear upward. The blade sliced through the water surface, creating ripples and piercing into the Paper Groom’s underarm with crystal water droplets.