Tang Dynasty: Inherit the Evil Sword Immortal and destroy gods and demons with one thought!-Chapter 37 - The Dynasty Trembles! Li Qiye’s Evil Sword Takes Shape!

Chapter 37: The Dynasty Trembles! Li Qiye’s Evil Sword Takes Shape!
In Chang’an’s Daming Palace, within the resplendent Zichen Hall, starlight swirled, exuding imperial majesty. Yet, Emperor Li Shimin sat on the dragon throne, his face etched with grim worry. Yesterday, Li Zhi was rushed to the Imperial Medical Academy. Tang’s seven finest physicians laboured to save him, but their verdict was brutal: meridians shattered, vital energy dispersed, a breath of life preserved, but cultivation forever lost. Empress Zhangsun had taken him to Lizheng Hall for care.
The news struck Li Shimin’s imperial heart like a hammer. From yesterday to now, he hadn’t touched a morsel. But Tang’s shadows loomed larger. The Ten Demon Kings’ transformations surged unchecked. Li Shimin sensed Qing Shi and Huang Mei were no outliers. He’d dispatched three divine generals to quell them, but their efforts were futile. Most transformation sites were death traps even for Demon Kings, inaccessible to mortal soldiers, let alone suppressible.
Worse, the hand’s spectre still haunted Tang, crushing Li Shimin’s spirit. Its master’s identity, motives, and next move were unknown. He’d unleashed all Shadow Dragon Guards to scour anyone linked to the Prince of Qin’s mansion, now checking just two criteria, even probing imperial kin. Every person or corpse was scrutinised. Li Shimin braced for a desperate battle if the culprit was found—hidden foes were far deadlier than open ones. Yet, the search yielded nothing.
Li Shimin exhaled heavily, a long sigh escaping. Then, a sharp cry rang out: “Your Majesty, Great Celestial Master Li Chunfeng seeks audience!” Assuming news of the Demon Kings, Li Shimin barked, “Summon him!” Li Chunfeng stumbled in, dropping to his knees. “Your Majesty, disaster! Demon Lord Chong Lou has entered the Mortal Realm!”
Li Shimin’s fingers clamped the dragon desk, knuckles whitening. “Which Demon Lord!?” Li Chunfeng quavered, “Chong Lou, lord of the Demon Realm!” A chill seeped into Li Shimin’s bones. Chong Lou, ageless master of the Demon Realm—what brought him here? Taut, he demanded, “Why has he come?” Li Chunfeng swallowed hard. “Unknown, Your Majesty… he appeared, then vanished.” Li Shimin rubbed his brow, heart aching. Demon Kings unresolved, now a Demon Lord—far more perilous than any king or emperor. After a moment, he ordered sternly, “No one engages Chong Lou. Defiance means death! Li, track his movements and to me!”
In the Demon-Sealing Tower’s twelfth layer, the Blood Demon Sky Pool gleamed, a hundred-zhang-wide stone basin of crystalline water, shimmering softly. Li Qiye arrived, wielding the Demon-Suppressing Sword—once a celestial general’s weapon, claimed by Shu Mountain’s patriarch to seal the Heavenly Demon Emperor. Its potency was undeniable. Today, Li Qiye would use it to nurture the evil sword in his sea of consciousness, with the pool’s spirit-fostering properties as aid.
Without hesitation, he plunged in, the cool water soothing his skin. Holding the sword aloft, black evil qi from his palm enveloped it. In his mind, the sword-embryo solidified further. Outside, the Heavenly Demon Emperor, seeing his master’s focus, departed to clear the layer of demons, ensuring no disturbances. Time passed as Li Qiye honed his blade. At the pool’s edge, a blue-clad figure—Dragon Kui—peeked from behind a boulder, her eyes fixed on him.
She didn’t know why she’d followed, only that demons shunned her in his wake. Li Qiye remained still, statue-like. Dragon Kui watched, sometimes sitting, lost in memories of her past life and her brother, as she had for a millennium. Two hours later, water rippled—she ducked, heart racing. Li Qiye, shaking off droplets, glanced her way, a faint smile curving his lips. His cultivation had long detected her, and he found the timid girl harmless, letting her linger.
His evil sword was one-tenth formed, the Demon-Suppressing Sword still potent. But haste bred flaws. Stowing the blade, he strode to the twelfth layer’s exit. As he vanished, Dragon Kui’s head popped up, her gaze trailing him.