Chapter 13: The Nine Decisions of the Nether Character
A massive and surging battle aura generated an immense force field. Ah Dai had just been kicked a full fifty meters away by Owen, yet the scene unfolding before his eyes would remain forever etched in his memory.
The Vice President shouted loudly, “He’s going all out! Everyone, attack together!” No longer able to remain on the sidelines, he shifted his body sideways and unleashed a huge golden claw-shaped battle aura toward Owen’s figure hovering in the air.
Owen laughed bitterly and wildly as the eerie blue light suddenly flared with overwhelming intensity. “Nether King’s Blade Slash—Stand—Decision—” All the overlapping images merged into one, transforming into a colossal blade of deep blue light that slashed downward with urgent force. The golden claw-shaped battle aura vanished instantly. Though the blade slowed slightly, it still claimed the life of one assassin. This killer left no corpse behind, completely disappearing into thin air.
The vice president was utterly terrified. He had only ever heard of two moves of the Nether King’s Sword: “Nether Flash,” which shook heaven and earth, and “Nether Chain Flash,” which startled gods and demons. Confident he could handle both, he had feared no resistance from Owen. Yet now, an unheard-of third move of the Nether King’s Sword Technique appeared, shocking him profoundly. Had his subordinates not sacrificed their lives to neutralize that eerie and domineering attack, he doubted he could have survived it. No longer holding back, the vice president erupted with brilliant golden light, countless claw shadows surging toward Owen, the “Nether King” who had just unleashed the third strike. The remaining two assassins of the Yuan Kill Group followed him without hesitation; even facing such a formidable foe, their resolve remained unshaken.
Owen, having already committed everything, roared furiously, “Die! Nether King Phantom Shadow—Endless—” Countless ethereal blue lights streamed forth from his body, rushing toward the vice president hovering in midair. “There’s more?” the vice president cried out in alarm as a vast wave of blue radiance, brimming with the aura of death, surged toward him. His own fighting energy seemed utterly powerless, completely devoured by the onslaught. Abandoning any thought of attack to focus solely on survival, the vice president spread his arms wide, grabbed the two assassins beside him, channelled all his power, and hurled them directly into the sweeping tide of ghostly blue light.
The last two assassins vanished into thin air before they could even utter a scream. The lingering blue radiance still tore away the vice president’s left hand. Feeling his vital blood and life force rapidly draining from the stump where his hand had been, he acted without hesitation: gripping his own left elbow, he brutally ripped off his forearm and flung it into the air.
Owen, resembling a vengeful demon, lunged at the vice president, roaring, “Nether King…”
Hearing just those two words, the vice-president, startled like a bird frightened by the mere twang of a bowstring, struck the ground with all his might using his right palm. Amidst a thunderous roar, a crater three meters deep appeared on the ground, and he used the rebound force to leap away like a bouncing star, vanishing into the distance.
All of this happened within the blink of an eye. By the time A-Dai rushed back, everything was already over. Owen was half-kneeling on the ground, panting heavily. A-Dai threw himself in front of Owen and excitedly shouted, “Uncle, Uncle, you’re so amazing! You’ve scared all the bad guys away!”
Owen did not answer, gasping violently. Startled, A-Dai hurriedly ran behind Owen and infused his own pure life-force energy into Owen’s body. With A-Dai’s support, Owen seemed to feel much better; he let out a long breath, turned his head toward A-Dai, and said, “Quick, help me back to my room. Don’t stop—keep channeling your energy into me.”
A-Dai was shocked to discover that Owen’s eyes had turned completely red, while a faint blue aura appeared on his face. Hastily, he helped up Owen, who looked like a figure drenched in blood, draped Owen’s arm over his own shoulder, placed his other hand on Owen’s back, and continuously transmitted his energy.
Back in the room, A-Dai helped Owen lie down on the bed. Placing one hand on Owen’s lower abdomen where his dantian resided, A-Dai exerted all his strength to circulate his energy. However, he found the condition within Owen’s body extremely chaotic: energy surged wildly in every direction. Owen’s complexion alternated between red and pale; although the blue aura had not intensified, it showed no signs of fading either.
“That’s enough, A-Dai. Don’t infuse so much energy; just maintain a small amount,” Owen said, opening his blood-red eyes and speaking between gasps.
“Uncle, are you going to be alright? Please rest well and avoid talking too much; you will surely recover,” A-Dai asked with deep concern.
Owen gently shook his head and said, “A-Dai, listen to your uncle. There are many things I need to tell you. If I don’t speak now, it will be too late.”
Tears streamed down from the corners of A-Dai’s eyes as he shook his head vigorously, saying, “No, no, Uncle! You will definitely be fine; you will surely recover.”
A faint smile appeared on Owen’s face as he said, “Child, everyone must face death someday. Your uncle is already over sixty, so passing away now cannot be considered dying young. Yet, I still have many unfulfilled wishes, and I hope you can help me complete them. Only then will my heart be truly at peace.”
“A-Dai choked up and said, ‘Uncle, please tell me. A-Dai will definitely do his best to help you fulfill your wish.'”
Owen sighed and said, “Looking back on my life, Uncle feels truly ashamed; it has been nothing but absurd. In my youth, I was brash and arrogant, relying on my formidable martial arts to roam the continent. Seeking greater wealth, I joined an assassin organization—the Continental Assassins’ Guild. Back then, young and reckless, I knew no fear. I carried out several major missions that caused quite a stir. However, due to insufficient caution, my identity was exposed, making me a wanted criminal jointly pursued by the four great empires. From that moment on, I could never return to an ordinary life and became irretrievably entangled within the Assassins’ Guild. By the age of twenty-seven, I had already reached the rank of Annihilator. At thirty-seven, I became the leader of the Annihilation Division within the guild. Although the number of assassins in the guild is not large, each possesses powerful martial skills, excelling in concealment and assassination. They are divided into four groups: the highest-ranking Annihilation Division, followed by the Endurance Killing Division, the Shadow Assassination Division, and the Strike Assassination Division.”
Owen gasped several times. A Dai quickly increased the flow of his Shengsheng True Qi into him. Owen glanced at him, his blood-red eyes revealing a trace of sorrow.
“Uncle, please rest for a while; don’t speak yet.”
Owen shook his head and said, “If I don’t speak now, there will be no other chance. After I finish, you must leave this place immediately. I don’t expect you to remember every word I say, but you must listen carefully, as this concerns your future. Besides the four fixed mission-executing groups, the Assassins’ Guild has another, even more mysterious group. Those who intercepted us earlier, bearing a silver skull emblem on their chests, belong to them. Within the organization, they are called Prime Annihilators. So-called Prime Annihilators are veteran-level Annihilators—all assassins over sixty years of age who have retired from active duty after reaching the Annihilator rank. The organization supports them for the rest of their lives. Naturally, since they possess many years of assassination experience and each boasts extraordinary martial prowess, they are still deployed for certain special missions. These Prime Annihilators hold an extremely prestigious status within the organization; only the Master—ah, no, only the President of the Assassins’ Guild—can mobilize them. I do not know their exact number, but it should not be large. Today we killed six; I estimate there might be at most six more remaining. The one with a golden skull embroidered on his chest is the Vice President of the Assassins’ Guild. You have witnessed his martial abilities; without the Nether King Sword, I would stand no chance against him.”
Ai Dai asked, ‘Uncle, is that vice president your enemy?’
Owen’s bloodshot eyes widened as he spat with hatred, “He is only one of them. There is another—the head of the Assassins’ Guild, whom all assassins call the Master. I stayed within the organization for so many years, yet I never discovered his true identity. It was he who shattered my once-peaceful life and ruined my entire existence.” His body suddenly convulsed, twitching uncontrollably as overwhelming hatred radiated from him. After a long pause, Owen continued, “Since we’ve come this far, I must tell you my secret, Ai Dai. Unbutton the front of my robe.”
Ai Dai hesitated for a moment but complied nonetheless. Carefully, he opened Owen’s blood-soaked front garment. Beneath it, his inner shirt bore a tear, under which something bulged slightly.
Owen took a deep breath. A flash of white light crossed his face as he barely managed to press a spot on his back, causing the bulge on his chest to shift. With great care, he retrieved an object through the tear in his inner shirt. It was a black leather sheath, traversed diagonally by a long strap. The slender sheath measured about five inches in length. Protruding from it was a black sword hilt intricately carved with various complex symbols. At its end rested a black gemstone, swirling with light and continuously emitting a faint aura of evil.
Owen gazed somewhat obsessively at the exposed sword hilt and sighed, “This is the Nether King Sword that made my uncle famous across the continent.” He grasped the hilt and drew the Nether King Sword from its scabbard. Carved upon the black sheath was a lifelike white dragon, yet this dragon bore no scales, only bones; it bared its fangs and brandished its claws, appearing exceedingly eerie. Especially in the region of the bone dragon’s eyes, two gems shimmered with an eerie blue light. Though still sheathed, the moment it left the scabbard, its evil aura surged dramatically. Even protected by his Shengsheng true energy, A Dai could not help but shiver involuntarily.
“This scabbard has not left my body for nearly forty years. My epithet, ‘Nether King,’ stems precisely from this sword. This blade is the most sinister and evil object under heaven. Although it granted me unparalleled power, it also indirectly ruined my life. At that time, I was twenty-seven years old. Having diligently practiced martial arts since childhood, I was already considered a master. Young and reckless, I loved adventure and roamed the continent with a group of companions. By chance, we entered an ancient secret vault. Though filled with intricate traps, it aroused our curiosity. After nearly a month of effort, we finally penetrated into the vault’s interior. Inside, there were no treasures as we had imagined, only a massive Demon-Sealing Array. And this Nether King Sword hung suspended within the array. Only later did I understand that the purpose of the Demon-Sealing Array was to seal the sword’s evil aura. We tried many methods but still could not break the array. For a group of adventurers like us, how could we simply give up? Finally, after more than a month of effort, we located the array’s nexus. The instant we destroyed the nexus, a vast surge of evil energy engulfed the lives of my companions. I, however, having cultivated since youth the Shengsheng Technique imbued with sacred energy, miraculously survived. As if possessed of spiritual awareness, the Nether King Sword drifted down before me. The deaths of my companions profoundly shook my heart. I originally intended to return the Nether King Sword to the Demon-Sealing Array, but alas, the array had been destroyed and could never be restored. Just then, a voice suddenly echoed through the cavern—a voice I can still clearly recall even now. It was a message transmitted via high-level magic. The voice identified itself as the Fourth Generation Pope, who had once inadvertently discovered the Nether King Sword and nearly been consumed by its immense evil power. With all his ability, he could not destroy the blade; thus, together with several cardinals, he established that Demon-Sealing Array to imprison the Nether King Sword. He declared that whoever broke this array would become a criminal against the world, and that one must prevent the Nether King Sword’s evil from running rampant, becoming instead its guardian. When the Pope originally obtained the Nether King Sword, he also acquired two scrolls. One contained the method for wielding the Nether King Sword; the other remained incomprehensible even to him. I calculated the timeline: by the time I obtained the Nether King Sword, it was already at least several thousand years old. You must understand, the current Pope is already the Twenty-Eighth Generation.”
Owen gazed excitedly at the Evil Sword in his hands, then shook his head sorrowfully. The tale of the Nether King’s Sword also stirred A-Dai’s curiosity. While keeping the sinister energy at bay outside his body, he couldn’t help but ask, “If this sword is so evil, why does Uncle still wield it?”
Owen smiled bitterly and replied, “That is the desire of mankind. Although the Nether King’s Sword is evil, it harbors immense power. Possessing such power enables one to become an unparalleled master. How could I, who passionately love martial arts, resist such temptation? In the cave, I unlocked the methods for using the Nether King’s Sword and, following its descriptions, learned two of its techniques. At that time, I had not yet sunk as deeply as I later would; I still remembered what the Pope had taught me, so I kept the Nether King’s Sword hidden away, allowing no one to see it. This sheath was personally crafted by the Pope himself and possesses the ability to suppress sinister energy. Therefore, while the sword remained within the sheath, its evil aura was not particularly evident.” As he spoke, he returned the Nether King’s Sword to its sheath. The sinister energy receded, and A-Dai immediately breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, the blue hue on Owen’s face deepened further; his body trembled continuously, clearly indicating that the Wu Er Holy Water was beginning to take effect.
“Uncle, it seems the poison from the Holy Water is starting to act. Please rest first; let me help you suppress it with my Sheng Sheng Battle Qi.”
Owen shook his head and said, “There’s no need. The poison has penetrated deep into my bones; it lies beyond the reach of fate. Uncle cannot be saved. Let me finish speaking; otherwise, even in death, I shall find no peace. All this has been bottled up inside me for far too long. When I was twenty-seven years old, I had already cultivated the Sheng Sheng Technique to its fifth realm—the very realm you will soon attain. Although my cultivation was not insignificant, I still fell short when facing true masters. Both my parents died tragically in a tsunami when I was young. During my wandering days, I was taken in by my master, who is now one of the five renowned Sword Saints across the continent. His cultivation has reached a realm transcending mortality and entering sainthood. After obtaining the Nether King’s Sword, I wished to return to my master’s side as quickly as possible to continue my arduous training. However, along the way, I encountered a band of bandits who were plundering a small village, committing every conceivable atrocity through burning, killing, and looting. At that time, I still possessed a strong sense of justice; without hesitation, I charged forward. By the time I had slain most of the bandits, their leader appeared. Never did I expect to encounter such a formidable expert in that remote, impoverished region. Within merely a dozen exchanges, I was severely wounded by him. Recognizing my sect, and fearing retaliation from my master, he decided to kill me to silence me forever. In that critical moment between life and death, I recalled the Nether King’s Sword. Under my control, I unleashed that technique known as ‘Nether Flash: One Strike Shakes Heaven and Earth.’ Since it was my first time using it, I had not yet fully mastered it. That single strike not only killed my opponent, but the evil energy of the Nether King’s Sword also drained all remaining life from everyone in the village. It was precisely my reckless use of the Nether King’s Sword that altered the course of my entire life.” Upon finishing these words, Owen’s face was filled with anguish.
A-Dai, stunned and dazed, stammered, “Did everyone in the village die?”
Owen nodded, speaking painfully, “Yes, they all perished; not a single soul survived. They were completely turned into desiccated corpses. The sinister energy of the Nether King’s Sword is simply too domineering. When I awoke, I discovered that everyone in the village had already become dried corpses. That scene nearly drove me mad. I had never killed so many people before! At that moment, I swore I would never again wield the Nether King’s Sword. It took me over a month to recover. Yet, on my way back to my master, I encountered members of the Assassins’ Guild. Somehow, they learned I possessed the Nether King’s Sword and persistently urged me to join them. As a disciple of a righteous and prestigious sect, how could I possibly join them? I flatly refused and sent them away. But who could have known that precisely because of this, the one I loved most suffered humiliation and died.” Owen tightly gripped the hilt of the Nether King’s Sword, his entire body trembling continuously. Overwhelming hatred surged from him, while his blood-red eyes flickered with a layer of black mist.
Raising his hand, Owen stopped A-Dai from speaking and continued, “My master had two children, a son and a daughter. His daughter was the one I loved most. Although I roamed like a wild horse, constantly training abroad, there was always a thread tethering my heart: her, my beloved woman. When I returned to my master’s side, my junior sister’s death struck me like a bolt from the blue, leaving me unable to control myself. My fellow disciples all said she died because of me. Indeed, if it weren’t for me, how would my junior sister have descended the mountain to train? She went out searching for me! As a result, in a small city, she was ambushed and first raped, then murdered—” Owen’s teeth ground together audibly, his blood-red eyes turning a pale grayish-black. The astonishing resentment and evil pressed upon A-Dai so heavily he could barely breathe.
After a long while, Owen’s emotions gradually calmed. Red tears streamed from his eyes. “My junior sister died, and we didn’t even know who the murderer was. I ran out as if mad, asking everyone I met, ‘Did you kill my junior sister?’ searching everywhere like a lunatic. Just as I was on the verge of collapse, members of the Assassins’ Guild found me again. They told me that if I joined their assassin organization, they would reveal who killed my junior sister. At that time, consumed by rage and desperation, I agreed without hesitation. Thus, they led me to the murderer of my junior sister—a nobleman from the Sunset Empire. He openly admitted his crime. I did not use the Heavenly Gang Sword Technique taught by my master; instead, I unleashed the Nether King’s Sword, whose evil reached the heavens. It was a night drenched in blood. The nobleman’s entire household, comprising 123 souls, was consumed by the evil of the Nether King’s Sword; apart from the nobleman himself, who died beneath my blade, all others lost their souls to its malevolence. Influenced by the evil of the Nether King’s Sword, I resolutely joined the Assassins’ Guild, becoming an Exterminator. Ten years—ten whole years! Only then did my consciousness recover through the life force of the Sheng-Sheng Jue. But by then, I was already beyond redemption; the title of the continent’s number one assassin had long been placed upon my head. Wherever I went, I remained an assassin whose hands were stained with blood. A-Dai, Uncle is a bad person, isn’t he? Uncle has killed so many people.”
A-Dai’s heart had long been stunned by Owen’s story; his mind had nearly ceased to think. Shaking his head blankly, he murmured, “No, I don’t know. I truly don’t know.”
Owen said, “My entire life… thirty years as an assassin have ruined me. Just a few months before I first met you, by chance, I overheard a conversation between the Master and the Vice President. Their words revealed a truth: my junior sister’s death back then was orchestrated entirely by them. Their sole purpose was to draw me into becoming a member of the Assassins’ Guild. I hate it; I hate it so much! Why was I so foolish back then? I wanted to rush in and seek revenge, but my years as an assassin taught me to remain clear-headed even in moments of utmost fury. Even wielding the Sword of the Underworld King, I might not have been a match for the Master and the Vice President. Thus, I chose assassination. I would wait for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack upon them and avenge my junior sister’s blood-soaked death.”
A-Dai looked at Owen in astonishment, muttering, “A conspiracy? Was that really a conspiracy?”
Owen nodded painfully. “Yes, it was a conspiracy. A-Dai, you are simply too kind. In this dog-eat-dog society, kindness only leads to being bullied. Perhaps I inadvertently revealed something in my expression, for the Master discovered that I knew the secret. Naturally, he would not allow me to threaten his life. Without showing any trace of suspicion, he invited me to drink. Ever since my junior sister died, apart from killing, alcohol became my everything. I drank the wine he offered, never expecting it to contain the continent’s foremost poison, the Peerless Sacred Water. After I consumed that cup of wine, the Master—no, that beast—frankly told me the truth. He did not kill me outright but instead gave me a choice. He said that if I were willing to abandon my past hatred, he would provide me with the antidote to the Peerless Sacred Water.”
A Dai was stunned for a moment and said, “But there is no antidote for the Wuer Sacred Water!”
Owen nodded and replied, “I know that. However, given the circumstances at the time, I had no choice but to agree to consider it. Later, I seized an opportunity to escape. That beast sent twelve of my former subordinates, the Exterminators, to hunt me down. What happened afterward in the Illusion Forest, you witnessed yourself. Reflecting on it now, perhaps that beast possesses a method to suppress poison similar to yours. But even if he truly could cure my poisoning, how could I possibly beg for mercy before my own enemy?”
After a brief pause, Owen continued, “A-Dai, do you know why I was able to kill all those people, with only the Vice President managing to escape?”
A-Dai replied, “Uncle, your martial prowess is profound; naturally, those evildoers were no match for you.”
Owen shook his head and said, “No. With my abilities, I could at most handle two Yuan Killers. Even at my peak, wielding the Nether King Sword, my strength would only suffice to eliminate five Yuan Killers. Do you remember your world-shattering strike? That method of compressing and unleashing one’s full potential. Today, I employed that very technique. Disregarding the consequences, I completely compressed the Sheng-Sheng true energy within my body. Initially, I refrained from fighting back precisely to compress this energy. The instantaneous burst of power was indeed formidable; I even managed to unleash the fourth form of the Nether King Sword. Unfortunately, by the time I reached the fifth form, that explosive energy had been entirely exhausted. It was fate! Having exerted my full power, I could no longer control the poison within me. The Sheng-Sheng true energy in my body has been depleted. The toxicity of the Wu-Er Sacred Water began taking effect the moment I wielded the Nether King Sword. Had you not continuously supported my body with your Sheng-Sheng true energy, I would have perished long ago. What a pity I couldn’t kill the Vice President as well. This Nether King Sword now belongs to you. Consider it my final gift to you.” As he spoke, he handed over the leather pouch he held.
Recalling the evil nature of the Nether King Sword, A-Dai said with some terror, “No, Uncle, I don’t want it. I…”
How could Owen fail to see what was in Adai’s heart? He sighed and said, “Child, the sword itself is innocent. Although the Nether King Sword harbors an aura of utmost evil, it is perfectly suited for slaying villains. After years of research, I have discovered that the Shengsheng True Qi is precisely the nemesis of this evil energy. It is exactly because I cultivated the Shengsheng True Qi that I have remained untouched by evil. Once your Shengsheng Technique reaches the eighth level, you will be able to control the release of this evil energy and will not easily harm the innocent.” As he spoke, Owen took two pieces of sheepskin from the sword scabbard. “One of these contains the cultivation methods for the Nine Decisions of the Nether Character within the Nether King Sword Technique; the other holds something even the Pope himself could not comprehend. You must study it carefully. I estimate that this ancient script inscribed on sheepskin conceals certain secrets of the Nether King Sword. The Nine Decisions of the Nether Character can be considered the strongest sword technique under heaven, comprising nine moves in total. Its power can only be unleashed when wielded together with the Nether King Sword. As for the specific cultivation methods, you must explore them yourself. Cultivation itself is not difficult; the key lies in controlling that evil energy so it does not harm you.” Having said this, he placed the sheepskin back into the sword scabbard and handed it to Adai once more.
Seeing the expectation in Owen’s eyes, Adai, who felt nothing but revulsion toward the sword before him, reluctantly accepted it.
Owen clearly breathed a sigh of relief. This Nether King Sword had accompanied him for several decades; he had long developed deep affection for it, even though it had altered the course of his entire life.
Owen pulled a small booklet from his robe and handed it to Adai, saying, “Adai, from this day forward, you are the guardian of the Nether King Sword. In your hands, this sword may only be used to execute evildoers. Do you understand? This booklet contains the cultivation methods for the higher levels of the Shengsheng Technique. Take it and practice diligently. Without the protection of the Shengsheng Technique, you must never wield the Nether King Sword recklessly. My own Shengsheng Technique has reached the eighth level. In my prime, I could repeatedly execute the first two moves of the Nine Decisions of the Nether Character, and if I exerted all my strength, I could unleash the fourth move, Nether Shadow. These nine sword techniques grow progressively stronger with each move; perhaps even the heavenly gods might struggle to withstand the final strike. Once your Shengsheng Technique reaches the fifth level, you may begin practicing the first move, Nether Flash. ‘A single flash of the Nether King shakes heaven and earth.’ In the past, I do not know how many people I slew with just this one move. For every level your Shengsheng Technique advances, you may proceed to practice the next move. Only in this way can the life force within your body remain protected from invasion by the evil energy. At this point, I no longer expect you to avenge me. You are too kind-hearted; how could you possibly contend against those beasts? Unless your very life is at stake, do not轻易 use the Nether King Sword. Once you do draw it, you must kill everyone who sees it. Only then can you ensure your own survival. Do you understand? Perhaps, only when your Shengsheng Technique reaches the ninth level and you have mastered the fifth move of the Nine Decisions of the Nether Character, will you be able to stand against that beast.”