"I didn't expect Purple Cloud to be so straightforward, it's somewhat beyond my expectations." After listening to the purple giant snake, Zhu Bufan suddenly said something inexplicable, then sat in front of the snake's head to catch his breath, given the enormous exhaustion he had just experienced.

Hearing Zhu Bufan mention Purple Cloud, the giant snake's eyes flashed with a hint of sharp light, but it did not immediately respond. Seeing Zhu Bufan, despite being covered in blood, still looking at it with a half-smiling gaze, the purple giant snake finally spoke: "How did you know that I am Purple Cloud?"

"Feeling." Looking at the weak purple giant snake, Zhu Bufan continued, "At first, I just had a vague sense of familiarity, but it wasn't clear until that substantive purple light burst out from you, then I was sure you are Purple Cloud. Tell me, how did this happen, how did the Soul Sword turn into a giant snake? Changing into a snake is not a big deal, but fighting against me is a major issue." After saying this, Zhu Bufan chuckled.

Seeing Zhu Bufan still smirking, but the awe-inspiring murderous aura on him having faded a lot, the purple giant snake looked at Zhu Bufan with complex eyes for a long time before sighing and saying: "It's hard to imagine how much a person can change."

After pausing, the purple giant snake continued, "Actually, the answer is quite simple. I am the Sword Spirit of Purple Cloud."

"How is that possible?" Hearing the purple giant snake's words, Zhu Bufan frowned, "Don't treat me like a fool, Purple Cloud is a Soul Sword, how can it have a Sword Spirit?"

"Why can't a Soul Sword have a Sword Spirit? Ordinary swords are forged with metal, while Soul Swords are crafted from souls. Although the materials are different, both involve forging swords. Why can ordinary swords have Spirit Communication, but not Soul Swords?" Staring at Zhu Bufan with its golden eyes, the purple giant snake calmly questioned.

"This..." Being queried in this way by the purple giant snake, Zhu Bufan was indeed lost for words. Indeed, it could be argued that Soul Swords, being forged from souls, could even more easily gain spiritual intelligence, especially since the Soul Sword had long been nourished by Zhu Bufan's Primordial Qi.

"You have a point there, but I haven't cultivated Purple Cloud for very long, how could I have cultivated such a ferocious Sword Spirit like you?"

"Of course, with your ability, even if you had another hundred thousand years, you wouldn't be able to cultivate a Sword Spirit like me." The purple giant snake somewhat agreed with Zhu Bufan's words. Hearing this, Zhu Bufan's face turned dark, but soon, the purple giant snake's next words made him forget his anger, "To be precise, I am the original, the Sword Spirit of the Soul Sword Purple Cloud created by the original master of the Nine Sword Technique."

"Hiss."

Hearing the giant snake's words, Zhu Bufan truly gasped. From the moment he fully controlled Purple Cloud, Zhu Bufan began to realize the terror of the Nine Sword Technique. Although Elder Huo said that practicing the Nine Sword Technique separately would at most amount to a lower Human Rank mental method, as Zhu Bufan proficiently harnessed Purple Cloud, such comparisons to any lower Human Rank mental method became insignificant. Whether it was the natural recovery ability of Primordial Qi or the quality of attack power, the mental method cultivated through Purple Cloud yielded Primordial Qi not inferior to any upper Human Rank mental method, and the Purple Cloud summoned was extraordinarily sharp.

Naturally, the creator of such a mental method couldn't possibly be a nobody. From Emperor Yan's words, Zhu Bufan had also vaguely learned that the creator of the Nine Sword Technique was indeed a formidable hero, so Zhu Bufan held deep respect for the mysterious creator. Now hearing from the giant snake that it was actually the Sword Spirit of that first Purple Cloud, Zhu Bufan was, of course, astonished.

"Now that we've discussed this, you must understand that the Nine Sword Technique is not an ordinary method for cultivating Soul Swords." Saying this, seeing Zhu Bufan nod seriously, the giant snake continued, "I know you've heard something called the Life Soul Sacrificial Divine Weapon. This Sword Spirit, back then, was indeed born from a sacrifice, or perhaps I should say, my soul was fused into Purple Cloud."

"Are you saying you were originally the subject of the sacrifice?" Seeing the huge purple giant snake, Zhu Bufan truly had difficulty imagining that such a being could still be captured for a sacrificial ritual.

"Don't think too much about it, being sacrificed alive is indeed voluntary for me. Otherwise, with our level, if we didn't want to be sacrificed, we could explode our souls at any time, and no one could do anything to us." Seeing Zhu Bufan's odd expression, the purple giant snake leisurely said: "My true form is a 'Purple Cloud Golden Horned Sky Swallowing Python'. Forcing us into sacrificial slavery is absolutely impossible."

"Your voluntary sacrifices," although Zhu Bufan was unsure if the Purple Cloud Golden Horned Sky Swallowing Python was saying this to save face, it was indeed something he had heard from Emperor Yan. At a certain rank, even if a demon beast is beaten half-dead, it can still destroy its soul, making it impossible for you to create a Divine Weapon. Creatures that haven't reached the capability of committing soul suicide, and those with weaker spiritual intelligence, surely don't just let out a Soldier Spirit who then freely attacks their master, do they? What would be the point of the painstakingly acquired Soldier Spirit?

"Right, since you are the first Sword Spirit of the Purple Cloud, that explains the sensation I felt. However, I'm curious, since you are the first Sword Spirit of the Purple Cloud, why did you appear before me? The Soul Sword is different from common weapons, can a Sword Spirit actually be inherited? If dozens of people practiced the Nine Sword Technique of the Purple Cloud, wouldn't you have to be split into over ten pieces? What exactly is your purpose in seeking me out specifically? Surely you won't say it's because I am handsome, right?"

"If several people sought you out simultaneously, would you disintegrate into ten segments?" The Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python, unusually for it, spoke sarcastically to Zhu Bufan, "The Nine Sword Technique you practice, aside from being able to summon a Soul Sword, also can summon us, the Sword Spirits. Of course, those who haven't even merged with the Soul Sword don't have the right yet. And for you, aside from your cultivation being too low, everything else is barely passable."

"Hehe, being beaten into the ground by someone whose cultivation is too low, barely passing the rest, I wonder what impression that gives you, mighty voluntarily sacrificed Sword Spirit?" Hearing the Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python's words, Zhu Bufan couldn't help but retort.

"If my cultivation hadn't been restricted, do you think you could have defeated me?" Although still spoken in a calm tone, after Zhu Bufan spoke, golden eyes of the Purple Cloud Golden Horned Sky Swallowing Python began to pulse with purple light. However after a moment, the Purple Cloud Golden Horned Sky Swallowing Python withdrew its fiery glare, saying, "Of course, the true reason, I cannot say right now, but you will understand it eventually."

"Fine, let's not discuss your reason for seeking me out. I just want to ask, you didn't come here just to blindly engage in a fight to the death with me, did you? If that really was your answer, I would be very disappointed." Seeing that the Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python didn't explode, Zhu Bufan naturally backed off. Not to mention that both he and the snake were weary and injured at this point, Zhu Bufan didn't think he could win against the Swallowing Sky Python even in its current heavily wounded state.

"Actually, you have more or less guessed it already; you just hope to confirm it from me. No mistake, my battle with you this time was to see if you truly deserve to possess the Purple Cloud, to truly house me within the Nine Sword Technique of the Purple Cloud." The Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python didn't conceal its purpose and spoke directly to Zhu Bufan.

"So, what's the result?" Hearing the words of the Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python, Zhu Bufan's eyes flashed with brilliance. He had already fully witnessed the power of the Purple Cloud Golden Horned Sky Swallowing Python—this was even when its cultivation had been greatly suppressed! If such a powerful Sword Spirit resided within the Purple Cloud, then the Purple Cloud would certainly be much stronger than before.

"As far as the results go, you passed, but it's undeniable that you took advantage of the restriction on my cultivation, limiting the moves I could use. However, these aren't excuses." Saying this, the Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python sighed then continued, "Well then, consider this a win for you this time. I will return to reside within the Purple Cloud. Of course, until your strength is truly sufficient, you will not be able to unlock the true power of the Purple Cloud, do not forget this."

"Wait a minute!" Hearing that the Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python intended to return to the Purple Cloud, Zhu Bufan quickly stood up. Under the puzzled gaze of the Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python, Zhu Bufan asked, "Tell me honestly, if I had failed your test, what would have been my fate?"

"Although this is a realm of spirit and soul, and our battle is only on the level of spirit and soul, any damage you sustain will be reflected on your physical body in reality." The Purple Cloud Swallowing Sky Python remained honest and unrestrained, "So, if you were defeated, you would only have death to face. The Nine Sword Technique doesn't need weak practitioners. So even though you defeated me, I wouldn't be angry, but if you had lost to me, I wouldn't hesitate to kill you."

Having said this, while Zhu Bufan was still stunned and unsure how to respond, the body of the Purple Cloud Golden Horned Sky Swallowing Python slowly began to become ethereal. With a 'swoosh,' it transformed into a purple light and rapidly surged into the mysterious mark on the back of Zhu Bufan's hand.

As the purple light merged into the mark, the mark on Zhu Bufan's hand began to change and started to expand. Before long, what had been a tiny mark grew to cover half of his hand, resembling a coiled Heavenly Snake.

"This is bad, that damn snake said my injuries here are connected with reality, so could it be?" Just as he thought this, Zhu Bufan noticed the surrounding Chaotic Void beginning to collapse, plunging him into darkness. When Zhu Bufan opened his eyes once more, he had returned to his original location.

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