Chapter 768: Chapter 616 Black Moon_2 Chapter 768: Chapter 616 Black Moon_2 Sheathing the Sword of Destiny, Roger heard an angry roar in the distance and knew it was time to leave.

In the past few times, had he not run swiftly, he would have faced not just the Ran’ei Divine Master.

“It’s unclear how far their plans have progressed.”

Roger had a premonition that a battle was about to erupt before long.

Whichever side completed their plan first would gain an overwhelming advantage.

Yet, for Roger, any move by either side was an opportunity.

He needed someone to restrain Sword Master Cold Crow so that he could focus all his might against Yatagarasu Akiryu.

“Still not enough.”

“The Nine Tails state is far from sufficient.”

What Roger needed was not an equal match but an overwhelming victory!

He remained on guard–for Yatagarasu Akiryu had been in the late Fourth Tier for too long, and could step beyond at any moment.

Moreover, his narrow escape from a joint attack by himself and the Elder of Shadows not long ago was proof of that.

In addition, the advance of the Spirit Sword Project could covertly enhance Yatagarasu Akiryu’s fighting power.

Leaving the area controlled by Tengu Shrine, Roger set off directly towards the direction of Qinglu Mountain.

…

Hankawa.

The place was the same throughout the seasons, so much so that over time, one might doubt that everyone was trapped in an endless cycle of the same day.

An orange sun hung in the sky, leaving Hankawa pristine and unblemished.

A trail of clear footprints led up to the peak.

“Sword Master.”

Excitement was suppressed in Michihiro Morita’s voice.

He appeared aged and haggard, but his eyes were wide open, shining with an irrepressible light.

“I’ve succeeded!”

Clatter.

The room door opened, and two figures, one tall and one short, sat inside.

Michihiro Morita hurried into the room, approached Sword Master Cold Crow, and placed the box he was holding on the table.

“The Flower of Eternal Darkness worked much better than expected, the blossom contained robust energy, lucky for us. There were several moments I thought we had failed…” Morita excitedly muttered to himself.

Sword Master Cold Crow, with half-closed eyes, didn’t interrupt him, and it wasn’t until Yatagarasu Akiryu showed signs of impatience that Morita seemed to realize something.

“Please forgive me, Sword Master, I was too excited.”

“Click.”

A soft noise sounded as the wooden box was opened, and the Yatagarasu Akiryu sitting beside them straightened up, keenly curious about the weapon.

But he was disappointed.

The box didn’t contain a glaring weapon, but a pool of liquid that kept changing colors, casting a metallic sheen and filled with bursting vitality.

Yatagarasu Akiryu even sensed a distinctive aura of the Three-legged Crow emanating from within the box.

“What is this?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“This is the Spirit Sword,” Morita declared with pride.

Sword Master Cold Crow extended a hand as dessicated as a barren tree, skin as thin as paper; he was now horribly emaciated.

Yet when his fingers touched the flowing liquid, something wondrous occurred.

The liquid moved, automatically surging into the palm of Sword Master Cold Crow and then spreading forward, transforming in the blink of an eye into a pale weapon before them.

It was like a sword but not quite, like a knife but not quite either.

No more than two and a half fingers wide, elongated and sharp, it was entirely pale with a straight spine and only slightly curved at the tip.

Atop the hilt perched a three-legged crow, its beak sharp and eyes emitting a dreadful gleam.

Sword Master Cold Crow reached out his other hand and slowly glided it across the blade.

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

The sound of palm against blade was like sliding over stone.

“Does it have a name?”

“That’s your right,” Morita responded with a bow.

“Then call it Black Moon,” the Sword Master said, with a smile on his face.

He then clenched his hand, and dark mists surged on his body, rapidly diving into the weapon in his hand.

Gradually, his strength ebbed away, but Sword Master Cold Crow’s body began to fill out.

Wrinkles on his skin vanished, muscles became robust, and soon, he had shed his former frailty, his eyes sharp, his back straight, looking decades younger!

“Good, very good.”

“Much stronger than the last test subject, managed to hold so much of my power without any backlash.”

Sword Master Cold Crow revealed a satisfied smile.

“Now, only the Transformation remains.”

“And the Sword Wielder…”

Michihiro Morita added quietly.

“Have you not found a suitable candidate yet?” Yatagarasu Meiryu asked.

“No.”

“Other alternatives would severely impact the Sword Master’s ability to leverage his power.”

“Isn’t Kensumi the best choice?”

Yatagarasu Meiryu inquired.

“Yes, he certainly is,” Michihiro Morita nodded.

“But he is unwilling.”

“The Sword Wielder is not a puppet–if he would cooperate, we would have much fewer troubles,” Morita added.

“Then make him agree!”

Yatagarasu Meiryu sneered, “Leave that to me.”

He nodded to the Sword Master Cold Crow, “Don’t worry, Father, it won’t be long before he comes here of his own accord.”

“How do you plan to do it?” Sword Master Cold Crow asked.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Yatagarasu Meiryu looked at his father, one of his eyes was completely white, while the color of the other eye was changing, gradually shifting to white as well.

Before this moment, outside of battle, one of Yatagarasu Meiryu’s eyes was white while the other was black, but now a transformation was taking place.

This meant that his own power was also changing.

“It’s good that you know,” Sword Master Cold Crow said, looking at his son, “It seems you’ve made your choice.”

Yatagarasu Meiryu nodded, “It should’ve been done earlier; no matter how reluctantly, I must face this reality–as this is the limit of my power.”

After saying this, he turned around and left.

Reaching the level of a Sword Master was the limit for Yatagarasu Meiryu; he had always been accumulating power, hoping to raise it to a relatively high level after advancing.

But the battle with Roger dealt a heavy blow to Yatagarasu Meiryu. After much reflection, he had no choice but to take that step.

His heavy footsteps left deep impressions in the snow as he moved, cloaked in the blizzard, towards the courtyard where Kensumi resided.

Snowflakes floated down like catkins, and, unnoticed, the weather at Hankawa Peak changed again, with the snow falling thickly. The courtyard gates were shut tight, and Kensumi was sitting in the hall on the outer veranda.

In front of him was the empty courtyard–Yuuki Nao’s place, ever since the last time he came down from Hankawa.

For nearly two months now, he had been living here, not going out or seeing anyone.

Kensumi wore a black Crow Feather Robe and had a soft fox fur wrapped around his neck, his body clad securely.

Next to the low table where he sat cross-legged, there was even a fire basin.

Even so, Kensumi’s nose tip and fingertips were slightly red.

Having been stripped of all his power, now he only had physical abilities far beyond the average person.

But this was Hankawa, and the temperature was much lower than outside. With his current physical condition, he also needed to keep warm appropriately here.

“Sword Master Kensumi, what are you thinking about?”

A woman dressed in a snow-white robe with long hair cascading down approached gently.

She rested on Kensumi’s shoulder, wrapping one arm around his.

“Nothing much.”

“Such rare tranquility,” Kensumi said with a wry smile, shaking his head.

“I thought only death could bring such silence, but I never expected to face it while still alive.”

Yuuki Nao said nothing, just drew her arm tighter around him.

Though selfish, deep down she yearned for such a life, even wishing for it to last forever.

THUD!

A majestic figure plummeted from the sky, landing with a loud crash, scattering the surrounding snow and staining the ground with muddy smears.

The quiet was shattered, and Kensumi frowned, watching the Meiryu who had appeared in the courtyard.

“What are you doing here?”

He waved his hand, signaling Yuuki Nao to step back.

Yuuki Nao said nothing, bowed to Yatagarasu Meiryu, and then stepped back slowly.

Yatagarasu Meiryu wore a strange smile, his gaze fixed unblinkingly on Yuuki Nao.

“Good, very good,” he said with a suggestive tone.

Yuuki Nao’s muscles tensed up suddenly. The look from Yatagarasu Meiryu made her feel as if a sharp sword was pressing against her.

“Meiryu, what are you playing at?!”

Kensumi raised his voice.

“Nothing,” Yatagarasu Meiryu withdrew his gaze.

“This woman is fine,” he said.

“Very good, very good.”

Kensumi’s face darkened instantly.