Chapter 171 - Sword Will

Bai and Renxue started going down. There were some traps along the way, but it didn't cause any problem for them. There were two types of traps, the strong ones and the crafty ones. The strong ones were openly seen and were at the level of an all-out Sword Heart, for the crafty they were weak but sneaky attacks, sometimes both of them at the same time. With their level, Bai and Renxue didn't even tire facing such weak attacks while Renxue's spirit sense and Bai's Mind Eye made sneaky attacks futile.

Finally, the stairs ended in a huge 500 meters radius round room. There were swords all around pierced at the ground, they glowed with pale colors, illuminating the room. In the middle of them, there was an area without any swords.

Bai and Renxue looked around, as they didn't see any door or anything similar to an exit they decided to go to the center. Just they stepped forward, the stairs behind disappeared. They carefully walked towards it, completely prepared against the swords, thinking that the most probable was that they would attack them.

Once the arrived at the center, all the swords turned off, leaving the room completely dark. Bai prepared his swords while Renxue expanded her sensed.

"You made it quite quick." Both turned to the new voice. It was a big man, he was 2,5 meters tall, with arms full of muscle, wide like Bai's head. All his body was covered by a gray scaled armor that should weight a tone, only leaving his head exposed, black hair with a rough face, and unkempt beard. With his right hand, he held what should be the helmet of the armor, it was also gray and had the form of a dragon, sharp teeth with two big horns at each side.

Renxue quickly reacted, her 2nd spirit ring shined, all her body emitted a golden glow as she charged towards the man "<Angel Descent>". Before arriving at the man, her 4th ring shined, at her hand, a sword made by golden flames appeared. Renxue held her sword with both hands and slashed sidely at the man.

The man stood still, not reacting at all at the attack. Renxue's sword sliced the man in two over his hip, leaving golden flames as its trail. However, she couldn't feel any resistance, it was like cutting air.

Seeing her attack ineffective, she flapped her wings jumping back. Renxue thought that she could finish it quickly, but seeing that he was someone's strength, she opted to back up and observe him.

"It's usele..." the man stopped at mid sentence, Renxue's golden flames were burning him. He should be immune to physical attacks but weak against energy ones. The man's helmet fell to the ground as he hurried started patting the fire, trying to extinguish it, the swords lighting again the room "Dammit! Purification!"

Renxue prepared to attack again, but the man hurried put his hands forward "Please, stop" his arms were trembling "I'm not here to attack you, I didn't even have a body!"

Seeing the frightened man, Renxue didn't know how to react. She looked at Bai who only shrugged his shoulders, neither knowing what's all about.

"What are you then?" Bai asked.

"I am a Sword Will. Trapped here until I accomplish my task that it's to guide the Sword God successor." the man said "Now that you finally come, I will be free of my confinement and truly disappear." The man was finally able to extinguish Renxue's flames "huff!" he sighed relieved.

"If you want to disappear, why didn't you let her, "Bai said signaling Renxue "Kill you. Her flames seem to do the trick."

The man turned serious "You underestimate the Sword God power. As a Sword Will, I am able to be purified or overcome by a stronger comprehension, but they would only momentary deaths. After not long, I will be formed again." he explained "I can be considered immortal, but eternally trapped here. This didn't mean that I don't sense anything, dying is extremely painful. But now! With you, I will finally be free!"

"So what are you to guide me?" Bai asked.

"This trial is to improve your body constitution, to make it suitable to inherit the divinity of the Sword God. Before the actual test, you will need to get used or you will die horribly. Not like the horribly will change" he said the last in low voice "Oh? Before I forget." He turned towards Renxue "You're for that scavenger who takes advantage of us. As you are here for a completely different matter, you can skip this."

"Rumble!" The floor under Renxue opened showing a different room "Continue, your trial is down."

Renxue stood floating over the opening. She turned to the Sword Will "Can I also do this trial?"

The Sword Will looked at her strangely "Do you really want to do it? It's not like it would affect your trial and you already have the permit to be here, so theoretically there's no problem And as it's about the body, there's no need for high comprehension. But, Are you really sure?"

Renxue turned towards Bai "I promised you that we will work together to complete this trial. I won't continue if it could be helped." She turned to the Sword Will "If Bai can do it. It will be a walk in the park."

"Thanks for your high esteem, Renxue" Bai sarcastically said.

"I suppose that there's always some mȧsȯċhɨst." Said the Sword Will in a low voice "Let's start! I'll need to refine your bodies." Two swords floated and approached him, the swords were completely normal without any ornament, a simple metal blade "Let's start!" the blades started turning red as they were being heated. Bubbles started appearing all over the sword, liquid metal drops started falling across the blade. The swords were being heated to their fusion point until they became two completely liquid metal, the heat over it easily sense by Bai and Renxue "Let's start by the legs as they are less painful."

Bai and Renxue opened their eyes widely, realizing what would happen. "M-maybe, I should continue. This is not my trial after all." Even with her usual cold front, Renxue had passed all her life in comfort, living as the princess of Spirit Hall and as the prince of Heaven Dou. Not prepared for what was to come, not like Bai wasn't to feel pain.

"That train already left" The Sword Will grinned (This happen for attacking me without warning!)

Each liquid shot towards Bai and Renxue. The metal liquid pierced their right legs "AHHHHHHHH!" Both shouted at the unison, the metal burning as it entered their body. It invaded their blood vessels and continued along, burning all in its path. This rather than a test was torture!