As Ye Fan celebrated his successful evolution, Lin Li also noticed the changes in the magic sword in his hand. The sword had transformed from the Blood-handed Butcher Sword into something more transparent, a mysterious azure hue, almost resembling a lightsaber.
"I wonder what new skill this evolution brought?"
Curious, Lin Li channeled his spiritual energy into the sword, but found no immediate changes or abnormalities.
"It seems like it might be another passive skill, similar to the poison or the Skyborne ability, something I'll discover later."
Lin Li shook his head. "Regardless, this sword has now evolved into a high-grade treasure! Even without special skills, a high-grade treasure is not something an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator can possess."
Most Nascent Soul cultivators could only use mid-grade treasures.
As for high-grade treasures, only late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators would have a chance to acquire them.
In the entire Baixing Kingdom, the only people known to possess high-grade treasures were the kings of the Five Great Kingdoms.
This fact alone showed just how precious high-grade treasures were!
And as for treasures beyond even these, such as spirit treasures?
Those only existed in the ancient legends, described as rare, world-shaking artifacts.
"I'll have to find out the full power of this newly evolved sword in battle!" Lin Li thought to himself, eager to test it.
...
Inside the Ten Thousand Tribulations Heavenly Thunder Formation, the Nascent Soul cultivators continued fighting while dodging the unpredictable lightning strikes. After Lin Li had killed Black Wind Ancestor, the Sacred Boundless Alliance was now only two cultivators ahead of Baixing Kingdom.
However...
With the two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Violent Thunder Kingdom essentially fighting on their home turf, their strength had surged, making them capable of fighting two opponents at once!
As a result, the battle between Baixing Kingdom and the Sacred Boundless Alliance had reached a stalemate.
Meanwhile, Lin Li moved on the periphery, waiting for his chance to strike!
Having accumulated countless victories in the Baixing Holy War, Lin Li was already adept at using Like a Fish in Water and Skyborne to move through battlefields and ambush his enemies. When the moment was right, he would use Slaughter or his devastating Stunning Sword to instantly kill his opponents.
In just a few breaths...
Lin Li, as a streak of golden light, darted around three lightning bolts and arrived at a battlefield where a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Sacred Holy Empire was locked in combat with a Nascent Soul cultivator from Baixing Kingdom.
Lin Li swung his sword!
Boom!!!
At that moment...
Thunder echoed through the sky, and the world was bathed in blinding light!
Under the glow of the lightning, the Baixing Nascent Soul cultivator before Lin Li stood frozen in shock, watching as Lin Li unexpectedly decapitated the Sacred Holy Empire's Nascent Soul cultivator with one swift strike!
"Finish him off, destroy his Nascent Soul!"
The Baixing cultivator shouted in excitement as the system notification rang in Ye Fan's mind.
[Killed Nascent Soul stage level two cultivator from the Sacred Holy Empire, gained 289,376 evolution points]
[Absorbed blood essence of Nascent Soul stage level two cultivator from the Sacred Holy Empire, gained 21,345 energy points]
"Huh? That's strange," Lin Li frowned. "Why didn't his Nascent Soul escape?"
As Lin Li pondered this, the energy feedback from the Black Wind Ancestor's death suddenly surged!
Lin Li was astonished. "Could it be that my last strike destroyed not only his body but also his Nascent Soul?"
While he was still wondering, the Baixing Nascent Soul cultivator approached and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you for your assistance, fellow Daoist. If it weren't for you, I would have been injured just now."
"It was nothing," Lin Li waved his hand dismissively.
After inspecting the fallen Sacred Holy Empire cultivator's body, the Baixing cultivator exclaimed in shock, "His Nascent Soul has been destroyed!"
"Your swordsmanship is incredible, fellow Daoist! It's able to completely annihilate the opponent's soul, leaving them no chance to escape with their Nascent Soul!"
"Gasp!"
Lin Li was equally shocked internally. "So, the sword's new ability after its evolution is to destroy the opponent's soul? That's terrifying!"
"For us Nascent Soul cultivators, this is an absolute nightmare!"
The Baixing cultivator marveled, "Thankfully, we're allies. Otherwise, I can't imagine the horror of facing you in battle! Your Blood-handed Butcher title truly lives up to its reputation. Even though you've only just entered the Nascent Soul stage, your combat strength is already formidable!"
"Heh, you flatter me," Lin Li smiled lightly. "But we're still in the middle of a battle. Let's press on."
"Agreed!"
...
In this Nascent Soul battle, Lin Li personally killed five Nascent Soul cultivators!
As a result, Ye Fan gained over two million evolution points, leaving him just over one million points away from evolving into a spirit treasure.
By the end of the battle, the Sacred Boundless Alliance had lost ten Nascent Soul cultivators. The remaining six, seeing that the situation was hopeless, surrendered.
...
Half a month later.
In the Baixing Kingdom's palace.
Over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered in the grand hall, seated around the throne of the Baixing King, who was also the Violent Thunder King.
Lin Li sat to the left of the Violent Thunder King.
Kneeling before them were six Nascent Soul cultivators from the Sacred Boundless Alliance.
In the distance stood the kings of Baixing Kingdom's various vassal states, who had come together to discuss important matters.
Among them were two representatives from Hailan Kingdom.
The King of Hailan and the Ninth Princess!
Both of them stood at the forefront of the gathered vassal kings.
The Ninth Princess gazed at Lin Li, who sat beside the Violent Thunder King, her beautiful eyes filled with love and admiration.
"The Baixing Holy War, which took eleven years of preparation and several more years of fierce combat, has finally ended in victory!"
The Violent Thunder King rose, his voice booming like thunder itself as he said, "There is one person whose contributions cannot go unrecognized!"
"Lin Li! Please stand!"
As Lin Li stood up, the Violent Thunder King continued, "Lin Li, the Ninth Prince Consort of Hailan Kingdom!"
"Before reaching Core Formation, he ventured to the Sky City, representing Hailan Kingdom in the Bloody Trial, where he and Shallow Water Daoist obtained the ancient puppet technique jade slip! This acquisition gave Baixing Kingdom an overwhelming advantage in the Holy War!"
"Moreover, his talent is unparalleled. In just over a decade, he advanced from the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage to become a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator! During this time, his accomplishments in battle were astounding, not only playing a decisive role in the middle and lower tiers of the Baixing Holy War but also slaying five Nascent Soul cultivators of the Sacred Boundless Alliance after his breakthrough!"
Upon hearing this, the over one hundred vassal kings in the Baixing palace were visibly shaken.
Some gasped in shock, "What?! He advanced that quickly?!"
"He reached the Nascent Soul stage in just over a decade from the peak of Foundation Establishment?!"
"That cultivation speed is terrifying!"
Others could hardly believe it, saying, "He's just entered the Nascent Soul stage and has already killed five Nascent Soul cultivators!"
"That's unbelievable!"
"What an incredible display of power!"
While the hall buzzed with astonished murmurs, the Violent Thunder King declared, "According to the rules of Baixing Kingdom, any nation with a Nascent Soul cultivator has the opportunity to be elevated to kingdom status."
"Lin Li's achievements in battle, including the slaying of five Nascent Soul cultivators, speak for themselves. Furthermore, the Holy War itself was launched in part due to the ancient puppet jade slip he acquired. His contributions cannot be overstated!"
"Thus, I hereby decree that Lin Li's Hailan Kingdom shall be promoted to the status of the Sixth Great Kingdom of Baixing!"
"Does anyone have any objections?"