Chapter Seventy-Two: The Soul of the Bat

“So this is the divine weapon that Zhuge Huang promised me?”

Li Ju gently caressed the bronze box in his hands.

The box he held was six feet long, three feet wide, crafted entirely from verdant bronze, weighing close to three thousand kilograms—a weight that could easily crush an external sect master to death. If not for Li Ju’s formidable physical strength, he would not have been able to handle it so effortlessly, turning it over in his hands as if it weighed nothing at all.

“Elder, it’s well known throughout the martial world that our sect possesses eight secret arts, but few realize that, beyond those eight secret arts, our sect also guards eight divine weapons, each corresponding to one of the eight arts.”

A young woman, her expression cold and severe, dressed in a robe of black and white, bowed before Li Ju.

Her name was Yue Geng. She was the one tasked with delivering the divine weapon to Li Ju this time, a member of the Demon Cult personally appointed by Zhuge Huang to act as liaison between Li Ju and the cult. Whenever Li Ju needed the cult’s assistance, he could relay his message through her.

“And within this bronze box lies ‘Bat Soul’, the divine weapon corresponding to the Ghost Bat Art, one of the Eight Great Divine Weapons of the Demon Cult.”

Listening to Yue Geng’s words, Li Ju reached out and slowly lifted the lid of the bronze box.

No strange phenomena manifested, nor did murderous intent or demonic energy erupt from within. Li Ju opened the box with ease, revealing a long blade hidden beneath the lid.

The long blade was four feet in length, black and crimson in hue, its surface lined with rows of razor-sharp spikes like fangs.

As Li Ju lifted Bat Soul, a panel of information appeared before his eyes.

Divine Weapon (Pseudo): Bat Soul

Description: One of the eight secret divine weapons of the Demon Cult, corresponding to the Ghost Bat Art, one of the eight secret arts. When forged, a martial artist who practiced the Ghost Bat Art at the Minor Three Elemental stage was used as the main material, augmented by the blood essence of ten thousand people.

Origin: Demon’s Might Unrivaled · Demon Cult

“Bat Soul is one of the divine weapons passed down within our sect since the very founding of our independent faction. Its power is terrifying, and it perfectly complements the Ghost Bat Art you practice, Elder. Master Zhuge believes you will undoubtedly be satisfied with this weapon,” Yue Geng intoned, her voice utterly calm.

“How is this weapon to be used?” Li Ju asked, idly swinging Bat Soul as he glanced at Yue Geng.

“Each divine weapon requires the wielder to have mastered its corresponding art. To use Bat Soul, Elder, you need only infuse it with your Ghost Bat Art inner strength, and it will activate.”

Hearing Yue Geng’s response, Li Ju hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed her instructions, channeling his inner strength into Bat Soul.

A low hum resonated as energy poured in. Bat Soul’s blade shimmered with a dark glow, and a pattern of bloodthirsty, fanged bats emerged along its surface.

As the divine weapon awakened, a powerful aura of oppression radiated outward. Li Ju was unmoved, but Yue Geng, who was only at the peak of the external sect, visibly trembled, her face alternately pale and flushed.

Though she gritted her teeth and said nothing, it was clear to any observer that she was struggling desperately beneath the weapon’s pressure.

“If you can’t withstand it, just say so. There’s no need to force yourself,” Li Ju said, glancing at her as he reined in the weapon’s aura.

Yue Geng exhaled in relief, tension draining from her posture.

“You may withdraw. I’ll call if I need you,” Li Ju said, waving her away.

Once Yue Geng had gone, he turned his attention to a newly appeared information panel.

Divine Weapon (Pseudo): Bat Soul

Attributes:
1. Divine Weapon Amplification: When wielded, all techniques executed by the bearer have their power doubled.
2. Shadow of the Ghost Bat: Practitioners of the Ghost Bat Art who wield Bat Soul gain accelerated cultivation, enhanced technique power, and increased bodily speed.
3. Blade and Claw as One: Bat Soul can freely transform between blade and claw forms as desired by the wielder.
4. Bloodthirsty Fangs: Bat Soul can absorb and store the blood of enemies, converting it to further augment the wielder’s strength.
5. Bloodthirsty Fangs (Hidden): Each time Bat Soul is used, it secretly drains the wielder’s Three Primary Essences. Over time, the amount absorbed grows greater.
6. Demonic Addiction: With every use, the wielder’s subconscious dependence on Bat Soul deepens.

Description I: One of the eight secret divine weapons of the Demon Cult, corresponding to the Ghost Bat Art. Forged with a Minor Three Elemental Ghost Bat practitioner as the main material and the blood essence of ten thousand souls.
Description II: Originally a ritual artifact forged a thousand years ago by the ancient Bosuo people. After their extinction, it fell into the hands of Mo Jiaran, who transformed it from a harmless ritual object into a pseudo-divine weapon brimming with murderous energy.
Description III: After centuries of devouring the Three Primary Essences of its successive Minor Three Elemental wielders, Bat Soul is now on the verge of breaking through to become a true divine weapon.

Origin: Demon’s Might Unrivaled Instance · Demon Cult

“Zhuge Huang, as expected, harbors no good intentions...” Li Ju’s expression was one of unsurprised realization as he read the sixth attribute of Bat Soul.

“Judging by the attributes, Zhuge Huang intends for me to become fodder for this divine weapon’s growth.”

On the surface, Bat Soul’s initial attributes alone were enough to establish its fearsome reputation—even as merely a pseudo-divine weapon, its amplifying effects could greatly enhance his strength. The simple ability to double the power of any technique was already terrifying.

Yet the latter two attributes mercilessly exposed its flaws—this was a demonic weapon that continually devoured its wielder’s life force!

Clearly, Zhuge Huang’s intention in presenting this weapon was to make him the nourishment for Bat Soul’s evolution.

“And those newly revealed descriptions...”

Having finished reading the attributes, Li Ju’s gaze shifted to the additional background information.

The first description was as before, but the next two contained a wealth of hidden meaning.

“A ritual artifact of the ancient Bosuo, modified by Mo Jiaran...”

“And now on the verge of becoming a true divine weapon...”

Though Li Ju still knew little of the ancient Bosuo, their ritual artifacts, or what defined a true divine weapon, there was one point he understood well:

Mo Jiaran.