Chapter 563 - 559: Mid-grade Spiritual Armor
Chapter 563: Chapter 559: Mid-grade Spiritual Armor
BZZZZ—
The Wind Shocking Sword let out a clear, high-pitched hum. An azure-gold radiance suddenly erupted from its blade, transforming into an incredibly condensed Sword Qi.
The Sword Qi was over ten zhang long, so condensed it seemed tangible. Transparent ripples undulated faintly at its edges, as if its sheer sharpness was tearing space itself apart.
He slashed out.
WHOOSH—!
The Sword Qi tore through the air, carrying a decisive sharpness capable of sundering anything as it slashed straight toward Qi Zhen.
Qi Zhen’s pupils constricted. Without a moment to breathe, he instinctively dove to the side, his body tumbling through gravel and dust.
BOOM—!
The Sword Qi grazed his back before slamming viciously into the ground behind him.
The ground trembled and rocks flew. A terrifying gash, dozens of zhang long and several feet deep, appeared in the open field. The earth at its edges was upturned and scorched black.
Qi Zhen scrambled up, covered in dirt and grime. The wound on his right shoulder had torn open again as he rolled, and blood streamed down his arm, dripping onto the gravel at his feet.
However, before he could even find his footing, an azure figure appeared before him like a phantom.
Fang Han had arrived.
Channeling the Wind God Step to its fullest, his speed was astonishing, leaving only a distorted afterimage in his wake.
The Wind Shocking Sword swung upward, its edge tearing through the air with a sharp shriek as it aimed for Qi Zhen’s midsection.
Qi Zhen gritted his teeth and used all his strength to block with his saber.
CLANG—!!!
Sparks flew as the sword and saber clashed.
Qi Zhen felt an irresistible, immense force travel up his saber. The force was so incredibly focused that it felt as if it hadn’t struck his saber at all, but had slammed directly into his body.
The wound in the web of his hand, which had already split open, was torn completely apart. Blood splattered everywhere, and his entire right arm went so numb he almost lost all feeling in it.
The impact sent him staggering backward, his feet plowing two deep furrows in the ground and kicking up gravel and dust.
Fang Han gave Qi Zhen no chance to recover.
Sticking to him like a shadow, Fang Han took a third step, and the Wind Shocking Sword fell once more.
This strike was faster, fiercer, and more decisive than the last.
Like a bolt of azure lightning, the sword flash tore through the air, carrying an unstoppable killing intent as it viciously struck Qi Zhen’s chest before he could raise his guard.
CLANG—SQUELCH!
The blade first collided with the faintly glowing Soft Armor, producing a dull clang. Then, its sharpness pierced the armor and exploded within Qi Zhen’s chest.
"BLARGH—!"
Qi Zhen violently sprayed a mouthful of blood, which traced a grimly beautiful arc in the afternoon sun.
Like a pebble struck by a great hammer, he was sent flying backward, his feet leaving the ground as his body traced a parabola through the air.
THUD!
Qi Zhen crashed heavily onto the ground dozens of zhang away, rolling several more times as his body plowed a shallow trench through the gravel and dust.
He lay on his back amidst the rubble, the grisly wound on his chest still gushing blood and staining the earth beneath him a dark red.
Before Qi Zhen could even get up, Fang Han had already closed in on him again.
The ultimate speed of the Wind God Step made Fang Han inescapable, allowing him to catch up the very instant Qi Zhen’s body came to a halt.
The tip of the Wind Shocking Sword pointed down, aimed at Qi Zhen’s forehead.
Lying on the ground, Qi Zhen’s chest burned with excruciating pain. Every breath tugged at his wound, bringing a searing agony.
He raised his head and looked at Fang Han. The young man’s face was as calm as still water, but his eyes were as cold as a deep winter pool.
His pupils contracted violently as an unprecedented shadow of death fell over him.
"You can’t kill me..."
Qi Zhen’s voice was hoarse, laced with an irrepressible tremor. Blood continually trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"The Tiejiang Gang has a Grandmaster. If you kill me, the Supreme Elder will never let you go..."
Fang Han said nothing. With a slight flick of his wrist, the Wind Shocking Sword became a streak of azure light, shooting straight for Qi Zhen’s forehead.
At the moment of life and death, Qi Zhen let out a final, desperate roar.
The strange, blood-colored Inner Qi in his body erupted with unprecedented intensity, surging from every pore to form a layer of dark-red protective Gang Qi before his forehead.
The Gang Qi was tangible, with faint, blood-colored patterns flowing within it. It exuded a nauseating, cloyingly sweet stench.
However—
The moment the tip of the Wind Shocking Sword pierced the layer of blood-colored Gang Qi, the tangible sharpness emanating from the blade suddenly erupted.
The two-fold combat power enhancement of the Low-Grade Spiritual Soldier was unleashed to its fullest potential at this moment.
The blood-colored Gang Qi held for less than a breath before it silently dissipated, like a bubble popped by a sharp blade.
The Wind Shocking Sword drove straight through.
SQUISH—!
It was a dull sound, like a sharp blade piercing a ripe melon.
The tip of the sword pierced Qi Zhen’s forehead and emerged from the back of his skull.
Deep red blood, mixed with bits of white brain matter, slowly seeped from the wound. It trickled down his temples, the bridge of his nose, and his cheeks, dripping onto the gravel and dust below.
Qi Zhen’s body suddenly went rigid.
His pupils contracted violently several times before the focus in his sharp eyes slowly dissipated.
His lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something, but only a faint, gurgling hiss escaped, like leaking air.
Then, everything fell silent.
His eyes remained wide open, staring blankly at the gray-blue sky, completely devoid of life.
The open field returned to silence.
The autumn wind swept up a few withered yellow leaves, sending them spiraling past.
Fang Han slowly withdrew the Wind Shocking Sword.
The blood staining its blade glinted darkly in the afternoon sun.
With a light flick of his wrist, he shook the blade, sending droplets of blood spattering onto the gravel at his feet.
He looked down at the lifeless corpse by his feet.
Qi Zhen’s eyes were still wide open, his pupils dilated, staring blankly at the gray-blue sky. An expression of terror and indignation was frozen for eternity on his dark face.
He crouched down and skillfully began to search the body.
From inside Qi Zhen’s robes, he pulled out two brocade bags.
He opened the first one. Inside was a thick stack of silver notes, all from the Datong Money Shop in denominations of one hundred thousand taels. The paper was crisp, still smelling of fresh ink.
A quick count revealed a total of over three hundred thousand taels.
Fang Han put the silver notes away and opened the second brocade bag.
Inside were several Jade Bottles, their texture smooth and lustrous, and sealed with soft corks. Labels on the bottles indicated the names of the Elixirs within.
He uncorked the first Jade Bottle. A rich medicinal fragrance wafted out, crisp and clean with the faint bitterness characteristic of herbs.
’This must be a top-quality Elixir for Cultivation, likely no weaker than the Qingxuan Sect’s Earth Spirit Pills. It’s a shame I can’t risk using an elixir from an unknown source.’
When he opened the second Jade Bottle, the fragrance was mellow and rich, with a barely perceptible hint of sweetness.
’Judging by the scent, it must be a high-grade healing Elixir.’
The moment he uncorked the last Jade Bottle, a pungent odor—a mixture of acrid decay and a singed smell—assaulted his nostrils.
"Corpse-Dissolving Water."
Fang Han muttered the three words, his brow furrowing slightly.
The liquid in the bottle was dark green and viscous like pulp, with an eerie, cold sheen in the afternoon sun.
’Based on the smell, this must be the same Corpse-Dissolving Water used on Zhang Yuanheng’s body.’
He stoppered the bottle and set this Jade Bottle aside. ’This stuff is vicious, but it might be useful to keep,’ he thought.
Finally, Fang Han’s gaze fell on the Soft Armor Qi Zhen was wearing.
It was a dark gold Inner Armor of excellent quality. It felt heavy and solid to the touch, and a faint radiance seemed to flow across its surface.
During the fierce exchange, the Soft Armor had withstood several strikes from the Wind Shocking Sword, yet it only had a few shallow white marks on its surface, without a single crack. This was a testament to its extremely high quality.
’It should be a Mid-grade Magical Weapon,’
Fang Han muttered to himself, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
His own Top-Grade Soft Armor had been damaged in the fight. The gash over the left side of his chest was shocking to see, with its silver threads snapped and frayed. It was no longer usable.
This Mid-grade Spiritual Armor, however, was a perfect replacement.
He stripped the Soft Armor from Qi Zhen’s body, folded it carefully, and placed it in his Storage Ring.
His gaze fell upon the long saber that had fallen to the side.
The blade was as black as ink, and a dark gold gemstone embedded in the hilt glinted coldly in the afternoon sun.
Fang Han picked up the long saber. It felt heavy in his hand, and with a light shake, the blade let out a low hum.
’The Grade of this saber is even higher than my Cloud Splitting Sword. After all, it’s the weapon of a Gang Leader; its Grade couldn’t possibly be low.’
He placed the long saber with the Jade Bottles, and with a thought, he summoned his system panel.
A translucent screen of light appeared before his eyes.
[Host: Fang Han]
[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 256x (Ninth Level Amplification requires 10 million gold)]
[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: 256x (Ninth Level Amplification requires 10 million gold)]
[Stepping Talent Amplification: 256x (Ninth Level Amplification requires 10 million gold)]
[Secret Technique Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1 million gold)]
[Body Hardening Talent Amplification: 256x (Ninth Level Amplification requires 10 million gold)]
[Wealth: 730,000 gold]
"Recharge."
Fang Han’s thoughts focused on the Jade Bottles.
The bottles of Elixirs vanished in an instant, as if wiped away by an invisible hand, and the number on his panel jumped.
[Wealth: 730,000 gold → 800,000 gold]
Seventy thousand gold.
Seventy thousand gold for a few bottles of Elixirs was quite a high price. ’As expected of items carried by the Tiejiang Gang Leader,’ he mused.
Fang Han’s gaze fell on the long saber.
"Recharge."
As the thought formed, the ink-black long saber dissolved silently into fine motes of light, as if licked by an invisible flame, and dissipated into the air.
The number on the panel jumped sharply.
[Wealth: 800,000 gold → 1,500,000 gold]
"Seven hundred thousand gold."
Fang Han’s pupils contracted slightly.
’Seven hundred thousand gold. That amount far exceeded the value of any weapon I’ve ever recharged before. This was definitely a Mid-grade Magical Weapon.’
’A pity it was a saber, not a sword. If it had been a sword of the Mid-grade Magical Weapon level, I absolutely would have kept it for myself instead of recharging it.’
"One million five hundred thousand gold."
Fang Han’s gaze fell on his total wealth, and an idea stirred in his mind.
’One million five hundred thousand gold is enough to activate another Level 8 Amplification.’
’Among my five current Talents, the only one that hasn’t reached Level 8 Amplification is my Secret Technique Talent.’