Chapter 378 - 234: Black Sword’s Characteristic

Chapter 378: Chapter 234: Black Sword’s Characteristic

In truth, the four of them were all more or less equal in strength. If they were to really fight, none could guarantee victory. This time, however, Li Longxuan was also present.

In fact, the name Li Longxuan was very well-known within the special organization. He was a Tier Eight who had fought his way up on the battlefield and had even rejected an invitation from the organization’s headquarters, choosing instead to remain in the small city of Cang City.

A background like that naturally made his name one to be remembered, but he simply waved his hand and said,

"I have nothing to do with this matter."

"If you just need me to bear witness, I could have my junior, Su Xing, participate instead."

"..."

When Li Longxuan finished speaking, nearly everyone fell silent. They had all personally witnessed Su Xing’s frenzied battle against the Witch Summoner, and they knew none of them could defeat Su Xing in that state.

’What’s the point of competing? They might as well just hand it over to Su Xing.’

"Of course, he won’t be allowed to use that power-amplifying ability," Li Longxuan said slowly, seeing their expressions. "You all saw it. That power overexerts Su Xing’s body. Since this is just a friendly spar, we naturally won’t go that far."

They wore expressions as if they had eaten something foul—it was disgusting, but they couldn’t bring themselves to say it out loud. Li Longxuan recalled when he first met Su Xing. ’It’s hard to believe he’s reached such a terrifying level so quickly.’

"I have no objection," Li Ye said with a nod.

This plan was undoubtedly the fairest for him. In a chaotic melee, the others would only need to point out that he was a wanted man, and they would likely all gang up to eliminate him first. But if they agreed to one-on-one duels, the outcome was anyone’s guess.

The scene was somewhat bizarre.

Li Ye was a documented wanted criminal, yet the three others present hadn’t even mentioned capturing him. It wasn’t that they hadn’t considered it, but rather that they knew it was impossible.

Although the Cyan Cloud Sect was a Qi Cultivation school renowned for its swordsmanship, its members’ skills in self-preservation were also unparalleled. Trying to capture Li Ye here would be far too difficult.

’Besides, he’s also a Tier Eight. After seeing so many other powerful experts appear, it’s safer for us Tier Eights to stick together for now. Once we’re out of Desperate Gorge, we can worry about capturing him then.’

"I have no objections either." The others all agreed to the plan, giving it their unanimous approval. With that, the remaining Tier Seven Transcendents finally lost their last glimmer of hope.

For them, this trip had been nothing more than a sightseeing tour where they’d obtained nothing. For the Tier Eight Transcendents, however, the business in Desperate Gorge was far from over.

Yao Yixiao’s brow was deeply furrowed. ’If I didn’t desperately need this flower to repay a crucial favor, I’d head straight back to the organization.’

’The sudden appearance of three ancient races, along with the concept of a Tier Nine Origin—these are all things the special organization needs to prepare for.’

The others had similar thoughts, but a Spirit Flower that could save one’s life was an invaluable treasure to any Extraordinary Being. Thus, despite their anxiety, they were all willing to stay and try their luck.

Only Li Ye and Yao Yixiao were different. While the others merely wanted to try their luck, the two of them were determined to obtain the flower no matter what.

"Then what about Su Xing?"

Since Li Longxuan had said his junior, Su Xing, would be competing in his place, they had to at least wait for him to wake up before they could begin.

’Although the power Su Xing displayed was immense, it was all thanks to the amplification from those three Origins. Without them, what kind of combat strength could a mere junior like him possibly have?’

In fact, more than one person shared this thought.

Many of them judged by convention; although they had witnessed Su Xing’s power, they attributed it to his powerful Origins, not to Su Xing himself.

Of course, Su Xing would face immense pressure against a Tier Eight, but it wasn’t as if he had no chance of winning. He was, after all, already truly invincible among Tier Sevens; the gap to Tier Eight shouldn’t be insurmountable.

"Let’s head back for now," Yao Yixiao said, looking at Su Xing. "We’ll hold the duels once Su Xing has healed and regained consciousness. Besides, judging by his recovery speed... it shouldn’t take very long."

Now that he was out of combat, a white light had enveloped Su Xing’s body, causing his injuries to heal at a visible rate. At this pace, wounds that would normally leave a person bedridden for half a year would likely be fully healed in no more than three or four days.

Although the onlookers were surprised, they didn’t question it much. They simply assumed this ability was also a function of his Origins. ’If the power is that strong, healing some injuries shouldn’t be too difficult, right?’

Only Li Longxuan felt that something was slightly amiss. He had truly come into contact with an Origin himself. ’I don’t know if other people’s Origins have this kind of power,’ he thought, ’but I’m certain the one I’m about to form definitely won’t.’

However,

he didn’t say anything.

’Su Xing is one of my own, after all. Even if he has some secrets, he’s a young friend I trust. The stronger he is, the better.’

"Alright."

"Then let’s have the duels at Dragon Gate."

The Dragon Gate Secret Realm,

was a massive Secret Realm.

Perhaps because martial artists far outnumbered Qi cultivators in ancient times, the Dragon Gate Secret Realm was much more populated than the Cyan Cloud Sect’s Secret Realm. As a result, it also possessed grounds and arenas far more suitable for battle.

No one voiced any objections to this suggestion, and so the matter was settled. The group took the unconscious Su Xing and departed from Desperate Gorge.

News of the Witch Race, the Abyss Race, and the White Fox Girl began to spread throughout the cities of the Xia Country. These ancient races, hidden from the mundane world, were without a doubt a major threat to the country’s security.

Of course,

Su Xing knew nothing of this.

At this moment, Su Xing was still unconscious. Floating before him were three swords: the Black Sword, the Sparrow Sword, and the Snake Sword.

The Black Sword had been with Su Xing the longest, so his connection to it was the deepest and his understanding of it the greatest. Thus, after his desperate battle against the Witch Summoner, Su Xing had gained a faint, new understanding of it.

Defense.

This was the Black Sword’s characteristic. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Or rather, it was the characteristic of the Origin born when the Black Sword shattered. Its effect was simple, yet unimaginably powerful.

When the Origin was active, it absorbed and nullified most of an opponent’s attacks, all while growing stronger the longer the battle raged.

Most attacks.

’Just how much is "most"?’

That was something Su Xing would have to feel out for himself in actual combat. But this characteristic alone was proof of its incredible power. After all, the higher one’s realm, the harder it was to instantly defeat an opponent.

Even with a disparity in strength, it was incredibly difficult to stop an opponent who was single-mindedly focused on escaping.

Take Su Xing and the Witch Summoner, for example. At their level, unless one side was committed to a fight to the death, it was impossible to prevent the other from leaving.

Fights like that often devolved into wars of attrition, with both sides trading blows relentlessly like a meat grinder. This made the Origin’s ability to grow stronger over the course of a battle incredibly valuable.

As for the Sparrow Sword and the Snake Sword, Su Xing was, for some reason, still unable to sense what characteristics the Origins born from their shattering would grant him.

Still, his gains this time were already immense.

...

Five days passed in the blink of an eye. Less than half of the ten-day period set by the Yin Crow now remained. And at that very moment, Su Xing abruptly awoke.

Lying in bed, Su Xing’s eyes snapped open, filled with confusion. But his senses quickly returned, and the bewilderment in his wide eyes faded into calm.

"..."

"Where am I?"

Su Xing muttered to himself as he stared at the ceiling.

’This isn’t the Cyan Cloud Sect, and it doesn’t look like modern architecture, either. I must be somewhere I’ve never been before.’

"This is Dragon Gate, Su."

A familiar voice suddenly sounded beside his ear. Li Longxuan had been sitting by his side the entire time. Seeing a familiar face in a strange place, an inexplicable sense of relief washed over Su Xing’s heart.