Chapter 388 - 239: Reason

Chapter 388: Chapter 239: Reason

The idea seemed absurd. The bracelet was so small that a casual glance might mistake it for a woman’s accessory, and it felt completely weightless. But the more Su Xing thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.

"How do you use this thing?"

"Do you just hit people with it?"

Su Xing asked, bewildered.

"Hahahaha, of course not! Just put it on and you’ll see, Brother Su."

Qin Mo said with a laugh.

He snatched up the bracelet as if it were weightless and held it out to Su Xing. Now, Su Xing could more clearly see the crack in the table beneath it. The fracture was so large it looked like the table was on the verge of collapsing.

"Alright, I’ll give it a try."

Although Su Xing suspected the bracelet was far heavier than he imagined, he figured it wouldn’t be a challenge for someone with his physique. He took the bracelet. His body dipped from the initial weight, but he adapted quickly.

"It’s not so bad," Su Xing said with a nod.

The weight was incredible for a simple bracelet, but it was nothing compared to his Black Sword. It certainly didn’t give him any sense of being overwhelmed, so without a second thought, Su Xing slipped it onto his wrist.

The instant he put it on, the fluorescent glow emanating from the bracelet seemed to condense. A translucent, pale blue screen materialized above it. If not for the fact that the panel vanished when he looked away, Su Xing would have almost thought his Sword Saint system had activated.

[Suppression Bracelet Activated]

[Detecting Host’s True Strength...]

[Calibrating Weight Pressure to Match Host’s Strength]

[Calibrating Pressure Duration to Match Host’s Strength]

[Calibrating to Match Host’s Strength...]

A series of prompts flashed before Su Xing’s eyes, one after another. Then, he felt an immense pressure suddenly descend upon him, causing him to stagger and nearly fall to his knees.

"What’s the point of this thing?!"

Su Xing’s face paled. The sudden pressure was difficult to adjust to, but he didn’t complain to Qin Mo, simply asking calmly. ℴℴ𝘮

"It’s simple, really. We all know that if you push someone to their absolute limit and then release that pressure, their strength will experience a quantum leap. I designed this bracelet with that very principle in mind."

"..."

Su Xing understood. The suppression bracelet was essentially a training tool, like running with weights. ’But I’ve already reached my current level of power,’ he thought. ’Can this bracelet really help me improve?’

He had to admit, he was skeptical.

As one’s realm advanced, the methods of improvement seemed to grow more profound. Things Su Xing had previously excelled at, like honing his physical body, now felt like secondary concerns. After all, even with the strongest possible physique, could one shatter Origin Essence with a body that possessed none? That was an open question, as no one had ever accomplished such a feat.

So, while Su Xing understood that the suppression bracelet was meant to train the physical body, he wondered if, at his level, continuing to do so would have any real impact on a battle between wielders of Origin Essence.

"You don’t seem very satisfied with it." Qin Mo noticed Su Xing’s expression and asked:

"As a Martial Artist, what could be better than a tool that trains you every single moment? This thing not only identifies your realm and strength, but it can also save your life in a pinch."

"How so?"

Su Xing asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Hahaha, come with me. I’ll show you."

Qin Mo clapped Su Xing on the shoulder, feeling a bit like a proud creator whose masterpiece was being unfairly slighted. Su Xing, however, didn’t show much of a reaction. He simply followed Qin Mo outside, where he once again saw the massive defensive barrier enveloping the entire pavilion.

"And now?"

Su Xing asked, looking at Qin Mo.

"Hold out your hand, point it in one direction, and then just think ’release suppression’."

Qin Mo said.

"Alright."

Su Xing didn’t waste any time with pleasantries. He was here to pick a treasure, not to make small talk. He quickly faced an empty area and silently commanded in his mind:

’Release!’

Instantly, Su Xing felt his entire body go light. Though the release of pressure was brief, he could still feel that his body seemed a little sharper. He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but something far more captivating than that fleeting sensation appeared before him: a massive shield.

The shield was crimson and, looking from the outside in, was composed of seven distinct layers. It resembled a blooming, multi-petaled crimson flower.

"This is..."

Su Xing lowered his hand, understanding at once. This function was designed to provide protection the moment he released the suppression to unleash his full power, preventing an opponent from defeating him before he could even make a move.

He just wasn’t sure how much defensive power this flashy Energy Shield actually possessed. As the thought crossed Su Xing’s mind, Qin Mo suddenly threw a thunderous punch right at the shield!

The force behind the blow was no less than what he had used when fighting Su Xing. A lesser treasure would have been utterly obliterated into dust by such a punch. Yet, the shield merely trembled slightly before one of its layers shattered, leaving six more intact.

Seeing this, Su Xing’s eyes lit up. Qin Mo was right—this thing really was a treasure. Even ignoring the suppression function, its Defense Power alone was enough to give Su Xing peace of mind.

"So? What do you think?"

Seeing Su Xing’s surprised expression, Qin Mo beamed like a child who had just proved his point. But Su Xing quickly composed himself and asked with a serious look:

"Brother Qin, this item is indeed excellent, but it has also sparked a thought. Brother Qin, do you know of Origin Essence?"

"I do not."

Qin Mo shook his head. He truly didn’t know what Origin Essence was. In fact, even if he had cultivated it himself, Qin Mo probably wouldn’t know that’s what it was called.

Hearing this, Su Xing didn’t hold back. He told Qin Mo everything he had learned in Desperate Gorge, then finished with a question full of doubt:

"Brother Qin, if it’s true that only Origin Essence can defeat Origin Essence, then what’s the point of anything else for us Martial Artists? We can’t do a shred of damage to it anyway."

His previous battle experience had made Su Xing acutely aware of how powerful Origin Essence truly was. It wasn’t something that could be matched by mere physical techniques, which was the source of his current dilemma.

"Hahahahaha! Brother Su, have you lost your mind? Why should we Martial Artists worry about all that? Ever since we became Extraordinary, we’ve relied on these two fists. Are you saying that just because of this ’Origin Essence,’ we should throw away everything we’ve ever learned?"

"That’s absurd!"

"If I ever meet one of those guys, I’ll make sure the whole world knows the power of Qin Mo’s fists."

"Besides, didn’t you say it yourself? That Origin Essence is the culmination of your Extraordinary path. The stronger your physical body becomes, the stronger your future Origin Essence will be."

Qin Mo stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

It was such a simple, obvious truth. And yet, for Su Xing, it felt like a sudden epiphany.

He had been trapped by his reliance on the Origin Essence he gained from shattering his sword. Lately, he had been facing more and more powerful foes that he couldn’t possibly defeat without it. This had caused him to, without realizing it, become dependent on the technique. His default line of thought had become ’I’ll just have to shatter my sword’.

’In fact, I’ve been walking the wrong path.’

Just as Qin Mo said, ever since becoming Extraordinary, Su Xing had always relied on the sword in his hand. He just needed to work harder to make himself stronger, not abandon everything he had built in favor of relying solely on the Origin Essence gained from shattering his sword.

’When I reach the eighth rank,’ he resolved, ’I will surely obtain the most powerful Origin Essence of all.’