novelraw Chapter 214-2: Secret Rite of Resurrection (2)
Chapter 214-2: Secret Rite of Resurrection (2)
“Having so many alternate identities really can be inconvenient sometimes…”
Lin Xun couldn’t help but sigh in a thoroughly smug tone.
[You have possessed the Shell of the Fire-Worshipping Wandering Samurai!]
[You left the dueling arena and made your way back to the tavern…]
[When the Fire-Worshipping Tavern Owner saw Lord Samurai return, he hurried over, bowing deeply, and sincerely praised you: just now, your friend’s swordsmanship was extraordinary, he had slain the swordsman on the platform in a single stroke.]
[As he spoke, the owner handed over a bulging money pouch containing your appearance fee and the winnings from your wager.]
[You have obtained 180,000 Spirit Essence!]
“Good grief… One hundred and eighty thousand in a single haul.”
Lin Xun was half-tempted to simply kill this tavern owner and take over the whole operation himself to rake in Spirit Essence.
But the Hellish Game clearly wouldn’t let him exploit such an easy loophole…[The owner explained that although he managed the dueling arena, he was really only a small figure out front.]
[Behind the scenes were many powerful backers, with spies planted everywhere. He could only slip you a little extra within the limits of his authority, any more, and it might bring death down on his head…]
[You nodded, accepting the Spirit Essence, and followed him into a private room at the side of the tavern…]
[Inside lay the body of the Fire-Worshipping Heartless Flow Swordsman.]
[You gestured for the owner to withdraw and slid the paper door shut…]
[Looking down at the corpse, its face already darkened, do you wish to possess this Shell?]
[You have possessed the Shell of the Fire-Worshipping Heartless Flow Swordsman!]
[A fragment of the swordsman’s memories stirred within the Shell…]
[…]
[This swordsman was exceptionally gifted in the way of the sword. After joining the Heartless Flow Dojo, he rose from apprentice to disciple, and from disciple to secret heir in only five short years.]
[His talent caught the eye of the dojo’s Master Instructor, who decided to make him the formal successor…]
[But before that could happen, the dojo received a commission from a great noble house in the city, the Otaki Clan.]
[The commission was to send a sword disciple to the underground dueling arena in the Scallion-Tuna Tavern…]
[The swordsman had also heard of the Otaki Clan’s internal strife, just the usual struggle for power between the eldest son and the second son. The underground arena was an asset controlled by the eldest.]
[The Master Instructor assigned the commission to the swordsman, though deploying someone of his skill to the dueling arena was not only a waste of talent but also a stain on the dojo’s honor. And of course, it entangled him in the Otaki Clan’s internal conflicts.]
[The swordsman had not wished to go, but he simply could not defy the Master’s will…]
[…]
“No wonder he was in the underground arena slaughtering fodder. So that’s how it was.”
After reviewing the memories, Lin Xun opened his panel to check the attributes.
[Shell: Fire-Worshipping Heartless Flow Swordsman]
[True Name: Sakai Yoshitoki]
[Compatibility: 124% (+55%) Compatibility has exceeded the threshold – Shell quality increased!]
[Shell Quality: Rare+]
[Shell Level: 57 (+7)]
[Shell Equipment: Heartless Flow Sword Attire (Fine+): …]
[Shell Equipment: Heartless Flow Custom Katana (Fine+): …]
[Shell Skill: Heartless Flow Swordsmanship (Rare): …]
[Shell Skill: Secret Art – Iai Kaguya (Rare): An esoteric ultimate technique of Heartless Flow Swordsmanship, known only to the highest initiates. However, the practitioner has not yet mastered it and cannot unleash its full power.]
[This skill must be used with a sword. When activated, it will deal massive damage to enemies.]
[If the Shell has also learned Heartless Flow Swordsmanship, this skill’s power will be greatly enhanced.]
“This Shell is pretty strong. Forcing it into the underground arena was definitely overkill.”
“If he hadn’t run into me, he probably could’ve kept up that undefeated streak for ages…”
While it couldn’t quite match any of his three main Shells, in both equipment and skill this swordsman was roughly on par with the Yellow-Robed Bishop.
A boss of Difficulty Three, now reduced to elite cannon fodder by Difficulty Five.
Lin Xun opened his inventory. It looked like the swordsman had also dropped a skill book earlier.
[Heartless Flow Sword Manual – Secret Art: Iai Kaguya (Rare Item): A handwritten copy of the sword technique manual, containing the practitioner’s personal insights and annotations. However, due to their own limited skill, anyone learning from this book will be unable to realize the technique’s full potential.]
[By using this item, you will learn the skill ‘Secret Art – Iai Kaguya.’]
“I can probably sell this skill book for a nice little profit.”
[You slid open the paper door and stepped into the adjacent private room…]
[The senior swordsman was trussed up tightly. When he saw you appear alive and well, his eyes widened in shock.]
[You walked over and loosened his bonds. He murmured under his breath that the powerful gentleman from earlier truly hadn’t deceived him…]
[Your expression grew solemn as you told the senior that after receiving that gentleman’s lesson, you had come to understand that there are always higher mountains and stronger men. As for the Otaki Clan’s internal strife, you no longer wished to be involved.]
[At this point, it would be better to return directly to the Heartless Flow Dojo and report everything to the Master Instructor, and let him decide how to proceed.]
[The senior swordsman stood, shaking his head. He explained that by now the Master Instructor was surely already asleep. Besides, you looked quite pale, clearly injured during the earlier battle. It would be wiser to rest here in the tavern tonight and return to the dojo in the morning.]
[Do you wish to accept the senior’s suggestion?]
Lin Xun thought it over and decided there was no need to rush to snatch skills and Shells.
There were plenty of patrons in the tavern. If he lingered and listened in on their conversations, he might glean some useful clues.
This was a perfect opportunity to gather information and see if there were any other hidden places worth exploring.
[You nodded, instructing the senior to rest well, then left the private room…]
[…]
[The tavern was crowded and bustling. The owner was nowhere to be seen, he had probably returned to the underground arena to oversee operations.]
[You called over a waiter to bring you food and sake. While you dined, you pricked up your ears to listen to the conversations of nearby patrons…]
Lin Xun had already switched back to the Wandering Samurai Shell.
“Switching between Shells this much really is a hassle… If only I could control multiple Shells at the same time.”
But that was only wishful thinking. His Thousand Faces, Ten Thousand Forms talent was already absurdly powerful. If he could also pilot multiple disguises simultaneously, no other Apostle would stand a chance.
[While you were listening to the chatter, a drunk stumbled in.]
[He gave you a deep bow, declaring that someone had paid him to deliver this letter to you, Lord Samurai.]
[The drunk handed you a letter, bowed again, and left.]
[You have obtained Anonymous Letter (Item).]
Lin Xun raised an eyebrow.
He hadn’t even finished gathering intelligence, and already he had triggered a special event?
[You unsealed the letter. Inside was a simple map with a red mark. It read: ‘Tonight, wait here. I hope you will come as promised.’]
[The red mark was not within the city, but out in the wilderness beyond the walls…]
“It really is a special event. But this letter is so vague, who knows what they’re after.”
Whether to go or not was the question.
Still, since he’d encountered a special event, if it turned out dangerous, he could always sacrifice a bit of soul strength. He couldn’t pass up the chance at a rare reward.
As Lin Xun thought it over, he made up his mind to follow the instructions and investigate the place outside the city.