novelraw Chapter 222: Blade Release! Begin!
Chapter 222: Blade Release! Begin!
It was possible... Chen Qi never expected the Blade Witch before him would actually respond to his words.
"Blade Breathing..."
The Blade Witch hummed softly, her abdomen rising and falling before the energy spread to her arms, face, and entire body, revealing a faint crimson aura.
A new technique? Chen Qi was momentarily stunned.
This isn't right... Why does it feel like the Blade Witch has grown stronger?
Did I provoke her? Chen Qi couldn't react fast enough.
Did I really shouldn't have read that book in front of her?
The Blade Witch assumed a sword-drawing stance, her energy materializing into crackling lightning.
Hound's Pace—no, I have to tank this hit... Chen Qi took a deep breath.
The Blade Release technique he had just comprehended, "Sever Your Bones and Sinew," was a counterattack move that required sacrificing his own physical strength to unleash in a direct clash.It consisted of two phases.
The first phase: "Sacrifice My Flesh and Blood!"
In this stage, the user must channel all their power, using the heart as the core, to unleash every ounce of spiritual energy in their body.
During this phase, the user's defensive capabilities would skyrocket.
But once activated, it would place immense strain on his stamina and spiritual core. Afterward, he wouldn't even be able to muster basic defensive energy—his body might shatter from the residual force of the Blade Witch's attacks.
Moreover, every attack he endured during this phase would fuel the second stage, amplifying its power.
The second phase: "Sever Their Bones and Sinew."
This was the moment of execution.
At this stage, the body's spiritual energy would erupt instantaneously. First, a shockwave of spiritual force would explode from the heart, forming a brief spherical field to suppress and intimidate nearby foes.
Ordinary grunts would be obliterated by this shockwave alone.
This intimidation would also create a fleeting window for offense.
Then, in the span of a single breath, all accumulated power would be unleashed—one second of absolute, unstoppable slashing!
In short, this was a counterattacking Blade Release technique.
A second-tier Transcendent attempting to practice a Release technique—and one that didn't even belong to his Affinity... Chen Qi struggled to regulate his breathing.
Every Release technique demanded numerous prerequisites.
This one had only one condition: the most fundamental requirement for Blade Release—an overwhelming battle lust and sufficient combat experience!
In the heat of battle, fueled by intense fighting spirit and the exhilaration of combat, the spiritual core would generate a unique crimson Blade energy.
If his spiritual energy and strength were fuel, then Blade energy was oil and flame.
But since Chen Qi wasn't a Blade Affinity Transcendent and lacked innate Blade comprehension, generating Blade energy mid-combat was nearly impossible.
For a novice like him, mastering Blade Release was an immense challenge.
Unless... he was in the Trial Grounds!
After hundreds of consecutive deaths—and amidst this battlefield saturated with bloody Blade energy—fulfilling the prerequisites was effortless!
The Blade Witch charged like a thunderbolt, delivering a simple, vertical slash—devoid of flashy techniques, only pure brutality!
Chen Qi exhaled a faint white mist and forcefully raised his longsword to eye level, bracing against the Blade Witch's strike with raw strength.
Clang!
Their blades locked in a pure contest of force!
"Hmph—"
The Blade Witch let out a soft chuckle, then suddenly exerted her arms, pressing down with crushing momentum. Scarlet spiritual energy surged like a red dragon's breath, bearing down relentlessly.
"Sacrifice My Flesh and Blood..."
Chen Qi murmured, immediately unleashing every ounce of his power without hesitation—his arms, thighs, shoulders, lungs, heart!
Every ounce of strength, every breath—poured out unreservedly!
Almost instantly, each breath brought searing agony!
The toll of channeling his entire body's energy and stamina surpassed Chen Qi's expectations in mere moments.
"Sever..."
Chen Qi struggled to speak, trying to push his power further.
But soon, overwhelming weakness and suffocation consumed him—his heart ruptured.
Squelch!
His body, pushed beyond its limits, screamed in protest—blood gushed from his eyes.
"Pathetic drivel from a second-tier weakling... How dull."
The Blade Witch whispered mercilessly, pressing down with another slash!
Clang————!
Muscles tore as Chen Qi spat blood—
Thud!
The Blade Witch kicked the corpse away.
A crimson mist spread once more.
[Your comprehension of Blade Release "Sacrifice My Flesh and Blood, Sever Their Bones and Sinew" has improved.]
"Still not enough, huh..."
Chen Qi returned to the starting point, replaying the sensations.
He had expended all his spiritual energy, but due to his reckless release, his muscles had deteriorated, and his heart had instantly reached its limit.
Rather than being killed by the Blade Witch, his frail body had collapsed under the technique's backlash!
This difficult...? Chen Qi sighed inwardly.
Third-tier Transcendents underwent not only spiritual sublimation but also a massive physical enhancement.
As a second-tier Transcendent, he lacked that reinforcement.
This meant he had to minimize the first phase's backlash through sheer skill to successfully execute the Release.
But could he truly achieve that in such a short time—?
Chen Qi gripped his longsword again.
Yet, in the next instant, the unexpected happened once more.
A blade pierced his chest—too fast!
"Five hundred and eighth attempt... eight seconds—"
Chen Qi uttered a number he couldn't believe.
Eight seconds—his fastest death yet!
He had broken his own record again!
Impossible. The Blade Witch had sat atop the corpse pile for at least five seconds—even sitting down took time.
I was killed in under ten seconds?
No, no... Chen Qi's eyes darted sideways, locking onto the Blade Witch.
The Blade Witch tilted her head slightly, scarlet eyes brimming with disdain, and murmured:
"True Blade Release should confront the unimaginable."
"Come! Let me teach you properly!"
The Blade Witch coldly withdrew her blade from Chen Qi's chest.
Thud—
Chen Qi collapsed again, staring at the notification before him.
[You were kicked to death like a stray dog by the Blade Witch.]
[Inspiration check in progress—]
[You successfully identified the Blade Witch's trait—Memory.]
[The Blade Witch develops special recollections of noteworthy moments during repeated trials!]
[Traveler from afar! You've successfully caught the Blade Witch's attention!]
The boss remembers my techniques? Gets stronger the more we fight?
Chen Qi's eyes flashed with disbelief as he returned to the starting point.
He immediately assumed a defensive stance!
No time to breathe! No time to think!
Amidst the howling wind, Chen Qi's deaths came faster and faster.
Draw blade—block—get slashed—scream hoarsely!
Draw blade—block—get slashed—scream hoarsely!
Pain crashed over him like relentless tides, wave after wave without respite.
Ten times, fifty times, a hundred, three hundred—
In those three hundred attempts, Chen Qi had only forced the Blade Witch into her Frenzy Mode eleven times.
Only once had he made her curse—but ultimately, his failed Blade Release led to defeat.
Squelch! Squelch!
The death count climbed unnoticed.
Five hundred—
Seven hundred—
Squelch!
Chen Qi, bisected vertically, stared blankly, unable to articulate his feelings.
"Wait... how many times is this?"
Chen Qi couldn't describe the sensation—an overwhelming numbness had seeped into his bones.
A feeling more terrifying than pain—a numbness where pain no longer registered—
Desensitization.
My body... has grown numb to the pain?
Even as I'm sliced apart, tortured by the Blade Witch, slaughtered like fodder... my mind has endured, adapted to this agony—
Has my spirit broken?
Chen Qi realized he had let the Blade Witch cut him down over a thousand times—perhaps even two or three thousand...
It hurts—
Fen—
For some reason, Fen's face flashed in his mind.
And her parting words:
"If it becomes too much... stop thinking. Wait for the rift to end. I'll be there..."
So this is the Blade Witch's trial... This is what Fen meant by "stop thinking"... Chen Qi touched his forehead, finally understanding.
Now, he had one option—before the Blade Witch killed him, he could shoot himself in the head to minimize the torment.
Fen's meaning was clear: if it became unbearable, this was how to surrender!
By mechanizing the process, perhaps he could reduce the frustration of dying repeatedly!
And when that happened, Fen would be waiting outside—to comfort him, heal his mental wounds, reassure him...
Clang!
Acting on instinct, Chen Qi blocked another strike.
To think I'd be looked down on like this—
"Witch!"
"Hmm?"
The Blade Witch curled her lips, seemingly surprised.
"What's wrong? Not reading anymore?"
She chuckled softly.
"I've rested enough."
Chen Qi checked the time—it was about time to end this rift!
Clang!
[Your comprehension of Blade Release has increased!]
[Your comprehension of Blade Release has increased!]
[Your comprehension of Blade Release has increased!]
...
Ten times! A hundred! A thousand!
[Your comprehension of Blade Release is one step away!]
Chen Qi returned to the starting point, exhaled a crimson breath, and immediately locked onto the Blade Witch atop the corpse pile.
Through countless deaths, he had constructed the formula for victory!
And his battle lust had peaked!
Chen Qi exhaled white mist:
"Blade Instructor, are you ready for a break?"
He gazed at the Blade Witch politely.
He had to admit—though she'd killed him thousands of times, ever since he called her "Blade Instructor," her techniques had grown increasingly elaborate!
That's right! She'd found new ways to slaughter him!
Uppercuts! Spins! Thrusts! Aerial fruit-slicing! Piercing strikes! She'd tried them all!
Occasionally, she'd even switch Breathing Techniques or footwork skills!
And whenever he taunted her, she'd unlock kicks and ranged attacks.
Frankly, Chen Qi's endurance was largely thanks to her flashy techniques.
Even disregarding rewards, the combat experience gained from fighting the Blade Witch was exhilarating—unprecedentedly so.
But...
This was the final lesson.
Chen Qi took a deep breath and chugged a potion.
[You consumed a High-Grade Healing Potion—]
[You consumed a Blood Frenzy Potion—Strength and Agility greatly increased—]
[You consumed a Spiritual Spring Potion—Spiritual Energy surges—]
...
One last time... Chen Qi steeled himself, relishing the surge of power.
Potions were consumables, but they provided significant combat boosts.
However, he only had one Blood Frenzy Potion—his best shot.
"Rest?"
Are you joking...? The Blade Witch smirked before vanishing—reappearing beside Chen Qi like a scarlet thunderbolt.
Scarlet Thunder Descent!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Hound's Pace!! Ember's Binding!! Blade of Fury!! Ember's Bloom!! Activate!
Blink Step!
Chen Qi teleported three times consecutively, dodging the thunderous slash while cutting the Blade Witch from her left, right, and back.
"Huh?"
The Blade Witch sounded puzzled—in her memory, this man was just a taunting weakling.
She spun instantly, slashing in a wide arc!
Clang!
Shadow Blade Slash! Qi Whirlwind!
Chen Qi crouched and countered with his own spin.
Thanks to his "Blade Instructor," his Qi Whirlwind and Shadow Blade Slash had evolved!
Squelch!
Blood sprayed from the Blade Witch's chest!
"You—"
The Blade Witch glared, ignoring Chen Qi, and stomped down, gripping her sword with both hands.
[The Blade Witch entered Frenzy Mode—Triggered Last Stand!]
Energy—converge!
Crimson Blade energy spiraled around her sword, coalescing into a forty-meter-long blade of pure force!
Dust and debris scattered violently!
Shadow Armor!
Chen Qi activated his armor, downed another High-Grade Healing Potion, and raised his blade.
"You've angered me..."
The Blade Witch charged like an unstoppable dragon, swinging her sword.
"Frenzied Slash!"
With her roar, a terrifying wave of blade energy surged forth!
"Sacrifice My Flesh and Blood—"
Chen Qi crossed his sword before him, unleashing every ounce of spiritual energy.
Heart! Limbs! Consciousness! Merged into one!
Boom!
Amidst the dust, Chen Qi was sent flying—his Shadow Armor shattered, blood gushing as unprecedented agony wracked his body!
"Haah—"
The Blade Witch gasped heavily.
Is it over...?
That's it!?
I'm still alive!
"My turn!"
Battered and bloodied, Chen Qi's eyes gleamed crimson as he steadied his stance, gripping his sword.
Boom!
A massive spiritual shockwave erupted from his heart!
The thunderous force sent countless corpses flying.
"You... learned it?"
The Blade Witch blinked, stunned.
But Chen Qi gave her no time—with a roar, he swung!
"Sever Their Bones and Sinew!!!"
His spiritual energy transformed into countless crimson blades, forming a monstrous slash—a crimson tsunami crashing toward the Blade Witch!
Boom!
"Blade Counter! Blood Sacrifice!"
"Impossible! You can't kill me! Come! Sever me!"
At the last moment, the Blade Witch assumed a counter stance!
She would tank this hit!
If Chen Qi endured her slash, she, as the boss, wouldn't dodge!
With a deafening crash—
The tsunami engulfed her, shredding her blade, light armor, scarlet skin—and the unyielding bones beneath!
Whoosh—
The wind howled, stirring dust—silence fell over the battlefield.
Haaah—
Chen Qi gazed at the distant dust cloud before collapsing.
He was spent—every ounce of strength drained, his spiritual energy exhausted.
With healing potions, he might last thirty more seconds—
The wind grew quieter.
As a breeze brushed his hair—
Chen Qi lay bleeding profusely.
In his fading vision, he saw the Blade Witch—collapsed like a worthless grunt in the dust.
Would she rise again?
Amidst his doubt, the victory notification finally appeared.
"Finally..."
"Victory."
Chen Qi exhaled and closed his eyes.
[You have perfectly mastered Blade Release—"Sacrifice My Flesh and Blood, Sever Their Bones and Sinew."]
[You have defeated the Blade Witch. Rift settlement in progress...]