novelraw Chapter 368: Time Stop
Chapter 368: Time Stop
Let's attack together! The restless bloodthirsty pirates fell into a brief silence.
They acknowledged the Ice Witch's strength, but they also believed in their great Whale Father!
The Whale Father had said that even if the Ice Witch revived, she would only be a stumbling block in his grand plan!
Moreover, the Azure Beast who had consumed the Great Whale's blood had materialized his spiritual energy field, completely overwhelming the witch!
A pirate from the Blackfin Crew curled his lips:
"A bragging witch..."
"Don't be afraid, the Azure Beast who consumed the Great Whale's blood is invincible!"
The Ice Witch had just recovered, and her spiritual energy field was very weak... The Black Death Doctor looked toward the panicked Little Crow in the corner:
"Little Crow, you should have noticed it too, right?"
Huh? Little Crow, who was praying for Chen Qi's victory, had a question mark appear above her head.She hesitated for a moment, then also stood up and looked toward the witch above the ice field.
Although ordinary people would find it difficult to detect, as a doctor who had studied the deep-sea titan's body, Little Crow could sense the subtle abnormalities in the Ice Witch.
She could feel that the current Ice Witch was exceptionally fragile, her body like a fragile piece of glass that would suffer immense damage with just a light touch.
Even she, if she could get close to the Ice Witch, might be able to kill her!
Living in the Witch's Coffin itself would cause irreversible severe damage to the body.
"If the Ice Witch makes just one mistake, she will die..."
Little Crow looked at the witch and couldn't help but nervously clench her fists.
Above the ice field, the Ice Witch casually took off her hunter's coat as she walked toward the center of the battlefield, revealing the thin mage robe beneath.
Meanwhile, the Azure Beast twisted his neck, fully focused. He discarded the long sword in his hand, instead bending his body into a posture like a wild wolf hunting!
The Ice Witch acted as if she couldn't see the Azure Beast, speaking calmly:
"Do you know what the difference is between the fourth tier and the fifth tier?"
A question? Chen Qi blinked.
He never expected that at such a moment, the Ice Witch would ask him a question.
Chen Qi thought briefly.
The reason why fourth-tier Transcendents are considered the end point for many Transcendents is because it's the final stage of spiritual energy cultivation.
At this stage, the total amount of spiritual energy is like a huge lake, reaching the limits of what the soul and body can bear.
If one attempts to break through this limit, they must simultaneously reshape both soul and body.
However, neither reshaping the soul nor the body is something a fourth-tier Transcendent can accomplish.
Additionally, fifth-tier profession cards cannot be obtained through conventional means.
Because of this, to advance to the fifth tier, one must rely on dimensional rifts containing infinite possibilities.
Chen Qi collected his thoughts and answered the witch's question:
"There are many differences, but essentially, it's still the difference in spiritual energy quantity."
A complete fifth-tier Saint's total spiritual energy is even more than ten times that of a fourth-tier legend.
A flash passed through the Ice Witch's eyes. Many Transcendents nowadays believe that the fifth tier is another sublimation of spiritual energy.
The Ice Witch continued:
"Correct. After fourth-tier Transcendent spiritual energy sublimates, their spiritual energy can transform in countless ways, touching domains that defy worldly logic..."
The Ice Witch lightly flicked her hand, condensing an ice crystal longsword:
"In eras with few dimensional rifts, they continuously tried, refining their techniques for manipulating spiritual energy, transforming it into purer qi force, Blade Energy, lamp power, and so on, seeking more powerful domains...
Therefore, many believe that the rules of a domain are the embodiment of perfect technique."
Domain... Curiosity flashed in Chen Qi's eyes.
As the Ice Witch said, a domain is the ultimate expression of a fourth-tier Transcendent's skill.
At this moment, the Ice Witch curled a faint smile at the corner of her mouth:
"However, in reality, as long as the spiritual energy is sufficient, the domains that fourth-tier Transcendents painstakingly study for a hundred years are nothing more than casual moves for a fifth-tier..."
The moment her words fell, the Azure Beast launched an attack like an injured tiger!
The Azure Beast who had drunk the Great Whale's blood had incredibly powerful broad shoulders, his body strong like a burning giant bear!
His beast-like charge was like the impact of an out-of-control train, while the blue flames behind him resembled a towering tsunami!
Its power and speed were already sufficient to incinerate a legendary figure in the blink of an eye!
Pure monster power—this was the Azure Beast!
The Ice Witch turned her head and calmly spoke a simple word:
"Slow."
The gentle, soft words echoed through the ice field like valley reverberations.
Faint snowflakes drifted down around the Ice Witch.
And the Azure Beast, hunting like a giant beast, slowed down more and more as he approached within ten meters of the Ice Witch...
Everything around seemed to enter slow motion.
The Azure Beast's speed slowed more and more, until it had decreased fiftyfold!
In that instant, the Azure Beast seemed to transform into a slowly moving ink-splashed dynamic oil painting!
Chen Qi's gaze flickered.
This power was very similar to his domain 'Rift Slash.'
The domain of congelation was also recorded in Rift Slash.
If a fourth-tier Transcendent wanted to use a move of this level, they would need to activate Release, consuming most of their spiritual energy.
Although the power difference was significant, the Ice Witch released this move without consuming large amounts of spiritual energy, nor did she tear open a rift to another world.
Swish!
The Ice Witch took a step forward, leisurely walking up to the burning Azure Beast.
Snap!
The Ice Witch lightly turned her wrist, like an elegant painter modifying her masterpiece.
Swish!
A pale power like splashed ink burst forth, pouring onto the Azure Beast's body!
The Ice Witch again emitted a voice like the reverberation of a bell:
"Release."
The slowness of the surrounding world was released, and the speed began to increase faster and faster.
The moment 'slow release' occurred, a terrifying wound that grew larger and larger appeared on the Azure Beast's chest!
Boom!
Immediately after, the wound violently expanded, transforming into a ten-meter pale blade energy!
Under this slash, the Azure Beast was forced back a hundred meters!
However, even with a terrifying crack reaching his spine on his chest, the Azure Beast's eyes still showed no fear.
Instead, he twisted his neck and mocked:
"Is that all? This level of congelation isn't even as good as the hunters!"
Hunters... A cat-like curiosity flashed in the Ice Witch's eyes.
Crack!
The Azure Beast continuously twisted his neck, emitting warning sounds:
"Neither of us is in perfect condition, and in a confrontation between fifth tiers, spiritual energy decides everything!"
"Ice Witch, what a pity. If you hadn't just awakened, if it weren't for your current spiritual energy field, perhaps I wouldn't be your match at all..."
"But the current you, with a body as fragile as a common wild rabbit, and your spiritual energy field suppressed by me, facing me at my full power?
How long can you last!?"
The Azure Beast's face grew increasingly ferocious.
His spiritual energy field was still expanding!
Spiritual energy field... The Ice Witch's cold expression showed a frown for the third time.
The situation isn't right.
Boom!
Suddenly, the blue burning air currents on the Azure Beast's body rapidly expanded, stirring up one fierce steam blast after another!
The massive blue steam even forced back Fen and Chen Qi who were watching from a distance!
The weakened Fen raised her hand, watching this scene nervously.
He's entering the second stage... Chen Qi's gaze turned cold.
The Azure Beast's fourth-tier profession was the same as his—Deep Sea Monster. Throughout his long life, he had consumed various mutated creations, contacted deep sea powers, undergone hundreds of flesh transformations, and the flesh beneath his skin had long transcended human category.
Beneath the human epidermis lay the power of over a hundred twisted monsters. Even after he advanced to Saint, the Azure Beast found it difficult to suppress this power.
Therefore, for most of the time, the Azure Beast completely sealed these powers.
The Azure Beast had always suppressed them—no matter what commands his brain gave, he couldn't use them!
Only under one circumstance would these powers be released:
That was when facing true death and fear.
These powers would converge with each other, ultimately creating an extremely savage, bloodthirsty giant beast that ignored everything!
Simultaneously, in this state, he could merge with the blue flames, ignoring most domain effects!
And now, under the power of the Black Whale, the Azure Beast's sealed powers were erupting!
Bad... Chen Qi warned:
"Ice Witch, the second stage is coming, be careful, he can ignore your slow..."
"Hmm?"
A trace of confusion flashed in the Ice Witch's eyes.
However, the Azure Beast wouldn't give her time to think!
His whole body like a wild beast, he crouched on the ground and charged forward!
And when he appeared again, he was already behind the Ice Witch.
On the Azure Beast's body, one beastly face after another converged, countless distorted, roaring muscles burst out from his body.
His eyes flashed with beastly light, and his entire body, in the space of a breath, suddenly swelled five times in size!!!
Everyone on the ice field was shocked, and even the Blizzard Dragon King sleeping a hundred miles away opened its Dragon Eyes.
That surging spiritual energy field was the precursor to the most powerful Release!
Everyone was astonished—in legends, the complete Release of a fifth-tier Saint-level power was enough to destroy cities!
Even though the Azure Beast was extremely weakened, his Release was far beyond what legends could compare to!
Boom!
"Blade Release. Azure Fall!"
The Azure Beast unleashed all his boiling monster power, brandishing its unimaginably massive claw with mountain-toppling, tsunami-like force, blazing fiercely like a blue comet falling from the sky!
Boom!
The tremendous power crashed directly toward the Ice Witch's ice-gleaming head.
The air seemed to tear at this moment, with piercing sonic booms echoing across the massive ice field!
The Ice Witch again softly said:
"Slow..."
However, too slow!
The efficiency of the Ice Witch's 'slow' was too slow!
Whether because the Azure Beast's speed was too fast, or because the Azure Beast had adapted to congelation.
The Azure Beast, under the effect of 'slow,' not only didn't slow down, but instead became even more powerful!
Speed, power—both were approaching their limits!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Just the scalding air currents carried by the Azure Beast's body had already penetrated the Ice Witch's body!
Swish! The ice crystal protective layer on the Ice Witch's body quickly melted, a small wound appearing on the Ice Witch's right cheek—
The legendary witch was finally bleeding.
The Azure Beast continued to accelerate, roaring inwardly:
"Die!!!!!"
The Ice Witch turned her head sideways, looking at the Azure Beast above her.
Her crimson eyes finally showed a serious expression.
But unfortunately...
It was too late. Even a fifth-tier expert at maximum speed couldn't evade the killing move at this distance.
Everything was too late!
Crack!
In the next breath, the Azure Beast's killing move struck down, causing the visible ice field to shake violently!
Boom! Boom!
Ear-shattering roars erupted.
In an instant, an avalanche occurred, the entire ice field's terrain cracked violently, overwhelming blue flames like a volcanic eruption caused a shocking earthquake!!
Even the massive ghost ship rocked violently!
Its power was great enough to distort the terrain!
Everyone stared dumbfounded at this scene. Although they had long heard of the power of fifth-tier Release in legends, when they witnessed it with their own eyes, they couldn't stop trembling.
This mountain-toppling, sea-overturning move was enough to annihilate several navy giant ships in an instant.
Everyone struggled to maintain their footing, watching as the massive dust cloud slowly dispersed.
In the center of the ice field ruins, the Azure Beast whose body had completely distorted into a five-meter giant beast spoke in a nearly hoarse voice:
"Farewell, witch..."
After speaking, he retracted his fist with temperatures reaching thousands of degrees.
However, the moment he finished speaking, the Ice Witch appeared on his massive arm, elegantly pointing her long sword at the Azure Beast's throat.
The Ice Witch's expression had returned to composure:
"Your speed is too slow, little dog."
The Ice Witch was completely unharmed, the arrogance in her eyes not diminished in the slightest.
Everyone was astonished, looking at this scene with confusion!
The Azure Beast's speed and power just now were the epitome of violence, true fifth-tier speed and power!
"How is this possible? It should have been a crushing victory..."
The Black Death Doctor clenched his fists.
Even other Saints couldn't rely on speed and power to dodge that attack.
Could the Ice Witch's speed be even beyond that!?
Everyone looked confused.
Among the astonished crowd, only Chen Qi had clearly seen everything that just happened.
It was perfect congelation...
Just now, the Ice Witch used congelation similar to 'Rift Slash' to evade the impact again.
However, unlike Chen Qi's technique.
The Ice Witch's congelation, besides reducing speed, would also stop others' thinking.
Currently, Chen Qi's spiritual energy simply couldn't achieve this.
What surprised Chen Qi even more was that during the release process, the witch almost didn't emit any spiritual energy!
Therefore, in others' eyes, the Ice Witch had used speed to dodge the Azure Beast's attack.
In a sense, this was time stop within a certain range!
Just now, the Ice Witch had congealed for about three seconds.
Chen Qi took a deep breath. Because he had studied the Ice Witch's techniques and reached a quite high level, he was able to maintain reason and clearly see the witch's moves during this special time stop.
However, even so...
In the aftermath of the Azure Beast's move, the Ice Witch's white long hair continuously fluttered in the wind.
At some point, a touch of bright red had stained her hair.
Even the residual waves of the Release were enough to damage her glass-like body.
The Ice Witch gently stroked her hair, looking at the shocked expressions of Chen Qi and Fen, and smiled slightly:
"Don't worry, my power and speed are far above his."
Then, she turned back and, in front of everyone, unleashed a technique.
The Azure Beast who had fully released his power was already riddled with holes due to the chaos of his own power!
"..."
The Azure Beast looked at the Ice Witch on his fist, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
His all-out attack had failed to harm the Ice Witch!
"It's over..."
With a casual strike, the Ice Witch blasted the Azure Beast back a hundred meters, knocking him to the ground.
After speaking, the wound on the Ice Witch's face widened slightly.
Drip! Drip!
Blood flowed down the scar, falling to the ground.
Ice Witch... Chen Qi had an ominous premonition in his heart.
During the 'time stop' moment just now, he had still seen a trace of fear on the Ice Witch's face.
After dealing with the Azure Beast, the Ice Witch elegantly descended from the Azure Beast's body and walked toward Fen and Chen Qi.
The outcome was decided.
Fen looked at the scene before her and said excitedly:
"Teacher!!!"
"Hmm—"
The Ice Witch smiled slightly, as if defeating the Azure Beast before her was just a trivial matter.
The many pirate crews, looking at the scene before them, couldn't help but clench their fists, their eyes full of fear.
If they had faced the Azure Beast's killing move head-on, their entire Blackfin Crew should have been annihilated.
Who knows how much power the Ice Witch still hadn't used!
However, only Chen Qi, the Black Death Doctor, and Little Crow noticed that something was wrong with the Ice Witch's body...
Was the Ice Witch's arm trembling?
The Ice Witch's body at this moment might already be like a candle in the wind.
Huff, huff, huff... The Ice Witch frowned slightly, faintly revealing a sense of powerlessness.
Chen Qi asked:
"Ice Witch, do you need me to support you?"
The previous attack had consumed all her physical strength.
The Ice Witch looked at Chen Qi suspiciously, raised her head high, and said confidently:
"Not needed."