Chapter 1 A Glimpse of Speed

In that instant, Xu Huai Shang's vision was filled with only a blurry phantom. She understood in her heart that she could no longer keep up with that speed.

But she didn't give up; her focus only intensified...

"Since those two grenades are of the same model and their fuses were pulled simultaneously, the explosions must also occur in the same second..." Xu Huai Shang thought rapidly, "He wouldn't hold the grenades in his hand to blow me up... therefore..."

Even in this perilous situation, she made a very correct judgment—no matter how crazy Feng Bujue appeared, it was just part of his psychological warfare; he wouldn't commit suicide when he had the upper hand.

Sure enough, as the moment of explosion approached, Feng Bujue suddenly stopped abruptly, using the momentum to throw out the two grenades. He then pushed off the ground and leaped backward.

The two explosives flew toward Xu Huai Shang's sides in a pincer formation, faintly engulfing her within. Generally speaking, she would have two ways to respond: one was to jump upward with all her might; the other was to retreat backward rapidly.

But... Xu Huai Shang's keen combat intuition led her to choose a third path: to charge forward.

She crossed her twin blades in hand and rushed straight ahead, two slashes already brewing. The two grenades passed her by, the distance between them only increasing.

*Boom, boom—* two explosions rang out almost simultaneously.

The explosions occurred seven or eight meters behind Xu Huai Shang. The scattered shrapnel did not cause too much damage to her, and the shockwaves from the explosions instead became her aid, allowing her to successfully close in on the retreating Feng Bujue.

"A very sharp response..." Feng Bujue muttered, "But the speed is still too slow... Charging over like this, you won't even last thirty seconds..." A golden glint flashed in his hand, and a playing card, held between his right index and middle fingers, suddenly slashed out...

*Chih—*

Blood, flew up...

But the person did not fall.

"Hmm?" For the first time in this battle, Feng Bujue felt surprised, and this was not a good sign...

"Heh..." Xu Huai Shang was smiling, even though a ghastly gash had been cut into her neck. The expression on her face, however, did not resemble that of someone about to be defeated in the slightest.

"This is your trump card?" Feng Bujue's gaze shifted downward, and he saw something in Xu Huai Shang's hand...

[Name: Bajing Xiawan]

[Type: Other]

[Quality: Legendary]

[Effect: Unknown]

[Remarks: A sacred object once soaked in the blood of a goddess]

This item was something Xu Huai Shang had accidentally found in a team nightmare scenario. It and a skull were stored together in a secret room in "Amakusa Castle." Next to this item was also a scroll, which was essentially a skill card:

[Name: Soul Descent]

[Skill Card Attribute: Special skill, disappears after one use]

[Skill Category: Spiritual Art]

[Effect: Summons the power of swordsmen from another world (lasts five minutes)]

[Consumption: Bajing Xiawan (can only be activated by pouring blood at the moment of death onto the Bajing Xiawan)]

[Learning Conditions: Level 40 or above, this skill card cannot be traded after being picked up]

[Remarks: In the Soul Descent state, Survival, Stamina, and Spiritual Art values are all positive infinity. The skill bar will break the quantity limit, and all the sword masters' techniques can be used at will. After the skill ends, Survival, Stamina, and Spiritual Power values become 1%, and you cannot be affected by beneficial items for three minutes.]

"This move was originally reserved to deal with the Tun Tian Gui Xiao (Devouring Heaven Ghost Hero)." Xu Huai Shang's tone suddenly became very calm. The sacred object in her hand was gradually dissolving into white light. "I fought him once, and that was the only time I felt completely hopeless in battle..." She paused, "I didn't expect... you would give me the same feeling." As she spoke, the wound on her neck healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

By this time, Feng Bujue had already retreated more than ten meters away. The moment the opponent activated the skill, he instinctively felt a great danger.

"If you really have only used 32% of your strength..." Xu Huai Shang said, putting the knife in her left hand back into its sheath, changing to a two-handed single-sword stance, "Then I suggest you go all out immediately, otherwise..." The short sword in her right hand suddenly released a soaring killing intent. The sword energy materialized from nothing, and the blade turned into a light form and extended three times in length.

Feng Bujue thought this was not good. This was not a situation that could be dealt with barehanded. He quickly took out a folding stool and a military shovel, one in each hand, which could be considered dual-wielding... It's just that his image looked as if he was going to dig coal...

…………

"Oh! Everyone, please look, player Xu Huai Shang's fatal wound has healed instantly! What's going on?" Hua Xiong shouted, "It doesn't look like she used any medical skills..."

Pan Feng continued, "Based on my experience... she may have activated some kind of 'transformation' skill, but there are no obvious changes in appearance."

Don't think they are that high-end... In fact, these two guys are just pretending. The game screen seen by them, the GMs, is different. In addition to the general battle scenes, they can also see the "battle log" listed by the system on a split screen; they know which items and skills the players use. Without this function as an assistant, the commentary work of these two would be really difficult...

Of course, the specific amount of health and stamina left for the two players, such numerical things, are not in the battle log. This is to prevent the commentators from prematurely predicting the outcome inadvertently.

"Great! The goddess is the strongest! She will definitely not lose!"

"Kill that arrogant kid!"

"Thirty seconds have passed, right! You've been slapped in the face! Haha!"

"Shang Shang, go! Cut him to death!"

Another burst of noise erupted from the audience. Everyone was obviously happy to see Feng Bujue being reversed.

"It's like she suddenly became another person..." Xiao Tan stared at the screen thoughtfully, "The gesture of holding the knife, the steps of the feet, the distance from the opponent, the method of breathing..." He pondered, "Very powerful..."

"Hmph... that's right." Si Yu actually showed a smile, "It's going to be interesting next."

Ji Bu turned his head in surprise, "Hey... Boss, what's that expression on your face... Don't tell me that you actually support Xu Huai Shang?"

Si Yu smiled without saying a word. In terms of position, she was naturally still on Brother Jue's side. It's just that... she also wanted to see Feng Bujue suffer a little.

…………

Looking at the arena again...

"Jisaku. Mumyo (Self-made. Nameless)." Xu Huai Shang spoke, and the knife moved. The light-cast blade suddenly became a bit narrower and longer.

"Sounds familiar..." Feng Bujue muttered, "Whose weapon is this..."

Xu Huai Shang ignored him, took a step forward, and spun the blade, flying into the air.

A crescent-shaped gorgeous slash came on its own... Feiyan Liuliánzhan (Flying Swallow Six-Linked Slash)!

Feng Bujue took half a step back, raised the folding stool and military shovel crosswise, preparing to defend against the enemy. His feet were on the ground, making it easy to borrow strength; the opponent was in the air, spinning and slashing in reverse. In a head-on collision, Brother Jue was undoubtedly more advantageous, and there were more follow-up changes.

Unexpectedly... after two metallic sounds, the two "weapons" in Feng Bujue's hands were knocked away...

Fortunately, his grip was extremely strong, and he didn't let go of the folding stool and military shovel, but his arms involuntarily raised diagonally backward, and he retreated seven or eight steps before barely standing firm.

"WTF?" Feng Bujue cursed in his heart, complaining, "Are you kidding me... What kind of item did she use just now? A spiritual weapon containing a lifetime of power from a peerless master?"

"Can you still block it..." Xu Huai Shang retracted her move and landed lightly, "But... this is just the beginning."

As she spoke, her figure moved, and she suddenly appeared in front of Brother Jue. The latter reacted extremely quickly and blocked the attack.

Mijian. Shisetsu (Secret Sword. Fine Snow), Mijian. Mukuge (Secret Sword. Dream Haze), Mijian. Kagerou (Secret Sword. Heat Haze) were three moves in a row.

Xu Huai Shang's Iaijutsu was natural and seamless, and her attack was as powerful as a thousand pounds; Feng Bujue only felt overwhelmed when defending, and his strength was hard to use. If it weren't for the Soul Mind Assistance, he would have already been severely injured.

"Something's not right... this is not just a simple strengthening." Feng Bujue thought, "It's like a different person is fighting me..."

"Hmph... let's see how long you can last!" Xu Huai Shang had already gained the upper hand and was becoming more and more proficient in the Soul Descent state. She twisted her wrist, and the blade became a few centimeters longer, and a faint purple light appeared. The weapon transformed by the streamer this time was the famous sword of the Ancient Yin One Sword Style—Umeuguisu.

After Xu Huai Shang changed the sword, she charged up again. She didn't need to worry about the issue of consumption at all, and she made moves at will. "Hyakki Korosu (Hundred Demon Kill)!" Before the words fell, she had once again killed Brother Jue's side. The sword energy bloomed, like an angry wave; shrinking the ground, like an electric dragon.

Feng Bujue finally couldn't bear it anymore. He originally wanted to reserve some strength in this game, but now it seems that he had to use all his strength, "This is forcing me to be serious!" As he said that, he stepped on his feet and rushed into the high sky.

Now, in the Spiritual Consciousness Gathering Body Technique state, Brother Jue can jump at least twenty meters or more from the ground.

He leaped to the top of the arena and immediately made a side-lying position, and used the Getsuga Tensho (Moon Step) in a very awkward posture. For a time, he spun strangely like a top. Half a second later, using the force of the spinning kick, he continuously released Lán Jiǎo (Storm Leg) with one foot.

The crescent-shaped slashing kick should have been, but at this time, it was rushing down like a tornado.

"Did you think you were the only one who shouted the name of the move when attacking!" Feng Bujue shouted while performing the technique, "Look at my self-created Jiuyang Thunderbolt Electric Light Crazy Dragon Drill!"

The audience in front of the main screen all complained: "That's clearly the move of Wang Xiaohu (Dragon Tiger Gate)!"

At this moment, Xu Huai Shang had also jumped into the air... She originally wanted to pursue the opponent, but Brother Jue jumped first after all, and this short time difference became the gap for the counterattack.

"Hmph... Oka Sen (Cherry Blossom Slash)!" Xu Huai Shang actually waved her hand and slashed in mid-air where there was no place to borrow strength. The blooming sword energy turned into a cherry-pink light board, turning out layers of stagnation, resisting the energy impact released by Feng Bujue.

"Tch... Gomu Gomu no Axe (Rubber Battle Axe)!" Feng Bujue stopped spinning, kicked his leg high over his head, and smashed down with his heel, releasing Lán Jiǎo (Storm Leg) again, and a thick arc of light crashed down.

"It's neither rubber nor a battle ax!" Xu Huai Shang actually complained again... But that's not the point.

At this moment, she took out the left-hand knife that was stored in the sheath, and combined it with the hilt of the right-hand knife, and the two instantly merged into one, turning into a long-handled Taichi. This is Senryo Kyoshiro's weapon—Sewa Nyobo.

"Then how about I change the name to Getsuga Tensho (Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer) next time?" Feng Bujue said.

"Ketsufu Dokuraku (Blood Wind Spinning Top)!" Xu Huai Shang held the knife and spun continuously, rolling upwards like a whirlwind. The revolving and outward-releasing sword energy quickly stirred up and dissipated the slashing of Lán Jiǎo (Storm Leg), and in the blink of an eye, it had approached Feng Bujue himself.

"Who's afraid of who, I'll spin too!" Feng Bujue spread his arms, waving the folding stool and military shovel, imitating the opponent's movements and attacking downwards, "Ketsuen Kyobu (Blood Smoke Rhapsody)!" He also shouted out a Senryo Kyoshiro's move...

*Pong Pong Zheng Zheng—*

The weapons of the two collided continuously, sparks scattered, fighting spirits collapsed, and the air in the arena was a blur, the energy in the air was like misty air, condensed and not scattered.

…………

In the mall, the audience was silent again, and all they could feel was shock...

This game is undoubtedly the most exciting one since the start of the Peak Competition. Although the battle between Laughing at the Sky vs. Vishnu was also a direct dialogue between players ranked in the top 20, the battle between the two was far less gorgeous and exciting than this one.

After all, what Xu Huai Shang used was a super-powerful skill that could only be activated by consuming legendary items, and its skill characteristics were only better than the Devil Advent. The level of this battle has been raised to another level from the moment the skill was activated.

"Xu Huai Shang, go!"

"Don't lose! Shang Shang..."

"That kid is a bit too stubborn..."

"That guy is a monster! He can actually hold on with folding stools and military shovels..."

The public's disgust for Feng Bujue has not weakened, but... a few more emotions of awe have been added.

…………

In the arena, the two were fighting with all their might, fighting inextricably.

But as time went by, the influence of gravity on Xu Huai Shang, who was in a lower position, became more and more obvious. She was aware of this, so she probed with the blade, turned around and left, ending this confrontation.

Feng Bujue was relieved. His two arms were almost exhausted, but fortunately, the opponent retracted his move at this time... allowing him to catch his breath.

"You lied..." Xu Huai Shang floated in the air and landed, a hint of a triumphant smile on her pretty face, "Your so-called 32% is actually your full strength, right?"

Feng Bujue was also falling, he snorted coldly, "So you want to fight me with my full strength..." He paused, "Me, who is three times stronger than now..."

"Hmph... if that's really the case, I really want to see it." Xu Huai Shang suddenly landed, and the long-handled weapon in her hand was divided into two again, becoming a dual-sword state.

The light shape of the sword changed again, becoming two long and short Taichi.

Feng Bujue also landed safely and stood still. His gaze fell directly on the opponent's weapon: "Let me guess... this time it's Yamato no Kami Hidetaka. Sukehire."

"I can't even memorize all the skills and the corresponding weapon names in the skill list... but you can directly report them." Xu Huai Shang replied, "In a sense, you are really amazing."

"According to my speculation, the thing you used just now..." Feng Bujue continued, "allowed you to obtain the martial arts of all the characters in Samurai Shodown (Samurai Spirits), and your sword also has the ability to change, and can become the weapon of any character." As he said that, he put the folding stool and military shovel back into his luggage, "Also... judging from your attack rhythm and skill selection, I guess the consumption when you make a move can be ignored." He spread his hands and smiled, "This state... I'm afraid it has a certain duration, right?"

Xu Huai Shang was secretly startled when she heard this. It's nothing to be able to say the first two things, at most it can show that this guy is very nerdy and knows the settings of Samurai Shodown (Samurai Spirits) very well; but it's not easy to say the last one...

When the opponent's strength suddenly increases and launches a series of fierce attacks, the most important thing people will consider is how to solve the problem in front of them, but Feng Bujue thinks more, deeper, and farther. In the fierce fight, he has already made calm and accurate judgments.

"What can you change if you know?" Xu Huai Shang's figure had already moved again before she finished speaking.

After the skill was activated, she did not show any anxiety, because she wanted to create an illusion psychologically, so that the opponent thought that this strengthening ability would continue indefinitely, so as to create fear and disrupt their position.

However, the reaction of this "Mad Detective" was surprising. Not to mention being afraid, he was so calm that it made people angry...

Since things had reached this point, Xu Huai Shang had no reason to pretend to be calm and chat with the opponent anymore. If you want to talk, talk in battle.

"What can you change..." Feng Bujue muttered this sentence, and also activated the Fighting Demon Descends...

Maybe someone will ask, why didn't Brother Jue use the combination of Devil Advent + Spiritual Consciousness Gathering Body Technique to attack with all his strength from the beginning, so Xu Huai Shang would definitely be caught off guard and killed in seconds.

In fact, this matter is not complicated, because the price of Devil Advent is too high. Once used, it is equivalent to cutting off the retreat. If the battle cannot be resolved within the time limit, then all that can be done is to wait for death...

Feng Bujue didn't know much about Xu Huai Shang. He didn't know what skills the opponent had. In case Xu Huai Shang had some kind of specific life-saving skill that could prevent her from being killed in seconds, or if she hid... then after the three minutes of the Devil Advent state, Brother Jue could only lie on the ground and be ravaged.

At this moment, Feng Bujue had been forced to the point where he was likely to be killed if he didn't use the skill. Then... there was nothing to worry about.

The black energy rose into the sky, and the wind and clouds changed color in an instant.

Fear, like a pair of invisible hands, strangled Xu Huai Shang's throat. Her movements stagnated, and she felt... some extremely terrifying existence... descending in front of her.

"100%, that's about it..." Feng Bujue was shrouded in a layer of raging, violent black aura. His expression was still gloomy and calm. But in his eyes... there was endless fanatical fighting spirit, "You asked for this..."