Versatile Sword Cultivator

Chapter 25 – It’s not that I’m too strong, it’s that you’re too weak

Leaving Fengqu City behind, Zhou Hao made his way towards the mountains outside the city.

The night was thick, with only the moonlight above casting a faint glow.

The forest was tranquil, but as Zhou Hao walked, he sensed something amiss and quickened his pace.

No matter how fast he moved, footsteps seemed to follow him, growing ever closer.

Zhou Hao stopped and stood in the woods, summoning his Thunder Blade and turning around warily, he shouted, "Who's there?"

Lin Jichen emerged from behind the trees.

"The one who's after your life."

Seeing Lin Jichen's Tianyan Sword Sect attire, Zhou Hao's heart skipped a beat, fearing that the sect had sent a large force after him.

But looking around, he realized it was just Lin Jichen alone, and sensed that he was merely a novice at the initial stage of Qi Refining.

"So, it's just a nobody. You think being a disciple of the Tianyan Sword Sect gives you the right to seek revenge? Looks like you're tired of living!"

With those words, Lin Jichen was even more certain he had found his target.

Zhou Hao made the first move, fearing Lin Jichen had backup on the way and wanting to finish him quickly and escape.

Zhou Hao charged with lightning speed, his muscles taut, his blade flashing white as it slashed towards Lin Jichen.

Lin Jichen was not unarmed; he held a crimson sword in his hand.

As Zhou Hao's blade came down, Lin Jichen calmly stepped aside.

He easily dodged Zhou Hao's attack, proving his speed was superior even to this later-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Zhou Hao was taken aback but persisted, bending forward and using the momentum of his previous attack to swing his blade back around.

The blade traced a half-moon arc in the air, the Thunder Blade approaching again with a chilling intent.

This time, Lin Jichen didn't dodge but raised his Crimson Cloud Sword to meet the blade.

The clash of metal sparked in the night.

Zhou Hao was no match for Lin Jichen's strength and stumbled backward, disbelief in his eyes.

"This can't be! You're just at the initial stage of Qi Refining, how can you have such formidable strength?"

"It's not that I'm too strong, it's that you're too weak," Lin Jichen taunted.

Enraged, Zhou Hao held nothing back, channeling his spiritual energy into the Thunder Blade.

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The blade glinted with a hunting light, and a layer of crimson energy enveloped it.

"Wild Blade Slash!"

A fierce and powerful blood-red light cut through the air, flashing past in the moonlit forest.

Just as the blade was about to reach Lin Jichen, a semi-transparent shield appeared in front of him.

Clang!

The blade struck the shield, which dissipated, and the attack was neutralized.

Lin Jichen remained unscathed.

"This Spirit Evasion skill is really handy," Lin Jichen muttered to himself, the shield being a feature of the Gathering Spirit Jade Pendant given to him by Nangong Yue.

However, the Spirit Shield skill required precise timing to be effective.

Lin Jichen had just perfectly timed his first attempt at using the skill, successfully blocking the Wild Blade Slash.

Zhou Hao was startled, then quickly surmised that Lin Jichen must possess a defensive magic treasure, greed flashing in his eyes.

"I didn't expect you to have so many treasures. Seems like you're favored by your sect. Hand over your belongings, and I might spare your life."

Lin Jichen looked at him as if he were a fool, "Who gave you such courage?"

"Then leave your life behind!"

Zhou Hao wasted no more words and swung his blade again.

The Thunder Blade moved through the air in an impenetrable flurry, the fierce wind stirring up leaves in the forest.

Lin Jichen, curious about his own defense capabilities, deliberately didn't dodge, allowing Zhou Hao to seize the opportunity and strike his arm.

"Miss!"

Zhou Hao's blade froze in mid-air, his eyes filled with disbelief.

His attack hadn't even torn Lin Jichen's clothes, let alone left a mark.

"This is impossible... you're just at the initial stage of Qi Refining... I don't believe it!"

Zhou Hao roared in frustration and swung his Wind Blade Technique again, the blade light flashing continuously against Lin Jichen.

Lin Jichen let him strike, protecting only his vital areas to avoid critical damage.

Lin Jichen blocked Zhou Hao's blade with his arms and back.

"Miss!"

"Miss!"

"Miss!"

...

The more Zhou Hao slashed, the more panicked he became, realizing he couldn't breach Lin Jichen's defenses.

Suddenly, the thought of fleeing crossed his mind.

Zhou Hao was truly speechless; wasn't this kid a Sword Cultivator?

Weren't Sword Cultivators supposed to focus on offensive damage? Why did this one seem to specialize in defense like a monk...

Zhou Hao lost his will to fight and feigned another attack, but his body swiftly retreated.

"Hey, you've been hacking away at me for so long, and now you want to run? Wishful thinking," Lin Jichen chuckled, no longer toying with him. He raised his Crimson Cloud Sword, and with a flick, a sword shadow slashed across Zhou Hao's shoulder.

Blood seeped from Zhou Hao's shoulder, quickly soaking his clothes.

"-90!"

A casual strike drew blood, and Lin Jichen saw how weak his opponent was.

[Scatter Cultivator: Zhou Hao]

[Profession: Blade Cultivator]

[Realm: Late Qi Refining]

[Vitality: 2460/2550]

[Strength: 32]

[Mental Power: 30]

[Defense: 28]

[Speed: 36]

[Equipment: Spirit Grade·Thunder Blade]

[Blade Technique: Wind Blade Technique (Minor Achievement)]

[Martial Arts Technique: Wild Blade Slash (Beginner)]

[Movement Technique: Mist Piercing Charge (Minor Achievement)]

Seeing these attributes, Lin Jichen couldn't help but sigh at the weakness.

Even at the late stage of Qi Refining, the opponent's stats were so low, while Lin Jichen's strength at the initial stage already crushed his opponent.

[Player: Lin Jichen]

[Profession: Sword Cultivator]

[Realm: Initial Qi Refining]

[Vitality: 2300/2300]

[Mana: 2100/2100]

[Strength: 37]

[Mental Power: 22]

[Defense: 48]

[Speed: 42]

[Critical Hit: 7]

[Heart Guard: 5]

[Sword Technique Aptitude: +5%]

[Movement Technique: Phantom Step (Beginner 0%)]

[Heart Technique: Tianyan Heart Sutra (Beginner 0%)]

[Equipment: Spirit·Sword Sect Attire, Spirit·Crimson Cloud Sword, Spirit·Gathering Spirit Jade Pendant, Spirit·Storage Ring]

With the 5% combat attribute bonus from the Tianyan Heart Sutra, Lin Jichen's combat stats were even stronger.

And this was just his initial stage attributes; the opponent was already at the later stage.

Scatter cultivators were just that, lacking in heritage and sect resources, no wonder they were so weak.

The only thing Zhou Hao had that Lin Jichen hadn't learned yet were the techniques and spirit skills.

In "Tale of Immortal," skills in the early stages were broadly categorized into five types.

Heart techniques and movement techniques were self-explanatory.

Then there were the core techniques of the profession, like blade techniques for Blade Cultivators and sword techniques for Sword Cultivators.

Beyond that, there were martial arts techniques, spirit skills, ultimate techniques, and supernatural powers.

Martial arts techniques were minor skills, while spirit skills were major moves, only learnable after Foundation Establishment.

Ultimate techniques and supernatural powers were even more powerful and required higher qualifications.

Currently, Qi Refining players could only learn martial arts techniques, with spirit skills still out of reach.

After being struck by a sword, Zhou Hao's composure vanished.

Lin Jichen's onslaught continued, and Zhou Hao could only brace himself to fight back.

In a few breaths, Zhou Hao had several more sword wounds, one of which was on his chest, triggering a critical hit and causing his health to drop by several hundred points.