Chapter 37: Bubu Wang's Curiosity
Regarding the old Saint Monk, Su Xiao's only impression was his exquisite blade technique. He certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity to extract the other's soul memories.
A crystal stone of black, blue, and red appeared above the old Saint Monk. Su Xiao reached forward with one hand, and the crystal shattered with a crackling sound. Three orbs of light flew toward his hand.
[You have obtained 'Ascetic Memory: Saint Monk (Complete)'.]
[You have obtained 'Technique Memory: Blade Grandmaster (Incomplete)'.]
[You have obtained 'Killing Memory: Purifying Flame Blade (Incomplete)'.]
[Tip: The Hunter may choose one to extract.]
...
Three orbs of light—black, blue, and red—floated between Su Xiao's palms. As for what to choose, there was no need to think twice. It had to be 'Technique Memory: Blade Grandmaster'.
Three blue energy threads materialized in Su Xiao's hand. Two of them wrapped around the blue orb, while the last pierced into it.
A flood of images appeared before Su Xiao's eyes. These images flashed by in an instant, making his brain feel as if it were about to explode.
After a long while, Su Xiao sat on the ground, one hand covering his forehead. Technique memory was clearly different from ascetic memory. Ascetic memory was meant to be devoured, while technique memory was for observation and comprehension. It could only be viewed once before these soul memories dissipated.
Almost instinctively, Su Xiao grasped the hilt of the Azure Soul blade. He sensed that his blade technique had improved.
[Tip: Blade Grandmaster has been upgraded to Lv.33.]
[Blade Grandmaster: Lv.33 (Passive Skill)]
Skill Effect: Increases blade-type weapon attack power by 526% (increased by 9%), neural reflex speed +144% (increased by 5%), immune to mental-type control...
Initial Additional Ability: Rhythm of All Things Lv.++
Lv.10 Ultimate Ability: Phantom Flash...
Lv.20 Ultimate Ability: Soul Blade...
Lv.30 Ultimate Ability: Blade's Extreme...
...
Su Xiao's eyes opened. Blade Grandmaster had increased by one level, which put him in a good mood. After the second awakening, the Soul Devourer talent had undergone a qualitative transformation.
Once Blade Grandmaster's level exceeded Lv.30, each subsequent level required a considerable price. The technique memory gained this time was equivalent to the benefit of 15 Soul Crystals (Complete) plus 500,000 Paradise Coins.
From the first rank to the fifth rank, Su Xiao seemed to have mastered many abilities, but in reality, most were passive abilities. Aside from those granted by equipment, the active abilities he used in combat were actually only a few.
Blood Beast, Azure Steel Shadow, Dragon Shadow Flash, and Slaughter Shadow. Among these, three were used with blade technique as the core.
The truly independent ability was only Blood Beast; the rest were passive.
As for the Blade Dao Sword series, these were blade technique moves Su Xiao had developed himself, all falling under the category of blade technique.
Su Xiao's victory over the old Saint Monk was not a coincidence but something he had 'died his way into.' He had lost count of how many times he had 'died' under this old man's blade. By the end, as soon as the old Saint Monk leaned forward, Su Xiao knew what move he was about to use.
Successfully defeating the old Saint Monk made Su Xiao feel exhilarated and greatly boosted his confidence.
Su Xiao stood up from the ground. Now that the first Soul Manifestation had been defeated, the second was about to appear.
The surrounding gray mist surged, and a towering figure walked out from within. He wielded a long-handled blade. The weapon was nearly three meters in total length, with the handle alone measuring one meter, the blade close to two meters, and the edge about four fingers wide. It didn't look bulky but instead appeared sharp and unstoppable.
'Butcher of the Living: Xing.'
Blue flames formed these five characters before quickly dissipating.
The Butcher of the Living's skin was a dark red, with cracks faintly visible. Tattered strips of clothing hung from his body.
Su Xiao held the Azure Soul long blade with one hand. The confidence he had just gained from defeating the old Saint Monk suddenly wavered.
"No... it's not completely impossible to overcome."
Su Xiao stepped forward and charged...
The mechanical war chariot sped along. Su Xiao sat in the back seat, raising a hand to press against his neck. Just moments ago, he had been cut into six pieces by the Butcher of the Living, the entire process taking seven seconds.
First strike: Azure Soul was severed. Second strike: Su Xiao's left arm was cut off, but he threw the short blade in his hand, stabbing it into the Butcher of the Living's head. As for the damage to the other party... let's not mention it.
As for the third strike and beyond, Su Xiao had his head severed. He chose to forget the subsequent scene.
In terms of blade technique, the Butcher of the Living was at least half again as skilled as the old Saint Monk. What was even more frustrating was that the Butcher of the Living's strength, speed, and defense almost completely overwhelmed Su Xiao.
Inside the [Greed Chapter], Su Xiao's comprehensive attributes were fixed: Strength, Agility, and Endurance were all at 100 points. The old Saint Monk had been the same.
But when it came to the Butcher of the Living, the other party's Strength, Agility, and Endurance were at least 140 points or more. What made it even more unsolvable was that this wasn't a brute. Although his strikes were wide and powerful, they had no flaws. The oppressive feeling was simply too strong.
Su Xiao seriously suspected that even if his Blade Grandmaster reached Lv.40, he might not be able to defeat the Butcher of the Living. And this was only the second Soul Manifestation! There were eight more behind him, each stronger than the last.
Su Xiao put away the [Greed Chapter]. When it came to honing combat experience, no place was more suitable than the [Greed Chapter].
If Su Xiao could defeat the Butcher of the Living, he was confident that, using only blade technique without any passive skills or equipment bonuses, he could beat his former formidable enemy, Moon God, into submission.
Thinking of this, along with his not-too-fatigued spirit, Su Xiao once again injected mana into the [Greed Chapter].
After his soul became strong enough, even dying inside the [Greed Chapter] greatly reduced the mental fatigue. He even suspected that if his soul were strong enough, he could use the [Greed Chapter] without any restrictions.
Ten seconds later...
Su Xiao rubbed his chin. This time, he adopted a strategy of fleeing on sight and frantically slashing out blade auras. The result was that he lived three seconds longer before being pinned to the ground by the Butcher of the Living with a single strike.
"This is... too unsolvable."
"Woof?"
Bubu Wang looked at Su Xiao with confusion.
"Want to give it a try?"
Su Xiao injected mana into the [Greed Chapter] and gestured for Bubu Wang to place its paw on it.
"Woof? (Is it fun?)"
"From a practical combat perspective... it's... interesting."
As soon as Su Xiao finished speaking, Bubu Wang placed its paw on it. 1.2 seconds later.
"Woof?"
Bubu Wang regained consciousness, its dog face stunned. It had only felt something whoosh past, and then its dog head hit the ground. It hadn't even seen what the enemy was.
Su Xiao rubbed his slightly stinging forehead. Bubu Wang had only entered the [Greed Chapter] with its mental energy, so the burden it bore after being 'killed' was very small.
Bubu Wang's successful entry into the [Greed Chapter] gave Su Xiao considerable inspiration. He felt that this thing could be used as a 'protective charm.'
This time, Bubu Wang entered the [Greed Chapter] because Su Xiao had 'opened the path,' pulling Bubu Wang in. The burden was borne 90% by Su Xiao and 10% by Bubu Wang.
But what if, without Su Xiao 'opening the path,' someone forcibly shoved a consciousness into the [Greed Chapter]?
For example, if an extremely powerful enemy invaded Su Xiao's body as a consciousness entity, he could drag the enemy into the [Greed Chapter] and let the Butcher of the Living chop up the enemy's consciousness entity.
Even if the Butcher of the Living wasn't a match, Su Xiao still had eight Soul Manifestations stronger than him!
Su Xiao put away the [Greed Chapter]. This item's wonders were yet to be fully explored. He suspected that the previous owner, the old Saint Monk, had only defeated the first Soul Manifestation.
Su Xiao looked out the car window. At some point, the lush green scenery outside had been replaced by sandy yellow. They had already entered the desert area that Mogro had mentioned.