Chapter 22: Just Tough Enough
Alexander's combat style pushed the advantages of the Saint Descendants to their limits. He was fundamentally different from Lilin. When Su Xiao severed Lilin's torso, Lilin's first thought was to immediately regenerate his body. But after Alexander had his head cut off, he used the visual gap from his flying head to stare at Su Xiao, choosing first to repel Su Xiao before catching his own head.
Crack, crack, crack...
Alexander moved his neck, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curling up. For him, only by fighting against the strong could he feel that he was still alive.
"Northern cavalry spotted five kilometers away!"
Baha shouted from high in the sky. Hearing this news, Su Xiao frowned. He had finally encountered a Sword Grandmaster and wanted to have a one-on-one duel with him, as such opportunities were rare and could hone his blade techniques. But who would have thought the northern cavalry would arrive near Arans City so quickly? Judging by the trend, they would launch a major attack on Arans City soon.
"Amu, Bubu, Baha."
As soon as Su Xiao finished speaking, Amu, who had been waiting, charged at Alexander.
Watching Amu's heavy footsteps, Alexander casually slashed out a few sword strikes before turning his gaze back to Su Xiao.
Puchi, puchi, puchi...
Blood splattered across Amu's body, but he didn't care at all and continued charging toward Alexander.
Alexander's eyes showed obvious surprise. He hadn't paid any attention to this Minotaur before, but now it seemed this was also one of his opponents.
A sound of wind suddenly came from the back of Alexander's neck. It was Baha, using his spatial ability to suddenly appear behind Alexander.
Just as Baha's claws were about to touch Alexander's nape, a sense of crisis that made his feathers stand on end suddenly appeared.
Clang!
Su Xiao suddenly appeared beside Alexander, blocking the sword strike aimed at Baha's neck.
Baha vanished again, but this time his claws sank into the back of Alexander's neck. While injecting energy poison into the enemy's body, his other claw reached for Alexander's throat, ready to slit it.
Alexander's movements paused noticeably due to the attack on his nape, but he bent down, briefly gathered momentum, and then, enduring Su Xiao's slashes, leaped up and forcefully thrust toward Amu.
Alexander chose the one who could take the most punishment. He didn't actually want to, but Su Xiao was a Blade Grandmaster, and as for that demon hawk, spatial abilities were no joke.
Puchi!
The longsword directly pierced through Amu's chest. Two streams of cold air sprayed from Amu's nostrils as his large hand grabbed for Alexander's shoulder.
Amu's combat philosophy was: No matter how strong you are, you definitely can't outlast his toughness.
Just as Amu's hand reached out, Alexander sidestepped. But at that moment, Baha appeared above his head, both claws grabbing for his skull.
With a whoosh, Su Xiao's long blade pierced through Alexander's neck. The blade went horizontal, blocking Alexander's sidestep.
With a smack, Amu's big hand grabbed Alexander's shoulder. Ice spread, and Amu's clenched hand froze onto Alexander's body.
Su Xiao and Baha both retreated at the same time. Amu roared, lifting the not-so-tall Alexander and slamming him to the ground.
Boom!
The magnetic storm hunter exploded. Alexander felt a sharp pain in his back. True damage was the bane of Saint Descendants.
Amu staggered back a few steps, his body full of shrapnel, but his left hand raised up, condensing an ice war hammer.
Just as Alexander was about to swing his sword and cut off Amu's head, Su Xiao stepped forward, his long blade slashing upward.
With this slash, Alexander's right arm flew up, still holding the war sword. Baha in the air swooped down sharply, grabbed Alexander's severed arm, and quickly gained altitude.
Sword Grandmaster Alexander was stunned. He could still adapt when dueling Su Xiao one-on-one, but after being surrounded, he found he had no chance to strike.
Baha's spatial ability was used to interrupt the enemy's attacks, thereby covering for Amu to move forward.
Amu would block all of Alexander's slashes, while Su Xiao made it impossible for Alexander to counterattack.
Was the Undying Saint Descendant Sword Grandmaster unstoppable? No. Against an enemy like him who lacked large-scale area-of-effect attacks and had a normal build, Su Xiao's team's encirclement was even more unstoppable.
Space, tank, assassination, trap setting, third-rate healing, with Su Xiao's blade techniques as the main force—it would be strange if Alexander had any chance to fight back.
After five minutes of exceptionally fierce combat, Alexander lay motionless on the ground. By the end, he didn't even have his sword anymore. How could he not be defeated?
Alexander dueling Su Xiao one-on-one wouldn't even guarantee victory, let alone facing the coordinated teamwork of Su Xiao, Amu, Baha, and Bubu Wang.
Alexander lay on the ground very calmly. He didn't want to leave any last words or anything. Defeated was defeated.
Su Xiao came to Alexander's side, stabbed his blade through Alexander's chest, and slashed downward.
Su Xiao's hand plunged into Alexander's chest. With a puchi sound, he pulled out a heart. The light in Alexander's eyes faded.
A gem floated out from Alexander's head. Su Xiao caught it between two fingers.
[You have obtained Soul Severing Shadow Stone.]
The fourth Soul Severing Shadow Stone was in hand. Only one more was needed for Su Xiao to have a chance to obtain the Soul Severing Shadow ability.
[Prompt: You have killed Saint Descendant King Alexander.]
[You have obtained Alexander's Heart (Special Item of this World).]
[You have obtained 20.3% World Source.]
[You have obtained Spiritual Energy Liquid (1300 grams). This is a fixed reward for killing Saint Descendant King Alexander.]
...
[Main Quest: Fourth Ring (Completed).]
[You have obtained a Holy Spirit Chest.]
[You have activated Main Quest: Fifth Ring (Seven Rings Total).]
[Main Quest: Abyss (Fifth Ring).]
Difficulty Level: Lv.57
Quest Information: Arrive at the bottom of the Abyss and find the 'Space-Time Hub Device' within the Divine Ritual Hall. If found and destroyed, Main Quest 1 will be completed immediately.
Prompt: The Abyss is extremely dangerous. The Hunter must ensure sufficient Spiritual Energy Liquid.
Prompt: Before entering the Abyss, you must hand over Alexander's Heart to the 'Person of All Beginnings.' This action can avoid conflict with the 'Person of All Beginnings' and gain their assistance.
Quest Time Limit: 15 Natural Days.
Quest Reward: Determined by quest completion.
Quest Penalty: Forced Execution.
...
Closing the quest list, Su Xiao still had to confirm one thing before leaving the Sera Empire: whether the Space-Time Hub Device was in Alexander's family. During his fight with Alexander earlier, he hadn't noticed any traces of Paradise enhancement in the opponent's fighting style, but that wasn't certain.
Having successfully dealt with Alexander, even if he turned the opponent's residence upside down now, it wouldn't cause any chain reactions.
Su Xiao extended one hand forward flat, palm facing Alexander lying on the ground.
The Soul Devourer talent activated. Two orbs of light floated out from Alexander's chest and were grasped in Su Xiao's hands. These were soul memories.
[You have obtained 'Ascetic Memory: Extreme Cold Land (Incomplete).']
[You have obtained 'Technique Memory: Sword Grandmaster (Incomplete).']
[Prompt: The Hunter may choose one to extract.]
...
Su Xiao pondered for a moment and decided to choose Technique Memory: Sword Grandmaster. Although swordsmanship and blade techniques were quite different, some aspects were still worth referencing.
Three blue energy threads emerged in Su Xiao's hands. These energy threads were like strands of hair. Two wrapped around the orb of light in his hand, while the last one pierced into it.
There was a bang in Su Xiao's mind. His eyes lost focus, but the next moment, his vision returned.
"What kind of training method is this?"
Colorless mist dispersed from Su Xiao's hand. Just from initially accepting the Technique Memory: Sword Grandmaster, he found it unsuitable for him. Alexander's training method was too peculiar. The reason this guy often slept wasn't laziness; he had a talent that allowed him to perceive himself in dreams and then practice swordsmanship within his dreams.
Could sleeping also make you stronger? Yes, that's what Alexander did. Su Xiao didn't think highly of this method. He preferred to swing his blade himself, strike by strike, to explore techniques.
Just as Su Xiao was about to return to Arans City, Baha swooped down from above.
"Boss, I think I saw Xi. Does she have silver fur? Ah, spit, silver hair?"
"Yes."
"Xi is also with three people, two men and one woman. Her female subordinate... hmm, how to describe it? Very... cheerful? Anyway, she looks a bit mentally challenged."
"Hmm?"
Su Xiao looked at Baha with confusion. Baha expressed helplessness. That's what he saw.
The intelligence Baha provided allowed Su Xiao to judge that Xi had probably joined the Northern Alliance and was now attacking Arans City together with them.