# Chapter 134: Shadow · Demon Blade
Su Xiao raised his hand, and a blood spear for close combat was constructed in his palm. As soon as he gripped it, Su Xiao felt somewhat surprised—this blood spear had a metallic texture to it.
Su Xiao found the blood spear in his hand to be quite suitable, but he couldn't swing it around freely here. The two types of blood spears could be used to deal with different battles.
When fighting powerful enemies, he could use "Blood Spear: Hunt" for interference and suppression. If he could pierce the enemy's vital points, that would be even better.
For close combat, "Blood Spear: Fortitude" allowed Su Xiao to wield a blade in his right hand while holding the blood spear in his left. He had long been accustomed to single-handedly wielding a blade. This wasn't by choice—somehow, every time he fought enemies, his left arm would always be severed, chopped off, or bitten clean through.
In the past, Su Xiao had also developed two-handed blade techniques with greater power. But when his left arm was severed mid-battle, those techniques became useless. Forcing their use resulted in less power than his single-handed blade techniques. Over time, Su Xiao developed the habit of single-handedly wielding his blade.
Now, it seemed this was a major advantage. His left hand could hold the blood spear, using it to suppress enemies within range. However, there was a problem—to wield the blood spear with one arm and make it lethal enough to threaten a big boss, Su Xiao would need to consume a significant amount of stamina.
This meant that "Blood Spear: Fortitude" couldn't be used continuously. When the enemy assumed Su Xiao only used a blade and had somewhat figured out his fighting style, he could pull out "Blood Spear: Fortitude" to give them a surprise.
The ranged "Blood Spear: Hunt" could be used frequently, while the close-combat "Blood Spear: Fortitude" served as a trump card, to avoid stamina depletion from prolonged use. Although his stamina attribute had reached 234 points, his strength and speed were also stronger than before.
Stamina was like a bucket of water, and combat power was like the valve on the bucket. The bucket's capacity (stamina) was indeed continuously increasing, but the valve (combat power) was also growing larger. So, the time available to "release water" was still limited.
Unless it was a prolonged battle on the battlefield. Against opponents like the Black King, Iron Feather King, or Old Knight, fighting for even an hour would result in extreme consumption. In battles with them, every ounce of combat power had to be squeezed out, without concern for stamina expenditure.
Blood Spear Grandmaster seemed complicated, but Su Xiao found it remarkably simple. It had only two characteristics: 1. Enhancing various attributes of the blood spear, and 2. Increasing close-combat damage when near death.
The newly appeared Blood Qi value was a good new attribute. In fact, this attribute had always existed but hadn't been semi-datafied. Now, by mastering Blood Spear Grandmaster, some prerequisite had finally been met, successfully datafying this attribute.
Constructing one "Blood Spear: Fortitude" consumed 10% to 30% of Blood Qi. The exact consumption depended on the spear's intensity. To achieve 57 points of blood spear intensity—the maximum currently attainable—required consuming 30% Blood Qi to condense "Blood Spear: Fortitude."
Compared to "Blood Spear: Fortitude," the "Blood Spear: Hunt" used for mid-to-long-range kills consumed much less Blood Qi. Constructing five "Blood Spear: Hunt" at 50 intensity only consumed 10% Blood Qi. Lower-intensity "Blood Spear: Hunt" could be constructed in dozens or even hundreds without issue.
But thinking about it, that made sense. "Blood Spear: Hunt" only needed to complete one kill shot, so its structure didn't need to be particularly complex. "Blood Spear: Fortitude" was used for close combat with enemies, requiring strength, hardness, and not being too brittle—otherwise, it would snap when defending. Its overall structure was far more complex.
How Blood Spear Grandmaster performed would need practical testing later. Su Xiao continued enhancing his abilities, attempting to raise Blood Spear Grandmaster again. He found that at Lv.50, each level required Soul Crystal (Complete)×100 + 34 Soul Coins, similar to the cost of raising Blade Grandmaster and Melee Grandmaster. He still had some Soul Crystals (Complete) left, so he decisively raised Blood Spear Grandmaster by another level.
Half an hour later, Su Xiao closed the skill list for Blood Spear Grandmaster Lv.51. He now had to make a choice: raise Blade Grandmaster to Lv.61, or raise Melee Grandmaster to Lv.60.
He currently had 12 Soul Crystal Cores, enough to raise only one. Raising Melee Grandmaster would grant the Lv.60 ultimate ability. This was a checkpoint, likely leading to an ultimate skill.
After weighing the options, Su Xiao felt that Blade Arts still had a long way to go. Before reaching Lv.70, it was a gradual accumulation. Each level up made him stronger, but the improvement wasn't particularly obvious. He would have to wait until Lv.70 for a sudden burst.
[Tip: To raise Melee Grandmaster to Lv.60, consume Soul Crystal Core×10 + 56 Soul Coins.]
Su Xiao chose to upgrade. Everything around him disappeared. When his vision returned, he was standing on a desolate expanse of land.
Su Xiao perceived himself, confirming that he hadn't just arrived here in consciousness—his entire body had been teleported. The surrounding ground was pitch black, pitted and uneven, with some hollows looking very much like giant fist prints.
A stone stele stood before him. Su Xiao was familiar with this scene. When his Blade Grandmaster had previously advanced to Lv.60, he had seen the same thing. That time, there were three steles to choose from. This time, there was only one.
Su Xiao stepped forward and placed his hand on the stele. The next moment, the stele shattered, and white radiance enveloped him. The feeling was terrible, as if it were about to tear his body apart.
When Su Xiao's consciousness returned, he was lying inside the Skill Upgrade Pod, covered in a sticky substance. Just as he thought he had experienced the legendary marrow cleansing and bone washing, he realized there was a membrane-like blanket on him. The feeling was clearly that a giant egg-shaped object had fallen and burst open on him. The sticky stuff on him was the egg's internal fluid, and the membrane blanket covering him was the egg's outer layer.
Through his brand, Su Xiao got the result: the thing that had splattered on him was worth 3 Soul Crystal Cores. Its usage method was to fall and wrap around the user, preventing the user from experiencing overall rejection reactions due to the high-intensity enhancement of bones in a short time.
Indeed, Su Xiao's entire skeletal system had been enhanced once. In the judgment of ability enhancement, if Su Xiao himself wasn't enhanced, raising Melee Grandmaster would result in debuff-type skills. Simply put, after he kicked an enemy, whether the enemy died or not wasn't important—what mattered was that his leg bone would definitely break. This full-body skeletal enhancement perfectly solved that problem.
[Melee Grandmaster: Lv.60 (Passive)]
Skill Effect: During close combat, kick attack power increased by 760% (increase 12%), Base Neural Reflex Speed +37 points (increase 5 points), Base Dynamic Vision +37 points (increase 5 points)...
Lv.10 Ultimate Ability: Power Penetration · Kick Technique Basic Enhancement (Passive)...
Lv.20 Ultimate Ability: Power Penetration · Kick Technique Primary Enhancement (Passive)...
Lv.30 Ultimate Ability: Power Penetration · Kick Technique Secondary Enhancement (Passive)...
Lv.40 Ultimate Ability: Power Penetration · Kick Technique Tertiary Enhancement (Passive)...
Lv.50 Ultimate Ability: Power Penetration · Kick Technique Quaternary Enhancement (Passive)...
Lv.50 Ultimate Ability: Power Penetration · Kick Technique Quaternary Enhancement (Ultimate Level · Passive): Kick technique damage rank +1, and comes with "Annihilation Heavy Cannon" effect.
Annihilation Heavy Cannon Effect: Greatly increases power penetration and power explosion effects. Also provides extremely high damage bonus against armor-level defenses. This is the destruction level required to break through high-level defensive fortresses or war fortifications. If used against living beings, it will cause brutal fragmentation effects.
...
Su Xiao only had a general concept of the attack power of a straight kick. It was hard to determine the exact extent yet. He would need to experiment when he had the chance.
He decided not to use the remaining Soul Coins for now. After pondering for a moment, Su Xiao decided to invest 3 Golden Skill Points into Azure Shadow King.
An hour later, Su Xiao walked out of the Skill Upgrade Pod with sweat on his forehead. The enhancement of Azure Shadow King was still as intense as ever. Azure Shadow King had been raised from Lv.26 to Lv.29. The active effect's damage had increased somewhat, while the passive effect's benefits were substantial.
[Azure Shadow King Lv.29 · Effect 1 (Shadow Hunt · Passive): The intensity of Cyan Steel Shadow Energy increases, True Damage dealt increased by 27% (increase 9%).]
Raising Azure Shadow King to Lv.30 would change its passive effect. He didn't know what the next stage would enhance. Initially, it was speed, then restoring Mana Points upon killing enemies, and now it was the True Damage bonus for Hunters.
Su Xiao first returned to his Exclusive Room to wash off the sticky brown semi-fluid on his body. Then he headed straight for the Equipment Enhancement Hall. He wanted to enhance Dragon-Slaying Flash, taking it from +8 to +10... no, to +12. As a Hunter, he needed to have dreams.
Arriving at the Equipment Enhancement Hall, almost every 0.5-meter-long, 30-centimeter-wide stone tile had several messages on it. Seeing these messages—some desperate, some ecstatic, some cursing—gave one a sense of uncertain prospects.
Entering the main door, there were many Contractors in the Enhancement Hall. With the world progress just ended, it was time for happy equipment enhancement. Even though many Contractors died from their weapons exploding during enhancement, people still came in an endless stream.
Before he had gone far, Su Xiao saw the Witch. Beside the Witch stood a young girl, short in stature, dressed in black with a hood, wrapped up tightly.
Su Xiao had arranged to meet the Witch here, both to enhance Dragon-Slaying Flash and to conduct a transaction. In the previous world progress, he had agreed with the Witch that if she obtained [Exemption Badge (★★)], Su Xiao would give her [Despair's Breath (Holy Spirit Level · 8/8 Set)] as reward.
The Witch had been obsessed with this set. With it, her strength would increase significantly.
The girl beside the Witch was the holder of [Exemption Badge (★★)]. The Witch had helped this girl accomplish something, and [Exemption Badge (★★)] was the reward.
The characteristic of [Exemption Badge (★★)] made it difficult to circulate. Each transfer required brand matching, meaning it couldn't be transferred again for 5 to 7 days.
Su Xiao had been searching for [Exemption Badge (★★★)] since before, just in case.
[Tip: ??? Contractor has transferred Exemption Badge (★★) to you.]
[Brand synchronization matching in progress. This item has rare characteristic. During brand transfer, frequent transfers may cause this badge to shatter.]
After the transfer succeeded, Su Xiao used [Exemption Badge (★★)].
[You have used Exemption Badge (★★). It can exempt the debuff effects caused by Charm Attribute, Willpower Attribute, and Luck Attribute being within -20 points.]
Su Xiao felt relieved. He examined the girl before him. Her face under the hood was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see her features. This person looked rather suspicious.
"Ah~, don't keep... staring... at a... girl..."
As the Witch spoke, Su Xiao had already arrived before an equipment enhancement machine. The Witch and the girl behind him didn't leave, clearly intending to watch the show.
[Welcome to Equipment Enhancement Machine No. 888.]
The tray extended, and Su Xiao placed Dragon-Slaying Flash on it. The tray retracted.
[Equipment verification complete. Dragon-Slaying Flash +8 (Immortal Rank). To enhance to +9, pay 9 Refined Immortal Stones.]
Su Xiao had accumulated 37 [Refined Immortal Stones]. Today's market price for [Refined Immortal Stones] was 612 Soul Coins each. There was a stall selling Immortal Stones by the wall on the right side of the hall. Bubu Wang, who had followed, could buy them at any time. So, Su Xiao could use a total of 71 Immortal Stones this time.
Su Xiao pressed 9 [Refined Immortal Stones] into a row of slots on the right side of the enhancement machine. That wasn't all—he took out a wedge-shaped crystal and inserted it.
[Honor Crystal (When enhancing equipment level, placing this item together in the equipment enhancement machine, each Honor Crystal can offset one enhancement failure's level drop or permanent weapon damage).]
Su Xiao had three of these crystals, meaning three chances to fail. He started the enhancement machine.
Hum~
The enhancement machine began to operate, with considerable noise and the sizzling sound of electricity inside. Five minutes later.
Pfft.
A burst of steam sprayed from the four corners at the bottom of the machine, and a prompt appeared.
[Dragon-Slaying Flash enhancement +9 successful.]
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao took out 10 Immortal Stones. The [Honor Crystal] he had inserted into the slot was intact. As long as the enhancement didn't fail, it could continue to be used.
Ten minutes later.
[Dragon-Slaying Flash enhancement +11 successful.]
Su Xiao had consumed a total of 30 Immortal Stones, smoothly enhancing Dragon-Slaying Flash to +11. At this rate, not just +12, but even +13 was worth attempting. If he could reach +13, combined with Dragon-Slaying Flash's already transformed attributes, its lethality would skyrocket.
He took out 12 Immortal Stones and began the enhancement. Moments later.
[Dragon-Slaying Flash enhancement +12 failed.]
[Honor Crystal×1 consumed. Dragon-Slaying Flash's enhancement level remains fixed at +11.]
...
[Dragon-Slaying Flash enhancement +12 failed.]
[Honor Crystal×1 consumed...]
Two consecutive failures came. Only 1 Honor Crystal remained, and 18 Immortal Stones were left. That meant there was still one very safe enhancement opportunity.
Su Xiao could feel that feeling of imminent success approaching. This last time, the success probability was high. It would definitely succeed!
[Dragon-Slaying Flash enhancement +12 failed.]
[Honor Crystal×1 consumed.]
...
Su Xiao took the +11 Dragon-Slaying Flash out of the enhancement machine. Things in the world don't always go as planned. Besides, his original goal was to enhance Dragon-Slaying Flash to +10. Now it was at +11. Although it hadn't reached the dream of +12, it was still acceptable.
In the future, any Immortal Stones or failure-prevention items he obtained could continue to be used for enhancement. Weapon enhancement levels were built up this way—not achieved overnight. The same went for personal strength. When there were setbacks, accumulate first. When enough had been accumulated, the setbacks could be smashed to pieces, and then continue moving forward.
[Dragon-Slaying Flash +11 (Blade Value 0%)]
Origin: Shadow of Law Destruction
Quality: Immortal Rank
Category: Long Blade
Durability: 325/325 (increase 18 points)
Attack Power: 417~538 (increase 15~20 points)
Equipment Requirement: Inheritor of Shadow of Law Destruction
Base Bonus: No change
Supreme Blade Effect 1: Sharpness +170 points, Penetration increased by 27%
Supreme Blade Effect 2: Weapon Toughness +57 points (This characteristic greatly enhances weapon endurance, resistance to slashing, resistance to blunt force, corrosion resistance, etc.)
Supreme Blade Effect 3: Demon Blade (Core · Active), when attacking enemy units with less than 25% health, can release the Blade Demon Spirit within Dragon-Slaying Flash... This attack inflicts execution effect (This characteristic unchanged).
New Characteristic: If Demon Blade ability fails to execute, and the enemy's health is above 25%, this attack comes with Demon Blade effect will inflict True Damage equal to 12% of the enemy's maximum health.
Tip: Demon Blade ability has no consumption.
Tip: After releasing the Blade Demon Spirit, it will hibernate for 5 natural days.
Tip: Each time the Blade Demon Spirit executes an enemy, it will permanently increase the weapon sharpness bonus from 'Supreme Blade Effect 1' (already increased by 10 points).
Supreme Blade Effect 4: Shadow · Demon Blade (Core · Passive), when Demon Blade successfully executes an enemy, within the subsequent 30 minutes, the Blade Demon Spirit will not immediately enter hibernation phase. The Demon Blade ability will remain usable. If another enemy target is executed again, the Blade Demon Spirit will again delay the hibernation phase, usable within 30 minutes.
Tip: If this ability is not used to execute another enemy within 30 minutes after a successful execution, the Blade Demon Spirit will enter hibernation phase. The hibernation time is based on the Demon Blade (Core · Active) ability.
Tip: This ability requires 'Awakening Stone' for awakening. This is a unique resource for Law Destroyers.
Enhancement Effects:
+5 Additional Effect: Weapon penetration permanently increased by 20%
+8 Additional Effect: High armor-piercing characteristic
+10 Additional Effect: When slashing causes soul damage, the damage degree will deepen. While causing soul damage, it will also inflict soul injury on the enemy (When soul injury reaches a certain level, effects such as reduced maximum health cap and reduced reaction speed will occur).
Inlay Effect: 3/3 slots...
Rating: 1500+++++ (Immortal Rank equipment rating is 1000~1500 points)
...