Chapter 89

Seek support, seek recommendations, thank you.

——————————————————————————

During this period of training, Ji Ran relearned the method of using sword qi.

Using the method from the game wasn't wrong, but because it was a game, many aspects were data-driven. Due to the influence of the game, Ji Ran believed that the amount of sword qi consumed by each sword technique or skill was fixed.

However, Professor Lawrence's teachings told him to break through the limitations set by his own mind.

"The strength that human muscles can provide is much greater than what a person can actually use. But why can't untrained people exert this strength? It's because the human brain tells itself that you can't use that strength, or it will harm you. After training, the body's strength improves, and naturally, you can exert that strength."

Professor Lawrence first gave an example that was a common knowledge in Ji Ran's original world, then he expected Ji Ran to have a look of enlightenment. But to his disappointment, Ji Ran remained calm.

"Cough... Your situation is different from what I said, but there are similarities. You always think that your fighting spirit—okay, you call it sword qi—has a certain level of power, so you can only exert that much effect. In reality, your sword qi has great potential... although it is weak in defense and doesn't significantly enhance strength, its sharpness surpasses most types of fighting spirit!"

Professor Lawrence gazed at Ji Ran, "You must believe in yourself, you can exert greater power!"

Then, this time, Ji Ran finally understood. Sword qi is converted from true qi, and in the game, this conversion rate is fixed, with only minor fluctuations. But in reality, he could break through the limits!

During this time, Ji Ran had been giving himself psychological suggestions. In the real life-and-death combat, he finally broke through this limit.

He slashed through the wall of fighting spirit, and his figure suddenly darted out from the gap. Sword qi surged, and he slashed at the fifth-level swordsman again!

The fifth-level swordsman was shocked. His wall of fighting spirit was a powerful technique, and even a swordsman of the same level might not break it so easily. How did this third-level swordsman manage to do it?

Although surprised, the fifth-level swordsman did not panic. He swung his longsword and charged directly at Ji Ran. He believed that with his fifth-level swordsman strength, he could not possibly be stopped by Ji Ran's sword!

He did indeed block it. In terms of absolute strength, he far exceeded Ji Ran. However, Ji Ran's strength was not in brute force. He flipped backward and landed, his figure becoming elusive again.

Movement! He instantly changed positions several times, making it impossible for the fifth-level swordsman to judge. Using the small trees around him, Ji Ran searched for the visual blind spots of the fifth-level swordsman. A surprise attack must be unexpected!

The fifth-level swordsman also realized the current situation, roared, and his longsword spewed out fighting spirit, sweeping away the surrounding trees. The trees fell, and the dense branches temporarily obscured the view...

A black shadow rushed up from the side of the fifth-level swordsman!

The fifth-level swordsman reacted incredibly quickly, immediately raising his sword to slash. Unexpectedly, the black shadow did not dodge or evade, but charged straight ahead!

The fighting spirit directly cut the black shadow in half, but the fifth-level swordsman felt no joy, instead, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit—it was the crown of a small tree!

He hurriedly activated his fighting spirit, enveloping his entire body. He turned urgently, his longsword sweeping around his body to protect all sides. If that guy tried to sneak attack, he would definitely make him pay!

Then, he suddenly felt a black shadow fall from above. Without time to think, he raised his sword!

He missed. The black shadow in mid-air moved a short distance to the side, and then a sword qi slashed down!

"Ah!" The fifth-level swordsman cried out in pain; his left arm was directly severed by Ji Ran's sword!

After landing, Ji Ran stumbled. This series of attacks, though simple to describe, was the result of his careful calculation. Using sword qi so recklessly had almost depleted his true qi. True qi, unlike the sword qi gauge, does not recover during attacks—it decreases with use and can only be restored through rest. Converting true qi into sword qi for attacks consumes it extremely quickly.

The fifth-level swordsman's fighting spirit also caused him considerable damage. Although it was not a direct attack, resisting fighting spirit was not an easy task. Being affected by the fifth-level swordsman's fighting spirit several times, he had few external injuries, but his internal organs were shaken again.

However, it was all worth it. A swordsman losing an arm was not just about losing a hand to hold a sword... it would disrupt his entire balance, significantly reducing his combat effectiveness!

Thus, the outcome of the battle was no longer in doubt.

"Tell me, what is the purpose of your True God Sect coming to Azure Wind? If you tell me, I won't kill you, at most I'll hand you over to the internal interrogation of Azure Wind..." Ji Ran looked at the fifth-level swordsman, secretly running his cultivation technique to slowly restore his true qi.

"Ha ha ha, this is the first time I've heard such a poor attempt at persuasion! And when have you ever heard of the people of the True God sacrificing to the heretics?" The swordsman, with one arm severed, became calm. He used his fighting spirit to seal the wound and stop the bleeding, but his body still swayed. However, his gaze remained firm—madly firm.

"…It's not impossible. Loyalty is just a matter of the stakes not being high enough. I don't believe that your True God Sect has never had a traitor in all this time?" Ji Ran smiled, his true qi slowly recovering.

"…That's because their faith in my god is not strong enough! They are just a group of false believers hiding in the sect! The true children of my god will never yield to heretics!" The fifth-level swordsman looked at Ji Ran and slowly straightened his body.

"Ha ha… Heretics, not believing in your True God makes you a heretic, right? People live their own lives and don't affect you, so why call them heretics? Like today, I didn't provoke you, so why attack me?" Ji Ran took a deep breath and gripped the Dawn Sword.

"Not believing in the True God is original sin! To sacrifice for my god, you should feel honored!" The fifth-level swordsman's face showed a fanatical expression, and a faint light began to gather around him.

Ji Ran had been in this world for some time and understood some basic knowledge. For example, the current situation of this swordsman was that he had gained "Divine Favor," attracting the attention of the god he believed in due to his firm faith, thus receiving a bit of divine power. If he survived this battle, he might become a Holy Knight of the True God Sect!

Of course, they might not call them Holy Knights, but their functions would be similar. Using divine power to enhance themselves, making them stronger than warriors of the same level!

Ji Ran had no intention of gambling on whether this guy would forget him if he became a Holy Knight. Since the other side refused to say anything, he had to eliminate him!

His true qi had recovered somewhat, and his sword qi gauge was less than two bars. However, in battle, the sword qi gauge would quickly fill up, and the most important thing was still true qi.

He couldn't use sword qi recklessly like before; he needed to win with one decisive strike! It seemed that the fifth-level swordsman was quickly adapting to the loss of an arm and would soon regain his combat effectiveness… of course, not as good as before.

"Since you say that, I guess there's no point in talking. So, let's let the swords speak!" After saying this, Ji Ran pushed off with his feet, and his figure disappeared from the spot!

To ordinary people, Ji Ran seemed to have suddenly vanished. But to the fifth-level swordsman, the third-level swordsman was just moving at an extremely high speed. This movement was still within his range of response!

Ji Ran did not rashly use sword techniques. He had little true qi left and needed to use it sparingly. Although the combination of sword techniques was very powerful, he didn't have enough sword techniques, and the combinations were relatively simple, making them easy to see through. It was better to find the right opportunity and deliver a thunderous strike!

The fifth-level swordsman, severely injured, would definitely be slower than before. Losing an arm also disrupted his balance. His current condition was much worse than Ji Ran's!

However, the worse the situation, the more cautious Ji Ran became. The last spell from the mage before dying had caused him a lot of trouble. Who could be sure that this swordsman didn't have a way to take him down with him?

After circling the swordsman a few times, Ji Ran found a blind spot and attacked!

He thrust his sword, and the fifth-level swordsman's body swayed, barely blocking Ji Ran's sword with a tilted body. Ji Ran did not retreat but continued to advance, using the Four Seasons Sword Technique continuously!

The ordinary sword techniques of the Four Seasons Sword Technique were actually quite powerful. They just lacked the special effects of sword techniques, making them seem less useful. In reality, if Ji Ran could fully execute this sword technique, he could force the opponent to retreat continuously, unable to counterattack!

Of course, this was on the condition that the opponent did not use powerful techniques like bursting fighting spirit...

The fifth-level swordsman's current condition was such that another burst of fighting spirit would likely render him unable to fight. So Ji Ran attacked without hesitation!

Although both were in a bit of a mess, the ink-painting-like elegance of Ji Ran's movements subtly emanated. Holding the sword in one hand, he moved up and down, each strike fleeting, changing techniques decisively if they failed, and even avoiding direct clashes with the fifth-level swordsman's longsword. Even when they occasionally touched, he would lightly brush past and turn it into another technique.

Ji Ran planned to use this offensive strategy to slowly wear down the fifth-level swordsman!

Page break AD starts

Page break AD ends