"Gurgle."
The disembodied head of the Ghost-Faced King met the ground.
Zhao Kongcheng's form wavered, collapsing gracefully.
Lin Qiye, with keen eyes and swift hands, adeptly caught Zhao Kongcheng's descending body. Only then did he grasp the gravity of Zhao Kongcheng's dire condition.
Lacerations, contusions, fractures... In Lin Qiye's ethereal perception, his frame was densely marred with wounds, a rivulet of scarlet liquid cascading forth, staining the rain-soaked mud pool beneath him. At least five or six bones had been fractured, leaving Lin Qiye incredulous as to how Zhao Kongcheng managed to rise under such severe afflictions.
Most perilously, Lin Qiye keenly sensed Zhao Kongcheng's corporeal entity spiraling into rapid decay, his vitality akin to the residual embers within ashes, growing ever feebler.
Lin Qiye sat bewildered beside Zhao Kongcheng, "Your physique..."
"Cough, cough, cough... It's nothing, merely the sequelae of forcefully unlocking latent potential."
"If this persists, you will succumb."
"I am aware."
"You're resigned to death?"
"Hehehe..." Zhao Kongcheng attempted a laugh, but it metamorphosed into a spurt of blood mid-laughter, "Not in vain, at least I experienced the Forbidden Ruins before meeting my end, and..."
"And what?"
"And I achieved it, confronting the abyss, staining the firmament with blood." Zhao Kongcheng shakily extended his hand, brushing the muck beneath him, revealing a hand smeared in blood, "This bleeding, even if it doesn't stain the heavens, should undoubtedly dye a portion of the earth."
Lin Qiye fell into a stupor, "Yet, behind you stands no legion, no witnesses to your endeavors, except for me. Is this still worthwhile?"
Zhao Kongcheng smiled enigmatically, offering no reply.
"Do me a favor."
"Speak."
"There's a pack of cigarettes in my pocket; help me light one."
Lin Qiye fumbled within Zhao Kongcheng's chest pocket, extracting a cigarette dampened by the rain, and retrieved a soaked lighter from his trouser pocket.
Handing the lit cigarette to Zhao Kongcheng, Lin Qiye shielded the lighter from the rain and clicked it several times.
Snap, snap... snap!
A wisp of flame ignited, kindling the cigarette between Zhao Kongcheng's lips.
He drew a robust inhale, exhaling a sigh as if his entire being had finally found solace.
With the cigarette dangling from his mouth, Zhao Kongcheng gazed at the ashen sky, rainwater trickling down his face, streaming along his cheek...
"Lin Qiye."
"Yes."
"I beheaded the Ghost-Faced King with one stroke. Did you witness it?"
"I witnessed it."
A smirk etched itself across Zhao Kongcheng's lips uncontrollably; he was genuinely elated.
Lin Qiye nodded, on the verge of saying something when suddenly, a subtle tremor coursed through his body.
Stiffening, he turned his head, witnessing in the distance a robust headless cadaver slowly ascending from the sludge...
Upon its form, a pale and eerie ghost visage crawled like a parasite, scuttling swiftly from the legs to the back, then from the back to the chest...
Finally, it anchored itself on the Ghost-Faced King's thorax.
Meanwhile, the pale ghost face on the freshly decapitated head had vanished without a trace.
Lin Qiye's pupils contracted abruptly!
The Ghost-Faced King... still lingers in the realm of the living.
The rain continues its descent.
Zhao Kongcheng gazes at the heavens, savoring the recent scene, oblivious to the subtle shift in Lin Qiye's countenance.
"Damn, the bastard even our captain couldn't vanquish, fell by my hand... Lin Qiye, do you reckon I've demonstrated prowess?"
Lin Qiye remains silent for a moment, lowering his head to scrutinize Zhao Kongcheng cradled in his arms, nodding resolutely.
"Yes, impressive!"
"With such a monumental achievement, if I manage to survive, I should certainly ascend to the rank of a general, don't you think?"
"Undoubtedly," Lin Qiye's eyes radiate certainty, "You must endure and prevail!"
"Hehe."
Seemingly envisioning a particular scene, satisfaction spreads across Zhao Kongcheng's face.
However, the light in his eyes gradually fades.
Lin Qiye's hands tremble ever so slightly; he shakes Zhao Kongcheng's body and declares in a low voice:
"Zhao Kongcheng! You are not yet a general; you cannot depart this life!"
It seems Zhao Kongcheng can no longer hear Lin Qiye's voice; his eyes gradually lose focus. He opens his mouth, and his voice, like a delicate mosquito, rings out:
"Did I... look handsome just now?"
"Handsome!" Lin Qiye's lips quiver, steadfastly nodding, "Exceedingly handsome! More so than anyone I've ever seen!"
A faint smile curves on Zhao Kongcheng's lips. His eyes gently close, and his body relaxes.
Zhao Kongcheng, has departed.
Splash, splash, splash...
Lin Qiye sits there dazed, rain blurring his vision, yet his gaze remains fixed on Zhao Kongcheng.
Until... the heavy footsteps echo once again.
Clamping his lips together, Lin Qiye takes a deep breath, slowly rising from the ground...
He turns, his gaze fixed on the headless corpse of the Ghost-Faced King in the distance, his eyes ablaze like a radiant sun!
Advancing two steps,
He retrieves a straight sword embedded in the ground!
It belonged to Zhao Kongcheng.
Gripping the sword, Lin Qiye strides towards the Ghost-Faced King, rain soaking him through, but unable to extinguish the fiery rage within his heart!
And those burning golden eyes!
The ghostly face on the corpse of the Ghost-Faced King contorts, seemingly silently roaring. Its footsteps quicken, ultimately resembling a staggering behemoth hurtling toward Lin Qiye!
With its right arm already severed by Zhao Kongcheng, the headless Ghost-Faced King relies on its left claw, unleashing a storm-like onslaught!
Lin Qiye, holding the sword, always anticipates its attacking trajectory like a prophet, then swiftly sidesteps, evading the strikes.
He appears like a midnight butterfly, fluttering in the biting gale, yet consistently eluding harm.
The terror of dynamic vision, coupled with the speed boost of the Starry Night Dancer, makes Lin Qiye at this moment seem like an elusive specter.
Lin Qiye dodges over ten consecutive attacks from the Ghost-Faced King, expressionless, lifting his hand and swinging the sword!
This time, his target is not any vital part of the body but the pale ghost face dwelling in the chest of the Ghost-Faced King!
If his conjecture is correct, this ghost face is the true form of the Ghost-Faced King.
Previously, although Zhao Kongcheng beheaded the Ghost-Faced King, it did not harm this ghost face, allowing the Ghost-Faced King to revive!
Amid the intervals of the Ghost-Faced King's attacks, Lin Qiye's body dances, wielding the straight sword consecutively. Each strike lands on the ghost face.
Despite his five-fold strength boost, Lin Qiye still cannot inflict substantial damage on the Ghost-Faced King. He can only leave a shallow but growing bloody trace.
Yet, it doesn't matter.
If one strike won't suffice, then ten, a hundred!
This time... he intends to obliterate the Ghost-Faced King's soul!
One strike, two strikes, three strikes...
The Ghost-Faced King can't touch Lin Qiye, but Lin Qiye can strike the Ghost-Faced King. Gradually, the wounds on the ghost face in the King's chest become more numerous and gruesome, its expression increasingly agonized!
Soon, the Ghost-Faced King's assault slows down.
Lin Qiye's eyes blaze with murderous intent; seizing the opportunity, he reverses the grip on the straight sword!
Exerting all his strength, he thrusts it into the ghost face!
A piercing, ear-splitting howl reverberates through the skies!
"Gurgle."
The disembodied head of the Ghost-Faced King met the ground.
Zhao Kongcheng's form wavered, collapsing gracefully.
Lin Qiye, with keen eyes and swift hands, adeptly caught Zhao Kongcheng's descending body. Only then did he grasp the gravity of Zhao Kongcheng's dire condition.
Lacerations, contusions, fractures... In Lin Qiye's ethereal perception, his frame was densely marred with wounds, a rivulet of scarlet liquid cascading forth, staining the rain-soaked mud pool beneath him. At least five or six bones had been fractured, leaving Lin Qiye incredulous as to how Zhao Kongcheng managed to rise under such severe afflictions.
Most perilously, Lin Qiye keenly sensed Zhao Kongcheng's corporeal entity spiraling into rapid decay, his vitality akin to the residual embers within ashes, growing ever feebler.
Lin Qiye sat bewildered beside Zhao Kongcheng, "Your physique..."
"Cough, cough, cough... It's nothing, merely the sequelae of forcefully unlocking latent potential."
"If this persists, you will succumb."
"I am aware."
"You're resigned to death?"
"Hehehe..." Zhao Kongcheng attempted a laugh, but it metamorphosed into a spurt of blood mid-laughter, "Not in vain, at least I experienced the Forbidden Ruins before meeting my end, and..."
"And what?"
"And I achieved it, confronting the abyss, staining the firmament with blood." Zhao Kongcheng shakily extended his hand, brushing the muck beneath him, revealing a hand smeared in blood, "This bleeding, even if it doesn't stain the heavens, should undoubtedly dye a portion of the earth."
Lin Qiye fell into a stupor, "Yet, behind you stands no legion, no witnesses to your endeavors, except for me. Is this still worthwhile?"
Zhao Kongcheng smiled enigmatically, offering no reply.
"Do me a favor."
"Speak."
"There's a pack of cigarettes in my pocket; help me light one."
Lin Qiye fumbled within Zhao Kongcheng's chest pocket, extracting a cigarette dampened by the rain, and retrieved a soaked lighter from his trouser pocket.
Handing the lit cigarette to Zhao Kongcheng, Lin Qiye shielded the lighter from the rain and clicked it several times.
Snap, snap... snap!
A wisp of flame ignited, kindling the cigarette between Zhao Kongcheng's lips.
He drew a robust inhale, exhaling a sigh as if his entire being had finally found solace.
With the cigarette dangling from his mouth, Zhao Kongcheng gazed at the ashen sky, rainwater trickling down his face, streaming along his cheek...
"Lin Qiye."
"Yes."
"I beheaded the Ghost-Faced King with one stroke. Did you witness it?"
"I witnessed it."
A smirk etched itself across Zhao Kongcheng's lips uncontrollably; he was genuinely elated.
Lin Qiye nodded, on the verge of saying something when suddenly, a subtle tremor coursed through his body.
Stiffening, he turned his head, witnessing in the distance a robust headless cadaver slowly ascending from the sludge...
Upon its form, a pale and eerie ghost visage crawled like a parasite, scuttling swiftly from the legs to the back, then from the back to the chest...
Finally, it anchored itself on the Ghost-Faced King's thorax.
Meanwhile, the pale ghost face on the freshly decapitated head had vanished without a trace.
Lin Qiye's pupils contracted abruptly!
The Ghost-Faced King... still lingers in the realm of the living.
The rain continues its descent.
Zhao Kongcheng gazes at the heavens, savoring the recent scene, oblivious to the subtle shift in Lin Qiye's countenance.
"Damn, the bastard even our captain couldn't vanquish, fell by my hand... Lin Qiye, do you reckon I've demonstrated prowess?"
Lin Qiye remains silent for a moment, lowering his head to scrutinize Zhao Kongcheng cradled in his arms, nodding resolutely.
"Yes, impressive!"
"With such a monumental achievement, if I manage to survive, I should certainly ascend to the rank of a general, don't you think?"
"Undoubtedly," Lin Qiye's eyes radiate certainty, "You must endure and prevail!"
"Hehe."
Seemingly envisioning a particular scene, satisfaction spreads across Zhao Kongcheng's face.
However, the light in his eyes gradually fades.
Lin Qiye's hands tremble ever so slightly; he shakes Zhao Kongcheng's body and declares in a low voice:
"Zhao Kongcheng! You are not yet a general; you cannot depart this life!"
It seems Zhao Kongcheng can no longer hear Lin Qiye's voice; his eyes gradually lose focus. He opens his mouth, and his voice, like a delicate mosquito, rings out:
"Did I... look handsome just now?"
"Handsome!" Lin Qiye's lips quiver, steadfastly nodding, "Exceedingly handsome! More so than anyone I've ever seen!"
A faint smile curves on Zhao Kongcheng's lips. His eyes gently close, and his body relaxes.
Zhao Kongcheng, has departed.
Splash, splash, splash...
Lin Qiye sits there dazed, rain blurring his vision, yet his gaze remains fixed on Zhao Kongcheng.
Until... the heavy footsteps echo once again.
Clamping his lips together, Lin Qiye takes a deep breath, slowly rising from the ground...
He turns, his gaze fixed on the headless corpse of the Ghost-Faced King in the distance, his eyes ablaze like a radiant sun!
Advancing two steps,
He retrieves a straight sword embedded in the ground!
It belonged to Zhao Kongcheng.
Gripping the sword, Lin Qiye strides towards the Ghost-Faced King, rain soaking him through, but unable to extinguish the fiery rage within his heart!
And those burning golden eyes!
The ghostly face on the corpse of the Ghost-Faced King contorts, seemingly silently roaring. Its footsteps quicken, ultimately resembling a staggering behemoth hurtling toward Lin Qiye!
With its right arm already severed by Zhao Kongcheng, the headless Ghost-Faced King relies on its left claw, unleashing a storm-like onslaught!
Lin Qiye, holding the sword, always anticipates its attacking trajectory like a prophet, then swiftly sidesteps, evading the strikes.
He appears like a midnight butterfly, fluttering in the biting gale, yet consistently eluding harm.
The terror of dynamic vision, coupled with the speed boost of the Starry Night Dancer, makes Lin Qiye at this moment seem like an elusive specter.
Lin Qiye dodges over ten consecutive attacks from the Ghost-Faced King, expressionless, lifting his hand and swinging the sword!
This time, his target is not any vital part of the body but the pale ghost face dwelling in the chest of the Ghost-Faced King!
If his conjecture is correct, this ghost face is the true form of the Ghost-Faced King.
Previously, although Zhao Kongcheng beheaded the Ghost-Faced King, it did not harm this ghost face, allowing the Ghost-Faced King to revive!
Amid the intervals of the Ghost-Faced King's attacks, Lin Qiye's body dances, wielding the straight sword consecutively. Each strike lands on the ghost face.
Despite his five-fold strength boost, Lin Qiye still cannot inflict substantial damage on the Ghost-Faced King. He can only leave a shallow but growing bloody trace.
Yet, it doesn't matter.
If one strike won't suffice, then ten, a hundred!
This time... he intends to obliterate the Ghost-Faced King's soul!
One strike, two strikes, three strikes...
The Ghost-Faced King can't touch Lin Qiye, but Lin Qiye can strike the Ghost-Faced King. Gradually, the wounds on the ghost face in the King's chest become more numerous and gruesome, its expression increasingly agonized!
Soon, the Ghost-Faced King's assault slows down.
Lin Qiye's eyes blaze with murderous intent; seizing the opportunity, he reverses the grip on the straight sword!
Exerting all his strength, he thrusts it into the ghost face!
A piercing, ear-splitting howl reverberates through the skies!
