Chapter 685: The Repeated Assault
Chapter 685: The Repeated Assault
A deafening thunderclap seemed to explode within the tunnel, causing cracks to form on the nearby tunnel walls.
Fan Mo's roar was an ancient technique of the Ancient Kingdom Sect, known as the Sound Attack Heart Force, which relied on a self-cultivated, one-time Adaptation Organism. Once unleashed, it could directly shatter an opponent's defenses within close range through sound vibrations, and this attack was not something that could be easily blocked by a weapon alone.
However, this technique came at a cost. Even though it utilized a special Adaptation Organism, the body was still an integrated whole, and other parts of the organism would unconsciously participate.
As a result, the unique Heart Force that had infiltrated his body was not dispelled in time, causing a tearing sensation throughout his body. He stumbled backward, almost leaning against the tunnel wall behind him, struggling to catch his breath.
Chen Chuan had not encountered such a Heart Force attack before, but his Adaptation Organism was exceptionally resilient. Instantly, he shifted to the Cross-Training Heart Force, blocking the vibrating force. Without waiting for the sound to fade, he held his sword and strode forward.
In Fan Mo's eyes, despite being under the influence of the Sound Attack, Chen Chuan's actions only paused briefly before continuing as if nothing had happened.
This caused Fan Mo's heart to race uncontrollably.
In the blink of an eye, Chen Chuan was already close to him, lifting the unsheathed Snow Empress Saber with both hands and raising it high above his head. He then brought it down in a powerful slash.
Still affected by the force of the previous attack, Fan Mo couldn't dodge and could only block the saber with his own. A loud bang reverberated as his feet sank, and his body leaned back, slamming into the wall behind him. Dust and sand rained down from above.
As the saber flashed again, Fan Mo hurriedly blocked the next strike. With each parry, he felt the Adaptation Organism in his body tremble and grow numb. This was because he hadn't fully recovered from the previous attack and was now emphasizing the dissipation of the incoming force.
However, he had no chance to adjust, as Chen Chuan's saber strikes kept coming, forcing Fan Mo to block each one.
Soon, he realized that each strike from Chen Chuan was precisely at the limit of his blocking ability. It neither killed him instantly nor gave him a chance to catch his breath and recover. It was like wringing out a towel, gradually squeezing out his strength.
Chen Chuan, having focused most of his energy on honing his unarmed Heart Force, had not yet fully mastered the saber's power due to its dormant state.
So, for now, he could only mimic the Second Level Power to compensate for the lack of saber force. This technique's strength lay in gradually pressuring and wearing down the opponent until they lost the ability to counterattack.
In theory, this was the right approach, as a fighter's primary goal was to ensure their safety before eliminating the enemy. Such a method was indeed a commendable combat technique.
For the opponent, however, it was pure torture. Knowing that he would eventually be worn down and killed, yet powerless to resist, he could only endure the agony.
He knew that he was like a fish caught in a net, doomed to die. Even if he had some tricks up his sleeve and found a chance to counterattack once or twice, he still couldn't beat Chen Chuan. Realizing this, he ignored the intense pain and unleashed another burst of power, managing to push Chen Chuan's saber away slightly. But instead of counterattacking, he suddenly released the broad sword in his hand, falling to his knees with a loud thud. "I surrender," he said.
With his thick eyebrows and bright eyes, he looked dignified, and his previous resilience made this sudden surrender a stark contrast.
Chen Chuan, however, showed no signs of stopping. He raised the saber again and brought it down with force.
Fan Mo's eyes turned red. His surrender was a ploy to create an opening, but Chen Chuan didn't fall for it. As Fan Mo kneeled on the ground, his body suddenly lunged diagonally towards Chen Chuan, using his forehead to ram into Chen Chuan's position.
This kneeling move, called the "Earth Ascension Hammer," was a technique that stored power by kneeling and then leaping upward, incredibly fast and hard to defend against.
In the Ancient Kingdom Sect's teachings, kneeling and bowing to a god meant the end of mortal life. So, if not bowing to a god, one must strike to kill. This action, therefore, was in line with a certain ritual, providing him with immense power. As he performed this move, his body became as hard as tempered steel, momentarily impervious to any Heart Force collision.
If Chen Chuan had hesitated or relaxed for a moment, Fan Mo would have succeeded.
But before he could reach Chen Chuan, the saber's shadow descended, striking Fan Mo's forehead. The impact sent him crashing to his knees again, creating two indentations on the ground.
The saber's momentum continued, pressing him into the ground, leaving a shattered outline.
Fan Mo, relying on the ritual's power, didn't suffer much damage. As he tried to gather strength again, Chen Chuan lifted the saber and struck once more. With a loud boom, stones shattered, and Fan Mo was slammed back into the ground, creating a cracked silhouette.
Fan Mo only felt his strength dissipating, but he knew that as long as he relaxed, defeat awaited him. So, he clenched his five fingers, brewing his strength once more, attempting to counter-attack.
However, before he could even get up, another powerful and fierce sword strike descended upon him, causing his back to sink. This time, he sank deeper, almost embedding himself into the tunnel's ground.
A suppressed roar escaped his lips, as he desperately tried to break free, but at that moment, he felt a stagnation in his chest, followed by a tearing pain throughout his body.
Chen Chuan's double-layered force imitated the power of Danliu Pavilion, a force that could penetrate the body, numbing and destroying adapted organs.
Although he could deflect some of the force with his weapon, it didn't mean he wasn't bearing the burden. Each heart power strike caused him minute damage, and combined with his previous bursts of power, his adapted organs could no longer bear the strain. As a result, he couldn't muster his strength this time.
With this failure, his strength instantly dissipated, causing the initially covert action, approved by Yan Yi, to be disrupted. Under the dual retreat of his spirit and body, his once solid form lost its protection.
With another sword strike, a loud bang echoed as his entire upper body was deeply smashed into the ground pit. One could see his back cover garment torn, his scalp peeled back, revealing a long gash from which blood gushed out.
Chen Chuan stood above, his gaze falling upon Fan Mo. The unsheathed sword rested on Fan Mo's head.
Fan Mo slightly turned his head, not because he had no means to counterattack, but because hidden within his wide cover garment was a special powder. If he were to direct his strength inward, it would explode, ensuring mutual destruction even if it didn't kill anyone instantly.
Just as he was about to make his move, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. In that instant, the sword handle on his head didn't hesitate and swiftly pierced through his skull, stabbing into the ground pit below. The force instantly shattered his brain tissue, causing his body to convulse once before becoming still.
Chen Chuan waited for a moment, then pulled out the sword, giving it a light shake to remove the blood and flesh from its surface. He then bent down, picked up Fan Mo's cover garment, and wiped the sword clean, saying, "I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it."
After being heavily injured, Fan Mo had lost all self-control, and every tiny movement was detected by Chen Chuan.
He noticed Fan Mo's final small movement, which served as a warning in his mind. He had intended to take a step back, but Fan Mo's hesitation prevented him from executing his plan. So, Chen Chuan didn't hold back and ended it with a single sword strike.
Fan Mo's true strength was formidable, but he relied too much on underhanded tactics and external means to achieve his goals instead of using his genuine power. Therefore, his fighting spirit wasn't steadfast.
If he had set aside everything and fought with his full strength, his mental power would have increased by several points, and the outcome might have been different.
At least, he could have died less disgracefully.
After cleaning the sword, Chen Chuan examined Fan Mo and found some items on him, but he couldn't identify them immediately, so he planned to take them back for inspection.
He then picked up Fan Mo's sword and examined it carefully noticing its heritage and possible origin from an ancient fighting style. It was a shame to see it in the hands of someone unworthy.
He removed the sword from its sheath, sheathed it, and stood up straight. Activating the Dimensional Token, he instructed those above to come and handle the situation.
This was the Lower City, and if he left Fan Mo's body here, it might be dismembered and sold within moments. It wasn't that he held any respect for this person, but the body might contain crucial clues that needed to be examined back at the bureau. He couldn't let it be destroyed.
As he was making contact, Yuan Qiuyuan's voice rang out, "Captain, we've taken care of the mother worm, ensuring not even a trace remains. But what should we do with these high-energy nutrient agents? Oh, we found two more warehouses, and they're also filled with the same stuff."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "Send them all to the rear."
These high-energy nutrient agents were something Chen Chuan needed, and they could be used to enhance the Snow Princess Saber. He had already felt the benefits of his weapon, and further improvement would be even better. The captured goods would be shared with his teammates and the bureau, so it was a matter of handling the distribution.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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