Chapter 62: Late-Stage Cultivators

A/N: Hey everyone! Hope you've had a good start to the week. Here's another chapter. One where we finally get to see a bit more high level fighting. Hopefully you find it fun and interesting.

Chapter 62:

I gripped my sword tightly as the dust from the first exchange was blown away and the fight began in earnest. 

For the moment, it was just Zhao Wei against the middle-aged man Hei Li. Zhao Wei slashed and stabbed out with her straight sword, each movement fast and sharp. Hei Li met every attack with his two short blades. The two exchanged a dozen strikes in just a moment, their violent clash sending out sparks and loud rings of metal on metal. Each blow whipped up the air around them, sending out strong gusts of wind.

My grip tightened on my sword as I saw just how fast and strong Late-Stage Qi-Gatherers were. I could compete with new Mid-Stage Qi-Gatherers, which was impressive for my cultivation level. But against these two, I wouldn’t have a chance. Neither in terms of speed nor strength. I already learned that firsthand before when Tian Gui went all out, but being reminded of that fact was very humbling. And frustrating.

The battle between the two continued, and Zhao Wei started to push Hei Li back. As that happened, I couldn’t help but notice the oddness of the man’s two blades. One was a split blade, with a gap in the middle that seemed to emanate a dark aura. The other just looked like a simple kitchen knife, stained with blood and rust, and chipped in places. Despite appearing more normal, if unmaintained, that second blade seemed far more sinister than the first. It also held up just fine to the high-level combat, despite looking like it should have snapped apart long ago.

All around me, everyone watched the fight tensely, but no one moved to join in. Not when neither Sun Xia nor Zhu Xiang had joined the fight yet, either. 

The rest of the enemy forces seemed to have the same idea. They held back from the fight, too, though several of their non-beastmen members took something out of their pouches and ate it. Qi seemed to explode out of those while animal features started to grow from their bodies, their muscles bulging and growing as well. So that’s how they did that…

A loud crash rang out from the fighting, drawing my attention back to it. My eyes widened when I saw that things had started to escalate.

Dozens of dark things—daggers, I realized—had appeared out of nowhere and flew in a formation. A solid-looking Qi construct that resembled a snarling demon face formed around them, and they’d crashed into the space Zhao Wei had just been in. The ground there cratered underneath the powerful attack, but she must have sensed it coming as she’d leapt back away from it just in time. Yet the snarling face moved deceptively fast and rushed towards her with very little delay.

It reached her before her feet could touch the ground. But Zhao Wei showed no hesitation as she simply set her feet in the air and met the face with her sword. This time, a sharp gleam seemed to radiate out of her blade for just an instant as she slashed out. The gleam disappeared the next moment as the face was slashed apart and the daggers forming it were sent flying away like bullets.

“Hmm. Perhaps I underestimated you,” Hei Li said as he crouched with his blades at the ready, one held in reverse grip while the other was normal. Behind him, his flying daggers gathered and formed another demon face construct. “True Sword Intent at your age… Just what are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?”

Hei Li’s words caused gasps to come from dozens of people around us. Even some of the beast men on the other side looked shocked or alarmed. It seemed like it was a big deal.

Vaguely, I kinda understood what he likely meant. I hadn’t heard the term discussed by anyone from this world, but the concept of Sword Intent was common in Xianxia fiction. Having it usually meant that the person was so attuned with their sword, or swordsmanship, or the concept of swords in general, that they could channel that attunement as a kind of energy. A very sharp kind of energy, able to turn a spoon or a blade of grass into the sharpest of blades.

It was the reason Sword Cultivators in Xianxia stories were usually much stronger in pure combat prowess than others at their same cultivation level. 

Whether or not that was true in this world, I had no idea. But judging from some of the mutterings around me, I thought that my knowledge of the concept was close enough. Yet, despite that, Hei Li did not seem concerned. 

That worried me, though Zhao Wei didn’t seem bothered either. Instead, she kicked off the air and rushed at Hei Li. Her sword, once more gleaming, was thrust out before her.

Hei Li harrumphed at that and rushed to charge as well, his demon face rushing right through him and towards Zhao Wei. “Don’t get cocky, child!”

Zhao Wei’s sword cut straight through the demonic face like it wasn’t there. The daggers were sent flying away once again by the force of her strike. Hei Li was forced to block with two knives, grunting as he was forced back several feet while cuts started to appear on his arms and shoulders. His robes were cut straight through, and blood went flying. Yet he barely reacted.

Zhao Wei pulled her sword back and prepared to slash. 

Behind her, the daggers halted in mid-air. As one, they turned to her blade first and flew even faster than before.

Gasps rang out all around me. 

Right before the daggers hit her, however, another sword seemed to pop into Zhao Wei's off hand. Then she became a whirlwind of gleaming steel. Every single dagger—twenty-four of them it seemed—was deflected and sent flying away. Ten were even cut in half, clattering to the ground, inert. But the rest recovered and continued to attack her.

She spun to deal with them, her swords a blur as she deflected them all. Yet Hei Li was not done with his tricks, as the dagger pieces that seemed inert came to life again and struck at her back.

In reply to that, Zhao Wei let go of the new sword, and it flew behind her, deflecting the continued attack, seemingly on its own. It was then that I recognized the new sword. That had been the sword she’d been flying on before when she saved us at the bridge.

Hei Li himself was not idle during all this, however. He rushed towards Zhao Wei, this time brandishing that strange, bloody kitchen knife. A blood red aura oozed from it, pitted with black that made my stomach crawl just looking at it. A strange, howling screech of rage seemed to come from the knife, making me wince and flinch away.

He stabbed at Zhao Wei when her back was to him and her flying sword was distracted, holding it in a reverse grip like a serial killer after a victim. The howling screech got worse. A phantom bloody woman appeared behind him for a moment, and everything seemed to grow darker.

I practically strangled my sword as I watched the blade descend in a blur. Come on!

Zhao Wei, despite facing the opposite direction, moved so fast it looked like she had two torsos and four arms for a second. Then her sword met the descending knife.

A blinding flash exploded from their clash. It caused me to flinch and pull up my arms. Even then, over the sound of metal clashing with metal, I heard what sounded like fabric cutting really close by.

When it was over, I looked down for just a second and noticed very fine cuts over parts of my robes. I was hardly the only one, too, as practically everyone around us had been cut. But only our clothes. It didn’t look like anyone had even lost a drop of blood.

The sight boggled my mind. Was this really what Late-Stage Qi-Gatherers were like? Or were they both exceptional?

A low laugh brought my attention back to the fight. Or back to the paused fight. 

Zhao Wei and Hei Li stood a dozen yards apart. Zhao Wei looked as unperturbed as ever, with her sword held up in one hand while her other was at her side. Her flying sword hovered near her head, pointed right at Hei Li as it floated in the air. Hei Li looked a lot worse for wear. Even more bloody wounds covered his body, cutting through his robes and into his flesh beneath. Yet he was the one laughing, his head lowered and covered by his long hair that must have gotten loose in the fight.

“Ha ha ha,” he laughed slowly while shaking his head. His dark hair swayed in the wind, still hiding his face. “Truly, the heavens fight me at every turn. To think, I would run into someone like you all the way out here…”

“Perhaps it is a sign you should give up and leave,” Sun Xia called out, taking a step forward for the first time since the fighting began. “If you leave now, I promise that we won’t bother hunting you down.”

“Ha ha ha,” Hei Li laughed again, shaking his head. Then he looked up and had what I could only call a crazed gleam in his eyes. His yellow eyes, which almost looked slitted for a second. But maybe it was just a trick of the light as they looked normal—but yellow—a moment later. “A cultivator—a true cultivator—never bows before the whims of the heavens, girl. And I’ve been fighting against their tyranny for longer than you’ve been alive.”

Sun Xia seemed to tense at that for some reason.

“Having always faced heaven's displeasure,” Hei Li said, a dark aura building around him once more. “Do you think I wasn't prepared for a minor setback running into some overly prodigious brats?”

“Zhao Wei!” Sun Xia shouted. No more commanded as the darkness from the dome around us started to get stronger. “End this!”

“As you wish,” Zhao Wei said. Then, to my surprise, she sheathed her sword in a blur. Her flying sword moved right next to her sheathed sword, pointed and ready.

She crouched low, gripping both her sword and her sheath at her waist. Then, almost too fast for me to see, she drew her sword and slashed out at the same time. There was another extremely bright gleam of light that forced me to cover my eyes. Once again, I heard and felt my robes get cut, before an explosion rang out.

I gritted my teeth and had to plant my feet hard to prevent myself from being knocked over by the shockwave.

When it had passed, I gaped at the results of the clash. I’d half expected Zhao Wei to finally finish the freaky middle-aged man off, bisecting him hopefully and ending things. However, from the looks of it, it looked like Zhao Wei had been the loser of the exchange. 

Zhao Wei was crouched about 50 yards from where she’d been. In front of her, the ground was all ripped up, as if she’d been sent flying and tried to stop herself by digging her feet in, but was still sent a distance. Her outer robes were ripped and torn in places, while the robes around her right arm were completely destroyed, revealing a trembling arm covered in cuts. Her flying sword had been sent tumbling away and was only now recovering and flying back to her.

“Ha! Ha! Ha!” Hei Li laughed. Or at least, I assumed it was him, as I couldn’t see him anymore. Because where he’d once been was a dark pillar of blackness that seemed to ooze down from the dark dome above. The Qi emanating from it was powerful. Very powerful. Which was very worrying as he was already at the Late-Stage of Qi-Gathering. Could he really push himself beyond that? “Did you think this formation was just to isolate your little group! Naive and short-sighted! You may have been a threat before, but in here, I rule supreme! Now, enough fun and games! This ends now. Yin Tai, Hammer, lead the men and slaughter the rest! I will take care of these arrogant young prodigies!”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

I tensed up as the Black Hammer pulled his namesake weapon from his back. At the same time, Yin Tai pulled something from a pouch at his waist. It looked… fleshy and seemed to squirm in his hand. He brought it to his mouth and ate it in several bites.

Immediately, a burst of Qi ripped through him, and his muscles started to bulge. I could feel it from here, and it felt like his Mid-Stage Qi was growing and pushing to Late-Stage. His features twisted, his face growing out to mimic a snout. Pointed wolf-like ears grew from his head, and hair started sprouting from his body. 

He let out a wolf-like howl when his transformation was completed before he turned his gaze our way. When he did, my eyes widened as I recognized him. It was the same wolf-man who led the assassins trying to hunt down Xing Yaling. 

Xing Yaling recognized that, too, if the slight creaking from her spear as her grip tightened was any indication, as well as the focused glare on her face. But she was hardly the only one glaring, as Lin looked absolutely furious while Jianfeng looked laser-focused on their former friend.

I grimaced at the sight and wondered if I wouldn’t have to try and rein them in. Xing Yaling might be able to fight a transformed Yin Tai, but Jianfeng and Lin were nowhere near the level of strength required. Even with Sun Yun, it would be dicey. 

I turned to said girl, wondering what she thought about all this. But to my surprise, instead of looking focused, worried, or anything like that, Sun Yun looked relaxed. She seemed to notice my gaze and turned a smug smirk towards me. 

“What? Are you worried?”

“Are you not?” I asked, looking back towards the enemy as the Black Hammer raised his signature weapon. The beast men behind let out a battle cry and raised their weapons into the air.

“That stupid old fart thinks he can take my big sister and Wei Wei alone just because of that technique of his,” Sun Yun said, smirking as she crouched and got into a fighting stance. Her hands were raised into fists, and there was a gleam of eagerness in her eyes. “But he’s going to be in for a big surprise.”

All around us, everyone started preparing themselves for a battle. I did the same, unsheathing my sword as well. Despite my nervousness for the upcoming battle, it felt good to be able to hold my sword in my hand again. Next time, I would make sure to have better healing pills, up my vitality even more, or get a healing Skill so I won’t have to go so long disarmed if my hand is injured.

“Kill!” The Black Hammer shouted before he and the rest of his men charged.

“Zhao Wei, Zhu Xiang,” Sun Xia called out, her voice somehow cutting through all the shouting and noise. “Take care of the Hammer and Yin Tai. I will deal with Hei Li.”

“Yes, my lady,” Zhao Wei said before she leapt up onto her flying sword and rushed straight at her assigned targets.

Zhu Xiang, however, was far more hesitant. 

“Sun Xia, are you sure?” he asked, hesitating as the dark pillar began to condense into a monstrous shape. Like a giant melting man. “This man. His Qi… it's at least at the peak of—”

“I am sure,” Sun Xia said, undaunted as she stepped towards the dark ooze man. Fire started to radiate from her whole body, bright burning red, and the Qi emanating off of her grew in strength as well. The fire continued to spread all around her, going from large enough to engulf her to large enough to engulf a house. “Now go!”

Zhu Xiang stared with wide eyes for a single moment before his resolve hardened and he nodded. Then he rushed off, just as Zhao Wei reached the Black Hammer and Yin Tai. 

She leapt off her flying sword, and it stabbed straight at Yin Tai. Meanwhile, she slashed out with her sword in a lightning-fast strike at The Black Hammer. Both men tried to block, but were sent skidding back from the power of her blows.

“Bitch,” the Black Hammer cursed, even as he retreated away from her.

The saber-toting wolf man Yin Tai did only marginally better as he steadied himself and managed to deflect her flying sword as it attacked again.

“None of that!” Hei Li shouted as his form condensed, and a dark ooze hand shot out like a bullet. 

It stretched the distance between them in a blink, but Zhao Wei didn’t even glance at it. Instead, she parried the Black Hammer and left a brutal gash on his arm, almost forcing him to drop his weapon and nearly take a sword to the throat. Meanwhile, her flying sword continued to keep Yin Tai pinned down.

I watched wide-eyed as the massive dark arm reached to grab for her. 

But before it could, bright red flames cut straight through the ooze arm, severing it. The flames roiled wildly, burning the severed section of the ooze into ash in an instant, leaving Zhao Wei unharmed as she continued to press her two Late-stage opponents.

“What?” Hei Li shouted in disbelief, even as he tried to lash out at Zhu Xiang as he rushed to join Zhao Wei. 

But just like last time, Sun Xia intercepted his attack with her flames.

“Your opponent is me,” Sun Xia said, flames raging around her as she began walking towards the dark ooze monster. 

“Insolence!” Hei Li cried. “Do you think this is my limit? I will show you my true power.”

More darkness descended from the formation above. Sun Xia’s fire lashed out to intercept, but this time, the denseness of it put up a much better fight. It was slowed, but not stopped, before it reached the ooze monster and began to grow it. 

Sun Xia responded by finally rushing forward. Flames danced in her wake, and a crimson fan appeared in her hand. With a single wave of it, she sent a storm of flames forward, causing Hei Li to roar in outrage. The size of the fire once again made me question just how strong she was, and if this really was the power of Late-Stage Qi-Gatherers or something more.

“Well, what are you people waiting for!” Sun Yun called out, drawing many eyes to her. She was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, and a big grin was on her face. Flames began to dance around her as well. “Big sis will take care of the ooze man. Wei Wei and Zhu Xiang will take care of the other two Late-stagers! The rest are ours! Come on! Let’s show these bandit thugs the resolve of Everlake City’s Cutlivators.”

Sun Yun's impromptu speech earned a chorus of agreement. Weapons were raised before our allies rushed forward. Sun Yun did as well, and Jianfeng, Lin, Pan Song, Xing Yaling, and I all rushed to follow her.

It was time for the battle to really begin now. No more posturing and testing from the strongest cultivators. Now it was a true battle between our forces.